The given trekking information content is written by Yogesh Tamang, a seasonal trekker, and reviewed by the Managing Director of Wilderness Excursion and experienced guides of our agency. Last updated July 27, 2026.
Located in the misty valleys of the Annapurna and the high ridges, the Annapurna Base Camp from Poon Hill is a specialised trekking route that explores the valleys and settlements and offers a gradual ascent towards the high alpine lands of the Himalayas. An optimised trekking route of the original Annapurna Base Camp trek, which is focused on experiencing the very core rurality of Nepal’s Himalayas. Protected and conserved under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, the trek is one of the blissful retreats.
The standard itinerary starts from Birethanthi near Nayapul, following the trails to Ghorepani Poon Hill, the sunrise peak of Nepal, and joins the classic Annapurna Base Camp trail from Tadapani. With the maximum altitude of 4190 meters at the base camp of Annapurna South, the trails are moderate but doable for beginners with our professional help.
The nature of travelling has always been about covering an area thoughtfully, not just passing through or reaching the destination. That became the sole reason for the popularity of trekking adventures in Nepal. A country mainly covered in high hills and mountains sheltered multiple native peoples of different castes, ethnicities, and cultures, showcasing the diversity. For this very reason, Nepal became the center of traditional foot travel. Due to the vast ethnic diversity and native settlements spread across the country and regions, trekking from the lower-elevation areas became the solution for covering these vast lands.
From the very beginning, trekking was meant to be done from lowlands with gradual ascent on high hills and ultimately to base camps and high passes. But with the growing development of roads, which destroyed such traditional footpaths, trekking started from high altitudes or near the destination. So, to let trekkers experience the same thrill, the Annapurna Base Camp trek was combined with the Poon Hill trek.
The trek takes you along the river valleys, with moderate uphill on Poon Hill and villages like Hile, Tikhedhunga, and Ulleri. A peaceful village nestled near the high mountains and rivers. With a panoramic view of the whole Annapurna Range from the old horse meadows, Poon Hill, the trek finally kicks off towards the high alpine lands of the Annapurna Region, with ridges surrounding the trail.
Realistically, an average package cost for the Annapurna Base Camp from Poon Hill trek can cost you around 600 USD to 1100 USD per person, and it heavily depends on the content of the package. The costs included and excluded in every trekking package of an agency determine the overall price per person.
A common trekking package covers your accommodation during the trek, transportation from and to trekking checkpoints, guide fees, necessary permits and fees, and your daily meals. Now the cost rises when these inclusions have more services, which can be mentioned boldly, or some are not mentioned, which are complimentary. But what could still be the vast difference between a USD 600 package and an 1100 package trip? It’s the additional luxury services that you get aside from the daily necessities, and what could they be?
The budget-friendly packages do cover every daily necessity needed for trekking aside from personal belongings, and luxury packages provide services that ease your comfort even before and after trekking, such as transport facilities from the airport to the hotel, Hotel booking in Pokhara and Kathmandu, private transportation over local jeeps and buses, flights and buses from Kathmandu to Pokhara; these services ultimately add up the prices. So, what can you do, and choose what kind of trekking packages exactly?
Review your needs and choose the correct package that you think you need. If you’re fine with booking hotels and transport during your stay in Kathmandu, a budget-friendly trekking package should be enough; it also lets you be flexible in choosing your own hotels and locations. But if you’re someone who believes vacation should be comfortable and effortless, you can always choose a package that covers every need after you arrive at the airport in Nepal.
Foremost, Wilderness Excursion has been a registered and government-authorized trekking agency since 2014, and has been actively operating in each season. With more than a decade of experience, we’re confident in arranging your trip with a 99% success rate.
Our affordable, budget-friendly package trip starts from USD 749 per person, which includes all the important logistics. While the package starts from USD 749, our progressive discount allows more affordable planning with each additional booking. With selected conditions met, you can also be eligible for more valuable packages, up to 50 – 100% off.
Private booking 2-3 Pax: The private booking package for 2-3 trekkers is specifically tailored for couples, small families, and friends at USD 749 per person. The package offers a flexible itinerary, personalized trips, and complimentary services during the trek.
Family booking 4-6 Pax: Starting from the family booking, the conditions for progressive discounts and tiered benefits are met. At USD 729, the package accommodates the daily necessities, progressive discounts with each additional booking, and complementary services are provided.
Small Group 7-9 Pax: With our decades of experience, we also have expertise in arranging group trips and provide equally beneficial services and trip plans. From USD 699 per person, the package offers our tiered benefit of 50% off for the trip leader.
Free of Cost (FOC) Benefit:
Large group 10-15 Pax: Our large-group booking offers the most advantageous package with progressive discounts, complimentary benefits, and top-tier perks. Starting at USD 660 per person, the package qualifies for a 100% off FOC benefit.
