- Length
- 3 days
- Highest point
- 2,012 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Starts
- Pokhara (drive to Nayapul/Kimche)
- Group size
- 2–10 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House / Camp
A short, easy 3-day cultural trek from Pokhara to Ghandruk, the largest Gurung village in the Annapurna region, with classic Annapurna South and Fishtail views.
- Trek to Ghandruk (2,012 m), the largest and most beautiful Gurung village in the Annapurna region
- Up-close sunrise views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail)
- Easy, beginner- and family-friendly trail with no high passes or altitude risk
- Explore stone-paved streets, slate-roofed houses and the traditional Gurung museum
- Walk through forest, terraced fields and across suspension bridges over the Modi Khola
- Scenic loop returning via the charming village of Landruk
- Quick, easy access from Pokhara — perfect for a short Himalayan escape
- Warm, authentic Gurung hospitality in family-run tea houses
The climb, day by day
Day 1Pokhara – drive to Nayapul/Kimche, trek to Ghandruk (2,012 m)2,012 m
After breakfast you leave Pokhara on a scenic 1.5-hour drive (about 40 km) to the trailhead at Nayapul, or continue a little further to Kimche to shorten the climb. From here a well-made trail follows the Modi Khola valley, crossing suspension bridges and passing through Syauli Bazaar before climbing stone steps through forest and terraced fields to Ghandruk (2,012 m). Spend the afternoon exploring the largest Gurung village in the region, visiting the traditional Gurung museum and enjoying your first close-up views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre.
- Distance
- ~9 km trek
- Walking
- 4–5 hrs
- Meals
- Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 2Ghandruk to Landruk via Modi Khola (1,565 m)2,012 m
Wake early for a spectacular sunrise as the first light strikes Annapurna South and the fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre. After breakfast and a final wander through Ghandruk’s paved lanes, descend through forest and farmland to the Modi Khola river, then climb gently up the opposite hillside to the charming Gurung village of Landruk (1,565 m). The afternoon is yours to relax and soak in uninterrupted mountain views across the valley.
- Distance
- ~8 km trek
- Walking
- 4–5 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Landruk – trek to Phedi, drive to Pokhara1,565 m
On the final morning you trek out through terraced fields and small settlements, with one last gentle ascent before descending to the roadhead at Phedi. Your private vehicle is waiting to drive you back to Pokhara in around 1 to 1.5 hours, dropping you at your hotel by early afternoon with plenty of time to enjoy lakeside Pokhara.
- Distance
- ~6 km trek
- Walking
- 3–4 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast & Lunch
- Night
- –
The price includes
- All ground transport: Pokhara–Nayapul/Kimche and Phedi–Pokhara by private vehicle
- 2 nights tea house / lodge accommodation on the trek
- All meals on the trek (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Experienced, licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter service (1 porter per 2 trekkers) including their wages, meals, insurance and equipment
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
- TIMS card (Trekkers Information Management System)
- Guide and porter insurance, food and accommodation
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare and Nepal entry visa
- Accommodation and meals in Pokhara before and after the trek
- Travel and medical insurance (mandatory)
- Personal trekking gear and equipment
- Drinks, snacks, bottled water, hot showers and Wi-Fi at tea houses
- Tips for guide and porter
- Personal expenses and anything not listed under Included
The Ghandruk Village Trek is one of the most rewarding short treks in Nepal, perfect for beginners, families and travellers with only a few days to spare in Pokhara. In just three days you climb gentle stone-paved trails to Ghandruk (2,012 m), the large and beautiful Gurung village that sits on a hillside directly facing some of the most famous peaks in the Annapurna range.
From the village you wake to a panorama of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and the unmistakable fishtail summit of Machhapuchhre, all rising close enough to fill the sky. Ghandruk itself is a living cultural museum: slate-roofed stone houses, terraced fields, narrow paved lanes and a traditional Gurung museum that tells the story of this proud community and its famous Gurkha soldiers.
A perfect short Himalayan escape
This is an easy-to-moderate trek with no high passes and no altitude risk, so it suits first-time trekkers and children. You drive from Pokhara to the trailhead at Nayapul or Kimche, walk a few comfortable hours each day, and stay in warm, family-run tea houses with simple home-cooked meals. It is the ideal taste of Annapurna for anyone who cannot commit to a longer expedition.
Culture, mountains and easy access
Because the whole loop begins and ends within easy driving distance of Pokhara, the Ghandruk Village Trek packs an enormous amount of scenery and authentic mountain culture into a tight three-day window. Sunrise over the Annapurnas, the warmth of Gurung hospitality and gentle forest trails make it one of the best value short treks in the country.