Highlights
- Enjoy an amazing sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas
- Stay at a teahouse with one of Nepal's best panoramic views
- Descend through pastoral villages to Tatopani
- Hike to sacred Khayer Lake at the foot of Annapurna South
Planning Your Trek
| Fast facts | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5-7 days |
| Max. elevation | 3640m (Khopra ridge) / 4660m (Kayer Lake) |
| Start/finish | Tirkhedhunga/Tatopani |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Trek-style | Teahouse |
If you're looking for the perfect week-long trek, a little off-the-beaten-path and with great views, this trek is a great choice. It combines the best of what Nepal has to offer: amazing mountain views, pastoral villages, and rice fields layered on top of each other, descending down into the valley. The best part is that so few people know about it.
The route follows a local trail that takes you down into the valley north of Ghorepani, before climbing up another ridge, known as "Khopra Ridge". Without a doubt, one of the best short treks in Nepal.
To make this trek even more memorable, consider camping high above Khopra for one night. Read about this experience here.
To organize your trek to Khopra Danda, get in touch with one of our local specialists in Nepal who can get everything organized for you. You'll have an experienced licensed guide, a well thought through itinerary, and the flexibility during the trek to move at your own pace. Connect with a local specialist
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Destination | Altitude | Trekking Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Kathmandu | 1400m | - |
| Day 2 | Flight to Pokhara, trek to Tirkhedhunga | 1488m | 2 hours |
| Day 3 | Trek to Tirkhedhunga | 1488m | 2 hours |
| Day 4 | Trek from Tirkhedhunga to Ghorepani | 2875m | 4-5 hours |
| Day 5 | Trek from Ghorepani to Upper Chistibung | 3000m | 5-6 hours |
| Day 6 | Trek from Upper Chistibung to Khopra Danda | 3640m | 3 hours |
| Day 7 | Rest day in Khopra Danda, Day-trip to Khayer Lake (4660m) | 3640m | 7-8 hours |
| Day 8 | Trek from Khopra Danda to Tatopani | 1250m | 4-5 hours |
| Day 9 | Drive from Tatopani to Pokhara | 815m | 4 hours (private jeep) |
| Day 10 | Morning flight to Kathmandu | 1400m | - |
| Day 11 | Departure |
Route Description
The route follows the same trail to Ghorepani, but then dips down into the valley before climbing back up again to a ridge (Khopra Danda) north of Poon Hill. This takes about a day unless you want to break it up into two days and stay at a teahouse in the village Swanta. Atop the ridge, you'll find a single teahouse run by a caretaker that comes up each day from the villages below.
During this trek with my brother, we brought a tent and camped on a small outcrop just up the ridge from the teahouse. The views were superb, both at sunset and sunrise, when the valley filled with clouds below us with Dhaulagiri towering clear above. In the evenings, local yak herds are brought to overnight and graze on the slopes just below us.
From Khopra Danda, it takes a day to reach Tatopani where you can catch a bus back to Pokhara (you'll have to switch in a nearby town on the way). As you descend back down into the valley, you'll pass through villages and terraces and can stop for lunch or even spend an extra night in one of the village teahouses. At Tatopani, you'll find a built-up hot spring open to the public.
Request a Custom Itinerary
Have one of our local specialists in Nepal put together a custom itinerary that's unique to your interests and time frame. To start organizing a custom tour, click here to get started.
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