Poon Hill Trek Best Time: Month by Month, With Rain, Sunshine and Night Lows

Last updated 6 October 2026. Rain and sunshine are long-term averages from the weather stations at Pokhara and Lumle. Ghorepani and Poon Hill temperatures are averages for 2015 to 2024 from a weather model, so treat them as a guide to what the nights feel like, not a promise for one week. Trek prices are in US dollars.

The best months for the Poon Hill trek are late October to mid November and March to April. Late October to mid November gives the clearest views with dry, settled weather and cold nights. March and April give milder nights and the rhododendron forest in flower, with hazier afternoons. Winter is cold but dry and bright. The monsoon, June to September, is the weakest time for the sunrise this trek is built around. Poon Hill is open all year, so the real question is which trade-off suits you.

We run The Everest Holiday in Kathmandu and Pokhara. We registered the company in 2016 and we come from three generations of family guides. Poon Hill is a short, low trek. The viewpoint is at 3,210 m and our highest night is Ghorepani at 2,860 m, with the start and finish at Pokhara (820 m) and Nayapul. From the top you see Dhaulagiri, the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre.

Poon Hill weather month by month

Read rain from Pokhara and Lumle. Lumle (1,738 m) is the station closest to the trail, so it is the better guide to what the hillside gets. Read the temperature columns for how the lodge at Ghorepani and the viewpoint before dawn will feel. As a rough rule, it gets about 6 C colder for every 1,000 m you climb.

Two things stand out. Rain drops by more than 90 per cent between September and November. And the nights at Ghorepani fall from 11 C in September to 3 C in November, then below freezing from January.

January and February: cold, dry and quiet

These are the coldest months. Ghorepani is about 5 to 6 C by day and -3 to -4 C at night, and the viewpoint before dawn averages -5 to -6 C. Rain is minimal (Lumle 35 mm in January, 51 mm in February) and Pokhara has more than 200 hours of sunshine in each month. Snow is possible above Ghorepani. The reward is crisp air and few other trekkers. You need a proper winter sleeping set-up, warm layers for the pre-dawn climb, and a plan for icy steps. If it is your first winter trek, I would pick early December instead. Our December and January guide goes into the detail.

March: sunniest and still cold at night

March is the sunniest month in the table (229 hours at Pokhara) and rain is still light (64 to 69 mm). Ghorepani is about 9 C by day and 0 C at night, and Poon Hill is around -2 C before dawn. The rhododendron forest between Ulleri and Ghorepani starts to colour. Afternoons can turn hazy, so we plan the best views for the morning. Bring the same warm layers as winter for the sunrise climb.

April: flowers and milder nights

April is the easiest month for cold sleepers. Ghorepani is about 13 C by day and 4 C at night, and the viewpoint is around 2 C. The flowers are at their best. Rain starts to climb (122 to 142 mm), and afternoon haze is more common than in autumn. If flowers matter more to you than a razor-sharp skyline, this is your month. Our spring guide covers the bloom and the photography.

May: warm, with rain building

May is warm (Ghorepani 14 C by day, 7 C at night) but rain rises sharply to 309 mm at Lumle and sunshine falls to 167 hours at Pokhara. Mornings can still be fine. Bring waterproofs and keep your plans flexible. I would choose April or October over May if your dates move.

June to September: the monsoon

This is the wet season. Lumle receives 866 mm in June, 1,473 mm in July, 1,419 mm in August and 903 mm in September, and Pokhara has only 96 to 132 hours of sunshine each month. The Nepal Tourism Board puts about 80 per cent of the year's rain in June to September. Nights at Ghorepani are mild (11 to 12 C), so cold is not the problem. Cloud and rain are, and the peaks are often hidden. The forest is green and the trails are quiet. If these are your only dates, build in spare days, pack full rain protection, and come for the walk rather than a promised sunrise.

October: the dry season arrives

October brings the big change. Lumle rain drops from 903 mm in September to 208 mm, and Pokhara sunshine rises from 132 to 189 hours. Ghorepani is about 13 C by day and 7 C at night. The first week or so can still feel like the end of the monsoon, so late October is the safer pick. Our autumn guide explains why the air is so clear.

November: bright, dry and getting cold

November is the driest month of the main season (Lumle 20 mm) with 222 hours of sunshine at Pokhara. Ghorepani is about 10 C by day and 3 C at night, and the viewpoint drops to about 1 C. Early to mid November gives some of the best weather and clearest skies of the year. By late November the nights are properly cold, so dress as for early winter.

