Best Short Treks in Nepal from Pokhara

Options at a glance

Ghorepani Poon Hill

This is the classic first trek, famous for its sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. There are plenty of lodges, and the forests turn red with rhododendron in spring. The stone stairs to Ulleri are the main test. Read our full Poon Hill guide.

Mardi Himal

This short ridge walk gets you very close to Machhapuchhre, the Fishtail. It climbs quickly through forest to open alpine ground, with big views from the upper viewpoint. It's steeper and more exposed than Poon Hill, and lodges at High Camp are small. Read our Mardi Himal guide.

Mohare Danda

A gentler, quieter alternative to Poon Hill. Community-run lodges along the way help support local villages, and the ridge has wide views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Facilities are simpler, but you'll have more peace.

Khopra Ridge

This route continues beyond Poon Hill to a high ridge at about 3,660 m, directly facing Dhaulagiri across the deep Kali Gandaki valley. It's quiet and has community lodges. Fit trekkers can do a tough side trip to the sacred Khayer Lake, usually given as about 4,660 m, although published figures range from about 4,500 m to 4,827 m.

Annapurna Base Camp

It's not really short, but it's the biggest goal you can reach from Pokhara in about a week of walking. You follow a river gorge into a natural amphitheatre of peaks. See our day-by-day itinerary and cost guide.

Which one's right for you?

• First trek or family trip: Poon Hill or Mohare Danda.
• Short on time, but want high mountains: Mardi Himal.
• Want to avoid crowds: Mohare Danda or Khopra Ridge.
• Want a big, memorable goal: Annapurna Base Camp.
• Interested in community tourism: Mohare Danda or Khopra Ridge.

What the days are like

A closer look at our plans shows how different these treks feel, even when they have similar lengths.

These times are estimates and depend on your pace and the weather. If you've never trekked before, pay close attention to the sleeping height as well as the number of days. Sleeping higher usually means colder nights and a greater chance of feeling the altitude.

Don't choose by distance from Pokhara alone. Mardi Himal looks close, but it climbs quickly. Mohare Danda and Poon Hill take a gentler line, and they give you some wide mountain views with less altitude.

Getting to the trailheads

Most of these treks begin with a short drive of about one to three hours from Pokhara. Roads now reach deeper into the hills than they used to, so operators may start or finish at different places, and some walking sections have become shorter. Ask your operator exactly where you'll start walking. The UK government advises taking care with road travel in mountain areas, especially during the monsoon.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most reliable seasons. Lower treks such as Poon Hill can work well on clear winter days, but higher routes such as Mardi Himal may have snow and ice. Avoid the monsoon for your first trek. See our season guide.

Permits

All these treks are in the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you'll need an ACAP permit, widely reported at NPR 3,000 for foreign visitors. Reports differ on whether TIMS is needed. Read our permit guide and guide rules.

What to do before and after

Stock up on rupees and last-minute gear in Lakeside. After your trek, relax with a boat ride, a sunrise at Sarangkot or a paragliding flight. See our guide to things to do in Pokhara.

Common questions

Next steps

Browse all our trips, compare short treks from Kathmandu, or tell us how many days you have.