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Kori Village Trek

Sikles village is one of Nepal’s largest model Gurung villages for hiking and provides a chance to learn more about this distinctive traditional way of life. In order to boost tourism, the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) and the locals manage and conserve this path. This village is quite popular among trekkers in the region, but people do not know much about its sister village, Kori. 

Kori Overview

As you enter the bustling community of Sikles, the Kori Hill Trek trip officially begins. Sikles is a small community with a diversified ethnic population that is heavily populated. Generally, the Gurung people live in the hamlet. 

The famous Kapuche lake is also located in this region. To visit the magnificent Kapuche Lake, you must hike for a few days from Sikles village. The Lake is the lowest glacial lake and is situated in a breathtaking area. Kapuche Lake is first explored before we move on to Kori Danda. Danda in English means “Hill,” and Kori Danda is 3800 meters above sea level.

Why should you visit?

The Kori Hill Walk is a fantastic short trek that goes to an unexplored trek path in the Annapurna region. On this excursion, you’ll be able to appreciate the serenity and stunning surroundings. Additionally, when you deal with the Pokhara Info team, you are in the hands of knowledgeable experts about this lesser-known trek route. The experiences and memories made here will endure a lifetime despite the distance traveled. Join us on this delightful and rewarding experience!

Sikles and Kori Itinerary

We begin our journey with four breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites after breakfast. These include the architecturally impressive Durbar Square, the revered Hindu shrine of Pashupati Nath, and the world's largest stupa, Buddha Nath.

After we finish our visit around the end of the evening, we drive to the Himalayan Ecological Trekking office for a brief discussion about our journey and to get to know our group pioneer and other like-minded adventurers.

 

Depending on your preference, we'll either drive or take a flight to Pokhara. Your travel preferences and the agency's agreement will determine this. In the evening, Pokhara's lakeside noise can be enjoyed. Take a break, unwind, and enjoy your stay in Pokhara. Due to its mountain views, lakes, caves, and climate, the city is the most popular tourist destination in Nepal. Hotel overnight stay.

 

 

We will depart for Sikles after breakfast. To get to Sikles, we'll need to use the 4WD Jeep. Sikles can be reached after a 4- to 5-hour drive. The highway is rocky and gravelly. The view is breathtaking. Along the trip, you can see hills, forests, rivers, and terraced farmlands.

The neighborhood will warmly greet you that night. 

The village is crowded and provides the best photographic opportunities. You'll be able to comprehend Gurung culture and way of life. You'll be staying at a homestay. As a result, you will experience Sikles life directly.

 

Before starting the journey, we will eat the local breakfast. The trail is steep and progressively narrow. The trail can be hiked, though. Mountains and the River Valley are visible from the hike. The Lamjung Himal and Annapurna II and IV appear magnificent from the path. Homestay or shelter home for the night.

 

Our trekking day today is fantastic. We'll go to the stunning Kapuche Lake, which is 2450 meters above sea level. The lake is Nepal's lowest-elevation Glacial Lake. We may experience a sense of being in a fairyland while we are near the lake's side. The location is very amazing. The area is rarely visited by anyone. It is hence calm and serene.

Reaching Nohtha takes roughly 4-5 hours. We'll have to cross the Hugu Khola and begin our ascent through fir, pine, and rhododendron forests. This day also features the same view of the mountains (Annapurna II, IV & Lamjung Himal). But the mountains draw closer. Spend the night in a shelter/tent

 

For roughly 4-5 hours, we would have to hike uphill to reach Kori Danda. We'll leave the forest line and head into the grasslands. From East to West, Nepal's geographic center is at the summit of Kori. 

Amazing views may be seen from the top. We may take in the view of the rolling hills. Additionally, we can see the Pokhara Valley. Mountains may be seen from above vertically, and a valley can be seen from below horizontally. Consequently, it is a paradise for photographers as well. Sleep at the tent or shelter house.

 

We will climb for roughly an hour to Kori Upper Viewpoint in the early morning. The area provides a greater view of the former trade route between Manang and Kaski. There is still another trekking path. We can get to Manang and connect with the route for the Annapurna Circuit Trek as well. However, we'll head back by taking Tasa's downhill trail.

