The Khopra trek also recognizes as Khopra Ridge Trek, Khopra Danda Trek or Khayer Lake Trek is the newly discovered and most popular off-the-beaten path in the Annapurna Region. The trek offers the best sceneries of Mount Dhaulagiri (8,169m), Nilgiri (7,061m) Baraha Chuli (7,647m), Annapurna I (8091m), Fishtail also known as Machhapuchre (6,993m), Tukuche Peak (6,920m) and numerous anonymous towering peaks in the horizon.
Furthermore, for travelers who have a short period of time to stay in Nepal because of their short vacation, this trek is perfectly suited for them and it is also preferred for peaceful environment lovers as this trek is not much advertise and fewer people are visiting in this place so, it is out of the crowd from other visitors.
On the other hand, Khayer Lake lies at an altitude of 4,500 meters (14,763ft) and is also a popular destination for pilgrimage tours for Hinduism. Positioned just in the lap of the Annapurna range, the hiking is quite an adventurous trip itself that covers especially the final part.
Beautiful dense rhododendron woods and alpine forest and ever happiness smiling people and their culture, and hospitality do not let you reluctant in during your trekking excursion. Spring season is the best time to experiment with the combination of colorful rhododendron flowers with white glistering mountains in the theme of a crystal clear blue sky.
This is the best short and easy adventure trek in Nepal the Khopra Trek which let an opportunity to behold the awesome panorama from vantage point Poon Hill, Mulde peak, and a glimpse of gorgeous sunrise and Himalayan views of Annapurna South (7,219m), Hiun Chuli (6,441m) and other giant peaks in the Annapurna Himalayan Range and the holy Khayer lake complimentary gift from nature on your courageous trek located at the bottom of Annapurna South.
The same aerial views have been offered from Khopra Danda (366m) closest, trekkers need to walk for 7 hours to reach Khayer Lake and 3 hours return journey to Khopra Danda. Likewise, this is a smart soft adventure who are seeking easy trekking for beginners or novice trekkers.
So, Himalayan Vista Trekking presents the Khopra Trek for travelers’ adventurous, spiritual, natural, cultural, and religious trekking expedition in the heart of the mighty Himalayas.
The Khopra Trek is the prime alternative to the more famous and more crowded Poon Hill Trek leads you to another higher magnificent viewpoint of the Annapurna province.
Key Information for Khopra Trek
- Khopra Trek is a less crowded, short adventure and easy trek in the Annapurna region
- Diverse viewpoint like Mulde peak (3,637m) presents stunning views of majestic mountains, you can experiment with the astounding views of Mount Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and numerous mountains
- The trail is full of wilderness making your journey more adventurous inside the dense forest of rhododendron and alpine take you to the Khopra Danda
- Khopra Danda offers the perfect level of intimate sceneries of the Annapurna mountain series
- Spiritual journey to Khayer lake at an altitude of 4500 meters which is sacred for both Hinduism and Buddhism
Key Facts of Khopra Trek
- Trek: Khopra Trek / Khopra Ridge Trek/ Khopra Danda Trek
- Duration: 7 days hiking, 2 days accommodate in Kathmandu and 2 days in Pokhara as per your choice due to time frame:
- Ultimate Altitude: 4500 meters, Khayer Lake
- Beginning: Kathmandu
- Ending: Kathmandu
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Perfect Time: Spring (March, April, and May), Autumn (September, October, and November)
- Permits: ACAP and TIMS Permits
- Accommodation: Tea House during the trek
Khopra Highlights
Khopra Trek is the best example of the off-the-beaten-path adventure in Nepal which is significantly known as Khopra Ridge Trek located in the lap of the Annapurna region, following are the trailer highlights of the adventure trek.
- Breathtaking flight or drive to Pokhara experimenting with the iconic views of the Annapurna and Manaslu Mountain Range.
