The Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek is one of the most rewarding and distinctive riding journeys available in the Himalaya, and it remains far more personal and uncrowded than it sounds. The trail itself has been used by pack horses for generations. The ponies know it. The horsemen know it. What you experience on the back of a horse here is not an adventure sport or a novelty. It is the original character of this route, returned to. The route passes through Gurung and Magar territory, communities with centuries of connection to these hills and to the pack horse trade that originally built these trails. Riding this circuit is not just a scenic journey. It is a return to the way this landscape has always been travelled.
Our Team customises every Poon Hill ponies Trek around your group, your pace, and your interests. We also offer other Nepal trekking and riding packages. You can choose from our Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek, or Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek on foot if the full riding experience is not what you are looking for.
Why is the Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek Worth to experience?
Horse Riding vs Trekking to Poon Hill: Which Is Right for You?
This is the question most visitors ask before booking. Both routes follow the same Ghorepani Ghandruk circuit. The trail, the teahouses, the views, and the Poon Hill sunrise are all the same. What changes completely is the experience of getting there.
On foot, the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek demands full physical attention for four to seven hours a day. The effort is real, especially on the stone staircase sections above Tikhedhunga and the climb to Ghorepani. For fit, experienced trekkers, that effort is the point.
On horseback, the effort is carried by the animal. Your attention is free for the mountains, the forest, the villages, and the people you pass. The pace is unhurried. The perspective from the horseback (saddle), slightly elevated, looking out across the valley, changes what you see and how you see it. Most riders describe it as the most relaxed and immersive way they have ever experienced a Himalayan route.
Who Should Choose the Horse Riding Version?
- Families with children who are comfortable on horseback
- Older travellers who want the Annapurna region without multi-hour daily walking
- First-time visitors to Nepal with one week available who want a different kind of Himalayan experience
- Photographers who want to shoot from the saddle and move at the pace of the landscape
- Anyone who has already walked the Ghorepani circuit and wants to experience it in a completely new way
Note: While this trip is fantastic for beginners, it may not suit everyone. If you have severe lower back, hip, or joint issues, please check with your doctor first because riding for hours can be tough on those areas. Also, if you are looking for a high-altitude challenge above 4,000 meters, this trek is too low; you should consider the Annapurna Base Camp Trek instead. Or you can join our Mardi Himal Trek package. Finally, it is best to avoid booking from June to August, as the heavy monsoon rains make the mountain trails far too muddy and slippery for horses.
Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek Highlights
- Ride sturdy Himalayan mountain ponies through the Ghorepani-Ghandruk circuit in the Annapurna Conservation Area
- Watch the dawn alpenglow on Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Hiunchuli from Poon Hill (3,210m)
- Ride through dense rhododendron forest, spectacular in bloom from March through April, one of the most beautiful trail environments in the Himalaya
- Visit Ghorepani, Ghandruk, and Deurali: traditional Gurung and Magar villages at the heart of the Annapurna foothills
- No prior riding experience required; experienced horsemen accompany every rider throughout the journey
- Experience the Annapurna foothills at the natural pace of mountain horse travel
- A complete loop circuit: Birethanti to Kande, covering the full Ghorepani-Ghandruk route
- Comfortable teahouse accommodation and full meals throughout the trail days
- All permits, horses, horsemen, guides, and porter service included
Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek During Spring Rhododendron Season
The rhododendron blooms along the trail between Birethanti and Ghorepani peaks in late March and through April. This is the single most visually spectacular feature of the entire route. From Tikhedhunga upward, the forest canopy is roofed with red and pink blooms, and the trail surface is carpeted with fallen petals. The horses move through it at walking pace, and the light through the flowering rhododendron at this altitude is unlike anything you will find lower down.
Spring departures during the bloom window book out faster than any other time of year. If March or April is your target, book early.
Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek: Trail Route, Riding Experience, and Circuit Map
The trek departs from Birethanti (860m) at the entrance to the Modi Khola valley and follows the Ghorepani-Ghandruk circuit clockwise, returning to the roadhead at Kande (1,770m) on Day 7.
Route Highlights Along the Way:
- Modi Khola river valley, as you ride north from Birethanti
- Terraced farmland and subtropical forest on the lower trail
- Stone staircase sections above Tikhedhunga transitioning into the rhododendron belt
- Ulleri village with wide valley views before the approach to Ghorepani
- Poon Hill viewpoint (3,210m) on foot at sunrise, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Hiunchuli on a single horizon
- Descent through Tadapani and rhododendron forest to Ghandruk
- Traverse through Kimche to Deurali with Machhapuchhre prominent throughout
- Final descent through the forest to the Kande roadhead
Mountains Visible During the Trek:
Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South (7,219m), Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), Hiunchuli (6,441m), Gangapurna (7,455m), Annapurna III (7,555m), and Lamjung Himal (6,986m).
The trail also passes directly through the traditional territories of the Gurung and Magar peoples, two of the indigenous hill communities of the Annapurna region with deep historical connections to this landscape. Ghorepani is a Gurung settlement. Ulleri and the lower valley villages are predominantly Magar. Ghandruk is shared between the Gurung and Magar communities and remains one of the best-preserved examples of traditional hill village architecture and culture in western Nepal.
Why Choose Nepal Adventure Team for Your Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek
When you walk through Thamel, you will find no shortage of operators offering horse riding treks and trekking packages in Nepal. The pictures look similar. The routes are the same. What actually separates one operator from another is not the horse or the trail. It is the people managing your experience before, during, and after the trek.