FOC (Free of Cost) benefit:
We are open to both online and physical booking from advance departure booking to immediate on-site departures. Booking procedures for both options are similar, with the lowest deposit of 15% of the total cost as advance payment for the online booking. The procedure is simple, easy, and time-efficient; follow the given steps and your customized trip will be ready in a minute.
Online booking
Offline booking / Physical booking: If you plan on visiting our office and book on-site, you can either follow the same procedure as online booking and pay the amount in person. Or you can directly book with the office staff, provide the necessary documentation, proceed with the payment, and we will arrange your trip. An online receipt will be automatically sent to your email when paying online; for cash payments, a physical receipt will be given, with trip details and itinerary plans.
Wilderness Excursion created a 10-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek via the Ghorepani Poon Hill Route Itinerary, which is one of Nepal’s most scenic and diverse trekking trails. Combining the breathtaking sunrise view from Poon Hill (3,210m) with the majestic close-up of Annapurna I (8,091m), this trek offers a perfect blend of cultural villages, rhododendron forests, and alpine landscapes, taking you deep into the heart of Annapurna Sanctuary.
With decades of expertise leading treks in Annapurna, we offer a selection of add-ons to make your Annapurna Base Camp trek more enjoyable. You can choose it and pick while reserving Annapurna Base Camp Trekking with Wilderness Excursion – a company that leads lifetime trekking trips in Nepal.
Accommodation Booking in Pokhara USD 45: Let us assist you in booking the best tourist standard 3-star hotel in Pokhara, centrally located in the tourist hub of Lake Side, that will cost USD 45 per double or twin shared bedroom with breakfast.
Flight ticket booking USD 125: If you would like to, we can reserve a flight ticket for Kathmandu to Pokhara air travel, and it will cost the same rate for vice versa
Check our published date! If it doesn’t match, we are happy to customize your tour perfectly to suit your interests and needs, creating a unique travel experience for you
To be realistic, the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill treks are separate trekking routes from the original traditional Annapurna Base Camp. Both treks are known as beginner-friendly if done separately, but the combined route is mainly suggested for trekkers with beginner-level experience. But how could two beginner trekking routes only be for experts or trekkers with experience?
Trekking difficulty depends heavily on multiple factors: duration, trail conditions, altitude acclimatisation, altitude level, average walking duration, distance, and accommodations. A perfectly beginner trekking route can also be hard if it isn’t planned properly. The classic Annapurna Base Camp trail starting from Jhinu Danda is relatively easier, since you drive more than half of the original trail, and starting from Upper Sinuwa, most trails are along the hills and river valleys. The Ghorepani trail from Birethanti follows a roadway to Hile village, with a sharp turn and uphill starting from Tikhedhunga to Ulleri and gradual uphill; this section, combined with the famous stair uphill of Sinuwa, makes it a struggle for beginners. The section between Tadapani and Chhomrong also has a huge gap with sharp downhill and uphill for more than an hour or two, with constant altitude descent and gain.
So, yes, the trek is only recommended to those who have at least entry-level hiking experience or are physically fit and capable of 10 days of hiking. But it is also possible to trek with quality time for preparation.
The best time to do the Poon Hill trek with Annapurna Base Camp is during the peak of the tourism season in Nepal. Nepal experiences peak tourism twice a year, when major adventures are done due to favourable weather. Early March to late June and September to late December are considered the best times for trekking in Nepal. Why?
During this specific period, the climate of Nepal is suitable for most of the adventure activities, including trekking. For a successful ascent or pass, favourable weather plays a vital role, as does one’s physical condition. Weather determines your next step and your ability to take on the challenge as well. So, during these months, Nepal experiences the spring and autumn seasons. The perfect time is when it's neither cold nor too hot and there's a clear sky for the best visually pleasing mountain ranges. Let’s have a breakdown of seasonal experiences you may get in both seasons.
Since the trek is combined with Poon Hill, which requires excellent visibility of the whole mountain range and a safe trail to the base camp, the trek is best done in the season for the highest degree of satisfaction.
Hotels and lodges differ based on region and distance from the nearest town. Also, trek popularity determines the quality of facilities. For popular trekking destinations like Poon Hill and the Annapurna Base Camp, where thousands of people visit year-round, the lodges are fully capable of providing satisfactory facilities. Although the mountain lodges of base camp may seem pale in comparison to the well-established hotels of Chhomrong, Ulleri, and Ghodepani, the lodges are still capable of providing warm food and shelter.
The mountain lodges and teahouses have a standard unspoken etiquette of facilitating two trekkers per room and a variety of foods and drinks from breakfast to dinner. Let’s have a breakdown of the quality of facilities.
