Annapurna Base Camp via Poon Hill in 9 Days from Pokhara: Route, Cost and Who It Suits (2027)

Last updated 16 October 2026.

Short answer: Our Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill, 9 days starts and ends in Pokhara. It climbs the stone steps to Ulleri and Ghorepani, catches the Poon Hill sunrise at 3,210 metres, crosses the forest to Tadapani and Chomrong, and goes up the Modi Khola valley to Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 metres. It costs USD 655 per person on Budget, USD 1,165 on Standard and USD 2,095 on Luxury for two to four people. It suits fit walkers who want the two best-known views in the Annapurna region in one trek.

I am Shreejan. Many people ask whether they should do Poon Hill or Annapurna Base Camp. If you have nine days in Pokhara, you do not have to choose. This route joins them by the forest trail through Tadapani, so you walk different ground every day. Here is how it runs and what it costs.

What is this trek?

Poon Hill is the ridge above Ghorepani where, on a clear morning, the sun comes up across Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Annapurna Base Camp sits in the Annapurna Sanctuary, a high basin ringed by peaks above 6,000 and 7,000 metres. On this trek you see the panorama from Poon Hill first, then walk into the middle of it. It runs from Pokhara, so it is easy to fit around a Kathmandu stay.

How do the nine days run?

How hard is it?

It is a moderate trek with no technical walking, but it is long. Day 1 to Ulleri is the famous staircase of several thousand stone steps, day 5 is about seven hours and day 7 drops more than 1,800 metres, which is hard on the knees. You walk two to seven hours a day with a day pack for nine days. You sleep at 4,130 metres for one night, and your guide watches everyone for signs of altitude sickness. If you have only five days, our Poon Hill trek is the gentler choice.

What does it cost?

Prices are per person, read from our booking system on 16 October 2026. The full price list for every group size is on the trip page.

Budget gives you shared teahouse rooms, one night in a simple Pokhara hotel on day 9 and no porter, and you order and pay for your own meals on the trek. Standard gives you private teahouse rooms, a 3-star Pokhara hotel, all meals on the trek with tea or coffee and fruit once a day, and one porter for every two trekkers. Luxury gives you the best rooms in each village, a deluxe Pokhara hotel, all meals with fruit, nuts and drinks, and your own porter.

Included on every tier: a licensed English-speaking guide for all nine days (a second guide joins groups of 13 or more), private transport Pokhara to Nayapul and back, the ACAP permit, the TIMS card and taxes. Not included: getting to Pokhara, Kathmandu hotels, international flights, visa, travel insurance and tips.

What permits do you need?

The whole route is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. You need the ACAP permit (NPR 3,000 for foreign visitors, NPR 1,000 for SAARC citizens) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000, or NPR 1,000 for SAARC). A licensed guide is required on this route. Both permits are included. See ABC permits, ACAP and TIMS explained.

When is the best time?

For the sunrise itself, read Poon Hill best time, month by month.

Getting there

The trek starts and ends in Pokhara. From Kathmandu you can fly to Pokhara in about half an hour or take a tourist bus or private car, about six to eight hours. We can book either. Our private vehicle takes you from your Pokhara hotel to Nayapul on day 1 and back on day 9.

Where do you sleep and what do you eat?

You sleep in family-run teahouses every night of the trek, with twin rooms and simple bathrooms. Ghorepani and Chomrong have bigger lodges with hot showers; the lodges above Deurali are basic and cold. Food is dal bhat, noodles, pasta, eggs, porridge and soups. Dal bhat comes with free refills and is the best fuel for the climb.

What should you pack?

Bring broken-in trekking boots, poles for the steps, a warm fleece and a down jacket for Poon Hill and ABC, a rain shell, a headtorch for the early sunrise climb, a water bottle with purification tablets and sun protection. We can lend a sleeping bag and down jacket if you need them. Our ABC packing list has the details.

Porters and luggage

Government rules say a porter should carry no more than 20 kg. On Standard two guests share one porter at 10 kg each, and a solo Standard trekker has no porter, so the guide carries up to 10 kg. On Luxury your own porter carries up to 15 kg. On Budget you carry your own pack, or add a porter.

What insurance do you need?

The highest point is Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 metres, so your policy should cover trekking up to 4,500 metres, including medical treatment and helicopter evacuation. Buy it at home; we do not recommend policies bought in Nepal.

Questions people ask

Is nine days enough? Yes for fit walkers. It is a full trek with no spare day, so keep a day in hand before your international flight.

Poon Hill first or ABC first? Poon Hill first. You climb gradually and finish at the hot springs in Jhinu Danda.

Can I see the sunrise if it is cloudy? Not always. Autumn gives you the best odds, and the guide checks the sky before you climb.

Is it good for a first trek? Yes if you are fit and happy on steps. If not, start with Poon Hill alone.

Can I trek it solo? Yes. The solo price covers your own room and guide.

How is it different from the classic ABC trek? Our 9-day ABC trek from Kathmandu goes straight up via Ghandruk. This version starts in Pokhara and adds Poon Hill.

What are the booking terms?

Group size is 1 to 20 and solo travellers are welcome; a solo price covers your own room and your own guide, so it is higher per person. The deposit is 10 per cent. It is non-refundable and there is no refund if you cancel, but you can move your trip free of charge to any date within one year with at least 72 hours notice. The balance is paid when you arrive in Kathmandu, in US dollars or euros, cash or card. Card carries a 3.5 per cent bank charge and cash carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.

How do you plan this with us?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates, how many of you there are and how you want to reach Pokhara. I will send you the exact quote with the transport and hotels you need.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.