Poon Hill sunrise trek: which headlamp for the climb and the lodges?

A trekker climbing stone steps through dark forest, their headlamp lighting the steps ahead.

Trekking to Poon Hill? The climb for sunrise starts in the dark.

From the lodge in Ghorepani you walk up a forest ridge path to the viewpoint at 3,210 m. Operators and trekkers give 45 to 60 minutes for the climb. Then you go back down for breakfast.

Short answer

The Nitecore HA25 UHE headlamp on its middle setting for the climb and its 6 lumen setting in the room, a second charged battery (HLB1500) so you do not depend on a lodge socket, and a second light with its own battery, which can be one you already own.

See the kit ↓

The climb at a glance

Nepal Hiking Team's eight day Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, as the operator publishes it. Other operators and routes differ.

This guide covers the operator's preferred months, March to May and September to November. Winter and snow need different planning.

Satellite map of the climb from Ghorepani to Poon Hill The path from Ghorepani to the Poon Hill viewpoint, shown in yellow, running from east to west. Two numbered points mark Ghorepani and the viewpoint.
Walk up, by headlamp. You come down the same path in daylight.

Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel-2 data, 26 October 2025. Route from © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). For explanation only, not for navigation.

  • 45 to 60 minGhorepani to the viewpoint, as operators and trekkers give it
  • About 336 mof height gained, by the operator's figure
  • 3,210 mPoon Hill viewpoint
  • 1.5 kmGhorepani to the viewpoint on the mapped line
Elevation profile, Ghorepani to the Poon Hill viewpoint Height rises from about 2,825 metres at Ghorepani to about 3,190 metres near the viewpoint along the mapped 1.48 kilometre line. The whole profile is walked by headlamp on the way up. 2,800 3,000 3,200 m 0 0.5 1 1.48 Distance, km
  • 1Ghorepani
  • 2Poon Hill viewpoint

Heights from SRTM 30 m data along the mapped 1.5 km line, so read them as about.

Sunrise at Poon Hill, calculated for a flat horizon, Nepal time

  • 6:20 ammid March
  • 5:45 ammid April
  • 5:20 ammid May
  • 5:55 ammid September
  • 6:10 ammid October
  • 6:30 ammid November

Your trek, where the light is used

Your guide sets the start time on the day.

Lodge evenings, three nightsLow light
In your roomRooms are twin share, at Ulleri, Ghorepani and Tadapani. Use the 6 lumen white light for zips and labels: double press Power from off. A double press while the light is already on gives full brightness, so switch off first.
A trekker searching a duffle bag on a lodge bed by the faint light of a very dim headlamp, another bed beside it with a sleeping person.
Day 5, before dawn: wake at the Ghorepani lodgeLow light
Get up earlyMost operators and trekkers get up between 4:00 and 4:30 am. NextTripNepal gives 4:00 am, North Nepal Trek gives 4:30 am and The Common Wanderer got up at 4:30 am.
A trekker sitting on a bed edge lacing a boot by the dim light of a headlamp, the window black.
Leave the lodgeHeadlamp on
Out of the doorThe climb takes 45 to 60 minutes, so leave in time to be at the top before the sunrise time in the table above. Use the middle brightness setting in neutral white. From off, hold Power for one second, then press it once.
Trekkers leaving a lodge doorway before dawn, headlamps on and beams pointing at the ground.
On the ridge pathHeadlamp on
Through the forestThe path is steep stone steps, climbed in the dark by headlamp with other trekkers. NextTripNepal counts 100 to 200 on it in October and November. A gate on the way up takes an entrance fee in rupees, reported at NPR 100 to 200 between 2023 and 2026, so keep small notes handy.
A guide climbing a forest path ahead of the camera before dawn, looking back, both lit by headlamps.
At the viewpointLow light, then off
Waiting for sunriseCold while you stand still, so keep your jacket, hat and gloves on. Use the low setting if you need light, or switch off.
About ten trekkers in down jackets standing on a hilltop in blue light before sunrise, a dark viewing tower beside them, most headlamps off.
SunriseHeadlamp off
Mountain viewSwitch off once you can see the path.
Dawn light on distant snow peaks seen from the hilltop, a trekker with a switched off headlamp on the beanie.
Back to GhorepaniHeadlamp off
Breakfast, then TadapaniHot breakfast at the lodge, then the day's walk to Tadapani in daylight.

How much runtime does your headlamp need?

About 4 hours across the whole trek: 2.5 hours of walking light and 1.5 hours of low light.

These are our planning figures. Walking light is 1 hour for the climb, 45 minutes for a slow start and 45 minutes in case you walk back down in the dark. Low light is 20 minutes a night in three lodges, 15 minutes getting ready and 15 minutes in case the light has a problem.

our 4 h allowance
What you need
Low light Walking Spare
HA25 UHE headlamp
HA25 UHE headlamp, one battery, middle setting
HLB1500 spare battery
With the spare battery swapped in

One battery gives about 6 hours on the middle setting, measured at 26°C. The light gets dimmer as the battery drains. That covers the 4 hours. The spare is so you do not have to find, queue for or pay for a socket on an eight day trek.

