Hidden Lake Trek: Unspoiled Paradise Trek

Overview

The Hidden Lake Trek is a newly opened trek route in the Annapurna Region of Nepal that takes you to an unexplored area away from the crowds into the hearts of pristine nature.

The uncharted trails of the hidden lake offer you a sensation and a sense of achievement of trekking into the unknown, rarely trekked paths. Additionally, the major attractions of the Hidden Lake trek are the spectacular views of the Annapurna south, Fishtail, and Hiuchuli, as well as the opportunity to trek the hidden lake, a rare opportunity only a few have witnessed.

Hidden Lake Trek Itinerary

1. day 1

   Arrival at the Kathmandu Airport

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   Highest Altitude	1324 m|4344 ft

   As you arrive at Kathmandu's airport, our team member will be there to accompany you to your hotel. You can choose to start your Kathmandu exploration right away or take some time to relax and recover from your flight to Nepal. Later in the evening, we'll gather for a meeting to provide you with all the details you'll need for the upcoming trek.

2. day 2

   Fly/Drive to Pokhara

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   Driving Hours	8 - 9 hrs
   Flight Hours	25 mins

   Taking a 25-minute flight to Pokhara right after breakfast in your hotel allows for a morning departure. Alternatively, you can choose the longer option of a tourist bus, which takes approximately 7-8 hours. Pokhara, renowned as one of Nepal's most exquisite cities, offers a splendid experience. Exploring and relishing the charming lakeside town nestled at the foot of the Annapurna Himalayas is the quintessential Pokhara experience.

3. day 3

   Pokhara to Ghandruk and Trek to Tadapani

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   Driving Hours	2.5hrs
   Highest Altitude	2,610 m | 8,563 ft
   Trek Duration	3 - 4 hrs
   Trek Distance	8 km

   After breakfast at your hotel, we hop on our vehicle and drive towards Ghandruk 1,940 meters (6,365 feet). The scenic drive from Pokhara to Ghandruk takes about 2.5 hrs, and we pass through Nayapul, where the ACAP permit checkpost is located. After check-in, we drive towards Ghandruk. We stop at Ghandruk for a lunch break and explore the charming Ghandruk Village.

   After our lunch, we start our trek toward Tadapani. The trail is filled with lush rhododendron and oak forests, with occasional clearings offering mesmerizing views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. The path from Ghandruk to Tadapai is nearly 8 km and takes about 3- 4 hrs of trekking; you will pass through the charming villages of Gurung and Magar settlements during this route. Overnight stay at Tadapani (2,610 m /8,563 ft). 

   • • Overnight stay at Lodge / Tea house.
4. day 4

   Trek from Tadapani to Dobato

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   Highest Altitude	3350 m | 10,991 ft
   Trek Duration	5 - 6 hrs
   Trek Distance	12 km

   We begin our day with a hearty breakfast before setting off towards Dobato. The trail consists of both ascents and descents, and within 30 minutes of descending and another 90 minutes of ascending, we arrive at Mesharu and Isharu. This vibrant stopover features a lovely teahouse where we'll enjoy lunch before continuing our trek to Dobato.

   Covering a total distance of 12 km from Tadapani to Dobato, the trek takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete at an average pace. The second day of the Hidden Lake trek guides you through oak and rhododendron forests, providing opportunities to immerse yourself in the Annapurna region's culture. 

   Upon arriving in Dobato, you'll be treated to a stunning vantage point offering views of the Himalayas, encompassing the Annapurna to Dhaulagiri ranges. For those eager to take in even more of the snow-capped mountain scenery, a leisurely 30-minute walk from Dobato will lead you to the famed Mulde View Point. You'll spend the night in Dobato, resting and recounting the day's unforgettable experiences.

   • • Overnight stay at Lodge / Tea house.
   • • Includes Breakfast
5. day 5

   Trek from Dobato to Pode Kharka

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   Highest Altitude	4000 m | 13123 ft
   Trek Duration	5 - 6 hrs
   Trek Distance	12 km

   On the third day of the Hidden Lake trek, we start our day early for sunrise at the Mulde View Point (3637). The views from Mulde, while the sun shines its first golden rays in the snow-capped mountains, make this moment otherworldly, forever captured in your heart and mind. After enjoying the sunrise, we hike back to Dobato, take our luggage and make our way towards Pode Kharka at an altitude of 4060m. The trail first descends and then ascends to Podekharka, covering a total distance of 12 kilometres and can be completed in 5 - 6 hrs. 

   The trail takes you along the path of some small landslide at first, and then the walk along the tracks made by carving on the hills gives you the ultimate thrill of adventure. This trek section is the sole reason we don’t recommend beginners to go for the Hidden Lake Trek. Moreover, even experienced hikers must be careful during this trek, as missteps may cause serious injuries. The emphasis on experienced guides during the Hidden Lake Trek can’t be explained enough, but we suggest you take the guide who has already been there. Finally, the cold breeze and the green scenery with Yaks & sheep indicate that we have reached Pode Kharka. 

   The total number of steps from Dobato to Pode Kharka is 18621 steps. (Steps counted on Phone during our expedition.)