Accommodation
Foods
|
Menus |
Items |
|
Breakfast sets |
Tibetan Bread / Chapati with Honey / Jam, Fried potatoes, sandwiches, White bread with Jam / Honey, vegetable soups, Muesli |
|
Lunch Sets |
Nepali Khana Set: Veg Spring rolls, Momo, Fried Noodles, Soups, thukpa |
|
Dinner Sets |
Same as Lunch |
|
Drinks |
Black tea, Black coffee, Tibetan tea, Hot Chocolate, Hot milk, Hot lemon, Lemon tea |
Sadly, there are nearly no ATMs, banks, or money exchange stations on the trail. We recommend every trekker exchange for local currency, Nepali Rupees, during your stay in Kathmandu or Pokhara. If you have a direct flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara after landing or an immediate trek departure from Pokhara, both international airports have currency exchange booths. Separate at least 1000-1500 Nepali rupees per day for additional personal expenses, which is equivalent to 8-13 USD.
The facility of hot showers, charging, and potential mobile networks has two phases. During your trek around Ghorepani, most lodges provide hot showers, possible free Wi-Fi, and have stable electricity connectivity. Mobile networks also work stably unless you’re inside a dense forest near rivers, but on high ground, there are mobile networks, to the point where you can use data services even on Poon Hill at an altitude of 3200 meters.
Once you cross Ghorepani, starting from Tadapani, the trail gets rougher and more remote, where hot showers might be possible at limited lodges with extra charges for both showers and Wi-Fi connectivity. Although Chhomrong has relatively more developed lodges, it is nearly impossible to get mobile networks, and charging may even cost you extra for each device on the Annapurna trail. The government is planning on expanding the infrastructure, but development is seen as slow due to limited resources and transportation difficulties.
Proper preparation and packing are essential for treks like Base Camp because conditions change quickly with altitude, weather, and terrain. Packing the right gear keeps you warm, dry, and comfortable, while proper preparation helps your body adjust to long hours of walking and high elevations. Being well-prepared also reduces the risk of altitude sickness, injuries, and exhaustion, making the journey more enjoyable and safer. Smart packing ensures you carry only what’s necessary, helping you conserve energy throughout the trek.
Annapurna Base Camp Hike Packing Tips
Both Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill treks fall under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Trekkers are legally required to obtain conservation permits from the authorised bodies and mention the trekking area for clarity. The conservation permits are monitored by the NTNC (National Trust for Nature’s Conservation) and are distributed by the Nepal Tourism Board. There are two options for obtaining the conservation permits: online application and physical application. NTB now supports online application, where trekkers can independently apply for the conservation permits and get the permits ASAP without any need to visit the official location.
Aside from conservation permits, trekkers are also required to obtain TIMs (Trekker’s Information Management System) from the Nepal Tourism Board, and in the 2023 press conference, it was legally mentioned that, to obtain a TIMs card, trekkers should hire a guide from an authorised agency and apply for the permit from government-authorised agencies only.
NTNC currently supports both online and counter applications. To get a physical permit and application form, visit the NTNC office in the Nepal Tourism Board, Bhrikutimandap, and fill out the application form and make a direct payment. For online permits, follow the procedures given by the NTB thoroughly.
Entry fee and payment options for the conservation permits
Source: (NTNC, 2026)
|
SN. |
National Parks/Wildlife Reserves/Conservation Areas |
Nepali |
SAARC |
Foreigners |
Child discount |
|
1 |
Annapurna Conservation Area |
NRs. 100 per person per entry |
NRs. 1,000 per person per entry |
NRs. 3,000 per person per entry |
Below 10 yrs free |
Source: (Board, 2026)
If you have a pickup service when booking with us, we will connect with you for your departure time and ETA at Tribhuvan Airport for a smooth experience. Transportation will depend on the size of the group; for private or small families, a car or jeep will be arranged, and for large groups, a coaster bus will be arranged from the airport to the hotel.
Our teams will keep track of your ETA, and a staff member or your designated trek guide will be at the waiting area with our agency board. A short greeting will be held, and you will be transported to your hotel.
If you have a connecting flight from TIA to Pokhara International Airport and still have airport pick-up services, our staff in Pokhara will still follow the standard procedure and take you to your hotel.
Our foremost priority during the trek is your safety and well-being. Our trek guides are trained and informed for daily monitoring of your health and report back. If there are any slight complications to your health, we will do our best to assist you during the difficulties.
Daily monitoring: Our trek guides are informed to ask about your health during a difficult hike and acclimatisation process. Sometimes small, minor symptoms can be dangerous, so we also request you to be honest with our trek guides.
Built-in Acclimatisation: Our standard itinerary given on the website is carefully planned for better acclimatisation, and any changes or personal requirements will also be made while considering altitude changes.
Evacuation: If the trekker is unable to continue any further and has sustained a major injury that requires an immediate health checkup, with a green signal from the guide, an emergency heli-rescue will be sent to your location and you will be transported to the hospital or Pokhara.
Guide training: All licensed trek guides are trained at a government-appointed training centre, NATHM. They are trained for emergencies and personal aid, but guides are not authorised to prescribe any drugs. They are trained for minimising the casualty as much as possible.
Personal first-aid kit: Wilderness Excursion does not provide any personal first-aid kits to each individual. Trekkers are responsible for carrying basic medicines and medical equipment. Our guides are trained to carry emergency supplies, and we advise trekkers to do so as well. If you have any personal medications, kindly consult with your physician.
