Khopra Danda Trek

Nepal, Annapurna Region
Leisurely
12 Days

Khopra Danda Trek

At a glance
  • Trip Start: Kathmandu
  • Trip End: Kathmandu
  • Trek Start: Birenthanti
  • Trip End: Birenthanti
  • Trip Durations: 12 Days
  • Maximum Altitude: 4660m.
  • Season: Spring, Autumn, Winter
  • Group Size: 4-16
  • Accommodation: Full Community Lodge Basis
  • Meals: Full Board
  • Accommodation Info: 4 night Hotel & 7 night Lodge

The Khopra Danda Trek is a scenic off-the-beaten-path adventure in Nepal, offering stunning views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Typically completed in 12 days, the trek takes you to Khopra Ridge (3,660 meters), a vantage point for breathtaking panoramas of peaks like Annapurna South, Nilgiri, and Fishtail (Machhapuchhre).

This moderate trek passes through rhododendron forests, terraced fields, and traditional Gurung and Magar villages, providing an authentic cultural experience. A highlight of the trek is the optional hike to the sacred Khayar Lake (4,500 meters). The Khopra Danda Trek is perfect for those seeking solitude, natural beauty, and unique perspectives of the Himalayas away from crowded trails.

Itinerary

Namaste! And welcome to Kathmandu, the colorful capital of Nepal where ornately carved balconies mingle with beautiful shrines and temples. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting on arrival at the exit gate of Kathmandu airport. Our staff will welcome you and pick you to your accommodated hotel. Rest of the day you can relax at the hotel and Evening at the hotel lobby there will be pre-trip briefing in which you will be introduced with your trekking guide and explained about your trip in short, instruction for safety etc. This day we will prepare all your necessary trekking permits.

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

None

Drive

30 mins

We take the spectacular flight to Pokhara and short drive to the start of the trek at Birethanti/ Nayapul and trek to Ghandruk. Here we meet the trek team and porters and set off up to the Bhurungdi Khola valley.

Accomodation

Teahouse

Meals

BLD

Fly

25 mins

Drive

1.5 hours

Early morning you will leave for Tadapani. After 3 hours’ hike through oak and rhododendron woods, you will reach Tadapani (2,630 meters). Tadapani is an excellent place to view the panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains like Annapurna II (7,937 meters), Annapurna III (7,555 meters),), Lamjung Himal (6,931 meters), etc. Moreover, it is also an excellent place to have sunrise and sunset views over the top of those mountains.

Accomodation

Teahouse

Meals

BLD

If you want to enjoy the truly magnificent sunrise with its changing light, you need to rise long before it appears on the horizon. We wake up to continue and follow a trail across a rhododendron forest with good views of the Annapurna Ranges above. This brings us to Bayeli Kharka, from where we have an overview of the seventh-highest peak in the world: Mt. Dhaulagiri.

Accomodation

Teahouse

Meals

BLD

The first part of the trek brings us down off the ridge to Chhistibang Village and on to Khopra Ridge. En route to the first leg of our trek, we may come across pheasants and from there, yaks grazing in alpine meadows and the Himalayan Tahr. The summit gives one a view of the majestic Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, South, Tukuche Peak, Dhampus Peak, Mt. Nilgiri, and many other massive snow-capped mountains.

Accomodation

Teahouse

Meals

BLD

Today we follow the trail to Khayer Lake (4,600m/15,092ft). The crystal clear lake views are particularly attractive this high up in the mountains. We will then return to Khopra Ridge for the night.

Accomodation

Teahouse

Meals

BLD

Today will be easy-going as we trek to Swanta, famous for having its own cheese factory that you can visit and sample some of its cheeses – including yak cheeses.

Accomodation

Teahouse

Meals

BLD

Today, you start heading to Ghorepani, famous for its clarity of view of the mountains from its viewpoint and considered to be a prime location for viewing the changing light of sunrise and sunset. Walking back to the village of Chitre, one again connects to the major trail towards Ghorepani. We could see fantastic views of Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, I. If you feel up to it, you could climb up to Poon Hill before sunset. This hilltop is quite famous and looks stunning during twilight time.

Accomodation

Teahouse

Meals

BLD

We will have a lunch at TikheDhunga and Trek to Birenthathi and This day you say goodbye to your staffs but your trekking guide will travel with you till you are back to Kathmandu. Drive to Pokhara.

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Drive

1.5 hours

Optional Tour: you may join different activities in Pokhara like paragliding, ultralight flight, bungee jump, and also sightseeing. This is your own choice program.

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Fly

25 mins

We drop you at Kathmandu International airport by our vehicle for your flight to your onward journey.

