Poon Hill trek is an incredible short trek in the natural landscapes of the Annapurna region. The magnificent views of the Himalayas and the lush alpine forests are the highlight of the trek. This popular trek is also relatively cheaper in comparison to other mainstream treks like the Annapurna Base Camp trek and Everest Base Camp trek.
Poon Hill trek cost can range anywhere between $500 to $700. The price depends on the time of the travel, travel itinerary, food and accommodation, personal expenses, and various other factors. Besides that, Poon Hill trek cost also varies according to the package provided by the travel company. Book with us for a complete Poon Hill trek package at a reasonable price.
You will get a great trekking experience in the virgin landscapes of the Annapurna region within a short time period. This beautiful trek generally lasts around four to five days on average. However, the trek is customizable, and you can lengthen or shorten the trek based on your requirements.
The spectacular sunrise view from the Poon Hill viewpoint is the prime attraction of the trek. Besides that, the 360-degree panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range of mountains will make you fall in love with the place. You will also get to visit and explore the traditional Gurung and Magar village settlements.
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is ideal for those who have limited time and budget on their schedule. We provide a complete package so that you don’t have to worry about the logistics and can trek hassle-free. Read further for more details regarding the Poon Hill trek cost, including cost estimates, cost factors, tips and other additional information.
Poon Hill Trek Cost Details:
Foods and Accommodations Cost
The Poon Hill trek cost depends immensely on the food and accommodations cost. It also depends upon the type and quality of the food and accommodation. The price of food is slightly higher in the high altitude region as all the food ingredients have to get transported.
Food costs
The tea houses during the Poon Hill trek generally offer “Dal Bhat.” You will also get a limited variety of western cuisine, including pizza, momos, burgers, noodles, pasta, and others. Overall, the meal costs around US $3 to $7 along the trails of the Poon Hill trek.
Water intake is another important aspect of the trek as dehydration is a massive problem for trekkers. You need to drink lots of water during the trek, and there are few resources for drinking water in the high altitude region. The mineral water costs around US $1-$3 per bottle.
Alternatively, you can carry water purifiers and refillable water bottles to save costs on water. Hot water will cost you extra for the heating. Tea, coffee, soup, and hot beverages are quite popular during the Poon Hill trek. You can carry snacks like protein bars, chocolate bars, granola bars, etc. to munch on during the trek and save extra costs.
Accommodations cost
Accommodation facility are mostly tea houses with basic twin beds, pillows, and warm blankets. These accommodations cost around US $3-$5 depending upon the time of the travel. Some accommodations also provide hot shower facilities at around US $1- $2 per litre.
However, the teahouses during the Poon Hill trek also offer special discounts in the offseasons. You will also get free accommodation facilities if you choose to have your daily meals at the same teahouses.
Accommodation facilities in the cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara vary significantly based on the facilities provided. The cost of the accommodation can range anywhere between US $5-$250 depending upon the place you choose to stay is a hostel or a five-star hotel.
Transportation Cost
Nayapul is the starting point of the Poonhill trek. You can take a bus, a private jeep/taxi, or a tourist coach from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then ride a local bus to Nayapul. Alternatively, you can take an early morning flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu and then take a short bus ride to Nayapul.
Kathmandu to Pokhara bus ride costs around US $5-$10. If you decide to take the luxury bus, it might cost around US $25. Moreover, the domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara costs around US $120 per person for a one way trip on an average.
However, the flight costs depend upon the time of the travel as well. If you travel on peak seasons of Autumn and Spring, the costs might be double the regular price whereas the offseason flights are not that expensive. The Pokhara to Nayapul bus drive costs around US $1-$2.
Visa Cost
Foreign travelers (except Indian citizens) require a visa to enter and move around in Nepal. You can get a visa on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, Nepal. The visa cost is $30, $50, and $125 for 15 days, 30 days, and 90 days respectively. It is a quick process, but you might experience huge queues during peak seasons.
