A four-day loop from Pokhara to Ghandruk (2,010 m), one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal, then across the Modi Khola to Landruk and over the ridge to Australian Camp. Low trails, stone villages and close views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre.
A four-day loop from Pokhara to Ghandruk (2,010 m), one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal, then across the Modi Khola to Landruk and over the ridge to Australian Camp. Low trails, stone villages and close views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre.
Ghandruk is a large Gurung village of stone houses and slate roofs spread across a hillside above the Modi Khola, looking straight up the valley to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. Many of its families have served in the British and Indian Gurkha regiments, and the village keeps a small Gurung museum. This four-day trek from Pokhara walks up to Ghandruk, crosses the valley to its neighbour Landruk and comes back over the forested ridge to Australian Camp.
On the first day we drive to Nayapul and walk up the Modi Khola through Birethanti and Syauli Bazaar, then climb the stone steps through Kimche to Ghandruk. Day two starts with sunrise over the mountains and a morning in the village before we drop to the river and climb to Landruk on the far side. On day three the trail climbs through Tolka and forest to the ridge at Bhichok, then drops to Pothana and Australian Camp. The last morning is a one-hour walk down to the road at Kande and a short drive back to Pokhara.
The highest point is about 2,080 m and the highest night 2,060 m, so altitude is not a concern. The walking is on stone steps and village trails, with four to five hours on the first three days and some steep climbs and descents around the river crossing. It suits first-time trekkers, families with active children and anyone with a few days to spare in Pokhara.
You stay in family-run teahouses with simple twin rooms, hot showers and menus that run from dal bhat to pasta. Your guide arranges the ACAP permit and the lodges, and can take you round Ghandruk's old lanes and museum.
This is an easy trek for anyone in reasonable health who walks regularly. The highest point is about 2,080 m, so altitude is not an issue. You walk four to five hours on each of the first three days and about an hour on the last. Most of the route is on stone steps, and the climbs are short but steep: up to Ghandruk on the first afternoon, out of the Modi Khola to Landruk on day two, and up through the forest from Tolka on day three. The descents are just as hard on the knees. In the weeks before you come, take a few long walks of three to four hours on hilly ground and climb stairs to get your legs used to steps. Children who are used to hill walking manage it well, and we can slow the pace or add a night if needed.
We drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, about an hour and a half, and walk to Birethanti, where your guide shows the ACAP permit. The trail follows the Modi Khola past Syauli Bazaar, then climbs stone steps through terraced fields and Kimche to Ghandruk. We stay in the upper village, with Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre above the rooftops.
Sunrise lights Annapurna South and Hiunchuli straight up the valley. After breakfast your guide takes you through the old stone lanes and the Gurung museum. We then descend steeply to the Modi Khola, cross the suspension bridge and climb the far side to Landruk, a spread-out Gurung village looking back across the valley to Ghandruk.
We walk through Tolka and climb through oak and rhododendron forest to the ridge at Bhichok, the highest point of the trek at about 2,080 m, then drop to Pothana. A short walk from Pothana brings us to Australian Camp, a grassy ridge with open views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre and the Lamjung Himal.
Watch the sun come up over Machhapuchhre from the ridge, then walk down through forest to the road at Kande, about an hour. Our vehicle drives you back to your Pokhara hotel in about an hour, normally before lunch.
Permits we arrange: Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP)
Ghandruk, Landruk and Australian Camp all lie inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so every trekker needs an ACAP entry permit. The fee for foreign nationals is NPR 3,000 per person; children under ten do not pay. We get it in Pokhara before you start, so we need a scan of your passport photo page and a passport photo. Your guide shows it at the checkpoint in Birethanti. Nepal Tourism Board rules from 1 April 2023 require foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide booked through a registered agency. A TIMS card is not checked on Annapurna routes at present. Every trek we run is led by a licensed guide.
