Annapurna Poonhill Sunrise Trek (8 Days)
The Annapurna Poonhill Sunrise Trek is one of Nepal's most popular short treks, offering stunning views of the Himalayas, including the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. This 8 days treks takes you through lush rhododendron forests, charming villages, and terraced farmlands, all while immersing you in the rich local culture of the Gurung and Magar communities. The highlight of the trek is reaching Poonhill (3,210 meters) at dawn, where you witness an unforgettable sunrise casting golden hues over some of the highest peaks in the world. Ideal for beginner trekkers, this journey combines breathtaking landscapes with a moderate level of challenge, making it a perfect introduction to trekking in Nepal
Highlights
- Explore Kathmandu, Nepal's buzzing capital
- Take a private guided tour of trio of sacred sites in the Kathmandu Valley
- Trek through rhododendron forests and traditional Gurung villages
- A hot bath in natural hot springs in Jhinu Danda
- Enjoy spectacular views of Dhaulagiri, Himchuli, Mt Fishtail and Annapurna I
- Relax in the serene lakeside city of Pokhara
- Boating in Fewa Lake
Outline Itinerary
| Day 1 | : | Pokhara– Nayapul –Tikhedhunga- Ulleri- (1,495m), Drive to Nayapul 5-6 hrs. |
|---|---|---|
| Day 2 | : | Ulleri - Ghorepani (2,850m/9,350ft): 5-6 hrs |
| Day 3 | : | Walk up Poon hill (3,210m). Ghorepani – Tadapani (2,520m): 7-8hrs |
| Day 4 | : | Tadapani - Chhomrong (2,110m): 5-6 hrs. |
| Day 5 | : | Chhomrong – Himalaya Hotel (2,920m): 6-7 hrs. |
| Day 6 | : | Himalaya Hotel – Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m): 6-7 hrs. |
| Day 7 | : | Annapurna Base Camp – Sinuwa (2 360m): 6-7 hrs. |
| Day 8 | : | Sinuwa – Shewmi (1 720m) – Nayapul – Pokhara (910m/2 986ft): 6-7 hrs. Trek, 2½ hrs. Drive. |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Pokhara– Nayapul –Tikhedhunga- Ulleri- (1,495m), Drive to Nayapul 5-6 hrs.
Drive to Nayapul where we commence our trek to Birethanti, a large and prosperous riverside village at the confluence of the Modi and Burundi Kholas (streams). We hike up to Sudame along the off road and then climb gradually up the side of the valley, Tikhedhunga. Cross suspension metal bridge and steep ascent on stone staircases to the village of Ulleri – and an amazing landscape of valley floor where we came during the day with marvelous views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.
Overnight in Ulleri at Lodge
Meals:Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Ulleri - Ghorepani (2,850m/9,350ft): 5-6 hrs. After breakfast, our pleasant trekking begins through rhododendron and oak forests. The scenery will give you the energy to continue up the steps as you immerse yourself in the walk. After a few hours and with several breaks we reached Ghorepani. Upper Ghorepani (Deurali) where we stay in this trip, offers fantastic views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Himalayas. Overnight in Ghorepani at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 03: Walk up Poon hill (3,210m). Ghorepani – Tadapani (2,520m): 7-8hrs Make a pre-dawn start for the 45 minute walk up Poon hill (3,210m/10,530ft); through rhododendron forest. From the grassy top of the hill there is an unobstructed panoramic view of the high Himalayas stretching from far western Dolpo, and Dhaulagiri (8,172m/26,812ft), the Annapurna Range in the north, including Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail) and on to Manaslu (8,163m/26,783ft) in the northeast. To the south, the mist slowly rises from the flatlands towards India. After countless photographs, walk back to Ghorepani for breakfast. The eastward trail to Tadapani crosses numerous ridges through thick pine and rhododendron forest with occasional flat sections and wonderful views of the snow peaks to the north from high ground. Overnight in Tadapani.at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 04: Tadapani - Chhomrong (2,110m): 5-6 hrs. The trail turns north to Chile before dropping to cross the Kimrong Khola on a suspension bridge and then gradually climbs into the forested Modi Khola Valley that carries glacial melt waters from the Annapurna Sanctuary. After lunch at the Gurung village of Talung, undulate for another 1½hrs, sometimes on stair cases up to the charming agricultural village of Chhomrong: the largest settlement in the valley. Views of the upper valley plus Annapurna South and Himal Chuli gradually come into view. Overnight in Chhomrong at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 05: Chhomrong – Himalaya Hotel (2,920m): 6-7 hrs. After breakfast, the trail drops to cross the Chhomrong Khola and then ascends to the pretty village of Sinuwa. Thereafter the trail enters the upper Modi Khola Valley through dense forests of cane, rhododendron and oak. It rises then drops to the village of Bamboo (2,310m/7,580ft) on the banks of the river: a perfect lunch spot. After lunch, continue up through uninhabited forest to Dobhan, later crossing several avalanche chutes before reaching the small village of Himalaya Hotel. Overnight in Himalaya Hotel at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 06: Himalaya Hotel – Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m): 6-7 hrs. As the altitude increases, forest gives way to alpine scrub and grasses. The valley walls steepen with the river raging far below. Explore the cave at Hinku before crossing a ravine and major avalanche track prior to reaching Deorali (3,230m/10,598ft). Breathtaking views into the sacred Annapurna Sanctuary gradually appear as the trail heads over a ridge and climbs to the Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700m/12,136ft). Another two hours slow walk up grassy slopes leads to the Annapurna Base Camp hotels on the Annapurna South glacial moraine: some 3,900m/12,800ft beneath the peaks crowning the surrounding ice walls. Overnight in ABC at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 07: Annapurna Base Camp – Sinuwa (2 360m): 6-7 hrs. Rise before dawn and climb onto the rim of the glacier for a photographic feast as the sun lights up the ring of peaks, the almost vertical ice walls around the valley, then the glacier in its U-shaped gorge: grinding relentlessly below