Welcome to my overview of the Ghorepani Poon Hill and Ghandruk circuit trek packing list, a classic five-day mountain journey in the Annapurna region that starts and ends in Pokhara. This route serves as fantastic altitude practice for longer adventures like Everest Base Camp.
What you need to pack depends entirely on the season. Winter and November trips require much warmer gear than spring and summer. Here is how I break down the essential packing list for you:
For carrying your gear, I recommend a duffel bag carried by a porter, paired with a personal daypack for your valuables, water, snacks, and a spare set of warm clothes.
When it comes to headwear, bring a sun hat for the strong daytime rays at lower elevations. If you are traveling between November and February, a warm winter hat covering your ears is also essential.
Your body wear should layer effectively. Pack quick-drying trekking shirts, light trousers, and a set of thermal layers for cold mornings and evenings, especially in the winter months. For colder altitudes and early morning hikes up Poon Hill, you will want a fleece jacket, a windstopper, and a dependable down jacket.
For your hands, lightweight gloves work well in milder months, but you will need heavyweight winter gloves for November and winter mornings.
Footwear requires careful attention. Bring well-fitted hiking boots to prevent blisters, comfortable sports shoes to wear around the lodge, water sandals for showers and nighttime bathroom trips, and several pairs of warm trekking socks.
Do not forget your personal essentials such as rain gear, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, a head torch, a water bottle, a towel, toiletries, extra camera batteries, cash in Nepalese rupees, and a multi-use power socket.
You can use this exact same gear setup for other short Annapurna treks like Mardi Himal or Khopra Danda. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions before your trip.
Here, the post briefly introduces the equipment and gear list for the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. The Ghandruk circuit trek is a 5-day mountain trek in the Annapurna region, which starts from a beautiful lake city, Pokhara, with a drive to Nayapul and a trek to Ulleri on the first day. After that, it goes to Ghorepani, hikes to Poonhill, and walks to Tadapani and Ghandruk before making a circuit and arriving back in Nayapul to catch the final drive to Pokhara. It is one of the best altitude practice treks for trekkers who are planning longer mountain treks such as the Everest Base Camp or other high pass treks.
The Trekking Gear and clothing requirements for the Poon Hill Trekking depend on the season. You need to pack warm clothes for winter and November compared to spring and summer. You can see detailed information about the Ghorepani trek gear below in this post:
Backpacks
Rucksack or Duffel Bag
The duffel bag contains all the trekking gear we provide, and a porter carries it. However, you should use a rucksack if you do not want to hire a porter.
Daypack
Having a daypack for the trek would be best, where you can put your valuables, day snacks, water, rain gear, and one set of warm clothes.
Head Wear
Sun hat
The trek begins in a low region and ends at the same elevation. There will be strong sun rays in these areas, so you need a sun hat to protect your face and head from these rays. Also, you might be dehydrated from the direct heat.
Winter Hat
The winter hat, made of wool/fleece or other materials covering your ears, is compulsory for the Ghorepani Trek if you are on a trek from November to February. You can also have them at different times, but they are not very necessary for spring and summer.
Body Wear
Thermal Layer
You must bring thermal layers if you are on the Ghorepani Ghandruk Trek during November, December, January, and February. You might not need to wear them during the day while you walk, but it is compulsory for the morning and evening.
Trekking Shirts
You can pack two full-sleeve and one half-sleeve trekking shirts for the Ghandruk circuit trek. The shirt should be light and dry quickly because you will get sweaty and need to be dry for the next day's use. However, you can hang them close to the fire heater at the lodge in the evening. You can wear a half-t-shirt in the lower regions, like at the beginning and end of the trek.
High Neck T-shirt/Fleece Jacket
It will be cold in the morning, especially when you go to Poon Hill for sunrise, so wear a high-neck T-shirt or fleece jacket. Also, you can wear them while walking in winter and November temperatures. But it is not mandatory if you are on a trek during spring and summer.
Windstopper
It will be windy in December, January, and February, so packing a windstopper before going to Poon Hill is a smart idea. You can wear it while you walk in the higher region above the fleece layer.
Down Jacket
A down jacket for this short Poon Hill trip is compulsory if you visit from mid-October to the end of February. Still, you can trek with another regular winter jacket during September, spring, and summer. If you have none, we provide down jackets for our clients for the trek.
Winterproof Trousers
It is not very essential, but it is good to bring. Some people cannot tolerate freezing, so bringing windproof trousers is highly recommended. You can wear these while you hike Poon Hill early in the morning.
Trekking Trouser
Two trekking trousers will be enough for the Ghorepani trek, and a zip-off one will be better.
Extra Changing Clothes
You will sweat during the walk, so you must change into dry and warm clothes when you reach the lodge. Take one set of extra clothes for the evening.
Hand Wear
Thin Lightweight Gloves
The gloves are not compulsory if you are on the spring, summer, and September trek, but you must have them for October, November, and winter.
Heavyweight Winter Gloves
You do not need heavyweight gloves all the time for the Poon Hill trek, but they are compulsory for November and the winter season, especially when you hike to Poon Hill in the morning.
Footwear
Hiking Boots
Hiking boots are the main footwear for walking during the trek. They should be the perfect size for your feet; otherwise, you might get blisters from an up and downhill walk.
Sport Shoes
Sports shoes are beneficial in the lodge in the evening and morning. We recommend wearing them in the guesthouse rather than sandals because they warm your feet.
Water Sandals
Do not forget to pack water sandals for the trek. You need them when you go for a shower and use the washroom at night.
Trekking Socks
You need two pairs of warm trekking socks and one extra pair for the guesthouse, to be used with sports shoes for the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek.
Other Essentials
Besides the listed equipment list for the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, you need to pack some other essentials like your daily usage, medications, toiletries, and more. See below for extra things you must take for the Poon Hill trek.
- Rain gear
- Sunglasses
- Sun lotion
- Moisturizer cream
- Lipbalm
- Headtorch
- Water bottle
- Quick-dry light towel
- Toilet rolls
- Baby Wipes
- Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste
- Multi-use power socket
- Nepalese rupees
- Extra camera battery
If you are doing any other short treks in Nepal, like the Mardi Himal, Khopra Danda, or Mohare Danda treks in the Annapurna region, you can use the same trekking equipment. Before traveling to the Nepalese Himalayas, you can contact us with any questions about trekking equipment, difficulties, or any other subject.
