Annapurna Dhaulagiri Trek 9 days-Annapurna Dhaulagiri Community Trek 2023/24

Annapurna Dhaulagiri trek also known as Khopra danda trek is a scenic treks in Nepal. The trek is suitable to those who are looking for a new trekking destination in Nepal. The 9 day trekking around Annapurna Dhaulagiri lies to the west of the Annapurna Sanctuary trek. One of the most special trekking package for rural tourism in Nepal, Annapurna Dhaulagiri Community Trek offers unparalleled views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges.

An easy access trek from Pokhara, you will meet a very few trekkers on the trail. You will get a chance to interact with the local community and also famous for traditional culture and lifestyles of hilly people. Mountain views on this trek include Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchare and many other snow clad peaks is also some feature of Annapurna Dhaulagiri Community Trek.

Trekkers can expect a variety of scenery like vibrant rhododendron forests, terraced fields and alpine landscapes. Also, a glimpse of local wildlife and experience panoramic views of Himalayas you will enjoy. The tea houses dotted along the trail will provide a welcome rest with warm hospitality of Gurung and Magar.

Annapurna Dhaulagiri Trek Difficulty
Mohare Danda Trek is an easy to moderate difficult. It also depends on your fitness level and past trekking experience. It is not too day overall, it has a good mix of easy, moderate and hard. There are lots of stairs with steep uphill, and also a balance of uphill and flat sections of the trail. In short, we are ascending and descending on the villages and forest. The physical effort required, it clearly helps to be as fit as possible. Saying that, you don’t have to be an athlete, far from it. People of all ages and levels of fitness complete the Mohare danda trek. The key point to remember is to hike at your own pace. Over the course of the trek, you ascend in altitude from 700 m to 3300 m.

Annapurna Dhaulagiri Trek Permit
The two permits-TIMS card, the Trekkers information management card and the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) permit are necessary for the Mohare danda trek, it costs around USD 50. We will take care of your trek permit on your behalf once you book Mohare Danda Trek with us-The Mission Eco Trek & Expedition Pvt. Ltd. For this, we need your scanned passport copy and two passport size photos. TIMS card and permits are valid only for one entry.

Annapurna Dhaulagiri Trek Accommodation
Accommodation on the Mohare Danda Trek is quite good with community lodges providing clean and neat rooms. Most accommodation has shared bathrooms. During the trek, don’t expect luxury accommodation. You'll be staying in remote rural villages. The rooms are simple usually with two single beds providing pillow, mattress and blanket. We recommend to take your own sleeping bag. Overall, you will have a nice experience to stay in a local’s home, and it is an opportunity to support them in a meaningful way.

Toilets
Toilets are all shared and are outside the room on the Mohare Danda Trek. It can be a western style toilet or a squat. Things tend to become more basic in places at higher altitude. You’ll need to have your own toilet paper, and soap isn’t always provided so make sure you have hand sanitizer too. Generally speaking, used toilet paper goes in a bin  next to the toilet. You flush the squat toilet by scooping water out of the nearby bucket with whatever receptacle is provided.

Dining Room
There’s always a dining room where meals are served, and it’s a good place to get to know your fellow trekkers. The higher you go, there will usually be a fire in the dining room around dinner time, although this is by no means guaranteed.

Hot Shower
Some tea houses have showers, others don’t. We’d highly suggest packing wipes and not being too concerned with showering on your trek, because, well, you’re not always going to have the option.Being dirty and sweaty is part of trekking. It’s sometimes possible to get one paying an extra cost. Best to be prepared to keep yourself clean with wet wipes.

Food on Annapurna Dhaulagiri  Trek
The food is often quite good. Your meal options will basically consist of: Dal Bhat rice, pasta, lentils, potatoes, rice, dumplings, Chowmein, Rösti, Soups, Tea, coffee, coke, beer and bottle water.You have to eat dinner and breakfast at the tea houses you stay. Lunch will generally be at a different place somewhere along the trail.Think carefully before ordering meat. Refrigeration, storage and kitchen standards mean that eating veggie is the safest option.

