Faqs Ghorepani Poon Hill trek with Jungle Safari and Trishuli River Rafting -13 days

Rhododendron Arboreum of bright red color is the national flower of Nepal, which flowers during spring time. From March till May, some rhododendron also blooms in autumn / winter times also. Ghorepani treks leads to Rhododendron forest for some days which makes the trek delightful. 

You will enjoy magnificently flowering rhododendron during your Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek with Trishuli river rafting and Chitwan. As you ascend up to Banthanti and Ghorepani via Nangethanti, you will massively enjoy the fascinating scene of this flower on the trail densely populated especially in Spring ( Mar-May). So, if you like to enjoy this breathtaking scene of flowering rhododendron on the trail from Pokhara to Ghorepani-Poonhill, you are recommended to do this trip in Spring. One cannot get to see and enjoy marvelous rhododendron except in Spring season, even not in Autumn, winter and rainy. 

Total of approx. 34 km / 22 miles from Hille to Ghorepani and towards Ghandruk village. Although a short distance walks of 4 days treks covering 34 km, but due to steep uphill and downhill makes the treks longer. But, these days, the Poonhill Jeep ride will take you up to Ulleri or Banthanti directly. So, that total distance you walk from Banthanti-Ghorepani and Poonhill-Ghandruk is around 15 kms. 

This distance is not from Pokhara and even not from Nayapool and Birethanti. The distance 15 kms is from Ulleri/Banthanti to Ghandruk. From Ghandruk, again you will take jeep ride back to Pokhara via Nayapool and Birethanti. 

Yes, nearly all lodges have the facilities of hydroelectricity, some few small villages runs the electricity for guest by solar-power. All trekkers needs to pay extra for charging each electronic gadgets as per hour basis at minimum reasonable cost.

In Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, you will enjoy all sorts of facilities including luxury hotels accommodation. And, even in the mountain on the trail ffrom Pokhara to Ghorepani-Poonhill- Ghandruk, you will have the facility of charging your gadgets with some extra payment per device. For example, if you charge you smart phone, you have to pay Rs. 200-300. Recently updated information, no extra payment is made to charge your gadgets and you even need to pay for Wi-Fi installation during your Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek.  

Another important thing to bear in the mind that one may not find the charging plugs in their private rooms, but only at the dining. So, you may have to wait for your turn to charge your gadget during the peak trekking seasons like Autumn( Sep-Nov) and Spring ( Mar-May). So, you had better carry one power bank for you so that you can use it at emergency on the trail. 

Safeguard you gadget while charging at the dining or wherever you charge it. Don't leave it, the strangers may take it away.  

Nearly all villages running lodge and guest-house have the facilities of internet and Wi-Fi. But sometime on the mountain the connection is quite slow and disturbing due to terrain and weather wise. In the hotel at Chitwan, visitors can have facilities of internet and Wi-Fi. And of course, in Kathmandu and Pokhara, you will enjoy it. 

In case of mountain Wi-Fi and internet, you have to pay extra like per device  Rs. 200-300. It means, if you want to install Wi-fi in one of your device like smart phone, you are going to make a payment of Rs. 200-300 for unlimited service, not per hours. However, the internet or Wi-fi may work slow due to the deep mountain terrain gorges. But, it will work, make sure. 

Optionally, you buy one local SIM card like NT and buy some data pack to run internet on it. These days, the networks of NT ( Nepal Telecom) is very good even in the mountain regions. You can get this local SIM car either in Pokhara or Kathmandu presenting your copy of passport and photograph.  


The foods on every meals like breakfast, lunch and dinner are amazingly of best quality, prepared with care and hygienic. All lodge restaurants serves as per the food menu wise on La Carte basis or Set meals of Nepali Dal Bhat (boiled / steamed rice with lentil soup and mild vegetable curry served with pickles).

The foods on the menu includes from Continental, Chinese, Indian to Nepali, some restaurants on treks also provides bakery items as well.

Most popular is Nepali Dal / Bhat, noodle soup or fried noodle with veg and eggs or meats, Mo-Mo dumpling stuffed with meats or vegetable is also popular dishes found on the treks.  

All the food items and the costs are mentioned in the menu owned by local lodge/guesthouses and you can go with any food you want. Even, the vegetarian can get sufficient options to dine at the local guesthouses on the trail. No worries for vegans, still you can enjoy the trek. 

