Panchase Trek takes us on an eight-day trekking trip through the Panchase forest in the Annapurna Region. This journey not only brings out the hidden beauty of the region but also gets us close to the Magar, Gurung, and Brahman cultures.
Start this Panchase Trek with an early morning long drive to the lakes, Pokhara. The drive takes us along the Prithvi Highway along the Trishuli River. While at Pokhara, enjoy a short boating session at the Fewa Lake. The next day, our hike takes us through the village of Thado Khola to arrive at Bumdi. This village is home to Magar and Brahman people. After breakfast the following day, we officially enter the Panchase forest.
The forest is filled with rich flora and fauna, and while here, we’ll also get to enjoy the smell and beauty of Nepal’s national flower, the Rhododendron. The narrow forest trail will take us first to Thulunchaur village and then to Panchase village. While here, we’ll hike up a steep set of stairs to get to Panchase Peak. This peak holds a small temple and museum at the top.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu peaks. Get back to Panchase village for breakfast. Then, we hike downhill through the forest trail to Bhadaure and Naudada before driving back to Pokhara and Kathmandu to end our short trip.
The Panchase Trek is designed for those who want to explore the relatively new and unknown trail of the Annapurna Region.
Panchase is a hill station that towers up Pokhara, and you can see a complete view of the town from the top. The place is the bridge of five hills and covers the districts of Kaski, Parvat, and Syangjha. Panchase Bhanjyang lies from 800m to 2500m from the sea level and is the highest elevation point you will visit during the trek.
Previously, Panchase Hill was the meditation point for the sages, Guru, and holy saints, where they would spend many days meditating, but in late 2023, the place was damaged by the nearby forest fire, which forced them to move to different places. The local people, along with the government’s aid, rebuilt Panchase Hill, after which it was prepared to be a tourist destination and a trekking area for trekkers worldwide.
Panchase is not only famous for religious places and cattle grazing but is also an essential place for tourists worldwide to acknowledge some of the best views. Many worldwide trekkers trek to the spot to reach it early in the morning to view a magnificent sunrise.
Panchase Hill is a beautiful tourist attraction; however, the trek towards Panchase Hill is an adventure in itself, as many attractions surround your destination. So let’s get into it.
One of the significant trekking attractions around Panchase Hill is the Siddha Baba temple, which is very important for the local people around the hill station. People from all over Nepal visit the temple, especially the Hindus of Pokhara, Gorkha, and Palpa. The pilgrims of Nepal worship Lord Shiva at the Siddha Baba temple. The visitors pray with Lord Shiva for their greatest wish, and when the wish is fulfilled, there is the ritual of releasing a pigeon.
Apart from Siddha Baba temple, you can visit the iconic and beautiful Panchase Lake. Panchase Lake is bright blue and one of the cleanest lakes in the region. The Panchase Lake is also the source of the famous Fewa Lake, so trekkers and tourists get intrigued by Panchase Lake whenever they visit Pokhara and Fewa Tal. The surroundings of Panchase Lake are full of rhododendron forests, giant hill trails to see mountains and temples for the local people to worship.
Another popular tourist attraction around the Panchase area is the Viewpoint Tower, which lies on a higher elevation but is lower than the Panchase Peak. The Viewpoint Tower is the perfect place to see the complete Pokhara Valley and a mesmerising view of the Fewa Lake and Panchase Lake as the bird’s eye view. The surrounding places of the viewpoint tower are also appropriate places for resting and having lunch, or they are used as picnic spots for the local families.
Another major attraction around Panchase Hill is the several temples and monasteries that might attract tourists from Tibet or Buddhist countries or those from Western culture eager to learn about new cultures, lifestyles, and civilisations. These monasteries are 100 years old but are still conserved by the local people with the government’s help. The atmosphere inside the monastery is tranquil and peaceful, so you are prohibited from talking in louder voices or shouting. Several monasteries with Buddha statues were made several hundred years ago. This is also why the place is not only dear to Hindus but also to Buddhist people worldwide.
Like every trekking destination, familiarity with the best time or season to go on the Panchase trek is essential. Generally, the best trek time in Nepal depends on the season you plan to trek.
So, let’s look at which season is the best for the Panchase Trek.
Autumn Season is the best season to go on the Panchase Trek. The season falls from September to November and is perfect for the Panchase trek simply because the weather is more relaxed, with clear blue skies and no rainfall probability. The Autumn season also starts after Dashain and Tihar, the largest festival in Nepal, which means the people are still in the mood for the festival, but the trek route or the temples are less crowded, so you have plenty of freedom to explore around.
Another excellent season for the Panchase Trek is spring, from March to May. The Spring season also has clear blue skies and cool temperatures but has an occasional chance for rainfall. The Spring is also when Nepalese people celebrate Dashain and Tihar, which can make your trek around the temple and stupas a bit more crowded, and some might not like the crowded places. Besides minor rainfall and a more congested experience, Spring is still the best season for the Panchase trek.
Winter and Monsoon seasons are considered the worst seasons for the Panchase trek in Nepal. In the winter, the atmosphere is too cold, with foggy weather, which will block the fantastic view from Panchase Peak. Furthermore, going to the top of the mountain peaks is prohibited during winter, and there is also the chance of cold rainfall.
Monsoon season is also not fun for Phanchase trekking mainly because continuous heavy rainfall for several days will ruin the fun, making the route slippery, wet, and challenging to hike. There is also a high risk of floods and landslides in places on high hills and the banks of rivers.
If you plan the Panchase trek, you can book it during the Autumn and Spring seasons.
We offer fixed departure dates. If these dates are not suitable for you or if you prefer to schedule your own departure, please contact us.
Panchase Trek is the trek around Pokhara city, but it does not lie in the Annapurna region. The trekkers on the route of Annapurna Base Camp Trek or Annapurna Circuit Trek can expand for a few days to explore the Panchase Trek areas, adding a few more memories that will last for a lifetime.
In case of difficulty, Panchase Trek is one of the easier treks to complete, and even beginners can quickly assemble this trek without any difficulty. Anyone who wants to build their trekking experience to go to more challenging treks can start with the Panchase Trek.
The only difficulty the trekkers can face during the Panchase Trek is the constant walking up and down trails for six to seven hours daily. Generally, the Panchase trek lasts from 3 to 9 days based on the surroundings you are trying to visit, but the atmosphere is pleasant; the place is beautiful with the availability of proper basic accommodation, and many attractions can indulge you and will not make you bored.
Many people often need clarification if they get altitude sickness during the Panchase trek, which is not the case. It is one of the lowest area trekking destinations, meaning the altitude is not as high to get affected by altitude sickness. The highest elevation of this trek is the Panchase peak at 2517m, so there is absolutely zero chance of altitude sickness. You must be careful about eating hygienic and healthy foods and water and be cautious with the cold atmosphere, especially during winter and autumn.
