Landruk, Nepal: Village Guide for Visitors
PLANNING TO VISIT LANDRUK, NEPAL?
I visited Landruk on a spontaneous decision to connect the Annapurna Base Camp trek with Mardi Himal. The trekking route from ABC to Mardi Himal passes through Landruk, so I got the chance to visit the village.
Landruk is mostly visited by trekkers who go on the Ghandruk Trek, which is an easy, low-altitude trek. You can also extend the Mardi Himal trek by 1 day and finish the trek in Landruk instead of Sidhing.
Landruk is 36 km from Pokhara and can be reached by hiking or taking a jeep. It is a nice place to chill in village and see mountain views. It is not as big as Ghandruk but it is bigger than most of the villages on the ABC or Mardi trek. There is also a small temple near the village which is a short 15-minute hike.
On a clear day, you get pretty nice mountain views from the village. For the mountain views, the best time to visit is in the winter and spring, but you can also get some good views in the winter.
Landruk Village, Nepal: Information for Visitors
Best Time to Visit Landruk Village
Landruk is known for its views of the Himalayas, so to get clear views, the best time to visit is in the Autumn, Winter and Spring.
Autumn is considered the best time for clear views, then Spring is considered as the second best time. However, views are never 100% guaranteed, especially in the Spring when there can be haze and smog in lower altitudes.
Winter is cold, however, it generally provides clear views of the mountains. So, as long as you prepare with warm thermal clothes to withstand the cold, you could have really good views.
Landruk Altitude
The altitude of Landruk is 1,565 meters (5,135 ft).
Landruk Location
Landruk is 36 km from Pokhara and is located in the Annapurna Conservation Area.
Most people pass by Landruk while on the Ghandruk or Mardi Himal trek, however, you also pass by it if you connect the Annapurna Base Camp and Mardi Himal trek.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a quick escape, there is also a jeep that goes once a day between Pokhara and Landruk.
Permits
Foreigners need to get the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) to visit Landruk.
As Landruk is usually visited as part of a trek (Mardi Himal or Ghandruk Trek), you have to get the ACAP to enter the area.
Usually, the traditional Mardi Himal Trek doesn’t pass by Landruk, but you can make a detour to include it. So, if you are extending the Mardi Himal trek to Landruk, you’d have to show the ACAP permit in Pothana.
If you are visiting the village as part of the Ghandruk Trek, then you’d either show your permit in Nayapul or Pothana – depending on where you start and finish the trek.
Things to Do in Landruk
Landruk is mostly visited by travellers who pass by the village as part of a trek, but you can also visit it if you are just looking for a peaceful getaway in a small village.
It is not as big as Ghandruk but it is still a significant village. The best things to do in Landruk is to enjoy the mountain views, relax or go hiking. If the weather is clear, you get pretty nice views of the Annapurna range.
There is also a small temple (Landruk Temple) about 15 minutes hike outside the village. It is on the way to Forest Camp (Mardi Himal Trek), so if you are trekking to Mardi Himal, you’d see the temple on the way.
Trekking Routes That Pass Through Landruk
The most popular trekking route that passes through Landruk is the Ghandruk Trek. In addition, you can also extend the Mardi Himal trek by 1 day and finish the trek in Landruk.
There is also an option to connect the Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Mardi Himal, in this case, you pass through Landruk when you trek from Jhinu Danda (ABC end point) to Forest Camp (Mardi Himal trail).
Mardi Himal Trek
The classic Mardi Himal trekking route doesn’t pass by Landruk, but if you have 1 extra day to add to your Mardi Himal itinerary then you can extend the trek to Landruk village.
In this case, you follow the usual Mardi Himal Trek itinerary but instead of completing the trek in Sidhing, you’d trek down from Forest Camp to Landruk.
When I visited Landruk, I was on a trek connecting the ABC trek to Mardi Himal.
After the partially strenuous ABC trek, I found the trek from Landruk to Forest Camp pretty easy and nice. The trail mostly goes through a forest and there are not too many stairs (at least less than on the ABC trek).
Ghandruk Trek
The Ghandruk Trek is a low altitude trek and is more like a hike.
The Ghandruk trekking route goes from Nayapul to Ghandruk, then to Landruk, Australian Camp, Dhampus, and lastly Phedi from where you can take bus/jeep back to Pokhara.
Since there are jeeps and buses going all the way to Ghandruk, the initial part of the trek can now be skipped, go to Ghandruk and start from there.
As the Ghandruk trek is a low altitude trek and doesn’t go too close to the mountains, it does not have as great views like ABC or Poon Hill, but it is a good option if you want to spend a couple of days in nature and relax in Nepali villages.
Hotels in Landruk
There are many hotels in Landruk from high-end to budget accommodation. Usually there is no need to pre-book accommodation and you can just show up and book a place on the spot.
The Mountain Lodges of Nepal offer high-end accommodation in a couple of villages on trekking routes in Nepal and they also have a lodge in Landruk. It’s a good choice if you want to treat yourself a bit!
There are also regular lodges and homestays that offer more affordable options.
How to Travel Between Landruk and Pokhara
Most visitors trek to Landruk, but it is also possible to take a jeep from Pokhara.
The jeeps go once a day between Pokhara and Landruk. It takes around 3 hours and costs Rs. 1,500 (USD 11) per person.
When I was in Landruk, I passed by the jeep station and they said the jeep goes from Landruk to Pokhara every day at 9 am. This means that if you get to the village late if the afternoon, you’ll have to stay there for the night and get the jeep the next morning.
Nepal Trekking Itineraries
Looking for some inspiration? Check out my itineraries and posts about trekking in Nepal:
FAQs: Landruk, Nepal
How far is the trek from Ghandruk to Landruk?
The trek from Ghandruk to Landruk is 3.6 km long and it takes around 2 hours, exlcuding any breaks.
The trail between Ghandruk and Landruk is pretty easy, as both places are low altitude. There are some sections of the trail where you have to go up on stairs but otherwise it is an easy trek for beginners.
How to get from Landruk to Pokhara?
There are jeeps every day that go from Landruk to Pokhara at 9 am in the morning. The ticket costs Rs. 1,500 (USD 11) per person, and it takes around 3 hours to get to Pokhara.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Landruk is mostly visited by trekkers who go on the Ghandruk Trek, which is an easy, low-altitude trek. You can also extend the Mardi Himal trek by 1 day and finish the trek there instead of Sidhing.
Landruk is 36 km from Pokhara and can be reached by hiking or taking a jeep. It is a nice place to chill in nature and see mountain views. It is not as big as Ghandruk but it is bigger than most of the villages on the ABC or Mardi trek. There is also a small temple near the village which is a short 15-minute hike.
On a clear day, you get pretty nice mountain views. For the mountain views, the best time to visit is in the winter and spring, but you can also get some good views in the winter.
