Poon Hill Trek - 4 Days

Discovery World Trekking provides free airport-to-hotel on-arrival and hotel-to-airport departure transfers for all clients who have booked treks with us. When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), you will find our representative holding a pamphlet with your name and our company logo on it. After greeting you, they will present you with a garland as a welcome gesture and then take you to your hotel. We provide this service because we do not want you to feel alone in a new country or face navigation problems. However, to take advantage of this service, you must share your flight details after booking the trek. 

4 Days Poon Hill Ghandruk Circuit trek includes three nights of lodge-to-lodge stays in trek regions at the best available lodges. We provide three nights of twin-sharing rooms with attached bathrooms at Ulleri, Ghorepani, and Ghandruk.

You will spend one night at Silver Oaks Inn in Pokhara. Your accommodation comes with an attached bathroom, TV, 24-hour hot water, power, and laundry facility. We will provide a single private room with an attached bathroom in the available lodges for solo trekkers.

You will require at least two nights of hotel stays in Kathmandu - one each before and the other after the trek. However, this is not included in the package. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels for all budgets and tastes. We prefer your choice.

Poon Hill trekking is a moderate trek near the world’s highest peaks. You will burn lots of calories on the trails, so your body will need enough nutrient-rich food. We will provide plenty of hygienic, nutritious, and tasty food during the trek. However, as you elevate, you will get slightly fewer choices.

This trek package includes - 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners during the trek.

Some of the popular menu items are -

Breakfast - Hashed Brown Eggs, Varieties of eggs (Omelets), Pancakes, Muesli Breads, Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French Toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, and Honey Tibetan Bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa Porridge, Fruits and Vegetables, Hot Drinks - varieties of Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolates, etc.

Lunch  - Dhal, Bhat & Tarkari, Tenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Tibetan Bread, Various Soup Items, Sherpa Stew Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (Dumplings), Macaroni Dishes, Potatoes, Salad, Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed) Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Dessert Items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Dinner - Dal (lentils), Bhat (Rice) & Tarkari (Curry), Tibetan Bread, Vegetable Curry, Potato Items, Vegetables, Salads, Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Various Soup Items, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni Dishes, Tenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Snacks, Papad, Prawn, Korean Ramen, Dessert Items (Rice Pudding/Apple Pie), Steaks, etc.

We hand-select the best lodges that provide fresh, hygienic, tasty, and nutritious food. The menu choices include traditional local, Asian, and Western cuisine. However, as you ascend menu list gets shorter, and food gets more expensive.

We highly recommend liquids like green tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, lemon tea, and garlic soup (must) at high altitudes. Though plenty of non-veg items will be available during the trek, we do not recommend them. Instead, we advise you to include vegetable items in your diet.

Similarly, we encourage you to avoid dairy items, alcoholic drinks, caffeinated items, and hot chocolates. Experts suggest avoiding these items during such high-elevation treks.

Note: This package does not include dinner at Pokhara Hotel. 

The Poon Hill Ghandruk trek is an all-weather trek, but the experience will slightly differ according to the season. The trek trails are busy throughout the year but busier in some seasons.  

For fantastic views, clear skies, and great trail conditions, you might trek during the spring (March, April, and May) or autumn (September, October, and November). Summer (May, June, and July) and winter (December, January, and February) provide a slightly different but unique experience. The monsoon season coincides with summer in Nepal, making the trails wet and slippery. However, the stunning waterfalls, raging rivers, and lush jungles look inviting.

During winter, the temperature dips, and high trek elevations get snowfall, but the skies are clear, and the snow peaks look incredible with fresh snow. The temperature also depends on elevation – the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature. 

In brief, here is a snapshot of the climatic condition in the high altitudes during each season

The weather is cool at this time. The sky is crystal clear, and you can enjoy the clearest views of the mountains. The spring season brings mountain lovers and travel enthusiasts to the Poon Hill trek in droves. The climate is mild, the rainfall is low, and the trekking conditions are perfect. The mean daily temperature in Ghorepani Poon Hill is between 5 to 15℃. Lower trek regions are even warmer, making it pleasant to trek. Trekking activities begin after March. By April, the trek regions get adorned with red, pink, and white rhododendron blossoms, even at elevations over 3,000 meters. The temperature starts rising from mid-March up to mid-May. 

If you are coming for the Poon Hill trek between July to August, you are signing up for summer. Summer temperatures are high and provide pleasant trekking conditions compared to other months, but the monsoon coincides with the summer in Nepal, making trekking trails might be wet and slippery.

Monsoon generally begins at the end of June and continues till the second week of August. The temperature during the day usually ranges from 15 to 25°C, and nights are colder at 5 to 15°C. Mornings are clear, with clouds building up in the afternoon and disappearing at night. Though the rain may cause some problems, plants bloom during this season, the valleys look green, and views are very different compared to other seasons.

Autumn, like spring, is a season that lures travelers around the world to Poon Hill, Ghorepani. Moderate temperatures, mild wind, and low precipitation make autumn a wonderful trekking season. 

The sun shines brightly, the skies are clear, the temperatures are optimum, and you get a superb view of the mountains. The spectacular and clear starry skies look very enticing. The monsoon will retreat by early September, and the temperatures are mild. During the day, temperatures can reach up to 20°C in high altitudes. The night temperatures hover around 5°C. The greens that grew during the monsoon fade to golden/amber, providing a spectacular contrast against the crystal blue skies. 

The environment is clean, and the lowlands are lush. Grains ripen in the enclaves. The biggest Nepali festivals, like Dashain, Tihar, and Chhat fall during these seasons, adding a festive mood to the entire country. The humidity is low, and the days are warm. 

