Ghorepani Poonhill Trek

The best time to trek to Poon Hill and Ghorepani in Nepal is Spring and August season. Months from March to May fall in the Spring season, whereas months from September to November fall in August.

These two seasons favor any Nepal trek due to the appropriate weather conditions and temperature. Furthermore, the views of the skies and surrounding mountains are also apparent, making it worthwhile to clear amazing panoramic photos of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges.

During Spring and Autumn, the vegetation and forests are also green, making trekking a fun adventure. In Spring, you will be trekking alongside the blooming and beautiful rhododendron flower, which makes your trek cherry on top of a tasty cake.

Since Spring and Autumn are considered the best time for Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking, the Monsoon and winter season are not considered as ideal time. During Monsoon season, the trails become wet and slippery due to relentless trekking. There is also the risk of landslides and floods during monsoons.

Although the winter season is also considered not ideal for trekking, it doesn’t primarily affect Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. The dynamic weather, cold weather, and altitude may increase the difficulty of what many consider an easy trek. In the winter season, the surrounding snow-capped hills, valleys, and barren landscapes are still beautiful to trek.

Nevertheless, the winter season is not as fun and beautiful as trekking in either the Spring or Autumn season.

You need two permits to be eligible for Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek:

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

ACAP, or Annapurna Conservation Permit, is an essential permit to be eligible to trek the Annapurna region. You can issue the ACAP either in Kathmandu or in Pokhara. You must pay Nrs 3,000 or approximately $30 to get your hands on ACAP.

Trekker Information Management System (TIMS)

Another permit that you need to be eligible for your Poon Hill trek is the TIMS card. The charges of TIMS for SAARC (Citizens of South Asian countries) country applicants are NPR 1,000, while for non-SAARC applicants, the charges are NPR 2,000. You can issue the TIMS card to the Nepal Tourism Board in Pradarshini Marg in Kathmandu.

When you arrive in Kathmandu and Pokhara, you will check in either a three- or five-star hotel. These three-star hotels and expensive lodges provide luxury services, such as private rooms, single beds, and hot showers, without charging extra.

Throughout your Poon Hill trek from Pokhara, you will come across various budgeted hotels, lodges, and tea houses.

In remote trekking areas, accommodations tend to be essential. However, on the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, most teahouses offer decent rooms with twin beds, and some even have attached bathrooms. Yet, mainly during an overcrowded trek, you’ll only get a room with shared bathrooms.

The Packing list for Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking can be divided into different types of items according to their necessity.

Personal Items

• Map
• Passport & necessary permits
• Emergency contact information
• Travel Insurance

Clothing And Equipment

• Cap/Hat
• Buff/Beanie
• Backpack 40–50
• Underwear
• Sports bra (women)
• Long-sleeve thermal
• Sleeping bag
• Thermal pants
• Trekking pants
• Packable puffy jacket
• Slides
• Gloves
• Normal Hiking boots
• Hiking socks
• Quick-dry microfiber camp towel
• Shirts
• Rain poncho
• Comfort pants for nights
• Sleeping bag liner
• Waterproof jacket

Other Accessories

• Plastic bags for garbage
• Headlamp
• Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, soap/shampoo
• Trekking poles
• Toilet paper
• Nepalese currency in Cash
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses
• First aid kit with essential medications
• Wet wipes & hand sanitizer
• Power Bank for electronic devices
• Electrolytes/Hydration system
• Snacks
• Camera/Mobile Phone for clicking amazing photos
• Water purification tablets
• Sunscreen
• Band-Aids
• Lip Balm

As this trek is often advertised as easy and less stressful, people usually neglect health and safety. Altitude sickness is a significant factor affecting substantial health and safety risks.

Altitude sickness is the kind of illness that arises when you start climbing altitudes over 3000m. Three types of Altitude Sickness are possible during your trek: Acute Mountain Sickness, High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, and High Altitude Cerebral Edema.

Acute Mountain Sickness is not as severe as HAPE and HACE. So let’s get to learn more about them.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)

One of the most common types of Altitude sickness is Acute Mountain Sickness. The chances of acute mountain sickness arise every time you climb an altitude of over 3000m. This is also the most common type of altitude sickness that you’ll likely suffer from during your excursion at a higher altitude.

