Nepal Trekking: Almost 99% of Chinese People Won't Come Here! A Unique Parent-Child Route
If you want to experience trekking in Nepal but have limited time, and are looking for a relatively easy, less crowded route with 360-degree views of snow-capped mountains, I recommend Kokhe Danda. This is a stunning, lesser-known trekking route that features sunrise, sunset, a sea of clouds, and views of the Annapurna, Machapuchare (Fish Tail), Dhaulagiri, and other Himalayan snow mountains. It only takes three days and two nights to complete.
Here’s my itinerary:
1️⃣ Pokhara - Kushma - Banau - Haljure - Lespar, accommodation: Sunrise Homestay, transportation: bus, tricycle, jeep.
2️⃣ Lespar - Mohare Danda - Kokhe Danda, accommodation: AAPA Cottage. Actually, Mohare has more lodging options and good views; it’s only 20 minutes from Kokhe.
3️⃣ Kokhe Danda - Lespar - Pokhara, take a village jeep to Kushma, then a vehicle back to Pokhara.
✅ Advantages: Few people, beautiful scenery, no mountain entry permit required 🪪. Even most foreign trekkers only go as far as Mohare Danda, so it’s quiet and peaceful.
❌ Disadvantage: You need to return the same way.
✅ Non-return route: Kokhe Danda - Taprang - Banthati - Pokhara. ❗️But you need to check the permit.
If you have more time, you can visit nearby Bun Mountain and ABC (Annapurna Base Camp).
Of course, if you lack outdoor experience, the return route is not suitable for solo travel. After Lespar village, you cross a large area of primeval forest with no signal and almost no people.
On the morning I arrived at Banau, I was lucky to see the golden sunlight on Dhaulagiri. It was so quiet that I could only hear the chirping of insects and birds and my heartbeat. The mud-walled old houses with orange chrysanthemums, the 8,000-meter snow mountains in the distance, the nearby villages and terraced fields, children going to school by the roadside, and local people working—all looked exactly like the Nepalese countryside I saw in a Pokhara art studio.
Haljure village is one hour from Banau. The first homestay here is run by an elderly lady. She has a kitten and a puppy, and from the doorstep, you can see Machapuchare and Annapurna. In front of me were blue houses and white snow mountains, sunlight warming me, wrapping my heart in warmth and peace.
Back in Sichuan on an afternoon, with sunlight on me, I still remember stepping alone onto this rarely visited land. Closing my eyes and opening the live view, it feels as if the Himalayan breeze is blowing past my ears again...
⚠️ Parent-child tip: This route is suitable for parent-child families with some trekking experience. Children should be 8 years or older and well prepared.