How to Get From Pokhara to Ghandruk (By Jeep, Bus)
PLANNING TO GO FROM POKHARA TO GHANDRUK?
Whenever I plan my trips in Nepal, I find it difficult to get up to date information on transport. Plus, the majority of information is by trekking agencies that try to sell private jeeps and tours, so I always have to look for various sources to find the correct information.
Ghandruk is a beautiful village near Pokhara and I travelled there to start the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Ghandruk is also a popular end point for those doing the Poon Hill Trek, but I also met travellers who just went to Ghandruk to chill, or ones that planned to trek from Ghandruk to Poon Hill.
Ghandruk is 57 km from Pokhara and it takes 2 hours to get there by jeep, and 3-5 hours by bus. The road near Ghandruk is currently being constructed, so the jeeps and buses only go up till Vikash Danda, which is 15 minutes’ walk from Ghandruk.
The jeeps go from Hari Chowk (Pokhara), costs Rs. 5,000 (USD 37), and the price is split between the passengers. You can also get a private jeep with pick up from your hotel in Lakeside, then the price is Rs. 6,000 (USD 45).
The buses go from the Baglung Bus Park and the bus ticket costs Rs. 450 (USD 3) to Ghandruk. The buses take longer as they make many stops on the way. Plus, if you can get to share the jeep among 8 people, the price comes close to that of the bus ticket.
Pokhara to Ghandruk Distance
Ghandruk is 57 km from Pokhara and takes around 2 hours to get there by jeep, and 3-5 hours by bus.
The jeep is faster as it goes straight to Ghandruk, whereas the bus stops to pick up and drop off passengers, so it takes longer.
A couple of trekking routes go through Ghandruk, but some people also just go to Ghandruk to chill and enjoy the views.
Ghandruk is a popular starting point for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. It is also usually the end point for those on the Poon Hill Trek, however, you can also go from Ghandruk to Poon Hill.
A short 3-day Ghandruk Trek is also an option that goes through villages in lower elevations (Ghandruk, Landruk, Australian Camp and Dhampus).
Pokhara to Ghandruk Map
Ghandruk is located close to Pokhara and so it is pretty easy to get there. The jeeps go from Hari Chowk, and the buses leave from the Baglung Bus Park.
If you book a private jeep, then they can pick you up from your hotel in Lakeside.
Currently, the road near Ghandruk is being constructed and so the both the jeep and buses only go up to a place called Vikash Danda. From Vikash Danda it is around 15 minutes walk to reach Ghandruk, so it is not too bad.
Vikash Danda is not even on Google Maps, but I have marked it’s location more or less on the map above to give an idea. Once the road construction is completed, the jeeps and buses will go straight to Ghandruk.
Pokhara to Ghandruk Jeep
There are two types of jeeps that go from Pokhara to Ghandruk. One is the shared jeep and the other is a private jeep.
Pokhara to Ghandruk Shared Jeeps
The shared jeeps go from Hari Chowk and can accommodate up to 8 people. You don’t have to pre-book the shared jeeps, you can just go to Hari Chowk, wait for other passengers to show up, and once the jeep is full, it leaves for Ghandruk.
The jeeps go all day long between 5 am to 6 pm, and there is no set time when they leave. They simply leave once the jeep is full.
They usually recommend to go early around 7 am, as most people go around that time, so you don’t have to wait for too long for the jeep to fill up. (Plus, if you are going on the ABC trek and planning to trek from Ghandruk to Chhomrong the same day, then it is best to take the jeep as early as possible, so that you have plenty of time to reach Chhomrong).
I got to Hari Chowk around 8:30 am and at that time there were 2 other travellers waiting. We waited around 30 minutes for others and were just about to take a jeep the three of us, when 5 other passengers arrived to share the jeep with.
I planned to stay in Ghandruk for the day, so I didn’t really have a time constraint to get to Ghandruk as quickly as possible. However, I think the maximum you would generally have to wait is 1 hour until enough passengers arrive to fill a jeep.
If you are short on time, one option is that once you get to Pokhara, you can go straight to Hari Chowk and take a jeep to Ghandruk even in the afternoon as the jeeps go until 6 pm.
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Pokhara to Ghandruk Private Jeeps
The advantage of the private jeeps is that it can pick you up from your hotel and is more comfortable as you don’t have to share it with many people.
The private jeep is a good option if you are travelling in a group and don’t mind paying a bit more for the jeep fare.
I went by sharing jeep and found it wasn’t uncomfortable. It is only 2 hours to get to Ghandruk, so you get there pretty fast.
Pokhara to Ghandruk Jeep Price
The jeep costs Rs. 5,000-6,000 (USD 37-45) from Pokhara to Ghandruk. This is the price for the whole jeep, and then the cost is split between the passengers. Thus, the price of a ticket depends on the number of people sharing the costs.
If you get on the jeep at Hari Chowk, the price is Rs. 5,000 (USD 37), but if the jeep picks you up from Lakeside, the cost is Rs. 6,000 (USD 45).
When I took the jeep from Hari Chowk, we were 8 people sharing the jeep, so the price came down to Rs. 625 (USD 4.5) per passenger. It was a pretty good deal!
Once I got to Hari Chowk, there were only 2 other people waiting to go to Ghandruk. After waiting for half an hour, the three of us were just about to agree to take the jeep, when a group of 5 people rolled up, ready to share the jeep and go to Ghandruk.
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Pokhara to Ghandruk Bus
The buses from Pokhara to Ghandruk go from the Baglung Bus Park. The Baglung Bus Park is a major bus station in Pokhara where most of the local buses leave to places such as Ghandruk, Sarangkot, Kande and Phedi.
