Poon Hill Trek—6 Days Information
Welcome, Arrival, and Start
When you get to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), our agent will be waiting for you in the arrivals area. They will be carrying a sign with your name on it and will greet you in a loving, traditional way with a marigold garland or a Khada, which is a white ceremonial scarf that stands for respect and good luck. After a short introduction, we will be taken to a private car that will take you to the hotel of your choice in Kathmandu.Please make sure you get to Kathmandu at least one day before your hike so you can get ready and go over the details. On the first day, we'll go on a tourist bus and have a beautiful 6–8 hour journey to Pokhara. You can arrange private transportation or flights for an extra fee.
Lodging
During the trek, you will stay in small, family-run lodges called "tea houses," which are spread out along the road. The rooms are simple but cozy, with twin beds, warm blankets, and shared bathrooms. In lower villages, tea houses are cozier and may even have power and charging ports. As you go up, the amenities get simpler but still available. The mood of these teahouses is unique; the dining rooms have fireplaces, the Sherpas are friendly, and you can meet other trekkers from all over the world. At each stop, there is more than just a place to sleep. There is also a chance to learn about the culture and get a real taste of mountain life.
(Note:
Budget Package: You'll stay in local teahouses or lodges and share a room with other trekkers.
Standard Package: You’ll stay in standard teahouses or lodges, usually in a room with two people (twin sharing). Whenever possible, the rooms will have attached bathrooms.
Luxury Package: You’ll stay in private deluxe rooms with attached bathrooms (wheneveravailable) in high-quality teahouses and lodges. )
Food
This trek reaches high altitudes near the world’s tallest peaks, so your body needs plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, and other nutrients. While food options may be limited, we will ensure you have enough healthy and tasty meals throughout the trek. This package includes three standard meals throughout the trek. The menu primarily includes traditional Nepali, Asian, and Western dishes on the trek. We highly recommend sticking to healthy and hydrating options like fresh vegetables, green tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup. For a hearty and energizing meal, try the local favorite, Dal Bhat Tarkari (lentil soup, rice, and vegetable curry). The package does not include personal expenses such as alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, cold drinks, or snacks at tea houses or cafes.
(Note:
Budget package: This option does not include any meals or drinks, so you will need to pay for food separately.
Standard package: You will receive three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), along with a cup of tea or coffee served with each meal and seasonal fruits provided at breakfast.
Luxury package: you will receive three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with seasonal fruits, dry fruits, and nuts at every meal. You can enjoy tea, coffee, juices, cold drinks, and mineral water anytime, except alcoholic drinks. All the extra costs, such as hot showers, phone charging, bed heaters, and internet, are fully covered.)
Baggage
We provide one porter for every two trekkers. Each trekker’s luggage limit is 10 kg, so a porter will carry no more than 20 kg in total. We never overload our porters. You will still need to carry a small backpack for your valuables. We recommend bringing only essentials. Extra baggage can be stored for free at your hotel or with us. All luggage and gear will be checked before the trek begins.
(Note:
Budget package: There are no porters, so you will need to carry your own backpack and belongings throughout the trek.
Standard package: There will be one porter for every two trekkers, who carry up to 20 kg (10 kg per person).
Luxury package: Each trekker has their own personal porter, so you don’t need to carry anything.)
Important Things and Facilities
Water
You can buy bottled water from shops along the trekking route or drink boiled or filtered water provided at the lodges. We strongly recommend bringing a reusable water bottle and refilling it with boiled water to help reduce plastic waste. Avoid drinking untreated tap, river, or well water, as it may cause sickness. For added safety, carry water purification tablets or buy them at local shops on the trail. To avoid altitude sickness and keep your energy up on your walk, it's vitally crucial to drink plenty of water at high altitudes.
(Note:
Budget Package: you need to bring your own refillable water bottle, and you're responsible for getting your water along the trail. You can buy bottled water or pay for warm/boiled water at the lodges, but these are not included in the package.
