Pokhara: 3-Day Poonhill Trek & Annapurna Sunrise
Sunrise Over Annapurna: The 3-Day Trek to Poon Hill
You drive to the trailhead, walk for two days through forests and villages with a guide and porter support, then wake before dawn on day three to hike to Poon Hill and watch the Himalayan sunrise. All meals, lodges, permits, and transport are included. You return to Pokhara by evening. The trek takes three days total and suits anyone with basic fitness who wants the main Annapurna views without a longer or more technical climb.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Drive and trek to Ulleri
- Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul
- Trek from Nayapul to Birethanti
- Hike to Tikedhunga
- Continue trek to Ulleri
- Overnight at lodge in Ulleri
Day 2: Trek from Ulleri to Ghorepani
- Breakfast at Ulleri
- Trek to Banthali
- Pass oak and rhododendron forests
- Reach Nangathanti
- Climb uphill to Ghorepani
- Overnight at lodge in Ghorepani
Day 3: Poon Hill sunrise and return
- Early hike to Poon Hill
- Watch Himalayan sunrise
- Return to lodge for breakfast
- Trek from Ghorepani to Hille
- Drive from Hille to Pokhara
- Drop off at hotel in Pokhara
What’s included
Private vehicle transport from Pokhara to Nayapul and from Hille back to Pokhara, Annapurna Conservation Area entrance permit and TIMS card, all government taxes and service charges, an experienced English-speaking trekking guide and porters with their wages, accommodation in mountain lodges for two nights, and all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the trek.
Times
- Every day 08:15 08:45 09:15 09:45 10:15
Before you book
Operated by Breakfree Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
Picture yourself standing at 3,210 meters as the sky turns from black to deep blue, and the snow peaks of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchchhre emerge like a slow-motion reveal. That's the moment the Poonhill trek builds toward, and it arrives on the morning of day three, after two days of walking through rhododendron forests and small mountain villages. The trek starts early on day one with a one-hour drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, where you leave the road behind and begin walking alongside the Modi Khola river. The trail passes through Birethanti and climbs steadily to Tikedhunga before reaching Ulleri, a Magar village where you'll sleep in a mountain lodge. It's not a brutal day, five to six hours of walking, but it sets your body into the rhythm of altitude and effort.
Day two takes you from Ulleri up through oak and rhododendron forests, with the trail climbing through Banthali and Nangathanti before the final push to Ghorepani at 2,870 meters. Your guide (an English-speaking trekker who knows the route and the villages) will point out where the forest changes, where the air gets thinner, and which lodge serves the best dal bhat (lentil rice) at lunch. The walking is steadier than day one, four to five hours, and by evening you're settled at a lodge in Ghorepani, eating dinner and preparing for the pre-dawn wake-up. Most people don't sleep much that night, partly from the altitude and partly from anticipation.
The alarm goes off around 3 or 4 a.m. on day three. You walk for about an hour in darkness to reach Poon Hill, where dozens of other trekkers are already standing with headlamps and thermoses of tea. Then the sun comes up, and the mountains appear. It's not a secret (this is the most popular viewpoint in the Annapurna region for a reason), but the scale of it still catches people off guard. After breakfast back at the lodge, you trek down to Hille (a three to four hour descent), where a vehicle picks you up for the three-hour drive back to Pokhara and your hotel. Your legs will feel it, but you'll be back by evening.
The trek includes everything except your own water bottle and snacks: a private vehicle for the drives, all permits and fees, an experienced guide and porters, three meals a day, and accommodation in mountain lodges. You don't arrange transport, negotiate with guides, or figure out which lodge is safe. That's already handled. If you've never trekked before or haven't been to altitude, this is the route that teaches you what you're capable of without asking you to summit something technical or spend a week in the mountains.
Is this one for you?Book this trek if you want to see the Annapurna sunrise from a famous viewpoint without arranging transport, permits, guides, or meals yourself: the three-day structure and included logistics mean you show up and walk, with everything else handled.
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Top questions
How long is the walk each day?
Day one is 5–6 hours (Nayapul to Ulleri), day two is 4–5 hours (Ulleri to Ghorepani), and day three is 5–6 hours (Poon Hill hike and descent to Hille). The pace is steady but not rushed.
What's the highest altitude on this trek?
Poon Hill is 3,210 meters (10,531 feet). The trek climbs gradually over three days, so most people adjust without serious altitude sickness.
Do I need trekking experience?
No. The route is well-established, the lodges are simple but safe, and your guide handles navigation and logistics. It's suitable for all fitness levels who can walk for several hours a day.
What's included in the price?
Private vehicle transport from Pokhara to the trailhead and back, all permits and fees, an English-speaking guide, porter support, accommodation in mountain lodges, and all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
When is the best time to trek?
October to November and March to May offer the clearest skies and most stable weather. December to February can be cold and cloudy. June to September is the monsoon season.
What if I can't do the full three days?
This trek is designed as a three-day package. Shorter or longer variations may be available through the operator, but the standard itinerary is fixed.
Do I need to book accommodation separately?
No. Lodges along the route are included in the package. You stay in simple but clean mountain guesthouses with basic facilities.
Is there cell service on the trek?
Limited. You may have spotty signal in some villages, but the trek is designed as a digital disconnect. Inform someone of your itinerary before you leave Pokhara.
Pokhara: 3-Day Poonhill Trek & Annapurna Sunrise
3d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 320 per person
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