Poon Hill Trek with Kathmandu and Pokhara Sightseeing - 9 days

If you fly into Kathmandu when there's still daylight, you will be able to enjoy splendid views of the Himalayan mountains and the city, which is surrounded by rolling green hills. If you have a night flight, you will be greeted by millions of lights lighting up the capital city. After landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, complete the immigration process and head towards the exit.

You will be greeted by our guide, whom you will find waiting for you at the airport's terminal, holding a placard with your name on it or Third Rock Adventures printed in large letters. He will escort you to your hotel and help you check-in. Later in the day, there will be a meet-up with your trekking guide, who will brief you about your Poonhill Trek.

In the evening, you can stroll around Thamel and shop for any gear or equipment that you might need during the trek. Thamel has many shops and rental outlets selling mountaineering and trekking gear and equipment. High-end brands like North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Red Fox, Black Yak, Marmot, etc. all have stores in Thamel.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today, your guide will take you to visit some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city. Your sightseeing tour will begin after breakfast at your hotel. You will board a vehicle with your tour guide and head towards the first sightseeing location, Pashupatinath Temple.

The Pashupatinath Temple is one of the oldest and holiest Hindu shrines in Nepal. The temple, which dates back to the fifth century, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Pashupatinath Temple complex, lies beside the Bagmati River and has several shrines apart from the main temple. The two-tiered pagoda roof of Pashupatinath Temple is covered with gold sheets, while the four doors of the inner sanctum are covered with silver. Inside the main sanctum is the Shiva lingam with five faces (the four faces look toward the four cardinal directions, while the fifth one looks towards the sky). However, access to the main temple is only granted to Hindu devotees. Non-Hindus can walk around the complex and observe the religious rites performed at the cremation site (Arya Ghat).

Later, you can visit the Boudhanath Stupa, the biggest Buddhist stupa in Nepal. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Boudhanath Stupa is a sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists. According to Buddhist legend, the remains of the Kasyapa Buddha (Buddha from another lifetime) as well as holy treasures buried by Padmasambhava lie within the stupa. The stupa's massive white dome rests on a raised stone plinth designed in the shape of a "mandala." The top of the dome is decorated with a golden spire where the compassionate eyes of the Buddha have been painted. Prayer wheels circle the base of the stupa. Devotees can be seen circling the stupa, turning the prayer wheels. Around the stupa are monasteries, art galleries, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

The Boudhanath Stupa is located on the old Tibet Salt Trade route, and this has been a pilgrimage center for Tibetans since time immemorial. So during the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950s, thousands of Tibetans escaped from Tibet and came to Nepal. Most of them settled around Boudhanath. To this day, Boudha has a large population of Tibetan refugees.

After spending time at Boudhanath experiencing the spirituality, you will head towards the center of the city, and explore the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Also known as the Basantapur Durbar Square, the royal square was built by the Malla rulers in the twelfth century. The square is a complex of pagoda-roofed palaces, courtyards, and temples. The main attractions of Durbar Square are the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum, Gaddi Baithak, the House of the Living Goddess, and Taleju Temple.

You will end your sightseeing tour with a visit to the Swoyambhunath, or Monkey Temple. As per local legend, this temple marks the origin of the Kathmandu Valley. According to local lore, the city was once a huge lake. A meditating Boddhisattva, Manjushri, saw a glowing lotus on this lake and came to drain the lake's water to reach the lotus. When the water got drained, the divine lotus transformed into the Swoyambhunath (self-created) stupa.

Perched on the top of a hill overlooking the city, the temple can be reached by climbing a long staircase. One has to be careful while walking around Swoyambhunath, as there are troops of monkeys scampering around the temple’s grounds.

The Swoyambhunath is a white dome topped by a golden turret. The all-seeing eyes of the Amitava Buddha have been painted on the square tower, and they look out over the city. Surrounding the stupa are Hindu temples, a Buddhist monastery, a museum, stone chaityas, and souvenir shops. You can enjoy a bird's-eye view of Kathmandu from the hill. Return to your hotel after the sightseeing tour and take a good rest.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

After an early breakfast, you will head towards the domestic airport. Catch one of the early flights to Pokhara. You can savor aerial views of the Langtang Range, Dorje Lakpa, Ganesh Himal, Dhaulagiri Himal, and the Annapurna Massif during the flight. On reaching the airport, you will board a vehicle and drive towards Hile, the trailhead of your trek. It's a scenic drive filled with glorious views of Machapuchhre, Annapurna South, green hills, and terraced fields. The road winds past the small settlements of Lumle, Nayapul, and Birethanti.

