Trek guide
Treks near Pokhara
From a sunrise walk above the lake to ten days in the Annapurna Sanctuary. How long each takes, how high it goes, whether you need a permit, and when Meerkat guides are going next. Figures are rough, for planning.
Sarangkot
The ridge above Lakeside, and the classic Pokhara sunrise: the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre turning pink over the lake. Walk up before dawn or drive most of the way.
- Highest point
- about 1,600 m
- Time
- A morning
- Permit
- Not needed
World Peace Pagoda
A white stupa on the hill across Phewa Lake. Take a boat over and climb through the forest for a view back across the lake to the city and the mountains.
- Highest point
- about 1,100 m
- Time
- Half a day
- Permit
- Not needed
Australian Camp
A short walk from Kande to a meadow facing the Annapurna range, often done as an overnight. The gentlest way to sleep under the big mountains.
- Highest point
- about 2,060 m
- Time
- 1–2 days
- Permit
- ACAP permit
Ghorepani Poon Hill
Stone steps through rhododendron forest to Ghorepani, then a pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill for sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South.
- Highest point
- 3,210 m
- Time
- 3–5 days
- Permit
- ACAP permit
Mardi Himal
A quieter ridge walk that climbs right under Machhapuchhre's face, through forest and over open high pasture.
- Highest point
- about 4,500 m at base camp
- Time
- 4–6 days
- Permit
- ACAP permit
Annapurna Base Camp
Up the Modi Khola valley into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a bowl of 7,000 and 8,000 metre peaks. The big one from Pokhara.
- Highest point
- 4,130 m
- Time
- 7–12 days
- Permit
- ACAP permit
Good to know
Which treks near Pokhara need a permit?
Anything inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, which includes Australian Camp, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp, needs an ACAP permit. Sarangkot and the Peace Pagoda do not. Meerkat can file your ACAP permit with your guide.
Do I need a guide?
Since 2023, foreign trekkers in Nepal's conservation areas are expected to trek with a licensed guide. For short hikes near Pokhara you don't need one, but a local guide knows the paths, the weather and the teahouses.
When is the best season for trekking?
October to November and March to May are the clearest and most popular. Winter is cold higher up but often clear; the monsoon (June to September) brings rain, leeches and cloud, though the lower trails stay green and quiet.
How fit do I need to be?
Sarangkot and the Peace Pagoda suit anyone who can climb stairs for an hour or two. Poon Hill means several days of steep steps; Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp go above 4,000 m, where altitude matters more than fitness, so go slowly and listen to your guide.