Panch Pokhari Trek is a unique and glorious trek in Nepal. This amazing trek has been recently opened, which offers us scared and pristine glacial Five Lakes, famous for Hindu pilgrimage trip. It is one of the best destinations due to its magnificent views of the Himalayas, charming biological diversities and natural surroundings. In comparison to other trekking routes, the trail of Panch Pokhari trek is less crowded. This trek offers you staggering views of the mountain, breathtakingly beautiful nature, and hospitable cultural experience. It is a complete blend of adventure; cultural exploration and natural vistas with rich biodiversity. In Nepali 'panch' means five and 'Pokhari' means pond, i.e. 'Five Ponds'. Panch Pokhari is a pilgrimage destination for both Hindus and Buddhists; lots of religious believers go to visit this place during the occasion of Janai Purnima. These religious visitors change their old sacred thread with new ones after bathing here. Throughout this trek, you can witness Jugal Himal, Mt. Gauri Shankar, Dorjee Lhakpa, Phurbi Himal, etc.
You shall start the trek from Chautara, after the drive from Kathmandu. Via Sano Okhareni, Kami Kharka, Pauwa Bas, Hile Bhanjyang, Narsim Pati, you shall reach all the way to Panch Pokhari. You shall, then, trek to Tupi Danda and arrive at Dhap. You shall spend an additional day exploring Dhap. From Dhap, you shall trek to Melamchi. Catching a bus from Melamchi, you arrive at Kathmandu. You do not require any athletic body fitness to complete this trek.
Short Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 m)
Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing
Day 3: Drive to Chautara (1,450 m)
Day 4: Trek to Sano Okhareni (1,965 m)
Day 5: Trek to Kami Kharka (2,810 m)
Day 6: Trek to Pauwa Bas (3,000 m)
Day 7: Trek to Hile Bhanjyang (3,400 m)
Day 8: Trek to Narsim Pati (3,700 m)
Day 9: Trek to Panch Pokhari (4,100 m)
Day 10: Trek to Tupi Danda (2,320 m)
Day 11: Trek to Dhap (1,200 m)
Day 12: Rest day at Dhap (1,200 m)
Day 13: Trek to Melamchi (800 m)
Day 14: Drive to Kathmandu (1,350 m)
Day 15: Free Day at Kathmandu.
Day 16: Final Departure
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 m)
Our representative shall receive you from the Tribhuvan International Airport and take you to your hotel. You can do some shopping for you trek starting from the following day. After a short debriefing session about the trek, we shall be sitting together in Welcome Dinner enjoying typical Nepalese dishes.
Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing
Next morning after having breakfast, we will manage you to visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as; Pashupatinath Temple, Swyambhunath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Boudhanath Stupa. In the evening, our representative will provide you with short explanations class about the further trek. You will stay overnight at the same hotel.
Day 3: Drive to Chautara (1,450 m)
It is a five-hour drive to Chautara from Kathmandu. Witnessing the terraced fields, scattered settlements over hills, and small shops beside highway roads, you shall ride all the way to Chautara. Watching the beautiful views of the mountains, you shall spend the night at Chautara. Your trekking shall start from the next day. over night at Tented camp
Day 4: Trek to Sano Okhareni (1,965 m)
Passing through dense forests and several villages inhabited by various ethnic tribes, you shall reach to Sano Okhareni. It shall take you about 5 hours to reach Sano Okhareni making gradual and easy ascents. You can find a dense forest near Sano Okhareni. Spend overnight at Sano Okhareni Tented camp.
Day 5: Trek to Kami Kharka (2,810 m)
You shall ascend uphill to reach Thulo Okhareni, which might take you around an hour. For the next four hours, the ascent can be quite challenging, as the trail is steep. You shall make through the forest full with pines and rhododendrons, witnessing some of the wild animals. Trekking further takes you to Kami Kharka. Stay overnight at Kami Kharka Tented camp.
Day 6: Trek to Pauwa Bas (3,000 m)
You shall be trekking on the relatively gentle trail through the dense forest, witnessing some wild animals. The interesting part of today's trekking is that you shall trek for about five hours through the forests rich in pines, oaks, junipers, and rhododendrons. You shall find the special arrangement of accommodation made for pilgrimage towards Panch Pokhari. Stay overnight at Pauwa Bas tented camp.
Day 7: Trek to Hile Bhanjyang (3,400 m)
After ascending uphill for about 3 hours, you shall descend through dense forest for an hour and a half. Throughout the trek, you shall enjoy the staggering views of the mountains. You might be exhausted for such a long duration of uphill and downhill trekking. Stay overnight at Hile Bhanjyang Tented camp.
Day 8: Trek to Narsim Pati (3,700 m)
For the first hour, you have to make through steep uphill. For the next three hours, you shall descend via the forest full of rhododendrons, and rocky hill. Resting at various tea houses arranged for pilgrims, you shall reach all the way to Narsim Pati. Stay overnight at Narsim Pati Tented camp
Day 9: Trek to Panch Pokhari (4,100 m)
You shall walk uphill for about 3 hours through rocky hills before reaching Panch Pokhari. Panch Pokhari is a really popular pilgrimage spot for Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims; a large ceremony is held during the occasion of Janai Purnima. And lots of pilgrims arrive here every year. Stay overnight at Panch Pokhari Tented camp.
Day 10: Trek to Tupi Danda (2,320 m)
Ascending for an hour and a half, you shall arrive at the spot that offers you the panoramic views of mountains such as Jugal Himal range, Mt. Dorje Lakpa, Rolwaling range, and Langtang Range. Then, returning back to Panch Pokhari, you shall trek through dense forest downhill to arrive at Tupi Danda. Stay overnight at Tupi Danda Tanted camp.
