When does Poon Hill peak?

In a typical year, color peaks around October 1–October 31. The weather model's elevation extrapolation isn't reliable on this terrain, so this is a climatological window (source: https://www.langtangtreks.com/blog/ghorepani-poon-hill-trek-best-time/) rather than a season-specific forecast.

Poon Hill

Name: Poon Hill
Address: Nepal

Viewpoint · Nepal Himalaya

Poon Hill in Nepal Himalaya — Photo: Smnbhattarai / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

A sunrise viewpoint above the village of Ghorepani, reached through oak and rhododendron forest on Nepal's most-walked short trek. The rhododendron bloom is a spring event; October is the golden month instead, for clear post-monsoon air and an unbroken Annapurna-Dhaulagiri panorama from the 3,210-meter summit.

Best for: a short trek with a big payoff view

Don’t miss

3,210m sunrise viewpoint
Annapurna and Dhaulagiri panorama
oak-rhododendron forest trail from Ghorepani

Typical year

Peak: October 1–October 31

Climatological window from published records — the weather model’s elevation extrapolation isn’t reliable on this terrain, so this is the long-run normal rather than a season-specific forecast.

Source: https://www.langtangtreks.com/blog/ghorepani-poon-hill-trek-best-time/

Poon Hill on the map

More things to do in Nepal Himalaya

Sagarmatha National Park (Namche Bazaar)

National park

Everest's gateway park climbs from Monjo's pine and hemlock through a birch-juniper-rhododendron belt to Namche Bazaar, the horseshoe-shaped Sherpa trading town at 3,440 meters. Autumn brings the year's clearest skies to the Dudh Kosi valley once the monsoon clouds lift.

Don’t miss: birch-juniper-rhododendron forest belt · Namche Bazaar, horseshoe-shaped Sherpa town · Dudh Kosi river trail

Langtang Valley (Kyanjin Gompa)

Trail

Typically September 1–October 31

A glacier-carved valley north of Kathmandu, walked from Syabrubesi through alder and oak to the world's only stand of deciduous Himalayan larch, ending at the 3,870-meter monastery village of Kyanjin Gompa. Autumn brings golden forest color beneath Langtang Lirung's icefall.

Don’t miss: Nepalese larch, the region's only deciduous conifer · Kyanjin Gompa monastery, 3,870m · Langtang Lirung icefall views

Barun Valley, Makalu Barun National Park

National park

A glacial gorge east of Everest, climbing from subtropical forest through 25 species of rhododendron and bamboo thickets grazed by red pandas toward the ice walls under Makalu's south face. Far fewer trekkers reach it than Everest or Annapurna, and autumn's clear skies run from September into November.

Don’t miss: 25 rhododendron species · red panda bamboo habitat · Makalu south face views

See all things to do in Nepal Himalaya →

Frequently asked

When does Poon Hill peak?: In a typical year, color peaks around October 1–October 31. The weather model's elevation extrapolation isn't reliable on this terrain, so this is a climatological window (source: https://www.langtangtreks.com/blog/ghorepani-poon-hill-trek-best-time/) rather than a season-specific forecast.
What is Poon Hill best for?: A short trek with a big payoff view.

See it on the map

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