Poon Hill (3,210m) is the most-visited viewpoint in the Annapurna region and one of the iconic short treks in Nepal. The Ghorepani–Poon Hill loop takes three to five days from Nayapul near Pokhara, climbing through dense rhododendron forest to the ridgeline village of Ghorepani (2,860m) before ascending to the hilltop viewpoint at dawn. The sunrise here, with the full Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges turning pink against a black sky, is one of the finest mountain views in the world.
The trek is the most accessible in the region — no altitude acclimatisation required, good teahouse facilities throughout, and trails that are well-maintained. The descent from Ghorepani can continue to the Annapurna Base Camp trekking route via Tadapani and Chhomrong, making Poon Hill a natural first leg of the Sanctuary trek. The rhododendrons along the route are spectacular in March and April, when the forest is in bloom.
The viewpoint itself is a grassy hilltop with a concrete observation tower, a few chai stalls, and in season a crowd that can number several hundred before dawn. For a quieter experience, a second sunrise from a higher ridge — the trail to Khopra Danda from Ghorepani, less visited — offers equally good views with far fewer people.