Side by side
| Poon Hill & Ghorepani Trek | Annapurna Base Camp Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 5 | 10 |
| Highest point | 3,210 m | 4,130 m |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate |
| Total distance | 52 km | 110 km |
| Best months | January to April and October to December | March to April and October to December |
| Typical cost | $350 to $650 | $650 to $1,200 |
| Starts from | Nayapul (1,070 m), 1.5 hours from Pokhara by bus | Nayapul or Jhinu Danda, near Pokhara |
| Permits | 2 | 1 |
Choose the Poon Hill & Ghorepani Trek if
The Poon Hill trek is a 4 to 5 day easy-to-moderate loop from Pokhara that gives beginners an authentic Himalayan trekking experience without extreme altitude or long duration. The centerpiece is the pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill at 3,210 m for the most celebrated mountain sunrise in Nepal, with views across Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre.
The altitude is low enough that acclimatisation is rarely an issue, but the stone staircase sections above Tikhedhunga require good knee strength. This is a genuinely accessible first Himalayan trek.
Choose the Annapurna Base Camp Trek if
The Annapurna Base Camp trek is a 10 day route in central Nepal that climbs through terraced villages and bamboo forest into the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 m. It starts near Pokhara, needs no flight, and is the best first Himalayan trek for most people.
Long staircase days rather than thin air. The altitude stays low enough that acclimatisation is rarely the limiting factor, but the stone steps above Chhomrong punish unprepared knees.
