Destination
Nepal
Region
Annapurna Region
Trip Grade
Grade 2: Moderate
Accommodation
Tea House
Total Distance
55 km
Start / End Point
pokhara/Pokhara
Durations
6 days
Max. Altitude
3660 m
Meals Included
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Group Size
above 1 pax
Best Season
All season
Activity per day
6 hrs
Transportation
Hiking
Trip Highlights
One of the shorter, less popular, and moderate treks in the Annapurna region is the Khopra trek.
Enjoy the breathtaking dawn over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna while staying at a teahouse during khopra ridge community trek.
Awe-inspiring views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and Nilgiri
Absorb in the spring's stunning sight of rhododendrons that are in full bloom.
At the base of Annapurna South, take a hike to the holy lake of Khayer.
Magnificent dawn and sunset views can be seen from PoonHill and Khopra Ridge.
Experience the opportunity to take in the expansive vistas of the Annapurnas (I, II, III, and South), Dhaulagiri, Fishtail, Himchuli, and Nilgiris.
Exploring the traditional way of life of the locals while strolling over undulating hills and lush woodlands.
Thrilling and adventurous walk to the 4500-meter Khayer Lake, a sacred lake for both Buddhists and Hindus.
2 Nights at the beautiful lake city of Pokhara
Trek on off the beaten track
Local cheese factory at Paudwar
Amazing sunrise views from Poon Hill
Visit Ghandruk village, Gurung museum, and local monasteries
Khopra Danda ridge
First-hand experience of rural Nepali village life
Trip Overview
This trek takes you through lesser-known paths to Khopra Danda while letting you experience traditional villages, terraced farms, and amazing mountain peaks (including Mt Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Nilgiri, Tukuche Peak), and Poon Hill – in the Annapurna region.
Your journey begins with a scenic ride from Kathmandu through Pokhara, Nayapul, and Syauli Bazaar to Kimche and finally to the Gurung village of Ghandruk. From Ghandruk, you will trek to Tadapani. You will spend the night at Tadapani. The next day, you will leave Tadapani to Bayli Kharka. Bayli Kharka has a few lodges that provide a homely feel to your trek.
On the third day of the Khopra Ridge trek, you will reach Khopra Danda. The path will pass through Chistibang pastures and timberline forests. You will enjoy the views of Dhaulagiri, Dhamphus Peak, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna I, and Annapurna South from the trails.
After waking up at the Khopra Danda, you can visit Khayar Lake. The trail is quite steep, and the trek will last about five hours before you return to Khopra Danda. From Khopra Danda, you will trek to Swanta village – known for the community-run cheese factory.
The next day, the Khopra Danda trekking takes you from Swanta to Ghorepani. But before reaching Ghorepani, you will pass through Chittre village and join the classic Annapurna Circuit Trek trails.
On the last day of this trek, you will wake up early in the morning at Ghorepani and ascend to Poon Hill – the world-renowned viewpoint. From Poon Hill, early in the morning, you can see the morning sun rays painting the surrounding mountains golden. Poon Hill is one of the most favored photography spots, and we will also take as many pictures as we want.
Khopra Danda Trek - 6 Days Short Itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
This trek mostly starts from Pokhara. However, Good Karma Trekking provides a complimentary bus ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara, where you will spend the night.
The following morning, after breakfast in Pokhara, we drive by Jeep to Nayapul, then off-road to Ghandruk via Kimche. Ghandruk is renowned for Buddhist monasteries and houses made of slate and stone.
From Ghandruk, you will hike through rhododendron woods, hearing the sounds of waterfalls and bird chirpings and enjoying the views of Annapurna II (7,937 meters), Annapurna III (7,555 meters), Annapurna IV (7,525 meters), and Lamjung Himal (6,931 meters) before arriving at Tadapani. You will not find many settlements on the way, but there are some teahouses at Bhainsi Kharka.
We will continue trekking through the open countryside via the local water buffalo pastures. You will gradually ascend, enjoying the views of the Annapurna range to reach a small pass. From this pass, the trail descends through rhododendron trees to a clearing known as Bayli Kharka– where we will spend the night. From Bayli Kharka village, you can enjoy superb views of Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m), the seventh-highest mountain in the world.
From Bayli Kharka, we descend through forests to reach Chistibang pastures and trek for around 2 hours- ascending above the timberlines to reach Khopra Danda. On the way, you might be able to get glimpses of Himalayan Tahr (goat) and Danfe (pheasant). If you look above the horizon, you will see amazing views of Dhaulagiri, Damphus Peak, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna 1, Annapurna South, and deep down Sikha. The Khopra ridge also provides views of Kaligandaki Gorge – the deepest gorge in the world.
From Khopra Ridge, we have the option to walk to Khayar Lake (4665m), which will take around 5 hours. Hindus consider this lake holy and believe that you can attain Nirvana by taking a dip into it. After visiting the lake we will return to Khopra and trek down to reach Swanta village. Swanta village is known for its community cheese factory. You can explore Swanta village and taste their cheese.
This day we will leave the beautiful village of Swanta and head to Ghorepani – our destination for the day. At first, we will descend through the village fields and reach a small river that we will cross on a suspension bridge and head upwards to Chittre village, from where we will join the classic Annapurna Circuit trekking trail. We will be ascending for a while to reach the Ghorepani.
We ascend to Poon Hill (3,210m) early morning to view sunrise over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs – including Mt Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). Poon Hill is also a favorite spot for photographers looking to capture the best views of the Himalayas. We will not leave Poon Hill without clicking pictures to our heart’s content.
After catching sight of heavenly sunrise views on humongous mountains, and rice terraces, we will return to Ghorepani and trek to Birethanti. From Birethanti, we will catch a Jeep to return to Pokhara via Nayapul. Your trek ends in Pokhara.
Cost Includes
- Both way transportation Kathmandu and Pokhara by tourist bus/Flight
- Both way private transportation from Pokhara to Kimche (trek start), Birethanti (trek end) to Pokhara
- Two nights accommodation with breakfast in Pokhara
- Accommodation - total five nights. Room with attached bathroom at
- Ghorepani. Four nights standard room at Tadapani, Bayeli Kharka, Khopra Danda, and Swanta (Generally twin sharing room)
- Standard full-board (main course) meals (6 lunches, 5 dinners, and 6 breakfasts) during the trek
- Government Licensed and qualified trek leader (guide), assistant trekking guide for a group of 12 or more. One porter for two trekkers. Luggage limit 10kg per trekker.
- Guides and porters' costs - their meals, insurance, salary, lodging, transportation, flight, and other necessary equipment costs
- Water purification tablets for safe drinking water
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) fee
- Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card fee
Snacks (cookies) and seasonal fresh fruits every day - All government, local taxes, and official expenses
- Farewell dinner in Kathmandu at the end of the trek
- Two nights accommodation with breakfast in Kathmandu
- All airport pickups and drops and hotel transfers via private vehicle
Cost Excludes
- International flight airfare
- Nepal entry visa fees on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport
- All accommodation and meals in Kathmandu, before and after the trek
- Lunch and dinner in Pokhara.
- Extra night accommodation, meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara due to early arrival or late departure or early return from the trek.
- Personal expenses - shopping, snacks, boil bottle water, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, hot shower, alcohol,
- Wi-Fi, telephone call, battery re-charge fee, etc.
- Personal clothing and gear
- Tips for guide and porters