Kori Danda — 3,800 m in four days, and no one else up there

A grass ridge above Sikles with Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu across the skyline. Two of the twenty-five operators we surveyed list it at all.

By Prakash Tamang · 6 min read · Updated 1 August 2026

Kori is the best short high-ridge trek in the Annapurna region and it is close to unknown. We surveyed twenty-five Nepali trekking companies; two list it, both under other names — Kori Himal, or bundled with Kapuche. The trail is a few hours from our office.

It climbs from Sikles at about 2,000 m to a high grassland shoulder at 3,800 m, which puts you level with the kind of view you normally spend a week walking toward — Annapurna II at 7,937 m and Annapurna IV at 7,525 m directly opposite, Lamjung Himal beside them, and Manaslu off to the east. Four days. No permits queue, no lodge bookings, no other groups.

The walk up

You drive to Sikles and start from the village, climbing through terraced fields and then into forest toward Tasa, a herders' area at around 3,000 m where the trees begin to give up.

The second morning takes you out onto open grassland. This is the transition that makes the trek — one moment you are in rhododendron and the next you are on a bare grass shoulder with nothing above you and the whole eastern Annapurna wall in front. The top is a broad ridge rather than a summit, so you can walk along it and keep changing the composition. Herders bring buffalo and sheep up here in summer and there are stone shelters scattered along the crest.

The altitude is real

3,800 m in effectively two days of walking is a fast gain, faster than we would allow on a longer route. Most people are fine. Some get a headache on the high night, which is the normal response and clears with water and rest.

The mitigations are the ordinary ones: walk slowly, drink far more than you feel like, and tell your guide honestly how you feel rather than being stoic about it. Our guides carry an oximeter and check in the evening.

The good news is the escape route. From the ridge you can be back down in Sikles in a few hours, so if altitude does not agree with someone, the fix is quick and undramatic.

Kori with Kapuche

Both treks start from Sikles and share the first stretch of valley, so combining them is the obvious move — 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 serve as gentle acclimatisation before the climb to Kori, which makes the high night noticeably more comfortable.

It is the trip we would book for ourselves with a spare week, and it costs a fraction of anything on the Everest side.

Who should go

People who have a few days, want a proper mountain view, and would rather not share it. If you have already done Poon Hill or Ghandruk and want the next thing, this is it.

It suits travellers who are comfortable with simple accommodation and a short menu. There is no bakery, no wifi voucher and no hot shower on the ridge. It does not suit anyone who needs the reassurance of a well-trodden trail with other groups in sight. That emptiness is the product.

Walk it with us

Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.

Kori Danda Trek4 days · 3,800 mRs 57,500 · See dates →Kapuche Glacier Lake Trek4 days · 2,546 mRs 44,100 · See dates →Sikles Gurung Heritage Trek4 days · 2,000 mRs 40,100 · See dates →

Questions we get asked

Why has nobody heard of it?

It is new as a trekking route and it sits on the eastern side of the range, away from the established Ghorepani and Ghandruk corridors. Operators based in Kathmandu sell the trails their logistics already cover. We are based in Pokhara and this one is on our doorstep.

How fit do I need to be?

Moderately. It is four days with two solid climbing days and around 1,800 m of total ascent. No technical ground. If you can manage a long hill day at home, you can manage this.

Are there teahouses?

Basic lodges and homestays in Sikles and along the way, plus simple accommodation near the ridge. Bring a sleeping bag liner and do not expect a menu.

Best season?

October to December for the sharpest views, March to May for rhododendron on the way up. The ridge holds snow in deep winter and the grass is at its best just after monsoon.