How far ahead you need to see

A headlamp-lit view up a stepped forest path at night, the light fading about ten metres ahead. Arm's length: zips and labels in the room Feet to 5 m: the stone steps About 10 m: where the path goes next

Illustration, not a measured beam pattern.

What those distances look like

  • 5 m: about one car length
  • 10 m: about a 3 storey block

The 70 m range on the middle setting is where the beam fades to moonlight level. You see the ground clearly for a fraction of that, and on stone steps the near part of the beam is what matters. Start in neutral white.

If the battery runs down, or the lamp fails

Battery runs down

Swap in the charged spare battery (HLB1500).

Lamp fails, drops or gets lost

A second light with its own battery, such as the NU20 Classic or a headlamp you already own. A spare battery cannot fix a lamp that is broken or gone.

Gloved hands holding a headlamp and a spare battery pack, lit from the side by a companion's headlamp.

Practical checklist

  • Charge both batteries before you fly. Plan as if you cannot charge on the trek.
  • Lock the headlamp in your bag: hold both buttons for 2 seconds until it flashes 3 times. Unlock it outside the room, because unlocking turns the light on.
  • Keep the spare battery in a dry bag where you can reach it.
  • Practise the battery swap in the dark at home.
  • Check the strap fits over a warm hat.
  • Check the battery level each evening: short press with the light off. 4 lights is 75 to 100%.
  • The HA25 UHE also runs on 3 AAA batteries (alkaline or NiMH) in an emergency.

The kit we'd pack

HA25 UHE headlamp
Main headlamp
HA25 UHE headlamp
S$69
  • Middle setting: 280 lumens, about 6 hours on the included battery
  • A 6 lumen white light and a red light for the lodge
  • 91 g with battery
  • Protected against rain and splashing (IP66)
  • Charges by USB-C in about 1h30
View product →
HLB1500 spare battery
Spare battery
HLB1500 spare battery
S$19
  • The same battery that comes with the headlamp
  • Another 6 hours on the middle setting
  • Charges by USB-C on the battery itself, so you can top it up from a power bank or a lodge socket
View product →
Headlamp and spare battery S$88
NU20 Classic backup headlamp
Backup light
A second light with its own battery

A headlamp you already own, or the NU20 Classic: 38 g, 200 lumens for about 5 hours on its high setting. S$49. View product →

Already own a headlamp? Check it against this list.

  • Runs about 4 hours on a setting you can walk by, or takes a spare battery.
  • Has a setting under 10 lumens for a shared room.
  • The strap holds over a warm hat.
  • You can work the buttons with gloves in the dark.
  • You have a second light.

Other headlamps that also work

UT27 MCT headlamp
Lighter on your head
UT27 MCT headlamp
  • 74 g, 280 lumens for about 6h30 per battery on the middle setting. Takes the same spare battery (HLB1500).
  • No white light below 100 lumens, so use its red light in the room.
S$109
View headlamp →
HA27 UHE headlamp
Longer on one battery
HA27 UHE headlamp
  • 280 lumens for about 7 hours on the middle setting, 100 g with battery.
  • An 8 lumen white light for the room.
S$79
View headlamp →
NU25 MCT UL headlamp
Lightest, built in battery
NU25 MCT UL headlamp
  • 47 g, 200 lumens for about 5 hours on the middle setting. A 6 lumen white light for the room.
  • The battery cannot be swapped, so you depend on charging.
S$79
View headlamp →

Runtimes measured at 26°C on the setting and battery listed.

What the hill looks like

The Poon Hill viewing tower and a crowd of trekkers in blue light before sunrise, with the Dhaulagiri range on the right.
The Poon Hill tower and trekkers waiting before sunrise, 22 March 2013. Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized to 1600 px on the long side, no other change. Licence.
Dhaulagiri seen from the Poon Hill viewpoint before sunrise, with bare shrubs and frosted ground in the foreground.
Dhaulagiri from the viewpoint before sunrise, with frost on the ground, 22 March 2013. Photo: Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized to 1600 px on the long side, no other change. Licence.

Read firsthand accounts

These are personal accounts of the trek, not endorsements of any product. None of these writers is known to have used Nitecore gear.

Questions

Does the trekking company give me a headlamp?

It is not listed among what Nepal Hiking Team supplies. Its equipment checklist says to bring a headlamp with spare batteries, and the packing lists of NextTripNepal and Mountain Eco Trails say to bring one too.

Can I charge at the lodges?

Yes, for a fee. Mountain Eco Trails gives NPR 100 to 200 per device and Backpack to Nepal gives $1 to $2. The operator says sockets are in the dining area near reception, power can be unreliable and some villages run on solar only.

