Kathmandu Panchase Trek is a short nature hike in Annapurna nearby Pokhara. The 6-day trekking around Panchase Hill takes you away from actual Annapurna trail. So, a rural cultural off the beaten track in the Himalayas, Panchase trek offers enchanting mountain views, beautiful forest and villages, valley. Also, a short gateway into nature from Pokhara, Panchase Trek offers an incredible views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Fishtail and Manaslu that is really an exhilarating. The trip is recommended for trek beginners like family with children to seniors with limited time. This is an ideal trek if you are looking for a low altitude, a short, easy and beautiful trek in Annapurna. You will hike through green hills, beautiful valleys, forests and rural villages. The Sunrise and Sunset view over the Himalayas from Panchase Bhanjyang is so wonderful. For booking inquiry regarding Panchase Trek departure dates/cost for 2023.2024, please email us at missionecotreknepal@gmail.com and call or leave message on WhatsApp at +977 9851023742.
Trek Name: Kathmandu Panchase Trek
Trek Duration: 6 days
Trek Difficulty: Easy /Medium
Trek Season: Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec/Mar/April/May
Trek Altitude: 850m-2800m
Trek Cost: USD 350-USD 620
Group Size: 1 - 12 people
Trek Package: Lodge to Lodge Trek
Mode of Transfer: Bus/Car/Flight
Start/End of Trek: Kathmandu / Pokhara
Kathmandu Panchase Trek 6 days is a new off the beaten trekking Annapurna in Pokhara valley.
Kathmandu Panchase Trek is an easy and ideal 6-day trekking around Pokhara valley and its surrounding Panchase Hill.The Trek is suitable for all travelers who have limited time trekking in Annapurna. The less crowded Panchase home stay trek passes through jungles, primitive villages with an amazing views of the Himalayas. You will also see a great view of crystal clear lake, turbulent river gorges, monasteries and picturesque villages of friendly people.The Panchase region preserves a wide variety of birds, animals and plants. Panchase is also a sacred religious site famous for natural and cultural beauty. Panchase Hill trek is also a good idea to get out from over-crowded trail of Poon Hill and ABC.
Panchase Peak at 2500 m is the highest point of Panchase Trek.There is no any risk of altitude sickness as you trek to Panchase from Pokhara. For an authentic trek experience of staying with locals, Panchase Trek is suitable for families with children to seniors. Also, if you love nature and mountain photography, please don't miss this short Panchase trek from Pokhara. You can also see Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Machhapuchhare and Manaslu mountain range as you are trekking around Panchase Hill.
Panchase Trek Package
We offer budget, standard and full fledged package to Panchase Trek. In the package price, guide, permit, accommodation and meals are all inclusive. We make sure a good value for money and a great option for trek beginners and solo trekkers.
Panchase Trek Difficulty
The paths are mostly in good condition. No technical skills are required so the act of walking is pretty straightforward. The physical effort required, it clearly helps to be as fit as possible. Saying that, you don’t have to be an athlete, far from it. People of all ages and levels of fitness complete the Panchase Trek. The key point to remember is to hike at your own pace. Over the course of the trek, you ascend in altitude from 700 m to 4600 m. Much of the route, particularly in the early days, involves plenty of up and down–descending to cross the river, ascending again, then repeating the process further along the trail.
Panchase Trek Permit
For Mardi Himal Trek, you need two permits. TIMS card, the Trekkers information management card and the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) permit are necessary, costs around USD 50. We will take care of your trek permit on your behalf once you book Annapurna Circuit Trek with us-The Mission Eco Trek & Expedition Pvt. Ltd. For this, we need your scanned passport copy and two passport size photos. TIMS card and permits are valid only for one entry to the park every time you exit you’ll have to get a new TIMS card and a new permit to enter the park again.
Panchase Trek Accommodation
Along Panchase Trek, accommodation is in guesthouses often called tea houses along the way. Rooms generally are more basic.Rooms have two single beds with pillows and blankets are always provided but a sleeping bag is a must.Things like hot showers and WIFI are getting more common, but you need to pay an extra cost.On this route, there are more shared rooms for 4-6 people than private room.
Toilets
There are most often shared toilet facilities rather than en-suite bathrooms on the Mardi Himal trek. These can be inside the main building or in an outhouse. It can be a western style toilet or a squat. Things tend to become more basic in places at higher altitude. You’ll need to have your own toilet paper, and soap isn’t always provided so make sure you have hand sanitizer too. Generally speaking, used toilet paper goes in a bin next to the toilet. You flush the squat toilet by scooping water out of the nearby bucket with whatever receptacle is provided.
