The short answer
Ghandruk, Siklis, Dhampus, Landruk and Tadapani are Gurung settlements in the Annapurna foothills. Ghandruk is the best known, with stone-slate houses, a museum and a ridge view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Many have homestay programmes.
Visit in the evening to see traditional dress and dances and in the morning for the mountain light. Walking between villages is a gentle way to see terraced farming and rhododendron forest.
Key facts
- Best known
- Ghandruk
- Others
- Siklis, Landruk, Dhampus
- Style
- Stone-slate houses
- Best months
- Mar to May, Oct to Nov
How it works
- Choose a villageSee Ghandruk.
- Reach itJeep from Pokhara or a short walk.
- Stay overnightBook a homestay.
- Walk the terracesMorning is best.
- Learn the cultureAsk about dress and festivals.
Insider tip
Spend the night, not just lunch; the village is best after the day-trippers leave.
Avoid this
Do not enter private houses or photograph shrines without invitation.
Related questions
Is Ghandruk far from Pokhara?
A few hours by road and short walk, depending on route.
Do I need a permit?
Annapurna area permits apply; see permits.
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