Poon Hill Yoga Trek
- Duration
- 3–5 days
- Max altitude
- 3,210 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best season
- Oct–Apr (winter-friendly)
- From
- $940
What is the Poon Hill Yoga Trek?
The Poon Hill yoga trek is a short guided route to a 3,210-metre sunrise viewpoint above Ghorepani, with daily yoga and meditation along the way. Over three to five days you walk through rhododendron forest and terraced hills to the Poon Hill lookout, where dawn lights up the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
It is the ideal first trek: moderate walking, comfortable teahouses, and a genuinely spectacular payoff without the altitude of the higher routes. The practice is unhurried: a way to arrive present rather than exhausted.
Day-by-day itinerary
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Pokhara to Nayapul, trek to Tikhedhunga. Drive to the trailhead and walk to Tikhedhunga, easing in with an evening breathwork session at the lodge. |
| Day 2 | Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani. The main climb up the stone staircase through rhododendron forest. Morning mobility yoga before the ascent; restorative practice on arrival. |
| Day 3 | Poon Hill sunrise, on to Tadapani. Pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill (3,210 m) for sunrise over the Annapurnas, then descend and traverse to Tadapani. |
| Day 4 | Tadapani to Ghandruk. A forest descent to the mountain village of Ghandruk, with an afternoon yoga session and mountain views. |
| Day 5 | Ghandruk to Pokhara. A short final walk to the road and drive back to Pokhara, closing with a gentle practice by Phewa Lake. |
How hard is it, and how high?
This route is graded moderate and tops out at 3,210 m. Reasonable fitness and a little preparation go a long way.
How acclimatization schedules work, what AMS symptoms mean, and what breath work can and cannot do for you: our guide to altitude on yoga treks covers every route's numbers in one place.
For the full picture, read our month-by-month season guide and the deposit-after-confirmation booking model.
What it costs & what's included
- Licensed trekking guide for the full route
- 4 nights teahouse lodge accommodation on the trail
- Daily morning mobility yoga and evening restorative practice
- ACAP entry permit and TIMS card arrangements
- All main meals on trek, including dal bhat
- Return transport between Pokhara and the trailhead
- Poon Hill sunrise excursion
- Flights to Nepal
- Nepal visa fee (available on arrival)
- Travel and trekking insurance with altitude cover
- Personal trekking gear and optional porter
- Personal expenses, hot showers and drinks on the trail
What the yoga is actually like
Because the altitude is gentle, the yoga can be a little more active than on the higher routes: morning practice to warm up before walking, and restorative evening sessions in the teahouse. Meditation at the Poon Hill viewpoint, as the peaks turn gold, is the quiet highlight.
When to go
Poon Hill is one of the few Annapurna routes that works well in winter: it is low enough to stay walkable, and clear winter mornings give some of the sharpest mountain views of the year. Spring adds blooming rhododendrons. Autumn is reliably clear; monsoon brings cloud and rain.
What to pack
- Warm layers plus a windproof shell for the cold sunrise at the top
- Comfortable trekking shoes or boots
- Head torch for the pre-dawn walk to the viewpoint
- Sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- Refillable water bottle and purification
- A light daypack; mats and main luggage are usually carried for you
- Warm hat and gloves for the early morning
The full layer system, what operators provide, and the leave-at-home list live in our guide to what to pack for a yoga trek.
Which trek should you pick?
Ready for more once you've stood on Poon Hill? The Annapurna Base Camp yoga trek is the natural step up: higher, at 4,130 metres, and longer, over seven to eleven days. Poon Hill is the confidence-builder; Base Camp is the deeper journey.
Not ready for altitude at all yet? The valley yoga-and-hiking retreat near Kathmandu stays under 2,700 metres and works straight after landing.