Drive from Kathmandu to Chhimti through Melamchi, about five to six hours depending on traffic and road works, then start walking. The trail climbs about 6 km and 1,050 m through forest and terraces to Tuppi Danda, in about four hours, and the lodge there is your first night. Operators give two different heights for Tuppi Danda, 2,019 m and 2,320 m, and the elevation model puts the stop near 2,900 m, so we state none. Walk slowly and drink plenty: you gain over a thousand metres on your first afternoon, straight after a long drive. Pack snacks and water at Chhimti.
Panch Pokhari Trek
A five-day trek from Chhimti, near Melamchi, up through Tuppi Danda and Nesyampati to the five sacred lakes of Panch Pokhari at about 4,100 m in the Jugal Himal.
- Days5
- Max altitude4,100 m
- Distance33.2 km
- Ascent2,813 m
- DifficultyModerate–hard
- Best monthsMar–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits3
Photo: RiCEKiLLER · CC BY-SA 4.0
This itinerary is a draft and hasn't been verified yet. Always confirm stages with your guide.
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Panch Pokhari Trek is a 5-day trek in the Jugal Himal region of Nepal that climbs to 4,100 m. Foreign trekkers can find a partner for it on FindTrekkingPartner by posting a trip with their dates, budget and pace. Matches stay private until both trekkers agree, and the service is free. At mid-range rates a licensed guide costs about USD 47 per person over 5 days when four trekkers share, against USD 187 for one trekker alone. The best seasons are Mar–May, Oct–Nov. A licensed guide is required in practice here: the Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 rule is reported by 2026 operators to be enforced at checkpoints in national parks and conservation areas, with Langtang the strictest and Annapurna checking too (checked 19 October 2026). Hire a guide through a registered agency and confirm with them. Last verified: October 19, 2026. Sources: Nepal Tourism Board, DNPWC, Department of Immigration.
Sources:Department of Immigration, NepalNepal Tourism BoardDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
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Overview
Starts from Kathmandu5 days · max 4,100 m
Best seasons: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · Permits: No restricted-area permit, TIMS card where your agency requires it, Ask your agency about a park or local fee: the lakes lie near Langtang National Park
The Panch Pokhari trek is a five-day walk from the road at Chhimti, a few hours north of Melamchi, to a cluster of five alpine lakes at about 4,100 m below the Jugal Himal in Sindhupalchok District. It starts with a five to six hour drive from Kathmandu, then climbs about 6 km to the night stop at Tuppi Danda, continues to the hotel at Nesyampati at about 3,700 m, and reaches the lakes on the third day. The lakes are sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, and pilgrims come in August for Janai Purnima. The return follows the same trail, so the trek is out and back, with about 33 km of walking and 2,800 m of climbing in total. The trail is mostly a footpath and only partly marked, lodging is basic, and nights at 3,700 m and 4,100 m are cold.
The plan follows the short route described by Nepal Traveller, which gives the Chhimti start, the stop at Tuppi Danda and the timings, and it uses the Nesyampati and lake heights that two operators agree on. A longer route from Chautara, ten to sixteen days with camping, joins the same trail at Nesyampati. The lakes are not a restricted area, but ask your agency about any park or local fee, because the area lies next to Langtang National Park. The best months are March to May and October to November, when the weather is steady and the views of Dorje Lakpa are at their best.
Difficulty and fitness
The trek is moderate to hard for its length. You climb about 2,500 m in three days, sleep at about 3,700 m and 4,100 m, and the descent on day four is long. It suits fit walkers who have trekked before and know how they respond to altitude. Poles help on the descent, and a spare day after the trek covers road delays.
Budget notes
Nepal Traveller quotes NPR 7,000 to 10,000 per person for the short trek including transport, meals and lodging, which reflects independent travel on a budget. Our estimate on the costs section uses Nepal-wide lodge and meal ranges plus a guide, a porter and road transport, and shows the fare for the road as a line to check.
What to pack
A warm sleeping bag, down jacket, hat and gloves for nights at 3,700 m and 4,100 m, waterproofs, poles, water treatment and a head torch. Lodges are basic, so carry snacks.
Highlights
- Panch Pokhari, five alpine lakes at about 4,100 m under Dorje Lakpa and Phurbi Chyachu
- A viewpoint about 45 minutes above the lakes at about 4,300 m
- Tamang hill villages and forest between Chhimti and Nesyampati
- A quiet trail close to Kathmandu, with no restricted-area permit
- Janai Purnima in August, when pilgrims bathe in the lakes
Route map
Route data from OpenStreetMap, not yet checked by our team. Use it for planning, not navigation.
Day by day
A climb of about 5.7 km and 850 m takes four to five hours, by our estimate, from Tuppi Danda through forest and past Ratomato and Chokkardada, a ridge at about 3,100 m, to Nesyampati, where a hotel stands at about 3,700 m. The Nepal Traveller guide names a homestay and lodge here, and two operators agree on the height. The forest thins and the trail crosses rock and grass as you climb. It is a short day by distance, so there is time to rest, and a second night above 3,500 m is the best acclimatisation you can give yourself before the lakes.
A climb of about 4.9 km and 600 m, four to five hours, leads from Nesyampati through rock and tussock to Panch Pokhari, at about 4,100 m. Nepal Traveller says four hours and operators say five to six, and our estimate falls between. The five lakes lie in a shallow basin under the Jugal Himal, and a hotel stands beside them. In the afternoon you can walk about 45 minutes to a viewpoint at about 4,300 m, or rest. It is the highest night of the trek, and it will be cold, so bring a warm sleeping bag and hat.
