Pokhara to Nayapul, Kande and Siwai: Annapurna trailheads

The Annapurna foothill treks start from five roadside points near Pokhara: Nayapul for Poon Hill, Khopra Ridge and Ghandruk, Kande for Mardi Himal, Phedi for the Dhampus climb, Siwai for Annapurna Base Camp and a boat across Phewa Lake for Panchase. All are a short drive from the city, and the usual choice is a local bus for one or two trekkers and a shared taxi for a pair or group. This guide says which trek starts where, what our cost tables give for the fares, how long the road takes where we have a source and where each trek finishes, since the return ride matters as much as the start.

We quote fares only where our cost tables have them. Where they do not, we say so and tell you how to agree a price. All figures are as of October 2026, from tables verified on 18 October 2026.

Which trailhead for which trek

Notice that several treks finish somewhere other than where they began. Poon Hill ends via Ghandruk and Nayapul, Mardi Himal ends at Siding, and Annapurna Base Camp ends at Jhinu Danda. Arrange the pickup in advance; a driver waiting at the finish saves an hour of negotiation when you are tired.

Nayapul

Nayapul is the roadside start for Poon Hill, Khopra Ridge and Ghandruk in our route data. Our Ghandruk cost table gives a local bus from Pokhara at about NPR 270 to 670 per person (USD 2 to 5 in a 2025 guide, converted at NPR 134). The return from Kimche by jeep or bus is about NPR 540 to 670. No fixed taxi fare is published in our sources, so a taxi is a quote to agree before you leave.

A local bus is the cheapest option and gives a view of everyday life, but we found no timetable we can verify, so ask locally when it leaves. If you carry a rucksack and a duffel, ask the driver where they will go. A taxi or jeep is better for a pair or for an early start. The ride cost is per vehicle, so sharing with a trekking partner halves it.

Have your permit and passport ready for the checkpoint on the trail, and see the permit notes below.

Kande, Phedi and the Dhampus side

Phedi (for the climb to Dhampus) and Kande (for Australian Camp and Mardi Himal) are both about an hour from Pokhara by road in our Pokhara region note. Our route pages show them as taxi legs with no published fare: Pokhara to Phedi by taxi, and Kande to Pokhara by taxi. That is the usual arrangement for the short Australian Camp trek, with a taxi at each end.

For Mardi Himal, the first day is a drive to Kande and a walk through Australian Camp and Pothana to Forest Camp at about 2,500 m. Taking the taxi to Kande rather than Phedi saves you the first climb but adds nothing to the trek's character, and our Mardi Himal itinerary explains each day. The finish at Siding, descending from High Camp, is a longer walk of 5 to 6 hours plus a drive back to Pokhara.

Siwai and the Annapurna Base Camp road

Annapurna Base Camp starts with a drive from Pokhara to Siwai and a trek to Jhinu Danda at about 1,780 m on day one, according to our route page, then on via Chhomrong. Our cost table has a single line for Pokhara to the Siwai trailhead, out and back, by taxi or jeep, with no published fare. The practical advice is to arrange a vehicle through your agency or hotel, and to agree a return pickup at Jhinu Danda or the road below on day seven. See our Annapurna Base Camp itinerary for the days.

The boat start for Panchase

The Panchase trek starts with a boat across Phewa Lake, then a walk to Bumdi, with a road alternative to Bhadaure in about an hour and a half, per our Pokhara region note. It finishes with a walk to Naudanda and a drive to Pokhara, which our table prices as a taxi from Naudanda with no published fare. The Panchase trek guide has the details.

How to arrange the ride

1. Decide bus, shared taxi or private taxi. One trekker: local bus. Two or more with luggage: a taxi, shared.
2. Ask your hotel to arrange it. A hotel in Lakeside usually knows a reliable driver, and the price they quote is a reference.
3. Agree the fare and the destination before you get in. Say exactly which trailhead, and whether the fare is per vehicle or per person.
4. Arrange the return pickup in advance where the trek ends elsewhere.
5. Start early. Most treks begin with a climb, and early starts avoid the heat of the day.
6. Keep small notes for the fare and for tea on the way.

See jeep and bus costs to Nepal trailheads for the fares we have and shared jeep versus private jeep versus bus for the choice.

Permits and the guide rule

All of these treks are inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so the ACAP permit applies: NPR 3,000 for foreigners, with a 2.9% gateway charge when paid online and a doubled price at a check post, according to the NTNC e-permit page. Some routes also list a TIMS card. The Nepal Tourism Board rule of April 2023 requires a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas; as of 19 October 2026, 2026 operator reports say checkpoints enforce it in Annapurna. Our route pages for Ghandruk and Australian Camp say a guide is required in practice for that reason. Sources disagree on whether the shortest foothill walks need the permit at all, so confirm with your agency. See the guide rule page and the ACAP permit guide.

Sharing the ride and the trek

The road leg is the easiest cost to share, and a trek from Pokhara is the easiest to find a partner for because there are many departures. Post your dates on the partner page for your route, such as Poon Hill or Mardi Himal, and read the trekking partner hub. Agree who books the taxi and how you split it; our what to agree guide explains.

Sample first-day timelines

Poon Hill. Our route plan has you drive to Nayapul, then trek via Tikhedhunga and the Ulleri stone steps, a 5 to 6 hour walk to Ulleri at about 2,070 m. Leave Pokhara early so that you reach the trailhead by mid-morning, start walking before the heat and arrive at Ulleri in the afternoon. Day two climbs to Ghorepani at about 2,860 m, and day three is Poon Hill at sunrise.

Mardi Himal. Drive to Kande, then trek via Australian Camp and Pothana to Forest Camp at about 2,500 m, 5 to 6 hours of walking. A morning start gives you a comfortable arrival, and the next days climb to Low Camp and High Camp at about 3,550 m.

Annapurna Base Camp. Drive to Siwai and trek 3 to 4 hours to Jhinu Danda at about 1,780 m, an easy first day, then on to Bamboo via Chhomrong. Because the first day is short, you can leave Pokhara a little later than for the other treks.

Finish-day pickups

Several treks end at a different place from where they began, so arrange the pickup in advance. On Poon Hill the plan walks via Ghandruk and then drives to Pokhara. On Mardi Himal you descend to Siding and drive. On Annapurna Base Camp you trek out to Jhinu Danda and drive. Give the driver the time you expect to arrive and a phone number that works, and ask him to wait. Add an hour to your estimate, since descents are slower than they look on paper.

What to carry on the ride

Keep your permit, passport, cash and a warm layer in your daypack, and your duffel where you can see it. Take water and a snack, and sunscreen. If you will be walking soon after the ride, wear your boots, since a hurried change of shoes at the roadside is a good way to leave something behind.

Local transport etiquette

On a local bus, offer your seat to older people, keep your bags compact and be patient with stops. In a shared taxi, agree the fare first and respect the driver's choice of route. Say thank you when you arrive. These small courtesies help when you need the same driver for the return. Our trail etiquette guide explains customs you will meet along the way.

More on short treks from the city is in short treks from Pokhara in 3 to 5 days and the transport and logistics hub. Fares and times are approximate; confirm them with your driver or agency.