Self-Launched Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: Kathmandu, Pokhara & the Annapurnas
11 days · Nepal
Alpine Luxury Treks Pvt Ltd charges £760
No-markup version: ~£495 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on the classic 11-day Ghorepani Poon Hill trek — Nepal's most accessible Himalayan sunrise hike. Fly or bus between Kathmandu and Pokhara, independently arrange your TIMS card and ACAP permit, then trek the Nayapul–Tikhedhunga–Ghorepani–Tadapani–Ghandruk loop staying in teahouses. Catch the famous dawn view from Poon Hill (3,210m) over Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, explore Gurung village life in Ghandruk, and finish with Pokhara sightseeing before returning to Kathmandu. All transport, lodging, permits and guided day tours are bookable yourself at a fraction of the packaged price. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Kathmandu — Thamel & trek briefing
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport and take a prepaid taxi to Thamel (~NPR 700-900, £4-5). Check into a Thamel guesthouse and spend the afternoon recovering. In the evening, pick up your TIMS card and ACAP permit yourself at the Nepal Tourism Board office (or arrange through a local trekking agency, ~£20 combined) and buy or hire any missing gear along the Thamel gear shops. Load a Nepali eSIM or buy a cheap Ncell data package. Cash is king on the trail — withdraw enough rupees in Kathmandu.
🚌Prepaid airport taxi ~£5
🛏Thamel guesthouse/budget hotel (private room, £12-18/night)
- →Airport pickup to Thamel
- →Buy TIMS card & ACAP permit
- →Gear hire and eSIM setup in Thamel
Kathmandu sightseeing — Swayambhunath, Boudhanath & Pashupatinath
Kathmandu
Do the three classic Kathmandu Valley UNESCO sites independently. Take a taxi or local bus to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) early for the best light, then head to Boudhanath Stupa for a kora (clockwise walk) and a rooftop momo lunch. Finish at Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati riverside for the evening aarti ceremony. Entry tickets: Swayambhunath ~NPR 200, Boudhanath ~NPR 400, Pashupatinath ~NPR 1,000 (£1-6 each). Book a half-day guided walking tour via GetYourGuide if you want context.
🚌Local taxis/ride-hailing between sites ~£8 total
🛏Thamel guesthouse/budget hotel (£12-18/night)
- →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
- →Boudhanath Stupa kora
- →Pashupatinath riverside aarti
- →Optional GetYourGuide half-day tour
Kathmandu to Pokhara — lakeside evening
Pokhara
Travel the classic Kathmandu-Pokhara route. The cheapest option is a tourist bus (~£12-15, 7-8 hrs, departs ~7am from Kantipath); upgrade to a deluxe A/C coach or a short 25-min flight if you want to save time (~£70-90 with Buddha Air/Yeti). Arrive in Pokhara, check into a Lakeside guesthouse, and stroll the Phewa Lake shoreline for dinner. Watch the sunset over Machapuchare (Fishtail) from the Lakeside promenade.
🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu-Pokhara ~£13 (or flight ~£80)
🛏Pokhara Lakeside guesthouse (£10-16/night)
- →Phewa Lake sunset stroll
- →Lakeside dinner
- →Optional paragliding booking for later
Pokhara to Tikhedhunga — trek begins via Nayapul & Birethanti
Tikhedhunga
Take a local bus or shared jeep from Pokhara Baglung bus park to Nayapul (~1.5 hrs, ~£2-4). Show your ACAP permit at Birethanti checkpoint and start walking. Today's trail follows the Modi Khola river through Birethanti and Sudame to Tikhedhunga — a gentle warm-up day of ~3-4 hrs. Settle into a teahouse, order dal bhat (unlimited refills, ~£3-4) and get an early night. Teahouse rooms are basic (£3-6) and usually cheaper if you eat dinner and breakfast there.