Dining Room
There’s always a dining room where meals are served, and it’s a good place to get to know your fellow trekkers. The higher you go, there will usually be a fire in the dining room around dinner time, although this is by no means guaranteed.
Hot Shower
Showers are available over the first few days, but chances for a hot shower limited the higher you go. Gas needs to be transported by mules and it’s more important for cooking and heating. It’s sometimes possible to get one for a fee, but you might be standing in a cold room under a spray with very little pressure. Best to be prepared to keep yourself clean with wet wipes.
Food on Panchase Trek
The food is often quite good.Food and drink on the Panchase Trek is similar to what you find on Nepal’s other treks, although options are usually more varieties The options become even more limited throughout the trek as altitude increases, while prices go up as the cost of fuel and transporting goods gets higher.You have to eat dinner and breakfast at the tea houses you stay. Lunch will generally be at a different place somewhere along the trail unless it’s a short day and you arrive at your destination earlier.Try to order the same as the people you’re trekking with. Your food will usually arrive more quickly and less fuel will be needed to cook it.Think carefully before ordering meat. Refrigeration, storage and kitchen standards mean that eating veggie is the safest option.
Dal Bhat
Dal Bhat is a combination of dal (lentils), veg curry, pickle, rice and vegetables, this staple of the Nepali diet is a great option. It comes with a guaranteed refill of rice and curry, and usually some extra dal too. The vegetable component varies depending on what or if there’s anything growing in the garden (and it pretty much disappears the last few days before the Larke Pass). Dal Bhat is what all guides and porters eat so it’s constantly being prepared, unlike more western style dishes which always have to be made to order. And as the whole cooking process requires less energy, this means that it’s better for the environment too.
Breakfast
Breakfast include porridge, pancakes, omelettes, boiled eggs, and various breads (Tibetan bread, buckwheat bread, chapatis, and so on).
Main Dishes for Lunch and Dinner
Standard dishes on menus are soups, pasta dishes, various fried rice dishes, momos, a kind of dumpling, pizzas, and of course, Dal Bhat. Some dishes have meat options but this is something to be wary of. Lots of dishes have egg and some tuna from a can.
Drinks
Hot drinks are on the menu at every guest house, with an often huge range of options stretching from regular black tea and coffee to Masala tea, lemon ginger honey tea, and hot chocolate, bottle of water, beer, whisky for an extra cost.
Panchase Trek Cost
Mardi Himal Trek package costs ranges from USD 350 to USD 650 and includes all transfers, accommodation, meals, permits, and even the hotel stay before and after the trek.
Internet, Wifi, Sim cards and staying Charged
If you’re looking to stay connected while trekking in Panchase Trek , the options are fairly limited.
Wifi:
Wifi is available in the tea houses along the trail. There is however normally a charge for using the internet,WiFi and with slow speeds, you may end up wishing you hadn’t bothered. If there’s nothing urgent, our advice would be to wait until you get back from the mountains. Costs anywhere from $4 to $6 to use WiFi at the guesthouses.
Sim Cards
4G sim cards and packages can be bought at the airport, or from numerous vendors in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. They’re great in the city but as soon as you leave the coverage is patchy. We recommend Nepal Telecom and Ncell for 3G/4G coverage. It’s safe to say that in the mountains, neither are really any good.
Electricity:
There are electricity available along the trail to charge your power banks, cameras, and phones. The key is to get a fat power bank. Pay to charge that then charge everything from your power bank.Your power bank lets you charge your phone and camera batteries. Most of the places you stay let you charge your gear for an extra cost.
Best time Trekking Panchase
The best time to go trekking in Mardi Himal is Spring, Autumn and Winter. March/April and October/November is the peak hiking season in Nepal due to best weather conditions as the result all trekking routes get very busy.
Autumn-Trekking
September, October and November are the most popular months for trekking Panchase Trek. Autumn brings clear blue skies and mild temperatures before the cold sets in in December.Autumn is also a festive season with the celebration of Dashain and Tihar. Nepal’s biggest festivals.The weather is generally dry and clear, with warm sunny days and excellent visibility. Regardless of the seasons, the weather conditions can change rapidly and there is always a chance of unstable weather, cold and snow storms. It is important to check the weather forecast.
