Trekking · Gorkha
Barpak and Laprak Village Trek
A village trek linking Barpak and Laprak in northern Gorkha, near the 2015 earthquake epicentre.
The Barpak and Laprak trek is a short, culture-rich village walk in northern Gorkha — a chance to visit two of Nepal's largest hill villages set against the snows of Buddha Himal, Manaslu and Himalchuli, in the heartland that lent its name to the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. Both villages are strongholds of Gurung and Ghale culture with a deep connection to the Gurkha regiments, and the trail between them threads terraced fields, stone houses and ridge viewpoints.
Barpak
Barpak is a remarkably large, compactly built village of stone-and-slate houses stacked up a ridge at about 1,900 m. It was the closest major settlement to the epicentre of the April 2015 earthquake and was heavily damaged, but has since been substantially rebuilt — today it stands as a symbol of resilience and a fascinating, lived-in hill town. Barpak has long been a major Gurkha recruiting village, and its lanes, gompa and viewpoints reward a slow wander. For more detail on the settlement itself, see the Barpak village guide.
Laprak
A walk across the intervening valley brings you to Laprak, another large Gurung village on a facing hillside. Also hard-hit in 2015, much of the community resettled to a "new Laprak" on higher ground, and the contrast between the old and new villages tells the story of recovery. Laprak is a traditional starting point for the Tsum and Manaslu side approaches and for seasonal herding routes up toward Buddha Himal.
The walk and the views
The classic outing links the two villages in about a day, dropping into the valley between them and climbing back up the far side — moderate but steep terraced terrain at comfortable altitude. The reward is the skyline: on clear mornings the ridge frames Buddha Himal, Himalchuli and Manaslu. For a wider Manaslu panorama nearer Gorkha town, pair this with the Sirandanda viewpoint.
Getting there and where to stay
Rough roads now reach Barpak from Gorkha town via Baluwa by jeep, with onward access toward Laprak. Both villages offer community homestays — see our Gorkha homestays guide and Nepal's homestays network for what to expect. These villages also serve as a low, scenic warm-up or extension to the bigger district trails; place them in context with the Gorkha trekking and Manaslu gateway overview, and read the Nepal trekking guide for general tips.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Barpak and Laprak?+
Both are large hill villages in northern Gorkha district, Gandaki Province. Barpak sits on a ridge at around 1,900 metres and Laprak nearby at a similar height. They are well known as being close to the epicentre of the April 2015 Gorkha earthquake.
Why visit Barpak and Laprak?+
They are among Nepal's largest and most striking hill villages, with tightly packed stone houses, strong Gurung and Ghale culture and a recruiting history with the Gurkha regiments. The walk between them offers ridge views of Buddha Himal, Manaslu and Himalchuli and a moving look at post-earthquake recovery.
How do you get to Barpak and Laprak?+
A rough road now reaches Barpak from Gorkha town via Baluwa, taking several hours by jeep, and a road also serves the Laprak area. Many trekkers drive to one village and walk to the other, or use the villages as the lower start of longer trails toward the Manaslu region.
Is the Barpak to Laprak walk difficult?+
It is a moderate hill walk of roughly a day between the two villages, with a descent and re-climb across an intervening valley. At under 2,000 metres altitude is not a concern, but the terraced terrain is steep, so reasonable fitness helps.
