Food, accommodation, and drinking water on the way to Ghorepani and Poon Hill Trek
As one of the popular short trekking destinations within the Annapurna region of Nepal, comparatively taking place in the lower territory, Ghorepani and Poon Hill usually offer you convenient lodging and meals along with the basic amenities.
The tea houses along the trail also serve boiled and filtered water; carrying a thermos would help you refill, which is also an eco-friendly approach to aiding the sustainable tourism we are guided by, one of whose main targets is to reduce the use of plastic.
The rooms provided by the local tea houses and lodges are usually basically furnished and come with a twin bed, shared bathroom, and common dining hall; some of them might even possess single bedrooms that we can prebook for you or upgrade en route to Ghorpani and Poon Hill.
The menu at these typical mountain lodges varies from local and international dishes such as Dal Bhat (an everyday Nepali meal), pasta, a variety of rice, mashed potatoes, and more, which can get limited when hitting up the Himalayan trail in remote locations.
Do you need a permit to go to Ghorepani and Poon Hill Trekking?
Yes, the natural and cultural excursion to Ghorepani and Poon Hill falls under the Annapurna Conservation Area in Nepal; hence, one must obtain the two essential permits called the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP).
The ACAP is a mandatory permit to enter the Annapurna Conservation Area, which includes the infamous Ghorepani and Poon Hill Treks, while the TIMS is a standard permit to grant access to any trekking region of Nepal, including the Annapurna region.
When is the best time to go to Ghorepani and Poon Hill Trekking?
The pre-monsoon from March to May also referred to as the spring season, and the post-monsoon from September to November, or the season of fall, stand out as ideal times to traverse the Ghorepani and Poon Hills due to their considerably stable weather conditions and extraordinary scenery.
Spring is specifically famous for the full bloom of rhododendron flowers and other wildflowers, adding vibrant colors to the already smashing landscapes beside the great visibility of panoramic mountains in the sunrise from Poon Hill.
While the weather is mild and usually calm, just as in autumn with the dry trail, no wonder these two precise seasons are the ideal time for the Ghorepani and Poon Hill 7-day expedition.
However, it does not imply that winter and summer trekking are not possible at all. They ponder some of the hidden beauties of Ghorepani and Poon Hill; a voyage at this time of the year will definitely help you to be one of the first ones to come across the mysterious charm of the Annapurna region never seen and heard before.
What are the difficulties that can occur during the Ghorepani Poon Hill Pilgrimage?
Though the short 7-day Ghorepani and Poon Hill Trek are also recognized as the family trekking trail, it is somewhat of a demanding holiday trekking route where you will have to overcome the steep hills and valleys. Here are some other potential difficulties that trekkers and travelers may encounter:
- Altitude sickness: Although the Ghorepani and Poon Hill treks are relatively short and in the lower Himalayan region, there is still a chance of altitude sickness, especially if you rush your walking pace without adequate acclimatization. Therefore, it is important to stay hydrated, pace consistently, and be aware of symptoms such as severe headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
- Fluctuating weather conditions: In the Himalayas of Nepal, including the Ghorepani and Poonhill, the weather conditions can never be predicted, which can change suddenly and may observe rainfall during precise seasons, slicking the paths that might result in possible landslides. Nonetheless, when packed appropriately and geared correctly, each season of Nepal is the best time to do Ghorepani Poon Hill, offering something new for its visitors to discover at that specific time of the year.
- Uneven Trails: The trekking route between Ghorepani and Poon Hill can be rough and steep at certain sections, with narrow paths and extreme drops. Therefore, one has to be mentally as well as physically prepared to traverse this part of the Annapurna region and walk cautiously to avoid lock and muscle sprains.
Do you need to hire a guide or porter to go on this short trek to Ghorepani and Poon Hill?
There are a lot of hikers on the trail. Hiring a guide for Poon Hill Trekking is necessary because the trip will be quite crowded during the peak season. A local guide with excellent logistical management skills is needed during this period. It is possible to become ill at any point in time.
Since the Ghorepani Poon Hill trackway is well-trodden and has low chances of posing any sort of life-threatening threat, many trekkers and travelers opt to complete it on their own.
However, if it is your first journey in the Himalayas of Nepal, one must be cautious with a reminder that solo trekking is banned in the country from April 1st, 2023 when travelers and trekkers must be accompanied by professional guides.
