Self-Launched Mohare Danda Trek: 10 Days in the Annapurnas
10 days · Nepal
Sherpa Expedition Teams charges £790
No-markup version: ~£395 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day version of Sherpa Expedition Teams' guided Mohare Danda Trek, starting and ending in Kathmandu. You'll arrange your own TIMS card and ACAP permit, travel by tourist bus or shared jeep, sleep in community lodges and tea houses in Nangi, Mohare Danda and Ghandruk, and walk the same rhododendron ridgelines with the Annapurna and Machapuchare panoramas — for roughly a third of the guided group price. All figures are approximate, per person, and exclude international flights, travel insurance and Nepal visa.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport and make your own way to Thamel — a metered taxi or pre-booked airport transfer costs roughly NPR 800-1,000 (£5-6). Check into a Thamel hostel or guesthouse and use the afternoon to sort logistics: pick up your TIMS card and ACAP permit from the Nepal Tourism Board office (about £18 combined for the permit and £12 for TIMS), draw cash (ATMs in Thamel are reliable; the trek has no ATMs past Pokhara) and buy or rent any missing gear. Evening wander of Thamel's shops, bars and restaurants.
🚌Metered taxi from airport, ~£5
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Thamel (dorm £6-10, private £14-20)
- →Airport transfer to Thamel (metered taxi, ~£5)
- →Collect TIMS card and ACAP permit at Nepal Tourism Board office
- →Buy/rent trekking gear in Thamel
- →Evening food and bar crawl in Thamel
Kathmandu to Pokhara
Pokhara
Take the morning tourist bus (7-8 hours, ~£12) or a cheaper local bus from Kathmandu's Gongabu bus park to Pokhara. Book the tourist bus a day ahead through your guesthouse or online. Arrive in Lakeside, check into a guesthouse and walk down to Phewa Tal for sunset over the Annapurna range. Last chance for a real shower, laundry and ATM cash.
🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu to Pokhara, ~£12
🛏Guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside (dorm £6-9, private £12-18)
- →Tourist bus Kathmandu-Pokhara (~7-8 hrs)
- →Sunset over Phewa Tal
- →Last-minute trek supplies in Lakeside
Pokhara to Galeshwor, trek to Bans Kharka
Bans Kharka
Catch an early local bus or shared jeep from Pokhara to Beni, then onward to Galeshwor (roughly 3-4 hours total, ~£4-6). Cross the suspension bridge over the Kali Gandaki River and start walking — the trail climbs steadily through terraced fields and forest to Bans Kharka. Roughly 4-5 hours of walking. Stay in a community lodge or basic tea house; dal bhat and a bed run about £10-12 combined.
🚌Local bus and shared jeep from Pokhara, ~£5
🛏Community lodge / tea house in Bans Kharka (£4-6)
- →Local bus/shared jeep Pokhara to Galeshwor
- →Cross suspension bridge over the Kali Gandaki River
- →Trek to Bans Kharka village (4-5 hrs)
Bans Kharka to Nangi Village
Nangi Village
A shorter, gentler day walking through oak and rhododendron forest to Nangi, a village famous for its community-run school and handmade paper workshop. No guide needed — the trail is well marked and you can ask locally for directions. In the afternoon visit the organic farms and the school that village tourism funds, and watch the paper-making process. This is a great spot to slow down and chat with villagers.
🚌On foot
🛏Community lodge in Nangi (£4-6)
- →Trek Bans Kharka to Nangi (3-4 hrs)
- →Visit Nangi village organic farms
- →Tour the community school
- →See handmade paper production
- →Sunset views of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri from the ridge
Nangi to Mohare Danda Ridge
Mohare Danda
The big day: climb through dense rhododendron, oak and bamboo forest up to the Mohare Danda ridge at roughly 3,300 m. Walking time is around 5-6 hours with steady ascent. Arrive by mid-afternoon to claim a bed at the community lodge, then settle in for one of Nepal's most underrated panoramas — Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri and Machapuchare lined up in front of you. Bring warm layers, the ridge gets cold and windy after sunset.