- We Know the Route Personally: Our team has ridden and walked the Ghorepani-Ghandruk circuit many times. We know the trail conditions by season, the teahouses worth staying in, the best light for photography at Poon Hill, and the sections where horses need to be walked. This is not a route we manage from a desk.
- Transparent Pricing, No Surprises: We give you one clear price before you book. No hidden permit costs. No unexpected additions on the morning of departure.
- Small Groups, Real Attention: We keep our groups small deliberately. We know your name, your schedule, and your riding experience before you arrive in Pokhara. The Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek is planned around you.
- Safety Is Our Baseline, Not Our Pitch: Our horsemen are experienced locals with deep knowledge of the Annapurna foothills trails and the animals they work with. Weather decisions are made by people who know these mountains, not by a booking schedule.
- We Handle Everything: Permits, horses, horsemen, guides, porters, vehicle transfers, and teahouse bookings are all arranged before you arrive. All you need to do is show up at the vehicle at the agreed time.
- Honest When the Weather Wins: If trail conditions make riding unsafe, your itinerary is adjusted at no extra cost. If you prefer not to reschedule, we will discuss the best solution for your situation.
- Built on Word of Mouth: Most of our clients come through recommendations from past travellers. We have built our reputation over years of operating trekking and riding packages in Nepal, and we protect it on every single trip.
What to Expect During the Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek
Riding on Himalayan Mountain Ponies:
The ponies used on this route are local mountain animals, compact and sure-footed, that have worked the Annapurna foothills trails for generations as pack animals. They know the paths, the gradients, and the rest stops. Each horse is paired with a local horseman who walks alongside, manages the animal on difficult sections, and assists with mounting and dismounting. You do not manage the horse independently. The riding is traditional mountain horse travel, not an adventure sport.
Breathtaking Himalayan Scenery:
The trail from Birethanti to Ghorepani and back through Ghandruk passes through some of the most varied and beautiful terrain in the Annapurna region, river valleys, terraced farmland, oak and rhododendron forest, high ridges, and traditional villages, all within a compact loop. The Annapurna massif, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchhre are visible for multiple days of the trek.
Poon Hill Sunrise:
On the morning of Day 5, you rise at 4:30 AM and climb Poon Hill on foot in roughly 45 minutes. The viewing tower sits at 3,210 metres, and the panorama at first light- Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Hiunchuli in alpenglow — is the defining image of this entire region. No photograph quite prepares you for it.
Gurung Village Culture:
The trail passes through Gurung and Magar villages, where stone-paved lanes, traditional houses, and local life continue largely unchanged. Ghandruk, the largest Gurung village in the Annapurna foothills, has a small heritage museum and a warm community atmosphere that most trekkers move through too quickly on foot.
Comfortable Teahouse Accommodation:
The teahouses along this circuit are well-established, reliable, and incredibly welcoming. Warm meals, hot drinks, and simple but clean twin rooms are available at every overnight stop. This is not wild camping. You sleep well and eat well every night. It is the perfect balance of a true Himalayan adventure during the day and a safe, comfortable, and well-fed rest every single night.
Expert Horsemen and Experienced Guides:
Your team on the trail is made up of true mountain experts. The horsemen come from local families who have lived and worked with animals in the Modi Khola valley for generations. Because of this, they know the trails perfectly and know exactly how to take great care of both you and the mountain ponies.
Your trekking guide speaks clear English and handles everything for you from start to finish. They manage all the daily planning between Birethanti and Kande, like checking permits and booking your teahouse rooms. Having them with you means you never have to worry about the details—you can relax, ask questions, and enjoy the beautiful ride.
Fully Customized Itinerary:
If you want to experience the local culture, you can spend more time exploring the beautiful village of Ghandruk. We can also add a full rest day in Ghorepani so you and your pony can relax. For photography enthusiasts, we can arrange a special morning before the Poon Hill climb, allowing you to capture stunning mountain views without feeling rushed. This is your Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek, and we built it around what you actually want from the eight days.
Ideal for All Kinds of Travellers:
Families with children who ride, older travellers who want the Annapurna region without the physical demands of full-day walking, first-time visitors to Nepal with a week available, and anyone who wants a different and more personal relationship with this landscape than walking gives you.
Challenges to Be Aware of During the Poon Hill Horse Riding Trek
Weather and Trail Conditions:
The trail above Banthanti can carry light snowfall in January and February. Monsoon season from June through August brings slippery conditions and leeches in the lower forest sections, which is why we do not recommend this route during the monsoon. We monitor conditions carefully and will not ride unsafe sections.
Altitude Considerations:
The highest overnight stop is Ghorepani at 2,860 metres, and the maximum altitude reached is Poon Hill at 3,210 metres. Serious altitude sickness is not a significant concern at these elevations, but mild headache or breathlessness is possible on the first night at Ghorepani, particularly for trekkers arriving from low altitudes. Drink water, move slowly, and inform your guide of any symptoms immediately.
Riding Comfort:
Riding days range from three to five hours in the saddle. Riders with lower back conditions, hip problems, or joint injuries should consult their doctor before booking. On steep or narrow sections, your horseman may ask you to dismount and walk a short distance. Always follow these instructions.
Weight and Baggage:
You do not have to worry about carrying heavy bags while riding. A professional porter will carry your main luggage from one overnight stop to the next throughout the entire trek.
All you need to bring on your horse is a small, lightweight daypack. Inside, you only need to pack your daily essentials like water, snacks, a rain jacket, a camera, and your travel documents. This keeps your ride light, comfortable, and completely stress-free!
