Khopra Danda Trek

Khopra Danda Trek is one of the decent and peaceful trekking trails of the Annapurna region of Nepal. Situated at an altitude of 3,660 meters above sea level Khopra ridge or Khopra Danda is located in the central part of Annapurna region. Khopra ridge trek itinerary can be extended by adding Khayar Lake in the trip. Khopra Danda is one of the newly discovered trekking routes and is based on a community lodge trekking. It is slightly different from the private lodges on the other trekking trails. 

Khayar Lake is one of the must-see places to visit during this trek. An extra day is needed to explore Khayar Lake but the visit is worth it. Hidden behind the massif Annapurna range some of the high mountains such as Machhapuchre, Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri can be seen during the day. The lake itself carries a lot of significance and is seen as one of the holy lakes of the Hindu. It is also believed that pilgrims taking a dip in this lake can attain nirvana. 

Some of the popular trekking routes such as Mardi Himal Trek, Mohare Danda, Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill Trek can easily be added in this trek. Similarly, the most popular destination of the Trek that can be added includes Khayer Lake. This trekking route gains its popularity for a few years. It has less crowded trails compared to other trekking routes. Khopra trek focuses on the development of the specific region and the community. It is also known as the Khopra ridge community trek and Khopra Danda trek.

The best season to visit this route is from March to May and September to mid-December. The trekking difficulty level is moderate. Meanwhile, mid-October to early December is the best time for this trek. Similarly, during the months of March to April, you can witness the rhododendron blooming in most parts of the trekking trails. July and August are the monsoon season in Nepal and during these months of the year, the weather is not so good for the trek. But with the proper gears and the trekking leader, it can be done almost throughout the year. 

Khopra Danda (Ridge)

Khopra Danda, at an elevation of 3,660 metres is another beautiful place to visit during this trek. It provides the panoramic scenery of different mountain ranges like; Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Manaslu, etc. One can also enjoy the panoramic mountain view, green forestry. The entire trek assists in exploring the local lifestyle and enjoying the local products. Teahouses are available on the trek.

Khopra Danda is located in the central part of ACAP area and borders Myagdi and Kaski districts of Dhaulagiri zone. After the establishment of the community lodge at the Khopra Danda, it is gaining a lot of popularity in recent years. ACAP permit and TIMS cards are needed to visit Khopra Danda. The difficulty level of the trek is moderate and the most difficult part is reaching Khopra Danda itself. 

Khayar Lake

Khayar lake is at the altitude of 4,700 metres on Annapurna south.  Hindu regard this lake as the holy and sacred lake. Khayar Lake is situated at a higher elevation than that of Khopra Danda and Poon Hill too. Amazing views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Dhampus, Nilgiri, Lamjung and Machhapuchhre mountain ranges can be seen. The lake itself carries a lot of significance. It is one of the holy lakes of the Hindus. During the time of Janai Purnima, many pilgrims reach Khayer Lake during the months of July-August.  

On the trails, you can find the mesmerizing views of Kali Gandaki river, the deepest gorge, and the steady climb of the Alpine forests. Hidden behind the Annapurna range it was hidden for a very long period of time and is gaining popularity after the establishment of a community lodge. During the spring season, Khayar lake amazes its visitors by various species of flowers that bloom only in this region. 

About Khopra Ridge Trek

Ghandruk is the starting point of the trek. Meanwhile, the distance of Ghandruk from Pokhara is about 50 km. Similarly, Pokhara is 200 km away from Kathmandu. It takes about 6-7 hours to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu by road. From Pokhara, it will take about 1 hour to reach Nayapul and after that off-road drive will take you to Gurung village Ghandruk. 

The trail from Ghandruk takes you to Tadapani, furthermore to Bayali along with amazing and picturesque views of Himalayan peaks and panoramic landscapes. The further trek from Bayali will take you to Khopra and Khayar Lake. The return trail follows the route to Khopra, Swanta, Ghorepani, Poon hill and Pokhara.

Throughout the trek, amazing views of the Annapurna Mountain ranges can be seen. During the early stage of this trekking route backpackers as well as the independent travellers have supported these community lodges a lot.  But in terms of the difficulty level of the trek, Khopra Ridge Trek is much more difficult than that of Poon Hill Trek. But in terms of the crowd, Khopra Ridge gets fewer people than that of Poon Hill.

If our trip itinerary doesn’t suit your holiday schedule or you wish to modify the itinerary or combine it with any travel plans, then please let us know and we’ll be happy to create a tailor-made itinerary, designed especially for you. Also whether you are a student group/family group /corporate team please inquire with us. We offer you a variety of packages.