Poonhill trekking is possible even without a guide. But taking the Poonhill trek without a guide will mean that you will miss extra information that the guide would have made known to you. Besides, taking no guide means you need to arrange everything for yourself but it also means you are free to explore Poonhill in your way. You need not carry a huge supply of equipment. Poonhill trek is the lodgehouse trek. There are adequate lodges across the Poonhill trekking route that continues through bamboo woods and blooming rhododendrons, culturally rich villages of Gurung ethnics, and stone steps. Taking warm clothes is advised as Ghorepani and Poonhill are rather chilly places. 

If you are thinking of taking the Poonhill trek without a guide and if you are a foreign tourist, you need to arrange for an Annapurna Permit and TIMS card, which will be required to enter the Annapurna National Park. You will head southwest from Pokhara and take one hour to drive 35 km to Nayapul. 

Trekking to Poonhill is easy. The Poonhill trekking route continues through places at lower altitudes. In fact, Poonhill, located at 3210m altitude, is the maximum elevation that you will reach by joining the Poonhill trek without a guide. 

Poonhill offers panoramic views of Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Dhaulagiri I (8167m), and Fishtail Mountain (6993m). Spring (March) is best to take the Poonhill trek as you will pass through the colorful array of blooming rhododendrons and bamboo. The monsoon rain will have made the sky clear and you will get fine views of several mountains if you take Poonhill trekking in March.