Turning back policy: If such a situation arises where you’re not able to trek any further due to health difficulties. Depending on the situation, the trek will probably turn back from that point. If the problem is from altitude, an extra rest will be taken for mild symptoms, or we will descend to a lower altitude, but if the symptoms persist, we will sadly have to turn back. The refund after turning back will follow our standard booking terms and conditions.
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is classified as moderately difficult in terms of difficulty, and you can accomplish it with the proper trip preparation. Despite these difficulties, the trek offers trekkers a combination of natural beauty, cultural richness, and unparalleled rewards of personal accomplishment upon reaching the base camp, which you will feel upon finding yourself in the heart of the Himalaya.
The best months to trek to Annapurna Base Camp are pre-monsoon are February, March, April, and May. If you are set on trekking post monsoon, we highly recommend trekking in late September, October, November, and December. Furthermore, early September is also an option, but we prefer the months listed above.
The total distance of the Annapurna Base Camp through Ghorepani Poon Hill is approximately 112 kilometres (71 miles), and it takes 9 to 10 days to complete. Trekkers will pass through a variety of landscapes and traditional communities on this difficult but rewarding journey, which offers breathtaking vistas of the Annapurna mountain range.
No problem! You can your camera and mobile phone during the trekking to ABC (Annapurna Base Camp) Trek. The electricity is available in most of the places and there are solar-powered charger where electricity is not available. The charging plug-ins are universal in Nepal.
Yes, most of the hotels and lodges in Pokhara and Kathmandu have free baggage deposit service. You can collect it after the trek. However, Wilderness Excursion does not suggest you store your most valuable things in the hotel. Leave it in our office for safe storage.
Yes, according to our itinerary planned by Wilderness Excursion, you can sleep at the Annapurna Base Camp at the height of 4130 m | 13500 ft). There are four lodges off the glacier where trekkers spend the night in highest altitude in Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Poon Hill.
There are along the route to Annapurna Base Camp for the internet service. You can buy a Nepali SIM Card (NTC is recommended for better network and connection) and subscribe to DATA that provides faster 4G internet.
The best time to trek to Annapurna Base Camp is just after the monsoon (second week of September to October). And March to May in the Spring season. However, you can trek to ABC throughout the year, though the monsoon is wet
Annapurna Base Camp Trek requires 7 to 11 days depending on one’s tour program and length of walking days. The tour offered here takes 7 days, starting from Syauli Bazaar (a 2.5 hours drive from Pokhara) and going north-east up to Ghandruk and the famous Gurung village in Annapurna.
The answer is: yes or no." It depends on which season you are trekking to the Annapurna base camp. There is no snow at base camp around the year. However, if you are trekking between December and March, snow is most likely to be present. While it rains in lower places, there is snowfall in the mountains in winter. Bad weather causes snowfall above 2500 meters, and Annapurna BC is much higher at the elevation of 4130 meters, which means there is much snow sometimes if any heavy snow falls. It might rain in the lower regions, and there is snowfall in the Himalayas. There is no specific time for winter rain in Nepal, so it can occur at any time between October and March, and sometimes even until the beginning of April.
This is a valid question, when there is clearly road access to Annapurna Base Camp, which saves half the duration and cost. You can always trek the Ghorepani Trek and Annapurna Base Camp trek separately, but the combined itinerary is for a more authentic, remote traditional trekking experience. As we have mentioned, the trails from Poon Hill to ABC are an old travel route of the local communities in the Annapurna Region. So, the itinerary is customized for those who want to visit both places at once and experience the real trekking trails.
The shortest itinerary itself is of 10 days, which Wilderness Excursion has carefully made after a decade of experience. Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp from the lower region requires adequate time, planning, and an acclimatization process.
Before your departure or arrival in Nepal, you can follow a scheduled daily fitness program on your own. Trekking in Nepal doesn’t require world-class strength but endurance. The nature of trekking is to walk for long hours on steep hills, slippery trails, and nauseating downhill. So, you require endurance, good stamina, mobility, and balance. Following a calisthenics workout plan with added jogging is also a good preparation.
Currently, the hills of Poon Hill support the NTC mobile network, and most lodges around Ghorepani have internet access, but this is not the case for the Annapurna Base Camp trail. The major village areas like Jhinu Danda and Chhomrong do support unstable internet and mobile networks, but starting from Sinuwa, there is no guarantee of mobile networks in the dense rainforest, and lodges also only offer limited paid Wi-Fi, which is slow.
Till 2025, the Jeeps departing from Pokhara reached Banthanti, a small jeep station above Ulleri, but in 2026, with more budget allocation, a road expansion project was initiated up to Ghorepani Deurali. For the Annapurna Base Camp, the road had always ended at Newbridge, across from Jhinu Danda.
For the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, it is always best to trek during the peak season of Autumn, when the weather is stable and skies are clear for most of the time. The autumn season is perfect for panoramic views and gives enough time in the morning for a quick hike before sunrise.
