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Nepal

Ghandruk

Stone Gurung village facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre

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Best time to visit Ghandruk

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: March to April and October to November
  • Shoulder: May, September and December to February, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: June to August

Planning a specific month? MarchAprilOctoberNovember

Ghandruk season by season

Winter December to February Shoulder

Frosty nights but sharp Annapurna South views and empty lodges; Tamu Lhosar at the end of Dec brings Gurung dances to the village.

Summer March to May Prime time

Mar and Apr turn the forests red with rhododendron on the trail to Tadapani; by May clouds build up after midday.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Leeches, slippery stone steps and landslides on the jeep road, and the mountains hide behind cloud for weeks at a time.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Peak trekking: clear skies, harvest terraces and full teahouses on the Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp trails.

What Ghandruk is actually like

Gurung teahouses serving dal bhat and millet bread, homes of retired Gurkha soldiers and trekkers from every country.

Things to do in Ghandruk

The local places worth your time in and around Ghandruk, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Gurung Museum

    Museum · in town

    Small village museum of Gurung dress, tools and household life in an old stone house in the upper village.

  • Tadapani

    Village · 5 km out

    Forest teahouse hamlet on the ridge, about 4 h up from Ghandruk, with close views of Machhapuchhre.

  • Landruk

    Village · 2 km out

    Twin Gurung village across the Modi Khola gorge, on the walking route to Pothana and Australian Camp.

  • Chhomrong

    Village · 5 km out

    Last big village before the Annapurna Sanctuary, stacked on a slope facing Annapurna South; a long day's walk.

  • Poon Hill

    Viewpoint · 12 km out

    3210 m sunrise hill above Ghorepani with a Dhaulagiri to Annapurna panorama; 2 days on foot via Tadapani.

  • Annapurna Base Camp

    Trek · 18 km out

    4130 m amphitheatre of peaks at the head of the sanctuary, about 4 days on foot from Ghandruk via Chhomrong.

Getting to Ghandruk

Pokhara to Ghandruk by jeep in about 3 h via Nayapul and Kimche; ACAP permit needed, SAARC rate NPR 1,000.

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
2017 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
28.3769, 83.8078

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Ghandruk?

March to April and October to November is peak season in Ghandruk. May, September and December to February is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid June to August. Peak trekking: clear skies, harvest terraces and full teahouses on the Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp trails.

How many days do you need in Ghandruk?

3 days is the usual stay. Gurung teahouses serving dal bhat and millet bread, homes of retired Gurkha soldiers and trekkers from every country.

How do you get to Ghandruk?

Pokhara to Ghandruk by jeep in about 3 h via Nayapul and Kimche; ACAP permit needed, SAARC rate NPR 1,000. Practical ways in: road.

Is Ghandruk expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

Is there a festival in Ghandruk?

Tamu Lhosar (Dec). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Ghandruk?

Gurung Museum, Tadapani, Landruk, Chhomrong, Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp. Small village museum of Gurung dress, tools and household life in an old stone house in the upper village.

Nearby, and where to go next

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