Your hike begins once you reach Hile. The first section of the hike is easy, with few ascents and descents and walking on even ground. You will be crossing rivers via metal suspension bridges. After one such river crossing, you will reach a long stone staircase, which will lead you to Ulleri. You will be climbing more than 3000 steps to reach the village. It's a long and exhausting climb and probably one of the hardest sections of the trek. Keep a steady pace and rest when you feel you need to. After a hard climb, you will finally arrive at Ulleri.

Set on the side of a steep hillside, Ulleri is a Magar village and is one of the popular stops on the Annapurna trekking trail. The village has many modern lodges and traditional teahouses built especially for trekkers walking along this route. You will stay at one of the comfortable lodges run by a local family.

Overnight in Ulleri.

Leaving Ulleri, you will continue your hike and climb more steps. It's a delightful walk past old stone houses and brightly colored teahouses. You will walk past the village of Banthanti, and after a brisk ascent, you will reach a recently built rough jeep track. Those who want to shorten their trek drive directly to this point from Pokhara and start their trek to Ghorepani. It's an easy walk on the dirt track. Enjoy the natural views of waterfalls, streams, and lush forests as you make your way to Ghorepani.

After walking for some time, you will reach a small trail that descends to the river. You will take this trail and walk on the narrow path. The trail goes up and down through a thick forest where one can see monkeys swinging about on the moss-covered branches. You will stop for a brief rest and refreshment at Nayathanti and Nangethanti. Follow a lush forest of oak and rhododendrons. If you make this trek during the spring, the trail will be filled with blooming rhododendron trees.

Somewhere along the way, you will leave Kaski District and enter Myagdi, a stronghold of the Magar community. After walking for about a couple of hours from Nangethanti, you will finally reach the large settlement of Ghorepani. In the olden days, Ghorepani, a Magar settlement, used to be an important stop for travelers and traders walking along the Tibet trade route. In the bygone days, the King of Mustang and his entourage used to ride through this route on horseback during his annual journey from Mustang to Pokhara, or Kathmandu.

Ghorepani is a large village filled with every facility that a tourist might need. The village has modern guest houses as well as traditional teahouses. You will stay at one of the new guesthouses, which offers modern amenities.

Overnight in Ghorepani.

Wake up early in the morning before sunrise and head to Poon Hill. Poon Hill Viewpoint lies about an hour's hike from Ghorepani. You will make your way out of the teahouse and take the upward trail to the hill. The path is well laid out and well maintained. Ascend a long flight of stone steps. The hill is covered with rhododendron bushes and trees, which turn into a riot of pink and red colors during the spring season.

The Poon Hill is locally known as Lunkhung ko Danda and was used as a grazing pasture by the Magar villagers. The late Tek Bahadur Poon, a retired major from the Indian Army, saw the potential of the hillas a tourist hotspot as it offered an amazing panorama of the Annapurna Massif and other mountains. He named this hill Poon Hill after the 'Poon' clan of the Magar community who reside at the base of the hill. Since Poon Hill was introduced as a trekking destination for hikers on the Annapurna trail, it has become one of the most popular short-hiking destinations in Nepal.

The Himalayan panorama opens up as you make your way up the steep hill. At the top are a view tower and a small tea shop. From here, you can enjoy glorious views of eighteen Himalayan mountains, including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Annapurna South, Baraha Shikhar, Machapuchhre, or Fishtail Peak, Nilgiri, Tukuche, Gurja Himal, etc. The mesmerizing sunrise over these snow-covered mountains is a sight that one will cherish forever. The play of colors as the sun slowly rises and paints the mountains in shades of yellow, golden, pink, and red is just stunning.

After savoring the views and taking pictures, you will make your way to Ghorepani again. Have breakfast at the guesthouse and start your trek. Today you will be heading to Tadapani, one of the most beautiful stops on the Annapurna trail.

You will descend down the stone steps and exit the village. Enter a dense rhododendron forest. After walking down the stone steps, you will walk on a gentle dirt trail in the midst of the jungle. After an easy walk, you will again have to climb a steep stone staircase. At Deurali Pass, you will be almost at the same elevation as Poon Hill. The mountains look majestic, and you can savor 180-degree views of the Himalayan peaks as well as views of the mountainside villages and green hills. From Deurali Pass, you will make a steep descent and reach the village of Deurali. Stop and rest for a while if you feel tired, or else continue your hike.

The trail weaves past a peaceful forest and small streams that flow down from the hillside. From Lower Deurali, it takes around two hours to reach Banthanti. The trail winds down a roaring river and through moss-covered rocks and forests. It's a series of ups and downs until you finally reach Tadapani.