The trek starts and ends at your hotel in Pokhara. From Kathmandu it is a 25-minute flight or six to eight hours by tourist bus. We leave Pokhara early on day one, so arrive the day before. The drive to Nayapul takes about an hour and a half.
A jeep road now runs from Nayapul up the Modi Khola to Kimche and the lower part of Ghandruk, and the first day's trail follows or crosses it in places. If you would rather skip the lower valley, we can drive to Kimche instead and walk the last stretch of stone steps up to Ghandruk, which leaves more time in the village.
There are no ATMs on the trail, so bring Nepali rupees from Pokhara for drinks, snacks, hot showers, charging, wifi, the museum and tips. Most lodges charge a small fee to charge devices; a power bank helps.
Do not drink untreated tap or stream water. Landruk and Ghandruk have safe drinking water stations, and lodges will fill your bottle with boiled water for a small charge. Bring a filter, tablets or a UV pen and refill rather than buying plastic bottles.
October to December has the clearest mountain views and dry trails. February to May is mild, and the rhododendrons on the ridge above Tolka flower in March and April, though haze and afternoon cloud are more common. January nights are cold but the trail stays below the snowline in most years. From June to September the monsoon brings daily rain, cloud and leeches.
Everything is yours to bring, except items marked “We provide” or “Rent locally”.
Two moisture-wicking base layer tops
Fleece or light insulated jacket
Down jacketWe provide
On loan from us; useful for the cold early mornings
Waterproof jacket
Two pairs of trekking trousers or one pair and shorts
Warm hat, sun hat and light gloves
Trekking socks and underwear for four days
Broken-in trekking boots or sturdy trail shoes with good grip
The stone steps get slippery when wet
Sandals or light shoes for the evenings
Daypack of 20 to 30 litres with rain cover
Your porter carries the main bag
Soft duffel bag for the porter, about 10 kg per trekker
Sleeping bagWe provide
On loan from us
Trekking polesRent locally
Easy to hire in Pokhara; they help on the steps down to the Modi Khola
Head torch
Two one-litre water bottles and a filter, tablets or UV pen
Power bank and charging cables
Sunglasses
Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
Personal medicines, blister plasters and rehydration salts
Insect repellent
Useful in spring and early autumn, and for leeches after rain
Hand sanitiser, quick-dry towel and toiletries
Passport and one passport photo
Needed for the ACAP permit
Travel insurance details
Nepali rupees in cash
No ATMs on the trail
It is one of the easiest treks in the Annapurna region. The days are four to five hours long and the highest point is about 2,080 m. The hard parts are the stone steps: the climb to Ghandruk, the descent to the Modi Khola and climb to Landruk, and the forest climb above Tolka.
Ghandruk sits at about 2,010 m. Many itineraries give 1,940 m; the village spreads over a steep hillside, so the figure depends on where you measure. The highest point on this trek is the ridge at Bhichok, about 2,080 m, between Tolka and Pothana.
A jeep road reaches Kimche and the lower part of Ghandruk, two to three hours' drive from Pokhara. We can drive to Kimche on day one and walk up from there if you prefer to skip the lower valley.
From Ghandruk you look up the Modi Khola to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. Australian Camp has a wider view east along the range to Machhapuchhre, Mardi Himal and the Lamjung Himal on a clear day.
Yes. The low altitude and short days suit families with active children and older walkers who are comfortable on steps. Tell us about your group and we can adjust the pace or add a night in Ghandruk.
Nepal Tourism Board rules from 1 April 2023 require foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide. On Annapurna routes only the ACAP permit is checked at present. The trek includes a licensed guide and the ACAP permit.
The old upper village of stone houses and narrow lanes, the Gurung museum with traditional dress, tools and photographs of Gurkha soldiers, and viewpoints for sunrise over Annapurna South. Your guide will take you round on the morning of day two.
Yes. Ghandruk links to Tadapani and Ghorepani, so it is easy to add Poon Hill and turn this into a longer loop. Ask us about our Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, which finishes in Ghandruk.
Ghandruk Village Trek
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