This trek goes offbeat in the famous Annapurnas, combining stays in homestays and community eco-lodges, before coming out into the main trail and back to Pokhara!
THE STORY
Mahabir Pun had a hard time getting the right information to pursue his education. Eventually, after several tries, he managed and eventually went all the way to the USA to get his higher education. However, the fact that he was from a village in Nepal and unable to access information kept nagging him.
He eventually came back to Nepal and started a foundation that worked exclusively to make information accessible in villages in Nepal, via the internet. This has become so successful now that he even won the Magsaysay Award.
This trek has been developed offbeat through some of the first villages to come under this project, and it was used to fund the projects coming under this scheme. The homestays and community eco-lodges support education, technology etc... giving a fantastic feel good factor as you enjoy the amazing views of Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest mountain in the world, Annapurna I, the tenth highest mountain in the world, and the wonderful, warm, Nepali hospitality in the villages.
Definitely a trek to create great memories!
HIGHEST POINT: 3600m at Khopra Danda, unless you take an extra day to go to the Khayer Lake.
We take an early, 25 minute flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu. Upon arrival at the airport, we are met with our trek leader and a ready vehicle to take us to the trailhead at Galeshwor about five hours away. When all goes according to plan, we walk about two and half hours to reach the homestays at Bas Kharka, the first day we experience the amazing Pun hospitality!
After an early breakfast, we say goodbye to our hosts in BasKharka to start our uphill journey toward Nagi, stopping for a delicious lunch prepared by the community at Dandakateri. Upon arrival at Nagi, we check into the community eco-lodge there and have time to appreciate the village of the beautiful vistas.
We have an early start again, as we move uphill from our community lodge in Nagi. We start through beautiful forests, and a stiff uphill that brings us out to a small pass where we stop for lunch. After relaxing there for a while, we continue for another two to three hours to trek a ridgeline and uphill to reach our first highlight of Mohare Danda, where we are going to stay in a community lodge.
An early rise at Mohare Danda will reveal a brilliant sunrise (weather permitting) and views of some of the highest mountains ranges in the world. Enjoying this with a cup of coffee or tea is magical. After breakfast, we unwilling go down the trail to cross the main trail and reach a small village of Swantha deep down in the valley side. Here we stay in a private lodge run by a wonderful family.
We start through agricultural fields and then enter a forest till about lunch time. After lunchtime, the trail gets progressively steeper as we have to walk all the way up to the ridge at 3600m. Khopra Danda has a community eco lodge that funds girl child education, and also a yak farm. Situated on a ridge, it provides unparelled view of Dhaulagiri
At this height there are not many trees and so as we walk today towards the lodges in Bayali, we are going through mostly high pastureland, where Yaks are left to roam in the summers. After about five to six hours of walking we will reach our lodge for the night!
As we set out today, we are soon coming to the main trail that is part of the Ghandruk and the Poon Hill Trails. Quite a difference from the trails we were on, we reach a collection of lodges at Tadapani. We will stay here for the night!
Alas, today is our last day on the trail. We start off to reach Ghandruk for lunch and after a lazy lunch, walk down about one hour to reach awaiting vehicles to take us back the two to three hours to Pokhara. Upon arrival, we get into our hotel and go find a drink!
Today we set off to learn more about the projects we are interested in Pokhara in the morning. In the afternoon, we fly to Kathmandu!
Day | Location | Activity | Transport | Hotel | Meals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Baskharka | BAS KHARKA | 1750m | air | jeep | homestay | L | D |
2 | Nagi | NAGI | 2300m | - | lodge | B | L | D |
3 | Mohare Danda | MOHARE DANDA | 3300m | - | lodge | B | L | D |
4 | Swatha | SWANTHA | 2400m | - | lodge | B | L | D |
5 | Khopra Danda | KHOPRA DANDA | 3600m | - | lodge | B | L | D |
6 | Bayali | BAYALI | 3100m | - | lodge | B | L | D |
7 | Tadapani | TADAPANI | 2700m | - | lodge | B | L | D |
8 | Pokhara | POKHARA | 990m | jeep | hotel karuna | B | L |
9 | Kathmandu | KATHMANDU | 1350m | air | - | B |
"BE ACTIVE"
Nangi
Mom trying to explain the names of mountain to his son outside their hotel early morning at Tadapani
GEAR LIST | What to bring on this Trek?
Think only safety. Safety from the rain, the cold, the heat and the altitude. So simply put the bare essentials would be
DOWNLOAD a full gear list here