- Enchanting with the nightlife of Lakeside city in Pokhara
- Enjoy the drive to Nayapul beholding the awesome panorama of the majestic mountains on the horizon like Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Fishtail
- Convenient and enjoyable trekking through the typical villages settled on the way to Poon Hill such as Nayapul, Birethanati, Sudame, Hile, Tikhe Dhunga, Ulleri, Banthati settled by the Magar ethnic group
- Observe the exceptional Himalayan panorama at the top of the Poon Hill (3,210m) like Mount Annapurna (8,091m), Dhaulagiri (8,169m), Annapurna South (7,219m), Hiunchuli (6441m), Gurja Peak, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, and Dhampus Peak
- Wilderness experience from Deurali to Targeted destination Khopra Danda
- Gorgeous views from Mulde peak as the same views seen from Poon Hill but closer
- Awe-inspiring achievements at the top of the Khopra Danda at the altitude of 3660 meters that offers the perfect sceneries of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalayan range
- Courageous excursion to0 the Khayer Lake positioned at 4500 meters which are importantly valued for Hinduism and Buddhism beside South Annapurna with astounding views of the numerous anonymous mountains
- Enjoy a hot bath in the hot spring which lies over the bank of Kali Gandaki River
Comprehensive Guide
The trekking trip to Khopra has been recently discovered in the route of Annapurna province. The off-beaten path presents the outstanding outlooks of a promenade plantation, ancient hamlet, rapid flowing streams, lure natures, and a grand panorama of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna (I, II, II) and Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Fishtail, Lamjung Himal and Nilgiri.
Embark on the trek passing through the rhododendron woods and alpine forests with mountainous flora and fauna like pheasants and Himalayan goats and holy Khayer Lake is waiting for your welcome. The Trek also leads you to the prime viewpoint of Poon Hill (3210m/10,531ft), from there you can encounter the marvelous views of the Annapurna massif and other towering peaks.
The adventure commences with a scenic drive or flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, Nayapul, and Ghandruk. The trek will start from Khimche and goes towards the Gurung ethnic village Ghandruk then the following day proceeds towards Bayali Kharka via Tadapani. The trail is mostly off the beaten rarely in use by the people. Bayali Kharka has some tea houses that provide friendly hospitality so that you can feel the homely environment on trekking.
The Khopra Danda will opt on the third day from Bayali Kharka as the trail goes through the Chistibang paddock and the timberline jungle. The route offers stunning views of Dhaulagiri, Dhampus Peak, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, and Annapurna ranges.
For another day there is an option to hike Khayer Lake but the track is quite steep to ascend and the excursion will last about 4 to 5 hours while returning to Khopra Danda and also trek to Swan village best famous for the community–run cheese factory in this area.
Next day the trek curved to Ghorepani from Swanta via Chitre village and we will meet up on the classic Annapurna Circuit Trek route as the trail is decorated by the different landscapes of productive farms and arrive at Ghorepani overnight stay in a tea house.
Moreover, on the last day of the adventure expedition, wake up early in the morning at Ghorepani and steep escalate to Poon hill crossing by 2,324 stone steps inside the rhododendron woods up to Poon Hill, a prime vantage point to study the golden sunrise behind Fishtail and rays scatter over Annapurna Himalayan series. Poon Hill is the perfect spot for photography can capture fantastic mountain pictures with your camera.
Hiking back to Ghorepani after spending worthy time at the gorgeous viewpoint and eating breakfast. The trek will lead you downhill to Hile then take a jeep and drive to Pokhara via Birethati treks will be ended up at Pokhara.
Khopra Danda Trek and Khopra Ridge Trek Run by Local Community
The Khopra Trek also famous as Khopra Ridge Trek, Trekkers use to hike Khayer lake via Khopra corrugation and the small cliff of the mountain provides accommodation for your ultimate trek.
The cliff is surrounded by hilly crinkles it is because locals named it Khopra Danda or Khopra Ridge Trek. The trekking is run by the locals and managed by the tea houses at Khopra Danda with sharing investment so, all benefits are straightly used by the local community.
There are local community-managed tea houses at Shristibang also not just in Khopra. The trekking trail is managed by local communities as still they are making their effort to well manage for improvements of hiking routes.
Mulde Peak
Mulde peak hiking is a marvelous hilltop to observe the awesome mountain series. The spot is one of the alternative viewpoints for Poon Hill which has been offering a fantastic panorama of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalayan Range. Mulde peak is located on the trail to Khopra, it takes 30 minutes to hike from Dobato 3350 meters and one needs to walk for 3.5 hours from Tadapani.
