Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Trek Distance, Highlight and Guide

Ghorepani Trek is a short, easy, popular Trek in the Annapurna Region. It offers scenic mountain views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs with Gurung and Magar culture. This Trek is also known as the Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Trek, Annapurna Panorama Trek, Annapurna Sunrise Trek, and Poon Hill Trek Short Trek.

This classic easy Poon Hill Trek is the best option for those who have a short holiday in Nepal but would like a great experience in the Himalayas. This is a model Trek for beginners, families, the elderly, and students from school and university without any past Trekking Experience.

The viewpoint Poon Hill offers Charming mountain glimpses such as Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Nilgiri, Braha Shikhar, Annapurna South, Hunchuli, and Fishtail (Machhapuchchhre) with unblocking sunrise.

Poon Hill itself is examined as one of the best Hill Stations in the Annapurna Region. Sunrise and sunset over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range from the top are some of the best views in the entire Trek.

This region's big Gurung village (Ghandruk) is also a Poon Hill Circuit Trek highlight. It looks magnificent with traditional architectural buildings. The warm hospitality of the locals with their cultural program captivates the visitors. This is the second biggest village in Nepal.

View from Poon Hill

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Where to Begin Ghorepani Poon Hill Trip?

The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek begins from Pohara, driving to Nayapul. The driving road to Nayapul is not wrong compared to the other remote area roads. It is about 45 KM from Pokhara and takes around an hour and a half to two hours.

There are several options for transportation to get to Nayapul from Pokhara. Some local buses and vans leave from the bus station every single hour. Either taxi or renting a private tourist car, van, or bus are available in Pokhara.

After the drive, the Trek starts from Nayapul and leads to Ulleri, following the Bhurundgi River and passing Hile and Tikhedhunga villages. Then Trek the next day to Ghorepani, where the famous viewpoint Poon Hill remains.

After enjoying the view from Poon Hill, the Trek continues to Tadapani and Ghandruk, then ends in Nayapul.

Poon Hill Trekking Highlights

Beautiful lake city Pokhara
Poon Hill viewpoint with scenic Mountain View with unblocking sunrise
Colorful rhododendron forest and cherry blossom
History of the Brave Gurkhas, their culture, and Lifestyle
Vegetation, landscape, waterfall, wildlife, and more

Trek Facts

Trekking days	4-5
Difficulty level	Easy
Maximum elevation	3,210m
Best time to trek	Autumn and Spring (Winter is also doable)
Accommodation	Lodge/guesthouse
Per day walking hours	5-6
Individual option	Allowed

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Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Distance

Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit's total distance can be done in 4 or 5 days. From Nayapul, the hike to Ghandruk via Ghorepani and Tadapani is 4okm. You may drive from here and walk another 4 km to Kimche, then Pokhara. So this Circuit Trek from Nayapul to Kimche is 44km.

The road from Ghandruk and Kimche is bumpy and uncomfortable. You can trek to Nayapul, an additional 10km from Kimche, more than drive comfortably to Pokhara with private transportation.

Ghorepani Trekking Detailed Itinerary

Usually, the Ghorepani Trek is done by most trekkers following a five days Trek Itinerary. It can be done within four days for the same circuit if you can walk about 8 hrs plus a Poon Hill hike in one day.

Just visiting Ghorepani and Poon Hill and then Trekking back the same way without making a circuit is three days from Pokhara to Pokhara. Here, you see the regular itinerary that most trekkers use.

Day – 1: Drive to Nayapul (1,070m) 1 ½ hrs to 2 hrs and Trek to Tikhedhunga (1,540m) 4 hrs

You will catch private or public transport from Pokhara and drive to Nayapul in the morning. Driving around an hour and a half to 2 hrs, you reach Nayapul passing Phedi, Naudanda, Kande, and Lumle. You will start your Trek from here to walk and get to Birethanti, where you will stop to show your conservation area permit and TIMS card. Then you follow the Bhurungdi river valley to Tikhedhunga, enjoying the beautiful landscapes and farmland.

