Self-Launched Poon Hill Trek: 4 Days from Pokhara
4 days · Annapurna Region, Nepal
Mosaic Adventure charges £490
No-markup version: ~£112 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 4-day self-launched version of Mosaic Adventure's guided Ghorepani–Poon Hill trek. Instead of a fully guided group departure, you organise the classic teahouse trek yourself: a shared jeep from Pokhara to Nayapul/Birethanti, then the traditional route up through Ulleri and Ghorepani to the famous Poon Hill sunrise viewpoint, returning via Tadapani and Ghandruk. You'll need your own TIMS card and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), both easily arranged in Pokhara, plus travel insurance that covers trekking. Costs below are rough backpacker estimates in GBP and assume you trek independently (no guide/porter hire — budget extra if you want one, roughly £15–25/day for a guide, or a licensed guide hires for ~£20–25/day).
Day-by-day
Pokhara to Nayapul, trek to Tikhedhunga
Pokhara → Nayapul → Tikhedhunga
Pick up your ACAP permit and TIMS card at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Pokhara (bring passport photos and passport; ~£20 combined). Take a shared jeep from Pokhara's Baglung Bus Park to Nayapul, about 1.5 hours, ~£3. If you're on a budget, local buses cost under £1. From Nayapul it's a gentle 3–4 hour walk along the Birethanti river valley, crossing suspension bridges and passing waterfalls, to the village of Tikhedhunga (~1,540m). Settle into a teahouse, dal bhat for dinner, early night before the big staircase day.
🚌Shared jeep Pokhara→Nayapul ~£3 (or local bus ~£1)
🛏Teahouse in Tikhedhunga (twin room, shared bathroom) ~£5–8
- →Permit collection in Pokhara
- →Shared jeep to trailhead
- →3–4 hr valley trek to Tikhedhunga
- →Teahouse stay and dal bhat dinner
The Ulleri staircase to Ghorepani
Tikhedhunga → Ulleri → Ghorepani
Today is the physically hardest day: the infamous ~3,000 stone steps from Tikhedhunga up to Ulleri, then a long gradual climb through rhododendron and oak forest to Ghorepani (~2,870m). Expect 6–7 hours of walking, so start early and pace yourself. Ghorepani is a sizeable teahouse village with plenty of lodges around £6–10; eat well and get an early night, as tomorrow's sunrise start is around 4:30am. Acclimatise by not rushing — pack layers, as it gets cold at this altitude.
🚌Walking only
🛏Teahouse in Ghorepani (twin room, shared bathroom) ~£6–10
- →Ulleri stone staircase climb
- →Rhododendron forest trek
- →Village of Ghorepani at 2,870m
- →Teahouse evening and early sleep
Poon Hill sunrise, then on to Tadapani
Ghorepani → Poon Hill → Tadapani
Headlamp on and climb the ~1 hour path from Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3,210m) in time for sunrise — from the viewing tower you get the classic panorama of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and, on clear days, as far as the Annapurnas' full range. There's a small entry fee at the top (~£2). Back to Ghorepani for breakfast, then continue along the ridge via Deurali to Tadapani (~2,630m), around 6 hours of up-and-down walking through forest. Tadapani has basic but friendly teahouses, ~£6–10.
🚌Walking only
🛏Teahouse in Tadapani (twin room, shared bathroom) ~£6–10
- →Sunrise hike to Poon Hill (3,210m)
- →Himalayan panorama viewpoint
- →Ridge trek Ghorepani→Tadapani
- →Forest trail via Deurali
Tadapani to Ghandruk and back to Pokhara
Tadapani → Ghandruk → Pokhara
Descend about 3–4 hours through terraced fields and rhododendron forest to the large Gurung village of Ghandruk, where you can visit the Gurung Museum (~£3) and grab lunch with mountain views. From Ghandruk, a shared jeep down to Nayapul or directly to Pokhara takes 1.5–2.5 hours (~£5–7), or walk an extra 1.5 hours to the road head at Kimche to catch a cheaper bus. Back in Pokhara mid-afternoon, check into a Lakeside guesthouse and treat yourself to a proper meal.
🚌Shared jeep Ghandruk→Pokhara ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside ~£10–15 per night (not included in tour cost below if you continue travelling)
- →Descent to Ghandruk
- →Gurung Museum visit
- →Mountain-view lunch
- →Shared jeep back to Pokhara
Self-launched vs. Mosaic Adventure
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Mosaic Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£112 | £490 |
| Duration | 4 days | 4 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £378 per person (77%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Mosaic Adventure-style trips? Check them out here.~£112
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.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Poon Hill Trek: 4 Days from Pokhara cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £112 per person for 4 days in Annapurna Region, 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 Mosaic Adventure?+
Yes — Mosaic Adventure charges around £490 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £112 — a saving of roughly £378 (77%) per person.
How long is the Annapurna Region, Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 4 days, covering 4 day-by-day stops through Annapurna Region, 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, budget trip through Annapurna Region, 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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