Ghandruk Trek
- Trip Code: N-AT-122
- Destination: Nepal
- Season: From Sept to Dec & Feb to May
- Max Altitude: 1940 meters/ 6360 feet
- Trip Starts/Ends: Kathmandu/Kathmandu
- Transportation: Private Car and Tourist Coach.
- Accomodation: Standard hotel in Kathmandu & Pokhara & Tea-house in Trekking
- Trip Grade: Easy
Trip Overview
Ghandruk Trek is an easy and short hiking trip to Annapurna Conservation Area of Nepal. This hiking grants to experience the integrity of rural lifestyle and pristine nature of Annapurna region. The major highlight of this trekking is Ghandruk village. Ghandruk is the second largest settlement Gurung people, one of the indigenous groups in Nepal. In this village, about 270 Gurung families are staying in a charming cluster of slate-roofed houses surrounded by neatly terraced fields.
Located at an altitude of 1940 meters/6360 feet above sea level this beautiful hamlet is framed by superb mountain views of Mount Annapurna South (7219 meters/ 23684 feet), Mount Machhapuchhre/ Fishtail (6993 meters/22943 feet) and Mount Hiunchuli (6441 meters/ 21132 feet).
To join this trekking from Kathmandu you drive or fly to Pokhara, the beautiful town in western Nepal famous as the city of Lakes. After night halt in Pokhara, you take 35 minutes of drive to reach Phedi i. From Phedi, you begin trekking with following the trail to Dhampus ridge. In the route, you pass through rhododendron and orchid hang forest. Leaving Dhampus the trail climbs to Pothana then after short down and up it reaches Tolka. After night stopover at Tolka the trail downhill to Landruk, a prosperous Gurung village likes Ghandruk.
After crossing Modi Khola over suspension bridge you climb gently to Ghandruk village. In Ghandruk it’s worthwhile to visit Gurung Traditional Museum, Buddhist Monasteries, and visitor center of Annapurna Conservation Area Project. From Ghandruk it’s all the way downhill walking to Modi Khola at Syauli Bazaar. Then you follow the river valley through birch forest and rice terraces to Birethanti followed by Nayapul. You end you hiking at Nayapul and drive to Pokhara. From Pokhara, you back to Kathmandu.
Ghandruk trek suits for every age group people. This is also one of the best trekking trails for family trekking in Nepal.
About Trip Date of Ghandruk Trek
The best time of Ghandruk Trek is from Mid Sept to Mid Dec and from Mid Feb to end of May. During this period daytime is sunny and warm with outstanding views. Trekking to Ghandruk in winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) is also possible but temperature during winter could be too cold. Ghandruk Trek in the summer season (June, July, Aug) will be affected by rain/monsoon.
The trip departure date of Ghandruk Trek will be on any date which you feel comfortable.
About Optional Activities for Ghandruk Trek
Ghandruk Trek is an outstanding short trekking holiday in Annapurna region of Nepal. You can make it further exciting by joining in extra activities/ side trips. As the interest of people is different from each other, we have put these extra activities as optional tours. They are not included in your package cost of Ghandruk Trek. On your request, we offer you. The list of optional activities is displayed in right column.
For any further information and queries about Ghandruk Trekking, please feel free to contact us.
Itinerary
Our tour officer will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu. He/She will be displaying play card with your name written in it outside the airport terminal. He will meet, greet and welcome you with auspicious garland and escort you to your respective hotel by our private tourist vehicle. At the hotel, he will assist you to check in and do a pre-trip meeting with you. You will be briefed about your overall program, introduced your guide and clear your questions/queries if any. During the meeting please clear the due balance and handover a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. Overnight at hotel.
Our trekking guide will pick you up at the hotel at 6:15 am and escort you to the bus station. The bus to Pokhara leaves at around 7:00 am. This is 7 hrs scenic drives through mountain terrain. On the way, the bus stops for half an hour for lunch. Then drive continues till you reach Pokhara. Pokhara is a beautiful valley and gateway to Annapurna Trekking. Evening you enjoy strolling around Lakeside street market. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, you will take a short drive to Phedi. From Phedi, you start trek climbing of steep with cross over the dirt road. After forty-five minutes the trail becomes less steep and follows stone staircase to a small temple. Soon after, you arrive at Dhampus on top of the ridge at 1700m. From Dhampus the trail climbs to Phothana (1990m) passing through a rhododendron forest. You can get an excellent view of Machhapuchare/ Mt. Fishtail (6997m) from Pothana but it looks like Matterhorn than a fish tail. Leaving Pothana the trail takes a couple of right branches and climbs through forests to a pass with views of Mardi Khola far below before descending to Deorali (2150m). From here you can see fine views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli to the north and Pokhara and Fewa Lake to the southeast. Then the trail descends to Bheri Kharka. After the descent, you come to cross a stream and climb gently to Tolka. Overnight at a mountain lodge.
