Pokhara Private Tour: 10 Days ABC Trek with Poon Hill

Two famous Annapurna views, one hard-working route. This private trek links the sunrise at Poon Hill with the high mountain drama of Annapurna Base Camp, giving you two very different rewards in one journey. I like the thoughtful route design, and I like that private transport, permits, a TIMS card, a guide, and guesthouse stays are included. The main drawback is the pace: six-hour trekking days, steep stairs, and a high-altitude night at ABC demand strong fitness.

You begin gently in Pokhara, then move through stone villages, rhododendron forests, bamboo woodland, and the Modi Khola Valley. The $610 price offers good value for a private 10-day trip, but meals are extra at roughly NPR 3,500 per person per day, so your final cost will be higher.

Key points to know before booking

• Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp in one route: You get a famous sunrise lookout and a close mountain amphitheater rather than choosing between the two.
• A private trip for your own group: Only your party takes part, which gives the trek a more personal feel and avoids being tied to a large group’s pace.
• Six-hour trekking days are the norm: The route is active from Day 2 through Day 9, with steep ascents and descents.
• Transport is partly private and partly shared: A private car handles Pokhara to Nayapul and the return to Pokhara, while a sharing jeep runs from Siwai to Nayapul.
• Meals are not included: Plan for approximately NPR 3,500 per person each day for food.
• Chhabi Paudel is a useful contact: He organizes the trip, while Som and the guide are praised for their close, attentive treatment of the group.

Why this route works so well

Many Annapurna treks make you choose between the lower-altitude sunrise at Poon Hill and the more demanding walk to Annapurna Base Camp. This itinerary gives you both. The result is a varied 10-day journey rather than a simple out-and-back walk.

Poon Hill provides a broad view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges at sunrise. Annapurna Base Camp offers something different: you walk into the Modi Khola Valley and reach a mountain bowl surrounded by major peaks, including Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machapuchare.

I also like the progression of the route. You do not start with the hardest section. The first nights are spent in Pokhara, Tikhedhunga, and Ghorepani before the trek moves deeper into the Annapurna region. By the time you reach the higher valleys, you have already had several days to find your walking rhythm.

Still, this is not a casual sightseeing tour. A six-hour trekking day can feel much longer when the path climbs stone steps or drops toward a river before climbing again. The company specifically requires a strong physical fitness level, and that warning deserves your attention.

Day 1: A calm start around Pokhara Lakeside

Your first day is based in Pokhara, where you settle into your accommodation and have time to explore Lakeside on your own. Phewa Lake, shops, restaurants, and mountain views give you an easy introduction to the city before the walking begins.

This is a useful buffer day. You can organize your belongings, meet the guide, and enjoy a final evening with more dining choices than you will find in the mountain villages. Since the schedule allows about five hours for this stop, the day is not simply a rushed arrival and immediate departure.

The plan includes hotel pickup and drop-off, so confirm the pickup details at booking. Your hotel in Pokhara is included as part of the accommodation arrangement, but the supplied details do not specify its name or exact standard.

Day 2: Nayapul, Birethanti, and Tikhedhunga

The trek begins with a drive from Pokhara to Nayapul by private car. From there, you walk through Birethanti toward Tikhedhunga, with about six hours set aside for the day.

This first walking section is a good introduction to the route because it moves from road access into village paths. Tikhedhunga becomes your first overnight stop in a guesthouse. The arrangement is basic by design, and you should expect mountain accommodation rather than city-hotel comfort.

The private car is a useful inclusion here. You are not starting the trek by trying to arrange local transport on your own, and you return to Pokhara by private car at the end of the trip as well. The road transfer saves time and keeps the logistics in one package.

Day 3: The stone stairs to Ghorepani

Day 3 brings one of the route’s clearest physical tests. You climb the steep stone staircase to Ulleri, then continue through rhododendron forests toward Ghorepani. The walking time is about six hours.

The stairs are not a minor detail. They are the sort of section that makes a strong fitness level important, especially if you are carrying a daypack. Take a steady pace rather than trying to race upward. The reward is the change in scenery as the trail reaches the forest and then the mountain village of Ghorepani.

Ghorepani is an important staging point for the next morning’s sunrise hike. You spend the night there, so you do not need to begin the Poon Hill walk from a lower village in the dark. Guesthouse accommodation is included, while meals must be purchased separately.

