A dirt mountain road with a painted rest-point rock and peaks behind

Pokhara to the Annapurna Trailheads (Jeep)

The 4WD link from Pokhara to the trailheads at Nayapul, Kimche, and Kande.

About this place

Summary

Shared and private 4WD jeeps connect Pokhara to the road-heads where the Annapurna treks begin — Nayapul and Kimche for Poon Hill and the Sanctuary, and Kande or Phedi for Mardi Himal — cutting out the first dusty hours of walking.

Why we picked it

It is the essential, flexible link between Pokhara and every Annapurna trailhead, and the road-head choices shape each trek's length.

Good for

Trekkers heading to any Annapurna route, groups sharing a private jeep, and anyone shortening the road-walking sections.

Skip if

Skip a shared jeep if you want to leave on your own schedule — hire a private one instead.

Editorial guide

Once you are in Pokhara, a short jeep ride gets you to where the trails actually begin. The road-head you want depends on the trek:

Poon Hill and the Sanctuary start from Nayapul (about 1.5 hours) or higher up at Kimche for a shorter walk into Ghandruk.
Mardi Himal starts from Kande or Phedi on the Baglung Highway (about 1 hour).

Shared vs private

Shared jeeps are cheap and leave when full; private jeeps cost more but go on your schedule and are easily arranged through any Pokhara agency or your hotel. Roads have pushed steadily higher into the hills in recent years, so it is now possible to drive a surprising distance up some routes — which shortens treks but also adds dust and traffic to once-quiet trails.

Useful caveat

Road-heads and how far jeeps can drive change frequently as roads are extended or washed out, especially after monsoon. Confirm the current start point and price in Pokhara the day before, and agree the fare before you set off.

Best for

trek-accessjeeptrailheadflexible

Good in

SpringAutumnWinter

Details

Mode: Jeep
From: Pokhara
To: Nayapul / Kimche / Kande
Fare: Rs 800
Duration: 2 hr

Appears in

Lists featuring this place

Sunrise above a sea of cloud with Annapurna peaks and Machhapuchhre

trek

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

The gentlest of the classic Annapurna treks: a 4–5 day teahouse loop through rhododendron forest and Gurung villages to the famous Poon Hill sunrise at 3,210 m. The best first Himalayan trek in Nepal — no serious altitude, real mountain payoff.

“It is the highest reward-to-effort ratio of any trek in Nepal: a real Himalayan sunrise on a short, low-altitude, beginner-friendly loop.”

4–5 days (3 at a push)Low to medium5 stops

Editorial · reetu.fyibeginner-friendly · rhododendron

Checked Jun 2026

The fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre seen from the Mardi Himal ridge

trek

Mardi Himal Trek

A short, scenic ridge trek east of the Annapurna Sanctuary, climbing through moss-draped forest to High Camp and a 4,200 m viewpoint almost beneath Machhapuchhre. The best "quiet, high, and quick" option in the Annapurnas — 4–5 days, moderate effort, dramatic payoff.

“It delivers near-Sanctuary altitude and the best close-up fishtail views in the region on a short, quieter trek.”

4–5 daysLow to medium5 stops

Editorial · reetu.fyiquieter-route · ridge-walk

Checked Jun 2026