your feet. Return to the hotel for breakfast and then retrace your steps on the easier down-trail as far as the quaint village of Sinuwa. Overnight in Sinuwa at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 08: Sinuwa – Shewmi (1 720m) – Nayapul – Pokhara (910m/2 986ft): 6-7 hrs. Trek, 2½ hrs. Drive. Today will be a long day, as you drop back down the valley to Taglung and then continue south, following the Modi Khola, to the prosperous village of Ghandruk. Northern views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhare are in view along the route. The trail then drops through several villages as it returns to Nayapul: and the bus back to Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 2: Ulleri - Ghorepani (2,850m/9,350ft): 5-6 hrs. After breakfast, our pleasant trekking begins through rhododendron and oak forests. The scenery will give you the energy to continue up the steps as you immerse yourself in the walk. After a few hours and with several breaks we reached Ghorepani. Upper Ghorepani (Deurali) where we stay in this trip, offers fantastic views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Himalayas. Overnight in Ghorepani at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 03: Walk up Poon hill (3,210m). Ghorepani – Tadapani (2,520m): 7-8hrs Make a pre-dawn start for the 45 minute walk up Poon hill (3,210m/10,530ft); through rhododendron forest. From the grassy top of the hill there is an unobstructed panoramic view of the high Himalayas stretching from far western Dolpo, and Dhaulagiri (8,172m/26,812ft), the Annapurna Range in the north, including Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail) and on to Manaslu (8,163m/26,783ft) in the northeast. To the south, the mist slowly rises from the flatlands towards India. After countless photographs, walk back to Ghorepani for breakfast. The eastward trail to Tadapani crosses numerous ridges through thick pine and rhododendron forest with occasional flat sections and wonderful views of the snow peaks to the north from high ground. Overnight in Tadapani.at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 04: Tadapani - Chhomrong (2,110m): 5-6 hrs. The trail turns north to Chile before dropping to cross the Kimrong Khola on a suspension bridge and then gradually climbs into the forested Modi Khola Valley that carries glacial melt waters from the Annapurna Sanctuary. After lunch at the Gurung village of Talung, undulate for another 1½hrs, sometimes on stair cases up to the charming agricultural village of Chhomrong: the largest settlement in the valley. Views of the upper valley plus Annapurna South and Himal Chuli gradually come into view. Overnight in Chhomrong at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 05: Chhomrong – Himalaya Hotel (2,920m): 6-7 hrs. After breakfast, the trail drops to cross the Chhomrong Khola and then ascends to the pretty village of Sinuwa. Thereafter the trail enters the upper Modi Khola Valley through dense forests of cane, rhododendron and oak. It rises then drops to the village of Bamboo (2,310m/7,580ft) on the banks of the river: a perfect lunch spot. After lunch, continue up through uninhabited forest to Dobhan, later crossing several avalanche chutes before reaching the small village of Himalaya Hotel. Overnight in Himalaya Hotel at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 06: Himalaya Hotel – Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m): 6-7 hrs. As the altitude increases, forest gives way to alpine scrub and grasses. The valley walls steepen with the river raging far below. Explore the cave at Hinku before crossing a ravine and major avalanche track prior to reaching Deorali (3,230m/10,598ft). Breathtaking views into the sacred Annapurna Sanctuary gradually appear as the trail heads over a ridge and climbs to the Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700m/12,136ft). Another two hours slow walk up grassy slopes leads to the Annapurna Base Camp hotels on the Annapurna South glacial moraine: some 3,900m/12,800ft beneath the peaks crowning the surrounding ice walls. Overnight in ABC at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 07: Annapurna Base Camp – Sinuwa (2 360m): 6-7 hrs. Rise before dawn and climb onto the rim of the glacier for a photographic feast as the sun lights up the ring of peaks, the almost vertical ice walls around the valley, then the glacier in its U-shaped gorge: grinding relentlessly below your feet. Return to the hotel for breakfast and then retrace your steps on the easier down-trail as far as the quaint village of Sinuwa. Overnight in Sinuwa at Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 08: Sinuwa – Shewmi (1 720m) – Nayapul – Pokhara (910m/2 986ft): 6-7 hrs. Trek, 2½ hrs. Drive. Today will be a long day, as you drop back down the valley to Taglung and then continue south, following the Modi Khola, to the prosperous village of Ghandruk. Northern views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhare are in view along the route. The trail then drops through several villages as it returns to Nayapul: and the bus back to Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Inclusions
- Airport pickups and drops in a private vehicle
- 4-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast
- Teahouse accommodation during the trek
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
- Domestic flights if required
- Guided city tour in Kathmandu by private vehicle
- Entrance fees for sightseeing/monument visits as per the itinerary
- An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek leader and assistant trek leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide)
- Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
- Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, food and accommodation
- Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
- All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (ACAP, TIMS)
- All government and local taxes
Exclusions
- Nepalese visa fee
- Excess baggage charge(s)
- Private transportation except what is mentioned in inclusion section
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)
- International flights
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
- Tips for guide(s), porter(s) and driver(s)