Pokhara's Treks, From Easiest to Hardest
Pokhara sits at a comfortable 822 meters, which is easy to forget once a trek out of it climbs past 3,000, 4,000, then 5,000 meters in under a week; every route below starts in the same lakeside town and ends somewhere that altitude is the main thing to plan around.
The law before the routes: a licensed guide is mandatory
Since April 2023, the Nepal Tourism Board has banned independent solo trekking by foreign nationals inside national parks and conservation areas, which covers every route on this list. You hire a licensed Nepali guide through a registered trekking agency, and checkpoints at Birethanti, Pothana and Besisahar verify your ACAP permit (NPR 3,000) and TIMS card (NPR 2,000) on the way in. Arrange both through a registered agency or the Nepal Tourism Board’s Pokhara office in Damside before you set out, not at the trailhead.
Easiest: Ghorepani Poon Hill (4 to 5 days)
The standard introduction: Nayapul to Tikhedhungga, up the 3,200 stone steps of Ulleri to Ghorepani at 2,860 meters, then a pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill at 3,210 meters for sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, descending through the Gurung village of Ghandruk. Teahouse accommodation throughout, moderate difficulty. Compare guided Poon Hill trek options if you want the agency and guide booked before you land.
Moderate: Mardi Himal (5 to 6 days)
A quieter, fast-growing route along a forested ridge directly beneath Machapuchare: Kande to Australian Camp, Forest Camp, Low Camp, then High Camp at 3,580 meters and on to the Mardi Himal viewpoint at 4,500 meters. You’ll get closer views of Machapuchare’s fishtail summit than almost anywhere else, but the mountain itself remains permanently closed to climbing under rules set by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation ; it is sacred to Lord Shiva and no ascent has ever been legally permitted.
Harder: Annapurna Base Camp (7 to 10 days)
The trek into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a natural amphitheater ringed by Annapurna I at 8,091 meters, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare, tops out at ABC itself, 4,130 meters. Compare guided ABC trek options if you’re arranging the agency and guide before landing in Nepal rather than in Pokhara itself.
Epic: Annapurna Circuit (12 to 16 days)
A trans-Himalayan crossing from subtropical river valleys through Buddhist Manang, over the Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters, down to the pilgrimage town of Muktinath and the arid Kali Gandaki Gorge. This is where altitude sickness planning matters most: sensible acclimatization days, hydration, no alcohol at altitude, and carrying acetazolamide (Diamox) are standard advice, not optional extras.
Restricted: Upper Mustang (10 to 12 days)
A high-altitude desert trek into the walled former Kingdom of Lo Manthang, requiring a special restricted-area permit ($500 for 10 days) on top of the standard requirements, and a certified guide throughout.
Verdict: Poon Hill is the right first Himalayan trek for most visitors; save the Circuit or Upper Mustang for a return trip once you know how your body handles altitude.
A concrete tip: buy travel insurance that explicitly names helicopter evacuation up to 5,000 meters before you fly to Nepal, not after you’re on the trail. Evacuation from the Annapurna Sanctuary is by private helicopter charter only, and policies without that specific altitude clause routinely deny high-mountain claims. For the flight and bus options to actually reach Pokhara first, see the day trips guide .