Permits and Entry Fees
You will require the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit and Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) card for the Poon Hill trek. The Poon Hill trek permit costs are as follows:
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit costs NRs. 100 per person per entry for Nepalese and NRs. 1,000 per person per entry for SAARC nationals. For foreigners, the cost is NRs. 3,000 per person per entry. However, children below the age of 10 do not require any Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit fee.
On the other hand, the TIMS Card costs NRs. 1,000 for Group trekkers and NRs. 2,000 per trekking route per person per entry for Free individual trekker (FIT). For SAARC nationals, the TIMS Card fees are NRs. 300 for Group trekkers and NRs. 600 per trekking route per person per entry for Free Individual Trekkers.
You can get the Annapurna Conservation Area Project permit and the TIMS card at the Nepal Tourism Board’s office in Kathmandu and Pokhara. We will arrange all the necessary permits required if you book with us. This saves you a lot of time and you can focus on your trek completely.
Guide and porter cost
You can take this short Poon Hill trek with or without a guide. Poon Hill trekking trails have many dense alpine forests along the way. There are confusing diversions along the trail, and some sections of the trek are not well maintained.
Beginners taking this short trek in the Annapurna region might lose their way if they are not careful. In that case, you can hire a local guide for the trek. A local guide will give a complete insight of the region. You will also get the best idea about the tea houses along the trek.
Moreover, you can also learn more about the culture and lifestyle of the people. A professional guide in the region costs around US $20 to $30 per day. This fee also includes the food, accommodation, and insurance of the guide.
Furthermore, a porter can help you take the heavyweight off your back. They can carry a weight upto 15-20 kg. Trekkers can enjoy the trails observing the beautiful flora and fauna of the region without any hassle. Porters cost around US $15 - US $20 per day in the Poon Hill trek. The cost also depends upon the weight of your luggage.
Similarly, porter-guides are those people who work both as porters as well as guides. They carry less luggage than a porter and will cost less than a guide. The cost of a porter-guide is around US $20- US $25 per day.
Gear and Equipment Cost
Gear and equipment are a crucial part of the Poon Hill trek. You should not overpack for the trek and only pack those stuffs that are absolutely necessary. This way you can reduce the costs of the porter during the trek. You can find trekking gears and equipment in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
The costs of these items are not fixed, and you can get a discount if you bargain well. You can get these trekking gears including trekking pants, trekking shorts, hiking boots, fleece jackets, windcheaters, trekking shirts, and others in the shops around Kathmandu and Pokhara. They cost around US $100-$200.
Moreover, you can also rent these trekking gears and equipment if you do not intend to use them in the future. Renting costs around US $1-$10 depending upon the type of equipment. Besides that, you can buy toiletries items like quick-dry towel, tissue paper, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and female hygiene products at around US $ 30.
Travel Insurance Cost
Anyone trekking in the Himalayas requires an excellent travel insurance package. The travel insurance for the Poon Hill trek in the Annapurna region must cover medical emergencies, flight cancellations, theft, robbery, lost baggage, evacuations, and others.
Most travel insurance packages of 30 days start from 150 USD and above. However, the cost of the travel package also depends upon the insurance company. Hence, trekkers need to get the best travel insurance package available for the Poon Hill trek.
Poon Hill trek Extra Costs
Tipping costs
You can tip your guides and porters as you wish but the general rule of thumb is to tip around 10% of your trekking cost after the trip. Tipping may not be mandatory in Nepal, but many guides and porters expect you to tip.
Connectivity costs
Connectivity might not be available at all times but you can get a local SIM card of NTC or Ncell for safety. They cost around US $1- $2, and you can use a top-up recharge service to load money. These SIM cards also provide 4G internet services at select locations. Some tea houses also offer wifi services at an added cost of US $0.5 to US $2 per hour.
Hot Showers cost
Hot showers cost around US $1 - $3 in the Poon Hill trek. You will get a bucket of hot water to wash yourself. Moreover, you can save hot shower costs by using wet wipes instead.
