Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek
Villages, lodges and Poon Hill
- 11 days
- Easy–moderate
- From $3,400
- Duration
- 11 days
- Walking grade
- Easy–moderate
- Highest point
- 3,210 m
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu
A walk through the villages beneath Machapuchare, at the pace of the people who live there.
- Sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas from Poon Hill
- Mountain lodges in Dhampus, Landruk and Ghandruk
- An evening with a Gurung family in Ghandruk
- A free day by the lake in Pokhara
A gentle walk through the Gurung and Magar villages below Annapurna South and Machapuchare. The trails are stone stairs between terraced fields, and each night is in a warm mountain lodge or the best house in the village.
It suits a first trek in Nepal, couples who would rather walk four or five hours a day than push for altitude, and anyone who wants the Himalaya with village life close at hand. The highest point is Poon Hill, at 3,210 metres, so altitude is rarely a concern.
The route makes a loop from Pokhara. You walk up through Dhampus and Landruk, cross the Modi Khola to Ghandruk, where you spend an evening with a family, and then climb through the rhododendron forest to Tadapani and Ghorepani. The first three nights are in mountain lodges with en-suite rooms. At Tadapani and Ghorepani the lodges are simpler, and we book the best private rooms available.
From Ghorepani you climb Poon Hill at dawn for sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas, then walk down to the road and drive back to the lake. A free day in Pokhara, and an afternoon in Patan, close the journey.
Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek: the route
8 places · starts and ends in Kathmandu
Your journey at a glance
Choose a day
Highest night 2,860 m at Ghorepani · highest point 3,210 m
Way upWay backPositions are approximate; peaks are shown for orientation.
Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek, day by day
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Day 1 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Arrival 1,400 m
Your host meets you at arrivals and drives you to your heritage hotel. The afternoon is yours to rest after the flight. In the evening you sit down to dinner at a family table, a gentle first taste of Nepal, and go through the plan for the days ahead with your guide.
- Getting there
- Arrival
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 Pokhara Luxury hotel Flight 25 min 820 m
A short morning flight west takes you to Pokhara, with the Annapurnas along the right-hand windows on a clear day. You settle into a hotel by the lake or on the hill above it. The afternoon is quiet: a walk along the shore, a boat on Phewa Lake, or time to adjust before the walking starts.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m (−580 m)
- Where you stay
- Luxury lakeside or hillside hotel in Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 Dhampus Mountain lodge 1–2 h · 3 km 1,650 m
A drive of about forty-five minutes climbs out of the valley to Phedi, where the trail begins. From there it is an easy walk of an hour or two up stone steps and through terraced fields to Dhampus. You arrive in good time for lunch, and the mountain lodge, with en-suite rooms and a garden, looks straight across to Annapurna South and Machapuchare.
- Walking
- About 1–2 h, 3 km
- Getting there
- Drive 45 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,650 m (+830 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 Landruk Mountain lodge 5 h · 11 km 1,565 m
The trail climbs gently to Pothana and then enters a long stretch of oak and rhododendron forest, cool and shaded, before Deurali opens onto the first big views. From there it drops through farmland to Landruk, a Gurung village spread along the hillside. Machapuchare rises directly above. You reach the lodge by mid-afternoon after about five hours on the trail.
- Walking
- About 5 h, 11 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,565 m (−85 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 Ghandruk Mountain lodge 3–4 h · 6 km 1,940 m
Below Landruk the path drops on stone stairs to the Modi Khola, which you cross on a suspension bridge, then climbs the other side to Ghandruk. It is one of the largest Gurung villages in the region, its slate-roofed houses stepped up the slope. You arrive around lunchtime, have time to walk the lanes, and spend the evening with a local family over a home-cooked meal.
- Walking
- About 3–4 h, 6 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,940 m (+375 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 Tadapani Best teahouse 4 h · 7 km 2,630 m
A steady climb of about four hours leaves the village behind and enters dense rhododendron forest, flowering red and pink in spring. The air cools as you gain height. Tadapani, at 2,630 metres, is a small clearing with a handful of lodges and wide views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. The lodges here are simple; we book the best private room available.
- Walking
- About 4 h, 7 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 2,630 m (+690 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 7 Ghorepani Best teahouse 5 h · 9 km 2,860 m
A gentle day of walking along a forested ridge with glimpses of the mountains between the trees. The trail rises and falls through Banthanti and over the ridge near Deurali before dropping into Ghorepani, a busy village of blue-roofed lodges below Poon Hill. You arrive in the early afternoon. The lodge is simple and the dining room warm.