Start early. A 30 to 60 minute walk to a viewpoint above the lakes at sunrise is optional, and then the long descent begins: about 10.6 km and 1,440 m down to Tuppi Danda, six to seven hours with the viewpoint, according to the operator itinerary. The trail is steep and rocky near the top and hard on the knees below, so use poles. You pass Nesyampati and Chokkardada on the way. Most of the descent is on loose path, and in rain or snow it is slippery. The lodge at Tuppi Danda is a welcome stop after the long day.
A walk of about 6 km, mostly downhill with 1,050 m of descent, takes you to Chhimti in about two hours, according to the Nepal Traveller guide. A vehicle meets you at the road and drives you back to Kathmandu through Melamchi in five to six hours, so you reach the city in the evening. Keep a margin for road conditions: landslides and road works between Melamchi and Chhimti can add hours, particularly after rain. If your flight home is the same night, leave a spare day after the trek.
Acclimatisation
Sleeping altitude night by night. Bars in red climb more than 500 m from the night before; rest days are marked.
- Sleeping altitude
- Gain over 500 m
- Rest day
What it costs
Estimated all-in cost per person: lodge and food by altitude, transport, permits, and the guide and porters. The more trekkers share a guide and porters, the less each person pays. As of October 2026.
| Style | 1 trekker | 2 trekkers sharing | 4 trekkers sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $110–$180* | $110–$180* | $110–$180* |
| Mid-range | $360–$550* | $250–$390* | $210–$330* |
| Comfort | $400–$610* | $330–$500* | $290–$440* |
Share a guide, save money
At mid-range, a solo trekker pays about $360–$550; four trekkers sharing one guide and two porters pay about $210–$330 each (40% less at the top of the range).
Breakdown for 2 trekkers sharing
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge and food | $100–$160 | $130–$210 | $170–$270 |
| Permits | $10–$20 | $10–$20 | $10–$20 |
| Guide | — | $70–$120 | $70–$120 |
| Porters | — | $30–$60 | $60–$110 |
Budget uses public transport and no porter; mid-range shares one porter between two trekkers and a private vehicle; comfort gives each trekker a porter. A guide is included where one is required or the style is mid-range or comfort.
Nightly lodge and food (room and a dal bhat meal)
3 nights 2,500 to 3,800 m: room $4–$11, dal bhat $5–$11 · 1 night Above 3,800 m: room $7–$19, dal bhat $8–$13
Permit fees (official sources)
- TIMS card (trekking agency issued): NPR 2,000 per entry Source
Not included
No published price found for: Kathmandu to Chhimti by road (return). Totals marked * leave these out; ask your agency. Lodges at Tuppi Danda, Nesyampati and the lakes are basic. Nepal Traveller quotes NPR 7,000 to 10,000 per person for the short trek including transport; the road fare is not in this estimate. Ask your agency whether a park or local fee applies.
Cost sources
- PriceNepal: Nepal Travel Cost Guide 2026 (2026-05-14)
- Third Rock Adventures: Nepal trek budget planner (2026-05-09)
- Himalayan Partner: Guide and porter price in Nepal 2026 (2026-02-10)
- Shikhar Adventure: Annapurna Circuit trek cost (2026-02-03)
- Nepal Tourism Board: Trekking Permit (2026-10-18)
Estimates from operator guides, not quotes. Tips, insurance, gear and Kathmandu hotels are not included; USD at the platform exchange rate.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
This plan takes five days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu: one day of driving and walking up to Tuppi Danda, two climbing days to Nesyampati and the lakes, and two days down. Nepal Traveller describes a four-day version that goes from Tuppi Danda to the lakes in a single long day, and operators sell fifteen and sixteen day plans from Chautara.
About 4,100 m. Wikipedia, Nepal Traveller and two operators agree, and the elevation model gives about 4,060 m at the lake. A viewpoint above the lakes at about 4,300 m is a 30 to 45 minute walk.
The area is not on the Nepal Tourism Board's restricted-area list, so you do not need a Department of Immigration permit. Wikipedia places the lakes near Langtang National Park, and we found no official page that sets a fee for this trek, so ask your agency what it has arranged. A TIMS card may be requested.
March to May and October to November have the steadiest weather. Winter is possible with snow equipment, and in August the lakes are crowded with pilgrims at Janai Purnima, so book lodging early or avoid that week.
There are basic lodges at Tuppi Danda, a homestay and lodge at Nesyampati and a hotel at the lakes, according to Nepal Traveller. Operators note that some sections of the longer routes have no settlement, so those plans use tents.
Sources
Along the trail
Stays, medical help, water and sights on each day of the route.
1. Kathmandu → Tuppi Danda
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.2. Tuppi Danda → Nesyampati
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.3. Nesyampati → Panch Pokhari
- Nesyampati · Stays · 3,657 m
- Nasim Pati 3,700m · Viewpoints · 3,658 m
- Paanchpokhari · Nature · 4,062 m
4. Panch Pokhari → Tuppi Danda
- Paanchpokhari · Nature · 4,056 m
- Paanch Pokhari · Practical · 4,050 m
5. Tuppi Danda → Kathmandu
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.
Last verified on Oct 19, 2026Report outdated info