A 5-day trek from Pokhara on the community eco-lodge trail of Myagdi: walk from Galeshwor through the Magar villages of Banskharka and Nangi to the ridge-top lodge on Mohare Danda (3,300 m), then along the forested ridge to Ghorepani for sunrise on Poon Hill before descending to Tikhedhunga.
A 5-day trek from Pokhara on the community eco-lodge trail of Myagdi: walk from Galeshwor through the Magar villages of Banskharka and Nangi to the ridge-top lodge on Mohare Danda (3,300 m), then along the forested ridge to Ghorepani for sunrise on Poon Hill before descending to Tikhedhunga.
Mohare Danda is a forested ridge at 3,300 m west of Poon Hill, with a view that runs from Dhaulagiri across the Annapurna range to Machhapuchhre. The trail to it was developed by the villages of Myagdi as a community trek: the lodges at Banskharka, Nangi and Mohare Danda are owned and run by local people, and the income supports village schools and services. The idea came from Mahabir Pun, an educator born in Nangi who also brought wireless internet to these villages, and a relay station of that network stands on the Mohare ridge.
We drive from Pokhara via Beni to Galeshwor on the Kali Gandaki and walk up through terraced fields to Banskharka. The next day climbs to Nangi, a large Magar village with a school, organic farm and handmade paper workshop, and the following day continues through oak and rhododendron forest to the community lodge on Mohare Danda. Sunset and sunrise from the ridge are the high points of the trek: Dhaulagiri I, Tukuche Peak and Nilgiri to the north, and Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre to the east.
From Mohare we follow the ridge through forest to Ghorepani, joining the main Poon Hill trail. Next morning we climb Poon Hill (3,210 m) before dawn, then descend through Ulleri to Tikhedhunga and drive back to Pokhara the same afternoon.
Days are four to seven hours, with steady climbs of up to 1,000 m on the way to Mohare. The lodges on the first three nights are simple: twin or dorm rooms, shared toilets and home-cooked dal bhat. Few trekkers walk this section, so you will meet more villagers than other walkers until Ghorepani.
This trek suits active people with reasonable fitness, including first-time trekkers who are comfortable walking all day. There are no technical sections, but the trail climbs steadily: about 800 m from Banskharka to Nangi and about 1,000 m from Nangi to Mohare Danda, followed by a long descent of around 1,700 m from Poon Hill to Tikhedhunga on stone steps. The highest point is 3,300 m, so altitude is rarely a problem, though some people notice mild breathlessness on the ridge. Prepare with regular walks of three to five hours on hilly ground and some stair climbing for the knees and thighs in the weeks before the trip.
We drive from Pokhara via Baglung and Beni to Galeshwor, a pilgrimage site with a Shiva temple on the bank of the Kali Gandaki. After crossing the river on a suspension bridge, we walk uphill through terraced fields and small farms to Banskharka and its community lodge.
A steady climb through forest and farmland, steep at first and easier later, brings us to Nangi, a large Magar village on a sunny hillside. In the afternoon your guide shows you the village school, the organic farm and the workshop where paper is made by hand from the bark of the lokta bush.
The longest climb of the trek, about 1,000 m, through oak and rhododendron forest and open grazing clearings. The trail reaches the ridge near the community lodge on Mohare Danda at 3,300 m, in time for sunset over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range.
We get up for sunrise on the ridge, when Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre catch the first light. After breakfast we follow the ridge and then forest trails east to Ghorepani, a busy village of teahouses on the main Poon Hill route.
We climb Poon Hill (3,210 m) by head torch for sunrise over the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges, then return to Ghorepani for breakfast. The descent follows the long stone staircase down through Ulleri to Tikhedhunga, where our vehicle meets us for the drive back to Pokhara.
Permits we arrange: Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP)
The trek lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, which costs NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals. Checkpoints on this side of the Annapurna region check the ACAP permit. Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in Nepal's conservation areas must walk with a licensed guide. We arrange your permit; please send a scan of your passport and a passport photo when you book.