The peak covers the missing sceneries from Poon Hill awarded with the wonderful Himalayas and Dobato is the main point to trek for Mulde peak. Sunrise over the mountains really the enchanting matter that absolutely valued the trekking journey and these mind-blowing peaks are standing on the horizon like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiun Chuli, Dhampus peak, Tukuche Peak, Gurja Peak, Annapurna III, Annapurna IV, and numerous towering peaks and best vision the surrounding valley from Mulde peak.
Best Season for Khopra Trek
There are mainly four seasons in Nepal, they are spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Among all the seasons, spring (March, April, and May) and autumn (September, October, and November) are the prime seasons for trekking and touring in Nepal but, for Khopra trek all seasons are preferred Khopra Trek and spring and autumn are the best time for this trek.
• Spring Season
Spring season is decorated with different colorful flowers like rhododendrons, mountain lilies, magnolias,s and other flowers in the Annapurna region and its blossom. If you are keen to experiment with the combinations of colorful visions of crystal clear and colorful vegetation with blue sky then spring season is the best choice for your adventure.
This is the second best time to obtain Khopra Trek, the days are warmer and sunny in the mountain region. The chances of rainfall and snowfall have less as the visibility is also apparent which is why this time is the most suitable for the trek. Generally, the weather gets stable in this season and there will be fewer chances of cloudiness, and humidity but at the end of the season, there can be bad weather, and weather in the mountain unpredictable. Due to the pleasant temperature climbers commence their expedition to the highest mountains.
• Autumn Season
Autumn season is the best time for Khopra Trek because this is the main season for adventure trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal.
Likewise, in this time, the days are sunny and moderate climate and all the humidity has been swiped out by the monsoon so, you can observe the crystal clear blue sky, mountains, and lush green farms.
If you are interested to behold the combination of green vegetation with silver shine glistering mountains then this is the best time for adventure trekking at the base of the mighty Himalayas.
There are rare chances of rainfall plus the vision is clear and can observe the majestic pinnacled peak greatly.
Normally, the weather is clear for full days so, explorers can be enjoyed the super mountain vistas and other scenes. Even in the elevated mountains, the temperatures remain stable so, this is the reason the autumn season is the best time for trekking in Nepal and for sure to Khopra Trek as well.
• Summer Season
The monsoon (June, July, and August) is started in late May and ends in early September. Usually, we do not recommend the summer season for trekking because it will be raining all day and all night, and the mountains are covered by clouds so, you will be unable to view the mountains.
Because of heavy rainfall, there will be chances of landslides which riskier for hiking in the mountains and somewhere track is blockade by floods and trail becomes slippery and wet and leeches will suck your blood.
Furthermore, it is quite difficult to trek and the experience might be bitter and your trekking interest will be reluctant further. People can trek during this season as per their time and interest but we do not force them to trek during this season.
• Winter Season
Winter season is cold season, people will suffer from nasty cold in the mountains as this season is not an appropriate time to trek in the mountains. The adventure will be unsuccessful because of heavy snowfall the track might be blocked and risk of avalanche in the mountains.
Trekkers may suffer from unforeseen incidents but if you are keen to observe snowfall then this will be the suitable time for the trek. The temperatures drop extremely cold and high passes excursion are risky due to heavy snowfall and icy trails. You can trek to the high Himalayas under your responsibility.
• Difficulty of the Khopra Trek
The difficulty level of Khopra Danda Trek is moderately difficult, the excursion starts from the adventure city Pokhara at an altitude of 850 meters and ultimately reaches 4500 meters of Khayer Lake within 6 days.
The hike is mostly moderate level through the typical villages of Nepal although the trekking section closer to Khayer Lake is quite tougher as it is a long day walking journey almost 8 hours. This part has been making the hike quite easy to difficult and it is an alternative for advanced experienced trekkers.
Moreover, we would like to suggest running, hiking, and cardio exercise for a few months before planning the trek.
Packing Lists for Khopra Trek
Trekking gears are the best companion while you are hiking in the higher altitude level mountainous region, the equipment saves your life in the difficult situation facing over Icy Himalayan trail, following are the essential accessories that you need for trekking for Khopra Trek.
