The trek starts a short drive from Pokhara, so reaching it is a two-step trip: get to Pokhara from Kathmandu, then drive to the trailhead. Below are the trailhead options with altitudes, the flight, drive, and bus from Kathmandu compared, and the Pokhara to trail transfer with costs.
Four villages serve as the start or end of the trek. Kande is the usual start, Phedi the lower classic alternative, Lwang the quiet option, and Siding the village most people descend to.
The most common start. Kande gives a more gradual ascent and the most direct line onto the trail, which is why most trekkers begin here. It is about 27 km from Pokhara, roughly an hour by road.
A lower, classic start that climbs to Dhampus (1,650 m) and on to Australian Camp (2,060 m). The road to Phedi is good and the drive is shorter at about 14 km, but the walking day starts lower so there is more climbing.
An alternative village start through the Lwang valley, quieter than the Kande and Phedi routes and known for its tea gardens. A good option if you want a less-trodden approach to the lower camps.
Usually the descent village rather than the start. Most treks come down to Siding and drive back to Pokhara, a 3-to-4-hour trip. Some sources put Siding at 1,660 m; the figures are close.
Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna region and the staging point for the trek. From Kathmandu you have three ways to reach it, trading time against cost.
| Option | Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | ~25 min | from ~USD 87 | Yeti Airlines and Buddha Air fly nonstop. Air distance is 146 km. Peak-season fares typically run USD 100 to 200. The fastest and easiest connection. |
| Private drive | 6-7 hrs | varies, confirm | By car or jeep along the 200-to-210 km Prithvi Highway, following the river most of the way. Congestion and roadwork can push the time higher. |
| Tourist bus | 7-8 hrs | NPR 1,200-1,700 | The budget option. Daily departures around 7:00 AM from Sorhakhutte Tourist Bus Park (arrive 6:30 AM). Real-world times can run longer in peak season or roadwork. |
One time-sensitive note: the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel at the Kathmandu end of the Prithvi Highway is under completion. As of April 2026 reporting it was around 98% complete but not confirmed open, so plan around the standard 6-to-8-hour road time rather than a faster drive. New to the city you arrive in? See the Pokhara travel guide.
From Pokhara it is a short road transfer to the trailhead: about 27 km and an hour to Kande, or 14 km and about 40 minutes to Phedi. You have three ways to cover it.
Pokhara to Kande, USD 30-70. To Phedi, USD 15-30. The Kande road is rougher and partly gravel, so a jeep is recommended for that section.
Around USD 5-9 per person to either Kande or Phedi. A good middle option if you are happy to wait for the jeep to fill.
The cheapest way. Local-bus fare is roughly NPR 200-300 (about USD 1.50-2.50), though one source quotes around USD 5 per person, so confirm on the day. Buses leave Pokhara bus park from 7:00-8:00 AM and through the day.
On the way out, most treks descend to Siding and drive back to Pokhara, a 3-to-4-hour trip costing around USD 70-100 per private jeep. The full route, day by day, is on the trek page.
First reach Pokhara, then drive to the trailhead. Kathmandu to Pokhara is about a 25-minute flight, a 6-to-7-hour private drive, or a 7-to-8-hour tourist bus along the 200-to-210 km Prithvi Highway. From Pokhara it is about an hour by road to the main Kande trailhead. Most trekkers fly or bus to Pokhara, stay overnight, then start walking the next day.
The most common trailhead is Kande at 1,770 m, about 27 km from Pokhara. Phedi at 1,130 m (via Dhampus, 1,650 m) is a lower classic start, Lwang at 1,460 m is a quieter alternative, and Siding at 1,700 m is usually the descent village rather than the start.
Kande is about 27 km from Pokhara, roughly an hour by road. A private jeep or taxi costs around USD 30-70, a shared jeep about USD 5-9 per person, and a local bus is cheapest at roughly NPR 200-300. The Kande section is rougher and partly gravel, so a jeep is the easier choice.
Not confirmed. As of the latest April 2026 reporting the Nagdhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel at the Kathmandu end of the Prithvi Highway was around 98% complete but not confirmed operational, with the opening repeatedly delayed and hinging on an operator agreement. Treat any faster drive as expected rather than certain, and plan around the standard 6-to-8-hour road time.
Flying takes about 25 minutes and is the fastest and most comfortable option, with fares from around USD 87. Driving or taking the tourist bus takes 6 to 8 hours and costs far less (tourist bus NPR 1,200-1,700), but eats most of a day. Many trekkers fly one way and bus the other to save money while keeping a full day for the mountains.
The fastest plan is to fly Kathmandu to Pokhara (about 25 minutes) and drive Pokhara to Kande (about an hour), which is roughly half a day door to trailhead. Overland by bus or car it is 7 to 10 hours to Pokhara plus an hour to Kande, usually split with an overnight in Pokhara.
We run small-group trips from Pokhara every Saturday from September to May. We also run private trips any day. A $50 deposit holds your place. Pay the rest on arrival in cash or by card.
