Annapurna Foothills Trek
Overview
- Duration: 9 days / 8 nights
- Departures: Private, any date
- Group size: Private, from 1 traveller
- Accommodation: Comfortable 3–4★ hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and simple family-run teahouse lodges on the trek
- Country: Nepal
A moderate first trek in Nepal: a few days in Kathmandu, then a four-day walk from Pokhara through Gurung and Magar villages to Ghorepani and sunrise over the Annapurnas from Poon Hill.
This nine-day trip is for travellers who want a real taste of trekking in Nepal without going to high altitude. It suits active couples, friends and solo walkers who are reasonably fit, as well as families with teenagers who enjoy hiking.
You begin with two nights in Kathmandu to see the great stupas and old squares and to prepare your kit. From Pokhara, a lakeside town at the foot of the Annapurnas, you set out on a four-day loop on foot with a licensed guide and a porter. The trail climbs through terraced farmland and Magar villages to the ridge-top lodges of Ghorepani, rises before dawn to Poon Hill, then follows a forest ridge to Tadapani and the Gurung village of Ghandruk.
Nights on the trek are in simple teahouses, with all meals taken at the lodge. Before and after, you stay in comfortable hotels, and the day back in Kathmandu doubles as a spare day in case weather delays a flight.
A few honest notes. The climb from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani is steep and long, with thousands of stone steps, so good fitness matters more here than speed. Mountain views depend on clear weather, which is most reliable in autumn, and Poon Hill means a very early start. Trekking permits are needed in the Annapurna area; the rules change, and we arrange and confirm them when we book.
We can lengthen the trek, add a night in a village or include a few days in Chitwan after the walk. Tell us how you like to travel and we will plan the route around you.
Day-by-day itinerary
Your driver meets you at Kathmandu airport and takes you to your hotel. Rest after the flight, then take a gentle first walk through the narrow lanes of Thamel or Asan, where spice sellers, small shrines and courtyards sit side by side. In the evening, meet your trekking guide, who talks you through the route, checks your kit and answers your questions about the days ahead.
Overnight: Kathmandu
Spend a day with a local guide in the valley. Climb the stone steps to Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa watched over by painted eyes, then explore the palace courtyards and temples of Kathmandu Durbar Square. In the afternoon, join pilgrims walking clockwise around the great white dome of Boudhanath. Pick up any last trekking gear you need and pack your bag for the trail.
Overnight: Kathmandu · Meals: Breakfast
Take a short flight west to Pokhara, or travel about six to seven hours by road with stops along the river valleys. Pokhara lies at around 800 metres beside Phewa Lake, with the Annapurna range rising behind it when the sky is clear. Spend the afternoon at ease: hire a small rowing boat on the lake or stroll the lakeside path as the light fades.
Overnight: Pokhara · Meals: Breakfast
Drive about an hour and a half to the trailhead near Nayapul and begin walking with your guide and porter. The path follows the Bhurungdi Khola past terraced fields, water buffalo and small teahouses. After a few hours of fairly gentle walking, you reach Tikhedhunga, at around 1,500 metres, where you spend your first night in a simple family-run lodge beside the river.
Overnight: Tikhedhunga · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is the hardest day. A long stone staircase climbs steeply to the Magar village of Ulleri, then the trail continues more gently through forests of oak and rhododendron, which flower in spring. Expect about six to seven hours of walking. Ghorepani, at around 2,850 metres, is a cluster of lodges on a ridge with views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas.
Overnight: Ghorepani · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rise in the dark and climb for about an hour to Poon Hill, at around 3,200 metres, to watch the first light reach a long line of peaks, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Return for breakfast, then follow a forested ridge east past viewpoints and streams, before dropping to Tadapani. It is a long day, of about six hours on the trail.
Overnight: Tadapani · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Walk downhill for a couple of hours through forest to Ghandruk, a large Gurung village of stone houses and slate roofs facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Visit the small village museum, or simply sit in the sun with a cup of tea. After lunch, drive back to Pokhara, about three hours on mountain roads, for a hot shower and a well-earned rest.
Overnight: Pokhara · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Enjoy a slow morning by the lake, perhaps with a boat ride to the little temple on its island. Then return to Kathmandu by a short flight or about six to seven hours by road. This day also works as a spare day if weather has delayed anything. In the evening, celebrate the end of the trek with a farewell dinner of Nepali dishes in town.
Overnight: Kathmandu · Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, you have free time until your driver takes you to the airport for your flight home. If your flight leaves late, you could visit Patan, the old city of craftsmen just across the river, or browse the small shops for singing bowls, pashmina and handmade paper. End of your trip.
Overnight: — · Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
- Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast
- Teahouse lodges on the trek with breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Licensed English-speaking trekking guide and a porter for the trek
- Trekking permits for the Annapurna area (we arrange them; confirmed in your quote)
- Private airport and hotel transfers
- Private car and driver for road journeys and to and from the trailhead
- Domestic flights named in the itinerary, where you choose to fly
- Local guide for sightseeing in Kathmandu
- 24/7 support during your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance that covers trekking
- Meals not listed and drinks on the trek
- Tips for guides, porters and drivers
- Personal expenses and trekking gear
- Optional activities, such as paragliding in Pokhara
Good to know
Sample itinerary: we adapt the route, hotels and dates to you and confirm everything in your written quote. Best October–November and March–April.
You travel with a private car and driver. Kathmandu and Pokhara are linked by a short flight or about six to seven hours by road, and mountain flights depend on the weather. The trailhead is about an hour and a half from Pokhara by road, and the drive back from Ghandruk takes about three hours. On the trek, you walk, with a porter carrying your main bag.
Frequently asked questions
You should be a regular walker, comfortable with five to seven hours on your feet for several days in a row, including long flights of stone steps. No climbing skills are needed and the altitude stays moderate. Some training walks with hills before you travel will make the trek far more enjoyable.
The highest point is Poon Hill at around 3,200 metres, and you sleep no higher than about 2,850 metres. Some people feel mild effects such as headache or breathlessness, so your guide keeps a steady pace. Tell your guide at once if you feel unwell.
They are simple, family-run lodges with twin rooms, shared or basic private bathrooms and a warm dining room. Menus offer dal bhat, noodles, soups and eggs. Bring a sleeping bag or liner for the colder nights.
October and November usually give the clearest mountain views, and March and April bring flowering rhododendrons with some haze. Winter is possible but cold at Ghorepani, while the monsoon from June to September brings rain, leeches and cloud. See our Pokhara guide for more on the seasons.