Day – 2: Trek to Ghorepani (2,850m) 6-7 hrs

After breakfast at your lodge, you start your second-day journey to Ghorepani. This is pretty tuff beginning in the morning. You will have more than 3000 stone steps to Ulleri. Once you reach Ulleri, you feel you are in heaven with a great view of the valley, green hills, and snow-capped mountains. After killing your tiredness from the steps in a few minutes here, you trek further to Banthanti with a gradual ascent and stop for lunch. You will enter the dense forest of rhododendron, pine, oak, and other trees after Banthanti. Walking more than 2 hrs, you reach Ghorepani, where you see many colorful buildings using guesthouses.

Day – 3: Hike to Poon Hill (3.210m) 1 hrs and trek to Tadapani (2,630m) 5 hrs

This is the critical day that you can see the magnificent view of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massif, including the most beautiful mountain Fishtail with unblocking sunrise from Poon Hill. You will start your hike to Poon Hill in the early morning with a flashlight. It takes about an hour to reach Poon Hill. You can get it in 30 minutes if you are a fast walker. After a scenic view from Poon Hill, you hike back to your lodge in Ghorepani and pack your stuff and have breakfast. Then your trek to Tadapani starts following to opposite hill to Poon Hill. First, you ascend about an hour and a half, then descend another 2 hrs to Banthanti and have lunch. After lunch, you will Trek through the dense forest for another hour to Tadapani. The trail to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek divides from this place.

Day – 4: Trek to Ghandruk (1,940m) 3 hrs

This is your short day Trek to Ghandruk. Trek further down to Syauli Bazaar, have lunch in Ghandruk and explore a traditional Gurung museum. Today, you will have a great view of the Himalayas from the Trekking trail. Ghandruk is the second biggest Gurung village in Nepal and the biggest village in this area. Gurung people are famous as brave Gurkha serving in the UK and India in their Arm forces. If you stay in Syauli Bazar rather than Ghandruk, you will shorten the last day of Trek and have more time to Explore Pokhara before returning to Kathmandu.

Day – 5: Trek to Nayapul and Drive to Pokhara

If you Trek from Ghandruk this morning, it takes around 5 hrs to Nayapul. And walking from Syauli Bazaar to Nayapul is only about 2 hrs. Then you will catch a bus or private transport to Pokhara from Nayapul. If you don't want to walk from Ghandruk or Kimche, also you may drive direct to Pokhara from these places. You may celebrate your Trek in Pokhara this evening.

Alternatively, you can Trek to Jhinu Danda and enjoy a natural hot spring, not following the trail to Ghandruk from Tadapani.

Adventure Annapurna Trek:

Best Time to Trek to Ghorepani Poon Hill

Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the best time to Trek. But you can also walk in winter. Trekking in summer is not recommended, but there are trekkers during this season too.

Blooming cherry blossom in November makes the trail beautiful with clear visibility. The forest looks impressive, with blooming colorful rhododendron in spring, and the visibility is also excellent and clear. Spring is warmer compared to autumn.

Trekking in winter is not as freezing as base camp treks, but the temperature goes to minus degrees, so Ghorepani, Poon Hill, and Tadapani areas may be freezing.

Trekking in summer is usually rainy, which makes the trekking trail wet and slippery. The visibility is mostly not clear with clouds, and there are a lot of leaches on the ground.

Ghorepani Trek Permits

This trek goes through the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you must have a Conservation Area Permit. You can issue from Bhrikuti Mandap Kathmandu from the National Trust for Nature Conservation Project office or Pokhara Branch, which costs 3000 NPR. They will arrange it for you if you are on an organized Trek with a Trekking Company. For the trekkers from the SAARC nations, it costs 1500 NPR.

You will also need the tourism board's Trekkers Information Management System Card (TIMS). Also, you will issue it from Bhrikuti Mandap Kathmandu and Pokhara branches. It costs 20 USD for the group trekker organized by the Trekking Company. And it costs 1000 NPR for the SAARC nation's people.

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Lodge, Food, and Drinks in the Trek

Loge in the trek

This is a classic Trekking trail that has been running for many years. There are lovely lodges with clean bedrooms. You will have private rooms with indoor toilets and even an attached bathroom in some places. The rooms are cheap during the Trek, so it only costs 3 USD to 5 USD per night. But you must eat food where you stay. Usually, getting rooms are accessible in most places, but getting a room in Tadapani is quite tricky because this place has limited guesthouses. So you must book in advance if you are on your trek during the main Trekking Seasons.