Day 4: Sunrise at Poon Hill, then Tadapani

The day starts early with a hike to Poon Hill. The walk itself is scheduled for about two hours, and the goal is a sunrise view across the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.

This is one of the strongest moments in the itinerary. Poon Hill is not valuable only because it is famous. It gives you a wide mountain panorama after several days of walking through villages and forest. The early start can be tiring, but the timing is the point. If you prefer slow mornings, this is the day that asks you to make an exception.

After returning to Ghorepani, you continue to Tadapani, with another four hours of walking. The route passes through more rhododendron forest, and Tadapani becomes your overnight stop. This split day is busy but sensible: the sunrise walk comes first, and the rest of the route continues without wasting a full day.

Day 5: Chhomrong and views of Machapuchare

From Tadapani, you descend to the Kimrong Khola and then climb to Chhomrong. The total walking time is about six hours.

This up-and-down pattern is typical of Himalayan trekking. A descent does not necessarily mean the hard work is over, because you may need to climb again on the other side. The route rewards you with views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare, two of the peaks that give this section its character.

Chhomrong is an important point on the route to ABC. It is also a good place to understand the basic rhythm of the trek: walk, eat, rest, and prepare for the next day. Since food is not included, ask your guide about meal timing and budget for each day rather than treating the $610 price as all-inclusive.

Day 6: From Chhomrong to Bamboo

You descend again to the Chhomrong Khola, climb toward Sinuwa, and then continue through bamboo forest to Bamboo. This is another six-hour day.

The path changes from open village scenery to a more enclosed forest setting. Bamboo gives the route a different feel from the rhododendron sections near Ghorepani and Tadapani. The overnight stay at Bamboo breaks up the journey before the trail reaches higher stops.

This day can be demanding because of repeated climbs and descents. The itinerary is private, so your group can discuss pace with the guide instead of automatically matching a large party. That flexibility matters on a trek where one person may want a longer rest while another is ready to continue.

Day 7: Dovan, Himalaya Hotel, and Deurali

The trail continues upward through bamboo forest, passing Dovan and Himalaya Hotel before reaching Deurali. The planned walking time is about six hours.

The names of these stops help you understand the route’s gradual progression. You are moving farther into the mountain valley, with fewer easy exit points than in the lower sections. The scenery becomes more dramatic as Deurali brings you closer to the high mountain setting of the base camp route.

The night at Deurali is also practical preparation for the next day. You are not trying to reach ABC in one giant push from Bamboo. The itinerary divides the climb into manageable sections, though manageable does not mean easy.

Day 8: The long-awaited arrival at Annapurna Base Camp

From Deurali, you ascend through the Modi Khola Valley, pass Machapuchare Base Camp, and continue to Annapurna Base Camp. The walking time is about six hours, and overnight accommodation is provided at ABC.

This is the trip’s main payoff. At the base camp, you can look toward Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and other surrounding peaks from a much closer position than at Poon Hill. The experience changes from a distant panorama to a more enclosed mountain scene, with peaks rising around the valley.

The supplied details mark admission to Annapurna Base Camp as included. More importantly, the guide and permits are already arranged, so you can focus on the route rather than sorting out access paperwork during the trek.

You should also understand the tradeoff. Sleeping at ABC is part of what makes the route memorable, but it is the highest and most demanding night of the trip. The itinerary gives you six hours for the ascent, yet weather, trail conditions, and individual pace can affect how the day feels.

Day 9: Sunrise at ABC and the descent to Bamboo

You have another early start for sunrise at Annapurna Base Camp, then descend through Deurali and Dovan to Bamboo. The walking time is about six hours.

The second sunrise is a smart addition. Poon Hill gives you a wide view across several ranges, while the sunrise at ABC lets you watch light reach the peaks from inside the mountain valley. These are distinct experiences, not duplicate photo stops.

The descent can be easier on your breathing but harder on your knees. After several days of walking, the long downhill route to Bamboo may feel demanding. Keep your pace controlled and use the guide’s advice on the trail.

You spend the night in Bamboo, which means you do not have to combine the full descent with the return drive to Pokhara. That separation makes Day 10 more reasonable.

Day 10: Jhinu Danda hot springs and the return to Pokhara

The final trekking section leads toward Chhomrong and then Jhinu Danda, with about four hours of walking. At Jhinu, you can relax in the natural hot springs, a welcome change after the long mountain route.

