The 7 Days Ghandruk – Ghorepani Trek (Ghandrung trek) will lead you up to Poonhill, a hilltop that opens up before you a breathtaking panorama of the Himalayan ranges, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre and Dhaulagiri.
Ghandruk - Ghorepani trek is a short trek in Annapurna Region. Along the trek, you will pass through the villages, forest, waterfall, and enjoy the stunning views of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre and Dhaulagiri and many other unnamed peaks.
This 7 days Ghandruk - Ghorepani trek is suitable to the beginner and all different age groups of people. The best time for doing the trek will be in spring and autumn time.
After an early breakfast, embark on a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which takes about seven hours. Along the highway, enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains, hills, traditional villages, and rivers. Pokhara, a popular tourist destination, offers serene lakes, mysterious caves, and significant Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples. The stunning backdrop of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri adds to the beauty of the town. Stay overnight at a hotel in Pokhara.
After breakfast, drive from Pokhara to Phedi, the starting point of your trek. Begin your ascent through a forested trail leading to the Gurung village of Dhampus. The village provides magnificent views of the Annapurna ranges, Lamjung Himal, and Manaslu. The trail continues through lush forests, eventually reaching Pothana, where you will spend the night at a lodge.
The trek begins with a gradual ascent from Pothana to Deurali, followed by a descent to Bheri Kharka. From here, the trail becomes flat until you reach Landruk. A steep descent brings you to the Modi Khola River, after which the trail ascends to the large Gurung village of Ghandruk. Ghandruk offers breathtaking views of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). Stay overnight at a lodge.
Today’s trek takes you through beautiful Rhododendron forests and traditional Gurung villages. You’ll encounter stunning birdlife and cross small streams, with occasional stops at tea shops like Bherikharka for rest. The journey continues uphill through dense Rhododendron trees until you reach Tadapani. Overnight at a lodge.
Your trek today begins with a short descent to a stream, followed by a steady uphill climb through a Rhododendron forest. The trail passes Banthahiti, offering opportunities to rest at local tea houses. After crossing Gurung Hill, the trail descends through the forest to reach Ghorepani, where you’ll stay overnight at a lodge.
Start the day with an early morning hike to Poon Hill (3210m.), a one-hour trek offering stunning sunrise views over the Himalayan peaks. Poon Hill is a renowned viewpoint for both sunrise and sunset, with breathtaking panoramas of some of the tallest mountains in the range. After taking in the scenery, return to Ghorepani for breakfast, then begin your trek toward Ulleri. The trail descends through lush forests of rhododendron and oak, passing by the charming village of Banthati before reaching Ulleri after about four hours. From Ulleri, drive back to Pokhara, which takes approximately three hours. Spend the night at a hotel in Pokhara.
After breakfast, early morning drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu takes about seven hours. En route, you will enjoy the beautiful mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable gardens and locals getting engaged in their daily chores.
Most itineraries range from 4 to 6 days, depending on your starting point and pace. Some choose to begin from Nayapul and trek to Ghandruk, then onward to Ghorepani and Poon Hill, while others may start from Kimche or Tikhedhunga. Many trekkers also choose to end the loop back at Nayapul, making it a beautiful circular route.
The crown jewel is definitely the early morning hike to Poon Hill (3210m.), from where you get one of the most spectacular sunrise views over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Besides that, the cultural richness of Ghandruk, the natural charm of rhododendron forests in spring, and the friendly local hospitality make this trek unforgettable.
Yes! It’s often recommended as a starter trek for people new to trekking or traveling with children or elderly family members. The altitudes are moderate, the trails are well-marked and well-traveled, and you can customize the pace to suit your group. However, it still includes some steep stone staircases and long walking days, so basic fitness helps.
The trek passes through traditional Gurung and Magar villages where you can observe local lifestyles, visit monasteries, and see people in traditional dress. Ghandruk, in particular, has a Gurung Cultural Museum and beautifully kept stone-paved alleys. Most tea house owners are from these communities, and they often enjoy sharing their stories, food, and culture with trekkers.