Standard Package: you will be provided with 2 liters of warm water daily. This helps you stay hydrated safely without needing to buy bottled water frequently. if you want more water or cold drinks, you'll need to buy them yourself.
Luxury package: You will have unlimited access to mineral water, coffee, tea, juices, and cold drinks anytime you want, except for alcoholic beverages. There is no need to carry or worry about purifying water yourself.)
Communication
We will provide you with a SIM card in Kathmandu and teach you how to get data and recharge cash on it, but mobile signals may be weak at higher altitudes. For your safety, our lead guide keeps daily contact with all trekking teams via mobile. We are fully prepared to handle emergencies, and our guides are trained to provide assistance whenever needed. Additionally, we use walkie-talkies and satellite phones in areas with no network to ensure constant communication.
(Note:
Budget package: A SIM card will be provided, and you will be taught how to take a data package and recharge, but the data is not included.
Standard Package: A SIM card with a limited data package already set up everything for you.
Luxury package: A SIM card with an unlimited data package already set up for you. So that you can connect with family, share your journey online, or check maps and updates without worrying about running out of data.)
Travel Essentials
Visa
Foreigners require a visa to enter Nepal, but Indians don't. Most people can get a visa when they arrive at Kathmandu International Airport. The current fee is USD 50 for 30 days, payable in cash. Citizens of China and SAARC countries receive a free visa. Also, we recommend you to inform your country embassy or consulate of your visit to Nepal and your travel partner here.
Travel insurance
This trek is easy in terms of hiking, but it takes place at high altitudes, so there is a small risk of altitude sickness and other hazards. Therefore, travel insurance is required. Your policy must cover medical expenses and emergency helicopter rescue up to an altitude of 4500 meters. We ask our clients to provide detailed insurance information within a week of booking. In case of an emergency, we will use your insurance details to arrange a quick evacuation and transfer to medical facilities.
Currency Exchange
The Nepali Rupee (NPR) is the country's official currency; one US dollar is equivalent to around 130 NPR. In Kathmandu, you may find banks and approved money exchange centers where you can exchange major foreign currencies. ATMs are widely available to withdraw NPR, but extra service fees may apply. Make sure your notes are new and undamaged, as old or torn bills may be refused. Only the 100 INR note from India is legally accepted in Nepal. It’s best to exchange money in Kathmandu before heading to trekking regions, as exchange options in remote areas are limited.
Extra Expense
While our package covers most of your expenses during the trek, you will need to budget for some personal items like meals and accommodation in Kathmandu, visa fees, snacks, hot showers, personal equipment, tips for the crew, etc. We recommend you budget approximately $20 USD per day for these personal expenses during the trek.
Trek Season and the Weather
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is open from March to May and September to November, and it is a safe season for trekking. Spring (March–May) is ideal, with clear skies, blooming rhododendrons and views of Mt. Annapurna. Daytime temperatures range from 18 °C to 24 °C, dropping to -4 °C at night. Autumn (September–November) also offers stable weather and beautiful mountain views, with temperatures from 15 to 25°C and nighttime lows around -6 °C. Snow increases from December, making Larkya La Pass difficult to cross.
A Typical Day on the Hike
Around 7 AM, you get a big breakfast to start your day. The normal trekking day lasts 4 to 6 hours, with a lunch break along the way. You can rest or explore in the evenings and then be briefed on the next day's plans.
Reservations and Rules
Personal trek
We can only provide a personal trek, so you will only be trekking with your group. We will never add strangers to your treks. All the treks are customizable per your schedule.
Individual-Group bookings
Our treks are organized with a minimum of 2 people, so if anyone is alone and does not have a friend or family joining them, we can organize a group trek open for all. If you prefer to join a group, we can also help you connect with other trekkers. Once you confirm, your group trek will be posted on our website, so others can join too. Our policy is designed to transform every trek into your own personal holiday in the Himalayas.
