Kori Danda Trek
Tour Highlights
- Lesser-known route from Sikles village
- Day excursion to Kapuche Lake at 6,890 feet
- Ridge at Kori Danda at 12,467 feet
- Pokhara, Peace Pagoda, and Phewa Lake
- Kathmandu Durbar Square and Bhaktapur
Tour code
NPKTM-KDT01
Duration
11 days
Difficulty
Beginner
Highest point
12,467 ft
Best season
Spring & Autumn
Kori Danda sits above the Sikles region, north of Pokhara, on a route that sees a fraction of the traffic of the Annapurna circuit or the Poon Hill trek. The walk follows old village paths up through forest and pasture to a ridge at 12,467 feet, with the high Annapurna peaks rising directly behind. It is an eleven-day itinerary combining the trek itself with time in Pokhara and the cultural sites of the Kathmandu Valley at either end.
A quieter line into the Annapurnas
The route starts at Sikles, one of the larger Gurung villages in the region, and climbs through Hugu Goth and Nohtha to the ridge at Kori Danda. A day excursion to Kapuche Lake at 6,890 feet is built into the second day, both for the lake itself and to help with acclimatisation. The descent comes back down the same valley over a single long day.
What it feels like on the ground
Walking days are five to six hours on village paths and forest trails, with one sustained climb to the ridge. Lodges along the route are simple and family-run, with dal bhat and noodle dishes as the standard fare. The country is open and the views build steadily as the trek gains height.
Prayer wheels on the Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
Practical notes
The trek is rated beginner level but reasonable hill-walking fitness is needed for the five to six hour days. The highest point at 12,467 feet is high enough that some trekkers feel mild altitude effects; the gradual ascent is designed to limit this. Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the recommended seasons. Proper walking boots, a warm jacket for the ridge night, and a good sleeping bag rating are essential.
Itinerary
- 1Day 1
Arrival in Kathmandu
Airport transfer and overnight in Kathmandu.
- 2Day 2
Fly to Pokhara, drive to Sikles, trek to Hugu Goth
Morning flight to Pokhara, two hour drive to Sikles, and a five hour trek to Hugu Goth.
- 3Day 3
Excursion to Kapuche Lake
Day excursion to Kapuche Lake at 6,890 feet (three hours) and return to Hugu Goth.
- 4Day 4
Hugu Goth to Nohtha
Five hour trek to Nohtha at 9,843 feet.
- 5Day 5
Nohtha to Kori Danda
Five hour trek to the ridge at Kori Danda at 12,467 feet.
- 6Day 6
Kori Danda to Sikles
Six hour descent back down to Sikles at 6,398 feet.
- 7Day 7
Drive to Pokhara
Return drive to Pokhara and afternoon at the Peace Pagoda and Pundikot, with a boat ride on Phewa Lake.
- 8Day 8
Fly to Kathmandu, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight back to Kathmandu and check in at hotel.
Afternoon visit to Pashupatinath, the most revered place in Nepal, with its ghats and its many Hindu ascetics, the sadhus. Only Hindus may enter the inner temple dedicated to Lord Shiva; the pagoda-shaped roof is made of gold and silver. On the banks of the Bagmati, the dead are dipped three times into the river before cremation. Then on to Boudhanath, known as Mini Tibet, where the first stupa was built after AD 600. Overnight at hotel.
- 9Day 9
Kathmandu Durbar Square
From 0900, walking tour to Kathmandu Durbar Square: the Vishnu Temple, Akash Bhairav, Kal Bhairav, Swet Bhairav, the Virgin Goddess Kumari, Ganesh Mandir, Nasal Chowk, Hanuman Dhoka, and Gaddhi Baithak. Overnight at hotel.
- 10Day 10
Bhaktapur
Short drive to Bhaktapur, the former royal capital and one of the most beautiful cities in the Kathmandu valley, with its medieval appearance kept intact.
Visit the eighteenth century Natyapola Temple dedicated to the goddess Siddhi Lakshmi, the Bhairavnath Temple, Taleju Bhawani Temple, Dattatreya Temple, Wakupati Narayana Temple, Indrayani Temple, and Siddhi Lakshmi Temple. Back to hotel in Kathmandu.
- 11Day 11
Departure
Transfer to the airport for onward travel.
Please note: the order of stops and the timings shown are approximate and may change on the day for your safety and the best experience. See our Tour Terms & Conditions.
What's Included
- Trekking permit and TIMS card
- Guide and porter salary and insurance
- Domestic air ticket
- City tour in Kathmandu with guide
- Monument entry fees
- Three nights hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Two nights hotel in Pokhara with breakfast
- Five nights trek lodge accommodation
Not Included
- Meals during the trek (paid directly at lodges)
- Personal travel insurance
- Tipping
- Anything beyond the itinerary
- Rescue and evacuation
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Tour code: NPKTM-KDT01
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