The day starts following the trail that downhill to Landruk. Landruk is a large & prosperous Gurung village which is beautifully set against the backdrop of Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Machhapuchhre (6993m). From this village, the trail drops down on a stone staircase to the Modi Khola at 1315m. After crossing this stream on a suspension bridge with a view of wild honey bee hives on the rocky cliff you climb up a staircase to a tiny settlement of Yumle. Leaving Yumle you continue climbing and soon after you arrive at Ghandruk. Ghandruk is the second largest Gurung settlement of Nepal with a charming cluster of slate roofed houses surrounded by terraced fields and framed by outstanding views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. Here it’s worthwhile to visit Gurung Traditional Museum, Buddhist Monasteries, and ACAP visitor center. Overnight at a mountain lodge.
Leaving Ghandruk you descend to a stream and water driven mill. After short walks, you find trail junction. You follow the path to Birethanti dropping at first on a staircase, then passing through high above the river on a stone paved trail. After crossing a stream at Chane you continue to Kimche (1640m). Then you follow the ridge downhill to join the Modi Khola at Syauli Bazaar (1140m). From here the walking is flat. The path follows the river valley through a birch forest and rice terraces. Soon after you reach at Birethanti (1000m) and from it’s a 30 minutes’ walk to Nayapul. From Nayapul you take a 1-hour drive to Pokhara. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, you walk to tourist bus station with trekking guide. The bus leaves Pokhara at 7 A.M. You will reach Kathmandu around 2 pm. The rest of the day at leisure/ you can do some last minute souvenirs shopping for your family and friends. Evening you will be offered farewell dinner with Nepali cuisines and cultural dances at typical Nepali Restaurant. Overnight at hotel.
The trip concludes today. Our tour officer will drop you at Kathmandu International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.
Price
| USD 525 Per Person | For Group Size of Two People |
| USD 495 Per Person | For Group Size of Three to Five People |
| USD 465 Per Person | For Group Size of Six to Eight People |
| USD 435 Per Person | For Group Size of Nine to Twelve People |
| USD 405 Per Person | For Group Size of Thirteen to Sixteen People |
| USD 625 Per Person | For Group Size of Two People |
| USD 595 Per Person | For Group Size of Three to Five People |
| USD 565 Per Person | For Group Size of Six to Eight People |
| USD 535 Per Person | For Group Size of Nine to Twelve People |
| USD 505 Per Person | For Group Size of Thirteen to Sixteen People |
| USD 675 Per Person | For Group Size of Two People |
| USD 645 Per Person | For Group Size of Three to Five People |
| USD 615 Per Person | For Group Size of Six to Eight People |
| USD 585 Per Person | For Group Size of Nine to Twelve People |
| USD 555 Per Person | For Group Size of Thirteen to Sixteen People |
Travel Tips
The best season and most favored time of Ghandruk Trek are autumn (From mid-September till mid-December) and spring (From a beginning of March until mid-May). During this period day time is sunny and warm with outstanding views. At this time the temperature in the day is between 10 C to 30 C. The nights are often cold with a temperature between 5 C to 0 C. In winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) Ghandruk Loop trekking is also possible but temperature during winter could be harsh for most people. Trekking in the summer season (June, July, Aug) will be affected by rain/monsoon but the Summer trek could be an advantage for a keen botanist.
All foreign nationals except Indian Nationals are required to arrange a visa in order to enter Nepal. A Nepalese Visa can be obtained either prior to your arrival at a Nepalese embassy abroad or on arrival time in Kathmandu at the airport. But nationals from Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Ghana, Somalia, Swaziland, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Liberia cannot secure the Nepalese Visa upon arrival. The Visa can be also taken at entry points at Nepalese borders. For Nepalese Visa it requires your passport with at least six months validity, recent digital photo (size: 1.5″ x 1.5″) and the following fees either in USD dollars cash or the equivalent local currency:
| Visa Facility | Duration | Fee |
| Multiple entry | 15 days | US$ 25 or equivalent Nepalese currency |
| Multiple entry | 30 days | US$ 40 or equivalent Nepalese currency |
| Multiple entry | 90 days | US$ 100 or equivalent Nepalese currency |
We would offer you the meeting and greeting service in Kathmandu International Airport on your arrival time. For this, you need to pass us your International flight details at least 2 days before your arrival date in Kathmandu. After you get down from the aircraft you just pass on the Customs and come out of the Terminal building where you will see our tour officer standing with a playcard with your name written on it. He will greet and welcome you with auspicious garland and escort you to the hotel.
