Annapurna Foothills Short Trek
Three nights in mountain lodges, from Pokhara
- 6 days
- Easy
- From $2,600
- Duration
- 6 days
- Walking grade
- Easy
- Highest point
- 1,940 m
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu
For travellers with a week who want real mountain walking and a warm room every night.
- Three nights in en-suite mountain lodges
- Machapuchare from Dhampus at sunrise
- The Gurung village of Ghandruk
- Six days from Kathmandu and back
This is the shortest of our treks: three nights in the best mountain lodges of the Annapurna foothills, with Machapuchare and Annapurna South above you, in six days from Kathmandu.
You fly to Pokhara and walk a gentle loop through the Gurung villages of Dhampus, Landruk and Ghandruk. The trails are stone staircases between terraced fields and through rhododendron forest, and the walking days are three to four hours, so the afternoons are free in the villages. Each night is in a lodge with en-suite rooms and good food, and you finish with a night by the lake in Pokhara.
It suits travellers with a week in Nepal, families with children from eight, and anyone who wants their first Himalayan walk without altitude: the highest night is below 2,000 metres. It is also an easy way to add a few days of walking to a tour.
If you have two more days, our Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek adds sunrise from Poon Hill and the forest to Ghorepani.
Annapurna Foothills Short Trek: the route
5 places · starts and ends in Kathmandu
Your journey at a glance
Choose a day
Highest night 1,940 m at Ghandruk
Way upWay backPositions are approximate; peaks are shown for orientation.
Annapurna Foothills Short Trek, day by day
-
Day 1 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Arrival 1,400 m
Your host meets you at arrivals and drives you to your heritage hotel in Kathmandu. In the evening your guide joins you to go through the walk, check your gear and answer questions over dinner.
- Getting there
- Arrival
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 Dhampus Mountain lodge 2 h · 4 km 1,650 m
A short morning flight takes you to Pokhara, with the Annapurnas outside the window on a clear day. From Phedi, a drive of about forty-five minutes, you climb stone steps between terraced fields to Dhampus, a Gurung village on a ridge. You arrive for a late lunch at a mountain lodge with en-suite rooms, and the evening light falls on Machapuchare and Annapurna South.
- Walking
- About 2 h, 4 km
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min, drive 45 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,650 m (+250 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 Landruk Mountain lodge 4 h · 8 km 1,565 m
Through oak and rhododendron forest to Australian Camp, a grassy ridge with one of the widest views of the range, then down through Pothana and Deurali to Landruk, a village of slate roofs above the Modi Khola. It is about four hours of easy walking, and your lodge has a garden facing Annapurna South.
- Walking
- About 4 h, 8 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,565 m (−85 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 Ghandruk Mountain lodge 4 h · 7 km 1,940 m
A steep descent to the river, a suspension bridge, and a long stone staircase up the other side to Ghandruk, one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal. You arrive by early afternoon, with time to visit the small museum and walk the lanes between houses of stone and slate. The lodge looks straight across to Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.
- Walking
- About 4 h, 7 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,940 m (+375 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 Pokhara Luxury hotel 3 h · 6 km 820 m
An early start for the light on the mountains, then a gentle walk down through terraced fields to the road at Kimche or Syauli Bazaar, and a drive of about two hours back to Pokhara. The afternoon is free by Phewa Lake, and your hotel is on the shore or the hill above it.
- Walking
- About 3 h, 6 km
- Getting there
- Drive 2 h
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m (−1,120 m)
- Where you stay
- Luxury lakeside or hillside hotel in Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 Departure Flight 25 min
A short morning flight back to Kathmandu, timed around your onward flight. If you have time, your guide can take you to Boudhanath or Patan before the airport.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Meals
- Breakfast
Walking times are typical at an unhurried pace and include rests; your guide adjusts each day to the group and the weather.
Is this journey for you?
- Walking
- Two to four hours a day on good paths, staying below 2,000 metres.