But for the Annapurna Base Camp, it majorly depends on what you want to experience. The spring season has a mixed experience of occasional rain and snowfall at the base camp, but during the Autumn, the pasture lands of the base camp are full of flowers and seasonal streams, which makes it look like a giant garden of the mountains.
As for the combined trip to Annapurna Base Camp from Ghorepani, it is best to choose the seasonal time from September to November; it offers stable weather for the sunrise view in Poon Hill and safe trails to the Annapurna Base Camp, as well as a crystal-clear view of the mountains from the base camp as well.
Well, it is always good to have a level of experience and knowledge, but even without experience, you can trek this specific itinerary with our experienced guides. But you may be required to have proper fitness preparation before departure.
Honestly, the Poon Hill trek is relatively easier than doing the Mardi Himal trek with Annapurna Base Camp. The ABC via Poon Hill has less altitude to acclimate and in comparison to Mardi Himal Trek, the latter has more constant uphill for days. The maximum altitude difference in Annapurna Base Camp and Mardi Base Camp is of nearly 700 meters, where ABC is recorded at 4130meters and Mardi Base Camp at 4800 meters.
Both Ghorepani and Annapurna trails have tap water from local water sources, mostly unfiltered, while both teahouses and lodges on both trails also sell filtered, sealed water bottles. But for filtered water bottles, prices rise with every acclimatization.
Yes, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek with the Poon Hill side trek is easier than the Everest Base Camp Trek. While both treks require hiking on a mountain trail with a stamina of 5 to 7 hours of walking, the Everest Base Camp trek is generally considered more challenging due to the higher elevation you reach and the couple of days longer than the ABC trek with Poon Hill.
The trek officially begins from Birethanti near Nayapul, a distance of 100 meters. But before the trek, there is an hour or two of driving from Pokhara to Birethanti. So, after a quick breakfast around 7 AM, you will depart at 8 AM, followed by a scenic drive on the Baglung-Pokhara Highway. We recommend not sleeping during the drive, or you might miss the panoramic view of the Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchre.
After crossing Lumle, you will reach around the mid-hill highway, from where take a sharp right towards a small town at the bank of the Modi River flowing from Jhinu Danda. Remember this river, since the connecting river to it will be the natural guide later in the Annapurna Base Camp ascent. Continuing the trip, once the ride ends at Birethanthi, your guide is responsible for checking you in, so until then you can do some small preparation and light stretches from the long hours of driving.
Once the checkpost procedure is completed, the trail passes from the left side of the checkpost, through a small old market town, and at the end of it is a suspension Bridge. Do not follow the bridge; head upwards where you can visibly see the road. We have already mentioned that the beginning of the trek will be on a dusty road. Following the road trail, along the Modi River on the right side, you will pass through multiple small terraced farmlands and roadside shops. Continuing for more than an hour or two, you will reach an uphill on a concrete road, from where there is a visible signboard pointing the trails from Hile.
Now, starting from Hile, you will experience the authentic old stone trails, bridges, and waterfalls along the trail. Passing Hile, you will reach small hillside lodges, which is known as Tikhedhunga. Geographically, there isn’t much distance between Hile and Tikhedhunga. Lunch will probably be served in Hile or Tikhedhunga. After a restful lunch, you will probably drain all the energy for the uphill to Hile. For another hour or two, it is a constant uphill until you reach a landslide, from where you will reach the Ulleri village. Unlike Hile and Tikhdunga, Ulleri is a well-established settlement of the Magar Peoples, where the road you left around Hile connects. Overnight in Ulleri.
About Ulleri!
At an altitude of 1960 meters above sea level, Ulleri is a traditional Magar village, which is famous for its 3000+ stone steps from Tikhedhunga. Ulleri serves as a major acclimatization stop before trekking to Poon Hill. With developed infrastructure of schools, a health post, and growing tourism, Ulleri is self-sufficient from local crops and foreign income. On clear days, you can see the tip of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli from Ulleri.
Photo: Village trail of Hile
Before starting the hike, Breakfast will be served at Ulleri. Breakfast orders will be taken after dinner the day before, since it takes time to prepare, and the trek usually starts around 8 AM daily. It is one of the commonly accepted practices for hiking and trekking due to its practicality.
After breakfast, you will trek to Ghorepani Deurali, which is actually considered a short hike of around 4 to 5 hours from Upper Ulleri. The beginning of the trek passes through stone paved trails of Ulleri towards Banthanthi, which is the Jeep station of Ulleri. Once you hit the road, you will visibly see the hills of Ghorepani. From Banthanthi, you can also reach Mohare Danda, which will take at least a day or two. Continuing towards Ghorepani, once you reach the end of the road, you will come to a small river with bridges and the temple caves of Mahadev. Around the river are also small trail shops and tea houses for quick snacks and a break. From the river, the trail gradually takes you uphill, through a dense forest of Rhododendron. After you cross a stone resting place and bamboo taps, you will reach Ghorepani Deurali, with a welcome gate. On the right side of Ghorepani is the entry checkpost; you must always be well-tracked for personal safety.
