Destinations

There are a number of options for short treks in the foothills to the north of Pokhara. Most of these variations will visit Ghandrung and Ghorepani. The former is a large, traditional Gurung village while Ghorepani is the settlement below the famed vantage point of Poon hill, one of the best spots from which to view the central Nepal Himalaya range.

The various itineraries are all relatively easy and none reach high enough elevations for AMS to be an issue. Generally between five and six trekking days are sufficient for any of the itinerary option. All enter the ACAP area so an entry permit is required. The permit should be obtained either in Kathmandu or Pokhara prior to starting the trek. Teahouses are plentiful through the foothills but there are a couple of alternative routes that will require the trekker to be self-sufficient if these trails are chosen.
The most commonly trekked of the foothill itineraries starts and ends at Naya Pul on the Baglung highway(not to be confused with the Naya Pul on the Modi Khola beyond Landrung).traveling by bus or taxi, the journey to Naya Pul takes around one to two hours. Cross the Modi khola at Naya Pul and trek through Birethanti to Syauli Bazaar following the river through cultivated fields and small villages. At Syauli Bazaar the trial climbs steeply to the large Gurung village of Ghandrung (pronounced Ghandruk by the locals). Here there is wide selection of teahouses and community operates craft and cultural displays. An extra day spent at Ghandrung experiencing the traditional Gurung way of life is well worthwhile.

From Ghandrung the main trial passes through Tadapani to the pass at Ghorepani. Above the hill is Phoon hill, a climb of around three hundred meters. The reward for making the climb at dawn or dusk is one of the best mountain panoramas in Nepal. The view takes in Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and, in the distance, the Manaslu range.

From Ghorepani there are three choices. The most commonly taken route drops down the villages of Ulleri and Turkedhunga to Birethanti, the original starting point of the trek. There is a steep trial and can be quite crowded during the peak seasons. It passes through sense stands of oak and rhododendron until Ulleri is reached after which the landscape is mostly cultivated fields.

Another option is to continue on from Ghorepani and descend to the kali Gandaki at Tatopani (see Annapurna circuit trek description). After a night at Tatopani the river can be followed down to Beni from where buses to Pokhara are available.

The third possibility is to trek along the ridge that starts at Phoon hill. There is little in the way of permanent settlement until the high point of the ridge at Bhuka is reached. Just below the hill is Gurung village of Langdi while a couple of hours further down the ridge are Tangle, another Gurung settlement. From here it is only a short distance back to the main trial at Birethanti and Naya Pul. This ridge walk is quite isolated and no teahouse accommodation is available making self-sufficiency essential. It has the advantage of being well off the normal tourist route and allows for an insight into local culture that is harder to find on the main trial.

»	Annapurna Information	»	Siklish Trek
»	Annapurna Circuit Trekking	»	Lamjung Trek
»	Annapurna Sanctuary Trek	»	Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
»	Annapurna Foothills Trek	»	Upper Mustang
»	Jomsom & Muktinath Trek	»	Pokhara Short Trek

• Annapurna Region Trek
• Everest Region Trek
• Langtang Region Trek

• Annapurna Base Camp Trek
• Round Annapurna Trek
• Ghorepani Poonhill Trek
• Gandruk Village Trek
• Kaligandaki Muktinath Trek
• Annapurna Base Camp & Muktinath Trek
• Everest Base Camp Kalapather Trek
• Jiri Everest Base Camp Kalapather Trek
• Everest Base Camp Gokyo Trek
• Gokyo Chola Pass EBC Trek
• Gokyo Trek
• Langtang Valley Trek
• Langtang Helambu Trek
• Langtang Gosaikunda Trek

• Round Dhaulagiri Trekking - 22 Days
• Mustang Lo-manthang Trek - 19 Days
• Arun Valley Trekking - 17 Days
• Pike Dudhkunda Taksindu - 16 Days
• Kanchenjunga Trekking - 24 Days
• Makalu Base Camp Trekking - 13 Days
• Limi Valley Simikot Hilsa Simikot Trek
• Renjo Pass Trekking - 13 Days
• Round Manaslu Trekking - 20 Days
• Dhorpatan Jaljala Pass Trek - 16 Days

• Mera Peak Climbing - 20 Days
• Island Peak Climbing - 19 Days
• Pisang Peak Climbing - 23 Days
• Lobuche Peak Climbing - 25 Days
• Yala Peak Climbing - 16 Days