Spring-Trekking
The spring season from March to May is considered to be the next best option. The weather is generally clear although a little colder. Mornings are sunny and flowers are in bloom. There is however a higher chance of rain, or even snow, and melting ice increases the chances of landslides or avalanches.
Summer-Trekking
June, July and August are the monsoon months.There is a lot of rain falls, the roads and trails get very muddy not nice weather for hiking in the Mardi Himal. The Marsyangdi valley up to Manang sees lots of rainfalls.The monsoon is responsible for warm and wet weather, with cloud and mist making visibility extremely poor. You can hardly see a mountain. Leeches are a big problem at this time of year, as is the risk of landslides.
Winter-Trekking
January and February are too cold with lots of snow on the trail.There are very few people on the routes like Mardi Himal where there are no local villages it might be difficult to find accommodation and food because the places are closed for off season.
Insurance for Panchase Trek
Travel insurance is highly recommended for Panchase Trek because the high altitude can lead to many illnesses, weakness in trekkers, and misjudgments. There is also a risk on trails for falls, avalanches, or other mishaps. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara(200km, 6 hour, 850m)
Breakfast and take early in the morning toursit bus drive to Pokhara for 6 hours. Pokhara is lake city is a cool and thrill place. Spend in the afternoon, walking around lakeside and stay night at Hotel Kumari Star Inn in Pokhara.
Day 2: Pokhara to Bhumdi(1600m, 10km, 5 to 6 hours)
Start with a boat ride across Phewa Lake to reach the starting point of the trek. The trail climbs for a short distance up to the Shanti Stupa also known as the World Peace Pagoda, built in 1973 by a group of Japanese Buddhists. It is a popular tourist attraction in Pokhara, but as you continue on the trekking trail, the crowds will diminish. Continuing on from the Shanti Stupa, the trail takes you down through the forest and then steeply back up and through the village of Lukum Swara. Most of the inhabitants of this area are ethnic Gurung and Brahman people, and you will have plenty of opportunities to observe their rural lifestyles on this trek. Today’s hike ends at Bumdi village.
Day 3: Bhumdi to Panchase Bhanjyang(2000m, 18km, 6 hours)
Today’s walk will continue through the forest, and the mountains will be visible from time to time. Peaks to look out for are Lamjung, Gangapurna, Machhapucchare, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, and Manaslu. Your guide should be able to distinguish these for you. The forests through which you’ll pass are especially interesting for their variety of flora and fauna, including an abundance of birdlife, monkeys, orchids, and numerous plants. In spring, you may be able to see Nepal’s national flower, the Rhododendron, in full bloom. The day ends with a gentle ascent to Panchase Bhanjyang.
Day 4: Panchase to Bhadaure(1900m,12km, 5 hours)
Early morning summit of Panchase peak at 2,500m and trek to Bhadaure
Early in morning, the earlier the better if you want sunrise views, climb the stone steps about 500 meters up to Panchase Peak. This is the highest point on the trek, and from here you should be able to see an amazing panorama of the mountains that had just been peeking out at you on the trek so far. Have breakfast at the summit, then spend the rest of the day descending gently to your stop for the night, Bhadaure.
Day 5: Bhadaure to Naudanda(1500m,9 km,4 hours) and drive to Pokhara(2 hours)
Today’s walk descends gently, following a jeep trail much of the way, and will pass through several villages. At Naudanda, the trekking trail joins the road, and you will be picked up here and driven back to Pokhara.
Day 6: Pokhara to Kathmandu (200km, 6 hours, 1300m)
Breakfast and get tourist bus at 7:30 am, 6 hours drive back to Kathmandu. The trip ends here.
