Poon Hill
Sunrise Viewpoint Over Dhaulagiri And The Annapurnas, Reached On The Most Popular Short Trek In Nepal · Ghorepani, Gandaki
Poon Hill is a hilltop viewpoint at about 3,210 metres above the village of Ghorepani, and the short trek to it from Pokhara is the most popular walk in Nepal, a taste of the Himalaya for people with only four or five days. The reason is the sunrise: from the top, reached by a steep climb in the dark from Ghorepani, the first light strikes a vast arc of peaks including Dhaulagiri, the seventh-highest mountain on earth, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre, with the deep Kali Gandaki valley between them. The trek climbs through Magar and Gurung villages and dense rhododendron forest, which in March and April turns red and pink with the flowers of Nepal's national tree. It is busy, and the summit at dawn is crowded, but the view is one of the best easily reached in the Himalaya. Many trekkers link it to Ghandruk or on to Annapurna Base Camp. There is a small entry fee at the top and a viewing tower. Cloud can hide everything, especially in the monsoon, so an extra morning at Ghorepani is worth having in hand.
Above Ghorepani, Myagdi District, Annapurna Conservation Area, Ghorepani, Gandaki, Nepal
Open year round; the sunrise climb starts before dawn from Ghorepani. A small fee is taken at the viewpoint. An Annapurna Conservation Area Permit is required, and guide rules for foreigners changed in 2023 - confirm. The trek starts at Nayapul or Ulleri, a short drive from Pokhara.