Kori Trek (Sikles area)
Kori Trek (Sikles area) with Rohit, a licensed local guide (#1497) with 5+ years on this route.
Kori Trek (Sikles area) at a glance
- Highest point
- about 3,800m
- Days
- 5-6
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Where
- Annapurna Conservation Area, Kaski District
- Starts from
- Pokhara
- Getting there
- Jeep from Pokhara to Sikles, about 50 km, 3 to 4 hours
A quiet ridge trek from Pokhara through the Gurung village of Sikles up to Kori Danda (about 3,800m), with open views of Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal and Machhapuchhre.
Overview
The Kori Trek sits in a corner of the Annapurna Conservation Area that most trekkers drive past on the way somewhere else. It begins in Sikles, one of the oldest and largest Gurung villages in the region, and climbs northeast through pine and rhododendron forest to Kori Danda, an open grassy ridge at about 3,800m. From the top the view runs across Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal and Machhapuchhre. Kapuche Glacier Lake (2,546m), one of the lowest glacier lakes in Nepal, can be added from Sikles as a side trip.
I started guiding this route a few years ago, partly because I was getting tired of seeing the same faces on the Ghorepani trail and wanted something quieter for clients who had done the classics. The trail rarely appears in agency brochures, which means you will likely have the teahouses and campsites to yourself, a genuine rarity in the Annapurna region these days. The Gurung households in Sikles and the small settlements along the way are welcoming, and if you go in spring the rhododendron bloom between 2,000m and 3,000m is as good as anywhere in Nepal.
This is a community-managed trail that does not appear in most printed guidebooks. The exact itinerary flexes depending on your group's pace and homestay availability at the upper settlements. The standard trip is five days. Add a sixth if you want to take in Kapuche Glacier Lake from Sikles as well.
Who this trek is for
Trekkers who have done the Ghorepani or Poon Hill circuit and want something quieter in the same region. Also good for anyone wanting a genuine Gurung cultural experience without heavy tourist infrastructure. Moderate fitness needed for the climb to Kori Danda. Note: this is a community-managed trail with limited documentation; itinerary may flex depending on homestay availability at the upper camps.
Best views & moments
- Kori Danda (about 3,800m): a wide ridge-top viewpoint over Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal and Machhapuchhre
- Sikles village, one of the largest traditional Gurung settlements in the Annapurna foothills
- Optional side trip to Kapuche Glacier Lake (2,546m), one of the lowest glacier lakes in Nepal
- Rhododendron forest in full bloom between 2,000m and 3,000m (March-April)
- Quiet trails: virtually no commercial trekking traffic compared to Ghorepani or Mardi Himal routes
- Homestay night with a Gurung family in Sikles
Day-by-day itinerary
Jeep about 50km from Pokhara to Sikles (approx. 1,980m), three to four hours on a rough road. Sikles sits on a broad ridge above the Madi River valley with commanding views of Annapurna II. We settle in with a local Gurung family for the night.
A steady climb through mixed forest: oak and rhododendron at lower elevations giving way to pine. We gain the ridge above Sikles and follow it northeast to the high pastures at Tasha, four to five hours on foot. Good first views of Lamjung Himal open up on the approach.
The crux of the trek: roughly 1,100m of climbing over five to six hours, out of the forest and onto the open ridge of Kori Danda. On a clear evening Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal and Machhapuchhre line up in front of you. We sleep up here, in a tent or a seasonal hut depending on the time of year.
Sunrise from the ridge if the weather holds, then back down the same way to Tasha, four to five hours. The descent is quicker than the climb but steep in places.
Down through the forest to Sikles, four to five hours, then the jeep back to Pokhara, arriving by evening. Add a day here if you want to visit Kapuche Glacier Lake (2,546m) from Sikles.
Route & terrain
The route begins at Sikles, one of the largest Gurung villages in Kaski District, about 50km by road from Pokhara (three to four hours by jeep). From Sikles the trail climbs northeast along the main ridge through rhododendron and pine forest to the pastures at Tasha (about 2,700m), then on to the open ridge of Kori Danda at about 3,800m. The return follows the same ridge back to Sikles. Kapuche Glacier Lake (2,546m) can be added from Sikles as a side trip. The trail is not waymarked for independent trekkers; a local guide is essential.
