Nepal is a land of mountains and trekking, with the most popular trails leading to the mighty Himalayas. While most of the treks in Nepal are long and physically challenging, there are several shorter treks that can be completed in less than a week. One such trek that can be completed within 2-3 days that is gaining massive popularity is the Khumai Danda Trek. Situated at the base of Mt. Macchapuchre, this trek offers breathtaking views of the Annapurna range and the Mardi Himal, along with an unspoiled natural beauty that is rare to find in the overcrowded tourist spots.
In this blog, we will take you through the Khumai Danda Trek itinerary, the highlights of the trek, budget for the trek, things you should not miss while packing, hotel contact information and frequently asked questions for the Khumai Danda Trek.
Highlights of the Trek
The Khumai Danda Trek is a short trek that can be completed in 2-3 days. Here are some of the highlights of the trek:
- Stunning views of the Annapurna range, Mardi Himal, and Mt. Machhapuchhre.
- Trekking through natural and unspoiled trails.
- Witnessing the sunrise and sunset from the vantage point of Korchan (3700m).
- Visiting the ethnic villages of Saripakha and Hile Kharka.
Khumai Danda 2 Days Itinerary:
Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Saripakha and trek to Khumai Danda (3245m)
On the first day of your trek, you will drive from Pokhara to Saripakha which is a 30 minute drive. You will pass through Hemja into the beautiful villages of Ghachowk and Lahachowk. Saripakha is the starting point of the trek where you will start walking through the woodlands, small villages, and terraced fields, enjoying the sights of the surrounding hills.
Here is how your first trekking day will look like:
- The Jeep ride from Bagar, Pokhara to Saripakha takes about an hour.
- You start walking from Saripakha and reach Hile Kharka in 2 hours. You take you lunch, freshen up, refill the water bottles, use toilets and trek towards Chichinle
- You will reach Chichinle in about an Hour after trekking through dense forest trails and rest there for some time.
- Then you trek towards Rest Camp. You’ll find two more tea houses on the way to Rest Camp where you can rest and munch on some snacks. This trail is also amidst dense forest surrounded by Rhododendron trees.
- After reaching Rest Camp, you’ll see the full view of Khumai danda. The trail and the view changes completely from now on. You will feel a completely different vibe starting the trek from Rest Camp.
- In about 1.5 to 2 hours, you’ll reach Khumai danda and be greeted with its majestic view. Khumai danda lies in the shadow of the gigantic Machhapuchhre Himal (Mount Fishtail)
There are a total of three different hotels on Khumai danda. All the hotels have their swing, tents set up around them and a toilet on the side.
The water supply is only available up until Hile Kharka. So you’ll have to carry toilet paper and work with a very limited supply of water. The drinking water is 100 NPR per liter on the trail and 250 NPR for 1.5 liters on Khumai danda.
Day 2: Trek from Khumai Danda to Korchan Danda (3682m) and return to Pokhara
The major highlight of the trip, Korchan Danda, will undoubtedly surprise you with the astounding sights of sunrise and the Himalayas. Elevating at almost 3700m, the hill offers majestic views of Mardi, Annapurna, and Machhapuchhre. You can spend some quality time far from the hustle, right into the lap of the Himalayas, before heading back to Pokhara.
Here is how your second day of trek will look like:
- The trek to Korchan starts early in the morning at 3:30 AM.
- Within the next 2 hours, you will arrive at the first peak of Korchan. However, the major attraction is at the second Korchan peak. During winter and the onset of Spring, you’ll get to experience a lot of snow here. There is a tea house as well where you can buy yourself a cup of black tea for 100 NPR while enjoying the majestic sunrise right beyond the himalayan horizon.
- After spending a good couple of hours and clicking tons of pictures and videos, you return to Khumai in less than an hour. In Khumai, you will have your breakfast, pack your stuff, dress light and start moving downhill.
- You will reach Hile Kharka in about 4 hours and have your meal there. You can gather around other trekkers to accommodate the full capacity of the jeep there and call the jeep to Saripakha.