We'll go walking downhill enough to reach Sikels. We will spend time with the villagers after we get to Sikles Village. You can take a tour through the village and discover more about Gurung culture right there. The walk is worthwhile despite the presence of mountains, woods, rivers, lakes, meadows, and wildlife.

 

Take your bag and bid the Sikles village goodbye after breakfast. We will complete the 36.7 km road trip from Sikles to Pokhara in five hours. The total distance between Pokhara to Sikles is 17 km, but the hills extend this distance. We will visit Phewa lake in the afternoon after a delicious meal if you like to unwind by boating on Phewa Lake. 

You can choose the type of meal you want to eat in the evening or your favorite food and eat it while staying at the hotel. You can then decide to either go to Kathmandu and head back home or visit Pokhara for few more days.

 

 

 

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Trip to the Sikles Village

Nepal offers heavenly experiences without visiting heaven, making it a top destination for tourists, adventurers, and nature lovers alike. Additionally, the district of Kaski in Nepal, along with its Pokhara valley and the nearby hills and villages, offers some amazing places to explore. Furthermore, would you like to experience an exciting journey on a short and easy trek in the Himalayas? Then the Sikles village might be the one for you.

As you trek through the Sikles trek area, you’ll see rhododendron forests, beautiful mountain ranges, and diverse landscapes. Sikles trek is one of the more interesting trekking destinations in the Annapurna area and quite unpopular compared to similar destinations. On the Trek, you will probably get to see Annapurna and Lamjung Himal up close after crossing 2,000 meters. You will also learn about the culture, tradition, lifestyle, and handicraft production of Huwu village and Khapuche Lake.

About the Region

Located in the Kaski district, Sikles village is a well-conserved village that lies on a hill at the height of 3,000 meters. It is one of the region’s earliest and largest ‘Gurung’ settlements. Furthermore, the villagers of Sikles village are mainly of Gurung ethnicity and consider themselves to be Nepal’s second-largest Gurung village. Sikles is famous primarily in the Kaski district in Nepal. People visit Sikles for the warm and welcoming Gurung community, the beautiful trekking trail, and the greenery along the way.

During the Dashain and Tihar festival, the local youth are not allowed to play Nepali drums, perform folk songs, or dance until the festival is over. If not, it is believed that the god will get angry, avalanches will thunder down from the mountainsides, and something terrible will happen to the village.

And the Trek to this beautiful place takes you to the largest Gurung village in the Annapurna region of Nepal, which is located above Madi Khola at an altitude of 1,981 meters. It is also one of the biggest Gurung villages in Nepal, along with Bhujung and Ghale gaun.

Necessary Permits and Accommodations

A permit is not mandatory for the Trek to Sikles village in northern Kaski. Still, the Trekkers Information Management System or TIMS card can be very useful on similar treks in Nepal.

Compared to other trekking destinations, the Trek to Sikles is relatively short. So, even on an exciting adventure like this, you will not be away from your own bed for too long. You will stay in small homestays and tea houses while on the Trek.

Favorable Time for the Trek

Despite the lack of altitude in the Sikles Trek, trekking is possible throughout the year. However, trekkers prefer to visit the village during the Spring and Autumn seasons. Sikles Trek is best enjoyed during the spring and autumn seasons. The spring season begins in March and lasts until May, whereas the autumn season begins in September and ends in November. There isn’t a lot of heat or cold during these months. Instead, the days are sunny and hot, and the nights are chilly. The skies are also clear, so you can see the best scenery.

The Sikles trek is least popular during the off-season from December to February. Similarly, visitors prefer to avoid the monsoon season as well.

Distance From Pokhara

The distance between Pokhara and Sikles by road is 36.7 km, which takes approximately two and a half hours to drive. The straight-line distance between the two locations is 17 km. You can only reach Sikles by road, and it takes two to five hours to get there.

Preparing for the Sikles Village Trek

As described earlier, the Trek to Sikles Village is quite short compared to other trekking routes in Nepal. Moreover, it reaches a height of 2000m, which may not seem like much to experienced travelers, but it is quite a change for first-time trekkers.

Additionally, explorers taking part in the Trek often walk for several hours daily. Thus, people with lung diseases should either avoid such activities or take precautions before taking part in them since high altitudes can be difficult to adapt to. Furthermore, these high altitudes may cause people to experience altitude sickness.

