- Length
- 5 days
- Highest point
- 2,175 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Starts
- Pokhara or Kathmandu (drive to Besisahar)
- Group size
- 2–10 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House / Camp
A short, soulful cultural trek to Ghalegaun, a flagship Gurung homestay village in the Annapurna foothills, with sweeping Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II and Manaslu views.
- Stay with welcoming Gurung families in one of Nepal's flagship community homestay villages
- Sweeping sunrise panorama of Annapurna II and IV, Lamjung Himal, Buddha Himal and Manaslu
- Evening Ghatu and Jhyaure folk dance performances in village courtyards
- Ridge top viewpoint at Ghanpokhara, the high point at about 2,175 metres
- Visit Bhujung, the largest Gurung village in Nepal
- Learn about traditional wild honey hunting and Gurung culture
- Low altitude, family friendly trek ideal for first timers and short itineraries
- Responsible tourism that puts your money directly into the local community
The climb, day by day
Day 1Drive to Besisahar & trek to Khudi (790 m)790 m
Scenic morning drive from Pokhara or Kathmandu along the Marsyangdi valley to Besisahar, the headquarters of Lamjung district. From the trailhead a gentle 1 to 2 hour walk brings you to the riverside Gurung settlement of Khudi, your gateway to the Ghalegaun ridge. Evening at leisure in a simple local lodge.
- Distance
- ~180 km drive + 5–7 km walk
- Walking
- 6–7 hrs drive + 1–2 hrs walk
- Meals
- Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Lodge / Guesthouse
Day 2Khudi to Ghalegaun (1,970 m)1,970 m
A rewarding climb through terraced farmland, oak and rhododendron forest and small hamlets, with the snow wall of Lamjung Himal and Annapurna II growing ahead. You arrive in Ghalegaun to a traditional Gurung welcome, settle into your host family home, and watch the sunset light the peaks from the village viewpoint, often followed by an evening of Ghatu and Jhyaure folk dancing.
- Distance
- ~10 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Homestay
Day 3Ghalegaun exploration & cultural day (1,970 m)1,970 m
Rise early for a spectacular Himalayan sunrise over Annapurna II, IV, Lamjung Himal, Buddha Himal and Manaslu. Spend the day immersed in village life with cooking demonstrations, handicraft and weaving workshops, a museum and monastery visit, and stories from local honey hunters. The pace is gentle and the focus is on people, culture and mountain views.
- Distance
- Short local walks
- Walking
- 2–3 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Homestay
Day 4Ghalegaun to Ghanpokhara & Bhujung (2,175 m)2,175 m
A short climb to the ridge top village of Ghanpokhara, the high point of the trek at about 2,175 metres, offering the widest panorama of the trip. Continue on forest and farm trails to Bhujung, the largest Gurung village in Nepal, set dramatically on a hillside. Explore its slate roofed lanes before returning to a homestay for the night.
- Distance
- ~8–10 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Homestay
Day 5Trek to Khudi & drive back (1,400 m)1,400 m
A pleasant descent through villages and forest back to Khudi, where your vehicle is waiting. Drive back to Pokhara or Kathmandu along the Prithvi Highway, arriving in the evening with memories of Gurung hospitality and Himalayan sunrises.
- Distance
- ~10 km walk + ~180 km drive
- Walking
- 5–6 hrs walk + 6–7 hrs drive
- Meals
- Breakfast & Lunch
- Night
- –
The price includes
- Private vehicle transfers Pokhara or Kathmandu to Besisahar / Khudi and return
- All accommodation in Gurung homestays and lodges along the trek
- All meals on trek (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Experienced English speaking licensed trekking guide with insurance, meals and wages
- One sharing porter per two trekkers
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and TIMS card
- Cultural programme and welcome in Ghalegaun
- First aid kit and arrangements
- All government and local taxes
You pay separately
- International airfare to and from Nepal
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Meals and accommodation in Pokhara or Kathmandu
- Bottled and hot drinks, snacks and bar bills
- Hot showers and device charging where charged extra
- Personal trekking gear and equipment
- Tips for guide and porter
- Any expenses arising from circumstances beyond our control such as weather, illness or strikes
The Ghalegaun Homestay Trek is one of Nepal's finest short cultural journeys, leading you into a model Gurung community high in the Lamjung foothills of the Annapurna region. Perched at around 2,100 metres, Ghalegaun (also written Ghale Gaun) is celebrated across Nepal as a pioneering community based tourism village, where you sleep in the homes of local families, share traditional meals cooked over wood fires, and wake to a vast panorama of Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal, Buddha Himal and distant Manaslu.
Rather than chasing high passes, this trek is about living culture. You will be welcomed with marigold garlands, watch the famous Ghatu and Jhyaure dances performed in courtyards at dusk, learn how local honey hunters harvest wild cliff honey, and walk gentle ridge trails between terraced fields and rhododendron forest. It is an ideal first trek in Nepal, a family friendly adventure, or a meaningful add on for travellers who want their money to stay in the village.
A genuine Gurung homestay experience
Every overnight is arranged with trained host families through the village homestay cooperative, so your stay directly supports local livelihoods, women's groups and community projects. Expect simple, spotless rooms, hearty dal bhat, millet wine if you wish, and the kind of warm hospitality the Gurung people are known for.
Easy access, big mountain rewards
Reached by a scenic drive from Pokhara or Kathmandu to Besisahar and a short walk in from Khudi, the trek packs Himalayan sunrises, ridge top viewpoints at Ghanpokhara, and a visit to Bhujung, the largest Gurung village in Nepal, into just five relaxed days.