Drive

30 mins

Includes/Excludes

Includes

  • All ground transportation as per itinerary
  • KTM: Int’l Airport – Hotel – Int’l Airport
  • KTM: Hotel – Domestic Airport – Hotel
  • PKR – Birenthanti – PKR Hotel – Domestic Airport
  • All required Nepalese staff local transport
  • Both way domestic flight (KTM – PKR – KTM) with member and trekking guide with airport tax
  • 2-night Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with B/B plan on Sharing Basis
  • 2-night Hotel accommodation in Pokhara with B/B plan on Sharing Basis
  • TIMs (Trekking Information Management system) card
  • Annapurna Conservation Area Project Entry Fee (ACAP)
  • Food for the member during the trek (3 meals a day as per teahouse open menu, Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Hot Lemon, etc.) as per member’s choice
  • Teahouse accommodation on Twin sharing basis during the trek
  • Professional English Speaking Trekking Guide with his (salary, food, accommodation.)
  • Required local porters (Maximum luggage acceptable 15kg per member, 2 members will get 1 Local Porter)
  • All Nepalese staffs' insurance as per Nepalese government rules
  • Company service charge, VAT and government taxes etc.

Excludes

  • International flight with airport tax.
  • Nepalese Entry Visa fee
  • Food during stay in Kathmandu and Pokhara except Breakfast
  • All personal equipment and personal expenses
  • Photography Charges, Monument charges and Monument entry fees
  • Personal Medical and travel insurance(must cover helicopter rescue evacuation cost)
  • Personal Medicine
  • Telephone and internet charges
  • Laundry charges
  • Alcoholic beverage, bottled drinks and cold drinks during the trip
  • Rescue evacuation charges if required
  • Staff and porters Tips...

Equipments

Clothing and Equipments List

  • Pack to pack out - bring enough waterproof bags to carry all non-biodegradable rubbish back down the mountain.
  • Remove all unnecessary packaging before leaving home.
  • Bring enough warm dry clothes so that you can wrap up rather than burn firewood in the evenings.
  • If you are going to trek higher than 5000m or you know it will be cold, buy an aluminum water bottle which can also be used as a hot water bottle at night.
  • The easiest way to keep hydrated while trekking is to buy a 1 x liter platypus-drinking bladder to carry in your day pack.
  • Make sure to buy proper trekking socks. Don’t buy synthetic socks as these promote sweating and can give you blisters. Always carry a few blister pads in your first aid kit and keep them handy in your day pack.
  • Walking poles are very useful while trekking and helpful when descending.
  • Please remember that waste disposal and recycling facilitates are limited in Nepal. When buying batteries make sure they are rechargeable and/or high quality so they last longer, and take them home to recycle.

More Lists

There is no definitive list. What you bring will vary according to the area, time of year and the length of your trek. Below is a suggested check list which you should adapt to your own needs. Ask yourself: Will there be snow/how long /high is the trek/are we camping?

  • Good quality trekking boots with ankle support
  • Lightweight shell/raincoat with hood
  • Detachable fleece liner or separate fleece
  • Fleece trousers
  • Shorts and / or convertibles trousers- quick drying
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat and warm hat(good quality)
  • Gloves
  • Spare T-shirt x 3
  • Sweat towel x 2
  • Spare socks x 3 ( walking sock and thin inner sock)
  • Small day sack
  • Sun cream
  • Small water bottle aluminum doubles as a hot water bottle.
  • Iodine or water purifying kit
  • Soluble vitamin tablets to taste water or powder fruit drink
  • Talcum powder
  • Walking sticks or Trekking poles(good quality)
  • Camp shoes/trainers/flip flops to wear in evening.
  • Spare underwear 3
  • Toilet kit
  • Tissues
  • Pen knife
  • Bum bag
  • Head torch(good quality)
  • Biodegradable washing liquid / soap
  • FILM
  • CAMERA
  • Ear plugs
  • Sleeping bag liner(good quality)
  • Sleeping bag(good quality-30)
  • Bin bag/ gasbag to keep kit dry
  • Small towel
  • Lip balm
  • Available in KTM

Personal First Aid (Aids Kit)

  • Antiseptic
  • Bandages
  • Blister plasters
  • Decongestant
  • AMS medication like Diamox
  • Eye drops – it can get very dusty on trails
  • Paracetamol and/or ibuprofen
  • Rehydration sachets, Imodium and antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea
  • Scissors
  • Sterile dressing
  • Sticking plasters and tape
  • Throat lozenges / sweets
  • Tweezers
  • A sewing needle etc.

This trekking equipment list has been prepared by Adventure Zambuling Treks (P) Ltd.

Map

Reviews

Fabulous Khopra Danda trek

January 12, 2025

Our group completed this 8 day trek in November 2024 and loved it. It’s a little off the beaten track, has community run lodges all along the route and stunning views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains. The day hiking to the high point of Khayar Lake was well worth doing. We were very happy with the way our holiday was planned and organised by Bhai Tamang, Adventure Zambuling Treks. The arrangements all went smoothly. Our guide Sukram Tamang was excellent and went out of his way to look after us. Sukram has been my guide on previous treks and he is very experienced and totally reliable. The assistant guides Sange and Nima were also very good.

Avatar for Jeanie Honey
Jeanie Honey