- Length
- 8 days
- Highest point
- 4,100 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Best months
- Mar-May, Sep-Nov
- Starts
- Kathmandu (drive to Chautara, Sindhupalchowk)
- Group size
- 2-10 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House / Camp
An off-the-beaten-path pilgrimage trek to the five sacred high-altitude lakes of Panch Pokhari (4,100 m) in Sindhupalchowk, near the Jugal Himal and Langtang.
- Trek to the five sacred glacial lakes of Panch Pokhari at 4,100 m
- An authentic Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site, busiest during Janai Purnima
- One of central Nepal's quietest, least-crowded high-mountain trails
- Sweeping views of the Jugal Himal, Dorje Lhakpa and Langtang peaks
- Cultural encounters in Tamang, Gurung and Sherpa villages
- Easy road access from Kathmandu - no domestic flights needed
- Diverse landscapes from terraced farmland to high alpine pasture
- Mix of tea-house and supported tented camping experience
The climb, day by day
Day 1Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)1,400 m
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu. Meet your guide for a trek briefing, gear check and permit arrangements. Overnight in Kathmandu.
- Distance
- -
- Walking
- -
- Meals
- -
- Night
- Hotel
Day 2Drive to Chautara and trek to Okhareni (2,100 m)2,100 m
Drive about 5 hours along the Araniko Highway to Chautara, the headquarters of Sindhupalchowk. After lunch, begin trekking through Tamang and Gurung settlements, terraced fields and small streams to Okhareni. Overnight in a simple tea house.
- Distance
- 72 km drive + 3-4 hrs walk
- Walking
- 3-4 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Trek to Kami Kharka (2,810 m)2,810 m
Climb through pine and rhododendron forest, passing Sano and Thulo Okhareni, with steady ups and downs along forested ridges to reach the herders' grazing ground at Kami Kharka. Overnight at camp or basic lodge.
- Distance
- -
- Walking
- 5-6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 4Trek to Hile Bhanjyang (3,400 m)3,400 m
A demanding day of uphill and downhill walking through Pauwa Bas and high forest, gradually emerging into open country with first views of the white peaks of the Jugal Himal. Overnight at Hile Bhanjyang.
- Distance
- -
- Walking
- 5-6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 5Trek to Nasim Pati (3,700 m)3,700 m
Trek through alpine meadow and past Tango to Nasim Pati, a high pasture with a small shelter and shrine. This is the last overnight stop before the lakes; rest and acclimatise for the early ascent. Overnight in tented camp.
- Distance
- -
- Walking
- 4-5 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 6Trek to Panch Pokhari (4,100 m) and descend to Nasim Pati4,100 m
Set off early on a steep, rugged climb to the five sacred lakes of Panch Pokhari at around 4,100 m. Enjoy spectacular sunrise views over the Jugal Himal and Dorje Lhakpa, visit the Shiva shrines, then descend back to Nasim Pati for the night. Overnight in camp.
- Distance
- -
- Walking
- 6-7 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 7Descend to Tupi Danda / Dhap (2,320 m)2,320 m
A long descent through forest and terraced farmland, retracing high pasture down to the village of Tupi Danda near Dhap. Enjoy the warmer air and village life of lower Sindhupalchowk. Overnight in a tea house.
- Distance
- -
- Walking
- 6-7 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 8Drive back to Kathmandu (1,400 m)1,400 m
After breakfast, drive back to Kathmandu via Melamchi, arriving in Thamel by afternoon. Transfer to your hotel or onward to the airport. Trip ends.
- Distance
- -
- Walking
- 5-6 hrs drive
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Night
- -
The price includes
- All ground transport: Kathmandu-Chautara and return drive by private vehicle
- Langtang National Park permit and TIMS card
- Experienced licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter service (one porter per two trekkers)
- Tea-house and tented-camp accommodation during the trek
- All meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Two nights' hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Camping equipment, tents and full kitchen crew on high sections
- Guide and porter wages, insurance, food and lodging
- All government and local taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Travel and high-altitude rescue insurance (mandatory)
- Personal trekking gear and equipment
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
- Drinks, snacks, hot showers and charging on the trek
- Tips for guide, porter and crew
- Any expenses arising from early return or itinerary changes due to weather
The Panch Pokhari Trek leads to a cluster of five sacred glacial lakes set at roughly 4,100 metres in the remote Sindhupalchowk district, on the eastern fringe of the Langtang and Jugal Himal region. Long revered by Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims - thousands gather here each August during the Janai Purnima festival - Panch Pokhari remains one of central Nepal's quietest and most authentic high-mountain trails, far from the crowds of Everest and Annapurna.
Beginning with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Chautara, the route climbs steadily through Tamang and Sherpa villages, terraced farmland, rhododendron and pine forest, and high alpine pasture before reaching the lakes. From the ridges above Nasim Pati you'll take in sweeping panoramas of the Jugal Himal, Dorje Lhakpa, Madiya and the distant Langtang peaks. It's a demanding but deeply rewarding trek that rewards fit walkers with solitude, raw landscapes and a genuine sense of pilgrimage.
A sacred Himalayan pilgrimage
The five lakes are believed to have formed where Lord Shiva once rested, and the site is dotted with small shrines and a Shiva temple. Reaching them on foot, surrounded by prayer and silence, is the heart of this journey.
Off the beaten path
Because the trail sees few foreign trekkers, accommodation is a mix of simple community tea houses and tented camps in the higher sections. Coming well prepared, with an experienced local guide, makes all the difference on this rugged, rewarding route.