Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill

Annapurna base camp trek via Poon Hill is an amazing trek itinerary for trekking as well as exploring the beautiful landscapes of Nepal. This trek will take you to some of the celestial places inside Nepal providing you a golden opportunity to witness the natural beauty with your eye. The heavenly mountain view, breathtaking trekking routes, hospitable people and fascinating culture will amaze you. Cultural sightseeing is also included in this trip so that you can get the best of both things that are city sightseeing and a rewarding trek. Annapurna Base camp is one of the most popular treks admired by many. Annapurna base camp offers an otherworldly view of the majestic Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna Massif, Hiunchuli, Dhaulagiri, and Tilicho, in addition to numerous other stunning peaks.

Besides getting great mountain views this trek also grants an opportunity to closely observe and blend in with the local people on the way to ABC. villages such as Ghandruk and Chomrong, and settlements of Gurung and Tamang fall on the trail towards Annapurna Base Camp. This trip will allow you to get an amazing experience of authentic food, authentic culture, and a new concept of hospitality. This trip will provide you with a lifetime experience. These places have little to no facility for transportation meaning from Ghandruk you will mostly walk while absorbing the beauty of the pristine nature.

Annapurna base camp is one the most soothing places from where you can see the astonishing Himalayan vista. Along the trail, there are several teahouses where you can rest and interact with the locals. The gratifying hospitality of the locals will warm your heart. During the trek, you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will provide you with in-depth knowledge about the places that you’ll visit during your amazing trip. Also, you will visit the popular place Poon Hill best known for its location that provides a panoramic Himalayan view.

Annapurna base camp Poon hill trek is an ideal blend of a city tour and a village trip, you will get the best of both things. This trip might be a little difficult as one must hike for several days. Annapurna Base Camp trail is not as easy as it may seem. This trek itinerary will take you to the places that are worth your time and effort. The welcoming people, nature, and the most important element of this trek, the grand mountain view, will be worth all the hassle. The culture, languages, food, and history are different in these places which means you can interact with them and experience their lifestyle.

Monuments Exploration in Kathmandu

Kathmandu is recognized as the city of temples as there are hundreds of religious temples and monasteries. There are many ancient monuments and spiritually important sites present inside Kathmandu valley. Each of the historical sites that you see has profound cultural beliefs and interesting history. One fascinating thing about Kathmandu is that there is one temple in every kilometer. The monuments that you will visit during your Kathmandu sightseeing are as follows:

Kathmandu Durbar Square (Basantapur) has an amazing history, this is the site where important events used to take place such as Royal events, the Coronation of kings, and many more. Nowadays important events like the traditional worship ceremony of the Kumari Goddess are held on the premises of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Kathmandu Durbar Square is surrounded by ancient statues, small ponds, and a series of courtyards such as Mohan Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Kumari Chowk. The peaceful ambience is meditative for spiritual seekers. The tallest building in the area is the Taleju temple. Kathmandu Durbar Square is rich in art and culture as the Kumari Ghar is still at the site. 

Swayambhunath temple also known as Monkey Temple is a perfect viewpoint from where you can get a majestic view of the whole Kathmandu valley. Centuries-old statues are still shining there with the warm heat of thousands of butter lamps welcoming its visitors. The sweet smell of incense creates a magical atmosphere at the ancient shrine. This Hindu temple is devoted to Manjusri and Saraswati- the Goddess of learning. You will experience spiritual tranquility because of the peaceful environment there.

Pashupatinath temple devoted to Shiva is located on the holy banks of the Bagmati river.  It is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. The Pashupatinath complex was built in 1692, during the time of the Maha Shivaratri Festival and Teej Festival this place is packed with its devotees. Aarati is done every evening at 6 PM as a ritual. Pashupatinath temple is considered the most secret pilgrimage site.

