Mohare Danda Khopra Trek - 14 Days

On arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by one of the representatives from Himalayan Trekkers. Then, you will be transferred to the hotel in the center of the city and helped till your check-in process. 
Later, we will meet to have a general chat as well as a brief discussion about the trek route and requirements for your upcoming adventures. If you don't have any trekking gear, equipment, or other essentials required for the trip, you can make a simple wander around the colorful Thamel market. Thamel is known to have a colorful evening. 

Note: In case of your early arrival, you can opt to visit Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple. 
Boudhanath Stupa is a Tibetan Buddhism pilgrimage site that is considered the biggest in Nepal. The peacefulness, the aroma of the Himalayan Incense, and thousands of pilgrims making a kora (circumambulation) around the giant white dome with Big Buddha eyes make this symbol is must to discover once in Kathmandu. 

A 15 minutes drive from Boudhanath Stupa is Pashupatinath Temple. It is a Hindu site devoted to Lord Shiva. It is one of the oldest temples in Nepal and also one of the four important Hindu Sites in the world. Thousands of devotees are seen on daily basis. The evening aarti ceremony and the open cremation at the opposite will be new to the travelers and foreign visitors. 
O/N at a hotel.
 

After a warm breakfast at the hotel, your city guide will pick you up from your hotel and assist you to the full-day guided sightseeing in Kathmandu. The capital of one of the oldest countries in South Asia, Kathmandu is a centuries-old city known for its cultural legacy, beautiful history, and fine arts carved on wooden and stone statues that it has preserved. The city itself houses 7 out of 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If Boudhanath and Pashupatinath have been covered on the previous day, we will explore the rest of the sites today. 

We will drive to Patan, the city of beautiful arts to explore Patan Durbar Square which is famous for its exquisite carvings. The square complex is full of ancient places, temples, and shrines and serves as the religious and social heart of Patan. It also has a museum with a collection of bronze statues and religious artifacts. The prime masterpieces of Patan are Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple, Vishwanath Temple, and Taleju Bhawani Temple.
Then we will drive to Bhaktapur and discover the monuments with beautiful carvings on wood, metal, and stone. You will also get to feel the traditional Newari culture as you walk along the alleys there and try Juju Dhau (King of Yogurt). 55 window palace, Vatsala Temple, Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, Siddhi Lakshmi Temple, Nyatapola Temple, Bhairavnath Temple, Golden Gate, and Lion's Gate are the major attractions of Bhaktapur. 

Later, we will see one of the oldest and the most renowned Stupa of Swayambhunath, commonly known as "Monkey Temple," located at the hilltop overlooking the Kathmandu Valley surrounded by the hills. Apart from being a major tourist destination, it is also a place of pilgrimage and prayer for Buddhist and Hindu believers. As a result, it is one of the best sites on the planet to witness religious cooperation.

Finally, the tour will conclude with an afternoon visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square, also known as Hanuman Dhoka or Basantapur by the locals. The living goddess Kumari, the freak street, the Kaal Bhairav, the Swet Bhairav, and many other figures can be found in the Durbar Square.
After our full day of exploring the important landmarks of Kathmandu, we will take a walk or rickshaw ride from Basantapur to Thamel via the ancient markets of Indrachowk and Ason. 
O/N at a hotel.
 

We get up early and embark on a long journey to Pokhara through the Prithivi Highway in the west of Kathmandu. We get to see and hear the lively flow of the twisting rivers of Trishuli and Marsyangdi along the route, which offers a beautiful view of the snow-capped peaks of Manaslu, Lamjung, Hiunchuli, Ganesh, and much of the Annapurna range. We'll stop for lunch on the way. Also, the stunning sceneries of green and yellow terraced farms, huge hills, and small villages and towns will delight you. 
We will check into the hotel after arriving in Pokhara and rest for a while. Then, we will visit Phewa Lake do boating and pay our visit to Tal Barahi Temple in the middle of the lake. We will be delighted with the shadow view of the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre along with other hills and the sunset on the lake
 

We begin by our 3 hours drive from Pokhara to Galeshwor after breakfast. We take our lunch there and start the trekking journey. We cross the Suspension bridge over the Kali Gandaki River and continue passing through breathtaking scenery and traditional Nepalese villages. After three hours of our leg exercise, we will reach our destination, Bas Kharka. It is a Magar settlement with few other ethnic groups and the village is famous for orange farming.

Today, our trail leads us towards Nangi village early in the morning. We make our way through dense rhododendron and pine forests along with a breathtaking view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Peaks to the Danda Kateri Village. We eat our lunch en route and after long continuous walking, we reach Nangi village which is surrounded by verdant hills. It is a lovely Magar Village. 

