Once you’ve done the lake and the viewpoints, Pokhara becomes a base. These are the four trips I actually recommend — each genuinely different, each doable and back in a day, though two of them are better with a night out.
At a glance
- Easiest
- Begnas Lake
- Best village
- Ghandruk
- Best ridge
- Australian Camp
- Permits
- ACAP for Ghandruk
Begnas Lake (and Rupa)
About 15 km east of the city, Begnas is the third-largest lake in Nepal and the quiet sibling of Phewa: a few resorts, fish farms, boat hire, and hills all around. Rupa Lake lies just over the ridge to the east. A local bus from Prithvi Chowk or a taxi gets you there in 30–45 minutes; hire a boat, walk the shore path, eat fresh fish at one of the lakeside kitchens, and come back. It's the day trip for people who want to do very little.
Ghandruk
Slate roofs and stone lanes of Ghandruk, a Gurung woman in traditional dress
The big Gurung village on the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill trails, at about 1,940 m, with slate-roofed stone houses, a Gurung museum, and Annapurna South and Hiunchuli filling the sky to the north. You can drive most of the way now: a jeep or taxi from Pokhara to Kimche (around 2–3 hours on a rough road) and then a 30–60 minute walk up. It's a long day; staying the night in a teahouse and seeing sunrise on Annapurna South is much better.
Ghandruk is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need an ACAP permit even for the day — see the trekking guide.
Australian Camp
A grassy ridge-top at about 2,060 m with a handful of lodges and a wide view of Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and the Pokhara valley. Drive to Kande on the Baglung highway (about an hour), then walk up steadily for 1.5–2 hours. It's the best short walk from Pokhara for the effort involved, and the sunrise from the ridge, if you stay the night, rivals Sarangkot without the crowd. You can continue down to Dhampus and Phedi to make a loop.
Dhampus
A Gurung village at about 1,650 m on the ridge below Australian Camp, reached by road from Phedi or by walking. Terraced fields, a few lodges, and the same panorama from a lower angle. Combine with Australian Camp rather than doing it alone.
Which one?
| Trip | Drive | Walk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Begnas Lake | 30–45 min | Optional | Rest day, families |
| Ghandruk | 2–3 h | 30–60 min | Village culture, big mountains (overnight ideal) |
| Australian Camp | ~1 h to Kande | 1.5–2 h up | Best view for effort (overnight ideal) |
| Dhampus | ~1 h to Phedi | 1–2 h up | Short village walk |
Questions I get asked
Do I need a guide for day trips from Pokhara?
Begnas, no. For Ghandruk, Australian Camp and Dhampus (all inside the Annapurna Conservation Area), the 2023 guide requirement nominally applies — a local guide for a day is inexpensive and makes the logistics easy. TODO: confirm current enforcement.
Can I do Ghandruk and back in one day?
Yes, with an early start and a jeep to Kimche, but it is a long day on a rough road. Staying the night is far better.