Trek Guide
Plan the easy 3-day Ghandruk Village Trek from Pokhara: Gurung culture, Annapurna views, ACAP & TIMS permits, 2026 costs, best season and itinerary.
By Travel Himalaya Nepal · Jun 14, 2026
The easiest classic Annapurna trek — just a short drive from Pokhara to the trailhead, then a few gentle hours to one of Nepal's most beautiful Gurung villages. Big mountains, low effort — wake to Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and the fishtail peak of…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Ghandruk (sometimes spelt Ghandung) is one of the largest and most prosperous Gurung villages in Nepal, perched on a hillside at around 2,012m roughly 32km north-west of Pokhara. It is famous for three things: its tidy stone architecture and flagstone paths…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The beauty of this trek is how little walking stands between you and the views. The standard plan runs over three days: Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to the trailhead at Nayapul or, to shorten the climb, up to Kimche (around 1.5–2 hours by jeep or bus). From…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
This is an easy trek — one of the few in Nepal we are happy to call genuinely beginner-friendly. There is no high pass, no extreme altitude and no need for prior trekking experience. That said, the Annapurna foothills are steep, and the path to Ghandruk is…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Ghandruk sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area but is not a restricted zone, so the paperwork is refreshingly simple. You need two things in 2026: ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): NPR 3,000 per foreign trekker (around US$23), issued by the…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Because Ghandruk stays under about 2,100m, it is one of the few Himalayan treks you can enjoy in almost any month. The two classic windows are autumn (October to November), when skies are crisp and the air is at its clearest, and spring (March to May), when…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Everything starts in Pokhara, a scenic 25-minute flight or a 6–7 hour drive from Kathmandu. From Pokhara, the trailhead is reached by road: a 1.5–2 hour drive to Nayapul on the valley floor, or a slightly longer rough jeep road climbing all the way up to…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
This is a teahouse trek through and through — no camping required. Ghandruk has some of the most comfortable mountain lodges in the Annapurna region, several with private rooms, hot showers, cosy dining halls warmed by a stove, and terraces angled straight at…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
You do not need expedition kit for Ghandruk, but the mountains make their own weather. Bring sturdy broken-in walking shoes or light boots, a warm fleece or down layer for the chilly mornings and evenings, a waterproof shell, sun hat and high-factor…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Ghandruk is ideal for beginners, families with children, older travellers, photographers and anyone with only a few days to spare who still wants a real Himalayan experience. The natural question is how it compares to its famous neighbour, the Ghorepani Poon…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
At roughly 2,012m, Ghandruk is low enough that altitude sickness is essentially not a concern — you are well below the 2,500m threshold where symptoms typically begin. This is one of the trek's greatest advantages and a big reason we suggest it for children…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Plan your trek
NMA-certified guides · permits sorted · 5,000+ treks since 1998.
Free guide
Permits, costs, seasons and routes — the essentials we send every traveller, plus a free, no-obligation trip quote.
↑ Swipe up
Read the full report and grab the free Nepal Trek Insider Guide — or ask our Pokhara team for a tailored, no-obligation quote.
Read more & get the free guide Plan my trip — free quote