Poon Hill Trek, Nepal

The Poon Hill Trek is a perfect trek for those who want to introduce themselves to high altitude trekking. It does require one to be in decent physical state and have an active lifestyle. The trek can be taken up by amateur trekkers and beginners with 3 to 6 weeks week of preparation depending on their current fitness levels.

Accommodation in Kathmandu on arrival and post the trek will be in a standard 3-star hotel in Thamel district, on double sharing basis. Our package contains all accommodation of twin sharing basis, however, on request we can arrange for upgrades to single occupancy in Kathmandu and also to 4 star or 5 star hotels in Kathmandu at an additional charge.

Accommodation during the trek will be arranged in mountain lodges/tea houses. These tea houses are standard lodges with rooms containing multiple beds, mattresses, warm blankets and pillows for each trekker Accommodation will be in rooms/sharing dorms.

The temperature in Kathmandu shall be in a range of around 20 - 25 Degrees Celsius Afternoons are usually hot and humid and evenings are towards the colder sides. The temperature during the course of the trek are pleasant during the day and can be expected to be around 10-15 degree Celsius.

As and how we proceed and gain attitude, the temperatures will fall by 2 to 3 degrees every day  hence layering oneself well will be of utmost importance. Even though you may be trekking during peak season time, one can always expect drizzles in the mountains. Carrying a rain jacket or a poncho during the trek shall be mandatory.

The communication systems on the trek is very well established. There are multiple options to be in touch with your friends and family while on the trek. You can activate international roaming on your phone or even buy a local sim card in Nepal. The sim card will cost anywhere between NR 600 - 700 depending on the plan you would like to purchases. However, your simcard may not have network at all times, you also have the option of purchasing wifi at the tea house.

Different tea houses charge different amount for purchase of wifi usually ranging anywhere between 500 – 700 nepali rupees for a 24 hour cycle.

Our team carries a full-fledged medical kit that contains generic as well as high altitude medicines. We will be doing oxygen level checks everyday as well, and our team leaders will also be doing physical examination to ensure how the trekkers are feeling. In case anyone shows any signs of high altitude sickness, medicines will be given by our leaders according to the symptoms shown. Most tea houses also have access to emergency oxygen cylinders that be rented from the tea house if needed.

In case a person cannot continue further up ahead on the trek, if he/she is not physically fit or is unable to acclimatize etc. he/she will be advised by the leader on whether he can continue the trek or should go back with one of our guides. Owing to safety protocols, the trek leaders decision shall be final and binding. Depending on the condition of the trekker, a helicopter evacuation or a horse – either could be used to go back, the cost of which will have to be borne by the trekker himself.

Carrying good apparels and accessories plays a very vital role in ensuring a good experience while exploring the mountains. Please refer to the list on our website for details of clothes and accessories that will be mandatory to carry on the trek.

There is no requirement of technical gears or equipment for this trek. Only the list of apparels and accessories as mentioned on our website shall be necessary.

In the hotel, our base package covers bed and breakfast plan, so breakfast will be included which will be organized as a buffet. Lunch and dinner/anything ordered from the menu, will be on actuals.

While on the trek our base package covers 3 meals and 3 beverages daily. One order/item is considered as one meal/beverage. These meals can be decided by the individual basis his/her preference. The tea houses have a variety of options for meals ranging from bread with butter/Jam/honey, porridge, oats, pancakes, etc. to Daalbhat tarkari, spaghetti, fried rice, and even burgers and pizza etc. Beverages include hot water, tea, coffee, milk, ginger lemon water, etc.

Acclimatization basically means enabling your body to adapt to the altitude, heat, cold, air, etc. In the mountains, this becomes very important to ensure a comfortable trekking experience.

The basic 5 things to do in order to acclimatize well is –

1. Keep your hydration levels high. One needs to consume minimum 4 litres of water on a daily basis.
2. Keep your appetite going well. Loss of appetite is one of the first signs of being affected by AMS. Keeping a decent appetite from day 1 is important and it will also give your body the required nutrition.
3. Sleep – It is of utmost importance that your body is well rested. Minimum 7-9 hours of sleep is recommended to rest, recover and recharge yourself for the next day.
4. Protecting your eyes – Wearing sunglasses in the mountains is a must. The sun glares are much stronger in the high altitudes than our cities, and can often lead to headaches which can stay for very long.
5. Walk and talk pace – your pace of walking should be such that you should be able to talk. Especially when gaining altitude, it is advisable to walk slower as you gain the height, which allows your body to adapt better.

Our team usually carries a full fledge medical kit which include generic medicines ranging from headache, indigestion, allergies, anti-inflammatory, to high altitude medicines like Diamox etc. from oxy meters, thermometers, bandages, water purification drops

But apart from that in case there are specific medicines that work for you or your doctor has prescribed, you should carry those. The list of medicines you can carry has also been highlighted in the ‘Things to carry’ tab on our website.

Yes. A medical certificate is compulsory for this trek. It is important that you have yourself assessed by a qualified doctor before the trek. The physical examination conducted by the doctor will include a check of your blood pressure, pulse, recording your blood group, mentioning any previous injuries/accidents or allergies, etc. This assessment will be beneficial not only for the trekker but also the team in case if any medical situation arises.

The format of the certificate will be shared by our team to all the participants and needs to be submitted as per the deadlines mentioned by a representative from Adventure Pulse

No. As part of the premium services we provide at Adventure Pulse, backpack off-loading is also included. The main bag/duffle bag that you will need through your journey will be our teams responsibility and be carried from Pokhara onwards and be carried by our porter staff, with a limit of up to 12 Kgs. In case your bag weighs more than that, extra porter charges will be applicable.

The only bag that you will be carrying with you, will be a small day bag which can be between a 20-30 L capacity bag, to accommodate your water bottle, snack, thin jacket, poncho etc. In case you would like a personal assistant to carry your day bag as well, the same can be hired at an additional cost.

We will be organizing group pickups in cars from the airport to the hotel. There will be around 4-6 people who will be picked together depending on their arrival timings. Since these are group pick ups there will be a certain amount of waiting time involved. However, if you wish to opt for a personal vehicle, the same can be arranged on additional charges.

The package covers your food, accommodation, on ground transport etc. but you will need money for either personal expenses like – shopping, purchase of hot shower facilities, wifi, food in café’s, patisseries, tips to the guides etc.

For Kathmandu you can budget around 3000 to 3500 Nepali rupees per day & for your trek you can budget around 1500 to 2000 Nepali Rupees per day for any extras and additional expenses.

Your credit/debit cards will work in Nepal if they are activated internationally. Even UPI payments option through Google pay, Paytm, etc. are available provided you have a working sim associated with that bank account. However, in the mountains there will be no access to ATM’s except at Namche Bazaar. The only way to make expenses in the mountains is by paying in cash, strictly in Nepali currency only. It is safer to keep cash handy with you.

In case you would like to convert your currency to Nepali, there are multiple forex shops in Thamel itself who can do that.

In case you’d like our team to help you with the conversion, you can inform our representative accordingly, at least 2 days in advance, and the amount you would like to convert, so that necessary arrangements can be made.