Poonhill and Ghorepani are 3210m and 2830m high respectively. The trail you follow is via Nayapool, Birethanti, Ulleri, Banthanti and Nangethanti to Lower Ghorepani. So ,the elevation ranges between 860m Pokhara to 3210m Poonhill in average. Ghandruk is 1900m high above the sea level.

So if you are statring your Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek with Chitwan and Trishuli River Rafting, you begin with 1350m, Kathmandu, 860m Pokhara, 3210m Poonhill and Chitwan 420m. You have to maintain the clothing and foods accordingly during this trip.  Actually, Chitwan is too hot during spring and summer and too cold during winter. And you may have mosquitoes during summer and spring in Chitwan and even  in Pokhara. Do some precautions. 

It is very important and necessary that all trekkers requires Travel and Medical Insurance and it is mandatory too. Which should be purchased after or before booking the respective trekking programs with Haven Holidays Nepal. The insurance should be made in your own home countries, which is much easier than in Nepal.

The travel and medical insurance should cover all needful transportation required on emergency evacuation by any means of transportation and using helicopter service. As well all medical expenses, if the trip is delayed and get cancelled due to political disturbance and strikes. As well if the trek needs to be rerouted to other areas in some cases due to bad weather and road conditions. 

Actually, this combination is to fulfill and satisfy the different interests and flavors of trips within one while doing a vacation in Nepal. Poonhill Trek offers you the magnificent taste of mountain sceneries, Trishuli River rafting a world-class thrills of adventure and Chitwan a jungle safari and other exciting activities. So, this combination is mostly sought by the tourists who come to visit Nepal and they really love doing or experiencing all sorts of activities during the trip. If you choose to Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek with Chitwan Jungle Safari and Trishuli River Rafting, you will definitely adore and enjoy/celebrate it and bound to do it again in your next vacation.

Actually, it takes 4-5  days to hike Poonhill from Kathmandu and it takes 3-4 days to hike Poonhill from Pokhara. However, these days, people can hike to Poonhill within 2 days from Pokhara to Pokhara because the Poonhill-Jeep Ride takes you directly to Ulleri or Banthanti and then you can hike to Ghorepani and Poonhill.

You will drive/fly to Pokhara  from Kathmandu, then drive to Ulleri and Banthanti. You can take the trek on the same day to Ghorepani spending 4 hours or stay at Bnathanti. The next day, you will trek to Ghorepani and the third day ,you will hike to Poonhill and trek back to Ulleri or Banthanti and then drive to Pokhara directly. Or, if you want to go to Ghandruk from Ghorepani, then you have spend one day at Tadapani and then to Ghandruk. So, you can do Ghorepani Poonhill Hike and Ghandruk in 3 days. But if you want to hike Poonhill from Pokhara, then, you can do in 2 or 3 days as well.  

The Poonhill Trek difficulty level is graded as easy trek in Annapurna region of Nepal. Since the Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek takes you only up to 3210m above the sea level with no steep and technical trekking trails, it is graded as an easy trek for the beginners. Those who are beginners for trekking and learn and earn some skills and stamina for other moderate and strenuous trekking, can go with Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek.

People planning their Manaslu Circuit Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Base Camp Trek do Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek for earning stamina and skills of trekking with their backpack. But, it doesn’t mean that it is worthless to do; the Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek rewards with magnificent highlights of Nepali country lifestyle, foods and accommodation, the charm of deep woods, fresh air and natural waterfalls and most importantly, the breathtaking mountain panoramas including the Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal. So, the trekkers who are doing Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek will be rewarded with marvelous experiences.

Actually, it doesn’t cost much money to do Poon Hill Trek, it only costs USD 400-500 to do the Poon Hill Trek in Nepal. However, it depends on the things and services you want to include in the cost you pay.

This USD 400-500 includes the normal hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara  for two nights each, all accommodation during the trekking days in the mountain,  tourist bus ticket  to Pokhara and back to Kathmandu, Breakfast all round the trip, guide cost, guide foods and accommodation costs, all ground pick ups and drops cost and required trekking permits costs.

 If you want to upgrade your Poon Hill Trek to Luxury Poonhill Trek, then, the cost will include everything like all meals with luxury accommodation with domestic flight to and from Pokhara with guide and porter and all required trekking permits and the cost will be like USD 800-1000.

You can also do your Budget Poon Hill Trek at USD 300-400 from Kathmandu to Kathmandu.