We recommend bringing the items listed below with you on your Trek for mild to cold weather at high altitudes. We brought these items with us on our first Trek to Sikles Village.

  • Warm clothes, including jackets, sweaters, and thermal wears
  • Water bottles and thermos
  • Backpack
  • Portable fire stoves
  • Well-fitting gloves, socks, and shoes or boots
  • Trekking sticks
  • First aid kit
  • Moisturizers and lip guard
  • Energy bars

However, do not worry if you forget the items mentioned above. They provide great assistance during the Trek, but they’re not mandatory. And, if you decide to take them along with you at the last moment, trek shops with these items are available at the starting point of the Trek, though they are likely to cost more than usual there.

Itinerary and the Trek itself

The Sikles village trek can be done in two to six days, depending on how fast you and your group hike. The distance to the Sikles Village from Pokhara is below 20 KM. However, getting there can take some time due to the difficult road conditions. Now, if you are not from Nepal, you must apply for a Nepali visa and travel to Kathmandu. After traveling to Kathmandu, you can then travel to Pokhara via a tourist bus or flight. From there, we can begin our trip.

The second day of the Trek requires you to hike for 6 to 7 hours altogether. You will make your way today from Kalikasthan to Lama Khet. First, you will start the journey with a slight climb on the trail. Then, we will pass through a small village home with mixed ethnic people until we reach Mardi Khola.

Next, we follow the path along the riverbanks as you cross Bhaise and Nawaldanda. After traversing these two small villages, you reach Lama Khet. Lama Khet is a gorgeous village surrounded by green hills where you'll stay for the night.

The fourth day is set for you to reach Sikles from Lama Khet. Today's hike will take you to the major attraction of this trip. You walk through flat terrain along the river bank as you leave the village.

You then reach Khilan Gaon and do a gentle climb. After passing through Parju Village, we can reach Sikles. You can rest overnight in one of the friendly lodges or homestays available here.

Today marks the fourth day of the Trek. We now head towards Neuli Kharka. This is a couple of hours away. First, we walk through forests filled with oak and rhododendron trees.

Furthermore, we reach Neuli Kharka or forest camp after passing through flatlands. This would be the place where we take rest for the night.

As you begin your walk, you find yourself in a beautiful forest of Rhododendrons. After crossing one high pass, you would descend to the town of Ghale Gaon. This is the second to the last day of the Trek, and you'll probably hike for five hours on this penultimate day.

This is the last day of the Trek. Today you drive towards Pokhara from Ghale Gaon right after making your way down the trails to Hyamgya. From Pokhara, we hope you have a pleasant trip back home, and remember to cherish your memories.

Cost includes:

  • Arrival & Departure transport via private Car/Van/Bus.
  • Three meals per day throughout the Trekk(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
  • Accommodation in lodges and tea houses during the trek.
  • Nights’Nights’ accommodation in Kathmandu with B/B.
  • Trekking Guide and a porter (Shared by two clients) with Insurance, food, and accommodations.
  • Sightseeing in Kathmandu or Pokhara valley with a car and tour guide
  • First Aid kit.
  • Trekking permit (Conservation fee).
  • TIMS card (Trekking information management system) is like a permit.
  • All needed government tax/vat.

Cost excludes

  • International Airfare.
  • Your travel insurance.
  • Sightseeing entrance fees
  • Nepal Visa fee (US$ 50 for 30 days and US$ 30 for 15 days; you should get a visa open your arrival)
  • Any kind of drinks, items of personal expenses like hot shower, battery charge, telephone, missing meal, WIFI Porters, etc.
  • Tips for Guide and Porters

Note

The itinerary mentioned above is the general plan arranged by Pokhara Info. The above itinerary is only a guideline; it might change due to availability of lodging and campsites, fluctuating weather conditions, unforeseen political, trail, and environmental, or any other factors beyond our control. After consulting with the group, your trek leader will decide the best way to reach a final decision if this occurs.

If the itinerary is unsuitable for you, please let us know, and we will customize it. We will be able to make changes to the itinerary if clients want to do so.

Finally, every place has its own culture, non-verbal norms and values, government policies, and other factors that make traveling to a new place potentially nerve-wracking, no matter how many times you’ve done it. But remember to enjoy the Trek to the beautiful village of Sikles despite the difficulties you might face.