The hot springs are not an optional extra in the schedule. Admission is included, and they provide a clear ending to the walking portion. You then continue to Sewai and take a sharing local jeep to Nayapul, a transfer of about three hours.

The return to Pokhara is handled in two stages. From Nayapul, a private car takes you back to Pokhara Lakeside in about one and a half hours, with hotel drop-off at arrival. The use of a shared jeep for the Sewai to Nayapul section is worth noting. It keeps the arrangement practical, but it is less private than the rest of the trip.

What the $610 price really covers

At $610 per person, the price is appealing for a private 10-day trek, especially because several important costs are included:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• An English-speaking trekking guide
• Trekking permits and a TIMS card
• Private car transport between Pokhara and Nayapul
• Shared jeep transport from Siwai to Nayapul
• Guesthouse accommodation
• A private trip for your group

The price does not include meals. The suggested food budget is approximately NPR 3,500 per person per day, which can add a noticeable amount over ten days. Gratitude for the guide and other staff is optional, so you can decide that separately.

Group discounts are offered, though no discount amount is given. If several people are booking together, ask for the current group rate rather than assuming the advertised price is the final figure.

The value is strongest if you want one company to handle permits, transport, accommodation, and guiding. It is less attractive if you are comparing it only with the cost of walking independently and arranging every detail yourself.

Guide support and the private-trip advantage

The trip is led by an English-speaking trekking guide, and only your own group participates. That setup can make a real difference on a physically demanding route. You can discuss walking speed, rest breaks, and the day’s progress with the guide rather than being locked into a large group schedule.

Chhabi Paudel is involved in organizing the experience. A personal account also gives special praise to the close treatment provided by Chhabi, Som, and the guide. That is useful context because good organization matters here: the route includes private cars, a local shared jeep, permits, guesthouses, and several changes in elevation.

Do not read private trip as luxury travel. The accommodation is in guesthouses, meals cost extra, and one section uses shared transport. Private mainly means your walking group is your own party, not that every vehicle or room arrangement is exclusive.

Who should book this trek?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want:

• Two of the Annapurna region’s best-known viewpoints in one itinerary
• A private trip rather than a large group departure
• A guide and permits arranged in advance
• A mix of village paths, forests, river valleys, and high mountain scenery
• A clear 10-day schedule beginning and ending in Pokhara

You should think twice if you want short walks, hotel-style accommodation, or an all-inclusive price. The six-hour days are frequent, the Ulleri stairs are steep, and ABC is reached only after several demanding days.

The itinerary is also best for people comfortable with basic guesthouse accommodation and separately purchased meals. The company’s strong fitness requirement is not empty wording. You need to be ready for sustained uphill and downhill walking.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking. Hotel pickup is offered, and the experience ends with drop-off at your Pokhara hotel.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded, and changes inside that 24-hour window are not accepted.

The experience provider is Crystal Holidays Nepal. Since the tour is private, confirm that the number of people in your party is correctly recorded when you book, especially if you plan to ask about a group discount.

Should you book the Poon Hill and ABC route?

Yes, if you want a serious but well-organized Annapurna trek that combines two different mountain experiences. The route gives you Poon Hill’s sunrise panorama, the close peaks of Annapurna Base Camp, a hot-spring stop at Jhinu Danda, and transport back to Pokhara without forcing you to arrange every permit and transfer yourself.

I would not book it simply because the price looks low. Add the daily meal cost, prepare for guesthouse accommodation, and be honest about your fitness. If you can handle the long walking days and want the personal attention of a private group, this $610 package offers a useful balance of support, scenery, and value.

FAQ

How long is the Pokhara private trek?

The experience lasts approximately 10 days, beginning and ending in Pokhara.

Does the trek include both Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp?

Yes. The route includes an early morning hike to Poon Hill on Day 4 and continues to Annapurna Base Camp on Day 8.

Is transportation included?

Yes. A private car is provided between Pokhara and Nayapul. On the final day, you take a sharing local jeep from Sewai to Nayapul, then a private car from Nayapul to Pokhara.

Are meals included in the price?

No. Meals are available for purchase during the trek. The estimated meal cost is approximately NPR 3,500 per person per day.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Accommodation in guesthouses is included, along with hotel pickup and drop-off in Pokhara.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private trip.

Do I need strong physical fitness?

Yes. The tour information states that travelers should have a strong physical fitness level. Several trekking days last about six hours, and the route includes steep stairs, climbs, and descents.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.