Poon Hill Trek Route can be best categorized in two ways: Anti Clockwise or Clockwise. If you follow the clockwise Poon Hill Trek Route, you ascend Ghorepani and Poonhill via Ulleri, Banthanti and Nanagethanti. But, if you follow the anticlockwise Poon Hill Trek route, then, you hike via Ghandruk and Tadapani for Ghorepani and Poon Hill.
The third Poonhill Trek route which his rarely used is via Tatopani while returning from Jomsom and Muktinath. This route is taken as alternative and spare trekking or driving route for Poon Hill. One can directly drive to Poon Hill from Tatopani and can reach within 3-4 hours. Or, people can trek to Poon Hill spend the whole day at least for 7 hours from Tatopani.
Poonhill Trek Route Clockwise
Poon Hill Trek Route clockwise is via Ulleri and Banthanti. When you begin your Ghorepani-Poon Hill Trek from Pokhara, you drive to Birethanti via Nayapool. Before you get to Birethanti and Nayapool, you drive through Ghattekulo, Kande, Naudanda and Lumle. The road is fine and smooth nowdays. Sometimes, there may occur some disturbances due to minor landslides and fall of the rocks on the road while heading towards Nayapool from Lumle.
As you arrive in Birethanti, you get your trekking permits checked at the office of Annapurna Conservation Area Office and hike or further drive to Ulleri or Banthanti. Actually, both drive and hike are possible in Spring( Mar-May) Autumn ( Sep-Nov) and Winter ( Dec-Feb) but only hike is possible in Rainy ( Jun-Aug). In rainy season, the rural road from Birethanti from Ulleri or Banthnati is damaged by landslides and floods. So, it is not possible to drive from Birethanti to Ulleri or Banthanti in rainy season while doing Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek in rainy months in Nepal.
The Poon Hill Jeep Ride up to Ulleri or Banthanti is possible in Spring, Autumn and Winter months but not possible in rainy.
If you can take jeep ride to Ulleri or Banthanti, you can escape the steep uphill walk of Ulleri from Hile and Tikhedhunga. Some people find the uphill of Ulleri very difficult to ascend.
If you prefer walking from Birethanti, then, you need to pass Hile and Tikhedhunga. After passing Hile and Tikhedhunga, you will ascend Ulleri village and stay overnight at local lodge for the first night in your Ghorepani Poonhill Trek.
While ascending Ulleri, you need to build up your confidence to walk continuously at least 3 hours with all stone steps going all the way up till you get to Ulleri Village ( 2050m). Have enough water to drink on the way and have some light snacks as well to kill your instant thirst and hunger.
Can I choose walking even though the jeep goes to Ulleri and Banthanti?
If you want to escape this steep climb of Ulleri from Tikhedhunga, you can go with Jeep Ride to Ulleri from Birethanti or directly from Pokhara in Spring, Autumn and Winter, but not possible in rainy. Or, if you prefer hiking, you still can do begin your hiking from Poon Hill from Birethanti a ascending Ulleri and Banthanti. It’s your choice and you will have to have one more day to spend on this section of hiking from Birethanti to Ulleri if you don’t want Four- Wheel Jeep drive for Ulleri from Pokhara. The cost for Ulleri Jeep ride from Pokhara is Rs. 7000-8000 depending on the number of people and the time of the year.
Ghorepani Poonhill Trek Route from Ulleri
After you get to Ulleri and Banthanti( 2200m), you will hike through Annapurna Conservation Area with its diverse species of plants, melodious and rhythmic water falls, tiny teashops and local lodges for snacks and tea. Further, you will ascend Nangethanti where you can have your lunch, snacks, tea, coffee and take rest before heading to Ghorepani( 2800m).
We arrive at the beautiful gate which welcomes you with the board ( Welcome to Ghorepani-Poonhill ) at lower Ghorepani Village with more than 50 houses. All the house are local lodges here for meals and accommodation.
At lower Ghorepani Village, there is a police check post where you again need to make an entry of your trekking permits and then only you can ascend to Upper or main Ghorepani Village. It takes 15 minutes to walk to Upper Ghorepani from Lower Village.
As you ascend Ghorepani Village, you will get stunned to see entire Annapurna mountain range with giant Dhaulagiri and the most fascinating Machhapuchhre.
You will enjoy local lodge accommodation here at Ghorepani village with Wi-Fi, hot shower and massage if you want. Even, people can get luxury accommodation here at Ghorepani with extra cost. If you are luxury seeker, you can do it.
Ghorepani to Poonhill Hike
Ghorepani (2800m) is the base of Poonhill(3200m). The climb from Ghorepani to Poonhill begins early in the norning with torchlight with mobile phone or your headlight. You’d better be with hiking poles, gloves, warm head cover, sunglasses, multi-layers jacket, smart phones, cameras, light sancks and enough water( min.1 litr.) preferably warm water with your while ascending Poon Hill.