General info
Difficulty & preparation
Rated Moderate. The main challenge is day three, the climb from Tasha to Kori Danda, which gains roughly 1,100m over five to six hours on an uneven trail. Below Tasha the route is straightforward forest walking on good paths. There are no exposed sections or technical ground. Good fitness and sturdy footwear matter more than any prior trekking experience. The descent from Kori Danda is steep in places and can be slippery in wet weather.
How to prepare
There is no rest day in the standard itinerary, but you sleep high for one night only. Basic cardiovascular fitness (able to walk five to seven hours with some load) is sufficient. Train with uphill walking if you can. The trail above Tasha is not well maintained compared to commercial routes, so ankle stability is worth considering. Bring warm layers for the night on Kori Danda, even in autumn; the open ridge catches the wind. I carry a first aid kit and an emergency shelter on this route as teahouse support above Sikles is limited.
Permits you'll need
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000 (foreigners) / NPR 1,000 (SAARC nationals)
Issued in Pokhara (NTNC Damside office) or Kathmandu. Mandatory before entering the conservation area from Sikles.
TIMS Card
NPR 2,000 (foreigners) / NPR 1,000 (SAARC nationals)
Trekkers' Information Management System card. Issued at Nepal Tourism Board office in Pokhara or Kathmandu.
I handle all permit paperwork as your licensed guide.
Altitude & acclimatisation
Maximum altitude is about 3,800m at Kori Danda, and day three gains roughly 1,100m, so this is a real altitude day even though the trek is short. Mild symptoms (slight headache, reduced appetite) are common on the ridge. You sleep high for one night only and descend the next morning. Descend straight away if symptoms get worse. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and don't rush the climb on day three.
Food & accommodation
Accommodation in Sikles is in Gurung family homestays: simple but clean rooms, shared facilities, home-cooked meals. Above Sikles the options thin out significantly; at Tasha and on Kori Danda there may be a basic seasonal lodge, but this is not guaranteed. I recommend treating the upper section as a camping arrangement if availability is uncertain. Meals are dal bhat, noodles, and simple Nepali home food throughout.
What to pack
Layers are essential above 3,000m even in October and November. Temperatures on Kori Danda can drop sharply overnight. Waterproof outer layer, insulating mid-layer, warm gloves, and a buff cover the range of conditions. Trekking poles help on the steep descent from Kori Danda. Bring a reusable water bottle and purification tablets. Clean water is available at homestays but not always along the upper trail. A headtorch with spare batteries is useful if the homestay has no grid power.
Frequently asked questions
The best windows are spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November). In winter the upper trail above 3,000m is snowbound and potentially dangerous. Monsoon season (June to September) makes the trail muddy and leechy below the treeline, and cloud usually hides the views from Kori Danda. I only guide this route in spring and autumn.
Sikles has reliable homestay accommodation. Above Sikles, at Tasha and on Kori Danda, facilities are basic, seasonal and not always open, so some nights may be in tents. I plan this case by case.
Mardi Himal reaches higher (4,500m) and has considerably more teahouse infrastructure. The Kori Trek is shorter, lower, and quieter: better if you want a Gurung culture experience rather than a pure altitude objective. The views of the Annapurna range are similar from the ridge.
Since April 2023, foreign nationals are required by law to trek with a licensed guide in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Beyond the regulation, the upper trail above Sikles is not waymarked and navigation without local knowledge is genuinely difficult, especially in cloud.
The road to Sikles is a jeep track: rough, unpaved for the last section, and occasionally blocked after heavy rain in monsoon. Allow two to two-and-a-half hours from Pokhara by local jeep or chartered vehicle. The journey is part of the experience and passes through lower Madi River valley.
Sources & references
Ready to book Kori Trek (Sikles area)?
Licensed guide #1497, 5+ years guiding this route. Plan every detail directly with Rohit.