Mohare Danda Trek: Self-Launched 10-Day Community Eco-Trail
10 days · Nepal
Sherpa Expedition & Trekking Pvt. Ltd. charges £780
No-markup version: ~£585 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the Mohare Danda community eco-trek — the quieter, community-run alternative to Poon Hill — from Kathmandu via Pokhara, up through the Magar villages of Bans Kharka and Nangi, over the Mohare Danda ridge at sunrise, and down to Ghandruk. You skip the group tour and do it yourself: tourist bus instead of private transport, local teahouses and community lodges instead of operator-selected guesthouses, and self-arranged TIMS/ACAP permits. You can hike independently with maps and village signage (the trail is well marked and locally run) or hire a licensed guide/porter in Pokhara for roughly £20–25/day if you'd prefer company — everything else in this plan is DIY. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Land in Kathmandu, sort permits and gear
Kathmandu
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and take a prepaid airport taxi to Thamel (approx. NPR 800–1,000, ~£5–6) — no need for a hotel transfer. Check into a Thamel guesthouse, then spend the afternoon doing the admin the tour would have done for you: pick up your TIMS card and ACAP entry permit at the Nepal Tourism Board office (Bhrikutimandu) or a Kathmandu-based counter, and buy any missing gear (down jacket, poles, headtorch) on the cheap in Thamel. Evening: dal bhat and an early night, and pre-buy your Pokhara bus ticket for tomorrow.
🚌Prepaid airport taxi ~£5
🛏Thamel guesthouse or hostel dorm (~£8–12)
- →Prepaid airport taxi to Thamel
- →Self-arrange TIMS card and ACAP permit
- →Gear shopping in Thamel
- →Pre-book Pokhara tourist bus
Tourist bus Kathmandu to Pokhara, lakeside evening
Pokhara
Take a tourist bus from Kathmandu's Balaju/Kantipath bus stand to Pokhara (6–7 hrs, approx. NPR 1,200–1,500, ~£8–10; book online via a local agency or eSewa-app operators). Alternatively, fly for ~£70–90 if you're short on time. Arrive into Pokhara and walk or take a short taxi to Lakeside near Phewa Tal for a budget guesthouse. Use the evening to confirm tomorrow's shared jeep/local bus to Galeshwor with your guesthouse owner, and to check the weather forecast for the ridge.
🚌Tourist bus ~£9
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Pokhara (~£8–12)
- →Scenic tourist bus over the hills
- →Lakeside stroll by Phewa Tal
- →Arrange shared jeep to Galeshwor
Pokhara to Bans Kharka via Galeshwor
Bans Kharka
Take a local bus or shared jeep from Pokhara's Baglung bus park to Galeshwor (approx. 3 hrs, NPR 400–600, ~£3–4; shared jeeps leave when full). Cross the Kali Gandaki suspension bridge and start the climb through terraced fields up to Bans Kharka (approx. 3–4 hrs walking). Bans Kharka has simple community teahouses — this is where hiring a guide/porter in Pokhara would have paid off, so carry cash (NPR) as there are no ATMs up here.
🚌Local bus/shared jeep ~£4
🛏Community teahouse, Bans Kharka (~£7–10)
- →Local bus/shared jeep to Galeshwor
- →Kali Gandaki bridge crossing
- →Afternoon ascent to Bans Kharka
Bans Kharka to Nangi: the community village day
Nangi
A short, steep walk up to Nangi (approx. 3 hrs) — the model village behind the entire Mohare Danda eco-trail concept. Wander the village independently: the organic farm terraces, the community school, and the handmade paper workshop run by local women. Lodges here are community-owned and the income stays in the village. Ask at your lodge about the paper workshop opening times; small donations/tea purchases are the expected way to support it.