You will get shocked to see a big herd of people limping to the top of Poon Hill for sunrise and mountain views.
Once you get to the top of Poonhill(3210m),you will see a tall tower which is Poonhill View Tower to witness and capture mountain views and sunrise. You will enjoy and celebrate the most stunning views of Annapurna Range, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Lamjung Himal and numerous other snow-fed mountain peaks with spectacular sunrise from the top of Poonhill and walk down to Ghorepani for breakfast.
After your breakfast, you an either walk towards Tadapni and then to Ghandruk via Deurali Danda or walk down to Ulleri along the same trail.
You, will, normally, walk towards Tadapni via Deurali and Banthanti to go Ghandruk Village. Tadapni is a full day walk from Ghorepani through Deurali and Banthanti ( the place where you will have your lunch with mesmerizing water falls).
As you reach Ghandruk finally, you can explore the largest traditional Nepali village of Gurung people with more than 300 local settlements. Most of the house here are local lodges and homestays. They have their traditional and cultural museums and local authentic cuisines to offer the visitors here at Ghandruk. The village Ghanduk is also popular for mountain views and sunrise.
After you explore Ghandruk village, you can either drive back to Pokhara directly by local bus or jeep or can walk down to Syauli Bazar, then, to Birethanti and drive back to Pokhara to end your Poon Hill Trek Route Clockwise.
Poon Hill Trek Route Anti Clockwise
Poonhill Trek Route Anti Clockwise is via Ghandruk and Tadapani, not via Ulleri and Banthanti while ascending Ghorepani and Poonhill. The route follows the same road drive till one gets to Nayapool and Birethanti. Then, the roads divides: one to Ulleri and the other to Ghandruk. You will catch the road or the trail leading to Ghandruk, the largest traditional village of Gurung people with more than 400 homes.
You can observe many significant things in Ghandruk like traditional museums, authentic clothing of Gurung people, local cuisines, German Bakery and Fantastic Mountain views including Mt. Annapuran- South, Himchuli and Machhapuchhre. You can enjoy the dazzling sunshine reflecting on the Annapurna Himalayan Range with your beautiful breakfast from the rooftop restaurants in Ghandruk. The cool and serene village locate at the lap of Annapurna and Machhapuchhre will let you experience the absolute refreshment with the true contrast of the colors of mountains, sunrise and the classical village of Nepal.
After you spend a day at Ghandruk or you can drive directly Ghandruk from Pokhara and trek to Tadapani on the same day as well. The trail from Ghandruk will ascend slowly through Annapruna Conservation Area. It will take you to Banthanti village via Tadapani where you will have your lunch and take rest there before ascending up to Ghorepani.
At Banthanti, you can enjoy mesmerizing natural water falls and the little cute stream which heals your exhaustion while ascending through stone steps and little slippery and rocky trail.
The trail from Banthanti village gets steeper till you get Deurali. The trail from Banthanti to Deurali is considered to be very challenging and steep and, sometimes, even slippery in rainy and snowy weather and the beginners find this workout really difficult and hard to do. However, drinking plenty of water and having some light snacks will empower you to get victory over it.
Once you get Deurali, you will take long deep breath and you really want to cry to see fabulous mountain panoramas including Machhapuchhre( Fishtail), Annapurna Range, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal. You will celebrate this moment with several photographies and with little snacks you carry with you. From Deurali, you even can see Poon Hill clearly.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trail from Deurali descends towards Ghandruk via deep woods. Going all the way down will be easier for you. Within an hour and couple of hours, you will get Ghorepani village and stay overnight there at local lodge.
The next morning, you will climb Poonhill spending 1.30 hours early in the morning and enjoy spectacular sunrise and mountain views of Annapurna Range, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre( Fishtail), Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Himchuli, Lamjung Himal and several other snow-covered summits towards the north.
Once you celebrate this moment from Poon Hill, you will walk down, have your breakfast and walk towards Ulleri via Lower Ghorepani, Nangethanti and Banthanti. You can catch jeep from Banthanti or Ulleri after 3 hours of walk from Ghorepani or can walk down to Tikhedhunga, Hile and finally to Birethanti to end the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek Rout Anticlockwise.