- Walking
- About 5 h, 9 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 2,860 m (+230 m)
- Where you stay
- Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 8 Poon Hill · Pokhara Luxury hotel 6 h · 11 km 820 m
You leave before dawn with head torches for the climb of about an hour up stone steps to Poon Hill, at 3,210 metres. As the sun rises, Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas, Nilgiri and Machapuchare light up in turn. After breakfast back at the lodge, a long descent on the stairs through Ulleri brings you to the road, and a two-hour drive returns you to the lake.
- Walking
- About 6 h, 11 km
- Getting there
- Drive 2 h
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m (−2,040 m)
- Where you stay
- Luxury lakeside or hillside hotel in Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 Pokhara Luxury hotel 820 m
A free day in Pokhara with nothing planned unless you want it. You might row across Phewa Lake and walk up to the World Peace Pagoda for the view back over the town, visit the lakeside cafés, or have a massage after the stairs. Many guests simply rest and enjoy a long lunch by the lake.
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m
- Where you stay
- Luxury lakeside or hillside hotel in Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 10 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Flight 25 min 1,400 m
A short flight returns you to Kathmandu in the morning. In the afternoon your guide takes you to Patan, across the river, to walk around Durbar Square, its temples and the courtyards where metalworkers and wood carvers still work. The evening is free for a last dinner in the city.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m (+580 m)
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 11 Departure Departure
Your host drives you to the airport in good time for your flight home, after breakfast if the timing allows.
- Getting there
- Departure
- Meals
- Breakfast
Walking times are typical at an unhurried pace and include rests; your guide adjusts each day to the group and the weather.
Is this journey for you?
- Walking
- Four to six hours a day with long stone staircases, staying below 3,300 metres.
- Fitness
- Regular walking or hiking; stairs without difficulty.
- Altitude
- You sleep as high as 2,860 m. Altitude is not a concern on this route.
- Terrain
- Village paths and long stone staircases through terraced fields and rhododendron forest, never above 3,210 metres.
The practical details
Where you stay
Named lodges or similar, confirmed in your proposal.
- 5 nights
Luxury hotel
Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
Kathmandu · Pokhara
- 3 nights
Mountain lodge
Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
Dhampus · Landruk · Ghandruk
- 2 nights
Best teahouse
Best available teahouse, private room, often with shared bathroom
Tadapani · Ghorepani
Best time for the Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek
- JanJanuary: Good. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- FebFebruary: Good. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- MarMarch: Best. Spring begins: clear mornings, rhododendrons in bloom lower down.
- AprApril: Best. Peak spring season: warm days, flowers, busier trails.
- MayMay: Good. Warmer and hazier, with afternoon cloud as the monsoon nears.
- JunJune: Not recommended. Monsoon: rain most afternoons, leeches low down, mountains often hidden.
- JulJuly: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- AugAugust: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- SepSeptember: Good. Monsoon clears late in the month; lush valleys, some cloud.
- OctOctober: Best. Peak autumn season: clear views, festivals, busier trails.
- NovNovember: Best. Clear, stable and cooler; quieter after mid-month.
- DecDecember: Good. Cold, clear and quiet; short days at altitude.
Seasons for this journey: Spring, Autumn, Winter. Choose a month for what to expect.
Comparing prices for the Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek?
Cheaper treks are usually group departures. Ask any operator:
- Is the guide yours alone?
- Yes. Only your own party travels together, never a group departure.
- How many guides and porters?
- A senior guide and a porter for every two guests.
- Are altitude checks written down?
- Twice a day above 3,000 m, with bottled oxygen on every high route.
- What if someone needs evacuating?
- A standing helicopter agreement, and insurance confirmed before you travel.
Included
- Himkora Host, plus a senior guide and a porter for every two guests
- All hotels and lodges as described
- All meals, including dinners in the cities
- Kathmandu–Pokhara flights
- Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area permit
- Porters, private vehicles and every transfer
- Down jacket, sleeping bag and a Himkora duffel on loan
- Treated drinking water every day on the trail
- Twice-daily oxygen and pulse checks, and a full first-aid kit
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu as described
- The Himkora Care Standard, in full
Not included
6 items
- International flights
- Nepal visa (US$50 on arrival for 30 days)
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover (required)
- Gratuities and drinks
- Wi-Fi, charging and hot showers where lodges charge for them
- Extra nights or helicopters caused by weather delays (often covered by insurance)
Before you go
Permits we arrange for you
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card
We need a scan of your passport photo page and one passport photo about six weeks before travel. Permit fees are included in your price.
Visa and insurance
- Most nationalities get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or online in advance. Check the Department of Immigration before you travel.
- Travel insurance is required. It must cover trekking to the altitudes on your route and helicopter evacuation; we check your policy before departure.