Now, Ghorepani is divided into two parts, Upper and Lower. The entry gate and checkpost is the lower one, where there around 10 lodges; if you want peace, you can choose to remain at the lower part. The main market and central part of Ghorepani is another half an hour of hike, from where you can actually see the Annapurna Range from your hotel rooms as well. The upper part is much larger, with more developed hotels and markets. Overnight at Ghorepani Deurali.
About Ghorepani Deurali!
At an altitude of 2880 meters above sea level, Ghorepani Deurali is currently a popular trekking destination and resting point before hiking to Poon Hill. Originally a remote village of Magar and Gurung communities, Ghorepani still used to be a stop and resting place before trekking or travelling to villages near Annapurna Base Camp.
The name Ghorepani derives from its given name “Ghode” and “Pani”, which translates to Horse and water, meaning the valley probably had natural water reservoirs, and the meadows around Ghorepani, including Poon Hill, are naturally suitable for horses. Today, Ghorepani is more than a remote village; it is an important place that holds the history and culture of trekking itself.
Photo: Ghorepani Village
The third day of the trek will operate differently from the rest of the days, since you will be hiking to the popular viewpoint of the Annapurna Region. Poon Hill is also the highlight of the itinerary, so it can’t be missed, and from the viewpoint of Poon Hill, you can also view the route you will be taking for the Annapurna Base Camp.
For the hike, we and our guide will also recommend you wake as early as around 4 or 5 in the morning. Why? Aside from the panoramic view, the Sunrise from Poon Hill is also sensational, with horizons being lit and rays hitting the mountains, which makes it look like it's on fire and definitely do not want to miss it. The lodge can make a go-to breakfast, and the hike will begin around 4-5, depending on the season. If you’re trekking in spring might want to wake even earlier before sunrise.
The hike begins at night, so carry a torch or headlamps. The hike to Poon Hill is around 400 meters of ascent from the lower Deurali, and takes approximately an hour or two, depending on your pace. Before reaching poon hill, you will reach a toll booth or something similar as an entry gate, where you need to pay before entering Poon Hill. This is also the reason for hiking early, since you do not want to be at the last line for the entry and miss the sunrise. The poon hill has a small coffee stall; you can find Hot lemons, black tea, and coffee for enjoying the view.
After the sunrise and an hour of photo session, you will retrace the same trail to Ghorepani Deurali and have Lunch at the same lodge. After lunch, your destination for today is Tadapani. The trail starts from the lower Ghorepani, along the hillside for an hour and straight downhill, until you hear and reach a small river or mid-hill streams. Starting from the river, it’s another hard uphill of the trek until you reach Tadapani. Of course, the trail also has stone resting places, since even the locals know how hard this part is. At the end of the uphill is Tadapani, and our overnight for tonight.
About Tadapani!
Tadapani is neither an ancient settlement nor does it have any importance like Poon Hill. Deep in the forest of Annapurna, from what we can collect, Tadapani is a staging point. From the surface, it doesn’t look as grand as Ghorepani or Poon Hill, nor Ghandruk. But from a travelling perspective, Tadapani has more importance than Poon Hill. It may not have mesmerizing views or cultural history, but since ancient times, Tadapani has been a rest stop before travelling to Annapurna Base Camp or for people travelling around the villages of the Annapurna region.
Since every trail in Nepal has a single purpose of travelling, Tadapani probably was a resting spot, with a few or a single house around, which was used as an inn for local travelers, and with the growing popularity of the Annapurna region, the location transformed into a more commercial place for lodges and teahouses.
Quick information: today's hike will be the hardest, and not just a single part of the trek, like the uphill of Ulleri or the Tadapani, but the whole route.
Starting the scheduled day with breakfast around 7 in the morning; also, do not skip breakfast, if possible. You will need every ounce of strength for today's trek. The trek will begin from the rainforest of Tadapani, and for hours, the trail will be inside the rainforest with slippery stones. From Tadapani till Kimrong, it’s a rainforest trail, and around Kimrong you will find scattered houses in small numbers and some lodges for a lunch break. Also, Kimrong has an old museum for handicrafts to visit during the Lunch break.
Starting from Kimrong, it will be straight downhill for an hour until you reach the Kimrong River itself. Crossing the river on a suspension bridge, the trail now transforms from an uphill and river trail to straight uphill for more than 2 hours. You can also consider it as a trail to find out if you’re worthy of trekking the Annapurna Base Camp. From the river, it's approximately 500 meters of uphill; once the uphill ends, a small scattering of houses in terraced farmland marks the beginning of Chhomrong village. Behind the hill is the largest village in the area, Chhomrong, which is also the entry to Annapurna Base Camp. You can also reach there directly from Pokhara in a jeep.
About Chhomrong!