AMS Symptoms

It is essential to find out immediately if you suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness. You can check out its symptoms to see if you or anyone in your group suffers from the sickness.

• Bleeding from the nose
• Dislike eating.
• Nausea and vomiting,
• Body tingling
• Being tired and lazy,
• Upon exertion, shortness of breath,
• Dizziness
• Headaches

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)

High-altitude Pulmonary Edema is another form of altitude sickness but is way more severe than Acute Mountain sickness. Unlike ACM, HAPE can be life-threatening as it affects the lungs of the victim very seriously.

The primary symptoms of HAPE are:

• Coughing up pink or bloody mucus
• Severe Shortness of Breath
• Swollen lungs
• Extreme Fatigue
• Rapid Heartbeat Rate

Keep in mind HAPE can happen to anyone at any time, even if they are generally healthy. You don’t need any medical history to suffer from HAPE, so when you suffer from it, be quick to get medical attention.

High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)

Another severe type of Altitude Sickness is High Altitude Edema. The significant difference between HACE and HAPE is that HACE affects the victim’s brain. It is even more dangerous than HAPE and can threaten the victim’s life even more quickly than the other two types of Altitude Sickness.

The primary symptoms of HACE are:

• Severe Headache
• Confusion and Disorientation
• Extreme Dizziness
• Hallucinations
• Swollen Brain
• Continuous Blood from Nose and Ear
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Faint and Coma

HACE can develop very quickly, and it mainly affects patients who have had previous HACE conditions. You must immediately seek medical assistance if you think you have the symptoms of HACE.

Gradual Ascent

The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to ascend and descend during your trek gradually. Since the oxygen level is thinner at higher altitudes, your body must adjust to the decreasing oxygen level. So, you must not aggressively climb the altitude without resting or acclimating to the climate or oxygen level.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is another major cause of altitude sickness. If your body is dehydrated, the symptoms of your acute mountain sickness worsen. The possibility of being dehydrated at higher altitudes is also extremely high.

Since the air is dry in that area, you will lose body fluids when you respire. You don’t feel you are losing water from your body, which could result in being dehydrated, so make sure to drink plenty of fluids during your Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.

Diet

It is crucial to be healthy to prevent Altitude Sickness. Eat plenty of foods that provide your body with protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. Grains, rice, wheat, bread, vegetables, and fruits are crucial for energy during your trek.

However, during your trek, avoid taking meat, especially at higher altitudes. In higher altitudes, the meats of domestic animals are not cooked properly, so eating uncooked meat might deteriorate your health and make you ill.

Medication

Medicine like Diamox and Acetazolamide are best for providing instant relief from the symptoms of altitude sickness. Some might act as a complete cure, but others will act as pain relievers, so you’ll have plenty of time to decrease your altitude. After lowering altitude, your body might start to feel better, but if not, visit the doctor immediately.

Avoid Overexertion

Overexertion is the condition of being extremely tired. If you push your body extremely hard, it might suffer from overexertion. Overexertion at high altitudes can be extremely dangerous and lead to altitude sickness.

The primary way to prevent Overexertion during your trek is to take frequent breaks between your treks. To avoid overexertion at a higher altitude, you must relax your body and avoid any challenging activity.

Building physical stamina and endurance levels before trek can also prevent over-exhaustion. So, various simple activities like swimming, walking, running, or climbing staircases for half to one hour a day can build your physical stamina, which will help you during your trekking and mountain climbing adventure.

Descend if Symptoms Persist

If you suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness and medication doesn’t help, then it is wise to descend your altitude. Lowering your altitude sometimes relaxes your body and enables you to recover from altitude sickness.

If you descend to 2000m altitude, oxygen levels rise, making breathing easier and circulating your blood flow regularly. Sometimes, descending the altitude may not be enough, and you might need further medical attention

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is one of the most beautiful trek in Nepal. The trek starts with the drive to Bandipur and then towards the majestic city of Pokhara.

The 6-day Poon Hill Trek takes you to mesmerizing Ghorepani and hikes to Poon Hill, where you can see beautiful views of sunrise, sunset, and 360-degree mountain views.

The short, easy, and beautiful trek is what makes the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek stand among itself. Despite not being a commercial trek, its popularity has increased.