- Fitness
- Comfortable walking a few hours on consecutive days.
- Altitude
- You sleep as high as 1,940 m. Altitude is not a concern on this route.
- Terrain
- Stone staircases between terraced fields and through forest, three to four hours a day, all below 2,000 metres.
The practical details
Where you stay
Named lodges or similar, confirmed in your proposal.
- 2 nights
Luxury hotel
Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
Kathmandu · Pokhara
- 3 nights
Mountain lodge
Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
Dhampus · Landruk · Ghandruk
Best time for the Annapurna Foothills Short Trek
- JanJanuary: Good. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- FebFebruary: Good. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- MarMarch: Best. Spring begins: clear mornings, rhododendrons in bloom lower down.
- AprApril: Best. Peak spring season: warm days, flowers, busier trails.
- MayMay: Good. Warmer and hazier, with afternoon cloud as the monsoon nears.
- JunJune: Not recommended. Monsoon: rain most afternoons, leeches low down, mountains often hidden.
- JulJuly: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- AugAugust: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- SepSeptember: Good. Monsoon clears late in the month; lush valleys, some cloud.
- OctOctober: Best. Peak autumn season: clear views, festivals, busier trails.
- NovNovember: Best. Clear, stable and cooler; quieter after mid-month.
- DecDecember: Best. Cold, clear and quiet; short days at altitude.
Seasons for this journey: Autumn, Winter, Spring. Choose a month for what to expect.
Comparing prices for the Annapurna Foothills Short Trek?
Cheaper treks are usually group departures. Ask any operator:
- Is the guide yours alone?
- Yes. Only your own party travels together, never a group departure.
- How many guides and porters?
- A senior guide and a porter for every two guests.
- Are altitude checks written down?
- Twice a day above 3,000 m, with bottled oxygen on every high route.
- What if someone needs evacuating?
- A standing helicopter agreement, and insurance confirmed before you travel.
Included
- Himkora Host, plus a senior guide and a porter for every two guests
- All hotels and lodges as described
- All meals, including dinners in the cities
- Kathmandu–Pokhara flights
- Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area permit
- Porters, private vehicles and every transfer
- Down jacket, sleeping bag and a Himkora duffel on loan
- Treated drinking water every day on the trail
- Twice-daily oxygen and pulse checks, and a full first-aid kit
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu as described
- The Himkora Care Standard, in full
Not included
6 items
- International flights
- Nepal visa (US$50 on arrival for 30 days)
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover (required)
- Gratuities and drinks
- Wi-Fi, charging and hot showers where lodges charge for them
- Extra nights or helicopters caused by weather delays (often covered by insurance)
Before you go
Permits we arrange for you
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card
We need a scan of your passport photo page and one passport photo about six weeks before travel. Permit fees are included in your price.
Visa and insurance
- Most nationalities get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or online in advance. Check the Department of Immigration before you travel.
- Travel insurance is required. It must cover trekking to the altitudes on your route and helicopter evacuation; we check your policy before departure.
How we manage altitude
- Above 3,000 m, sleeping altitude rises by about 500 m a night (never more than 700 m, and then next to a rest day), with acclimatisation days built in.
- Your guide checks blood oxygen and pulse twice a day and carries a full medical kit.
- Guides always have the authority to descend, and we hold a standing helicopter-evacuation agreement in Kathmandu.
Getting ready
- Walking grade: Easy. We send a training plan with your proposal.
- Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about altitude medication and vaccinations at least six weeks before you travel.
- We send a health questionnaire before booking and talk it through with you.
Mountain flights
- Your itinerary ends with a night in Kathmandu. If delays run on, we can arrange a helicopter (at cost).
- Domestic baggage is usually limited to about 15 kg including your cabin bag; extra can stay at your Kathmandu hotel.
Weather
- Days are usually bright and mild in season; nights are cool in the hills.
- Afternoon cloud is normal; mornings bring the clearest views.
