Poon Hill Trek Nepal: Altitude, Difficulty, Weather & More
Nepal is a Himalayan country; comprising several ranges of towering peaks and these very mountains are the attraction for all those avid adventure-enthusiasts around the world who seek to get immersed in the exhilaration of shimmering snow-capped mountains.
And, so you have probably heard enough of the popular long treks like Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit in Nepal; they certainly are the most glorious and rewarding ones. However, there are many excellent short treks in Nepal that are gaining popularity just recently.
Poon Hill Trek is a short trek in Nepal that has been garnering a large number of both locals and foreign tourists. Located in the vicinity of a beautiful valley, Pokhara, Poon Hill trek is a small journey towards the Annapurna Region. To help you plan your trek to Poon Hill, here are some valued information for you.
Poon Hill Trekking
As mentioned above, Poon Hill is a short trek; it can be a perfect spend of time if your stay in Nepal is coming to an end and you want to have a taste of trekking and beauty of snow-capped mountains.
The trek is a way for easier and far less challenging than Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit. Located at an altitude of 3,210 meters, just beneath the greatest Himalayan Range, Poon Hill Trek is known for its traditional village settlement, ethnic communities, a verdant forest of rhododendron and a magnificent 360-degree view of more than ten snowcapped mountains.
The journey of this trek typically starts from Nayapul after few hours of drive from Pokhara. We pass through beautiful and delightful villages of Ulleri, Ghorepani, and Ghadruk, inhabited by the majority of Magar and Gurung ethnicity while witnessing the mesmerizing view of mountains.
Slowly as you move towards the vantage point of Poon Hill, you will see the exciting glace of high mountains at every corner; no matter where you look, there is a captivating landscape of mountains lying all around.
Not only as of the viewing point, but Poon Hill is also popular for an awe-inspiring view of sunset and sunrise. Trekkers hike towards Poon Hill early in the morning, to observe the mesmerizing view as the red and glowing sun slowly start to peek outside the high mountains of Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters) and Annapurna (8,091 meters), along with a maze of other peaks of Annapurna I-IV, Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri ranges, Manaslu ranges, Lamjung Himal, Gangapurna, Nilgiri, Tukuche, Hiunchuli and Barasikhar.
The lush green forest of rhododendron with many colorful flowers, cascading waterfall, terraced fields of rice; these are equally appealing too. For every nature lover out there, Poon Hill Trek awaiting for you to give the most astounding experience of your life.
What is the Poon Hill altitude?
The utmost height of Poon Hill trek is 3,210 meters, which is not big a deal and can be embarked by anyone. It is also perfect for family and solo trek. The trek is perfect for any time of the year; however, in the peak season (March-May and September-November), the crowd is quite a lot. Also, there is no serious threat of altitude sickness in Poon Hill trek.
What is the Poon Hill Weather?
During Summer
June, July and August are the months of heat and rainfall in Nepal. However, in Poon Hill the weather is warm, but walking for hours is a different thing, so you might have to trek in shorts and t-shirts. July gets the most rainfall of all the months. The temperature lies between 20 degree Celsius to 35 degree Celsius.
During Autumn
Autumn is one of the peak trekking seasons from the month of September to November. The temperature is quite moderate ranging from 12 degree Celsius to 28 degree Celsius.
During Winter
December to January is the winter season in Nepal and in at some point the temperature can go below zero in Poon Hill Trek. You will feel a bit chilly, but walking keeps you warm. However, the highest temperature barely goes above 10 degree Celsius.
During Spring
The favorite season for trekking in Nepal, when the flowers are blooming, forests are green, days are clear, and the weather is fine. Temperature from March to May ranges from 20 to 30 degree Celsius, and the weather can get cloudy too.
Can Poon Hill Trek be completed in 3 days?
If done in a slow pace, then Poon Hill trek can take easily take form 6-8 days, but it can be completed with three days as well.
On the very first day, we drive to Nayapul and trek towards the Magar village of Ulleri at 2,080 meters. It takes around seven hours of walk.
In the second day, our get towards Ghorepani, and on our last day, we rise early and climb to Poon Hill to view the sunrise. Then, we gradually descend to Nayapul, from where we ride back to Pokhara.
What should you pack for Poon Hill Trek?
Poon Hill trek comes under the category of the easy and accessible trek, more to that it takes fairly less number of days to accomplish it. Therefore, you can pack your bag lightly. However, some of the few important things you can carry are:
-Two pair of hiking pants.
-2-3 thermal tops.
-3-5 pair of socks and underwear.
-A pair of hiking shoes.
-Wind and waterproof jacket.
-Reusable water bottle.
-Toilet paper, sun-block cream, hat, sunglasses.
-Basic first aid kit.
-Cash.
As you scale higher, temperature drops and gets a bit colder, so you can pack warm layers for sleeping in. But, sleeping bags aren’t necessary, because there are enough tea houses/lodges in the route for accommodation. Also, you will require TIMS and ACAP permit.