Befefits of Poon Hill Trek Route Clockwise via Ulleri and Banthanti
- Relatively easier to climb
- Can escape the steep climb of Ulleri with jeep ride from Biretahnti to Banthanti
- More spectacular landscapes and views on the trail
- More options of local teahouse and lodges on the route (Banthanti, NanageThanti and Lower Ghorepani)
Benefits of Poon Hill Trek Route Anticlockwise
- Can explore Ghandruk Village before ascending Tadapani and Ghorepani
- Best option for rainy and winter season as the ice and the slippery trail may bring some terrible consequences if you walk down from Duerali to Tadapani while doing Poon Hill Trek clockwise
- Good level of exercise for those who really want adventure walking ascending all the way up with stone steps and can burn the fats
- Less Crowded Trail as majority if people choose ascending Poon Hill via Ulleri and Banthanti
Alternative Routes for Poon Hill Trek
There are two alternative routes for Poonhill Trek. It means, one can ascend Poon Hill via Tatopani and Muldai Hill following the different trekking route. These two alternative routes for Poon Hill Trek will be more comprehensive and winder to cover all the spectacular mountain views and landscapes within same trekking trip.
Poon Hill Trek Route via Muldai Hill
Poonhill can be reached via Muldai Hill Trek which begins from Ghandruk and take you to Dobato and finally to Muldai Hill Viewpoint (3637m). You can have more breathtaking views of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre and Dhaulagiri from Muldai Hill than from Poon Hill (3210m). The mountain views from Muldai Hill are much closer and more spectacular than from Poon Hill.
When, people want to go Poon Hill if they miss the views from Muldai Hill, you can walk to Ghoreapni spending 6-7 hours and climb Poon Hill.
Actually, some people really love stepping at Poon Hill though they enjoyed good mountain views from Muldai Hill and Mohare Danda (3500m). You can still do climb Poon Hill (3210m) via Mulde Hill(3637m) if you want. This is possible. After climbing Poon Hill, you can switch your walk towards Mohare Danda, which is equally popular among the tourist nowadays.
From Mohare Danda, you directly walk down to Ulleri and trek or drive back to Nayapool and then to Pokhara.
Poon Hill Trek Route via Tatopani
Thos who are in Annapurna Circuit Trek or Annapurna Round Trek can find this Poon Hill Trek Route via Tatopani very rewarding. This is the most classical trekking route of Annapurna Circuit Trek to end it in Nayapool via Poon Hill. But, only few people know this interesting information about classical Annapurna Circuit Trek by visiting Poon Hill.
If you are doing Annapurna Circuit Trek and ending in Tatopani, it is recommended to go Poon Hill and celebrate the sweet ending of the trek with mesmerizing Dhaulagiri, Annapruna Range, Machhapuchhre, Ganesh Himal and Manaslu before heading to Pokhara and Kathmandu.
Also, the people who are in Jomsom, Muktinath or in Kaligandaki Gorge can go to Poonhill and witness marvelous Annapurna Range, Machhapuchhre( Fishtail), Manaslu, Dhaulagiri and Ganesh Himal from Poonhill with thrilling sunrise early in the morning. Optionally, one can ascend Poon Hill in the evening and do all these activities as well.
Poon Hill is also popular for meditation and yoga either in the evening or in the morning directly facing towards Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre. The serenity, calmness and energy you feel while performing yoga and meditation at the top of Poon Hill will exhilarating experience for you.
So, those who are in Tatopani, Jomsom, Muktinath or Kaligandaki Gorge must walk do Poonhill via Sikha and Ghara spending whole day 7-8 hours. Though the walk is logger hours, one can enjoy this walk through various local villages.
Optionally, you can stay overnight at Sikha or Ghara on the way to Poon Hill from Tatopani. At Sikha or Ghara village, one can enjoy typical authentic local accommodation and cuisines.
If you want to avoid long hours walking to Poon Hill from Tatopani, you can drive directly to Ghorepani spending just 3-4 hours.
Conclusion
Poon Hill has direct access from Pokhara via two routes: Ulleri and Ghandruk. Both routes are very popular among the trekekrs who are doing or planning Poon Hill Trek. However, there are some other alternative routes for Ghorepani Poonhill Trek. These Poon Hill Trek alternative routes are: via Muldai Hill and via Tatopani.
Tatopani route is mostly followed by the people who end their Annapurna Circuit Trek and Mauldai Hill Trek Route is adopted by who want to Muldai Hill, Khayar Lake and Moure Hill with Poon Hill Trek. And rests of the two popular Poon Hill Trek Routes are directly conncted to Poonhill via either Ulleri or Ghandruk Village. But, the most popularPoon Hill Trek Route is via Ulleri and Banthanti. We recommend you to do the Poon Hill Trek clockwise via Ulleri or Banthanti rather than Ghandruk village. However, the Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek route via Ghandruk and Tadapani will be the finest option for you in winter season to ascend up to Ghorepani and Poonhill.
Haven Holidays 3 w
https://www.havenholidaysnepal.com/blogs/poon-hill-trek-route