🚌On foot
🛏Community lodge at Mohare Danda (£5-7)
- →Trek Nangi to Mohare Danda (5-6 hrs, ~3,300 m)
- →Sunset panorama of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machapuchare
- →Community lodge stay on the ridge
Mohare Danda to Danda Kharka
Danda Kharka
Set an early alarm for sunrise from the ridge — the light hits the Annapurnas and it is the highlight of the trek. After breakfast and photos, descend along the ridge trail through forest and past small herding settlements to Danda Kharka. Around 5-6 hours of walking, mostly downhill but with some undulations. The tea houses here are basic and quiet, so carry snacks and a water filter or purification tablets.
🚌On foot
🛏Basic tea house in Danda Kharka (£4-6)
- →Sunrise from Mohare Danda ridge
- →Ridge trek to Danda Kharka (5-6 hrs)
- →Village and forest walking with Annapurna views
Danda Kharka to Ghandruk
Ghandruk
A longer walking day of around 6-7 hours. Cross the Khumnu Khola river on a suspension bridge and climb toward Ghandruk, one of the largest Gurung villages in the region and a proper hub again — hot showers, WiFi, bakeries and a museum. The approach gives you huge views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare (Fish Tail). Wander the stone lanes in the evening and visit the Gurung Museum if time allows.
🚌On foot
🛏Tea house or guesthouse in Ghandruk (£6-10)
- →Trek Danda Kharka to Ghandruk (6-7 hrs)
- →Cross the Khumnu Khola suspension bridge
- →Gurung village walk and Gurung Museum
- →Machapuchare and Annapurna South viewpoints
Ghandruk to Nayapul, return to Pokhara
Pokhara
Final descent: walk down stone steps to Birethanti and Nayapul alongside the Modi Khola river, roughly 4-5 hours. At Nayapul catch a local bus or shared jeep back to Pokhara (~£3, 1.5-2 hrs on a rough road). Check into a Lakeside guesthouse, get a hot shower and celebrate with a momo-and-beer dinner. If your TIMS card needs checking out, do it at the ACAP checkpoint in Birethanti.
🚌Local bus/shared jeep Nayapul to Pokhara, ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside (£8-15)
- →Descend to Nayapul via Birethanti and the Modi Khola
- →Local bus/shared jeep Nayapul to Pokhara
- →Celebration dinner in Pokhara Lakeside
Pokhara to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Return tourist bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu in the morning (7-8 hours, ~£12 — book the day before or in advance online). Alternatively, a domestic flight with Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines takes 25 minutes for around £60-80 if you'd rather save a day. Arrive back in Thamel, check into your original guesthouse and do some souvenir shopping around Durbar Marg or Thamel.
🚌Tourist bus Pokhara to Kathmandu, ~£12 (flight option £60-80)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Thamel (£6-14)
- →Tourist bus Pokhara to Kathmandu
- →Souvenir shopping in Thamel
- →Farewell dinner in Kathmandu
Departure from Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Depending on your flight time, squeeze in a morning visit to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) or Boudhanath Stupa — both are a short taxi ride from Thamel for roughly £3-4. Then take a metered taxi back to Tribhuvan International Airport, allowing extra time for check-in and immigration. Trip over — and you've done the Annapurnas independently.
🚌Metered taxi to airport, ~£5
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Optional morning visit to Swayambhunath or Boudhanath
- →Metered taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport
Self-launched vs. Sherpa Expedition Teams
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Sherpa Expedition Teams | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£395 | £790 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £395 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Sherpa Expedition Teams-style trips? Check them out here.~£395
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.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Mohare Danda Trek: 10 Days in the Annapurnas cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £395 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 Teams?+
Yes — Sherpa Expedition Teams charges around £790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £395 — a saving of roughly £395 (50%) 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 hiking, adventure, budget 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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