Khumai Danda
Annapurna, Western Nepal
Three days from Pokhara onto a ridge that faces Machhapuchhre head on, with the Annapurna range running west from it. The shortest trek we run.
Khumai Danda is the ridge that faces Machhapuchhre, and walking up it is the shortest trek we run. Three days from Pokhara: a drive out to Ghachowk, a climb through terraced fields and rhododendron forest, then the ridge itself, with the Annapurnas running away to the west.
Short is not the same as easy. The second day gains more than fifteen hundred metres, which is most of the trek’s work done in one go. The same ridge carries on north towards Mardi Himal, so if three days turns out to be too few, the longer way up is already there.
- Duration
- 3days
- Max altitude
- 3,682m
- Difficulty
Moderate
- Best seasons
Spring: March to May
Autumn: September to December
From · 3–5 people
€250
When to go
Coldest to warmest across the route, and rainfall. Open-Meteo
Day by day
The route
Day 01
Pokhara → Ghachowk → Hile Kharka
A short drive out to the trailhead near Ghachowk, then straight onto the trail through farming villages and terraced fields into forest. Machhapuchhre appears and disappears through the trees most of the afternoon. Night at Hile Kharka.
- Altitude
- 2,160m
- On foot
- 4–6 hrs· 5.6 km
Village paths and terraced fields, then forest trail
Day 02
Hile Kharka → Khumai Danda → Korchan Danda
The long day, and the reason for the trek. Uphill through rhododendron and oak forest, out onto the open ridge at Khumai Danda, then on towards Korchan. Machhapuchhre is directly in front of you and the Annapurnas run away to the west. Sunset from the ridge if the weather gives you one.
- Altitude
- 3,682m
- On foot
- 6–8 hrs· 8 km
Rhododendron and oak forest, then open ridge
Day 03
Korchan Danda → Hile Kharka → Pokhara
Up before light for sunrise on the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre, breakfast, then the whole descent in one go by way of Khumai Danda and Hile Kharka. The jeep meets you at the road and you are back in Pokhara the same afternoon.
- Altitude
- 822m
- On foot
- 7–9 hrs· 13.6 km
Long descent, ridge then forest, finishing on the road
What’s included
Licensed female guide
Experienced and licensed, with all salary, meals and accommodation covered.
All meals on trek
Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two servings of tea, coffee or another hot drink each day.
Accommodation
High-rated teahouse stays throughout the trek.
Transport
All transportation related to the trek.
Permits and taxes
All necessary government and local permits, paperwork and taxes.
Trekking essentials
Trekking poles, microspikes or crampons, and seasonal fruit on the trail.
What’s not included
Travel insurance
Strongly recommended for high-altitude treks, and required for helicopter evacuation cover.
Personal expenses
Wi-Fi, laundry, battery charging, bottled or hot water, hot showers.
Alcoholic and personal drinks
Tips for your guide
You can add
A porter
Hired from the region you are walking through, so the work and the money stay in the villages on your route, and you walk with a lighter pack and someone who knows the ground.
€18–20 per day
Permits
ACAP: arranged for you.
Safety
Our altitude protocol
Altitude is the thing most people worry about, so here is exactly what we do about it. This is our operating protocol, not medical advice.
A guide trained in mountain safety and first aid
Licensed, and trained specifically for the conditions on these routes.
Daily health monitoring
We record your SpO2 and heart rate each day with a pulse oximeter, alongside an AMS assessment, and keep it in a wellness log you can see.
A first aid kit on every trek
Essential emergency supplies, including altitude sickness medication.
Pre-trek safety briefing
Altitude awareness, pacing, weather and emergency procedures, before you start walking, not on the trail.
Emergency coordination
With local health posts, rescue services and helicopter evacuation. The evacuation itself is covered by your travel insurance.
Questions
Before you go
Is three days really enough to get high in the Annapurnas?
It is enough to get onto a ridge facing Machhapuchhre, which is the view most people come for. It is not enough to acclimatise properly, so the second day is a long climb and you feel it. If you want height with more room to adjust, Mardi Himal over five days is the better shape.
Where do we sleep on the ridge?
Teahouses. The night at Korchan Danda depends on what is open and has beds when you arrive, so your guide may stop at Khumai Danda instead. It is the same ridge and the same view.
How hard is the last day?
It is the longest on your feet, seven to nine hours, and almost all of it downhill. Knees feel that more than lungs. Poles help, and we bring them.
Not sure this is the right trek?
Book a free call with someone who has walked it. We will tell you honestly if another route suits you better. That happens often, and it is the whole point of talking first.