Sikles, four days in one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal
A working farming village of slate and stone on the quiet eastern side of the Annapurnas, where the village itself is the reason to go.
By the Lakeshore team · 5 min read · Updated 5 October 2026
Most treks in Nepal walk through villages on the way to something. Sikles is the something. One of the largest traditional Gurung settlements in the country, it spreads across a hillside at about 2,000 m northeast of Pokhara, and it hasn't been rebuilt for visitors.
Expect slate roofs, stone-paved lanes, buffalo in the yards and maize drying under the eaves, with a view north to Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal from almost anywhere in the village.
We suggest it to people who want to see how families here live, which lots of visitors ask for and fewer trips deliver. Your guide is usually related to somebody in the village.
Why Gurung villages look like this
The Gurung are one of Nepal's larger ethnic groups, and this middle-hill belt is their heartland. The buildings answer the climate and the slope, with stone walls, slate roofs against the monsoon rain, and houses stepped into the hillside with animals below and living space above.
Many families here have a British or Indian army connection going back generations, because the Gurkha regiments recruited heavily from these hills. That's why you'll meet grandfathers who learned their English in Hong Kong or Brunei. The history comes up in conversation if you let it, and it also explains why some houses are much grander than the farming would pay for.
The walking
By Nepali standards this is a gentle trek. It's four days with a high point of about 2,000 m, no altitude problems and no long climbing days, and you walk between villages and the viewpoints on the ridge above.
The usual plan is a private jeep out, a full day exploring Sikles and the terraces around it, a day up to a viewpoint on the ridge for the Annapurna II and IV panorama, and the jeep back.
Sikles is also where the trails to Kapuche Glacier Lake and Kori Danda both start, so if you have longer, linking them up is the obvious move.
Staying with families
You stay in homestays and small guesthouses, not teahouses. You eat what the family eats, which means dal bhat, gundruk and whatever is in the field, and it's usually excellent.
What you pay a homestay stays with the household instead of going to an operator, and in a village this size that's a meaningful share of a family's cash income.
The set-up is simple, with shared bathrooms, no wifi worth the name and lights out early. Nobody has come back from Sikles complaining about the rooms, but you should know what you're booking.
Walk it with us
Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.
Questions we get asked
Is there anything to see beyond the village?
The ridge viewpoints above Sikles give you Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, Lamjung Himal and Machhapuchhre. But the village is the trip, so if that doesn't appeal, take Ghandruk or Poon Hill instead.
Is it suitable for older travellers or families?
Very. It's low, with short days at a comfortable pace, and you see village life close up without a hard walk. It's one of our most family-friendly trips.
Do I need a permit?
The area is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so generally yes. We arrange it, so tell us your dates and we'll confirm what's current.
Can I combine it with Kapuche or Kori?
Yes, and we'd suggest it. Both start from Sikles. The lake adds two days, the ridge adds two to three, and doing all three takes about a week.
Still deciding?
Tell us your dates and how much walking you've done, and we'll tell you whether Sikles Gurung Heritage 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