Tadapani is a picturesque Gurung village located amidst the largest rhododendron forest in Nepal. You get excellent views of Annapurna South and Machacpuchhre from here. You will stay overnight at a charming local home converted into a teahouse

Overnight in Tadapani.

Savor the views from Tadapani, and after breakfast, begin your hike towards Kimchi via Ghandruk. It's an easy walk to Ghandruk. After reaching the Gurung village of Ghandruk, you can stop for rest and refreshment. Filled with old stone cottages and new buildings, Ghandruk is the biggest Gurung village in the Annapurna Region. It is known as a Gurung Heritage Village, as the village has preserved the ancient Gurung customs and traditions. You can explore the village and visit the Old Gurung Museum, where Gurung costumes and farming artifacts are showcased.

Later, make your way down to Kimchi and catch a vehicle bound for Pokhara. Drive back to the city and check into your hotel. You can take a relaxing hot shower and have a restful evening.

Overnight in Pokhara.

After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, your sightseeing tour will commence. You will get to visit the Gupteshwar Cave, Davis Fall, Peace Stupa, Bindyabasini Temple, International Mountain Museum and the Tibetan Refugee Camp.

Pokhara abounds in natural wonders, and Gupteshwar Cave and Davis Fall are two of those natural marvels that will take your breath away. Both of these sites lie close by.

The 2950-meter-long Gupteshwar Cave is one of the longest caves in South Asia. Discovered in the sixteenth century by local youths, this cave has now become one of the most important tourist sites in Pokhara.

The Gupteshwar Cave can be accessed by walking down a spiral staircase. The inside of the cave is filled with wonderful stalactite and stalagmite formations. The natural rock formation of Shivling is revered by the locals. Natural limestone carvings on the cave's wall lend it an ethereal ambiance. The lowest section of the Gupteshwar Cave has a small opening from where one can see the water flowing from Davis Fall.

Close to the Gupteshwar Cave is the Davis Fall, or Patale Chango. This beautiful waterfall disappears deep into the underground, which cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Peace Stupa is located on a hill overlooking the tranquil Phewa Lake and Pokhara Valley. Built by the Nipponzon Mohozi or the Japanese Buddhist Sanga to spread world peace, the Peace Stupa in Pokhara is one of the two (the other Peace Stupa is in Lumbini) such stupas that exist in Nepal. The white, sparkling stupa stands at Anadu Hill, looming over the Pokhara Valley. The Peace Stupa is 115 feet tall and has two tiers. It is decorated with statues of Lord Buddha brought from different Buddhist countries. One can enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayan mountains, Phewa Lake, and Pokhara City from the stupa's grounds.

The International Mountain Museum offers information about the tallest mountains in the world, Himalayan culture, mountaineering history, and Himalayan biodiversity. The museum is divided into three halls. Rock samples from the world's highest mountains, artifacts donated by climbers (Maurice Herzog and Junko Tabei), and expedition groups that summited some of the highest peaks for the first time are also on display.

Bindyabasini Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Pokhara. The Shikhara temple is dedicated to Goddess Bindyabasini, an incarnation of Goddess Kali.

You can also visit the Tibetan Refugee Camp. The refugee camp was built to provide shelter for thousands of Tibetan refugees who escaped Tibet after China invaded their country. The Tibetan refugees sell carpets, handicrafts, jewelry, and paintings to make their living. You can buy some of their handicraft items as souvenirs.

You can end your tour with a boat ride around the peaceful Phewa Lake. Enjoy a beautiful sunset while sailing on the tranquil lake waters.

Overnight in Pokhara.

Bid bye-bye to Pokhara and fly to Kathmandu. Don't forget to request a seat from where you can view the Himalayan mountains while checking in. During the flight, you will enjoy gorgeous views of the Annapurna Massif, Gangapurna, Hiunchuli, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Lamjunhg Himal, Langtang Range, Ganesh Himal, etc.

On reaching Kathmandu, you will be driven to a hotel. Check-in and take a rest. Later, you can stroll around Thamel, explore the local markets, and shop for souvenirs.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Poon Hill Trek with Kathmandu and Pokhara Sightseeing has been a memorable tour, but it's finally time to say goodbye to Nepal. Our driver will drop you off at the airport at least three hours before your flight's departure. If you wish to extend your holiday and explore more places in Nepal, you can let us know. You can chalk out another exciting itinerary with the help of our travel consultant. We also have a range of Bhutan and Tibet itineraries if you wish to explore these Himalayan destinations.