Sikles Trek

Also known as Sikles Gurung Heritage Trail (Royal Trek area / Annapurna Eco Trail).

Sikles Trek is an easy 4-5-day homestay/teahouse trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal, reaching 1,980 m. It starts at Ghale Kharka (drive from Pokhara via Mahendra Cave/Bhurjung Khola) and ends at Yangjakot/Taprang road head (drive back to Pokhara).

Key facts

Region
Annapurna (Kaski)
Duration
4-5 days, 4-6 hours walking per day
Distance
35 km
Maximum altitude
1,980 m
Difficulty
Easy — A low-altitude village-to-village trek on the quiet north-east side of Pokhara, staying below ~2,000-2,500 m, so there is no altitude risk. Days are 4-6 hours on stone-stepped village trails with some long staircases; facilities are simpler than on mainstream routes but the walking itself is gentle.
Trek type
Homestay/Teahouse, loop route
Best season
Autumn (Sep-Nov) and Spring (Feb-May)
Guide
Not mandatory
Restricted area
No
Budget cost
NPR 13,000–22,000
Comfortable cost
NPR 22,000–38,000
Guided cost
NPR 35,000–66,000
Getting there
Kathmandu → Pokhara (tourist bus, 6-8 h, 204 km) → Ghale Kharka side (jeep via Mahendra Cave/Kalikasthan, 1.5-2 h) → trail; exit Taprang/Yangjakot → Pokhara (jeep/bus, 1-2 h). A rough road also runs all the way to Sikles (~51 km, 4 h) for direct access.
Altitude sickness
Negligible: route stays below 2,000 m (village variants) or ~2,500 m if the Tara Hilltop extension is added.

Weather

Front-row views of Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Lamjung Himal and Machhapuchhre from Sikles village. Low altitude keeps it feasible in winter (10-17 C daytime in season); monsoon brings heavy rain on this south-facing flank of the range - the Madi valley is one of Nepal's wettest areas - with leeches and landslide risk on the road.

Permits

Itinerary

  1. Day 1: Pokhara to Ghale Kharka, 3-4 h, 1,670 m — Madi Khola valley farmland, first Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal views, mixed Gurung/Magar settlements
  2. Day 2: Ghale Kharka to Sikles, 5-6 h, 1,980 m — Ridge and forest walking into Sikles (1,980 m), one of Nepal's largest Gurung villages: slate-roofed stone houses, Gurung museum, honey-hunting and Ghantu dance heritage
  3. Day 3: Sikles to Taprang, 4-5 h, 1,580 m — Morning Annapurna II/Machhapuchhre panorama from the village gompa viewpoint; descent through terraces to Taprang village
  4. Day 4: Taprang to Pokhara, 3-4 h, 820 m — Walk via Yangjakot village above the Madi Khola; drive back to Pokhara by mid-afternoon

More Annapurna treks