Ghorepani is a trekking village at about 2,860 m on a ridge between the Kali Gandaki and Modi Khola valleys. It is the usual overnight stop for the Poon Hill sunrise and a junction for several Annapurna foothill routes.
A village on a ridge, and the base for a famous sunrise
Ghorepani sits at roughly 2,860 m on the saddle between the Kali Gandaki gorge and the Modi Khola valley. In the past it was a stop for mule caravans, and the name is usually explained as a place where horses were watered. Today it is a gathering of lodges around a stone-paved lane, with the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges just above. The reason most people come is the sunrise climb to Poon Hill, a viewpoint at about 3,210 m.
The forest around the village
Ghorepani lies in one of the finest rhododendron forests in Nepal. The national flower grows here as a tree, with trunks wrapped in moss, and in spring the slopes turn red, pink and white. Orchids, ferns and many birds live in the damp forest, and langur monkeys are often seen. The forest is part of the Annapurna Conservation Area.
The Ulleri staircase
The usual approach starts at Nayapul and climbs by way of Ulleri, where a stone staircase of around three thousand steps winds up the hillside. It is long but steady, and it is the part of the trek people remember. Walking slowly, with a break at each village, makes it far easier than it looks.
Villages and culture
The villages on the route are Gurung and Magar. You pass terraced farms, stone houses, small shrines and mani walls. Many lodge owners have served in the Gurkha regiments. Conversation over dal bhat in the evening is part of the experience.
Practical notes
Lodges have simple rooms, wood-stove dining rooms and hot showers that are often solar-heated and may be cold in winter. Poon Hill itself has a small fee booth, a tea stall and a viewing platform. It is crowded at dawn in the peak seasons, so go early to claim a place. See the loop itinerary.