Ghandruk trekking does not require tremendous logistics in terms of accommodation as you will find plenty of clean and friendly lodges along the trail. Lodges typically offer a room with a wooden bed with a simple mattress or foam pad, a cotton pillow, and a blanket or quilt. They have electric lights and all have a spacious dining room-lounge. We will accommodate you and your group in local lodge available each day. In the case of Kathmandu and Pokhara, we offer you tourist standard hotel under 3-star categories unless it is mentioned otherwise or clients have a special choice.
In the trail of Ghandruk trekking, it’s commonly available for Authentic Nepali meal: Dal Bhat (rice with lentils soup and seasonable vegetables), noodles, pasta, chapatis, eggs, French fries, porridge, and muesli. The restaurant of lodges also serves Tibetan foods like momo, thukpa, chowmein, along with pizza, spring rolls, pancake and another continental as well as Indian foods.
Tea and hot lemon are traditionally the main drinks on the trail though coffee is found everywhere. Bottled soft drinks, bottled water, and even beer are common along the route but the price of each bottle rises each day when you move upward.
The trekking team who will go with you is the most significant thing that makes your Ghandruk trekking successful, enjoyable and memorable. We would provide you skilled, experienced, courteous, knowledgeable and helpful trekking guide and porters. The trekking guide leads you on the trail and brief you all the about this route and porters carry your luggage. Our all trekking guides are carefully selected in terms of their appropriate experience, leadership skills and their knowledge about local culture, ecosystem, geography, flora and fauna, and history. With aim of sustaining local communities, we only employ local people as trekking guide and porter. Our all trekking guides are certified by Nepal Government, Ministry of Tourism. We manage trekking team such a way that one trekking guide in each group and porters like one porter for two trekkers.
During the trek, your main luggage will be carried by porters or pack animals (usually yaks or cross-breeds). You simply carry a day pack with water bottle, camera, sunscreen, spare jacket, etc. – a small load that allows full enjoyment of the trek. A trek bag is ideal for your main luggage, plus a small lockable bag for travel clothes or anything that you do not need during trek which you can leave at hotel’s locker room in Kathmandu for free of charge.
Every morning, first of all, packing your bags and then have a hearty breakfast at the lodge restaurant. Then set off on the day’s walk. After walking for 3-4 hours you all stop for lunch in local restaurant. Then continue walking to your destination. After lunch, it’s the only couple of hours walking. You usually arrive at your destination in the time of afternoon tea. Check in at the lodge. The rest of the day is at leisure. At the free time, you may explore surrounding village, do a bit of washing or simply relax by reading books and writing a diary. On some days you will arrive at your destination by lunch time and entire afternoon will be free. Most people also spend free time by playing cards and other games reliving the day’s adventures. Then in the evening have a dinner and you will be briefed by your trekking guide about your next day’s walking and then go to your bed for well-earned sleep.
Ghandruk Trekking is an easy trek suitable for any passionate walkers who able to walk 4 to 5 hours a day with a light day pack. Walking in higher altitudes is more physically demanding than walking in lower altitudes; however, if you are in excellent health with average physical fitness and have a positive attitude, self-confidence and strong determination, you can do this trek successfully. Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to enhance your strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no compulsorily required for this trip. It is vital for participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases to consult their doctor before taking the trip.
The itinerary for each trip should be taken as a guideline only. Depending on the situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your guide. However, the date of trip ending should always coincide with the original itinerary.
Kindly keep in mind that sometimes unforeseen events may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original.
Naturally the route of Ghandruk Trekking (Annapurna Region) is so beautiful but equally, it is fragile as well. Increasing population density and numbers of trekkers threaten the very beauty of this area. We at Silver Himalaya Adventures are extremely conscious about protecting its beautiful natural environment and preserving the fascinating local culture. We are doing our level best to minimize our impact as much as possible. Our all trekking guides and porters are well trained and motivated to following guidelines of responsible tourism and eco-friendly tourism. In trekking, they also advise you do’s and don’ts to minimize your impact on the local environment.
In addition to your Trekking trip, you can join in various side Trips in Nepal like a cultural tour of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Jungle Safari in National Park, White Water Rafting in Himalayan Rivers, Golfing, Adventure activities like Bungee Jumping, Altra Light Flight, Paragliding, Jeep flyer etc. You also can extend your trip to neighboring Himalayan Countries: Bhutan, Tibet, Sikkim (India) which seems more appealing to you. On your request, we will give you the detail of the side trips.
Trip Reviews
I and my three friends just finished a fantastic trekking to Ghandruk. It’s a short trekking but a great walk if you are interested in village life and want to see a good view of Annapurna mountain range. The trip was perfectly organized by Suman, the team leader of Excellent Himalaya Trek and Expedition. Dawa guide is very knowledgeable, fun and helpful. Two other porters including Badri and Sekhar are very friendly, kind and always willing to help with a smile on their face. We had the great moments and enjoyed this trip very much. Thank you, Suman and your all team.
Syamim, Hairie, Felicia, Eunice
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