Kori Danda, 3,800 m in four days with no one else up there
A grass ridge above Sikles with Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu along the skyline. Only two of the twenty-five operators we surveyed list it at all.
By the Lakeshore team · 6 min read · Updated 5 October 2026
We think Kori is the best short high-ridge trek in the Annapurna region, and hardly anyone has heard of it. Of twenty-five Nepali trekking companies we surveyed, two list it, both under other names: Kori Himal, or bundled in with Kapuche. The trail starts a few hours from our office.
The route climbs from Sikles at about 2,000 m to a high grassland shoulder at 3,800 m. Up there you're level with the kind of view people usually spend a week walking toward. Annapurna II at 7,937 m and Annapurna IV at 7,525 m are directly opposite, with Lamjung Himal beside them and Manaslu off to the east. It takes four days. You don't queue for permits or book lodges, and you won't meet other groups.
The walk up
You drive to Sikles and walk out of the village, climbing through terraced fields and then into forest toward Tasa, a herders' area at around 3,000 m where the trees start to give up.
On the second morning you come out onto open grassland, and that change is what makes the trek. One moment you're in rhododendron, and the next you're on a bare grass shoulder with nothing above you and the whole eastern Annapurna wall in front. The top is a broad ridge, not a summit, so you can walk along it and keep changing the picture. In summer herders bring buffalo and sheep up here, and their stone shelters are scattered along the crest.
Take the altitude seriously
Reaching 3,800 m in what is really two days of walking is a fast gain, faster than we'd allow on a longer route. Most people are fine. Some get a headache on the high night. That's the body's normal response, and it clears with water and rest.
The fixes are the ordinary ones. Walk slowly, drink far more than you feel like drinking, and tell your guide how you really feel instead of putting a brave face on it. Our guides carry an oximeter and check everyone in the evening.
The escape route is easy. From the ridge you can be back down in Sikles in a few hours, so if the altitude doesn't agree with someone, the fix is quick and undramatic.
Kori and Kapuche together
Both treks start from Sikles and share the first stretch of valley, so it makes sense to combine them. You get the glacier lake at 2,546 m and the ridge at 3,800 m in one trip of six or seven days.
Done that way, the Kapuche days also work as gentle acclimatisation before you climb to Kori, and the high night is noticeably more comfortable for it.
With a spare week, it's the trip we'd book for ourselves, and it costs a fraction of anything on the Everest side.
Who it suits
It's for people with a few days who want a big mountain view and would prefer not to share it. If you've already done Poon Hill or Ghandruk and want the next step up, this is it.
You need to be happy with simple rooms and a short menu. There's no bakery, no wifi voucher and no hot shower on the ridge. It won't suit anyone who needs the comfort of a busy trail with other groups in sight, because the emptiness is what you're paying for.
Walk it with us
Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.
Questions we get asked
Why haven't more people heard of it?
It's new as a trekking route, and it sits on the eastern side of the range, away from the busy Ghorepani and Ghandruk trails. Operators in Kathmandu sell the routes their logistics already cover. We're based in Pokhara, and this one starts on our doorstep.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Over four days there are two solid climbing days and around 1,800 m of ascent in total, with no technical ground. If you can handle a long day in the hills at home, you can handle this.
Are there teahouses?
There are basic lodges and homestays in Sikles and along the way, and simple accommodation near the ridge. Bring a sleeping bag liner, and don't expect a menu.
When is the best season?
October to December gives the sharpest views, and March to May brings rhododendron on the way up. The ridge holds snow in deep winter, and the grass looks its best just after the monsoon.
Still deciding?
Tell us your dates and how much walking you've done, and we'll tell you whether Kori Danda Trek is right for you. If it isn't, we'll say so.
Nothing to pay online. We confirm your dates first.
Or call the office +977 61-457830