Winter treks in the Annapurna region are also mildly popular. The high trek regions in the Poon Hill trek get cold during the winter, but this excites a different class of trekkers. The temperature at high trek elevations can get as low as 5 °C, tempting winter-loving trekkers to Poon Hill. The night temperatures can dip to -5 °C. The coldest time starts from late December and continues until early February.

After mid-February, the weather warms, and the daytime gets pleasantly warm. Despite the cold, the winter skies are usually clear, and mountain views are at their best. The trails are the least busy at this time. It may not be the best season for new trekkers or those with cold allergies, but experienced trekkers will have no problem.

4 days Poon Hill Ghorepani Ghandruk circuit trekking is an easy grade trek in the Annapurna region. The hiking is generally 4 to 5 hrs a day, taking regular breaks to soak in the stunning mountain views. Trek routes involve fair ascents and descents, along with straightforward sections. Trekking at higher altitudes is more physically demanding than at lower altitudes. Trekkers who can hike 4 to 5 hours a day at a reasonable pace with a light day pack can complete this trek. Some days may require longer walking hours. An average person can certainly take part in this trek. In fact, this trek is suitable for all age groups. 

However, people with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease should inform us before booking the trek.

We organize group as well as private treks. If you have a group, you are eligible for discounts based on your group size. The larger your group, the more discount, you will get. We can handle all group sizes and add an assistant guide for a group of 12 or more. 

Every day will reward you with a unique trekking experience, enjoying the scenery, taking photos, and exploring the local villages. During the trek, our experienced, friendly, and qualified expert Sherpa will provide you with information about the places as you visit them. Our porters will carry your luggage. However, we also expect you to bring a regular backpack with your essential documents and expensive items.  

Your day starts with an early morning hot cup of tea/coffee. After breakfast, you will begin that day’s walk around 7 AM to 8 AM, depending on the trek length to cover and the nature of the walk. After trekking for three to four hours, we will serve you lunch around midday, often on the route to the next destination. You will have an hour of rest after lunch.

The afternoon walk is generally shorter, lasting for about two to three hours. Once you reach the overnight lodge/tea house, you can snack on the extra dietary food. Then, you are free to explore nearby places. 

We serve dinner around 6 to 7 PM. After dinner, your trek lead/guide will brief you about the next day's plan. Then, before going to bed, you can indulge in friendly conversations, play board games like chess, monopoly, or cards, or read books. Most of our guests also engage in learning light, fun Nepali words before going to bed. 

On the Poon Hill Ghandruk circuit trek, you can use internet service at the lodges you will be staying at by paying a small fee. You can contact your family and friends via these lodges. If you want, you can also buy local SIM from Kathmandu. We'll communicate with all our trek teams through the trek leader at least once a day to ensure the trek is progressing as planned and everyone is comfortable. 

You can use electricity to recharge your electronics at the lodges you will be staying. However, you may have to pay for this service. You can buy packed mineral water from local lodges and en-route shops. However, we advise you to carry a water bottle. You can buy boiled water from lodges/tea houses and put it in your water bottle. We suggest you use a water purification pill before drinking water. If you do not have water purification pills, we can provide them.

This Poon Hill trek package includes most expenses during the trek but does not cover all costs. You have to pay for meals and accommodations in Kathmandu and meals in Pokhara. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. So, you will have to bring personal spending money to cover visa application fees, travel insurance policy purchases, beverages, snacks for the trek, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips for the trekking crew members, souvenirs, etc. We recommend you bring cash (major currencies), which you can exchange for Nepali Rupees. 

Poon Hill Ghorepani trek trip grade is ranked easy with almost no risk of potential high altitude sickness. However, this mountain journey is not for usual visits. So, you might consider purchasing travel insurance for safety. In emergencies, we will use your insurance for a quick, effective rescue.

All foreigners, except Indians, need a valid visa to enter Nepal. However, nationals from most countries are eligible for an on-arrival visa. You can get an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport or the immigration checkpoint at Nepal-India and Nepal-Tibet border.

For visa application, you will need a passport with at least six months of validity, a passport-size photo, and visa application fees. The current cost is USD 50 for a 30-day stay. You can pay visa fees in cash. 

Children under ten can get free visas. Similarly, SAARC (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka) nationals are eligible for free visas. However, citizens from certain countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan) may not receive an on-arrival visa. If you are a citizen of these countries, you must contact the local Nepalese Embassy.

Nepal government can change visa rules without notice, so for the latest information, visit - https://www.immigration.gov.np/.

Nepali Rupees (NPR/Rs) is the local currency.
(1 USD = ~ Rs.130 NPR).

You can exchange most (major) currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel. Most hotels do exchange small amounts.

Legitimate money exchanges display their rates publicly. If you have Indian Rupees, bear in mind that only Indian Rupee notes of 100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal.

Despite having the security advantage of a traveler's cheque, we recommend cash exchange to avoid lengthy bank processes and high commission rates. You also have the option to withdraw cash (in Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel itself. Several of these ATMs are open around the clock. However, the maximum withdrawal amount is 35,000 Rupees for a 500 Rupees processing fee using a foreign card. 

If you use banks and financial institutions for money exchanges, they will charge a service fee of about four percent or more, depending upon the bank.

The luggage weight limit per trekker is 9 kg. We assign one porter for every two trekkers, and our porters will not carry more than 18 kg combined weight. We never overload our porters. However, we also expect you to bring a small backpack for your valuables and essential documents. You can leave your excess luggage at your hotel or the Discovery World Trekking store for free.  

Discovery World Trekking guarantees client safety, security, and satisfaction. We take your safety seriously. Our team will carry all the necessary gear, equipment, and first aid kits for safety. Our guides are extensive first aid trained and have years of experience handling all situations during the trek. Since this trek is not very intensive or extreme, we have not faced any trek-related problems. For safety, you will trek in a group.