Nature · Ghorepani & Poon Hill
Dawn climb to Poon Hill
Climb about 340 m by headlamp from Ghorepani to the 3,210 m viewpoint of Poon Hill and watch sunrise strike Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Machhapuchhre, one of the great mountain dawns in Nepal.
The alarm goes around 4:45 am in October. Outside, a line of headlamps is already climbing above the village. The trail is stone steps and earth, steady but not technical, through rhododendron forest. Most people take 45–60 minutes. A small gate halfway collects the entry fee. At the top is a viewing tower and a crowd of trekkers stamping their feet in the cold.
As the sky lightens, Dhaulagiri I, the seventh highest mountain on earth at 8,167 m, appears massive and close to the west, with its icefall above the Kali Gandaki gorge. Then Tukuche Peak and the Nilgiris, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre with Annapurna II to its right. The first rays turn the summits pink in sequence.
Tea sellers at the top sell hot drinks. Stay until the sun clears the ridge and the crowd thins; the light after sunrise is often better for photos. Then walk back down for breakfast and Gurung bread. In spring the rhododendrons glowing in the morning sun on the way down are almost as good as the summit.
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Questions
How long does it take to climb Poon Hill from Ghorepani?
Most people take 45–60 minutes to climb about 340 m from Ghorepani to Poon Hill's 3,210 m summit, and 30–40 minutes back down. The trail is stone steps and path, steep in places but not technical. Start about 75 minutes before sunrise with a headlamp. Slower walkers should leave a little earlier.
Is there an entry fee for Poon Hill?
Yes, a small entry fee is collected at a gate on the trail up to Poon Hill, separate from your ACAP permit, with different rates for Nepali, SAARC and foreign visitors. It funds the upkeep of the trail and viewpoint. Carry small notes in Nepali rupees. Fees change from time to time.
Which mountains can you see from Poon Hill?
On a clear morning you see Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Dhaulagiri II to IV, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal. Dhaulagiri dominates. The Kali Gandaki gorge, one of the deepest in the world, lies between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I.
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