Poon Hill Trek Cost 2026: Permits, Guide and Daily Budget
Short answer: a typical 4 to 5 day Poon Hill (Ghorepani) trek costs roughly USD 250–750 per person for the Nepal portion, depending on whether you hire a guide and porter and how comfortable your teahouses are. The one fixed government fee is the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) permit at NPR 3,000. Everything else below comes from trekking operators and travel bloggers, so treat it as an indicative 2026 range, not a quote.
Poon Hill trek cost at a glance
| Item | Indicative cost |
|---|---|
| ACAP permit | NPR 3,000 per foreign trekker |
| Licensed guide | About USD 25–35 per day |
| Porter | About USD 18–25 per day |
| Teahouse room | USD 5–10 basic; USD 15–30 with attached bathroom |
| Food and drinks | About USD 20–35 per day |
| Pokhara to trailhead | Local bus USD 3–8; shared jeep USD 10–25; private jeep USD 60–120 |
Permits for the Poon Hill trek
Poon Hill lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need the ACAP permit. The Nepal Tourism Board lists it at NPR 3,000 for foreign visitors (NTB park entry fees), and the trekking operators we checked agree. One operator reports that SAARC nationals pay NPR 1,000 and Nepali citizens a much smaller fee.
TIMS is less clear. Some operators still list a TIMS card for the Annapurna region, and sources disagree on the fee and on whether it is checked; one of the pages we read does not give a TIMS fee at all. Confirm with your agency or the permit office before you pay, and see our guide to trekking permits in Nepal. Also check the current rules on guides in our trekking rules guide, because a guide requirement changes your budget.
Guide and porter costs
One operator guide puts a licensed guide at USD 25–35 per day and a porter at USD 18–25 per day, with a combined guide-porter at USD 20–30. A travel blogger quotes about NPR 4,000 per day for a guide (per group) and NPR 2,000 per day for a porter, including a 10% tip. On a short 4 to 5 day trek this adds roughly USD 100–200 for a guide and USD 70–125 for a porter, before tips.
Teahouse and food prices on the trail
- Rooms: a basic room costs about USD 5–10, a standard room USD 10–15, and a room with an attached bathroom USD 15–30. One blogger paid NPR 500 for a basic room and NPR 1,500 for a room with a hot shower at Ghandruk.
- Meals: dal bhat, fried rice and noodles are typically USD 4–8; pasta and pizza cost more.
- Villages: rooms in Ghorepani and Ghandruk run higher than in Tikhedhunga or Ulleri, and prices rise with altitude.
Carry enough rupees for the whole trek; there are no reliable ATMs on the trail. Our guide on bringing cash to Nepal explains the currency rules.
Getting to the trailhead from Pokhara
Most itineraries start at Nayapul, Birethanti, Ulleri or Banthanti. Operators quote a local bus at USD 3–8, a shared jeep at USD 10–25 per person, and a private jeep at USD 60–120. If you are still planning Pokhara, read our ultimate guide to Pokhara.
Total budget for 4 to 5 days
| Style | Operator-stated total per person (USD) |
|---|---|
| Budget | 250–450 |
| Standard | 450–750 |
| Comfortable | 750–1,100 |
| Private or luxury | 1,100–1,800+ |
Be cautious with these totals. In the source we used, the standard and private totals were higher than the sum of its own line items, and another blogger’s per-couple figures were based on 2022 prices. A realistic independent budget with a shared guide is toward the lower-middle of these ranges. Totals exclude international flights, gear and your visa; see Nepal visa on arrival and travel health insurance.
Poon Hill compared with Annapurna Base Camp
Poon Hill (3,210 m) is a shorter, lower trek than Annapurna Base Camp, so it needs fewer days of food, lodging and guide fees. If you want to go further, compare the Annapurna Base Camp trek cost. For the route and itinerary, read our Poon Hill trek guide and FAQs, or the Poon Hill yoga trek if you want a slower pace. Pick your dates with the best time to visit Nepal, and use our trekking budget estimator to turn these ranges into your own total.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Poon Hill trek cost?
Roughly USD 250–750 per person for 4 to 5 days, depending on guide, porter and lodging choices.
How much is the Poon Hill permit?
The ACAP permit is NPR 3,000 for foreign trekkers, according to the Nepal Tourism Board. Confirm any TIMS requirement with your agency.
How many days does Poon Hill take?
Operators call four to five days normal, with itineraries from 3 to 6 days.
How high is Poon Hill?
The sunrise viewpoint is at about 3,210 m, and Ghorepani is about 2,874 m.
Sources
- Nepal Tourism Board: park entry fees
- Nomad Adventure Treks: Ghorepani Poon Hill trek package cost (operator, updated June 2026)
- Full Time Explorer: Ghorepani Poon Hill trekking cost and budget (travel blog, prices from 2022)
Operator and blog prices change and are not official government figures. Verify permits and guide rules with the Nepal Tourism Board or your registered agency before you travel.
