Mohare Danda Trek – 9 Days
Nine days on Nepal's flagship community eco-trail — village-owned lodges, Magar homestays and a 3,300m ridge with Dhaulagiri and Annapurna in one panorama.
Trip Facts
| Duration | 9 days (5 trekking days) |
|---|---|
| Max altitude | 3,300m — Mohare Danda |
| Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Trek start / end | Pokhara |
| Best season | Oct–Dec, Feb–May |
| Accommodation | Community lodges and homestays + hotel |
| Group size | 2–14 |
| Permits | ACAP + TIMS |
| Daily walking | 5–6 hours |
Overview
The Mohare Danda Trek is the most successfully executed community tourism project in Nepal. Every lodge on the route is owned and operated by the village committees of Nangi, Banskharka, Mohare and Danda Kharka, and profits fund local schools, health posts and micro-hydro electricity rather than leaving for Kathmandu. It also happens to be a beautiful trek. The route climbs the ridge system west of the Poon Hill trail through Magar villages that see a fraction of the region's trekkers, ending on the open grassy top of Mohare Danda at 3,300m. The view from the ridge takes in Dhaulagiri I, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre — comparable to Poon Hill, with almost nobody else on the summit. What sets Mohare apart is the human side. You stay in villages, not trekking hubs. Meals are cooked from what the village grows. In Nangi you can visit the community school and the yarn-spinning workshop founded by Mahabir Pun, the Magar teacher who brought wireless internet to Himalayan villages and won the Magsaysay Award for it. Physically the trek is undemanding — five to six hours a day, no altitude risk, comfortable community lodges with beds and hot food. It is an excellent option for trekkers who want a village-focused, low-impact route rather than a peak-focused one, and for groups travelling with a purpose beyond the summit.
Highlights
- Nepal's flagship community-owned trekking circuit — lodge revenue funds village schools and clinics
- Panorama from Mohare Danda (3,300m) across Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre
- Stay in Magar villages including Nangi, home of the Himalayan wireless project
- Option to combine with Poon Hill on the return leg
- Very low trekker traffic, even in October
- Easy grading with no altitude risk — accessible for most fitness levels
Itinerary
Arrive Kathmandu; briefing and permits
Drive or fly Kathmandu to Pokhara
Drive Pokhara to Galeshwor; trek to Banskharka
Banskharka to Nangi village
Nangi to Mohare Danda
Sunrise at Mohare; trek to Ghorepani via Deurali
Poon Hill sunrise; descend Ulleri to Nayapul; drive Pokhara
Fly or drive Pokhara to Kathmandu
Final departure
What the Price Includes
Cost Includes
- Airport pick-up and drop-off (private vehicle)
- All ground transport per itinerary
- Teahouse/lodge accommodation throughout the trek (twin share)
- Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu/Pokhara per itinerary (3-star, B&B)
- Three meals a day on trek — breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Tea/coffee with meals on trek
- Government-licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter service (1 porter per 2 trekkers, max 25kg)
- All staff wages, insurance, equipment, food and lodging
- All required trekking permits and entry fees
- TIMS card
- Seasonal fresh fruit after dinner
- First aid kit and pulse oximeter carried by guide
- Duffel bag, trekking map and company T-shirt
- All government taxes and service charges
Cost Excludes
- International airfare and Nepal visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance (mandatory — must cover helicopter evacuation to 6,000m)
- Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (except where stated)
- Personal trekking equipment and clothing
- Hot showers, Wi-Fi, battery charging and bottled drinks on trek
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal expenses — laundry, phone, souvenirs
- Emergency evacuation costs (recoverable from your insurer)
- Tips for guide and porters
- Anything not listed under "Cost Includes"
Best Time to Trek
The most reliable season. Clear skies, stable weather, firm trails and the sharpest mountain views of the year. Book early; this is peak season on every route.
The second-best window and the finest season for scenery below 4,000m, when rhododendron forests are in full bloom. Warmer nights and longer days, with some afternoon haze building through May.
Clear, quiet and cold. Excellent for lower routes such as Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and Kathmandu Valley. High passes may close under snow.
Wet and leech-prone on most routes, but this is the right season for the rain-shadow trails: Upper Mustang, Nar Phu and Upper Dolpo.
Frequently Asked Questions
The lodges are owned by village management committees rather than private operators. A fixed proportion of every night's revenue goes to a community fund supporting local schools, health posts and micro-hydro projects. You can see the outputs in the villages you walk through.
The mountain view is comparable and the trail is far quieter, but the lodges are simpler. Choose Mohare if you value solitude and community impact; choose Poon Hill if you want maximum comfort. Our nine-day itinerary includes both.
Clean, basic and warm — proper beds, blankets, solar lighting and simple Nepali meals cooked locally. Hot showers are available in most but not all. Do not expect Wi-Fi or à la carte menus.
Yes. Daily walking is five to six hours on well-graded trails with no altitude risk. It is one of our recommended routes for trekkers in their sixties and seventies.
Ready to Book This Trek?
Departures run year-round on your dates — private groups, couples and solo trekkers all welcome. Tell us your dates and we will send a full quote within 24 hours.
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