We provide
- A Himkora duffel for your porter to carry (up to 12 kg per guest)
- Down jacket and sleeping bag rated to −20°C, on loan
- Water purification, first-aid and the Care Standard kit
You bring
- Broken-in walking boots and four pairs of trekking socks
- Layers: base layers, fleece, waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Warm hat, sun hat, gloves, sunglasses (category 3 or 4) and sunscreen
- Daypack (25–30 litres), refillable bottles, headtorch
- Personal medicines, and a copy of your insurance policy
A full packing list comes with your proposal.
Money
- Your journey is paid in advance, so you only need cash for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Nepali rupees are best on the trail; there are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara.
Connectivity and tipping
- Most lodges have Wi-Fi, often slow and sometimes paid; mobile data works in many villages. Your guide carries a satellite messenger.
- Gratuities are not included and are always your choice. We send guidance for guides, porters and drivers with your pre-departure notes.
Combine it with
All journeys
Everest Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Kathmandu up the Khumbu at dawn, a landing where the rules allow, and breakfast facing Everest. Back by noon.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Pokhara up the Modi Khola gorge to Annapurna Base Camp, with time on the ground inside the Sanctuary. Back for a late breakfast.
Kathmandu Valley in Three Days
Patan, Bhaktapur, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath with a local historian, two nights in a heritage hotel and dinner at a family table.
Questions guests ask
More answers on our questions page, or write to hello@himkora.com.
How much does the Annapurna Foothills Short Trek cost?
From $2,600 per person, for two travelling privately, $2,450 per person for four and $4,050 if you travel alone. The price includes guiding, porters, accommodation, meals and permits as listed. Your proposal gives one clear price for your dates.
How many days is the Annapurna Foothills Short Trek?
6 days as we have planned it, from your arrival in Nepal to your departure. Because it is private, we can add rest days or extra nights, or shorten it if you have less time.
How difficult is the Annapurna Foothills Short Trek?
We grade it easy. Two to four hours a day on good paths, staying below 2,000 metres. Comfortable walking a few hours on consecutive days.
How high does the Annapurna Foothills Short Trek go?
The highest point is 1,940 m, and the highest night is at 1,940 m.
When is the best time for the Annapurna Foothills Short Trek?
The best months are March, April, October, November and December. See the month-by-month guide above for the rest of the year.
Which permits do I need for the Annapurna Foothills Short Trek?
You will need: Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card. We arrange all of them for you and include the fees in your price.
Is every journey private?
Yes. You travel only with the people you choose, on your dates. Your guide, porters and vehicles are yours alone, and the route can be adjusted before or during the journey.
What is included in the price?
Your Himkora Host and senior guide, porters, every hotel and lodge named in the itinerary, meals as listed, domestic flights, permits, park fees and private transfers. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How do deposits and payment work?
A 30% deposit confirms your journey, and the balance is due 90 days before travel. Your proposal sets out the full price and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Our full booking terms are on the Booking terms page.
How fit do I need to be?
Each journey has a walking grade, explained on its page. Before you book, we send a short health questionnaire and talk through your walking history. If a route isn't right, we will say so and suggest one that is.
How do you manage altitude?
Above 3,000 metres our itineraries raise sleeping altitude by about 500 metres a night, never more than 700 metres and then only next to a rest day, with acclimatisation days built in. Guides check blood oxygen and pulse twice a day, carry bottled oxygen on high routes, and always have the authority to turn back.
Do I need special travel insurance?
Yes. Your policy must cover trekking to the highest altitude on your route (up to 6,000 metres on our high journeys), emergency medical treatment, helicopter rescue and repatriation. We check it before you travel.
What if flights to Lukla are delayed?
Mountain flights depend on the weather, and in busy months they may leave from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. Every Everest itinerary keeps a spare day in Kathmandu after the Lukla flight, so a weather delay doesn't cost you any of the trek. If delays run on longer, a helicopter can be arranged at cost.