December: cold, clear and dry

December has the least rain of the year (Lumle 15.5 mm) and 220 hours of sunshine. Ghorepani is about 7 C by day and 0 C at night, and Poon Hill is around -2 C before dawn. Early December is a gentle way to try winter trekking. After that the cold deepens through January.

Which season suits you?

• First-time trekkers who want the clearest views: late October to mid November.
• Flower lovers: March to April, with mornings for views and afternoons for the forest.
• Photographers: late October to mid November for clarity, March to April for softer light and colour.
• Anyone who dislikes the cold: April or October.
• Quiet trails and crisp air: early December, accepting freezing mornings.
• Fixed summer dates: go, but keep spare days and low expectations of the skyline.

Choosing between Poon Hill and another short trek? See Poon Hill or Mardi Himal.

Is Poon Hill open all year?

Yes. There is no closed season, and the lodges on the route serve trekkers through spring, monsoon, autumn and winter. What changes is the rain, the sunshine and the cold. A licensed guide walks with you on every trek we run. A licensed guide and agency-issued TIMS card are required on most trekking routes under the Nepal Tourism Board rule from 31 March 2023; the Everest (Khumbu) region does not enforce it locally, but we always trek with a licensed guide.

Is Poon Hill too cold in winter?

The days can be bright and still, and nights are the issue. Ghorepani averages 0 C at night in December, -4 C in January and -3 C in February, and the viewpoint is colder still. Fit trekkers with proper layers, gloves, a warm hat and a good sleeping bag manage well. If you dislike freezing waits, choose April or late October.

Does it rain in October?

Much less than in September, but not never. Lumle averages 208 mm in October against 903 mm in September and 20 mm in November. Pack a rain cover even in a dry year. Late October is the safer end of the month.

When is the rhododendron bloom?

March and April are the months we plan flower trips around, on the forest between Ulleri and Ghorepani. April has the milder nights, March the clearer sunshine hours.

Is Poon Hill worth it in the monsoon?

It depends on what you want. For the classic sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, it is the weakest choice. For green forest, full streams and quiet lodges it has its own mood. We would rather tell you that now than have you disappointed on the hill.

How early is the sunrise climb?

We leave Ghorepani (2,860 m) in the dark with head torches and climb 350 m to Poon Hill (3,210 m) to be there for first light. It is the coldest part of the trek in every season, so a warm jacket, hat and gloves go in your day pack from the first night. After sunrise we walk back to Ghorepani for breakfast.

What should I pack by season?

Pack for the Ghorepani night low and the Poon Hill pre-dawn low, not for Pokhara. In spring and autumn that means mid-weight layers plus a warm jacket, hat and gloves. In winter, add a warmer sleeping bag and thermal layers. In the monsoon, add full waterproofs and dry bags. In every season, sound shoes for stone steps, sun protection and a small day pack are enough. Buy travel insurance at home before you fly. For the full list, see our Poon Hill and Ghorepani guide.

How do I book, and what does it cost?

We run two Poon Hill treks. The Poon Hill trek, 4 days from Pokhara costs per person US$400 Budget, US$645 Standard and US$1,165 Luxury for 2 to 4 trekkers. Solo is US$670, US$885 and US$1,920. The 6-day Poon Hill trek from Kathmandu costs US$499 Budget, US$749 Standard and US$1,235 Luxury for 1 to 4 trekkers on Budget and 2 to 4 on the others, with solo Standard at US$960 and solo Luxury at US$1,930. Prices hold for 2027, and the group tables are on each trip page.

Budget means you carry your own bag, shared rooms and trek meals not included. Standard means one porter for every two trekkers, private rooms and all trek meals, and a solo Standard trekker has no porter, so the guide carries up to 10 kg. Luxury means a dedicated porter for each trekker, private deluxe rooms with attached bathroom where available, all meals plus fruit and nuts and unlimited soft drinks. Kathmandu hotels are not included in any trek tier and we quote them separately. The ACAP permit (NPR 3,000) and TIMS card (NPR 2,000) are arranged by us, and our permits explainer shows how they work. Our Poon Hill cost guide has the full breakdown.

The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable. If you cancel, there is no refund, but you can reschedule free with at least 72 hours' notice to any date within one year. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you paid less taxes, bank or card charges and money already spent. You pay the balance on arrival in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card (card carries 3.5 per cent, cash none). We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.

Tell us your dates and what matters most, views, flowers, warmth or quiet, and we will match the month to you. Getting to the trailhead is covered in our Nayapul guide, and the wider picture in best time to trek in Nepal.

Sources: Nepal Tourism Board (rainfall share); Department of Hydrology and Meteorology station normals.

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