Our day starts with a beautiful morning in Nangi village and after breakfast, we begin our climb towards the Mohare Danda, one of the two ultimate destinations of this trek. Our trail goes through the dense forests and high terrains with spectacular Himalaya views and comes across a Him Pal Pass (3098m), which offers a panoramic view of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges and many other snow-capped peaks. We then make several bridge crosses and continue till we make it to the Mohare Danda (Mohare Hill) admiring the spectacular waterfalls. Mohare Hill is on the south of Poonhill and is known for its stunning sunrise and sunset views as well as spectacular views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, and other peaks.

Leaving Mohare Hill behind, we will make a descent towards the Swanta village today. We make our brief stop at Phulbari and continue along with the pine and oak forests. We then make a short ascend from Dandako Naak to the Phalate village. The trail leads us through woodlands and sparsely populated communities, initially downwards and then uphill after crossing the bridge, to the little community of Swanta at 2200 meters.
(Note: Swanta can be reached in two ways: one via Poonhill and Ghorepani, and the other by Dandako Naak (Nose of the hill). The guide will review the route and choose the most practical route.) 
 

We will continue our journey towards Chistibang after enjoying a nice meal in the morning at Swanta. Our trail leads us along the ridge and drops down the valley and reaches Shikha Hill. We further continue until we reach Chistibung where we will take a short lunch break. Always keep an eye out for the Himalayan Tahr and the national bird, the Lophophorus or Danfe Pheasant en route. 

Then, we will continue our gradual ascent up the ridgeline and reach the destination, Khopra Danda where we will settle down for the night. Located at the base of Annapurna South, the ridge is a wonderful vantage point with spectacular views of the mighty Himalayas of the west, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Nilgiri South, and others. Also, we can see the unending intriguing landscapes, hills, villages and communities, the Kali Gandaki River, and so on. Aside from the spectacular Himalayas and dawn and sunset views, one can also observe the local yaks grazing on the slopes below.
 

Rise early to observe the lovely sun rising above the snow-covered peaks and start the day with full-on energy. After breakfast, we make a day hike to Khayer Lake at 4700 meters above sea level.  
The hike to the high-altitude lake is tough, but reaching the top is a victory in itself. The glaciers of Annapurna South, Annapurna I, and Annapurna Fang form the sacred lake for Hindus, where people come from all around to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. After spending a good amount of time around the lake, we will descend back to Khopra Danda and end our day with a wonderful dinner
 

There are two routes (the upper and lower) to Dobato that depend upon the season. The upper route is taken during the spring and autumn seasons that go through the narrow track with the spectacular view on the backdrop and the breathtaking scenery of the Kali Gandaki Valley.  We take the lower track during the winter and monsoon months to avoid poor weather conditions, which takes a little longer than the upper trail.

We hike to Muldai View Point for the stunning sunrise view early in the morning and return to Dobato, have breakfast, and make our way towards Ghandruk Village. Make many ascends and descends through the valleys, dense forests, and many settlements, we will reach Tadapani where we will take a short lunch break. While enjoying our lunch, we also get to relish the dramatic views of the peaks such as Annapurna (8091m), Machhapuchhre (6997m), and Hiunchuli (6441m). 
We then start descending and resume once we reach our destination, Ghandruk.  Also known as Ghandrung, the village is one of the biggest Gurung (ethnic group of Nepal) Villages in Nepal where locals have preserved their traditional old culture to the date. The village is also a spectacular viewpoint for the Annapurna, Gangapura, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and other many peaks. 
We check-in our guesthouse and take a walk around the village. If time permits, you can also visit a small museum there reflects the culture of the Gurung people. 
 

Option 1: 

Trek to Nayapul (1000 m) & drive to Pokhara (850 m) 5 hrs + 2 hrs
Leaving Ghandruk, we begin our last day of trekking towards Nayapul along the edge of the Modi Khola. We walk via Kimche village and reach Nayapul where we will have a little break before driving back to Pokhara via Lumle village.

Option 2: 

Trek to Kimche & drive to Pokhara 
If you want to skip the trekking part as much as possible today, you can opt to take a drive from Kimche Village to Pokhara. You will have to walk 30 minutes from Ghandruk if you hire a jeep or if you happen to encounter the jeep. But, if you are taking the local bus, you will have to walk ½ hours from Ghandruk to Kimche Village. You will then reach Pokhara in 2-3 hours. 
Once in Pokhara, we will check-in at the hotel and get some rest. The evening can be spent walking along the bank of Fewa Lake and enjoying the bustling city of Pokhara and its warm ambiance. 
 

We bid farewell to Pokhara city and get ready for our return trip to Kathmandu. We drive via the same route, the same highway that we took earlier with the same scenery that we saw before. Again, we take lunch on the way. 
Once in Kathmandu, spend the day as you like. Evenings can be spent meandering through the streets and picking up a few souvenirs for friends and family back home. 
 

With our successful Mohare Danda and Khopra Danda Trek, it the time to bid farewell to each other. We will transfer you to the airport 3 hours before your scheduled flight back to your home.