Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

You start a guided tour to four of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. Kathmandu Durbar Square holds the palaces of the medieval Kings who ruled over the Kathmandu Kingdom. Pashupatinath houses a sacred Lingum, or the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. The Aryaghat alongside Pashupati and on the banks of the Bagmati River is a famous funeral site for the Hindus. The Buddhists shrine of Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in the world, and one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage and tourist destinations in Kathmandu. The area of Boudhnath is also famous for over 50 Tibetan Gompas or monasteries. Swayambhu meaning the “the self-existent” is popular among the foreigners as the Monkey Temple owing to the large number of monkey population residing in the area. Bhaktapur Durbar square and Patan Durbar Square are also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Bhakatpur is an irresistible city with an authentic local lifestyle preserved over centuries of isolation from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. While in the city square, you get to admire the Nyata-Pola Temple, the Golden Gate, waterspouts and the 55 Window Palace which merge together to provide an ambience of a magical outdoor theater to its visitors. Overnight at Kathmandu

We take a ride on a car or tourist bus to Pokhara, all the way through scenic mountain terrain, its fame rests on the natural beauty of its lakeside location and its proximity to the mountains. After taking a bit rest, you can make evening sightseeing in Pokhara Valley. Stay overnight at hotel.

After breakfast we drive to Nayapul then we start our actual trek to Annapurna Base camp from Nayapul. You’ll catch a wonderful view on the way to Tikedhungga. We walk through sub-tropical valley forests, beautiful farmlands, green hills, waterfalls and sometimes on the carved trail on the side of the cliff. After lunch, we cross the Modi Khola (river) via a suspension bridge to the village of Tikhedhunga. Nearly after 4 hours long walking, we will arrive at Tikedhunga. Overnight at Guest house in Tikedhunga.

After breakfast we make an ascending trek to the Ghorepani village. Literally the word Ghorepani is formed of two different local words Gohore (horse) + Pani (water). Therefore, Ghorepani is the name of a place where horse used to drink water in the past. During those days horse was used as transportation mean for traders who used to do their trades from Tibet (BHOT). But later, it became a trekker’s stop. Ghorepani is an interesting place with small shops and stalls for selling local products and crafts. The town has two parts: one in a saddle and the other a few hundred feet lower. We stop at the higher part of the Ghorepani village that offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including Annapurna South and Nilgiri mountains. Since Ghorepani lies quite higher than our previous stop, we will feel the chilly weather especially in the evenings. Overnight at Ghorepani.

Today, it is a special day for us to conquer Poon Hill- an icon of Annapurna region. To catch the magnificent scene of sunrise over the Himalayas, we make an early morning climb along the steep trail to the viewpoint of Poon Hill (3210m.). Poon Hill is a great viewpoint from where we will enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the Mustang part and Pokhara valleys including the closest views of more than 20 highest mountains including the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The snowcapped peaks of the high mountains loom above and around us glowing in the morning light. After taking beautiful photos and having some coffee or tea or hot chocolate, we will be back to Ghorepani. We walk through rhododendron forests, waterfalls and many cliffs on the way; and finally, we arrive at Tadapani. Overnight at Tadapani.

Today, we trek with a steep descent through the dense and dark forest. Most of the forest areas are of a thick forest of old rhododendron trees. Spring is the best when the rhododendron trees become the gardens of dazzlingly beautiful flowers of mostly red which can easily be seen from far. We become surprised when we see a beautiful sight of some cherry blossoms in bloom on the slopes of the ravine. Finally, we step into a beautiful Ghandruk village- the second largest Gurung settlement in Nepal. Gurung is one of the popular and culturally rich ethnic indigenous groups in Nepal. We explore the Gurung museum today at Ghandruk. Overnight at Ghandruk.

Today, we trek to Nayapul; and catch our vehicle from Nayapul to Pokhara. We trek downhill until we arrive at Birethanti. We step on a staircase paved stone slabs curving in and out of the village. We will see many waterfalls, big cotton trees, terraced farmlands and more on the way to Nayapul. It keeps on going down almost without breaks from Ghandruk until Modi Khola river valley. From Birethanti, a half-an-hour’s walk takes us into Nayapul. Our actual trek will end at NayaPul; and we drive to Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara.

If we like by driving it will be better to hold on the left pane of the vehicle to enjoy the sceneries through the route. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we will be escorted to the hotel for rest. But if you back through air it will take nearly 25 minutes to Kathmandu. So, we will do shopping and half day sightseeing in Pokhara. And we catch your flight in the afternoon. Today is the exact end of our trip, so we share our experiences gained during the trip with wonderful dinner at hotel. Overnight at Hotel.