Pokhara- the valley of lakes and the home to adventure and amusement for tourists.
Pokhara is a famous tourist destination because of its lakes, caves, and party scene. However, it is most popular for being the gateway to a plethora of amazing treks worldwide. So let’s say it is the base camp of the base camps you’ll be trekking at.
There is a line of best treks from Pokhara, from Annapurna Circuit, Mardi, Poonhill to the lesser-known Siklesh and Khopra Danda. Traveling to Pokhara opens the door to explore some of the best peaks in the world.
Every trek offers you stunning views of the mountains and the tranquility of the lakes and exotic hill settlements. Learning about the inhabitants’ culture is another icing on the cake.
You can do most treks without a porter and a guide; however, challenging and long treks like Annapurna Circuit should be done with a guide and a porter.
Keep reading to learn more about the best treks from Pokhara.
1. Best Treks from Pokhara: Sarangkot trek
Sarangkot is a lovely village located on the northern hill of Phewa Lake. It is renowned as a viewpoint and a take-off spot for paragliders.
Numerous colorful gliders float between Sarangkot hill and the lake. You can also watch the stunning sunrise or sunset from here.
The Sarangkot trek is a one-day tour that starts from the lakeside or the Baglung Bus Park. It takes three to five hours to reach the hilltop. It is the shortest and easiest trek in Pokhara that is fit for beginners too.
You will trek through villages, meet locals, and understand their culture. Sarangkot offers impressive panoramic views of the Annapurna range, Phewa Lake, the city, and green hills.
You can return on the same day or opt to stay a night. However, if you want more thrill, you can paraglide down to the lakeside.
2. Best Treks from Pokhara: Dhampus Village Trek
Dhampus village trek is one of the classic treks in Nepal that is fantastic for beginners. It is one of the best treks from Pokhara. You can add this trek following your Sarangkot trek as well.
Dhampus village, located in the northern face of Pokhara, is home to the Gurung community. Your trek will begin from Phedi, located 30 minutes away from the lakeside.
Dhampus village trek is a three-day trek that also takes you to the Australian Camp. The trek rewards you with mesmerizing views of the Annapurna ranges and Mount Machhapuchare, exotic landscapes, and unique Gurung culture.
You will be trekking through woods and villages to reach Dhampus.
3. Best Treks from Pokhara: Begnas and Rupa Lakes
There are other two beautiful lakes beside Phewa in the area. Just 45 minutes away from Pokhara lies Begnas and Rupa lakes. These lakes are quaint and quiet and offer many hiking options between their villages.
You can opt for one-day hikes or multiple-day treks. It has hilly trails that are not risky as they are located in lower altitudes. Besides, there are many good options for accommodation too.
One of the hikes I would recommend is to the Begnas kot temple. You will walk across Sundari Danda and traverse through beautiful Nepali villages. Your trek will end after you reach the Begnas kot temple.
This trek will surely be a peaceful experience for you.
4. Best Treks from Pokhara: Pachase trek
Panchase trek is a four-day trek that takes you to the lap of the Himalayas. It is located 28 kilometers from Pokhara and is renowned as one of Nepal’s most attractive trekking destinations.
You will have to go on a boat ride across the Phewa lake to initiate your trek. You will be hiking for 3-4 hours a day.
Panchase trek has offered historical, cultural, religious, and topographically diverse features. In addition, you will see a variety of endangered bird species and beautiful flora like orchids, magnolia, and rhododendron.
Another fantastic thing seen from the trek is the views of the Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Lamjung, Machhapuchhare, and Gangapurna.
It is an excellent trek for people of all ages wanting to push themselves to a limit while not exhausting themselves too much.
5. Best Treks from Pokhara: Royal Trek
The royal trek is another easy trek in the Annapurna region that got its name after Prince Charles of the United Kingdom walked the trails in the early 1980s. It is a three-to-four-day trek that shows the eloquent beauty of Nepal’s landscapes, villages, people, and culture.
You will also learn about the art, tradition, and everyday life of the Gurung people residing in that area.
Your trek will begin from Kalikasthan, a 25 km drive from Pokhara. The trails are uncrowded and best for beginners as well as older adults.
Even though you won’t have to climb high altitudes on this trek, you will still see magnificent views of the Annapurnas. The hike will end at Begnas lake.
6. Best Treks from Pokhara: Ghandruk Village Trek
Ghandruk village trek is a four-day trek that offers a maximum of four to five hours of walking every day, all with the best views of the Annapurnas.
Your trek will start from Nayapul, located a 1-hour drive from Pokhara. From there one, you will need to walk about 11 kilometers to reach Ghandruk.
The trails will take you to one of the most developed villages of the Kaski district: the Annapurna rural municipality. You will also traverse through other picturesque villages like Lumle and Chhomrong.
During the trek, you must check out the best honey hunting beehive located at the bottom of Ghandruk village.
Ghandruk village trek is rich in bio-diversity, Gurung culture, and scenic landscapes.
7. Best Treks from Pokhara: Ghorepani Poonhill trek
Ghorepani Poonhill trek is another famous teahouse trek in Pokhara loved by teenagers to old aged people alike. It is a 3 to 5-day trek that starts from Nayapul and takes you through the Ghandruk Village.