🚌Local bus/shared jeep Pokhara-Nayapul ~£3
🛏Teahouse in Tikhedhunga (£4-6/night)
- →ACAP checkpoint at Birethanti
- →Riverside trek to Tikhedhunga
- →Dal bhat teahouse dinner
Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani — the 3,300-step Ulleri climb
Ghorepani
The day starts with the notorious stone staircase to Ulleri (~2 hrs, relentlessly steep but beautiful). From Ulleri, contour through rhododendron and oak forest with your first close-up views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. Lunch at Nangethanti, then climb steadily to Ghorepani (~5-6 hrs total). It gets cold here at ~2,860m, so layer up. Teahouses fill up in peak season — arrive by mid-afternoon to secure a room. Early dinner and bed before tomorrow's pre-dawn start.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse in Ghorepani (£5-7/night)
- →Ulleri stone staircase
- →Rhododendron forest trek
- →Annapurna South & Hiunchuli views
Poon Hill sunrise & trek to Tadapani
Tadapani
Set your alarm for ~4:30am and hike 45 minutes up to Poon Hill (3,210m) for the headline moment — sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Machapuchare. Entrance ~NPR 100. Return to Ghorepani for breakfast, then trek ~5-6 hrs to Tadapani via the Deurali ridge, through more rhododendron forest. Tadapani sits in a clearing with front-row views of the Annapurnas — a great place to rest your legs for the evening.
🚌On foot (pre-dawn Poon Hill hike)
🛏Teahouse in Tadapani (£5-7/night)
- →Poon Hill sunrise viewpoint
- →Dhaulagiri & Annapurna panorama
- →Ridge trek to Tadapani
Tadapani to Ghandruk — Gurung village & museum
Ghandruk
A shorter, largely downhill day (~3-4 hrs) through forest to Ghandruk, Nepal's most famous Gurung village and a former Gurkha recruitment hub. Wander the stone-paved Old Ghandruk Village, visit the Gurung Museum (~£1), and admire Annapurna South and Machapuchare filling the skyline. Ghandruk has excellent teahouses, bakeries and coffee shops — a comfortable reward after four days of trekking.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse/lodge in Ghandruk (£5-8/night)
- →Old Ghandruk Village walk
- →Gurung Museum
- →Annapurna South & Machapuchare views
Ghandruk to Pokhara via Nayapul
Pokhara
Descend the stone steps from Ghandruk to Nayapul (~3-4 hrs) — long but rewarding, passing through Kimche and Birethanti. From Nayapul, catch a local bus or shared jeep back to Pokhara (~1.5 hrs, ~£2-4). Check back into a Lakeside guesthouse, take a hot shower (finally!), and celebrate with a Lakeside dinner. Optional evening boat ride on Phewa Lake (~£3-5 rowboat) if you still have energy.
🚌Local bus/shared jeep Nayapul-Pokhara ~£3
🛏Pokhara Lakeside guesthouse (£10-16/night)
- →Descent to Nayapul
- →Phewa Lake boat ride (optional)
- →Lakeside celebration dinner
Pokhara sightseeing — waterfalls, caves & mountain museum
Pokhara
Explore Pokhara's highlights at your own pace. Hire a scooter (~£6-8/day) or take taxis between sites: Davis Falls and the adjoining Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave (~£1-2 each), the excellent International Mountain Museum (great context for the trek you just finished, ~£3), and the hilltop World Peace Pagoda with sweeping lake views (free, reachable by boat + short hike). Finish with sunset at Phewa Lake.
🚌Scooter hire or taxis ~£8
🛏Pokhara Lakeside guesthouse (£10-16/night)
- →Davis Falls
- →Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
- →International Mountain Museum
- →World Peace Pagoda
Pokhara to Kathmandu — Thamel evening
Kathmandu
Travel back to Kathmandu by tourist bus (~£13, 7-8 hrs) or short flight (~£80). On arrival, check into a Thamel hotel and spend the evening exploring Thamel's markets, gear shops, bakeries and bars. Great night for a farewell dinner and picking up last souvenirs (pashminas, singing bowls, tea).
🚌Tourist bus Pokhara-Kathmandu ~£13 (or flight ~£80)
🛏Thamel guesthouse/budget hotel (£12-18/night)
- →Thamel market shopping
- →Souvenir hunting
- →Farewell dinner
Depart Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Final morning for last-minute shopping or a missed sight before heading to Tribhuvan International Airport by prepaid taxi (~£5). Most international flights leave in the afternoon/evening, so there's time for a relaxed breakfast and a last Thamel coffee. Depart with a summit sunrise and a Himalayan tan line.
🚌Prepaid taxi to airport ~£5
🛏—
- →Last-minute shopping
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Alpine Luxury Treks Pvt Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Alpine Luxury Treks Pvt Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£495 | £760 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £265 per person (35%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Alpine Luxury Treks Pvt Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£495
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: Kathmandu, Pokhara & the Annapurnas cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £495 per person for 11 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Alpine Luxury Treks Pvt Ltd?+
Yes — Alpine Luxury Treks Pvt Ltd charges around £760 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £495 — a saving of roughly £265 (35%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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