- While you trek down to Saripakha in the next one hour, the jeep will have also arrived at about the same time.
- You can take the 1 hour jeep ride to Pokhara and chill at the lakeside. Our recommendation is to do paddleboarding after a good lunch at pokhara.
- You can take a night bus back to your home from Pokhara reminiscing the beautiful view that you witnessed from the Khumai danda Trek.
Things that you should not miss while packing for the Khumai Danda Trek:
- Power Bank/Charging Station
- Torch Light
- Toilet Paper
- Warm Clothes for the night and trek to Korchan
- Snacks, Chocolates and Fruits
- As many water bottles as you can carry
- Strong mindset to conquer the steep uphill trek
Our total budget for the Khumai Danda Trek per person:
- Kathmandu to Pokhara Bus Fare: NPR 800
- Pokhara to Saripakha Jeep Ride: NPR 700
- Chichen Khana at Hile: NPR 600
- Veg Khana, Dinner, Breakfast and Tent Package at Khumai: NPR 1800
- Return Khana at Hile: NPR 600
- Return Jeep from Saripakha to Pokhara: NPR 500
- Pokhara to Kathmandu Bus Fare: NPR 800
- Extra Misc/Personal Expenses: 1000
- Total: 6800
Hotels Contact Information:
- Hotel 360: 9813503704
- Trekkers Home: 9804165501
- Green Cottage: 9805833616
Also read: Travel Nepal using ChatGPT
Best season for Khumai Danda Trek:
The Khumai Danda trek is the shortest and easiest trek in Nepal. Since you will not be gaining much altitude and the weather is pleasant all year round, you can do this trek any time of the year.
Although most people avoid trekking in monsoon (June to August) due to various reasons like slippery trails and continuous rainfall the beauty of Khumai Danda is exceptional, especially in the rainy season because of the blossoming wildflowers in the hills. Other than the monsoon, during the Spring and Autumn, the trail is filled with a wide variety of rhododendron flowers that make the view even more pleasing. However, if you are not afraid of snow and want to enjoy the sights of the snow-capped pinnacles, Winter (December-February) can also be the best time for the Khumai Danda trek.
Most common question on New Khumai Danda Trek:
1. How many days will it take for a beginner to reach Khumai Danda?
We think that almost everybody should be able to do Pokhara – Khumai – Pokhara within two days. However, you’ll always have the option to stay at the tea houses on the way and extend one more day to your trek.
2. What is the maximum elevation that I can gain during the trip?
The maximum elevation you will attain during the trip is 3682m at Korchan. Korchan is the vantage point of the Khumai Danda trek that offers unobstructed views of Macchapuchre and other Himalayas together with a splendid sunrise view.
3. What type of accommodation will be available on the trail?
Accommodation is in the tea houses with a few room capacities. The most common accommodation is in tents. You’ll find two mattresses, warm blankets and pillows in the tents. There is a toilet available which is almost always short on water. Please carry your own torch light and toilet paper with you.
4. Can a beginner complete this trek?
Yes. The trek is not that diffucult and is very beginner friendly. You have to keep in mind that the entire trail is pretty much uphill only. However, will slow and steady steps, you’ll make it to the top with ease.
5. What food can I get in the teahouse?
The teahouse usually offers traditional Nepali cuisines like Dal, Bhat, Soup, and Curries, together with some continental dishes.
6. Can I do a solo trek to Khumai Danda?
Absolutely. Ever since this trek has become viral around social media, primarily because the Ghumante, a lot of Nepali folks have chosen to do the Khumai danda trek. During our trek as well, a lot of responses that we received from fellow trekkers was that they were there because the place got viral on TikTok. Hence, you’ll be very safe and will enjoy connecting with other trekkers along the way on your solo trek.
Conclusion:
If you are looking for a short trek in Nepal where you can enjoy nature and the views from the Himalayas to the fullest, Khumai Danda can be the right choice for you. Located in the lap of Mt. Macchapuchre in a remote setting, the hill will overwhelm you with unobstructed views and calmness.