The lodges at Banskharka, Nangi and Mohare Danda are owned by the villages and run by local families, and the profits go to village schools, health posts and other community needs. Rooms are basic, with twin beds or shared dormitories, shared toilets and limited hot water. Capacity is small, so we book ahead, especially in October and November. In Nangi the community may put on a cultural programme in the evening, and donations are welcome.
The drive from Pokhara to Galeshwor goes via Baglung and Beni and takes about three to four hours. The last section beyond Beni is on a narrower road along the Kali Gandaki. At the end of the trek we drive from Tikhedhunga back to Pokhara, which takes about two to three hours depending on the road.
Clear views are most likely in October to December and in March to May; in spring the rhododendrons flower but haze often builds by midday. From June to September the trails are wet, leeches are common and the mountains are usually in cloud. In January and February snow can lie on the Mohare ridge and Poon Hill, and nights at 3,300 m are well below freezing.
There are no ATMs after Beni, so bring enough rupees from Pokhara for drinks, snacks, charging and tips. Lodges have electricity, but charging may cost extra and supply can be limited on Mohare Danda; a power bank is useful. Mobile signal is available in most villages and in Ghorepani.
The highest point is 3,300 m on Mohare Danda, where we spend one night. Serious altitude illness is unlikely at this height, but a headache or broken sleep on the ridge is possible. Drink plenty of water and tell your guide if you feel unwell; Nangi is 1,000 m lower and half a day's walk away.
Everything is yours to bring, except items marked “We provide” or “Rent locally”.
Waterproof jacket
Down jacketWe provide
On loan; needed for sunrise on the ridge and Poon Hill
Fleece mid-layer
Trekking shirts and a base layer
Quick-drying
Trekking trousers
Warm hat, sun hat and light gloves
Broken-in trekking boots or sturdy trail shoes
Good grip for stone steps
Sandals or camp shoes
Trekking socks
Three pairs
Sleeping bagWe provide
On loan; a liner is recommended for community lodge bedding
Daypack, 20 to 30 litres
Trekking polesRent locally
Helpful on the long descent to Tikhedhunga
Head torch
For the pre-dawn climb up Poon Hill
Water bottle, 1.5 to 2 litres
Sunglasses
Power bank
Sun cream and lip balm
Water purification tablets
Personal first aid kit and medication
Include blister plasters
Insect and leech repellent
Useful in spring and early autumn
Passport with Nepal visa
Needed at ACAP checkpoints
Travel insurance details
Nepali rupees in cash
No ATMs after Beni
The classic Poon Hill trek follows a busy teahouse trail through Ulleri, Ghorepani and Tadapani. Mohare Danda approaches from the west through villages that see few trekkers and uses community-run lodges, and the view from Mohare is similar to Poon Hill but with far fewer people. Our itinerary includes Poon Hill at the end, so you see both.
Yes, if you are fit and used to walking. There is no technical ground and the altitude stays at or below 3,300 m, but the climbs to Nangi and Mohare are steady and long, and the descent from Ghorepani is on stone steps that tire the knees.
They are simple, clean lodges built and run by the villages, with twin rooms or dormitories, shared toilets and a common dining room heated by a stove in cold weather. Meals are home-cooked, mainly dal bhat, noodles, potatoes and local vegetables. The lodge on Mohare Danda sits right on the ridge, so the view is from the door.
The lodges are owned by the villages and the profits go to community projects such as schools and health services. The trail was set up with the support of Mahabir Pun, who was born in Nangi and is known in Nepal for bringing wireless internet to remote mountain villages.
Yes. The community lodge network continues north to Khopra Danda, and from Ghorepani you can continue to Tadapani and Ghandruk instead of descending to Tikhedhunga. Ask us and we will adjust the itinerary.
October, November and December usually give the clearest skies. March and April bring rhododendron flowers, but haze and afternoon cloud are more common. Mornings are almost always clearer than afternoons, which is why the sunrise on Mohare and Poon Hill matters.
Yes. The route is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so you need the ACAP permit, and foreign trekkers must walk with a licensed guide. The permit and your guide are included.
Mohare Danda Trek
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