Boudhanath Stupa (Khasti Chaitya) is a very fascinating and spiritual sphere and the most visited Buddhist pilgrimage in Kathmandu. Boudhanath is an important monument for Buddhists, devoted to Gautam Budhha. The other name of the Boudhanath is Khasti Chaitya. People moving around the giant white dome, monks chanting in low and placid voices, and the strong smell of divine incense will welcome you to the spiritual site. The dorm is surrounded by 108 small (Manya) prayer wheels, and colorful Lung Ta (Tibetian prayer flags) hanging from the top of the dorm. One can experience spiritual tranquility here in Boudhanath Stupa.

Sites Exploration in Pokhara

Pokhara is the best destination for its panoramic mountain views and the buzzy lakeside area. Alongside the busy streets and peaceful lakeside, many natural attractions catch your eye. One can witness the spectacular Himalayas from the amazing Pokhara. The mix of adventure, culture, and natural beauty made this city a wonderful place to visit. Explore the nightlife on the lakeside, or just roam around the hustling and bustling streets of Pokhara, everything is amazing. Furthermore, travelers may go for the sunrise in Sarangkot and see the majestic Machhapuchhre just in front of their eyes. Pokhara is also known as the city of Adventures where you can participate in several thrilling activities.

This heavenly city never fails to entertain and awe its guests with its mind-blowing beauty. The sites that Pokhara sightseeing will cover are as followed:

World Peace Pagoda also known as Shanti Stupa located on top of Ananda hill giving you a spectacular view of Phewa lake and the entire Pokhara city. Besides being an epic viewpoint it has its spiritual importance. The architecture itself is the symbol of spreading peace all over the place. Many people visit the peace pagoda for a spiritual purpose. The area is extremely peaceful and one can not only experience inner tranquility but also get a great view. The quiet atmosphere will take all your stress away for a while. 

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave is a breathtaking place with beautiful and intricate architecture outside the cave. It is the perfect example of natural and artificial attraction blended. There are numerous sculptures of deities and demons on the walls outside the cave. One can see impressive stalagmites inside the cave. Within the dark cave, there is a great lingam which is worshiped by devotees of Shiva. Further, if you go inside the cave you will be able to explore the natural beauty of the cave even more.

Devi’s fall is also known locally as Patale Chhango (Fall of the Netherworld), Devi’s fall is a savage waterfall located 2 km southwest of Pokhara Airport. This gorgeous waterfall will sweep away all your discomfort with its beauty. With a height of 48 meters and a length of 1479 meters, Devi’s fall is the deepest underground waterfall in Asia. A landmark of Pokhara, Devi’s fall is a must-visit when in Nepal.

Phewa Lake locally known as Baidam Tal is located in the south of the Pokhara valley. As soon as you reach the lakeside you will see numerous colorful boats floating on top of the tranquil surrounding. The lake itself is surrounded by lush green hills giving you an eye-pleasing view. You can do different kinds of activities there such as fishing, swimming,  and many more. On a clear day, you can see the stunning reflection of the majestic mountains above the green hills. The divine Barahi Temple is also situated in the middle of the lake on a small island.

Villages through the trail

Pokhara has some of the most pleasing villages and settlements of the ethnic people called Tamu (Gurung and Tamang). These villages are located in the hills at elevations above 2000m with an amazing ambience. These villages contain warm people with rewarding hospitality. The main point of stopping by these villages is the view that you get from these places. The culture, food, lifestyle, and different lingo. Talking about the view from Ghandruk's great mountains Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Fishtail, Mt. Gangapurna, and Mt. Hiuchuli also Ghandruk is the gateway to yet another extraordinary viewpoint Poon Hill. There are several settlements that you will stop by during your trip and they will surely fascinate you with their culture and mesmerizing nature and Himalayan vistas. The next village with an amazing mountain view is Chhomrong and which provides a view of Mt. Fishtail and gorgeous sunrise and sunset.

