Sikles (2000m) trek in Kaski district, Annapurna Region which is just a mere 4-5 hrs away from the beautiful city of Pokhara is the most loved trekking area among the trekkers. As this trek graces you with the mesmerizing beauty of Nepal’s remote areas with intriguing patterns of rhododendron forest and high alpine meadows nestled below the towering shades of Annapurna II(7937m) and IV(7525m). This trek is also famous as Royal Trek. As Prince Charles of Great Britain in 1980 A.D had also visited the village of Gurkha recruits as part of an effort to develop this into a model eco-trekking route.
The trail will take you to the narrow lanes flanked by the stones and enter the narrowly paved alleyway of the traditionally built village of Gurung. You will also get to discover the well preserved Gurung culture and a traditional way of making handicrafts along with ancient water-driven flour mills. The trail is newly formed, untouched, and takes you to the mountain village lying in the shadow of Annapurna and Lamjung mountains.
The trekking route towards the beautiful and majestic Kapuche Lake starts from the elevation of 904 meters to 2546 meters. The highest elevation of the trek is at Tara Hill Top (2814m). This trek offers some remarkable views of the snow-capped mountains, green hills, and Nepali village culture, etc. The trekking route for reaching the beautiful lake takes you through the hospitable villages of Armala, Thak, Aatighar Mauja, and Sikles. This lake which has recently started to explore is also known as Virgin Ice Lake.
Sikles Trek Highlights
- Get to experience a less strenuous yet very exciting trek
- Enhance your experience with cultural diversities and richness
- Prepare to dance to the tunes of cultural and majestic Gurung tunes
- See the ancient shamanism tradition of Gurung people first hand
Kapuche Lake Trek Highlights
- null
- Kapuche, the Glacier Lake lies at the lowest altitude in the world
- Experience a remarkable view of the Annapurna mountain range.
- Get familiar with the Gurung community along with the religion, and culture of Nepali people.
- Walkthrough the terraced fields, green vegetation, rhododendron forest.
- Enjoy the hospitality of the second-largest Gurung community village in Nepal.
Short Outline Itinerary For The Trek To Sikles and Kapuche Lake
Day 1: Arrival Day in Kathmandu
Day 2: Drive to Pokhara
Elevation: 1400m | Drive hrs: 6-7 | Meal: BLD
Day 2: Drive from Pokhara to Sikles
Elevation: 1980m | Drive hrs: 6-7 | Meal: BLD
Day 3: Trek from Sikles to Huwu (Hugu)
Elevation: 2100m | Trek hrs: 5-6 | Meal: BLD
Day 4: Trek from Huwu to Kapuche and back to Huwu
Elevation: 2546m | Trek hrs: 3-4 | Meal: BLD
Day 5: Trek from Huwu to Sikles
Trek hrs: 4-5| Meal: BLD
Day 6: Drive from Sikles to Pokhara and to Kathmandu
What are the Necessary Prerequisites to consider while Trekking to the Annapurna Region?
Necessary Permits Required?
TIMS card
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
Why Do You Need Permits?
The permit helps to maintain rules and regulations along with the security and protection of the trekkers by keeping the trekker’s record inside the National Park. The uncertainty of natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, etc. or in case of any emergencies, the information can be gathered to help the authorities help you.
Necessary Documents for Permit?
- Passport details
- Two photos
- Fill up a short form to obtain the permit.
NOTE: All these fees are payable in local currency only.
Important documents and items:
- Valid passport, 2extra passport size photos, airline tickets
- Separate photocopies of passport, visa form( easily obtained at Kathmandu airport), proof of insurance
- Dollars, pounds or Euros in cash for purchasing Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying for restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, snacks, and to purchase your own drinks and gifts
- Credit cards, Bank/ATM/Cash machine cards for withdrawing funds from cash machines(bring a photocopy of your cards), traveler’s checks, etc.
The necessity of Insurance:
While traveling to Nepal, you are requested to have travel insurance that should cover any comprehensive expenses possible to acquire due to medical issues or accidents. Your travel insurance must protect air ambulance, treatment charges, rescue and evacuation, product cancellation and refundable charges, flight delays, and cancellations.
Insurance Policy:
Traveling in the Himalayas is full of adventure; hence it is wise to choose a proper insurance policy. While choosing your insurance policy, make sure that it will protect all such unforeseen expenses. You must ensure that the policy you do take provides an adequate level of protection, well familiar with your itinerary, and covers you for the activities involved. You must carry proof of insurance (e.g. your insurance certificate) with you on holiday or send us a scanned copy and it must be issued from your homeland.
How much do you tip Guides and Porter?
In Nepal, tipping is not mandatory however it is expected by guide/porter as it is major earning or saving funds for them. Tipping is based on the experience you had with your trekking team. It totally depends upon how you felt about the services and overall hospitality that was provided to you. If you are satisfied with the services you can tip them accordingly as per your level of satisfaction. Generally, 12-15% of the trip cost is considered ideal for tipping.
How Are Sikels and Kapuche Lake’s Temperature Seasonswise?