Charging Cost
Charging phones and cameras also require some costs. The charging costs around US $1 - $3 per hour in the Poon Hill trek. Alternatively, you can also carry power banks to reduce costs.
Personal expenses
Personal expenses are the miscellaneous expenses during the trek. These expenses are of wide variety including souvenir shopping expenses, restaurant expenses, and others. Moreover, you might want to donate some money to the local charity as well.
Factors Affecting Poon Hill trek Costs:
The various factors that affect the Poon Hill trek costs are as follows:
Mode of Transportation
The mode of transportation is another factor that plays a vital role in determining the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek cost. You can either travel by road from Kathmandu to Nayapul, which is the starting point of the trek.
Alternatively, you can also take a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then ride a bus to Nayapul. The domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara is expensive but reduces your travel time significantly.
Trek Itinerary
The Poon Hill trek has multiple itineraries. We can extend or shorten the trek based on the requirement of the trekker. The Poon Hill trek 5 days cost will be relatively higher than the Poon Hill trek 3 days cost. The longer route will cost you more but gives you more of a relaxed, trekking atmosphere. You also get to acclimatize and explore the surroundings more.
The shorter treks are less expensive, and you get a quick adventure in the mountains. An increase in trekking duration also increases the costs of food, accommodation, guides, and porters. You can choose the long or the short trek based on your requirements.
Time of the Trek
The time of the trek is another significant factor in determining the trekking costs for the Poon Hill trek. Autumn and Spring are the peak season for trekking in Nepal as the weather is pleasant and stable. Hence, the treks at this time of the year are quite expensive.
Alternatively, the off-season treks are ideal for the budget traveler as they are less expensive. Thus, you can choose the time of the trek based on your desire and requirements.
Hence, these were the various factors that affect the Poon Hill trek costs. You can customize these factors to reduce the overall Ghorepani Poon Hill trek cost by a significant amount.
How to Minimize the Poon Hill trek Cost?
Some of the tips to minimize the Poon Hill trek cost are as follows:
- Tea Houses offer a substantial discount on accommodation or even free accommodation in the condition that you eat at the same teahouses.
- You will get more discounts on food and accommodations if you are traveling in a group.
- Pack only those things that you find necessary for the trek. This helps you to save porter costs.
- You can carry a portable power bank during the trek to save charging costs.
- You can take water purifying tablets that purify water to save costs on water. Moreover, you can also carry a refillable water bottle.
- You can also rent your trekking gear and equipment that you do not plan to use in the future.
- Learn to bargain as there are no fixed costs, and bargaining will save you a lot during the trek.
- You can carry snacks during the trek, including protein bars, granola bars, chocolate bars, etc. Besides that, you can also carry tea bags and coffee powders to save costs.
Some Essential Tips for Poon Hill trek
- Hire a guide and porter if necessary.
- Get a proper travel insurance package that includes coverage for flight cancellations, medical emergencies, theft, robbery, and evacuations, and others
- Acclimatize and hydrate regularly during the Poon Hill trek
- Book your trip, including food and accommodation early
- Female trekkers need to carry female hygiene products like sanitary pads, and tampons, etc. These products are not available during the trek.
- Consult a doctor for any precautions during the trek
- Carry enough cash for the trek make sure the cash is in Nepalese currency
- You should carry protein bars, granola bars, chocolates, etc. during the trek.
The Final Say:
The Poon Hill trek is one of the most beautiful treks in the Annapurna region. Trekkers can observe the snow-capped mountains and gorgeous natural landscapes during the trek. Overall, Poon Hill trek costs around US $500-$700, excluding your international flight costs.
The Poon Hill trek cost is reasonable in comparison to the other mainstream treks in the region. The cost varies according to the various factors listed above. You can customize them to reduce the overall cost by a significant amount. Contact us for more details regarding this scenic trek in the Annapurna region.
