Panchase Trek
Also known as Panchase Hill Trek.
Panchase Trek is an easy 3-4-day teahouse trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal, reaching 2,500 m. It starts at Pokhara Lakeside (via Phewa Lake boat or Damside trail to Pumdi Bhumdi) and ends at Kande or Bhadaure/Naudanda (bus/jeep back to Pokhara).
Key facts
- Region
- Annapurna (Kaski, Syangja, Parbat)
- Duration
- 3-4 days, 3-6 hours walking per day
- Distance
- 40 km
- Maximum altitude
- 2,500 m
- Difficulty
- Easy — A short, low-altitude hill trek starting from Pokhara's lakeshore and topping out at ~2,500 m on Panchase Hill, so altitude sickness is a non-issue. Days involve steady stone-staircase climbs of up to 1,200 m, and the trail is poorly marked in places, but there is nothing exposed or technical.
- Trek type
- Teahouse, loop route
- Best season
- Autumn (Oct-Nov) and Spring (Mar-Apr); also good in clear winter weather
- Guide
- Not mandatory
- Restricted area
- No
- Budget cost
- NPR 8,000–15,000
- Comfortable cost
- NPR 15,000–28,000
- Guided cost
- NPR 63,000–77,000
- Getting there
- Kathmandu → Pokhara (tourist bus, 6-8 h, 204 km) → cross Phewa Lake by boat or walk from Damside to the World Peace Pagoda trail → trek; exit Kande or Naudanda → Pokhara (local bus, 1-1.5 h)
- Altitude sickness
- Negligible: the high point is only ~2,500 m.
Weather
Panchase peak gives a wide dawn panorama from Dhaulagiri across the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre to Manaslu, plus Phewa Lake below. Low altitude makes it one of the few Annapurna-area treks that works in winter; haze builds from late spring and monsoon hides the mountains entirely. Rhododendron and orchid forest bloom in March-April (the area is noted for orchid diversity).
Permits
- TIMS Card — NPR 2,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: Through a registered trekking agency or NTB offices (agencies obtain it when booking a package)
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) — NPR 3,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: NTB Kathmandu/Pokhara if desired
Itinerary
- Day 1: Pokhara Lakeside to Pumdi Bhumdi, 3-4 h, 1,500 m — Phewa Lake crossing or Damside walk, World Peace Pagoda, lake-and-Machhapuchhre views
- Day 2: Pumdi Bhumdi to Panchase Bhanjyang, 5-6 h, 2,030 m — Forest ridge walking, orchid-rich Panchase protected forest, Gurung and Brahmin/Chhetri villages
- Day 3: Panchase Bhanjyang to Bhadaure, 4-5 h, 1,650 m — Pre-dawn 1.5 h round trip up stone steps to Panchase Peak (2,500 m): five-lakes viewpoint, small temple, Dhaulagiri-to-Manaslu sunrise panorama
- Day 4: Bhadaure to Pokhara, 3 h, 820 m — Terraced farmland descent to the Baglung highway; optional exit via Australian Camp to Kande
More Annapurna treks
- Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
- Australian Camp - Dhampus Trek
- Ghandruk Loop Trek
- Royal Trek
- Mardi Himal Trek
- Khopra Danda Trek
- Mohare Danda Trek
- Sikles Trek
- Jomsom - Muktinath Trek
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake
- Nar Phu Valley Trek
- Upper Mustang Trek
- Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek
- Ghale Gaun - Lamjung Community Trek
- Sirubari Village Trek
- Kori Danda (Kapuche Lake - Kori) Trek
- Annapurna North Base Camp Trek