Tour overview
The Khopra Danda Trek is one of the Annapurna region’s newest trekking routes. This trek is also known as the Khopra Danda Khayer Lake trek because it includes a visit to the sacred Khayer Lake. This hike is one of Nepal’s most beautiful yet least traveled or unexplored trekking treks.
The Khopra Danda Khayer Lake Trek is located north-east of Pokhara, bordering the districts of Myagdi and Kaski. The Khopra Ridge is located near the Dhaulagiri town of Ghorepani.
Khopra Danda Trekking is distinct from other renowned Annapurna region hikes. It brings you to hidden locations off the beaten path, past villages and human settlements, deep amid the wilderness of mountains and dense woodland.
Khopra Danda Trekking is a fantastic tour through high hills in the shadow of the gigantic Annapurna range, where the trek leads you around gorgeous ridges in between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalaya, facing an incredible vista of peaks.
The Khopra Danda trek offers views of Dhaulagiri 8167 m, Annapurna I 8091 m, Annapurna South 7219 m, Machhapuchhre 6993 m, Annapurna II 7937 m, Annapurna III 7555 m, Gangapurna 7455 m, Tukuche peak 6920 m, Dhampus peak 6012 m, and Hiunchuli 6441 m
The best views, though, are of Annapurna South.
You continue your trek after relaxing in the serene surroundings to Khopra Ridge, a picturesque site with a stunning Himalayan vista.
After arriving at Khopra Ridge, make a stop at Khayel Lake, a holy body of water where a festival is conducted once a year and pilgrims come to bathe in this sacred lake.
After exploring the distant and hidden sections of Annapurna, you will be guided to the main Annapurna paths to reach Ghorepani. Sunrise from Poon Hill provides another beautiful panoramic view. Then you return to Pokhara by retracing your steps to Nayapul.
The journey is often referred to as a “community lodge-based trip.” During the trek, you will stay at the community lodge while deviating from the main Annapurna track. Unlike commercially run lodges, community lodges are run by local communities. In 2014, a local woman on the Khopra Trek constructed a community lodge.
The Khopra Danda Trek’s highest point is 3640 meters (11942 feet). If you do the side hike to Lake Khayar, you will reach 4,600 meters (15091 feet). Similarly, at 3640 meters, the highest sleeping location is at the community lodge on Khopra Ridge Phedi (11942 feet).
Itinerary
On the first day of your arrival, our staff will be there at the airport to receive you and we will drive you to your hotel. We ensure you will enjoy the vibes of the hotel and the warm Nepalese cuisine.
Today, we'll take you to Bhaktapur for some sightseeing. It is one of the oldest heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley, with the ancient Bhaktapur Durbar Square and numerous old temples. Following that, you will be escorted to the Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal's most popular and largest Buddhist temple. We will then drive you to your hotel to prepare for the next day's tour.
In the early morning, our team will receive you from the hotel and start our journey to Pokhara, which takes around 6-7 hours to reach Pokhara.
We'll take a cab from Pokhara to Nayapul. After passing the Birethanti suspension bridge, the trail ascends to Modi Khola and then to Sauli Bazaar, providing beautiful riverside strolling. The trail then ascends through stone stairs to Ghandruk, which offers stunning views of farm terraces, hamlet settlements, waterfalls, and Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Fishtail. After a short rest at the lodge, explore the village's cultural beauty on foot.
We climb to Tadapani after breakfast at Ghandruk, which takes about 4 hours. The trail ascends through the forest to Bhaisekharka and continues to Tadapani. Beautiful landscapes and massif views of Annapurna may be seen along the road, while the forest provides delightful treks.
After soaking in the 180-degree panoramic view of Tadapani, we'll head to Dobato. This is the time to return to our primary goal, which is to complete our Annapurna trial. Our journey begins on an unnamed trail through rhododendron trees. Until we reach Dobato
You must get up early in the morning, and we will have breakfast at Dobato before embarking on yet another fantastic excursion.
The trail will now go uphill and then downhill through rhododendron forests. It takes about an hour to walk to Bayli Kharka, a magnificent grassland from which you can see the Dhaulagiri range in the distance. You will now be experiencing a true rustic Nepal.Chistibung is around three hours away from Bayli Kharka.
Chistibung is a tiny community with private lodges that will provide you with relatively enough lodging.
