The Ponker Lake Trek starts and ends in either Kathmandu or Pokhara, making it convenient for travelers arriving from different parts of Nepal. Our team at Places Nepal will take care of all the necessary arrangements, ensuring a smooth journey from the city to the remote Himalayan trails.

Starts: Kathmandu / Pokhara

📍 Hotel Pickup at 6:00 AM

Your guide will meet you at your hotel early in the morning (around 6:00 AM) and escort you to the local bus station. From there, you'll begin your journey to Besisahar by public tourist bus, a scenic ride of 6–7 hours through hills, river valleys, and traditional villages.

Day 2: Besisahar to Dharapani by Jeep

The next morning, you’ll take a shared jeep ride from Besisahar to Dharapani, which takes about 2–3 hours. This off-road drive winds along cliffside roads and deep gorges, offering thrilling views of cascading waterfalls and forested hills. Dharapani marks the starting point of your trek.

Begin Trekking: Dharapani to Ponker Lake via Guha and Bhimthang

From Dharapani, your trek officially begins. You’ll pass through the peaceful village of Guha (Goa), then continue on to Bhimthang, surrounded by breathtaking Himalayan peaks. A short but scenic hike from Bhimthang leads to the stunning Ponker Lake, set against a backdrop of glaciers and towering mountains like Manaslu, Himlung, and Larke Peak.

End of Trek: Tilije to Besisahar by Jeep, then Back to Kathmandu or Pokhara

After visiting Ponker Lake and returning via Bhimthang, your trek concludes in Tilije, from where you’ll take a shared jeep to Besisahar. Once in Besisahar, you’ll board a local bus back to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Your guide will drop you off at your hotel in the evening—around 6:00–7:00 PM, marking the end of your unforgettable journey.

Important Notes:

• Please inform us in advance whether you will be starting and ending your trek in Kathmandu or Pokhara, so we can arrange transportation accordingly.
• It is very important to attend our pre-trek briefing session, held a day before the trek starts. This meeting covers route details, packing tips, safety guidelines, and final checks.

Meals on the Trek

We provide three fresh meals per day during the trek – breakfast, lunch, and dinner – all served at local teahouses along the route. Meals are cooked with hygiene and energy in mind to help fuel your journey in the Himalayas.

Breakfast

Breakfast is usually served early in the morning before you begin trekking. Common options include:

• Tibetan bread or toast with jam/butter
• Eggs (boiled, scrambled, or omelets)
• Pancakes or chapatis
• Porridge, muesli, or oats
• Tea, coffee, or hot lemon

Lunch

Lunch is served en route, usually in a village or teahouse around midday. Expect a filling, freshly prepared meal with options like:

• Dal Bhat (Nepal's traditional rice, lentil, and vegetable curry set)
• Noodles (fried or soup-style with vegetables or eggs)
• Fried rice or boiled potatoes
• Mo:mos (Tibetan-style dumplings)
• Seasonal vegetables and pickles

Dinner

Dinner is served at the teahouse where you’ll be staying for the night. This is usually the largest and most relaxing meal of the day. Popular choices include:

• Dal Bhat (with endless refills!)
• Sherpa stew, thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup), or chow mein
• Pasta, macaroni, or rice dishes
• Veg/non-veg curries (availability depending on altitude)
• Tea, herbal infusions, and desserts (pudding, fried dough, etc.)

Drinking Water

Bottled water is available for purchase, but to reduce plastic waste, we recommend using reusable bottles with purification tablets or filters. Many teahouses also offer boiled drinking water for a small fee.

Dietary Preferences and Hygiene

Vegetarian and vegan meals are widely available. The food is prepared fresh, and teahouses take extra care in maintaining kitchen cleanliness. If you have specific dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know in advance, and we will coordinate with the teahouses accordingly.

Accommodation on the Ponker Lake Trek

Day 1 – Comfortable Stay in Besisahar

Your first night on the Ponker Lake Trek will be spent in a tourist-standard hotel in Besisahar (760m / 2,493ft). This hotel offers ensuite rooms with attached bathrooms, comfortable bedding, hot showers, and other modern facilities like Wi-Fi and electricity for charging devices. It’s a perfect place to relax and prepare for your adventure into the mountains.

Tea House Lodging on the Trek (Days 2 to 5)

From Day 2 onward, accommodation shifts to traditional mountain tea houses, which are basic yet welcoming lodges run by local families. These tea houses provide simple twin-sharing rooms with basic bedding, and in most cases, shared bathrooms. Heating is generally only available in the dining area, and hot showers or device charging may come at an additional cost.

As you ascend to remote villages like Guha, Bhimthang, and Tilije, the facilities become more limited due to the altitude and accessibility. Despite the simplicity, these tea houses offer a cozy atmosphere, nourishing meals, and a unique cultural experience of life in the high Himalayas.

