Gandruk Trek

Pricing

Rates differ for Nepali citizens and international guests because foreign trekkers require TIMS and conservation-area permits. Final quotes depend on group size and dates.

Highlights

• ✓Gandruk (1,940 m) — Nepal's second-largest Gurung village and a living showcase of Gurung culture, handicrafts, and architecture
• ✓Unobstructed, face-on views of Annapurna South (7,219 m) and Machhapuchhre / Fishtail (6,993 m) from the village itself
• ✓Gandruk Eco Museum — Gurung heritage, traditional dress, jewellery, and the Gurkha military history
• ✓Stone-paved lanes, traditional houses with slate roofs, and warm Gurung hospitality
• ✓Gateway to Annapurna Base Camp — Gandruk sits on the classic ABC approach route
• ✓Rich birdlife including Himalayan Monal (Nepal's national bird) in the surrounding forest
• ✓Very accessible from Pokhara — drive to Nayapul and trek in 4–5 hours

Best season

October–November & March–May. Clear skies in autumn give the best mountain photography. Spring brings rhododendron blooms on the trails.

Itinerary

Outline below; we tailor rest days and pacing to your group.

1. 1

   Day 1: Pokhara → Nayapul → Birethanti → Kim­che → Gandruk (1,940 m)

   Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul (~1 hour). Cross the suspension bridge at Birethanti and begin the ascent through lush subtropical forest and terraced farmland toward Kimche, then on to Gandruk — approximately 4–5 hours of trekking. Check into your teahouse and take an evening stroll through the stone lanes with mountain views glowing at dusk. Overnight in Gandruk.

2. 2

   Day 2: Gandruk village day — culture, museum & viewpoints

   A full day to explore Gandruk at leisure. Visit the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Eco Museum and the Gurung Museum to learn about local culture, traditional clothing, Gurkha military heritage, and Himalayan ecology. Walk the upper viewpoint trail for panoramic views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre. Enjoy a traditional Gurung meal — dhido, gundruk soup, and local raksi. Overnight in Gandruk.

3. 3

   Day 3: Gandruk → Chhomrong (2,170 m) — optional ABC extension

   For trekkers continuing to Annapurna Base Camp, today you cross the Modi Khola river and ascend to Chhomrong — the last major village before the Annapurna Sanctuary. For the Gandruk loop, descend instead via Landruk and New Bridge back toward Nayapul and Pokhara. Both routes offer spectacular mountain views throughout.

4. 4

   Day 4: Landruk → Nayapul → drive to Pokhara

   Trek down through the Gurung village of Landruk with more Machhapuchhre views, then descend through forest and terraced fields to the Modi Khola and Nayapul road. Drive back to Pokhara (~1 hour). Arrive by afternoon. Trek can be extended to 5+ days with a Chhomrong overnight or ABC side trip.