A quiet trek to Sikles, Nepal's largest Gurung village, offering genuine cultural immersion and dramatic Annapurna and Lamjung Himal views away from the busier Annapurna trails.
The Sikles Trek is a 5-day trip in Pokhara, rated moderate difficulty, reaching a maximum elevation of Sikles, 2,000m (6,562 ft). The best time to do this trip is Autumn (Sep - Nov) & Spring (Mar - May). The package includes group sizes of 1-10 people, teahouses and homestays on trail, hotel in pokhara accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner included daily on trail.
| Country | Pokhara |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Max Elevation | Sikles, 2,000m (6,562 ft) |
| Duration | 5 |
| Best Time | Autumn (Sep - Nov) & Spring (Mar - May) |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner included daily on trail |
| Accommodation | Teahouses and homestays on trail, hotel in Pokhara |
| Group Size | 1-10 people |
How long is the Sikles Trek?
Sikles is Nepal's largest Gurung village, set on a hillside in the Annapurna foothills with sweeping views toward Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal, and Machhapuchhre. This 5-day trek, developed as a community-managed route with support from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, offers a genuinely quiet alternative to the busier Annapurna Base Camp and Circuit trails.
The route passes through terraced farmland and forest, with the village itself offering some of the richest, most unhurried Gurung cultural immersion available on any short Annapurna region trek.
Sikles remains genuinely under-visited relative to its scale and scenic quality, a product of its position slightly off the main Annapurna trekking corridors. This makes it a rewarding choice for trekkers who have already experienced busier routes and want a quieter, more authentic cultural encounter.
This trek suits trekkers wanting genuine cultural immersion and quiet trails, with moderate fitness required for daily walks of 4 to 6 hours. It is a strong fit for those interested in community-based tourism and traditional Gurung homestays.
| Trek | Duration | Crowds | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sikles | 5 days | Very quiet | Teahouse and homestay |
| Ghandruk | 4 days | Moderate | Teahouse only |
Sikles offers a quieter, more immersive homestay experience, while Ghandruk is more established with slightly better infrastructure and a shorter overall itinerary.
View Himalaya's Sikles Trek starts from USD 420 per person, including permits, guide, accommodation, and trail meals. Contact View Himalaya for current group rates.
Trekkers interested in similar community-based cultural treks can also consider Ghandruk Village Trek or the longer Annapurna Base Camp trek for a fuller regional experience.
A trip we will be talking about for years. Our guide went above and beyond to make sure everyone in the group was comfortable. A particular highlight for us was sikles, the largest Gurung settlement in Nepal. Thank you to the whole View Himalaya team for making this happen.
An unforgettable experience from start to finish. Having such an experienced guide made a huge difference, especially at altitude. A particular highlight for us was views toward Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal, and Machhapuchhre. Highly recommend View Himalaya to anyone considering this trip.
Exceeded all our expectations in every way. Our guide went above and beyond to make sure everyone in the group was comfortable. A particular highlight for us was views toward Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal, and Machhapuchhre. Booking through View Himalaya made all the logistics completely stress-free.
Everything about this trip was handled professionally. Having such an experienced guide made a huge difference, especially at altitude. A particular highlight for us was genuinely quiet trails compared to the main Annapurna circuit. Would recommend this to friends and family without any reservation.
Truly one of the highlights of our travels in Asia. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and made sure we were safe every step of the way. A particular highlight for us was sikles, the largest Gurung settlement in Nepal. Would recommend this to friends and family without any reservation.