Today, Chhomrong is popular as a transit point to Annapurna and Machhapuchre Base Camp from Pokhara, but the history of Chhomrong is deeper than a resting spot. Unlike many Himalayan villages that grew because of trade, Chhomrong's historical importance lies in being a traditional Gurung farming and herding village. Before the rise of trekking tourism, the village still thrived with farming and seasonal herding. The locals already knew the lands and forests of Annapurna Sanctuary, and shepherds often moved from different elevations of pasture lands during the season.
Chhomrong is not historically significant because of trade or royal events, but because it represents one of the best-preserved traditional Gurung settlements in the Annapurna region. For generations, it served as a farming and herding community nestled on a ridge below the Annapurna Sanctuary. Only in the late 20th century did it evolve into the principal staging post for trekkers heading to Annapurna Base Camp.
Photo: A playful child at Chhomrong village.
Chhomrong is the last ancient settlement and gateway to the Annapurna Base Camp. Due to the harsh environment, passing Chhomrong and Sinuwa, the land and environment were not suitable for sustainable farming. But worry not; of course, there are lodges and teahouses at a reasonable distance for lunch breaks and overnight.
With that being the case, the trek begins at the scheduled time; once breakfast ends, you start trekking downhill through the century-old stone stairs of Chhormong. Midway is the checkpoint for the Annapurna Conservation, once the guide completes the process, you continue downhill to a suspension bridge. Crossing the suspension bridge is another popular stone stair of Annapurna Base Camp; between the bridge crossing and Sinuwa, you might even have seen it on the internet. With the last view of mountains from Chhomrong, starting from Sinuwa, the trails are mostly along the hills and river. For the whole day, you will trek through the rainforest of the Annapurna Region, which is actually good since you have to deal with heatstroke.
Between the trails of Sinuwa and Dovan is Bamboo, a place covered in dense bamboo forest, which is used by trekkers as a resting spot and Lunch place. Crossing Chhomrong and Sinuwa, locals have built lodges and teahouses at estimated intervals for easy access and a comfortable journey. On the way to Dovan, your Lunch break is also at Bamboo; the place is near a river and dense rainforest and bamboo, so do not expect spectacular views of mountains. After lunch break at Bamboo, you will trek for another 2-3 hours uphill and on a hillside trail to Dovan, which is also similar to the campsite of Himalaya and Bamboo, near a river with zero mountain views. The trails from Chhomrong until Deurali are through narrow rivers and hills, which block any vision of the mountains, but once you pass these valleys, the transitions of nature and scenery will completely mesmerize you. With that, the trek ends with overnight at Dovan.
Starting from the sixth day of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you will truly experience the remote Himalayas. From Dovan to Deurali is a mixed trail of forest and lower alpine, and Deurali is the border between the Himalayas and Hills.
The trek again starts early with pre-ordered breakfast; your guide will arrange your meals, so you can have enough time for packing and getting ready. Once breakfast ends, you will still be given enough time for a short hygiene practice, and then depart immediately. The trail leading to Deurali is a mixed trail of rainforest with waterfalls and bare hill trails. Between these trails is also a popular, short, broad waterfall right across the river, where people often build small rock towers resembling chortens for various religious and trendy reasons.
After tiring slippery trails for hours, you will start to notice that the scene around you has started to open more with fewer trees. It is due to higher altitudes and harsh environments where only limited vegetation can thrive. With approximately 700 meters of acclimatization from Dovan, you will reach a short stone staircase leading to a lodge with a billboard welcoming you to Deurali. Overnight at Deurali.
About Deurali!
Unlike Chhomrong, Sinuwa, and Ghandruk in the Annapurna region, Deurali doesn’t have a history or culture, nor is it an ancient settlement of an ethnic group. In the Himalayas, there are certain cultural practices for sustaining, villages are always built around the hills close to the Himalayas but not too far either, and houses are made in higher and more open lands, while farming is done in the lower regions, below the villages till the river. And aside from farming, every village heavily depends on its cattle as well: sheep, buffaloes, cows, hens, and bulls, etc. Since the main source of income was from farms, every household had hundreds of cattle. Sustaining them at one place was impossible, and the most reliable and practical solution was seasonal herding, which is also deeply tied with trekking seasonal practices.
Since the upper parts of the Annapurna were not suitable for farming, it was mainly used by shepherds as seasonal pasture lands. The higher regions had abundant pasture lands, and shepherds used them for their way of living. And they probably used places like Deurali as a resting spot before heading to Annapurna Base Camp, which later in modern times became an important transit point.
Photo: Stone stair trail to Deurali
The trekking days from the seventh day are the reward for your hardships. For the past three days, the trails were mainly inside dense rainforest, but starting from Deurali, you truly enter the Himalayas itself and not just admire it from afar.
With the scheduled time, you will trek to Annapurna Base Camp, the destination of the whole itinerary and highlight of the trek.After the morning breakfast, the trail from Deurali is truly memorable; after a minute of walk you will notice large rock spires on both sides of the trail, with Hiunchuli right above you on the left side. From Deurali, most trekkers also notice a large Buddha-like figure on one of the rock spires on the right side; you will not want to miss that as well.