Trust trek booking
The Everest Holiday is a registered and bonded trekking operator, ensuring a secure booking process. We are proudly members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Our Founder, Mr. Ganesh Simkhada, was a former Director of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and former General Secretary of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). To confirm your booking, we require a 10% advance payment.
Payment options include the Himalayan Bank online portal (on our website), major credit cards, bank transfers, Wise, and Western Union. After you arrive in Kathmandu, you can pay the remaining balance. Please send us your important travel documents, such as a passport copy, within one week of booking. Please make sure your passport has a minimum of 6 months of validity remaining at your arrival date in Nepal.
Last-minute booking
We recommend booking your trek in advance. However, we also offer a last-minute booking option, which requires full payment 24 hours before departure. For the last-minute booking, please contact Shreejanat (Joe) at +977-9810351300 or email us at info@theeverestholiday.com. Please note that last-minute treks may face delays due to circumstances beyond our control.
Flexible Schedule
Our trip schedule is determined by your travel date, and you can make any changes to it. If our scheduled trek dates don't work for you, please let us know, and we will be happy to arrange a trip according to your time and schedule.
Trip Extension
You can easily extend your stay with other adventures. We can arrange exciting activities for you, such as a jungle safari (Chitwan and Bardiya), Bungee jumping (Pokhara, Everest, Bhote koshi, Kushma), Rafting (Bhote koshi, Trishuli, and Seti river) and kayaking(Trishuli, and Pokhara), paragliding (Pokhara and Kathmandu), zip flying (Kathmandu, Pokhara and Kushma), canyoning (Pokhara and Sukhuta Beach), and Hot ballooning (Pokhara), according to your interests. We can also set up sightseeing tours around the Kathmandu Valley if you're interested in culture and history.
These tours will take you to UNESCO World Heritage sites like Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath Stupa, Changunarayan Temple, and Pashupatinath Temple. We suggest a trip to Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, hill stations just outside of Kathmandu, around sunrise for a serene getaway. We can also set up spiritual trips for Buddhists and Hindus that take you to temples, stupas, monasteries, and meditation centers. When you're booking a trip, please have a look at our ADD-ON package for an amazing adventure during the trek.
Ecotourism practices
We request that you join our eco-friendly trekking practice as part of our strong commitment to protecting the fragile beauty of the Everest region. Every guest will get their own eco-waste bag at the beginning of our trip. Please use this bag to collect all of your personal trash that can't be composted, like snack wrappers, plastic bottles, and batteries.Please don't leave anything on the trail. Instead, carry this bag with you as we go down, and our guides will show you where to find the public trash cans and recycling bins where you can properly dispose of it. We need your help to keep the Himalayas clean and beautiful for future generations.
TEH Family
We are a family firm that has been in the tourism business in Nepal for three generations. We believe that all of our employees and teams are family. we started as porters and now run an agency. Our professional and experienced guides and Sherpas will be with you the whole time to make sure your trek is safe and memorable. They know how to do first aid in the bush and rock climbing and how to stay safe in the mountains. They also speak good English. They are from the upper Himalayas, so they know the area well. We take care of their insurance, food, housing, and medical. Please treat our workers like family, and don't hesitate to ask for help or have questions at any time.
Trip conclusion
Farewell Dinner
We will celebrate our successful trek with a goodbye supper in Kathmandu after the trek. This is a great opportunity to share stories from your adventure and provide us with your feedback. We will also present you with a certificate of achievement to recognize your incredible accomplishment.
Departure
To arrange your airport transfer, please let us know your hotel name, room number, and flight departure details. We will take you from your hotel to Tribhuvan International Airport so you may catch your trip home. We sincerely hope you had an amazing journey and hope to see you again soon for another trip in Nepal.
Tipping culture
A common way to say thank you for good service is to give a tip. You don't have to provide tips, but it's a good idea to do so at the end of the trek, and it's ideal to give them as a collective gift. The tip should be based on the service, travel time, and cost.
