For the world that is new to “GHOREPANI POON HILL” Let me just mention that it is one of the most aesthetic places and a paradise for photographers. Ghorepani is a quaint Himalayan village that is located in the Dhaulagiri zone of northern-central Nepal, in the Myagdi District. This village is perched at an elevation of (2875 mts. /9428 ft.), just at a distance of 17 km from Beni (which is the district capital). And the world famous Poon Hill lays a small trek away, at an elevation of (3210 m/10532 feet).
The terrain of these magical settlement may seem steep and at a high elevation but there is no lack of basic facilities, and the unbeatable landscape makes the trek worthwhile. The prices of these basic facilities may be a little higher than what you may usually pay, but we have to understand that these “basic facilities “have to be transported on backs of mules and porters who have to be paid for their sweat.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trekking is one of the most popular spots for trekking in Nepal known by a few other names which are The Annapurna Sunrise trekking, Annapurna panorama trekking and the tree house trek. For trekking enthusiasts this maybe a relatively easy-to-trek destination. The paths lead through native ethnic villages, valleys, forests and the pristine Himalayan mountain ranges. The Annapurna region is an expanse of Rhododendron forests, natural springs of water and a close interaction with the local tradition and culture of this place.
The best snaps of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, II, III, IV, Lamjung Himal, Manaslu range and Gangapurna ranges can be taken on this trek which is why it is also known as a photographer’s paradise. At Poonhill, the magnificent sunrise is a spectacle on the rise, again making for the most highly aesthetic snaps.
One of the largest Gurung settlements can be found in the Gandruk and the Ghorepani area in the Anapurna region. The cozy villages terraced fields, paddy slopes and the amalgamation of the wonderful cultures and lifestyles of the Magar and Gurung tribes, can we witnessed in close proximity. This is what makes the Annapurna foothills such a pleasant trek.
The Ghorepani region experiences four weathers, autumn from September to November, the winters from February to December, the springs from March to May and the summers from June to August. Mostly cloudy, the Ghorepani trek is not the harsh cold trek that you have to do on glaciers; the temperatures remain low and consistently so. In the spring season, the temperature reaches from 20 ͦ to 30 ͦ Celsius and the summer experiences a slight rise maintaining a temperature of 20 ͦ to 35 ͦ Celsius.
There is however, a few more attention to details to make your Ghorepani Poon Hill trekking more enjoyable.
Did you know about the permits required for this trek?
Here are the permits that are best to avail well before you start your journey.
- Annapurna conservation permit- 1000 Rupees per person.
- TIMS Trekker’s permit- 1825 Rupees per person.
All in all you will pay anywhere around 6000 to 7000 Rupees for all the permits and their commissions.
One need not worry about renting gears and supplies for they are arranged as well at a price. You can easily get:
- A set of trekking poles (hired at 60 Rupees per day).
- Down jackets (hired at 100 rupees per day).
- Sleeping Bags (hired at 80 Rupees per day).
The following list is not a detailed clothing list. You can use it as a guideline but there’s no need to bring everything listed below. Clothes are cheaper and of good quality in Pokhara and Kathmandu.
- Fleece Jacket
- T-shirts
- Waterproof Jacket
- Light Downeight Jacket
- Sports Bras
- Thermals
- Underwear
- Long Sleeve Shirts
- Trekking Pants
- Gloves
- Trekking Boots
- Trekking Socks
- Sun Hat
- Scarf or Bandana
- Suncsreen
- Sunglasses
The food however is as cheap as feeding yourself for the entire day, a full course healthy meal three times a day, for a dollar per meal.
The standard trekking duration is five days.
Day 1- You trek from Nayapull to Thikhedunga (this is a 5-6 hours trek).
Day 2- Thikhedunga to Ghorepani (this is a 7-8 hours trek).
Day 3- Ghorepani to Poonhill- Ghorepani to Gandruk (this is a 10-12 hours trek).
Day 4- Gandruk to Deurali (this is a 10 hours trek).
Day 5- From Deurali back to Pokhara.
Trekking in Nepal is slowly becoming a hub for trekking enthusiast. The Nepal tourism thrives because of the wonderful experiences that people have here in the lap of the Himalayas, and for good reasons. The economy of the people is solely based on human interaction and barter of natural resources which is why people come to the Himalayas. Plan your next hiking trips to the Himalayas and make sure you conquer the Ghorepani hill trekking; it will be worth your while.
