The best way to do the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek in 2026

Among the dozen short treks near Pokhara, the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek stands at 1st position. We can do the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek clockwise and anti-clockwise too. However, the classical itinerary (clockwise) has become less appealing in recent years due to road and crowds.

Due to road construction, some sections of the Ghorepani trekking trail have been changed from a beautiful trekking route to a dusty road. Many sections of the original trail have been replaced by roads, and some camps now require walking along vehicle tracks. 

From Nayapul to Hile, mostly there is a roadway. From Hile to Ulleri, we can use traditional trekking trails. However, from Ulleri to Ghorepani, recently there is a new road constructed where the trekking trail has been destroyed. Hence, if you follow the traditional trekking route, you may not be satisfied in terms of the trekking trail. 

Why Avoid the Classical Itinerary?

Traditional Poon Hill trekking routes usually begin from Nayapul or Birethanti. But these classic paths have mostly been replaced by rough roads leading to Ghorepani.  During the peak trekking season, trekkers often meet many jeeps traveling these tough terrains, making the path dusty. 

Additionally, the Poon Hill viewpoint is often crowded at sunrise as well as throughout the trek. To truly enjoy the beauty of the Annapurna Himalaya, it’s a good idea to choose a different route and viewpoint, making Poon Hill an optional stop on the trekking itinerary.

How to do the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek in a better way?

If you are planning this trek, there is a smarter, more scenic way to do it. Thus, we have crafted a different itinerary to do the Ghorepani Poon Hill trekking, covering nearby beautiful places and taking a jeep from the road section of the Ghorepani Trek. By following this alternative route, trekkers can fully immerse themselves in an unspoiled mountain route, with superior views, and create a more memorable and rewarding journey in the Annapurna region.

Most travelers follow the same old “Classical” loop which starts and ends in Nayapul. They follow the dusty road path and visit the most crowded Poon Hill. But if you want the best way to do the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek in 2026, you need to follow a different itinerary as we mentioned here.  By adding one night in Dobato, visiting the Mulde Viewpoint instead of Poon Hill, you get 360-degree views that actually beat Poon Hill.

A better Ghorepani Poon Hill Itinerary:

Here’s how you can make the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek more scenic, peaceful, and enjoyable. This itinerary is exactly the same as the Mulde Viewpoint Trek. So for details of the trekking package, please visit our Mulde Viewpoint Trek package. 

Day 1: Drive to Ghandruk and Trek to Tadapani

We can skip the road section completely by driving directly to Ghandruk.  Once you reach Gurung village, you will get stunning views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre. From Ghandruk, we can begin the trek and make up to Tadapani on the first day, which takes about 3 to 4 hours. If you prefer to avoid tourists, we can also trek to Chuile instead of Tadapani. 

Day 2: Trekking from Tadapani to Dobato  

On the second day of Ghorepani Trek, we will trek through serene forests and less-travelled trails to Dobato. This section is quieter than the main Ghorepani route, offering more solitude experience.

Day 3: Trekking from Dobato to Ghorepani via Mulde Viewpoint

Today marks the most awaited day of our trek as we will trek to Ghorepani upon getting a sunrise experience from Mulde Viewpoint. The Mulde Viewpoint, which stands at a higher altitude (3,637 meters ) than Poon Hill (3,210 meters ) and provides spectacular 360-degree vistas of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. It is a wide area to capture the view and its very peaceful view station. After enjoying the view, we will trek to Ghorepani for an overnight stay.

Day 4: Hike to Poon Hill for sunrise ( Optional ), trek to Hile and trek to Pokhara

On this day, if you still wish to experience the iconic Poon Hill sunrise, you can try the Poon Hill hike to get the experience of sunrise from Poon Hill. Since you will have superior views from Mulde Viewpoint with fewer crowds, the Poon Hill viewpoint hike would be optional. After visiting Poon Hill, we will return to Ghorepani. After some rest at Ghorepani, we will trek to Hile, where we conclude our trek. From Hile, we will drive to Pokhara. 

Comparison in-between classical way and modified ( our proposed route )

Feature	The Classical Way	The Best Way (This Route)
Max Altitude	3,210meter (Poon Hill)	3,63meter (Mulde Peak)
Crowds	Very High	Low (Off-the-beaten-path)
Views	Great	Superior (360-degree Panorama)
Experience	Standard Tourist Loop	Authentic Himalayan Adventure

Conclusion: Why choose this alternative itinerary

There is no doubt, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek offers great views and value for those who are looking for a very short trek in Nepal. However, to make Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek more interesting and enhance the trekking experience, we can follow a different itinerary than the classic one. This alternative Ghorepani Poon Hill trekking plan enhances your overall experiences as following:

• Avoiding long, dusty road sections and vehicle traffic
• Avoid the crowded traditional route, Nayapul – Ulleri – Ghorepani – Poon Hill – Tadapani – Ghandruk
• Get a superior view from a high-altitude viewpoint with fewer crowds at Mulde Viewpoint
• Offering a peaceful, more authentic trek through forest trails and traditional villages
• Short hike for the best sunrise
• Reaching higher elevations than the Ghorepani Poon Hill
• Witness breathtaking panoramic 360-degree views from Mulde Viewpoint

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