Dal Bhat
Dal Bhat is a combination of dal (lentils), veg curry, pickle, rice and vegetables, this staple of the Nepali diet is a great option. It comes with a guaranteed refill of rice and curry, and usually some extra dal too. The vegetable component varies depending on what or if there’s anything growing in the garden (and it pretty much disappears the last few days before the Larke Pass). Dal Bhat is what all guides and porters eat so it’s constantly being prepared, unlike more western style dishes which always have to be made to order. And as the whole cooking process requires less energy, this means that it’s better for the environment too.

Breakfast
Breakfast include porridge, pancakes, omelets, boiled eggs, pancake and various breads (Tibetan bread, buckwheat bread, chapatis, and so on).

Lunch and Dinner
Standard dishes on menus are soups, pasta dishes, various fried rice dishes, momos, a kind of dumpling, pizzas, and of course, Dal Bhat. Some dishes have meat options but this is something to be wary of. Lots of dishes have egg and some tuna from a can. 

Drinks
Hot drinks are on the menu at every guesthouse, with an often huge range of options stretching from regular black tea and coffee to Masala tea, lemon ginger honey tea, and hot chocolate, bottle of water, beer, whisky for an extra cost. 

Annapurna Dhaulagiri Trek Cost
Mohare Danda Trek package costs ranges from USD 550 to USD 850 and includes all transfers, accommodation, meals and permits. You could order any meal off the menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and at breakfast you will get one hot beverage (tea or coffee). If we want additional snacks or drinks, like a bowl of soup or a tea or coffee at lunch and dinner, you to pay for it yourselves.

Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara(850m, 200km, 6 hours)
Early in the morning's breakfast and 6 hours tourist bus ride to Pokhara. A scenic drive past through the country side, river and terraces. Overnight stay at hotel in Pokhara.
Day 2: Pokhara to Tadapani(2610m, 9km, 4-5 hours)
Breakfast and receive you at your hotel and drive to Kimche by sharing jeep and uphill trek via Ghandruk to Tadapani for  5 hours. Tadapani is one of the best view point for the pretty close view of Hiunchuli, Fishtail and Annapurna South. 
Day 3: Tadapani to Dobato/Mulde view(3420m, 5-6 hours)
Breakfast and uphill trek for 5 to 6 hours to Dobato also known as Mulde view point. We walk in the jungle almost all day. 
Day 5: Trek to Kopra ridge(3640m, 6-7 hours)
Breakfast and steep uphill trek to Kopra ridge for 6 to 7 hours.This is one of the best view point of this trek.
Day 6: Trek to Swanta(2200m, 4-5 hours)
Breakfast and descends downhill trek to Swantha for 4-5 hours.
Day 7: Trek to Mohare Danda(3300m, 7-8 hours)
Breakfast and downhill and uphill trek for 7-8 hours through the jungle to Mahare Danda. This is one of the best view point for sunrise, sunset and the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Panoramas.
Day 8: Trek to Lespar(1900m, 18 km, 5-6 hours)
Breakfast with enjoying the sunrise view and an amazing view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, and descends downhilll  trek to Lespar for 7-8 hours  forest and Ngagi Village.
Day 9: Lespar to Pokhara via Purna Gaun(1500m, 6-7 hours)
Breakfas and trek to Nayapul via Purna Gaun that takes 6-7 hours and then get drive back Pokhara for 6-7 hours)

Cost Includes

• Bus transfer- Kathmandu/Pokhara/Kathmandu
• Twin sharing tea house accommodation during trek.
• Trekking permit-ACAP and TIMS cards
• English Speaking guide and all his expenses like salary, meals, accommodation and transfer
• 3 times meals- breakfast, lunch and dinner during trekking
• For ABC/Poon Hill Trek - Transfer by bus or car to/from Pokhara to Trekking start/end point.
• Hotel in Pokhara before and after the trek.
• All the goverment taxes and company service charge.

• Airport pick up and departure transfer
• Hotel Accommodation in Kathmandu but we can book on your request.
• Travel Insurance in case of emergency for Heli rescue and other medication
• Porter to carry luggage - but we arrange on your request 1 porter between 2 clients. 
• Any kind of drinks and desert like beer, water, tea/coffee, hot water, chocolate/rice pudding, pie and pancake.
• Expenses of personal nature like telephone, internet, wifi, hot shower, battery charging
• Tips for guide and porter
• All the cost not mention on above cost includes.

