Panchase Trek Guide: 3 Days from Pokhara with Himalayan Views and No Altitude Worries

Last updated 7 October 2026.

The Panchase trek is a gentle three-day walk on a forested ridge above Phewa Lake, with views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu on a clear morning. The highest point is about 2,500 m and you never sleep above about 2,070 m, so altitude is not a worry for most people. It starts and ends in Pokhara, with no flights.

It is the trek I suggest when someone has three days, wants real mountain views and does not want to climb high. You can see the full plan on our Panchase Trek, 3 Days from Pokhara page. A licensed guide walks with you the whole way.

What is the Panchase trek?

Panchase is a ridge of forest and open hilltop on the far side of Phewa Lake from Pokhara. Instead of starting with a road, you start with a boat. The boat crosses the lake to the far shore, and you walk up through forest and terraced hillsides from there. Over three days you climb to Panchase peak for sunrise, then walk down to the road.

It is a quiet route of forest and hillside, with small, simple lodges. For a wider look at the lake and the city you are leaving behind, read our Phewa Lake guide and our guide to things to do in Pokhara.

Who is the Panchase trek for?

It suits first-time trekkers, families with older children, and anyone short of time. It also suits people who want an easy trek before or after something bigger. You need to be able to walk for several hours a day on steps and uneven ground, but no technical skill is needed.

It is not the trek for you if you want to walk through snow or sleep at high altitude. The views are long, but the trail stays low. If you want to go higher, look at the Poon Hill trek, which reaches 3,210 m.

What does each day look like?

Day 1. We take a boat from Pokhara across the lake, then walk up through forest and terraced hillsides to Bumdi, a small hill settlement. It is a gentle first day, and the lake stays below you for much of the climb. We sleep in a simple lodge.

Day 2. The trail follows the forested ridge to Panchase Bhanjyang. When the sky is clear you see the Annapurna range through the trees. We stay in a lodge near the pass.

Day 3. We leave early for the short climb to Panchase peak, the highest point of the trek, to watch the sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu. Then we walk down through forest to Bhadaure, and on to Kande or Naudanda, depending on the state of the road. Your vehicle meets us there and takes you back to your Pokhara hotel.

How high does it go and is altitude a concern?

The highest point is Panchase peak at about 2,500 m, and your highest night is about 2,070 m at Panchase Bhanjyang. Those heights are low enough that altitude is not a concern for most people. If you feel unwell at any point, tell your guide at once.

For comparison, Poon Hill is 3,210 m and Annapurna Base Camp is 4,130 m. Panchase is a good way to try a teahouse-style trek before committing to those.

When is the best time to go?

The clearest views come in October and November, and again from March to May. Winter days are often clear but the nights are cold, so bring a warm layer. The monsoon, from June to September, brings cloud over the ridge and wet forest trails, and leeches are common in wet forest, so I would not choose it for the views.

The road at the end of the trek can change after heavy rain. We check the road 48 hours before departure, and if it is not open we move your dates free.

How does Panchase compare with Poon Hill and Australian Camp?

Take Australian Camp if you have one night. Take Panchase if you have three days and want a quiet ridge. Take Poon Hill if you want villages, more height and the famous sunrise. Our guides to the Australian Camp and the Poon Hill itinerary options go into each in detail, and the trek pages are Australian Camp Trek, 2 Days and Poon Hill Trek, 4 Days.

What are the lodges and food like?

The lodges on this ridge are simple. On Standard and Luxury you get a private room where the lodge has one. Luxury gives you the best room available at each lodge, which is often basic, so I would rather tell you that now than have you expect a hotel.

On Standard and Luxury, all meals on the trek are included. On Budget, trek meals are not included, and you carry your own bag.

What is included and what is not?

The Panchase trek includes a licensed guide, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card, the boat across Phewa Lake, the vehicle from Kande or Naudanda back to Pokhara, and a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter. On Standard there is one porter for every two trekkers, and on Luxury a dedicated porter for each trekker. A solo Standard trekker has no porter, and the guide carries up to 10 kg. Budget has no porter.

Hotel nights in Pokhara and Kathmandu are not included, so we can fit them to your dates. Buy your travel insurance at home, and make sure it covers trekking to 5,000 m, including helicopter rescue.

Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also travel solo. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice, to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu, in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.

Questions people ask

Is the Panchase trek easy? It is one of the easier treks near Pokhara. The days are 3 to 5 hours, and the climb is steady on forest paths and steps.

Do I need a guide? A licensed guide walks with you on every trek we run.

Can I see Everest from Panchase? No. The sunrise view is of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu. Everest is not part of it.

What if the morning is cloudy? Clouds and haze are common, and no view can be promised. You still have the forest walk and the lake behind you.

Can I combine it with other treks? Yes. You can add a few days in Pokhara, or follow it with Australian Camp or Poon Hill on another day.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.