After breakfast at the tea house, the hike uphill to the ridge begins, with spectacular views of the Annapurnas and the neighboring valley of Kaligandaki. The path winds through a wonderful wooded landscape. In the evening, you can stroll around the village before retiring to the tea house for the night.
We go to Khayar Lake, which is a little further away from Khopradanda. It is positioned at 4600m above sea level, which is higher than Annapurna Base Camp (4130m/13549ft). It is a five-hour hike that is well worth it because of the breathtaking vistas of the Alps.
We will trek from Khopra Dada to Tatopani, where at the end of the day you will get the pleasure of a natural hot spring pool. This is the best place to relax your tired body and mind.
From Tataopani, we will take a drive to Pokhara, where we will be transferred to the hotel. You have been given sufficient time to get fresh and a warm dinner will be ready for you, but if you want to explore other items of Pokhara by visiting locally, then you are allowed to do so.
You can select your preferred mode of transportation. If you are in a hurry, it is best to take a flight to Kathmandu because traveling to the capital takes an entire day. However, if you have enough time, taking an eight-hour bus ride to Kathmandu will be a great experience.
Today you visit the local as well as famous malls of Kathmandu for shopping as well as exploring purposes.
We will drop you off at the airport about 3 hours before your flight and wish you a safe journey.
Coustham
The best and excellent services from Mr. Pradeep Tamang who organized my Khopra Ride Trek.
Mr. Subash Tamang was nice and professional Guide. We was the first group of the season to climb the Khayer Lake. I Will remember all my life. The Trip Organizer ‘Mr. Pradeep Tamang’ was very clear and professional with me and explain everything for the price, permit, tips, itinerary and details, etc…
Thank you very much and big hug.
Thx !
Heiko
Nepaltrip April 2023:
So, it took us a while to return to the normal life and after that to find time to write about our great trip to Nepal in April 2023. But now is the time and I would like to share my experiences with you.
I knew Suman from a former trip and was happy, that he would organise our journey together with his nephew Prandeep.
We that means 4 adults and one13 years old girl, arrived in Kathmandu on the 2. Of April. We were greeted with flowers and brought to a nice hotel at the edge of Thamel.
Early the next day we left for Pokhara and again spent the night in a very nice hotel. The view of the himalayan mountains the next morning included.
After a hard jeep ride early next morning we started our trek in Ulleri. The group now was 4 adults, our child, three porters, Suman and Sumans daughter, who wanted to have a sniff at the mountains.
What followed were twelve terrific days with great walks, unbelievable views, good food and a lot of fun.
Although our first plan was to visit the Annapurna sanctuary, thanks to Sumans knowledge oft the area, we changed the plans and went to Khopra instead.
So our way was to Poon Hill (a nice but crowed view point) first and then, leaving the main trek, we went north to Dobato (3480m). From there we climbed an even better view point, called Muldai Peak (3630m). The sun rise was magical and there were only a few people.
Visiting the Hidden lake was unfortunately not possible because of snow in the higher altitude and again we were happy to have such good advise from Suman.
Well, in Ratmate (2930m) a virus struck and my wife and daughter fell ill. But again, the plans were fast and responsible changed and the group split, that the others were able to enjoy the next days with new adventures and my family could recover.
My daughter was ill the longest and because oft that, we could experience, what a nepali porter is capable of.
She was carried down 500 hightmeters by Subas. And he was faster with our child, than we were with our small back packs.
The treck ended then in Tatopani and we had a relaxing evening in the hot spring.
The way back to Pokhara showed us the ugly side of progress. What was before a nice, quiet valley full of fields and animals (I visited it about 20 years ago) is now a stinking, loud rubbish dump full of construction sites.
The next two days we spend in Pokhara and were lucky to be there for the Nepali new year and its festival.
Suman and Prandeep offered us to extend the traval organisation to our planed trip to the Chitwan national park and we gladly accepted.
Like always, it was well organized, and we spent 4 very interesting days with a lot of animals in Chitwan National Park before going back to Kathmandu.
We can´t recommend to go the distance by bus or jeep. Next time we would definetly fly!
On the last evening we had a dinner together and were brought back the airport for our way home.
All in all it was a perfect journey made possible by the kind, professionable and knowlagerable organisation of Suman and his nephew Prandeep. We are deeply thankfull and can recommend them without limitation.
I you need contact details, please contact me.
Heiko Balkenhol