Panchase, the hill nobody walks an hour from Lakeside

Five ridges, a 2,500 m summit, one of the richest orchid forests in Nepal, and a decent chance you will not meet another trekker all day.

By Dawa Gurung · 6 min read · Updated 1 August 2026

Panchase sits southwest of Phewa Lake and almost nobody goes there. A forested massif rising to about 2,500 m, close enough to Pokhara that you can see it from Lakeside, and it is comfortably the best walking within an hour of town.

The name means something like 'five seats' — five ridges converging on the summit, where there is a small temple. From the top on a clear morning you get Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhre and Manaslu in one sweep, with Phewa Lake below.

This is a real hill and it takes a real day. That is exactly why it is empty.

The forest is the reason to go

Panchase is a protected forest and one of the better botanical sites in this part of Nepal. The massif is known particularly for orchids — a large number of species, several of them uncommon — along with rhododendron, oak and dense moss-hung understorey.

Because so few people walk it, the wildlife is more relaxed than on the busy trails. Birders come here specifically; the list is long enough that we get groups asking for Panchase by name and nothing else.

You spend most of the ascent inside this forest, which means limited views until near the top. If you need a panorama every twenty minutes, this is not your hill. If you like walking through good woodland, it is superb.

Routes and effort

There are several ways up — from Bhumdi on the Pokhara side, or from Kande over toward Australian Camp, or from the Naudanda direction. Five to six hours of climbing depending on where you start.

The trail is a genuine hill path with junctions that are not always obvious, and signage is thin. This is one of the few walks close to Pokhara where we would push you toward a guide rather than saying you could manage alone. It links neatly with Australian Camp and Dhampus into a two or three day loop, which is a lovely low-altitude trek if you have not got time for the Annapurna routes.

Who it suits

People who want to walk rather than sightsee. Anyone who has done a Pokhara day hike and wants something with more substance without committing to a multi-day trek at altitude.

It is also our standard answer for the monsoon months. The forest is at its best in the rain, the leeches are manageable with a bit of salt and some patience, and you were not going to see the mountains anywhere else either.

It does not suit anyone whose priority is the view-per-hour ratio. Australian Camp beats it comfortably on that measure and takes a fifth of the time.

Walk it with us

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

Panchase Hill Overnight Hike2 days · 2,500 mRs 17,300 · See dates →Australian Camp Sunrise HikeFull day · 2,060 mRs 7,900 · See dates →Khopra Ridge Community Trek6 days · 3,660 mRs 87,000 · See dates →

Questions we get asked

Can I do Panchase in a day?

From the closest trailheads, yes, at a push — a long day of ten hours or so. Almost everyone who does it that way wishes they had stayed the night.

Do I need a permit?

Generally not for the standard routes, though it depends where you start and finish. We check per itinerary rather than guessing.

Are the leeches really that bad in monsoon?

They are present and persistent, and they are harmless. Salt, long socks, and checking your ankles at breaks handles it. No one has cut a trip short over a leech.

What is the accommodation like?

Basic teahouses and homestays at Panchase Bhanjyang — simple rooms, dal bhat, limited electricity. Bring a sleeping bag liner and a headtorch.

Four Pokhara day hikes, ranked by how little effort they needYou do not need a week and a permit to stand in front of the Annapurnas. Here are the four walks we send people on when they have one free morning.6 min read →Australian Camp is the best two hours you can spend near PokharaA grassy shoulder at 2,060 m with nothing between you and Annapurna South. Also, it is not Australian, and never was.5 min read →Six more walks around Pokhara, including ones we do not sellDhampus, Kalikasthan, Naudanda, the Begnas–Rupa ridge, Astam and Pumdikot. No package, no guide needed for most — just go.7 min read →Sunrise or sunset? Which Pokhara viewpoint for which lightEveryone gets up at half past four for Sarangkot. Half of them would have had a better time going out at five in the afternoon instead.5 min read →

Still deciding?

Tell us your dates and how much walking you have actually done, and we will tell you honestly whether this trek is the right one for you.

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