Actually, Mardi Himal Trek is to view Mt. Machhapuchhre just in front of you  and Poon Hill Trek is to view all the mountain summits in Annapurna region including Annapurna massif, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Gahesh Himal, Manaslu, Himal Chuli and Lamjung Himal. So, it depends on the people’s interest which trek to choose. But, it is believed that Mardi Himal Trek is better than Poon Hill Trek according to the trekkers who have done both treks in Nepal.

The Poon Hill Trek takes you to the highest elevation 3210m above the sea level that is Poon Hill and the Mardi Himal Trek takes you to 3860 that is Mardi Himal Base Camp. If you want to experience a moderate trekking in Nepal, you can go with Mardi Himal Trek or if you are looking forward to experience an easy trek in Nepal, then, go with Poon Hill Trek. It‘s simple. But both trekking trips in Nepal are located in Annapurna region and both are equally rewarding

Poonhill Trek costs depends on a few indicators like the services you prefer, TIMS Card costs, Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit cost, guide and porter cost, transportation cost, your foods and accommodation costs and the extras.

If you prefer luxury services including luxury foods and accommodation on the trail, the cost will rise and if you just wanna go with ordinary trek with ordinary foods and accommodation, the trekking price/cost will be mild.

The TIMS card costs Rs. 1000, Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit costs Rs. 3000, normal accommodation costs Rs 800-1500, one food items costs Rs. 200-1000, the flight costs from Kathmandu to Pokhara one-way costs USD 85 min (keeps changing according to the fluctuation of the fuel) bus ticket from Kathmandu to Pokhara one-way costs Rs. 1500, the drop and pick ups costs maximum Rs. 3000, guide costs Rs. 3000-4000 per day and the extra expenses you make for your drinks and tipping on during the trek.

The above-mentioned indicators determine the Poonhill Trek cost. Therefore, it’s very hard to predict and tell the exact cost for Poonhill Trek. However, the Poonhill Trek costs ranges between USD 499- 599. The cost you are quoted by the trekking company depends the type of service you are going to use. 

Yes, you can but only from Pokhara to Pokhara. If you begin your Poon Hill trek from Kathmandu, then, you need to spend at least 3-4 days from Poon Hill.

Yes, if you are in Pokhara or directly flying to Pokhara from your international flight, you will hike up to Poonhill next day after a jeep drive to Banthanti and then to Ghorepani village. The next morning, you will ascend up to Poonhill ( 3200m) and then trek back to Banthanti and finally take another jeep drive back to Pokhara. If you are a beginner and wishing to do an easy trek in Nepal, you can do Poonhill in a couple of days from Pokhara to Pokhara.

The altitude of Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is 3210m. The trek begins from the altitude of 1400m, Kathmandu and then to Pokhara ( 910m) , then up to Ulleri (2050m) and Banthanti ( 2250m). Next, the trail takes the trekkers to Ghorepani village which is located at an elevation of 2800m and then finally up to Poonhill which is an altitude of 3210m. 3210m above the seal level is the highest elevation of the Ghorepani Ponhill Trek.

There won’t be any kind of altitude related issues while you are ascending up to Poonhil (3210m) in your Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. You don’t need to panic about and even the beginners and the people of old age can do Ghorepani Poonhill Trek. Even, this trek can be done all round the year.

The objectives of visiting Chitwan National Park :

Wildlife viewing: Chitwan National Park is renowned for its rich biodiversity, endangered species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger,One-horned Rhinoceros, and numerous bird species.

Safari Experiences: The park offers various options, including Jeep Safari, Elephant Safari, and Canoe Ride, visitors to explore the diverse ecosystems of the park including grassland, forest and wetlands.

Cultural Immersion:  In addition to its natural wonders, Chitwan National Park is also home to the indigenous Tharu People. You have the opportunity to learn about Tharu culture, traditions and way of life through cultural programs, and village visits.

• Carry the essential stuff that you need.
• Put your sunscreen
• wear a life jacket correctly
• wear the Helmet
• Handle the paddle appropriately
• Take care of your position in the raft 
• Rafting is a team work paddle together
• Follow your guide's instruction

Trisuli Rivers is a popular river for rafting where beginners and expert rafters can enjoy the float. It is safe with all safety measures and precaution is undertaken with helmets, and life-jackets and the Captain of the boat is an experienced Rafting guide. The only dangerous and most challenging time rafting the Trisuli River is during the high monsoon seasons of July to mid-September. When the water level is high with fast currents, but rafting in spring and autumn and winter. The water level and currents are low. So Trisuli River is one of the safest and enjoyable rivers for exciting rafting. 

