Ghorepani Poon Hill: The Best Short Trek in Nepal

"We only have a few days, is a real Himalayan trek even possible?" We get this message every week, and our answer has not changed in years: yes. Ghorepani Poon Hill.

Why this little loop is famous

Poon Hill (3,210 m) is a grassy summit standing directly opposite two of the ten highest mountains on Earth. At dawn, Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and the whole Annapurna range, Annapurna I, South, Machhapuchhre's fishtail, turn from grey to rose to burning gold while you hold a cup of hot tea. It is one of the most photographed sunrises in the Himalaya and it is fully earned in four walking days.

The walk itself

Our standard plan: drive from Pokhara to the trailhead, climb the famous stone staircase to Ulleri, continue through mossy rhododendron forest to Ghorepani, summit Poon Hill for sunrise, traverse to Tadapani and descend through Ghandruk. One of Nepal's most beautiful Gurung villages, back to the road. Trails are well-made, lodges are warm and plentiful, and the top altitude is low enough that acclimatisation is a non-issue.

Who it suits

• First-time trekkers wanting the full teahouse experience without high-altitude risk.
• Families. This is our most-booked route for kids and grandparents. We simply add a day and shorten stages. One of our favourite reviews came from a guest whose mother cried at the sunrise.
• Tight schedules. Kathmandu to Kathmandu in under a week, comfortably.
• Spring chasers. In March–April the entire route blooms with red rhododendron, Nepal's national flower.

Honest notes

Two things to know: the Ulleri staircase (3,300-odd steps) is a genuine workout, slow and steady wins it, and sunrise at the top is popular in peak season, so we start early to get you a front-row spot. Winter is the connoisseur's secret: cold mornings, crystal air, almost nobody there.