Panchase Trek

Who the Panchase trek suits

Panchase is the easiest real trek near Pokhara. In three or four days you walk through forest and Gurung and Brahmin villages on the border of Kaski, Parbat and Syangja to Panchase Bhanjyang and the sacred ponds on the hilltop (about 2,500 m). At sunrise, Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Machapuchare line up above the Pokhara valley. The forest is one of the best spots near Pokhara for birds and orchids.

It's easy and low, so altitude isn't a concern. It suits first-timers, families, anyone with only a few days, and people who want village life and forest more than glaciers. It also makes a good warm-up before a longer trek.

Do you need a guide or permit?

Panchase sits outside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so the usual route doesn't need an ACAP permit, and no TIMS card is needed. See the 2026 rules.

A guide isn't required. The forest paths have several junctions and few signs, though, and homestays work best when someone local arranges them. A local guide also knows the birds, plants and the story of the Panchase temple.

Best months, and when it's easiest to find a partner

Panchase works from October to May. October–December brings the clearest mountain views, and March–April brings rhododendrons and orchids in the forest. It's low enough to be a good winter trek. In the monsoon the forest is beautiful but wet, with leeches.

It's a short trek from Pokhara, so it's easy to arrange at short notice. Many trekkers find someone in Lakeside a day or two before. Check the posts on this page too.

Doing Panchase with a partner

• Where to meet: Pokhara Lakeside. The trek starts and ends close to the city.
• What to share: the taxi or jeep to the trailhead and back, homestay rooms and a local guide.
• Combine it: Panchase links with the Parbat hills, so with extra days you can carry on to Kokhe Danda for a longer, quieter village trek.
• Go up for sunrise together: the walk to the top is short but dark. Bring head torches.