The cost of Poonhill Trek package is determined by the costs of these requirements for the trek. The cost for guide and porter ( if required), the cost of getting trekking equipment, the cost of food and accommodation, Poonhill Trek permits, transportation costs, extras and tipping guide and porter.

Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit costs Rs. 3000 per trekker, TIMS Card costs Rs,.1000, the cost of guide and porter cost between Rs. 2000-4000 per day, one item of food costs Rs. 200-800 and one accommodation costs Rs. 500-2000. And, also the cost of Poonhill Trek package depends on how you collect your trekking equipment, freshly or hiring the second hand ones. Finally, the transportation to Ulleri or Birethanti and back to Pokhara and Kathmandu costs Rs. 6000 in total one way.

Now, you can spend some extra expenses on tipping and drinks. In summary, your Poonhill Trek Package cost ranges between USD 455-495. If you want to upgrade your accommodation in Pokhara and in the mountain with domestic flights both way to and from Pokhara, then, the costs will be between 599-675 USD.  

You can Ghorepani and Poonhill from Pokhara even by walking after 2.30 hours drive from Pokhara to Nayapool or Birethanti. But, these days, the Poonhill Jeep Drive takes you up to Ulleri or Banthanti village and you can ascend to Ghorepani on the same day or the next day. This roadway connection from Nayapool to Ulleri and Banthanti has eased the trekkers to reach Ghorepani and then to Poonhill comfortably. Most probably, within a year, the road way will connect Ghorepani directly from Pokhara through Nayapool and Birethanti.

To go to Poonhill or Ghorepani, you can take a sharing jeep orprivate jeep from Pokhara for 2.30 hours and can begin walking to Ghorepani and Poonhill. You can get to Ghorepani within 3 hours from Banthanti or Ulleri village. The trail is all the way up till you get Ghorepani.

Yes, you need a trekking permit for Poon Hill. One requires collecting/ obtaining two types of trekking permits: TIMS Card and Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit. The TIMS Card costs Rs. 2000 and the Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit costs Rs. 3000. You can easily obtain these Poon Hill Trekking permits from the Nepal Tourism Board office located in Kathmandu or most of the trekkers obtain these permits via their trekking partners/trekking agents located in Nepal/Kathmandu. For this, you can provide your passport copy and passport sized photographs.

 If you go up to only Australian Camp via Dhampus, you don’t require any kind of trekking permits, but if you pass Pothana and then to Landruk and Ghandruk or Ulleri through Nayapool and Birethanti, you at any cost need to have ACAP but TIMS card is not necessarily to have these days. 

Ghorepani trek costs ranges between USD 550 to 700 depending on the services you want. If you want a luxury trip to Ghorepani from Kathmandu and Pokhara. If you love economical trekking to Ghorepani with ordinary  or tourist standard accommodation  and other services, you can do your Ghorepani Trek at USD 550.

Unlike that, if you are luxury seeker, you can go with Luxury Ghoreapani Trek. The Luxury Ghorepani Trek includes luxury accommodation, transportation and other services through the trek from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. 

The accommodation will be at least 3 star and there will be luxury car/jeep ride to the trailhead and back to Kathmandu. The other services like guide and porter, the meals you will have during the trip will be upgraded ones and you will feel the true luxury of the trek you are doing to Ghorepani and Poonhill from Kathmandu. 

To make your Ghorepani-Poon Hill trek more luxury, you can add domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back. This way, you can skip the heavy and terrible traffic and interruptions on the way to Pokhara  and back. Sometimes, you will suck in heavy traffic on the Prithvi Highway for more than 8 hours. So, it is recommended to fly to Pokhara from Kathmandu and do the same while returning from Pokhara during your Poonhill-Ghorepani Trek. 

Even you can enjoy luxury massage in Ghorepani as a part of Luxury Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek. You can ask your trek leader or trekking partner to book it for you if you want beforehand. 

The cost of the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek USD 550-700 includes all necessary trekking permits, transportation, foods( breakfast only- lunch  and dinner will be yours), guide and porter and accommodation all round the trip. You can make your own choice of lunch and dinner so that the trip can be more flexible and more luxurious. 

So, prepare and be ready to pay USD 550-700 for your Ghorepani Trek depending on the type of service you want, either ordinary or luxury, from Kathmandu to Kathmandu, step at the top of Poonhill (3210m) via Ghorepani (2800m) and celebrate astonishing sunrise with marvelous mountain views including Mt. Annapurna Massif, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Gangapurna, Lamjung Himal, Ganesh Himal and Manaslu.