Poon Hill is a trek of four to five days to a sunrise viewpoint at 3,210 m. Annapurna Base Camp is a trek of seven to ten days into the heart of the range at 4,130 m. Choose Poon Hill if you have under a week or are new to trekking; choose base camp if you have more time and want to stand among the peaks. Many people do both in one trip.
Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp at a glance
- Days from Pokhara. Poon Hill: 4 to 5. Annapurna Base Camp: 7 to 10.
- Highest point. Poon Hill: 3,210 m. Annapurna Base Camp: 4,130 m.
- Altitude risk. Poon Hill: low. Annapurna Base Camp: moderate.
- Scenery. Poon Hill: villages, forest, wide panorama. Annapurna Base Camp: gorge, forest, glacial amphitheatre.
- Fitness needed. Poon Hill: moderate. Annapurna Base Camp: moderate to good.
- Cost. Poon Hill: lower. Annapurna Base Camp: higher, in line with the days.
What each trek gives you
Poon Hill shows you the mountains from a distance, lined up along the horizon at dawn. Base camp takes you inside them. From the lodges at 4,130 m the south face of Annapurna I rises more than 3,000 m directly above, with Machapuchare behind you, and at sunrise the whole basin turns gold.
Effort and altitude
Poon Hill's days are four to six hours and the highest bed is at 2,860 m. Base camp has several days of six to seven hours and a night above 4,000 m, where headaches are common. Both have a great many stone steps. If you are unsure of your fitness, Poon Hill is a fair test.
Combining the two
The standard ten-day plan does both: Nayapul to Ghorepani, sunrise at Poon Hill, across to Tadapani and Chhomrong, up to base camp and back by Jhinu Danda's hot springs. The Poon Hill days double as acclimatisation. See the Poon Hill guides.
Season
October to November and March to May are best. Poon Hill can be walked all year. Base camp is possible in winter, with attention to avalanche conditions above Deurali.
Lodges
Both routes have good lodges. Those on the Poon Hill loop and up to Chhomrong are the most comfortable. Above Bamboo the lodges are simpler and, by local agreement, limited in number, so rooms are often shared in peak weeks.
Permits and guide
Both need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency.
Cost
Per day the two treks cost about the same, so base camp costs roughly twice as much as Poon Hill. The combined ten-day plan is good value, because the transport, permit and guide are shared across both.
Who usually picks which
Families, travellers adding a trek to a wider Nepal holiday and people with a five-day window usually choose Poon Hill. Those who have come to Nepal mainly to trek, and anyone with a base camp on their list, choose Annapurna Base Camp. If you are still undecided after reading this, the combination settles it.
What to pack differently
For Poon Hill a fleece, a light down jacket and a rain shell are enough in the main seasons. For base camp add a warmer down jacket, thermal layers, gloves, a hat and a sleeping bag rated to about minus 10 C, since nights at 4,130 m are well below freezing even in October.
Choose Poon Hill if
- You have fewer than seven days.
- It is your first trek.
- You want to avoid altitude.
- You are with children or older family.
Choose Annapurna Base Camp if
- You have a week or more.
- You want a base camp and a glacier basin.
- You are fit enough for long days.
- You have done a short trek before.
Can you do both?
Yes, in nine to eleven days, and it is the plan we suggest most often for a first visit with ten days to spare.
Plan it
See Poon Hill, Mardi Himal or Annapurna Base Camp, or ask us to price both and the combination.
Common questions
Is Annapurna Base Camp much harder than Poon Hill?
Yes. It is longer and about 900 m higher.
Can you see Annapurna I from Poon Hill?
You see Annapurna South clearly and the tip of Annapurna I. The full south face is seen from base camp.
How many days for both?
Nine to eleven from Pokhara.
Which is better value?
Poon Hill gives a great deal for few days. Base camp is the more memorable trek.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
