Himalayan Weekend Rush

Overview

Poon Hill is famous with trekkers, but the jeep roads on both sides of Ghorepani now let you ride most of the way. Day 1 is short and steep, Day 2 is longer but downhill and then paved. The loop shows you rhododendron forest, Magar villages, the Kali Gandaki gorge and a hot spring, all in one weekend.

• Sunrise from Poon Hill (3,210 m) over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre
• Night in a teahouse in Ghorepani (2,860 m)
• Rhododendron forest, red and pink in March and April
• Hot spring soak at Tatopani beside the Kali Gandaki river

Itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1

   Pokhara to Ghorepani via Nayapul and Ulleri

   • ~75 km
   • 4 to 5 hrs
   • 2,860 m
   • Stay: Ghorepani

   Baglung highway to Nayapul, then a rough jeep road climbing through Tikhedhunga and Ulleri into the forest to Ghorepani. Arrive in the afternoon, settle into a teahouse and watch the sunset over Dhaulagiri.

2. 2

   Day 2

   Poon Hill sunrise, then Ghorepani to Tatopani and Pokhara

   • ~135 km
   • 6 to 7 hrs
   • Stay: Pokhara

   Walk 45 minutes up to Poon Hill before dawn for sunrise. After breakfast ride down through Chitre and Shikha to Tatopani for a dip in the hot springs and lunch, then Beni and the paved highway back to Pokhara.

Distances and riding times are approximate. They change with road works, weather and photo stops.

What's included

Your quote confirms exactly what is included. Self-ride without a guide is possible on routes that do not need one.

Permits and good to know

• If the Ulleri road is closed we ride up from Tatopani instead and come down the same way.
• Ghorepani is cold at night from November to February. Bring a down jacket.
• The Ghorepani roads are steep and rocky. Lighter dual-sport bikes like the Xpulse are the easiest here.