The bus from Pokhara to Ghandruk goes frequently throughout the day. The first bus goes at 6:45 am, and then there is a bus that goes once every 1.5 hours.
Pokhara to Ghandruk Bus Ticket Price
The bus ticket from Pokhara to Ghandruk is Rs. 450 (USD 3) which is very cheap.
However, if you take the shared jeep and the jeep is shared between 8 people, then the price is very close to taking the bus. (e.g. We paid Rs. 625 per person in the jeep when we shared the jeep between 8 people).
Should I Take the Jeep or Bus to Ghandruk?
I recommend taking the jeep to Ghandruk. The jeep takes only 2 hours to reach Ghandruk and it goes without making any stops or breaks (except for the ACAP checkpoint in Nayapul where you have to stop and show your permit if you are a foreigner).
On the other hand, the bus goes much slower, makes many stops, and the roads are narrow and dangerous.
If you are taking a shared jeep and can get 8 people to share the jeep with, then the price is almost the same as the bus.
How to Get From Ghandruk to Pokhara
If you are ending your trek in Ghandruk and wondering how to get back to Pokhara, you have the options for jeep or bus. (Similar to that of going from Pokhara to Ghandruk).
The jeeps and buses that go from Pokhara to Ghandruk, are the same ones that also pick up passengers in Ghandruk and return to Pokhara.
So, the jeep from Ghandruk to Pokhara goes once there are enough passengers to share the jeep, and the price Rs. 5,000 (USD 37) is split between the passengers. It takes around 2 hours from Ghandruk to Pokhara by jeep.
It is also an option to take a bus from Ghandruk to Pokhara, however, the bus goes much slower (3-5 hours). The bus ticket costs Rs. 450 (USD 3).
As the road is under construction near Ghandruk, currently, you have to walk to Vikash Danda (15 minutes’ walk from Ghandruk), where you can get the jeeps and buses to Pokhara. Once the road construction is finished, you can take a bus or jeep directly from Ghandruk.
Pokhara Transport Guide
Need some information about transport in and around Pokhara? Check out my Pokhara transport guides:
- Public Transport in Pokhara (How to Get Around): tips on local bus routes, taxis and taxi apps
- How to Get from Pokhara to Kande: if you are going to Australian Camp Trek or Mardi Himal Trek
- How to Get from Pokhara to Phedi: if you are going to Dhampus Village, or the Australian Camp Trek
- How to Get from Pokhara to Sarangkot: including options to get there by hiking, cable car or local bus
- How to Get from Pokhara to Begnas Lake
FAQs: How to Get From Pokhara to Ghandruk
How to reach Ghandruk from Pokhara?
To reach Ghandruk from Pokhara, you have the options to take a jeep or bus. The jeep takes 2 hours, while the bus is between 3-5 hours.
The sharing jeeps go from Hari Chowk and cost Rs. 5,000 (USD 37), and the cost is split between the passengers. E.g. if there are 8 people sharing the jeep, then you pay Rs. 625 (USD 4.5) per person. The jeeps go all day long between 5 am and 6 pm, and leave once the jeep is full.
The buses go from the Baglung Bus Park (Pokhara) to Ghandruk, and a ticket costs Rs. 450 (USD 3). The first bus goes at 6:45 am, and then, it leaves every 1.5 hour. You don’t have to pre-book a ticket, just show up at the bus station.
How much is a jeep from Pokhara to Ghandruk?
The jeep from Pokhara to Ghandruk costs Rs. 5,000-6,000 (USD 37-45) and the price is split between the number of passengers sharing the jeep.
If you get on the jeep at Hari Chowk, then the price for the whole jeep is Rs. 5,000 (USD 37), and if you want to get picked up at Lakeside, then it is Rs. 6,000 (USD 45).
In case you prefer to go by private jeep, then you can get the same jeep from Hari Chowk without sharing the jeep with others. In this case, you don’t have to wait for other passengers to arrive, you can just get the jeep and pay for the whole jeep yourself or your friends/family you are with.
For private jeep to pick you up from your hotel in Lakeside, it is best if you ask the hotel reception to call the jeep station for you and arrange the jeep. Then, the price for the whole jeep should be Rs. 6,000 (USD 45, however, the hotel may add extra commission charges).
How much is the bus fare from Pokhara to Ghandruk?
The bus fare from Pokhara to Ghandruk is Rs. 450 (USD 3). The buses go from the Baglung Bus Park and take around 3-5 hours to get there.
Do I need a permit to go to Ghandruk?
Yes, foreigners need to get the ACAP before travelling to Ghandruk. Ghandruk is located within the Annapurna Conservation Area, thus the permit is required to get beforehand.
There is a checkpoint at Nayapul, a village just before Ghandruk, where all jeeps and buses stop, and you have to show your permit.
Nepali citizens do not need to get the ACAP permit to visit Ghandruk.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Ghandruk is 57 km from Pokhara and it takes 2 hours to get there by jeep, and 3-5 hours by bus.
The road near Ghandruk is currently being constructed, so the jeeps and buses only go up till Vikash Danda, which is 15 minutes’ walk from Ghandruk.
The jeeps go from Hari Chowk (Pokhara), costs Rs. 5,000 (USD 37), and the price is split between the passengers. You can also get a private jeep with pick up from your hotel in Lakeside, then the price is Rs. 6,000 (USD 45).
The buses go from the Baglung Bus Park and the bus ticket costs Rs. 450 (USD 3) to Ghandruk. The buses take longer as they make many stops and breaks on the way. Plus, if you can get to share the jeep among 8 people, the price comes close to the bus ticket.
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