Side by side
| Poon Hill & Ghorepani Trek | Makalu Base Camp Trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Days | 5 | 18 |
| Highest point | 3,210 m | 4,870 m |
| Difficulty | Easy | Strenuous |
| Total distance | 52 km | 145 km |
| Best months | January to April and October to December | March to May and October to November |
| Typical cost | $350 to $650 | $1,450 to $2,200 |
| Starts from | Nayapul (1,070 m), 1.5 hours from Pokhara by bus | Num (via Tumlingtar flight and jeep) |
| Permits | 2 | 2 |
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 Makalu Base Camp Trek if
The Makalu Base Camp trek is an 18 day wilderness route in eastern Nepal leading into Makalu Barun National Park to the base of Mount Makalu at 4,870 m. Trekkers journey from subtropical cloud forests over rugged Shipton La pass into the dramatic sheer granite amphitheatre of Barun Valley.
Demanding high-altitude crossing of Shipton La at 4,210 m with steep climbs and descents. The upper Barun valley is remote with simple teahouses and unpredictable mountain weather.
