Ghorepani Poon Hill Sunrise Trek

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu

Your adventure begins the moment you land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Our representative will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to your hotel — your first taste of Nepali hospitality before the mountains even begin.

After a long international flight, the rest of the day is yours to settle in, freshen up, and soak in the energy of Kathmandu. In the evening, your guide will sit down with you for a trek briefing — covering the route, daily walking hours, tea house accommodation, meals, gear, weather, and everything you need to feel confident and prepared for the days ahead.

Altitude: Kathmandu – 1,300m / 4,260ft
Trek/Drive Time: Airport transfer approx. 30–45 minutes

Day 02: Drive or Fly* from Kathmandu to Pokhara

After breakfast, you leave Kathmandu behind and head west to Pokhara — the beautiful lake city that serves as the gateway to the entire Annapurna region.

If you travel by road, the journey winds through river valleys, rolling hills, and local towns, with countryside views that hint at the landscapes to come. If you prefer to fly*, the short mountain flight drops you in Pokhara with the afternoon free to explore the famous Lakeside district at your own pace.

Either way, Pokhara rewards you on arrival. The Annapurna range towers above the city, Phewa Lake shimmers in the valley below, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it the perfect place to check your gear, rest your legs, and let the excitement build for the trek that starts tomorrow.

Altitude: Pokhara – 820m / 2,690ft
Trek/Drive Time: Drive approx. 6–7 hours or flight approx. 25 minutes

Day 03: Drive to Nayapul and Trek to Ulleri

After breakfast in Pokhara, you board a short drive to Nayapul — and just like that, the trek begins. The trail eases you in gently, winding through village paths, riverside trails, terraced fields, and local settlements that give you an immediate feel for everyday life in the Annapurna foothills.

You pass through the riverside village of Birethanti, where the sound of the Modi Khola river follows you along the trail, before the path begins to climb toward Tikhedhunga and then Ulleri. This section is the day’s main challenge — a long, steady staircase of stone steps that winds its way up through the hillside. It is demanding, but every step brings wider views and a growing sense of achievement.

By the time you reach Ulleri, the effort is well worth it. This beautiful hilltop village sits above the valley with sweeping views of the surrounding hills and the first glimpses of distant snow-capped peaks — a preview of what lies ahead.

Altitude: Nayapul – 1,070m / 3,510ft; Ulleri – 2,050m / 6,725ft
Trek/Drive Time: Drive approx. 1.5–2 hours; trek approx. 5–6 hours

Day 04: Trek from Ulleri to Ghorepani

Today the trail finds its rhythm. The steep stone steps of yesterday give way to a more gradual climb through some of the most beautiful forest scenery on the entire trek — dense rhododendron trees lining the path, moss-covered branches overhead, and the quiet of the mountain all around you.

The route passes through the small settlements of Banthanti and Nangethanti, where tea houses offer a warm rest stop and the forest thickens with altitude. In spring, this section is nothing short of spectacular — the rhododendrons burst into bloom in vivid shades of red, pink, and white, turning the trail into one of the most photographed walks in Nepal.

As you climb higher, the trees thin and the views open up. Ghorepani appears on the ridge ahead — a welcoming mountain village sitting at 2,860m, draped in prayer flags and surrounded by peaks. Tonight you rest here, knowing that tomorrow morning, before dawn, you will make the short climb to one of the greatest sunrise viewpoints in the Himalayas.

Altitude: Ghorepani – 2,860m / 9,383ft
Trek/Drive Time: Trek approx. 5–6 hours

Day 05: Early Morning Hike to Poon Hill and Trek to Tadapani

The alarm goes off before dawn. You pull on your layers in the dark, step out into the cold mountain air, and begin the climb to Poon Hill.

It takes around 45 minutes to reach the viewpoint at 3,210m — and every minute of lost sleep is worth it. As the sky slowly lightens, the silhouettes of the Himalayas emerge on the horizon. Then the sun crests the ridge and the peaks ignite — Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Nilgiri, Hiunchuli, and dozens of other snow-covered summits turning gold in the first light of morning. It is the moment the entire trek has been building toward, and it does not disappoint.

Take your time at the top. Breathe it in. The photos will never fully do it justice, but you will take plenty anyway.