Note on Facilities

• Electricity and Wi-Fi: Limited and available for a small fee at some tea houses.
• Toilets: Shared squat or Western-style toilets, depending on the location.
• Hot Showers: Often solar- or gas-heated and not always reliable at higher altitudes.

The accommodations may be basic, but they are part of the adventure—bringing you closer to the culture, people, and natural beauty of Nepal’s hidden valleys.

How Difficult is the Ponker Lake Trekking Trail?

Ponker Lake Trek is probably the least challenging but most thrilling trek in Manaslu, taking just 6 days in total. It is suitable for beginners and offers stunning natural beauty, cultural diversity, and potential weather challenges.

However, some tricky hilly trails along the way might be overwhelming and a way to Bhimthang will surely break a sweat too. These difficulties can be overcome but some physical exercise before the trek. 

Just in case the weather gets awful and starts acting harshly, you should come prepared. You need to be very cautious in winter as it gets too cold while you approach the lake.

In anticipation of potentially inclement and harsh weather, it behoves you to be well-prepared. Exercising is paramount during the winter season, as temperatures plummet and the lake becomes a frigid environment.

When is the Best Time for Ponker Lake Trek?

Ponker Lake trek can be done throughout the year and can be completed during any season. Saying that the best time for Ponker Lake Trek is from February to April and during the October season. During this period you can find the forest and hills in their glory. This period also helps us avoid rain, which might cause some minor landslides along the trail.

The trek can also be done during the Monsoon and Winter seasons.

How to Get Fit for the Ponker Lake Trek

Preparing your body for the Ponker Lake Trek is essential to fully enjoy the journey through Nepal’s rugged terrain and high-altitude trails. This moderately challenging trek reaches elevations above 4,000 meters, so building cardiovascular endurance, leg strength, and stamina is key. Start training at least 4–6 weeks before your trek with regular hikes, long walks on varied terrain, stair climbing, or jogging. Include strength training exercises such as squats, lunges, and core workouts to support your joints and balance. If possible, take short hikes with a loaded backpack to simulate trekking conditions. Most importantly, practice consistency and gradual progression—and if you have access to higher altitudes before the trek, it can significantly aid your acclimatization. Being physically prepared will not only help prevent fatigue and altitude sickness but also allow you to soak in every breathtaking view along the way.

Escape the hustle and bustle and dive into a world of tranquility with our Ponker Lake Hike adventure! Traverse secret trails nestled in the Himalayas, passing through charming villages and lush greenery until you reach the awe-inspiring Ponker Lake at 4100m. Experience nature's beauty in its purest form, away from the crowds, and soak in the serenity of this high-altitude glacier lake. Come join us for an unforgettable journey off the beaten path!

Ponker Lake is a breathtaking glacier lake at 4100m above sea level. Ponker Lake Hike is a quiet trail hidden between the mighty Manasalu Circuit Trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek. You can emerge yourself in nature like never before in the embrace of the mighty Himalayas and the best part is the solitude. 

The trail to Ponker Lake begins with a bus ride from Kathmandu to Besisahar, Lamjung. Besishar is approx. 176.2 km away from Kathmandu and takes anywhere from 6 to 7 hours ride through hilly roads. Bus rides may sometimes be a little bumpy but pit stops made for lunch and other activities make it an adventurous one. Budigandaki, the mighty river will always be on our side reminding us we are not alone throughout the journey. 

Another early morning jeep ride from Besishar will take us to Dharapani, the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit trek of Nepal. Once we reach Dharapani, we will hike to the lovely village of Guha. The following 4-5 hours hike from Dharapani will take us to Guha, where we will rest for the night.

From Guha, we will hike up to Bhimthang and you will be surprised to see local people carrying heavy loads and Himalayan horses in the steepest of hills. The hike will be filled with a serene walk through the rhododendron forest where different animals and sheep rest. From Guha, it will take about 6-7 hours of slow walking to reach Bhimthang, one of the most beautiful valleys of Nepal. 

Once we reach Bhimthang, we will rest for the hike to Ponker Lake (4100m) and Bhimthang Phedi (4400m). Ponker Lake is a beautiful high-altitude glacier lake formed between two big glaciers, Ponker Glacier and Salpudanda Glacier. After spending two at Bhimthang, we will descend to Tiliche. From Tiliche, a jeep ride will get us to Besisahar, and from there we will return to Kathmandu.

The journey through the hike will be a quiet one as not many trekkers follow this route. We will meet many trekkers returning from the Larke La Pass & Manaslu Circuit trek but we will mostly enjoy solitude throughout the hike.

Permits and Fess Required for Ponker Lake Trek?

Ponker Lake is located in the district of Manang and under the protection of Annapurna Conservation Area, the largest conservation area in Nepal. You’ll need to obtain an ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) permit. The permit costs between $25 to $30 depending on the exchange rate. 

Places Nepal will help you collect all the necessary permits and tickets required to enter national parks and conservation areas while trekking in Nepal.