Khopra Danda Trek: Overview
Khopra Danda Trek is yet another exciting trek on the Annapurna region, which offers a truly breathtaking beauty of snow-capped mountains, green hills, and terraced valleys, in addition to fantastic views of the Annapurna range. The highest elevation you will reach during the trek will be the Khopra Ridge at 3600m or the Khayer Lake at 4600m.
Since the trek is newly opened, it is not listed in most guidebooks, and few trekking companies offer this package. Throughout the trek, you’ll hike through dense forests up to a ridge where you’ll see the Himalayas from afar. As you walk along the trail, you will be amazed at the view of Annapurna South (7,219m), Annapurna II (7,937m), Annapurna III (7,555m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), and Dhaulagiri (8167m).
The Khopra Danda Trek is the perfect way to refresh yourself and escape the busyness of day-to-day life. At only 8-9 days long, it’s a perfect trip for adventurers of all ages and experience levels. One of the best things about the Khopra Danda Trek is that it takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery Nepal has to offer.
From the moment you start trekking, you will be surrounded by towering mountains, lush green forests, and pristine rivers. The views only get better as you make your way up to Khopra Danda.
If you are looking for a challenge, you can always add a side trip to Khayer Lake. This adds an extra day to the trek, but it is well worth it. The lake is located at an altitude of 4,600 meters, and the views from the lake are truly breathtaking.
No matter what your reasons for taking the Khopra Danda Trek, you are sure to have an incredible experience. This is a trek that you will never forget.
Best Time To Hike Khopra Ridge
When it comes to hiking, there really is no bad time to hit the trails. But if you’re looking for the best time to hike Khopra Ridge, you’ll want to plan your trip for either the spring or autumn season. The spring season (March to May) is one of the best times to hike Khopra Ridge. The weather is perfect for trekking – not too hot and not too cold. And, if you time your trip right, you’ll get to see the beautiful rhododendron flowers in bloom.
Similarly, the autumn season (September to November) is also an ideal time to hike Khopra Ridge. The weather is still pleasant, and the skies are typically clear, providing great views of the surrounding mountains.
Regardless of when you choose to hike Khopra Ridge, you’re in for an amazing experience. Among the most popular treks in Nepal, Khopra Danda Trek is one of the most famous treks in Nepal for a good reason. It is a fairly challenging trek that can be completed in 9 days without special skills or previous experience. Plus, the spectacular scenery makes it worthwhile to explore.
Trekking Map, Route & Accommodation To Khopra Danda Trek
Our journey will start with a long drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara by Tourist bus, where we’ll have a rest after the long drive and explore the beautiful city of Pokhara.
Next morning after breakfast, we’ll drive from Pokhara to Kimche and Hike up to 4 hours from Kimche to Tadapani. Tadapani is a good viewpoint where we can clearly see Annapurna South (7,219 m) and Himchuli (6,441 m) and Mt Macchapucchre (6,993 m).
The following day, we will trek from Tadapani to Dobato and have lunch at Isaru after breakfast. It will take us approximately five hours to complete the entire trek, during which we can view majestic views of Dhaulagiri and South Annapurna, a major attraction in Dobato.
The next day, we entered the dense ridge of Khopra via the forest with juniper trees and tropical bushes lined with them. If you are on your own, there are few marks on trees that help you identify the trail, but trekking alone in this area is not recommended. After about 6-7 hours of trekking, we reach Khopra Danda (3660m), which is the highest point of our trek.
On day five, after breakfast, we’ll make our way up to Khayer Lake at 4650m. The lake is considered to be a holy place for both Hindus and Buddhists. The journey will take us eight hours to complete, and we’ll have the opportunity to visit the lake and the ridges surrounding it. We’ll return back to the hotel for an overnight stay at Khopra Danda.
The next day, our trek continues to Swanta village from Khopra Danda. Along the way, we’ll get more views of Mount Dhaulagiri, with this mountain providing a lovely backdrop to the terraced fields and traditional houses in the nearby villages. At Swanta village, it is worth visiting Swanta Primary school, where the profits from the community lodges fund two teachers.
Soon our trail will join the main trail to Ghorepani, where we will join other trekkers along the way and visit the Ghorepani Pool Hill (3,210m), a favorite spot for sunrise views over the Annapurna Mountains. The following morning we will begin our trek to Tikhedhunga, a 1,000m descent by 3,200 stone steps, and then board our jeep to Pokhara.
As for Accommodation, there are a few basic tea houses along the trekking trail providing good rooms and comfortable beds in standard with the Nepal trekking. Each tea house provides a bucket hot shower for the guests who may want to take a hot shower by charging a certain amount of money. Some places have solar-powered bathrooms, but the majority do not.
Costs, Permits and Fees of Khopra Danda
Khopra Danda trek requires a permit of Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) &
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) which you can get at NPR 2000.
In order to avoid any additional costs, you should review your itinerary to see what is included and what is not. Be sure to bring gear, snacks, and clothes for your trek.