Continuing the trek, the trail now passes through riverbeds of the Himalayas mostly full of rocks and lower glaciers. Leaving Deurali behind, you will cross the river from MBC and trek in the shade of bare trees and bushes and once again cross the river to the old trail. Since there was an avalanche on the old trail, the new trail is now diverted from the river, so you will cross the same river twice. Once you cross the river, you will walk straight for hours along the trail, and it won’t bore you with the scenery that is surrounding you. After an hour or so, you will start to trek a gradual uphill from where the streams of ABC flow through MBC. From Machhapuchre Base Camp, it is another hour of uphill to ABC; along the way is also the popular seasonal lake of Annapurna Base Camp, and behind you is the most globally known Machhapuchre mountains, which is not even a hill far. Before reaching the Annapurna Base Camp, there is the billboard with prayer flags marking the area, and on the left side you can see the majestic Annapurna South, with a stream separating you and the mountain. Overnight at Annapurna Base Camp.
About Annapurna Base Camp!
We have previously mentioned the lifestyle of shepherds travelling from one pasture to another as a seasonal cattle migration, and Annapurna South Base Camp was also a pasture land for Shepherds. During the September season, the snowy base camp turns into large grass fields for seasonal grazing. And before the massive popularity of the base camp, the trail was used for expeditions to Annapurna South, with the first ascent from the Kyoto University Alpine Club, in 1964. Today, the base camp is more popular for a close-up view of Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Hiuchuli and Annapurna I on clear days.
Photo: Annapurna Base Camp in September trekking season.
The eighth day of the trek is also the last day of your trek in the Annapurna Base Camp, and not the region but the base camp itself. Before departure, you can spend the fabulous base camp with breakfast and photo sessions. A quick tip: you might wanna wake up early in the morning to spend more time in that heavenly place.
Anyway, after breakfast ends, you trek down from the Annapurna Base Camp towards the Machhapuchre Base Camp with Machhapuchre facing directly towards you. Following the stream from ABC downhill, you retrace your steps back to Deurali from the same trail of rock spires. From Deurali, you once again enter the dense rainforest of Annapurna, and trek towards Bamboo, where you previously stopped for lunch break. Overnight at Bamboo.
About Bamboo!
Located deep in the forest of the Annapurna region, Bamboo is an important transit and resting point before heading to Annapurna Base Camp. The place is covered with thick bamboo forest, with locals settling there for seasonal foreign income; trekkers use Bamboo mainly for a lunch stop due to its geographical importance and the distance between nearby camps.
Photo: Lunch break at Bamboo
Unlike circuit treks, a typical base camp trek always retraces the same trail back and doesn’t diverge to other trekking trails. So, from Bamboo you will again retrace the same trail of the fifth day to Jhinu Danda, which sits right below the Chhomrong village. But why choose Jhinu instead of Chhomrong?
The main reason is the natural hot spring of Jhinu Danda, which lets trekkers recover their bodies and relax after a tiring day. Also, Jhinu Danda has more comfortable and luxury hotels aside from typical trekking lodges. You can spend the last days of the trek in more comfortable rooms.
About Jhinu Danda!
Originally, a part of Chhomrong village, Jhinu Danda is the lower half where the locals of Chhomrong used to do terraced farming and had small huts to look after the farms. Today, Jhinu Danda is the main transit point and not like Bamboo or Sinuwa, but the main starting point of the Annapurna Base Camp. With rapid development of the road infrastructure, expanding through the Annapurna region, trekkers can now directly access the New bridge of Jhinu Danda, which saves acclimatization time and shortens the itinerary.
Photo: A typical teahouse and lodge in New Bridge
There is road access to Jhinu Danda, or more like the New Bridge, which is across from Jhinu Danda and connected with a long suspension bridge. But the road through the hills always faces landslides and dangerous, slippery, wet, and muddy roads. So, jeeps are mainly available from Siwai, which is an hour or two away from Jhinu Danda.
A local jeep will be arranged from Jhinu Danda and transfer you to the local jeep station in Pokhara. From there, your guide will arrange another transfer to your hotel, or sometimes, the jeep will take you to the hotel itself. With a farewell, your trek will end at your hotel in Pokhara.
Photo: Local bus station in Pokhara
Annapurna Base Camp via Poon Hill is a lovely trek, but not that easy. The first few days were hard going up to Ulleri village and a gradual forest trail walk to Ghorepani. Once you reach to Ghorepani at an...
I recently completed a 11 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek that went through the charming mountain village of Ghorepani and a side morning hike to the famous Poon Hill that lies at an altitude of 3210 meters, which providedan excellent...
My husband and I booked an 8-day customized trip to Annapurna Basecamp via Ghorepani Poon Hill (3210 m), and words cannot express how wonderful the entire experience was. Our guide, Garap, was the most attentive, friendly, and caring person I...