You can choose foods from a food menu on the Whole Trek. The menu has the same items cocked by the primary trained cooks. The family runs even some guest houses without hiring any staff. But the foods are hygienic and delicious. They make delicious Nepalese local food (Dal Bhat), so you may try the local food from this Trek.

You can buy mineral water bottles on the first day and the last two days, but they don't sell bottled water on the second day and the third-day trek because they are minimizing the number of plastic around here. So you must buy refilled water from a big barrel or boiled water.

You also can drink regular tap water using purification tablets or drops and sterilizers to kill the bacteria. But it would be best to ensure that the water has no dust.

Internet and Communication

You can buy the Nepalese SIM card at the airport and from the Service Centers in Kathmandu and Pokhara. There are two leading companies, NCELL and NTC, so any of them is good. You can buy the data package for the internet and use it during the Trek.

You also have Wi-Fi service in the mountain, but they might be slow sometimes. You must pay for the internet using Wi-Fi from the guest house.

Ghorepani Trek Gear

Bag for trekking equipment

Good Trek Equipment plays a vital role in a successful trip. This Trek is not at a very high elevation but will still be cold. Here, you can see a shortlist of what you must pack for the Ghorepani Poon Hill.

Thermal Layer
Trekking Shirts
Fleece Jacket
Down Jacket (Feather Jacket)- provided by us
Hiking Trousers
Sun Hat
Woollen Hat
Buff
Windproof Gloves
Hiking Boots
Sandals
Trekking Socks
Daypack
Duffel Bag or Rucksack- we give this if you don't have
Sleeping Bag- we provide this if you don't have
Head Torch
Sunglass
Lip Balm and Moisturizing Cold Cream
Quick Drier Towel
Rain Cover and Bag Cover
Soap and Shampoo
Swimming Costume (if you would like to go hot spring)

Hiring Guide, Porter for Ghorepani Poon Hill

Hundreds of Trekking and tour companies are offering the Trek to Poon Hill. Some are organizing from overseas, and some are from Nepal. Booking this trek with a local company is safe and managed well. We also offer this trip, and you will feel safe with us. We make you satisfied by providing a lifetime Himalayan experience of Nepal. So, buy your Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek with a local company.

Our guides are government license holders English speaking. Still, we may provide a Chinese-speaking guide, Spanish-speaking guides, French-speaking guides, German-speaking guides, Japanese-speaking guides, Korean-speaking guides, Russian-speaking guides, and some others. And the porters, who carry your equipment, are robust, friendly, and helpful.

The cost of the Trek depends on the type of service offered and the size of the group. You can get the deal from 350 USD to 700 USD online.

Altitude Sickness in Poon Hill

You don't need to worry about Altitude Sickness on this Trek. The maximum elevation is 3,210m (Poon Hill), so there will be fewer possibilities of Altitude Sickness. You will start your tour below a thousand meters and gradually trek to this height; your body will already be acclimatized. But sometimes, you may have other problems such as a cold, flu, and stomach. You better have some medicine for these things.

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Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek FAQs

Ghandruk village

There should be raised some questions before planning a trek anywhere else. You might have some questions that you are searching about the Poon Hill Trek.

The Ghorepani Trek is short and easy so first-time trekkers can do this. You don't need to have serious physical fitness. If you can walk about 5-6 hrs each day, it should be fine.

How challenging is the trek?

This is an easy Trek, but the second day might be difficult with many steps. But strolling and taking several rests can be possible. Walking in the dark with a flashlight to Poon Hill makes you slightly worried.

Where can I leave the stuff I am not using during the trek?

You can leave your stuff, and city wears you have not used for your entire trek in the hotel in Pokhara. You will be back in Pokhara after the tour. They do have a storeroom where your stuff keeps safely. You will get a baggage tag after leaving your things and need to keep it safe with you and show this when you will take them back.

Do I need travel insurance for the trek?

This is a relatively short and easy Trek without serious mountain problems. But having insurance during traveling anywhere else is also advisable for this trek. You can Trek with basic insurance for the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.

Adventure Annapurna Trek:

Conclusion

The Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Trek is a short and easy trip through a rhododendron forest that offers panoramic Himalayan views and landscapes. A short hike to Poon Hill early in the morning for the magnificent sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massif is a fantastic view.

This Trek offers scenic mountain views and worthy landscapes, vegetation, culture, and tradition of Gurung and Magar inhabitants.

Book your trek now...