Do I need a spare battery for such a short climb?

Not for the climb itself. One battery covers the 4 hours in the runtime section. The spare means you do not have to find, queue for or pay for a socket on an eight day trek.

Can I use my phone torch?

A headlamp leaves both hands free for gloves, poles and the gate ticket.

How cold is it before sunrise?

Haven Holidays gives about 5°C at the viewpoint on autumn mornings, NextTripNepal gives 2 to 8°C overnight at Ghorepani in October and November, and Mountain Eco Trails says it can be close to 0°C on the sunrise hike. A March 2013 photo shows frost on the ground at the viewpoint. Bring a jacket, hat and gloves.

I already own a headlamp, is it enough?

Check it against the list in the kit section.

I am also climbing Kinabalu, which headlamp?

See our Kinabalu headlamp guide. We recommend the HA29 UHE kit there.

Questions about your own gear? Contact the team.

Sources and credits

  1. Nepal Hiking Team, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking itinerary, inclusions, weather and electricity. nepalhikingteam.com
  2. Nepal Hiking Team, Ghorepani Poon Hill destination guide, 45 minute hike, about 336 m of height gain. nepalhikingteam.com
  3. Nepal Hiking Team, equipment checklist. nepalhikingteam.com
  4. The Common Wanderer, Poon Hill Trek. thecommonwanderer.com
  5. The Wandering Woods, Nepal, 2015. wanderingwoods.org
  6. Nitecore, HA25 UHE manual. nitecore.com
  7. Nitecore, UT27 MCT manual. nitecore.com
  8. Nitecore, HA27 UHE manual. nitecore.com
  9. Nitecore, NU25 MCT UL manual. nitecore.com
  10. Nitecore, NU20 Classic manual. nitecore.com
  11. Nitecore Singapore, HA25 UHE product page. nitecore.sg
  12. Nitecore Singapore, HLB1500 product page. nitecore.sg
  13. Nitecore Singapore, UT27 MCT product page. nitecore.sg
  14. Nitecore Singapore, HA27 UHE product page. nitecore.sg
  15. Nitecore Singapore, NU25 MCT UL product page. nitecore.sg
  16. Nitecore Singapore, NU20 Classic product page. nitecore.sg
  17. Nitecore Singapore, Kinabalu headlamp guide, for readers doing both trips. nitecore.sg
  18. Route data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, way 340898704 (Ghorepani-Poonhill). openstreetmap.org/copyright
  19. Sentinel-2 imagery, scene of 26 October 2025. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2025. cds.climate.copernicus.eu
  20. SRTM 30 m elevation service, used to sample height along the mapped line. api.opentopodata.org
  21. Wikimedia Commons, Poon Hill tower before sunrise, Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0. commons.wikimedia.org
  22. Wikimedia Commons, Dhaulagiri before sunrise, Gerd Eichmann, CC BY-SA 4.0. commons.wikimedia.org
  23. NextTripNepal, Ghorepani Poon Hill itinerary: wake time, 45 to 60 minutes, stone steps, 1.5 km, crowd size, sunrise times, packing list. nexttripnepal.com
  24. North Nepal Trek, Poon Hill trek from Pokhara: 4:30 am, 45 minute climb, stairway path, headlights. northnepaltrek.com
  25. Mountain Eco Trails, Ghorepani Poon Hill trekking guide: 4:00 am, headlamp, temperature, charging fee. mountainecotrails.com
  26. Nepal High Trek, Ghorepani Poon Hill trek: 45 minutes to 1 hour. nepalhightrek.com
  27. Haven Holidays Nepal, Ghorepani Poon Hill weather guide: autumn mornings at the viewpoint. havenholidaysnepal.com
  28. Backpack to Nepal, Poon Hill trek guide: stone steps, charging cost. backpacktonepal.com
  29. Nepal Alternative Treks, Ghorepani Poon Hill trek cost: entrance fee NPR 100. nepalalternativetreks.com
  30. Hiker Hero, Poon Hill trek: entrance fee NPR 150 at the gate. hikerhero.com
  31. Stingy Nomads, Poon Hill trek itinerary, January 2023: entrance fee NPR 200, pitch dark start. stingynomads.com
  32. Mik Simons, Ghorepani Poon Hill trek in 4 days, 19 February 2023. miksimons.com
  33. Travel Through My Eye, Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, 2 June 2019. travelthroughmyeye.com
  34. Wilderness Excursion, Poon Hill sunrise, trek of 21 October 2025. wildernessexcursion.com
  35. Sunrise times: our own calculation for 28.40 N, 83.69 E, Nepal time (UTC+5:45), flat horizon, standard solar equations. See the table in the climb section.

This is a buying guide for headlamps, not trekking or safety advice. On the trek, follow your guide and your trekking company on route, timing and safety.

Scene illustrations on this page were created for this guide and do not show a specific trek.

Last reviewed 5 October 2026.