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Annapurna Regionटोल्का

Tolka

A small farming village in the forest between Bhichok Deurali and Landruk, on the eastern approach to Annapurna Base Camp.

Plan a trip here
Houses of Tolka on a forested ridge with the snow peaks of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli behind.
Photo: Gerd Eichmann (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Altitude
1,700 m*
Best months
Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
Type
Trek stop
District
Kaski, Gandaki
Permit
Permit required

Why go

Tolka is a small trail village on the eastern approach to Annapurna Base Camp, on the stretch that links Dhampus and Pothana with Landruk. Coming from Phedi, trekkers climb over the ridge at Bhichok Deurali and then drop for about an hour through forest to reach Tolka at around 1,700 m. Landruk lies about an hour further on along an undulating path.

Because Landruk is only an hour away, most people pause in Tolka for lunch or tea rather than staying the night, but its few lodges make a quieter alternative if the day has been long. The village sits among terraced fields and patches of forest, with views north to Annapurna South and Hiunchuli on clear mornings. It is also on the return leg for many people who walk out from the Sanctuary towards Dhampus and Phedi.

Green terraced fields stepping down the hillside at Tolka.
Photo: Gerd Eichmann (CC BY-SA 4.0)

History and culture

Tolka is a farming settlement of Gurung and other hill communities in Annapurna Rural Municipality. Houses are traditional stone buildings, some still thatched, set amid terraces of rice, millet and maize. Small shops and lodges along the trail supplement farming income.

Things to do in Tolka

  • Lunch stop

    Break the Phedi to Landruk day here before the final hour to Landruk.

  • Quiet overnight

    Stay in Tolka instead of busier stops for an unhurried evening among the terraces.

Weather and the best time to visit Tolka

Weather in Tolka

Forecast for 1,700 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.

Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.

Best time to visit

Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Good month: Mar
  4. Good month: Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Good month: Oct
  11. Good month: Nov
  12. Dec
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
October and November are dry and clear, with harvest under way on the terraces.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
December to February is cool and usually dry, with frosty mornings and good visibility.
Spring (Mar-May)
March to May is warm, with rhododendrons flowering in the forest above the village.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
June to August is wet, with leeches in the forest and slippery stone steps.

Where to stay

TeahousesLodges

A small number of simple trekking lodges; most trekkers continue to Landruk.

No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.

Getting there

Tolka is reached on foot from Phedi or Kande via Dhampus, Pothana and Bhichok Deurali, or from Landruk.

Nearest hub: Pokhara

  • roadPokhara to Phedi or Kande, about 15-25 km and 30-60 minutes by taxi or bus.
  • trekPhedi to Tolka via Dhampus and Pothana, about 5.5-6.5 hours with a climb to roughly 2,080 m at Bhichok before descending.
  • trekLandruk to Tolka, about 1 hour on an undulating trail.
Mount Everest 8,848.86Kangchenjunga 8,586Dhaulagiri I 8,167Manaslu 8,163Annapurna I 8,091TolkaKathmandu
Boundary: Government of Nepal, Survey Department (2020). Peak data: Wikidata.

Permits and fees

Permit required

Tolka lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so an ACAP permit is required.

  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Obtain in Pokhara or Kathmandu; checked on the trail.
  • TIMS card: Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
  • Guide rule: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; check the current rule.

Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Annapurna Conservation Area Project, NTNC.

On the trail

On the Annapurna Base Camp trek (from Phedi/Dhampus).

Previous stop:
Bhichok Deurali (via Pothana)
Next stop:
Landruk
A typical day:
From Pothana, about 2 hours: an hour's climb to Bhichok Deurali at around 2,080 m, then an hour's forested descent of roughly 380 m to Tolka.

Practical tips

  • Mobile signal is usually available but can be weak in the forested sections.
  • There is no ATM; carry enough cash from Pokhara.
  • Lodges offer basic charging, sometimes for a fee.
  • Watch your footing on the steep forest descent from Bhichok Deurali, especially when wet.

Questions about Tolka

Where is Tolka on the Annapurna Base Camp trek?

Between Bhichok Deurali and Landruk on the eastern approach from Phedi and Dhampus, about an hour before Landruk.

Should I stay in Tolka or Landruk?

Most trekkers continue the extra hour to Landruk, which has more lodges, but Tolka is a quieter option if you are tired.

Do I need a permit for Tolka?

Yes, an ACAP permit, as Tolka is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area; check the current TIMS and guide rules.

More in Annapurna Region

All of Annapurna Region
Manang village in the upper Marsyangdi valley with Annapurna III and Gangapurna behind.

Town or village · 3,519 m

Manang

A high stone village in the upper Marsyangdi valley below Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where Circuit trekkers stop to acclimatise.

Snow-covered ground and lodge roofs at Annapurna Base Camp below Annapurna I and its neighbouring peaks under a deep blue sky.

Trek stop · 4,130 m

Annapurna Base Camp

Lodges at about 4,130 m in the glacial basin of the Annapurna Sanctuary, below the south face of Annapurna I.

Prayer flags and a small stone hut at the Thorong La, with patches of snow on grey scree under a blue sky.

Mountain pass · 5,416 m

Thorong La

The 5,416 m pass between Manang and Muktinath, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit.

Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range above forested ridges, seen from Australian Camp.

Trek stop · 2,060 m

Australian Camp

A grassy clearing at about 2,060 m above Kande with a wide view of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre, an easy walk from the road.

Trek stop · 2,310 m

Bamboo

A group of lodges in the bamboo forest of the Modi Khola gorge, the first overnight stop above Chhomrong on the way to Annapurna Base Camp.

Chhomrong village spread across a steep hillside, seen from Lower Sinuwa across the valley.

Trek stop · 2,170 m

Chhomrong

The last permanent Gurung village before the Annapurna Sanctuary, built on a steep staircase facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.

Trek stop · 1,650 m

Dhampus

A Gurung hill village above Phedi with views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas, close to Pokhara.

Nearby

Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Annapurna Sanctuary trek, Wikivoyage, Tolka, OpenStreetMap