After descending back to Ghorepani for a well-earned breakfast, the trek continues through rhododendron forests, open ridgelines, and scenic mountain trails toward Tadapani. It is a long but beautiful day, and arriving at camp with Poon Hill already behind you gives the evening a particular satisfaction.

This is the day you will remember long after you return home.

Altitude: Poon Hill – 3,210m / 10,531ft; Tadapani – 2,630m / 8,628ft
Trek/Drive Time: Poon Hill hike approx. 1.5–2 hours round trip; trek to Tadapani approx. 5–6 hours

Day 06: Trek from Tadapani to Ghandruk

After breakfast, the trail descends from Tadapani through cool forests and terraced hillsides, with the Annapurna range keeping you company the entire way down. It is a relaxed, rewarding walk — the kind of day where you can slow your pace, take in the scenery, and let the mountains fill the silence.

Your destination is Ghandruk, one of the most beloved villages in the entire Annapurna region. This traditional Gurung settlement clings to the hillside in tiers of stone houses, cobbled lanes, and flower-filled courtyards, with Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre rising dramatically above the rooftops.

The Gurung people are known throughout Nepal for their warmth, courage, and rich cultural traditions. Spend the afternoon exploring the village at your own pace — visit the local Gurung museum, wander the stone pathways between homes, watch daily life unfold, and share a cup of tea with your hosts. Few places on the trek offer this kind of connection between mountain scenery and living culture, and Ghandruk delivers both in full.

Altitude: Ghandruk – 1,940m / 6,365ft
Trek/Drive Time: Trek approx. 3–4 hours

Day 07: Trek to Nayapul and Drive to Pokhara

After breakfast, you lace up your boots one last time and begin the final descent from Ghandruk toward Nayapul. The trail winds down through terraced fields, riverside villages, and open countryside — familiar landscapes now, but no less beautiful for it. There is a quiet satisfaction to this last day of walking, a chance to reflect on everything the trail has given you over the past week.

At Nayapul, you trade the footpath for the road and climb into the vehicle for the drive back to Pokhara. The mountains that greeted you at the start of the trek watch you leave from above.

Back in Pokhara, the afternoon is entirely yours. The Lakeside district buzzes with cafes, restaurants, and gear shops. Phewa Lake catches the last light of the day. After days of tea house dinners and mountain air, a cold drink by the water and a proper sit-down meal feels like a well-deserved reward.

The walking is done. The memories are made.

Altitude: Nayapul – 1,070m / 3,510ft; Pokhara – 820m / 2,690ft
Trek/Drive Time: Trek approx. 4–5 hours; drive approx. 1.5–2 hours

Day 08: Drive or Fly* from Pokhara to Kathmandu

After breakfast, you make the return journey from Pokhara to Kathmandu — by road through the river valleys and rolling hills of the Nepali countryside, or by air* with the Annapurna range filling the window one last time before the mountains disappear behind you.

Back in Kathmandu, the city greets you with its familiar noise, colour, and energy. After days on quiet mountain trails, it feels like a different world entirely. The afternoon is yours — whether you want to pick up last-minute gifts in Thamel, visit a temple you missed on arrival, or simply rest at the hotel and let the trek sink in.

In the evening, the team gathers for a farewell dinner. It is a chance to raise a glass, swap stories from the trail, and thank the guides and staff who made the journey possible. The food is good, the company is better, and somewhere between the laughter and the photographs you realise that this trip has given you far more than a trek.

Altitude: Kathmandu – 1,300m / 4,260ft
Trek/Drive Time: Drive approx. 6–7 hours or flight approx. 25 minutes

Day 09: Final Departure

Your Ghorepani Poon Hill Sunrise Trek comes to an end today, but Nepal has a way of staying with you long after the flight home.

After breakfast, our team will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure. The ride through Kathmandu gives you one last look at this extraordinary city — the temples, the traffic, the mountains hovering on the horizon — before you board your flight and carry the memories home.

If you are not quite ready to leave, Nepal has plenty more to offer. Ask us about extending your trip with another trek, a Kathmandu valley tour, a jungle safari in Chitwan, white water rafting, or an adventure into Bhutan or Tibet. The mountains will always have more to show you.

Altitude: Kathmandu – 1,300m / 4,260ft
Trek/Drive Time: Airport transfer approx. 30–45 minutes