   • • Overnight stay at Lodge / Tea house.
   • • Includes Breakfast
6. day 6

   Pode Kharka to Hidden Lake, back to Pode Kharka, and Trek to Tiribung

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   Highest Altitude	4380 m | 14370 ft
   Trek Duration	7 - 8 hrs
   Trek Distance	26 km

   We start our day early and leave for Hidden Lake after breakfast; as we have a long day ahead, we will trek for 7-8 hrs today. The trail is through green scenery, and the distance is around 5km each way, making it 10km for the to and fro distance. Even Though the trekking distance is short, the absence of oxygen at the higher altitude will affect your body, and you will not be 100%. The trekking trails are among greenery, and a few sections are rocky paths with black rocks, and this section should be hiked with caution. 

   After 2-3 hrs of trekking, we reach the hidden lake at an altitude of 4380 m; rocky spots and greenery surround the lake. The most significant destination of our trekking journey, Hidden Lake welcomes you with its crystal clear water. It offers the majestic Annapurna South just before it, making the trek even more worth it. 

   As I mentioned earlier, you will now see that there isn’t any natural or artificial water source here. The lake itself is its natural water source. Furthermore, you can visit the temples of Baraha Devi, and if you trek during the JanaiPurnima, you can even witness the ritual the traditional Gurung community of this region has carried out till this day.

   After enjoying the views of the Hidden Lake, we trek back to Pode Kharka, following the same route. The Yaks, the sheep, and their herders will accompany you during this trail. Moreover, medicinal herbs in this region greatly help villagers as they use them to treat their livestock and themselves. After 1 hour of trekking, we reach PodeKharka. 

   After having our lunch at Pode Kharka, we trek toward Tiribung. The flat path at the start of this route during the Hidden Lake trek is soon replaced by a sizeable downhill trail section. This section of the trail is also not suitable for beginners as during the steep downhill path; the foot placement must be perfect with good balance and control. After trekking for about 2.5 - 3 hrs all the way downhill, we reach the bank of Lidhur Chhidur Khola. While the river fills up during the summer season and crossing becomes difficult, the river dries up during other seasons and is easier to cross.
   After we cross the river now, we go uphill to Tribung. We trek for about 2 hrs along the trees and forests and finally reach Tiribung; Tiribung is named so because the three villages of Chhomrong, Ghurjung, and Kimrong all meet up at a single point here. Overnight stay at Tiribung.

   • • Overnight stay at Lodge / Tea house.
   • • Includes Breakfast
7. day 7

   Trek from Tiribung to Jhinu Danda/ Ghandruk and drive to Pokhara

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   Driving Hours	1.5 - 2 hrs
   Highest Altitude	3430 m | 11254 ft
   Trek Duration	5 - 6 hrs | 7 - 8 hrs (if you trek to Ghandruk)

   On the final day of the Hidden Lake trek, we can take you to either Ghandruk or Jhinu Danda via Chhomrong. While some of you may like to go back to Ghandruk for an overnight stay, we can also manage that by changing the itinerary, as we are always flexible, so feel free to reach out to us. 

   The total trekking time from Tribung to Chhomrong is 4hrs. We trek from Tiribung all the way down to Chhomrong, first passing the clear section and then trekking through forests to Chhomrong. We have lunch at Chhomrong and trek to Jhinu Danda, famous for its natural hot springs. The hike from Chhomrong to Jhinu Danda takes 1.5 - 2hrs and is all the way down, with some straight sections surrounded by trees. After arriving at Jhinu Danda, you can take a quick dip in the natural hot springs of Jhinu Danda, washing all your fatigues. After a quick dip, we return to Pokhara. The scenic drive from Jhinu Danda to Pokhara takes about 2.5 - 3hrs. 

   However, if you would like to trek back to Ghandruk, the total time for hiking back to Ghandruk from Tiribung is 7-8 hrs, and we will ascent and descent all the way up to Ghandruk. 

   • • Includes Breakfast
      

• All ground transfers in private/sharing vehicles as per availability, for every itinerary.
• One highly experienced, helpful and friendly guide, and his food, accommodation, salary, equipment, and accidental insurance.
• The best available twin or triple-sharing teahouse accommodation during the trek. 
• All meals, during the trek. You can choose dishes from the lodge menu which mostly includes options as follows:
  •  Breakfast: Cereal, Porridge, rice pudding, egg dish with bread and toast, bread with jam and honey, Pancakes with jam and honey, with tea or coffee.
  • Lunch Items: Dal Bhat (mostly recommended), noodles soup, fried noodles, momo, spaghetti chapati, Spring roll, macron,  sizzlers, swiss rosti, pizza, veg curry with plain rice, Tibetan Momo, Thukpa, Thenthuk, french fry, fry potato, boil potato and much more.
  • Dinner: Mostly same as lunch items but may vary in some hotels.
  • Note: The menu also depends on the Teahouse or Hotel, so the food items may vary.
• Complete trekking arrangements with the required TIMS for trekkers and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) permit. First aid medical kit.
• Government taxes and office service charges.
• North Nepal T-shirt and trekking/expedition achievement certificate.
• Dry fruits along the trek and tea/coffee break during the trek.