Head
- Sun Hat and scarf
- Warm winter hat
- Head Lamp with extra batteries
Face
- Sun protection cream
- UV-protected spectacles
- Face/ Body wipes
Hands
- Lightweight gloves
- Heavy warm gloves
Body
- Trekking shirts
- Long-sleeved hiking shirt
- Rain protection hooded rain jacket
- Fleece jacket
- Lightweight cotton pants
- Thermal wear
- Sports underwear
- Sports bra for her
- Warm down jacket
- Sweater
- Water-resistant jacket and pants
Foot Wear
- Trekking shoes
- Thick woolen socks (take light socks as well)
Necessity Gears
- Backpack
- Thermal bottle
- Trekking sticks
- Sleeping bags (-14 degrees will be the best)
- Duffle bags for porters
Toiletries
- Medium size drying towel
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Toilet paper
- Tissue paper
- Deodorant /floss
- Soaps/ hand sanitizer
- Nail cutters
- Small mirror
Personal Accessories
- Personnel expenses
- Watch
- Mobile phone
- Camera
Extra Things
- First aid kit
- Extra passport photos and passport copy
- Notebook and Pen
- Binoculars
- Sanitary pad for ladies in the case of the mensuration
Note: Drone camera is strictly prohibited, please do not bring them unless you get permission from government authorities.
Accommodation
Khopra Danda trekking accommodates 5 nights stay in tea houses and other days in a luxury hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara. We offer two nights’ rooms with attached bathrooms at Ghandruk and Ghorepani. 3 nights just in the basic tea houses at Bayali Kharka, Khopra Danda, and Swanta on a twin-room basis.
For solo trekkers, we try our best for providing a single room but it depends on the availability of accommodations in the trekking areas. We provide hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara as per your choices like a budget hotel, 3 stars, and 5-star hotels.
Foods during the Trek
Khopra Trek stands at a higher altitude so, nutritious foods should be eaten. The cuisine around the trekking regions will be fresh and organic which is best suited for your health although the food options are limited.
Generally, we provide 6-time breakfasts, 6-time lunches, and 5-time dinners during the adventure, following are the menus for your reference
Breakfasts:- French toast with jam and butter, Omelets, Corn flakes, Oatmeal, Cheese, Honey with Tibetan bread, Chapatti, Tsampa Porridge, eggs in different styles, Museli, Fruits, Apple Pancake, Vegetables, Hot drinks like coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc.
Lunch Items:- Nepali Traditional food (Dal Bhat), Tibetan bread, Different soup items, Thukpa, Thenduk, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Spaghetti, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Boil potatoes, Vegetables, Pizza, Salad, Snacks (papad, prawn), Desserts ( rice pudding, Apple pie) and Apple pancake.
Dinner Items:- Nepali traditional food (Dal Bhat), Sherpa Stew, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Tibetan Thenduk, Thukpa, Noodle soup, Pasta, Boiled Potato, Vegetable curry, Steaks, Pizza items, Vegetable Salad, Korean noodle soups, Snacks (papad, prawn) Deserts and hot drinks, etc.
All the food menus are organized with local, Asian, and western cuisine verities, we have just provided a shortlisted one. We recommend for fresh vegetables and liquor like green tea, mint tea, garlic soup, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and ginger lemon honey which are the best antibiotics for high altitudes.
However, there will be plenty of non-veg items which can be eaten as per your choice but the meat will not be hygienic in trekking regions better to avoid it.
On a particular day in Khopra Danda
Every day is important because that provides a wonderful trekking experience – a new place, geography, friendly people, diverse vegetation, traditional villages, and snowcapped mountains.
Our trekking leaders/guide will lead your adventure and provide detailed information about the places and mountain ranges where you will be visiting.
The journey is starting with a cup of tea in the morning, after breakfast, you will be set off on the day’s roaming around depending upon your interest and after our hiking excursion for 4 to 5 hours we take our lunch at midday and rest for a while, again we go forward our walking.
The afternoon excursion is usually shorter and ends in 2 or 3 hours. Before the night stay there will be plenty of time for exploring and around 6 to 7 pm will be the time for dinner. After dinner, you can socialize with the trekking crew of Himalayan Vista and the guide will explain further the day’s program, you can read books, and novels, and play poker as per your interest.