Internet, Wifi, Sim cards and staying Charged 
If you’re looking to stay connected while trekking in the Mardi Himal, the options are fairly limited.
Wifi: Wifi is available in the tea houses along the trail. There is however normally a charge for using the internet,WiFi and with slow speeds, you may end up wishing you hadn’t bothered. If there’s nothing urgent, our advice would be to wait until you get back from the mountains. Costs anywhere from $4 to $6 to use WiFi at the guesthouses. 

Sim Cards
4G sim cards and packages can be bought at the airport, or from numerous vendors in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. They’re great in the city but as soon as you leave the coverage is patchy. We recommend Nepal Telecom and Ncell for 3G/4G coverage. It’s safe to say that in the mountains, neither are really any good. 

Electricity
There are electricity available along the trail to charge your power banks, cameras, and phones. The key is to get a fat power bank. Pay to charge that then charge everything from your power bank.Your power bank lets you charge your phone and camera batteries. Most of the places you stay let you charge your gear for an extra cost.

Best time Trek to Mohare Danda
The best time to go trekking in Mohare Danda is Spring, Autumn and Winter.March/April and October/November is the peak hiking season in Nepal due to best weather conditions as the result all trekking routes get very busy.The highest elevation you’ll reach on this trek is 3,300 meters. This means you won’t have to worry as much about cold temperatures.

Autumn-Trekking
September, October and November are the most popular months for trekking in Mohare Danda. Autumn brings clear blue skies and mild temperatures before the cold sets in in December.Autumn is also a festive season with the celebration of Dashain and Tihar. Nepal’s biggest festivals.The weather is generally dry and clear, with warm sunny days and excellent visibility. Regardless of the seasons, the weather conditions can change rapidly and there is always a chance of unstable weather, cold and snow storms. It is important to check the weather forecast. 

Spring-Trekking
The spring season from March to May is considered to be the next best option. The weather is generally clear although a little colder. Mornings are sunny and flowers are in bloom. There is however a higher chance of rain, or even snow, and melting ice increases the chances of landslides or avalanches.

Summer-Trekking
June, July and August are the monsoon months.There is a lot of rain falls, the roads and trails get very muddy not nice weather for hiking in the Mardi Himal.  The Marsyangdi valley up to Manang sees lots of rainfalls.The monsoon is responsible for warm and wet weather, with cloud and mist making visibility extremely poor. You can hardly see a mountain. Leeches are a big problem at this time of year, as is the risk of landslides. 

Winter-Trekking
January and February are too cold with lots of snow on the trail.There are very few people on the routes like Mardi Himal where there are no local villages it might be difficult to find accommodation and food because the places are closed for off season.

Insurance for Mohare Danda Trek
Travel insurance is highly recommended for Mohare Danda Trek because the high altitude can lead to many illnesses, weakness in trekkers, and misjudgments. There is also a risk on trails for falls, avalanches, or other mishaps. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.

Mardi Himal Trek Packing List
We would suggest to take what you need and make your bag as light as possible.You can expect to need more warm clothes in the colder months.If you plan to trek with a porter then this will make choosing what to take a bit easier – just don’t overload your porter of course.  Each person gets an allotment of 9 kilograms that they can give to a porter to carry. Don’t feel like you need to pack a whole 9 kgs though — that’s just the limit. Each porter will be carrying 2 people’s belongings which they carry from a strap on their head), so be mindful and considerate as you pack. Also, bear in mind that it’s very common to leave excess baggage at hotels and guesthouses in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Sleeping Bag (NPR 200 - 300 NPR per day) is available to rent in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
1 pair of pants that maybe convert to shorts
1 pair of shorts
1 Warm or thicker pair of hiking pants
1 Long sleeve quick-dry shirt
1 Long-sleeve thermal shirt
2 Short-sleeve t-shirts
1 Thermal long underwear
4 pairs of quick-dry underwear
1 Lightweight down jacket
1 Heavy-duty summit down jacket
1 Beanie
1 Cap
1 Sunglasses
1 Neck Buff
1 pair of Gloves
1 pair of Hiking boots
1 pair of sandals/running shoes
1 Head torch
1 pair of warm summit socks
2-3 pairs of regular socks
1 Sunscreen
1 pair of trekking poles
1 Water filter
1 Power bank
1 Poncho/rain coat

