“Poon Hill packs a full Himalayan sunrise into a few days' walk: from 3,210 metres you watch the sun set Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas alight in one sweep.”
About Poon Hill
The Ghorepani and Poon Hill area lies on old trading and herding routes through the Annapurna foothills, long travelled by Gurung and Magar communities. As trekking developed in the region, the viewpoint's accessibility and spectacular panorama made the short loop one of Nepal's most popular introductory treks. It sits within the Annapurna Conservation Area, and the trail's teahouses and villages have grown around the steady flow of trekkers seeking the sunrise without committing to a longer expedition.
Overview Poon Hill, at 3,210 metres above the village of Ghorepani, is the most popular short trek viewpoint in the Annapurna region, famous for a sunrise panorama that takes in the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges in one sweep. The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek that reaches it can be done in just a few days, making it the classic introduction to Himalayan trekking for those without time or appetite for the longer routes.
The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek that reaches it can be done in just a few days, making it the classic introduction to Himalayan trekking for those without time or appetite for the longer routes.
The Sunrise In the dark before dawn, trekkers climb the final stepped path from Ghorepani to the viewpoint and wait as the sun rises behind them, lighting the snow giants ahead, Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and the fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre, in shifting golds and pinks.
Rhododendron Country The trail passes through some of the finest rhododendron forest in Nepal, which in spring erupts into red, pink and white bloom, and through Gurung and Magar villages with stone-paved paths and terraced fields.
An Accessible Classic Lower and shorter than the base-camp treks, Poon Hill still demands real walking on long stone staircases, but it delivers a full high-Himalayan sunrise for a fraction of the effort.
The Experience
The walk to Ghorepani is a stair-climbing workout through forest and village, but the payoff is the pre-dawn ascent of Poon Hill itself. Standing on the viewpoint as the light spreads across Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas, often above a sea of valley cloud, is a quintessential Nepal moment. In spring the rhododendron forests along the route are a spectacle in themselves, and the village teahouses offer warm hospitality. It is short enough for relatively casual walkers yet delivers genuine high-mountain views.
Why It Matters
Poon Hill is the most popular short-trek viewpoint in the Annapurna Conservation Area, celebrated for its accessible panorama of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges and as the classic introduction to Himalayan trekking in Nepal.
Why Visit
It delivers a world-class Himalayan sunrise on a trek short enough for those without time for the big routes. Time the spring rhododendron bloom if you can, start the final climb in the dark for sunrise, and pace the long stone staircases steadily.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Start the final climb from Ghorepani in the dark to reach the viewpoint for sunrise.
- 2
Trek in spring for the rhododendron forests in full bloom along the route.
- 3
It is short but involves long stone staircases; pace yourself and bring trekking poles.
- 4
Carry warm layers for the cold, windy viewpoint even outside winter.
- 5
It sits in the Annapurna Conservation Area, so carry the required permits.