Mardi Himal Trek Packing List
We would suggest to take what you need and make your bag as light as possible.You can expect to need more warm clothes in the colder months. Also, crampons may be needed if there’s ice and snow on the pass. On the other hand, if you plan to trek with a porter then this will make choosing what to take a bit easier – just don’t overload your porter of course. Also, bear in mind that it’s very common to leave excess baggage at hotels and guesthouses in Kathmandu. Sleeping Bag (NPR 200 - 300 NPR per day) is available to rent in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
1 pair of pants that maybe convert to shorts
1 pair of shorts
1 Warm or thicker pair of hiking pants
1 Long sleeve quick-dry shirt
1 Long-sleeve thermal shirt
2 Short-sleeve t-shirts
1 Thermal long underwear
4 pairs of quick-dry underwear
1 Lightweight down jacket
1 Heavy-duty summit down jacket
1 Beanie
1 Cap
1 Sunglasses
1 Neck Buff
1 pair of Gloves
1 pair of Hiking boots
1 pair of sandals/running shoes
1 Head torch
1 pair of warm summit socks
2-3 pairs of regular socks
1 Sunscreen
1 pair of trekking poles
1 Water filter
1 Power bank
1 Poncho/rain coat
Documents:
Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
Passport (required) (With photocopies)
Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
Essentials:
Binoculars (optional)
Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
Cash, credit and debit cards
Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
Ear plugs
First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes,
antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra
Money belt
Outlet adapter
Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
Reusable water bottle
Watch and alarm clock
Waterproof backpack cover
Windproof rain jacket
Health and Safety:
Face masks (required)
Hand sanitizer (required)
Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
Rubber glove
Whistle
Drinking Water
The Annapurna Circuit is physically demanding and drinking plenty of water is a must.Drinking lots of water helps you acclimatize. Please drink at least three litres of water while trekking each day.Use an effective sterilization method to make sure your water is safe to drink.Purification tablets and the Steripen is a perfect means sterilization the drinking water.Bottled water and hot water is available to buy throughout the trek,the cost ranges from USD 3 to USD 5 per liters.
Guided Trek to Mardi Himal
Guided trek is the best option if you want a stress-free hiking holiday. The guide manages all of the logistics, distances, directions, and tea houses. The directions are not always very clear like on the Everest Base Camp trek and having the guide manages all of the logistics. Experience hikers can be done Mardi Himal Trek independently as well.
Money
Everything is payable in the local currency, Nepalese Rupees (NPR).Take plenty of small denomination notes as change is not readily available on the trail, particularly at higher altitudes. Also beware that ATM have max withdrawal amounts, and your bank may have a max daily withdrawal limit, so you may not be able to withdraw the total amount that you need all in one day. The amount of money you need to take on the Mardi Himal trek will depend on whether you’re on an inclusive tour or not. If you are on an inclusive tour then you’ll only need money for any snacks or drinks over and above what’s included in your package. If you are paying as you go, then you’ll need to have enough cash to cover all costs: accommodation, food, drink, etc.
Nepal Visa
Tourist visas are available on arrival at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan International Airport and at all land border crossings that are open to foreign travellers. While this is available for most foreigners, citizens of some countries are required to get a visa prior to arrival, while those from SAARC countries can get their visa free of charge.There are three different visa options and prices: Multiple Entry 15 Days – 30 USD, 30 Days – 50 USD and 90 Days – 125 USD. In order to get a visa on arrival you’ll need four things:
One passport size photo
A passport valid for at least six months
At least one blank page in your passport
The visa fee in cash (US Dollars is best)
Laundry
Laundry facilities are offered by some of tea house and hotel for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Passports
As a general rule, your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Please ensure the passport details you provide are accurate. Any errors provided may result in extra fees for making corrections in bookings. We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leave copies at home with family or friends.
Altitude Sickness
Travelers to altitudes higher than 2,500 m are at risk of altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). This can be life-threatening and affect anyone, even people who are very physically fit. There is a higher risk for those who have had altitude sickness before, who exercise or drink alcohol before adjusting to the altitude, or who have health problems that affect breathing. If your tour travels to high altitude, see your doctor for advice specific to you and your situation before you depart. It is important to be aware of the normal altitude symptoms that you may encounter BUT NOT worry about:
1.Periods of sleeplessness
2.Occasional loss of appetite
3.Vivid, wild dreams at around 2500-3800m in altitude
4.Unexpected momentary shortness of breath, day and night
5.Periodic breathing that wakes you occasionally
6.Blocked nose
7.Dry cough
8.Mild headache
If you are feeling nauseous, dizzy, or experience other symptoms, please be sure to let your guide know immediately so that we can monitor your condition. Please be
aware that should your guide deem it unsafe for you to continue trekking at any time, they will arrange for you to descend to a lower altitude.
Medical Facilities and Treatment:
Medical facilities in Nepal are very limited, particularly outside Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, treatment at international-standard clinics is expensive and up-front payment for services is generally required. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment, including evacuation by helicopter.
Alcohol and Caffeine
Alcohol and trekking don't mix. We highly recommend that you limit your alcohol consumption in Kathmandu prior to your trip. Celebrate your achievements after your
trek. Both alcohol and caffeine increase dehydration. Limit your intake of both when hiking at high altitudes.