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Route · Nepal
From Pokhara's Baglung bus park, the road runs west to Nayapul, then up the Modi Khola valley to Kimche below Ghandruk. About 50 km and 2.5–3.5 hours by jeep, plus a short walk up to the Gurung village.
Photo: Bijaya2043 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · CommonsEvery way to go
| How | Time | Cost, indicative 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Shared jeep or local bus | 3–4 h, plus 1–1.5 h walk | ₹500–900 a seat |
| Private jeep | 2.5–3 h | ₹6,000–9,500 per vehicle |
| Walk via Poon Hill | 3–4 days | Lodge stays ₹1,500–3,000 a day with food |
Local buses and shared jeeps leave Pokhara's Baglung bus park for Nayapul in about 1.5–2 hours, and jeeps continue up the rough road towards Kimche. From there it is about 1–1.5 hours on stone steps to Ghandruk. Leave by 9 am to arrive in daylight; jeeps wait to fill.
A private jeep from Lakeside is the easiest choice for families, seniors or anyone with heavy bags, and in dry months it may reach a little closer to the village. Ordinary cars should stop at Nayapul. Book through your hotel or a trekking agency and agree the drop point.
The classic approach is the Poon Hill loop: jeep to Ulleri or nearby, walk up to Ghorepani, climb Poon Hill at dawn, then cross through rhododendron forest to Tadapani and down to Ghandruk. You need the ACAP permit; licensed-guide rules for foreigners apply. Check current status before you travel.
At each end
Photo: Utsab Raj Giri · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
A lake town under the Fishtail and the Annapurnas
Photo: Bijaya2043 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
A Gurung village of stone roofs facing Annapurna South
Questions
A jeep road reaches Kimche and nearby points below the village, and in good conditions jeeps get quite close. The last stretch into the old village is on foot, about an hour on stone steps. Ordinary cars should stop at Nayapul; the upper road needs a 4x4.
Yes. Ghandruk is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need the ACAP permit, which costs NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals and NPR 3,000 for other foreigners in recent years. Get it at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Pokhara or Kathmandu. Check current status before you travel.
It is possible but rushed: 5–7 hours of jeep and walking for a couple of hours in the village. One night lets you see the Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre view at sunrise, which is the main reason to go, and eat in a Gurung homestay.
A shared seat costs about ₹500–900, and a private jeep about ₹6,000–9,500 per vehicle in 2026, depending on how far up the road it goes and the season. Agree the drop point and price before you leave.
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