Find a trekking partner in Pokhara

Where do trekkers meet partners in Pokhara?

The traditional route is word of mouth in Lakeside: guesthouse common rooms, cafes and the shops where people rent jackets and sleeping bags. The permit counters are another meeting point, since everyone there is doing the same paperwork for the same few treks.

Before you arrive, look at open trips for the Annapurna region and post your own if none fits, so people who land later can find you. We cannot tell you how many people are looking on a given day. Autumn and spring are the busy seasons.

• A group formed in a day or two suits Poon Hill best: it is short and low, so a pace mismatch costs a day, not a week.
• Annapurna Base Camp needs a week and a buffer day, so match pace and plans first.

Where do you get permits in Pokhara?

The Annapurna Conservation Area permit is issued in Pokhara and Kathmandu or online through the NTNC e-permit site. As of October 2026 it is NPR 3,000 for foreigners; online payment adds 2.9 percent and a permit issued at a check post costs double.

Sources disagree on the Pokhara counter, one placing the Nepal Tourism Board office in Damside and another pointing to Lakeside and the TAAN Pokhara office. We could not confirm which is right, so ask your guesthouse or check the address before you walk over. TIMS is also disputed: TAAN says it is needed in all trekking areas, while a late-2025 operator guide says it is not mandatory in Annapurna.

• Bring your passport and photos.
• Allow a spare half-day; offices close on public holidays.

How do you get from Pokhara to the trailhead?

The Annapurna foothill treks start from roadside points near the city: Nayapul for Poon Hill and Ghandruk, Kande for Mardi Himal, Phedi for the Dhampus climb and Siwai for Annapurna Base Camp.

Our cost tables list a local bus from Pokhara to Nayapul at about NPR 270 to 670 per person, and a booking site lists about USD 1.92 and roughly three hours with a single departure shown. We found no published taxi or private jeep fare for this leg, so compare two quotes and agree the price before you get in.

Safety checklist before you commit to a partner

Run through this list before you pay for anything or agree a start date.

• Meet in a public place in daylight, such as a Lakeside cafe.
• Tell someone at home who you are meeting, your route and your guesthouse.
• Walk a short day hike together first, such as Sarangkot, before committing.
• Never send money to someone you have not met; agree who pays what in writing.
• Check each other's insurance covers your planned altitude; Annapurna Base Camp reaches 4,130 m.
• Hire a licensed guide through a registered agency and verify the licence yourself.
• Check trail status the day before you leave; conditions change quickly after snow or rain.

Open trips from Pokhara

Live trips that start from Pokhara, welcome foreign trekkers and begin in the next 60 days, shown by start month only with no names. These come from our database, so the list is empty when no one has posted.

Treks that start near Pokhara

Each route has its own partner page with open trips, the guide cost split and tips. Poon Hill is the easiest to organise quickly; Annapurna Circuit and Khopra Ridge take longer planning.