Moreover, guides and porters are an absolute travel essential for Ghorepani and Poon Hill to boost the confidence of trekking aspirants, while they also help with the easy management of expedition logistics, including permits, meals, and rooms, which can be very hard to get in the peak trekking season of spring and autumn.
So, yes, guides and porters are a must to embark on Ghorepani and Poon Hill, ensuring your hassle-free rambling with good navigation skills while keeping you up-to-date on local culture, environment, and language barriers, enhancing your overall trekking experience.
Trekking group/single
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek can be organized as either a private or group trip, regardless of whether you are just trekking alone or with a group. If you are able to do this trek with your group, there are very good prices for groups and extra discounts depending on group size.
This applies only if Ammonite Adventure organizes the group. There is no limit to size, and we will give you an assistant guide for any trekker group of 12 or more. We will also give you one porter for each group of trekkers and limit trekkers to 9 kg of baggage.
Extra Personal Expenses on Trekking
Nearly all the expenses related to the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek are covered. Package usually includes most of the costs, but there are some that we don't cover. For example, meals and accommodation in Kathmandu are completely the clients' responsibility.
There are various hotels and lodges of different standards, and you can conveniently book them online while you are in Kathmandu.
Each of our clients is advised to carry some personal spending money for accommodation and food in Kathmandu, visa process, travel insurance policy, snacks, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips for the crew members, souvenirs, etc.
Our suggestion is that you bring cash (major currencies) as the currency can only be exchanged in Kathmandu or in Nepal for Nepali Rupees. Nepali currency is the only one that will be accepted in the trekking regions.
Ammonite Adventure Crew
For the 7-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, you will have the help of our experienced guides and Sherpas, who are locally hired to help you and ensure that your trip is successful and one-of-a-kind.
Yes, all our guides have proper certification and training for the job.
Put simply, we usually employ porters to work as your bag carriers. Two trekkers share a porter who does not carry more than 18 kg of combined gear for the two trekkers. If, however, you need more help, we will be able to give you one mountain helper for each person if you let us know beforehand.
Our crew is native to the Himalayas; hence, they are accustomed to being at high altitudes.
We always ensure that our crew is well paid, and we also provide insurance, food, clothing, lodging, and medical aid for our porters and guides. We also want to make sure that our staff is physically fit and that they are in good spirits so that they deliver excellent service to you.
Our trek leaders have:
- Undergone a training course and got a certificate for the training course to be Wilderness First Aid Provider course.
- Got a Trekking Certification from the Government of Nepal
- Speak English and a number of other relevant languages fluently.
- Training in conservation and biodiversity
- One of the best storytellers to rightly depict the local culture and history
- Perfect People Skills and the capacity to easily get along with people from different walks of life
- As an Unforeseen Event Handler, you will find them always solving the problems promptly and calmly, thereby, even under pressure, they will achieve a positive outcome.
- Have skills in time management and the capability to do proper planning and coordination of the logistics
- Humor of a strong kind makes a good customer experience on a trek.
- Sensitive to the needs of the client
Booking and Payment Process
Ammonite Adventure is a legally registered trekking agency licensed by the Nepal Government, is a member of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN), and is a member of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), which means by booking with us, you have a secure trekking company.
In order to confirm your trek, you need to put down a 10% deposit by bank transfer, Western Union, or even online.
You will pay the remainder of the amount due in Nepal in cash, credit card, or transfer. When your booking is confirmed, you will need to email us within 1 week: a scanned copy of your passport (along with any dependent traveling with you), a recent passport-style photograph of you, your travel insurance, and your flight details.
Last Minute Booking
We allow for last-minute booking for the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. For the trek, you will need to give the total payment in advance, before you set off on the trek, and you will have to book in advance of the trek starting, with a maximum of 24 hours before. We do intend to be operating treks in a long season for all seasons of the year.
Last-minute booking can also indicate we are having a problem with the flight confirmations, or bad changes of weather could be coming in.
Trip Extensions
If you wish to extend your stay a few more days, we can do trip extensions. There are many activities that could be added on to your trip, not only in Kathmandu and jungle safaris, but also paragliding, rafting, or canoeing.
Feedback
At the end of the tour, Ammonite Adventure has a farewell dinner in Kathmandu you are invited to attend. When you return, you will receive a printed certificate, and you can give feedback as you like.
