8 Days- Annapurna Poonhill Trek

Autumn (October to November) and spring (March to May) are the two peak windows for the Poon Hill trek. Autumn delivers the clearest skies of the year, reliable dry weather and excellent mountain visibility at the summit. Spring brings rhododendron forests in full bloom on the Ghorepani ridge, with red and pink flowers lining the trail from about 2,000 m to 3,210 m at Poon Hill.

Winter (December to February) stays dry and quiet, with snow possible on the upper ridge above Ghorepani, which adds atmosphere to the sunrise but can make the stone staircases icy; it is doable for fit trekkers prepared for cold nights. The monsoon (June to September) brings heavy rain, leeches below 2,000 m and reduced mountain views, though the forest is dense and green; Poon Hill is still accessible for those who accept the conditions.

Two permits are required for the Annapurna Poon Hill Trek. The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) costs NPR 3,000 per person for non-SAARC nationals and covers the full Annapurna Conservation Area. The Trekkers Information Management System card (TIMS) costs NPR 2,000 per person for independent trekkers or NPR 1,000 for those booked through a registered agency.

Both permits are issued at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu's Pradarshani Marg or at the TIMS office in Pokhara, and require a passport copy and one passport photograph each. Swotah arranges both on your behalf once you provide the documents, and confirms current permit fees, which can change with each season, before your departure.

Accommodation on the Poon Hill route is the teahouse lodge, and the standard is comfortable by Himalayan trekking norms. Villages like Tikhedhunga, Ulleri, Ghorepani and Ghandruk have well-established lodges with private and dormitory rooms, hot showers (usually solar-heated), dining rooms with wood stoves and a broad menu.

Ghorepani is the busiest night on the route because everyone stops here before Poon Hill, so rooms book quickly in October and the first two weeks of November; Swotah pre-books accommodation along the full route. Ghandruk has some of the most comfortable lodges on any Annapurna approach trail, with valley views and traditional Gurung stone architecture. Kathmandu and Pokhara nights are in comfortable hotels.

Teahouse food on the Poon Hill route is more varied than on remote treks because the trail is well-supplied. Dal bhat (lentil soup, rice, curry and pickles) is the trekker's staple and is refillable for free; it is the most reliable choice at any altitude. Noodle soups, Tibetan bread, eggs, pancakes, pasta and porridge are standard on most menus, and Ghorepani and Ghandruk carry a wider range including pizza and apple pie.

Swotah includes three meals a day on the trek. For water, treat rather than drink untreated tap or stream water: lodges sell boiled water, and a filter bottle, purification tablets or a UV pen all work. Carry a reusable bottle and a small day supply, as water stops are plentiful but the trail is busy enough that clean sources should not be assumed.

The trek starts from Nayapul (about 1,070 m), 45 minutes by car from Pokhara on the Beni Highway. Pokhara is reached from Kathmandu by tourist bus (6 to 7 hours), public bus, or a 25-minute domestic flight; Swotah uses the option that fits the trip schedule. The drive to Nayapul from Pokhara is by private vehicle.

The return route comes out at Nayapul as well, after a descent from Ghandruk through Kimche, so the transport loop is clean. Swotah provides the Pokhara-to-Nayapul and Nayapul-to-Pokhara legs by private jeep. Mountain flights from Pokhara offer an optional Annapurna panorama on the way back to Kathmandu, and Swotah can book these separately.

Poon Hill viewpoint (3,210 m) sits 45 to 60 minutes above Ghorepani on a stone-staired path through rhododendron and bamboo. The pre-dawn start, usually around 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., puts trekkers at the viewing tower as the Annapurna range catches its first light: Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) to the north-west, Annapurna South (7,219 m) and Hiunchuli (6,441 m) ahead, and Machhapuchhre (6,993 m) to the east.

The viewpoint has a small teahouse that opens for early arrivals and sells hot tea and biscuits. In autumn the atmosphere is crisp and clear; in spring the rhododendrons in bloom frame the ridge walk. The tower fills fast on clear mornings, so starting slightly earlier than the group gives the best position. After the sunrise, the trail continues to Ghandruk the same day, making it one of the longer but most rewarding stages on the route.

Ghandruk (1,940 m) is one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal and a recognised heritage settlement within the Annapurna Conservation Area. It holds the ACAP museum, several traditional stone-paved lanes, a gompa and direct views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre that remain clear even in partial cloud.

The descent from Poon Hill to Ghandruk passes through rhododendron and mixed forest, dropping from the Ghorepani ridge to the Modi Khola valley. Ghandruk serves as the final night on the trail before the descent to Nayapul, and the extra distance covered by including it, compared with a shorter Poon Hill loop, is what makes the 8-day version a proper circuit rather than an out-and-back.

A guide is strongly recommended on the Poon Hill route for trekkers on their first visit to Nepal; although the trail is well-signed, route junctions multiply below Ghandruk and teahouse booking is easier with a local contact. Swotah's guides hold Ministry of Tourism licences, speak English, and carry a first-aid kit and a pulse oximeter.

A porter takes one person's gear (up to 20 to 25 kg) and walks the same trail, freeing you to concentrate on the scenery and the altitude. Swotah provides a free duffel bag for the porter load, and porter welfare, including fair wages, adequate gear and insurance, follows our standard policy. Tips are customary and go directly to the guide and porter.

Mobile coverage on the Poon Hill route is good by Nepal trekking standards, with NTC (Nepal Telecom) providing a signal in most villages from Nayapul to Ghandruk. Ghorepani and Ghandruk both have Wi-Fi at lodges, usually for a small fee per session. Ncell coverage is also reliable on the lower trail.

Charging points are available at most teahouses for a small fee per device, and the lodges at Ghorepani and Ghandruk are consistent. A power bank is useful for the early morning Poon Hill alarm and for backup on the trail, but the route is short enough that a single charge usually covers the full trek. Pokhara has fast Wi-Fi and easy charging at hotels before and after the walk.