Dhampus Sarangkot Hiking

Transfer from Pokhara city to the trailhead at Phedi (1,130m) — a 30-minute drive. The hike to Dhampus climbs through forest and terraced farmland, steadily gaining altitude until the ridge opens to reveal the full Annapurna Range: Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain) at 6,993m dominates the view, with Annapurna South and Hiunchuli flanking it. Dhampus is a classic Gurung village of stone houses and flower gardens, perched on the ridge with arguably the finest view of Machhapuchhre in Nepal. Overnight in a comfortable guesthouse with panoramic mountain views. Walking time: 2–3 hours. Meals: All included.

Morning sunrise over Annapurna from your Dhampus guesthouse — wake before 6am to watch the peaks glow gold and pink as the first light catches the high snow. After breakfast, the trail contours along the ridge through oak and rhododendron forest towards Sarangkot. The views throughout this section are consistently spectacular — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I through IV, Machhapuchhre, and on exceptionally clear days, Manaslu. Sarangkot is the famous paragliding and sunrise viewpoint above Pokhara, with a cluster of guesthouses and restaurants. Walking time: 4–5 hours. Meals: All included.

Rise at 4:30am for the Sarangkot sunrise — the most famous mountain viewpoint accessible from Pokhara. The entire Annapurna chain, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu all visible simultaneously above a sea of cloud in the valleys below. Return to the guesthouse for breakfast, then descend to Pokhara (1 hour) for your onward travel. Airport transfer to Pokhara or Kathmandu as required. Walking time: 1 hour descent. Meals: Breakfast.