How we manage altitude
- Above 3,000 m, sleeping altitude rises by about 500 m a night (never more than 700 m, and then next to a rest day), with acclimatisation days built in.
- Your guide checks blood oxygen and pulse twice a day and carries a full medical kit.
- Guides always have the authority to descend, and we hold a standing helicopter-evacuation agreement in Kathmandu.
Getting ready
- Walking grade: Easy–moderate. We send a training plan with your proposal.
- Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about altitude medication and vaccinations at least six weeks before you travel.
- We send a health questionnaire before booking and talk it through with you.
Mountain flights
- Your itinerary ends with a night in Kathmandu. If delays run on, we can arrange a helicopter (at cost).
- Domestic baggage is usually limited to about 15 kg including your cabin bag; extra can stay at your Kathmandu hotel.
Weather
- Days are usually bright and mild in season; nights are cool in the hills.
- Afternoon cloud is normal; mornings bring the clearest views.
We provide
- A Himkora duffel for your porter to carry (up to 12 kg per guest)
- Down jacket and sleeping bag rated to −20°C, on loan
- Water purification, first-aid and the Care Standard kit
You bring
- Broken-in walking boots and four pairs of trekking socks
- Layers: base layers, fleece, waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Warm hat, sun hat, gloves, sunglasses (category 3 or 4) and sunscreen
- Daypack (25–30 litres), refillable bottles, headtorch
- Personal medicines, and a copy of your insurance policy
A full packing list comes with your proposal.
Money
- Your journey is paid in advance, so you only need cash for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Nepali rupees are best on the trail; there are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara.
Connectivity and tipping
- Most lodges have Wi-Fi, often slow and sometimes paid; mobile data works in many villages. Your guide carries a satellite messenger.
- Gratuities are not included and are always your choice. We send guidance for guides, porters and drivers with your pre-departure notes.
Similar journeys
All journeys
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Up the Modi Khola gorge into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a ring of peaks around Base Camp, with an extra night at Machapuchare Base Camp for a safer ascent.
Mardi Himal Trek
A quiet ridge through rhododendron forest to the Mardi Himal viewpoint, almost touching Machapuchare.
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Through Manang and over Thorong La (5,416 m) to the temple at Muktinath, finishing at a lodge in Jomsom and a flight back to Pokhara.
Questions guests ask
More answers on our questions page, or write to hello@himkora.com.
How much does the Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek cost?
The Comfort journey is $3,400 per person for two travelling privately, and the Signature journey is $4,100. The price includes guiding, porters, accommodation, meals and permits as listed. Your proposal gives one clear price for your dates.
How many days is the Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek?
11 days as we have planned it, from your arrival in Nepal to your departure. Because it is private, we can add rest days or extra nights, or shorten it if you have less time.
How difficult is the Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek?
We grade it easy–moderate. Four to six hours a day with long stone staircases, staying below 3,300 metres. Regular walking or hiking; stairs without difficulty.
How high does the Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek go?
The highest point is 3,210 m, and the highest night is at 2,860 m.
When is the best time for the Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek?
The best months are March, April, October and November. See the month-by-month guide above for the rest of the year.
Which permits do I need for the Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek?
You will need: Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card. We arrange all of them for you and include the fees in your price.
Is every journey private?
Yes. You travel only with the people you choose, on your dates. Your guide, porters and vehicles are yours alone, and the route can be adjusted before or during the journey.
What is included in the price?
Your Himkora Host and senior guide, porters, every hotel and lodge named in the itinerary, meals as listed, domestic flights, permits, park fees and private transfers. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How do deposits and payment work?
A 30% deposit confirms your journey, and the balance is due 90 days before travel. Your proposal sets out the full price and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Our full booking terms are on the Booking terms page.
How fit do I need to be?
Each journey has a walking grade, explained on its page. Before you book, we send a short health questionnaire and talk through your walking history. If a route isn't right, we will say so and suggest one that is.
How do you manage altitude?
Above 3,000 metres our itineraries raise sleeping altitude by about 500 metres a night, never more than 700 metres and then only next to a rest day, with acclimatisation days built in. Guides check blood oxygen and pulse twice a day, carry bottled oxygen on high routes, and always have the authority to turn back.
Do I need special travel insurance?
Yes. Your policy must cover trekking to the highest altitude on your route (up to 6,000 metres on our high journeys), emergency medical treatment, helicopter rescue and repatriation. We check it before you travel.
What if flights to Lukla are delayed?
Mountain flights depend on the weather, and in busy months they may leave from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. Every Everest itinerary keeps a spare day in Kathmandu after the Lukla flight, so a weather delay doesn't cost you any of the trek. If delays run on longer, a helicopter can be arranged at cost.
Short on time, or a few days spare?
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