You can participate in various activities in these rich places such as trying on their traditional garments and exploring the surrounding area. You can also socialize with the people. There is little to no modern transportation meaning that you will get to see lots of donkeys, mussels, and beasts of the Himalayas -Yak. On the way, you can also relax in a natural hot spring in Jinu village. Depending on the season you will see regional vegetation and native animals. If you choose to trek in the monsoon, you will notice the trail covered with wildflowers that look otherworldly.

The long-established villages have a very distinguished architecture with stoned paved roofs which is the iconic thing about these villages. These villages are so popular that Ghandruk is one of the biggest villages in Nepal. Everything about these places is amazing and you may enjoy the company of the locals.

What to expect from the Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon hill?

This 12-day trip itinerary is perfect for someone who is into nature and thrilling adventures. This trip will take you to places that seem otherworldly. Nepal is the perfect place if you are into mountains, adventure, and exploration. As soon as you land in Nepal you will be welcomed in the typical Nepali style outside the airport by one of our office representatives. You will be transferred to your respective hotel in Kathmandu on a private basis. On the first day of your trip, you will explore the cultural places inside Kathmandu as mentioned in the itinerary. You can take advantage of your leisure time to do trek preparation shopping and enjoy the nightlife in Thamel. After exploring the historical city- of Kathmandu, pack your bags and get ready to be amazed by the raw beauty of Nepal. On the 3rd day, you will fly to Pokhara and drive to Ghandruk from where you will start your trek program.

You will start your journey from Ghandruk from where you will start seeing the awe-spring mountain view that will surely pump you up. On the way, you will run into locals and their domesticated horses and donkeys carrying goods. There are not many trails to Annapurna Base Camp meaning that you will see many things on the way to your destination. Things that you will encounter on the way are  Kids going to school, animals sunbathing in the sun, and locals doing their daily chores by the trail. Almost every evening you will see the mesmerizing sunrise and sunset along with the bold mountains. The locals will greet you no after where they see you. The warm hospitality and authentic food will definitely warm your heart. This trip will give you a golden opportunity to learn and get along with the locals. Not only that you can also learn about the culture and history of the very place where you will stay from the natives.

This trip is specially designed to provide you with the full experience of nature with no compromise. As you continue your journey you will get closer to your ultimate destination Annapurna Base camp from where the mountains will get closer and closer. These places are full of various species of flora and fauna, you might also encounter some wildlife. The amazing greenery and the ruthless mountains will not fail to fascinate you. Before you reach ABC you will stop by Machhapuchher (MBC) from where you will see the glorious Mt. Fishtail with its hypnotic beauty. Afterward, you will advance towards the ABC from where you will get the heavenly view of Annapurna Massif, Mt. Fishtail, Hiunchuli, Dhaulagiri, and Tilicho, in addition to numerous other stunning peaks.

After soaking in all the beauty you will make your way toward yet another magnificent viewpoint Poon hill. You will return from the same trail up to Bamboo and from there you will trek to Poon hill through other popular villages such as Tadapani and Ghorepani. These places are equally beautiful and have their own significance and charm. Small glacier rivers, thrilling bridges, hospitable people, and delicious local food will make your trip memorable. The perfectly maintained nature will refresh you during your trek. You will go through dense forests which provide a good chance to catch a glimpse of wild animals in their natural habitat. The last stop will be Poon Hill with some of the jaw-dropping sunrise and sunset views. Poon hill is the ultimate viewpoint for the Annapurna range along with the surrounding valley. This trek will come to an end after your last trek towards Ulleri, another awesome village with identity and amazing people. 

From there you will drive towards the city of lakes where you will stay overnight and enjoy yourself by the lakeside sipping chill beverages. The next day you will get ready for your onward flight to the capital - kathmandu. You will be picked up at the airport and escorted to your hotel. Check in your hotel and you will have a leisurely day. You either relax or self-explore the street of Kathmandu full of surprises. In the evening you will join us for a cultural Nepali dinner as your farewell. The next day, the day of your departure you will be dropped off at the airport for your home return.