Documents:
Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
Passport (required) (With photocopies)
Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)

Essentials:
Binoculars (optional)
Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
Cash, credit and debit cards
Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
Ear plugs
First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, band aids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, 
antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra 
Money belt
Outlet adapter
Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
Reusable water bottle
Watch and alarm clock
Waterproof backpack cover
Windproof rain jacket

Health and Safety:
Face masks (required)
Hand sanitizer (required)
Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
Rubber glove
Whistle

Drinking Water
Drinking plenty of water is a must.Please drink at least three liters of water while trekking each day.Bottled water and hot water is available to buy throughout the trek. You have to purchase your water throughout the trek. It is typically around 100 to 200 rupees. That’s why packing a Steripen is a fantastic idea — you can fill up at the taps, and you won’t have to buy any water or waste unnecessary plastic!

Mohare Danda Guided Trek
Guided trek is the best option if you want a stress-free hiking holiday. The guide manages all of the logistics, distances, directions, and tea houses. The directions are not always very clear like on the Everest Base Camp trek and having the guide manages all of the logistics. Experience hikers can be done Mardi Himal Trek independently as well.

Money Matter
You’ll need cash to pay for extra food and beverages, water, and showers along the way. You’ll also need to budget for tips for your guides and porters as well. Since there are no ATM along the way, we’d suggest to be over-prepared so you don’t run out of money. We suggest to bring 25,000 rupees (around $250 USD) with you for the trek. The amount of money you need to take Mohare danda trek will depend on whether you’re on an inclusive tour or not. If you are on an inclusive tour then you’ll only need money for any snacks or drinks over and above what’s included in your package. If you are paying as you go, then you’ll need to have enough cash to cover all costs: accommodation, food, drink, etc.

Nepal Visa
Tourist visas are available on arrival at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan International Airport and at all land border crossings that are open to foreign travellers. While this is available for most foreigners, citizens of some countries are required to get a visa prior to arrival, while those from SAARC countries can get their visa free of charge.There are three different visa options and prices: Multiple Entry 15 Days – 30 USD, 30 Days – 50 USD and 90 Days – 125 USD. In order to get a visa on arrival you’ll need four things:
One passport size photo
A passport valid for at least six months
At least one blank page in your passport
The visa fee in cash (US Dollars is best)

Tipping
We recommend tipping for guide: $10-$12 USD per day per person and porter: $8-$10 USD per day per person. If you want to give more you can it depends on their services to you.

Passports
As a general rule, your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Please ensure the passport details you provide are accurate. Any errors provided may result in extra fees for making corrections in bookings. We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leave copies at home with family or friends.

Altitude Sickness
Travelers to altitudes higher than 2,500 m are at risk of altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). This can be life-threatening and affect anyone, even people who are very physically fit. There is a higher risk for those who have had altitude sickness before, who exercise or drink alcohol before adjusting to the altitude, or who have health problems that affect breathing. If your tour travels to high altitude, see your doctor for advice specific to you and your situation before you depart. It is important to be aware of the normal altitude symptoms that you may encounter BUT NOT worry about:
1.Periods of sleeplessness
2.Occasional loss of appetite
3.Vivid, wild dreams at around 2500-3800m in altitude
4.Unexpected momentary shortness of breath, day and night
5.Periodic breathing that wakes you occasionally
6.Blocked nose
7.Dry cough
8.Mild headache
If you are feeling nauseous, dizzy, or experience other symptoms, please be sure to let your guide know immediately so that we can monitor your condition. Please be aware that should your guide deem it unsafe for you to continue trekking at any time, they will arrange for you to descend to a lower altitude.

Medical Facilities and Treatment:
Medical facilities in Nepal are very limited, particularly outside Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, treatment at international-standard clinics is expensive and up-front payment for services is generally required. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment, including evacuation by helicopter.

Alcohol and Caffeine
Alcohol and trekking don't mix. We highly recommend that you limit your alcohol consumption in Kathmandu prior to your trip. Celebrate your achievements after your trek. Both alcohol and caffeine increase dehydration. Limit your intake of both when hiking at high altitudes.