🚌On foot
🛏Nangi community lodge (~£7–10)
- →Trek to Nangi village
- →Visit organic farm terraces
- →Community school and handmade paper workshop
- →Overnight in community lodge
Nangi up to Mohare Danda ridge
Mohare Danda
The big day: climb through rhododendron, oak and bamboo forest (approx. 5–6 hrs) to the Mohare Danda ridge at roughly 3,300 m. The trail is signed and follows a clear ridgeline — carry a downloaded offline map (Maps.me or Gaia GPS) as back-up. The ridge has a community-run lodge with 360° views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. Pack warm layers: it gets cold at this altitude even in autumn.
🚌On foot
🛏Mohare Danda community lodge (~£8–12)
- →Rhododendron and bamboo forest ascent
- →Ridge-top sunset views
- →Overnight at Mohare Danda community lodge
Sunrise on the ridge, easy walk to Danda Kharka
Danda Kharka
Set an alarm for sunrise — the whole point of Mohare Danda is watching first light hit Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machapuchare from the ridge. After breakfast, a relaxed 3–4 hour traverse through forest and pastures to Danda Kharka. Basic teahouses with fantastic views; no need to push further.
🚌On foot
🛏Basic teahouse, Danda Kharka (~£7–10)
- →Sunrise mountain panorama
- →Forest ridge traverse to Danda Kharka
Danda Kharka to Ghandruk via Khumnu Khola
Ghandruk
Descend to cross the Khumnu Khola river, then climb into the Gurung village of Ghandruk (approx. 5–6 hrs). Ghandruk is the busiest village on this route with the widest range of lodges — book ahead in peak October/November via Booking.com or by phone. Spend the afternoon at the Gurung Museum (small entry fee) and enjoy the classic Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare views from the village terraces.
🚌On foot
🛏Ghandruk guesthouse (~£8–12)
- →Khumnu Khola river crossing
- →Trek into Ghandruk village
- →Gurung Museum visit
- →Annapurna South viewpoint
Ghandruk down to Nayapul, bus back to Pokhara
Pokhara
Walk the stone steps down through Birethanti and Nayapul alongside the Modi Khola (approx. 4–5 hrs). At Nayapul, catch a local bus or shared jeep back to Pokhara (approx. 1.5 hrs, NPR 200–300, ~£2). Stay Lakeside again and treat yourself to a proper meal and a lakeside beer — you've earned it.
🚌Local bus ~£2
🛏Lakeside guesthouse, Pokhara (~£8–12)
- →Descent via Birethanti and Nayapul
- →Modi Khola valley walk
- →Local bus to Pokhara
Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist bus
Kathmandu
Tourist bus back to Kathmandu (6–7 hrs, ~£9). Book the earlier departure so you arrive with daylight. Check back into a Thamel guesthouse, sort out your onward flight or plans, and spend the evening in Kathmandu's cafés and bookshops. Optional add-ons if you have time: a self-guided wander of Durbar Square or Boudhanath Stupa (entry ~£5).
🚌Tourist bus ~£9
🛏Thamel guesthouse (~£8–12)
- →Tourist bus to Kathmandu
- →Optional self-guided Durbar Square or Boudhanath visit
Kathmandu and departure
Kathmandu
Last morning for souvenir shopping in Thamel or Asan Bazaar, then take a prepaid taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (approx. £5–6, allow 3 hrs before an international flight). If your flight is late, drop your bag at the guesthouse and do a final breakfast in Patan or Thamel.
🚌Prepaid airport taxi ~£5
🛏—
- →Thamel/Asan Bazaar shopping
- →Prepaid taxi to airport
Self-launched vs. Sherpa Expedition & Trekking Pvt. Ltd.
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Sherpa Expedition & Trekking Pvt. Ltd. | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£585 | £780 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £195 per person (25%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Sherpa Expedition & Trekking Pvt. Ltd.-style trips? Check them out here.~£585
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mohare Danda Trek: Self-Launched 10-Day Community Eco-Trail cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £585 per person for 10 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Sherpa Expedition & Trekking Pvt. Ltd.?+
Yes — Sherpa Expedition & Trekking Pvt. Ltd. charges around £780 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £585 — a saving of roughly £195 (25%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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