Sarangkot Sunrise Hike

The Sarangkot sunrise hike is a one-day pre-dawn walk from Sedi Bagar, on the north side of Pokhara's Lakeside, up stone steps and forest paths to the Sarangkot viewpoint at 1,592 m, with a walk or taxi ride back down. On our map the round trip is about 7.5 km with 770 m of climbing. A guide to the classic footpath gives two to three hours up at an easy pace, faster coming down, and another account puts the whole free hike at three to five hours. Start between 4:30 and 5:30 am so that you reach the top 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise, when Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South catch the first light. Reaching Sedi by taxi takes 15 to 25 minutes. The viewpoint charges a small fee. Take a headlamp, warm clothes and water.

The plan follows an Adventure Collective guide to the footpath and a travel blog that walked it, with a Wikipedia entry for the hill. They agree on the height of about 1,600 m, with 1,592 m on the observation deck, and on a climb of 700 to 800 m. The blog counts 11 km from the lakeside; our map starts at Sedi Bagar and is shorter.

What the hike is like

The classic footpath climbs through Sedi and Sarangkot villages and sal and pine forest on stone steps and dirt trail, with periodic stair-lanes. The steps are well laid and well used. At the top a viewing deck sits about 50 m of stairs above the parking area, with tea and breakfast nearby; the blog estimated about 200 people there at sunrise. The view takes in Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and, on clear days, Dhaulagiri, with Pokhara and Phewa Lake below.

Permits and rules

No park permit applies. The viewpoint charges NPR 60 per person according to a travel blog, and a guide says a small local viewpoint fee may apply, so carry small notes. Mind the stone steps and the edges of the ridge in the dark.

Best season

An operator says you can do the hike at any time of year. Clear mornings are best in autumn (October to November) and spring (March to April). Sunrise falls between about 5:10 and 7:00 am depending on the month.

Getting there and away

Take a taxi from Lakeside to Sedi, 15 to 25 minutes. If you prefer to ride up, a taxi quote to the viewpoint was NPR 1,500, and NPR 2,000 to the summit, in a blog updated in 2026; another traveller paid NPR 1,800 for a taxi that waited two hours. The drive takes about 30 minutes.

Difficulty and fitness

The hike is moderate: 770 m of climbing in about 3.7 km, mostly on steps. Start with a headlamp, carry water, and take it slowly in the dark.

Budget notes

There is no permit. Budget for the taxi to Sedi, the viewpoint fee of NPR 60 and breakfast at the top. The costs section shows the taxi as a line to check.