September To November(Autumn Months):
The month of September is a bit unique. During September, one can see the last traces of monsoon with short bursts of rain for the first two weeks. As the Mid-September kicks in the monsoon also end and one can enjoy the autumn season. The temperature during this month ranges from 18-22 degrees celsius in the day as it’s quite warm. October and November are the most popular trek month to visit any region in Nepal. This month is filled with blue skies and freshly vitalized natural vegetation, clear sky, and less haze. During this month the average temperature during the day is 15 Degree Celsius and during the night it’s slightly colder as the temperature drops to 7-8 Degree Celsius.
March to May (Spring Months):
The months ranging from March to May are the spring months in Nepal and is another most popular time of the year for undertaking trekking in any region. The month is full of beautiful wildflowers and splendid views of the snow-capped mountains. The average temperature is around 18-22 Degree Celsius during these months at day time and the temperature can drop to chilling levels.
June to August(Monsoon/Summer Months):
These months are known for the tenacious monsoon season in Nepal. On a clear day, it’s quite warm during the daytime and makes trekking easier and during the night time, it can get quite chilly.
December to February (Winter Months):
These months signify the winter month in Nepal and are the coldest months. During the daytime, normally the temperature ranges from 7-12 Degree Celsius in the lower regions. But for the mid regions of 2000-4000m, the temperatures are slightly lower. During the daytime, the temperature normally is 2-8 Degrees Celsius. The nights are much colder than the daytime so warm clothing is a must during these months. The early month of February is still a bit chilly and has a hint of winter in it. But by the middle of the month, the spring makes its way and the arrival of clear days. One can see the beautiful hillsides immersed with blossoms of various rare flowers. The temperature during daytime is 7-12 degrees Celsius and night time the temperature can drop below zero degrees.
What Kind Of Accommodation Is Available During Sikles and Kapuche lake Trek?
The accommodation during the trek to Sikles and Kapuche lake will mostly be in tea houses and it also highly depends upon the routes one takes as well. One can also opt for a camping trek as some of the areas of the region may not have as many tea houses as the frequently trekked routes have.
Rooms provided in the teahouses
Generally, the tea houses have a twin basis room that may or may not have an attached toilet. In case they don’t, one needs to share a common toilet. And the bed(s) in the rooms will have a foam mattress, bedsheet, blankets, and pillows. If you are looking for a single room then the chances of finding one are better in the lower regions as the further you ascend the limited number of teahouses can be observed and getting a single room is pretty hard.
Toilets and Bathrooms Facilities
If you’re looking for a Western stylized toilet here in the mountains then you can find them only in the lower regions and most of the tea houses have Asian ‘squat’ type toilets. Not all tea houses provided have similar toilet and bathroom facilities as some might have separate systems for toilets and bathrooms. Usually, for hot showers, most of the tea houses provide you with the facility but know this by the hot shower in some tea houses and places it can be a bucket of hot water and mug, not the sprinkled one as you might be expecting.
Dining Rooms in the Teahouses
Every teahouse has a dining room for everyone to gather and indulge in satisfying one’s hunger for meals or stories to share with other trekkers. Most of the dining rooms in the tea houses are well heated so it is a great place for relaxing and socializing with other trekkers.
Is Internet/Electricity Available During The Trek?
As well, most of the frequently trekked areas have electricity and internet facilities. But one cannot expect it to be similar to the service provided in the more developed areas of Nepal as it is in the mountains and the signals can drop significantly. Most of the teahouses in the frequented routes of this region are able to provide you with basic electricity facilities.
But the region also has many less trodden areas where the trekking routes have not been made popular and not many guest houses are available so in those places chances of the availability of the internet are pretty rare. Although many development programs have been launched for promoting tourism here as well. Progress is being made but at the moment, not much can be said. There are teahouses and lodges but not as much as in comparison to other regions where trekkers frequently visit so the internet and electricity are not available as in other regions.
How to Prevent Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness is caused by ascending too quickly. It is wise to climb slower to prevent it. As, it is very common on most of the treks and can happen to anybody, irrespective of how old or fit you are or if you have previous trekking experience. So, here are some ways to prevent Altitude Sickness:
- Hydration– Drink plenty of water, it’s very important to stay hydrated.
- Trekking Pace– Walk at your own pace, take your time, don’t go too fast.
- Eat carbs- It’s not often we’re told to eat extra carbohydrates but when you’re at higher altitudes, you need more calories.
- Avoid Alcohol- Alcohol, cigarettes, and medications like sleeping pills can make altitude sickness symptoms worse. So, avoid it.
- Medication– Taking acetazolamide(Diamox)two days before the trip and during your trip can help prevent altitude sickness. Acetazolamide is a medication typically used to treat glaucoma. But it is also used to prevent altitude sickness.
This trek is truly one of the most fascinating and rewarding experiences in Nepal. The trekkers will get an opportunity to experience the close view of primitive society that has remained unaffected and unchanged by modernization for centuries. To experience the multicultural and the panorama of spectacular high mountains, different lifestyles, and an amazing view of natural beauty, is worth it and is a must recommend trek of the Himalayas in Nepal.