The Ghandruk–Ghorepani Trek is considered moderate in difficulty. The trails are not technical, but some days involve long ascents and descents, particularly the climb to Ulleri (which includes hundreds of stone steps) and the hike up to Poon Hill. However, with a slow and steady pace, almost anyone with reasonable fitness can complete it.
The best seasons are:
Monsoon (June to August) is generally avoided due to slippery trails and leeches.
No. The highest point of the trek is Poon Hill at 3,210 meters, which is not high enough to pose a significant risk for altitude sickness. However, it’s still smart to pace yourself, drink water regularly, and take short breaks during steeper sections.
You will need:
Both can be arranged in Kathmandu or Pokhara before starting your trek.
Yes, this is one of the most guide-friendly and solo-trekker-friendly routes in Nepal. The trails are well-marked, and there are many villages along the way. However, hiring a local guide enhances your experience by providing cultural insight, language help, and safety support. You can also hire porters to lighten your load.
The Ghandruk–Ghorepani Trek offers a shorter, gentler alternative to the more strenuous and time-consuming treks like Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) or Everest Base Camp (EBC). It’s perfect for those who want a compact trekking experience with rich cultural interactions, beautiful forests, and incredible mountain views—all without going too high or spending two weeks on the trail. It’s affordable, accessible, and rewarding in every way.
Nepal Environmental Treks & Expedition ensures you to provide a well planned itinerary for Ghandruk–Ghorepani trek. An experienced and highly professional climbing guide will be assigned to each climbing member. All necessary logistics will be taken care from our side. However, we expect to maintain good health and physical condition as well as well good mental preparation from your side.
Below is a list of equipment and clothing required for trekking. The necessity of these items depends on the type, altitude, timing and destination of trekking. Appropriate trekking gears are not only required for the comfort/pleasure of your trek but also to improve safety factor. Please have a look over these items in order to fully prepare and thoroughly enjoy the trekking.
General Items:
Daypack, Rucksack, Sleeping bag, Duffel bag, Walking Poles, walking boots, sandals, Toiletries (Soaps, Toilet papers, Sanitizers, toothpaste, tooth brush, etc.)
Clothing Items:
Thermal underwear, Down jacket, Shorts, Trekking trousers, Towels, Woolen gloves, Gaiters, Fleece jacket or Pullover, Wind/water proof jacket, Raincoat, Warm socks
Sun-worn Items:
Sun hat, Sunglasses, Snow goggles, Sunscreen, Lip balm
Gadgets:
Headlamp, Flash light, Binoculars, Cameras (chargers and batteries)
Liquid/Snacks:
Water bottle/bladder, Water purification Iodine tablets, Energy bars and snacks
Medical Essentials:
First Aid Kit
Optional:
Altimeter, Compass, Binoculars, Books/magazines, GPS, Pocket knife, Candles (for lodges), Notebook with pencil/pen, etc
Additional items for camping trek:
Tent, Stove and fuel, Utensils for cooking, eating and drinking, sleeping mattresses
Note: We can also provide sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag, walking poles, and First Aid Kit in case if you don’t have one. These items are inclusive of total package price.
V.Gayathry, Off Jin Gaising, Pe Taling, Jaya
Leah Grace Victoria, Carly Rachael Grace
This is Carly + Leah from Australia. We just completed 3 days trek in the Annapurna region which was beautiful.
Rachel Milford, Glen Walker & Matthew Salisbury
We went on the extended Ghorepani-Ghandruk trek and had an amazing time. The guide (Hari Krishna) and porter ( Krishna ) were really excellent and made sure we are very well looked after!!!We were lucky with the weather and saw...
some mountains which took our breath away. We are extremely pleased with the Nepal Environmental Treks and Expedition agency for organizing such an enjoyable trip.
See less...
Laura and Raza
We did the Ghorepani-Poon Hill-Ghandruk trek with Hari as our guide and Dil as our porter.It was Extra ordinarily beautiful, especially Poon Hill and Ghandruk. But what really made it a wonderful trek was Hari-a humblingly kind and gentle man,...
incredibly thoughtful, patient with us when we were slow or late attentive to every need;knowledgeabl lively and interesting and clearly kind and respected
See less...Nepal , Short & Easy Trek 5 Days
Nepal , Annapurna Trek 8 Days