If you don’t want to walk all the way up, you can opt to drive to Ulleri and trek to Ghorepani all within a day.
You will reach a maximum elevation of 3,210 meters above sea level and see amazing views of some of the highest mountains of Nepal, like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchre.
You will also visit one of the most beautiful viewpoints to check out sunrise and sunset: Poonhill. Another best feature about this trek is interacting with the Gurung and Tamang people in their charming villages.
During your return, you can either descend from Ghandruk or Dhampus village.
8. Best Treks from Pokhara: Siklesh trek
Siklesh village is one of the largest Gurung settlements located northeast of Pokhara. It is also known as ‘Sat Saya Sikles’, which means “a village with 700 households”.
The Siklesh trek is a suitable trek for introductory trekkers. Its trails take you through the Annapurna Conservation Area’s corners and expose you to the varied landscapes from hills to lowlands, rhododendron forests, and beautiful villages.
If you love ecology, you are in luck. The area is rich in biodiversity, especially for bird and butterfly watching.
You will also traverse the mesmerizing Begnas Lake.
Besides, Siklesh has no problem considering electricity since it has a hydro plant of its own.
It is best to go to a Rodhi Ghar to watch singing and dancing programs.
9. Best Treks from Pokhara: Naudanda day trek
Naudanda is a village in the Kaski district known for having one of the best views of the mountains, such as Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchre, and the Phewa lake. It also has one of the most scenic trails in Pokhara that beginners can explore.
It can be walked by children as well. Another best thing about this trek is that it can be done in any season.
Your trek will begin after having breakfast at Pokhara’s lakeside. You will get an insight into the lifestyle and settlements in the rural side of Nepal.
On this trek, the highest elevation you’ll reach is 1600 meters above sea level.
10. Best Treks from Pokhara: Annapurna Circuit
If you’re an avid trekker and seek an ultimate thrill on your visit to Nepal, Annapurna Circuit is the trek for you. It is a popular trek that demands excellent physical fitness and agility as you will be walking for 15-20 days, depending on your itinerary.
You will trek through the Tibetan Plateau’s edge and the Thorung La Pass, which is situated at an altitude of 5400 meters. Here, the scenery is terrific; however, the climate changes dramatically, so you need to be very careful.
Completing the Annapurna Circuit will give you a mind-boggling experience that will forever be in your memory.
Interested in booking an Annapurna Circuit trek with us? Click here
11. Best Treks from Pokhara: Annapurna Base Camp trek
Annapurna Base Camp trek is a 7-8 day trek that takes you to the base camp of the 10th highest mountain in the world-Mount Annapurna.
This, one of the most classic trek routes in the Himalayas begins after driving from Pokhara to Nayapul. It is less challenging than the Annapurna Circuit; however, you still need to be physically and mentally fit to carry out this trek.
You will reach a maximum elevation of 4,130 meters (13,550 feet) in this trek. You will also see amazing views of Mount Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Annapurna III, Machhapuchhre, and Hiunchuli from here.
Besides the beautiful mountain views, the trails also offer lush green alpine forests and blooming rhododendrons along the way. You will also enjoy staying at teahouses in the region’s villages.
For your ease, here’s a complete guide to trekking in Annapurna Base Camp
12. Best Treks from Pokhara: Australian Base Camp
The Australian Base camp trek is a 1-2 day tour to add to your Dhampus village trek. The trails are steep but offer majestic views of the Himalayas and the villages.
Your trek will begin after an hour’s drive to Kande from Pokhara. The trails show an unobstructed view of the Annapurna and Manaslu range, Machhapuchre, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung, and more. You will also be walking through a jungle. Exciting right?
It is an easy trek to discover Nepal’s culture alongside its natural beauty.
13. Best Treks from Pokhara: Short Mardi Himal trek
Mardi Himal trek is a 5-day trek that starts from Kande. It is a short but intensive adventure in the Annapurna region that gets your heart racing.
It is a moderate-easy level trek; however, every trekker needs to have a good fitness level to do this trek. The best time to carry out the Short Mardi Himal trek is from March to May and mid-September to mid-December.
You will trek to Pothana/Deurali, located at 2,125 meters on your first day.
You’ll reach the highest elevation at the Mardi Base Camp (4,500 meters).
This trek is even better for landscape photographers as there are lots of scenic views worth photographing.
Interested in traveling to Nepal? You might also want to check out the best season to travel in this country
14. Best Treks from Pokhara: Khopra Danda trek
Khopra Danda is a newly opened trekking route in the Annapurna region that takes 5-7 days to complete. The trek starts from Pokhara Kade or Phedi.
This trek offers stunning views of Annapurna (I, II, IIII, and south), Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Lamjung Himal, Nilgiri, and Hiunchuli.
You will have the absolute best time at the Khopra Danda viewpoint, located at 3460 meters. You will also be going on a day hike to Khyaer lake, situated at 4,660 meters.
These are the 14 best treks from Pokhara that every trekker: avid and beginners, must go to once in their lifetime. Which one would you like to trek first?
Here are the other top 13 best treks in Nepal that you may want to check out
