- Length
- 5 days
- Highest point
- 3,682 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Starts
- Pokhara (drive to Hemja)
- Group size
- 2–10 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House / Camp
A quiet, fast-rising short ridge trek above Pokhara to Khumai Danda (3,245 m) with jaw-dropping close-up views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South.
- Some of the closest views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Annapurna South near Pokhara
- A peaceful, off-the-beaten-path alternative to busy Mardi Himal and Poon Hill
- Sunrise over the Annapurna massif from the Khumai Danda ridge (3,245 m)
- Optional hike to the Korchan Danda viewpoint (~3,682 m) for a wider panorama
- Walks through rhododendron and oak forest, terraced farmland and Gurung villages
- Short itinerary starting and finishing in Pokhara — ideal for tight schedules
- Family-run tea houses and authentic local hospitality
- Licensed local guides and all permits handled for you
The climb, day by day
Day 1Pokhara to Hemja, trek to Hile Kharka (2,160 m)2,160 m
A short 30–40 minute drive from Pokhara takes you to Hemja and on toward the Ghachowk trailhead. From here the trek begins, climbing gently through terraced fields and Gurung villages before entering cool forest. A steady ascent brings you to Hile Kharka, a quiet grazing settlement where you spend your first night in a simple tea house.
- Distance
- 13 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hrs
- Meals
- Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 2Hile Kharka to Khumai Danda (3,245 m)3,245 m
After breakfast the trail steepens, weaving up through rhododendron and oak forest that opens onto grassy ridges. As you gain height the views expand dramatically until you reach Khumai Danda at around 3,245 m, perched directly beneath Machhapuchhre. Spend the afternoon resting and watching the light change across Annapurna South and Fishtail.
- Distance
- 7 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Khumai Danda sunrise, hike toward Korchan Danda viewpoint (3,682 m)3,682 m
Rise early for a spectacular sunrise over the Annapurna massif. After breakfast, an optional acclimatised push along the ridge toward Korchan Danda (about 3,682 m) opens an even wider panorama of Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhre, Mardi Himal and Nilgiri. Return to Khumai Danda to relax and enjoy the high ridge with very few other trekkers around.
- Distance
- 6 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 4Descend to Ghachowk, drive to Pokhara827 m
A long, scenic descent retraces the ridge and drops back through forest and farmland to the road head near Ghachowk. From there a short drive returns you to Pokhara, where the rest of the day is free to relax by the lake, enjoy a hot shower and celebrate the trek.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast & Lunch
- Night
- Hotel
Day 5Pokhara at leisure / departure827 m
A free morning in Pokhara to explore Lakeside, take an optional boat trip on Phewa Lake or simply rest before onward travel. The trek concludes after breakfast, with transfers or onward connections arranged as required.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Night
- –
The price includes
- Airport / hotel transfers in Pokhara as per itinerary
- Pokhara–Hemja and Ghachowk–Pokhara private ground transport
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and TIMS card
- Licensed, experienced English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter service (1 porter per 2 trekkers)
- Tea-house accommodation during the trek and 1 night hotel in Pokhara
- All standard meals on trek (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Guide and porter wages, insurance, food and accommodation
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare to and from Nepal
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Travel and high-altitude rescue insurance
- Meals in Pokhara not specified in the itinerary
- Personal trekking gear and clothing
- Drinks, snacks, hot showers and Wi-Fi at tea houses
- Tips for guide and porter
- Any expenses arising from delays beyond our control
The Khumai Danda Trek is one of the Annapurna region's best-kept secrets — a short, scenic ridge hike that delivers some of the closest views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and Annapurna South you will find anywhere near Pokhara. Often called a quieter cousin of the increasingly busy Mardi Himal route, Khumai Danda climbs through rhododendron and oak forest, terraced Gurung farmland and grazing pastures to a high meadow ridge at roughly 3,245 metres, where the sunrise lights up a wall of Himalayan giants.
This 5-day version begins and ends in Pokhara. A short drive takes you to Hemja and the trailhead near Ghachowk, from where you climb steadily to Hile Kharka and on to the Khumai Danda ridge. With an early start you can also push a little higher toward the Korchan Danda viewpoint (around 3,682 m) for an even wider panorama spanning Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhre, Mardi Himal and Nilgiri before descending back to the road head.
Why trek Khumai Danda
Because it is still off the main tourist circuit, the trail is peaceful, the tea houses are family-run, and you share the ridge with far fewer trekkers than on Poon Hill or Mardi Himal. It is short enough for a tight schedule yet high enough to feel genuinely alpine, making it ideal for travellers who want a real Himalayan ridge experience without the long approach.
Who it suits
Reasonably fit walkers comfortable with several hours of uphill each day will enjoy this trek. No previous high-altitude experience is required, and our licensed local guides handle permits, logistics and tea-house arrangements throughout.