Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek in December

For those of you who can only trek in December, or who love the winter days, yes, it is possible to trek the Ghorepani Poon Hill route in December! Open 365 days a year, in December this trek sees temperatures of around -5 to 5oC in the night, and 8 to 15oC in the day.

Snow can be expected at Ghorepani, Poon Hill, and Tadapani.  And please note the trail between Ghorepani and Tadapani and any other forested areas (snow lies longer in the shade) can be very slippery due to snow.

So what are the positives of trekking in December?  Definitely, there are less trekkers on this route during December, so you can fully enjoy nature in a peaceful environment and be assured of a bed in the teahouses! Expect amazing sunsets and sunrises.  The skies will be very clear, with exception views of the mountains.

Benefits of the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek in December

Less people: Peak trekking season in Nepal is the spring (March/April/May) and the autumn (September/October/ November) when the weather is at its best in terms of warm days, not so cold nights and little or no rain.

These times also fit in with Easter and autumn school holidays.  Less people tend to come to Nepal in the winter as they feel it will be cold with a lot of snow.  Which is not necessarily true depending on where you wish to visit.

With less people on the trails, you have a better feeling of being in a peaceful environment, far from the crowds!  You also have a better choice of accommodation for the trail and may get a better price!

Clear views and the weather: As we said, this trek is not particularly cold in the winter, with day time temperatures reaching around 15oC.  Early mornings and nights will be cold but if you are prepared then you will stay warm enough.

Teahouses on the trail have fires in the evening.  With the crisp clear winter, air comes great mountain views.  No rain clouds spoiling the photo opportunities!

Accommodation: There is a wide variety of accommodation on the Ghorepani to Poon Hill Trek.   The majority have twin beds and common (shared) bathrooms.  But with less people on the trail, there is more chance of you bagging a private bathroom for the same price!

And it is highly unlikely your first choice of teahouse will be full so you can choose the best one for you.  The same food is available throughout the year but you will have less time to wait for it since the kitchen will be less busy.  Bonus!

Tips for Trekking in December

Be prepared: Layers are good.  By adding layers in means you can take clothes off as the day goes on and the temperature rises.  And put them back on as the temperature drops.  Makes sense right?  A thermal vest and leggings are a must.  Both a fleece and down jacket would be good.

Carry micro spikes: The Ghorepani to Poonhill Trek is at low altitude so there is less snowfall than higher up.  But there will be some snow.

In the forest areas the snow will lie longer under the shade of the trees and the ground may be slippery. So it’s a good idea to carry micro spikes to use where necessary.  These can be bought in Thamel, Kathmandu.

Be prepared for the snow: In addition to micro spikes, you will want to be prepared in case of snow.  Waterproof boots, waterproof jacket and overpants, etc.

Sunglasses will reduce the glare of the snow. Walking poles are a good idea, even if you are very fit.  These will enable you to negotiate slippery trails and steps.

FAQ – Winter on Poon Hill

As the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is a low altitude trek the trails are open during the winter.  Temperatures will drop to freezing some mornings and evenings. The average temperature at Ghorepani is 4oC.

But at lower altitudes you can still get day time temperatures around 15oC.  It is unusual for there to be any rain at this time of year. There may be some snow.  Although it will not be heavy snowfalls, in the forested areas the snow may lie for some time making the trails slippery.

With no clouds in the sky this is a lovely time to trek and not nearly as cold as Annapurna Base Camp or other higher altitude trekking areas.