Day 11: Trek to Dhap (1,200 m)
After breakfast in the morning, you shall make steep descent downhill for a couple of hours, after which your descent becomes less challenging and easy. Trekking through terraced fields and several villages, you shall arrive at Dhap—the village inhabited by Tamang communities. The total trek shall take about 5 hours to reach Dhap from Tupi Danda. Stay overnight at Dhap Tented camp.
Day 12: Rest day in Dhap (1,200 m)
Dhap is the village which is dominantly inhabited by Tamang communities. It is an excellent opportunity to pay a closer look to the Tamang communities, their lifestyle, livelihood, tradition, norms and values, culture and social practices. Explore the local market, pay a visit to local temples, and make your stay here memorable. Stay overnight at Dhap Tented camp.
Day 13: Trek to Melamchi (800 m)
Trekking through terraced fields you shall descend down to the Indrawati River. Passing beautiful villages, witnessing the hydroelectricity project, you shall arrive at Melamchi via Tipini. Melamchi Pul Bazar lies at the bank of the Indrawati River and Melamchi Khola, acting as a busy business is in the whole region. You can find few schools, colleges, tea shops, lodges, etc. here. Stay overnight at Melamchi Pul Bazar Tented camp.
Day 14: Drive to Kathmandu (1,350 m)
From Melamchi Pul Bazar, after your breakfast in the morning, you shall catch a bus to Kathmandu. Witnessing the scattered village over hills, narrow highway shops, terraced fields, and fading mountains, you shall arrive at Kathmandu. Our representative shall take you to your hotel, where you might love to give your body a generous rest. Stay overnight at Kathmandu.
Day 15: Free Day at Kathmandu.
Today is your rest day at Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. You can stroll around the Thamel bazaar and do some shopping for the last time. In the evening, you can enjoy the farewell dinner with our team. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 16: Departure
When you are done with your bags and luggage, our representative shall take you from your hotel to the Tribhuvan International Airport within sufficient time before your departure flight. We shall bid our goodbyes and farewells and part away from the airport. Have a safe and happy journey back to your country.
Included in the Cost
- All the Airport pickup and drop by private vehicle, car/van or bus (depends on the group size)
- Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast at a 2-star level (4 nights)
- Kathmandu to Choutra and Melamchi Bazaar to Kathmandu by private vehicle
- One full day sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley (cultural Heritages, UNESCO World Heritage sites by Private Vehicle
- Entrance fee for Durbar Square, Temple, and Monuments during the city tour in Kathmandu Valley
- Professional English-speaking Tour guide during a city tour An experienced, Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and English speaking, government-licensed trekking guide
- All necessary potters/ponys/mules
- Every morning wake up call with Tea, Coffee and bowl of warm washing water
- Every afternoon after sattel the camp and kitchen serve cookies with Tea, Coffee and Hot Chocolates
- All fresh meals during the trek in our own kitchen(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) including seasonal fresh food and tea, coffee
- All camping gears(sleeping tents, dining tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents, mattresses, table and chairs,etc)
- Kitchen utensiles
- Kitchen crew(higly experinces cook, kitchen boy, helper and sherpas)
- All necessary paperwork such as Kanchenjunga Conservation Area entry fee, trekking permit, TIMS Card (Trekkers information Management system)
- Accommodation on the camp sites during the trek ( 11 nights 12 days)
- Mountain King Treks and Expedition printed T-Shirt, Duffel bag and Panch pokhari route map souvenir for you
- Welcome & fairwell dinner
- Group medical Supplies (First Aid Kit) carry by the guide
- All the meals, accommodation, equipment’s, salary, transportation, Insurance and local tax for all trekking staff
- Trip achievement appreciation certificate
- All the tax, vat, local tax, and services charge.
Not Included in the Cost
- International Airfare and Nepal entry visa
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Entrance fee for Temple, and Monuments during the city tour in Kathmandu Valley.
- Personal trekking gears
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Alcoholic beverages, hot water, mineral water during the trek.
- Personal expenses
- Tips for tour/trekking staff and driver
- Extra night Kathmandu Hotel early arrival from Trekking and late departure.
- Any other expenses which are not mentioned on price include a section
Trekking equipments
The main essentials to bring are:
- Sturdy and comfortable hiking boots, flip-flops
- Sleeping bag (depending on your accommodation) and -20 degree Celsius for colder regions
- Daypack, trekking bag pack, dry sack and camera bag
- Few changes of clothes for the varying temperatures
- For cold weather, hiking pants, thermals, gloves, neck warmer/scarf, beanie, a warm inner jacket and a windproof / waterproof outer jacket and down jacket are essential.
- Water purification supplies, a reusable water bottle and a camelback water bladder
- Sunscreen, Hat, sunglasses, moisturizing skin cream and lip balm
- Few snacks, granola bars
- Hiking stick or two
- Waterproof case, fabric bandages such as moleskin, a headlamp, altitude sickness and other medication
- Camera and binoculars.
- Hand sanitizers, toilet paper, band-aids, wet wipes
- Extra batteries (solar chargers recommended)
On the popular trekking routes, everyday supplies, such as toilet paper, soap, chocolate bars, and even basic hiking supplies can be purchased along the way, though prices rise dramatically as you go higher in elevation. Try to stock up lower down and buy locally-produced products such as fruit, biscuits etc. Maps are easy to find in Nepal. For the more difficult treks involving mountaineering, crampons and ice axes may be required. Simpler types of crampons, which attach to the shoe using a rubber ring, are easily obtainable in the Thamel neighborhood. These are variously known as spikes, micro spikes and chains.
