Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake Trek
New community based trekking trail in Annapurna Region of Nepal
The Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake Trek is the new route through the Himalayas in the Annapurna region. The mesmerizing view of Dhaulagiri, the 7th and Manaslu 8th highest peak, along with Annapurna massif, Himchuli, and many other peaks, will take your breath away. This trek allows you to find a new experience in the Himalayan region, which is proportional to the well-being of the committee living on the trial.
The Khopra Danda small trek in the Annapurna Region came into existence so that the living standards of the villagers lying in the Khopra dada trial could increase. Also, the people in the village are suffering from their economic condition. Thus to improve the situation, this new route was introduced; as a result, the tourist flow helped the local community people’s income level. It plays a supporting role in schools, health posts, and many other infrastructure developments. A local guy named Mahabir pun, a renowned educationist and social activist, are putting great effort into making this route accessible. Magsaysay Prize has been awarded to this guy for introducing wireless computer technology in the remote villages of Nepal.
This Khopra Danda short Trek has many Himalayan views, local villages, terrace farming, and the jungle, which keeps you busy. Your trek starts from Kimchi after a short drive from Pokhara. The trail passes through Gurung villages. Besides, you can see the dense rhododendron forest. It’s very delightful to walk through this trail as we move. We can see the pink and red rhododendron flowers covering the route. On the way to hike, we can see Khopra Danda, Khayer Lake, and Poon Hill. The Khayer Lake Trek ascends you to a holy high-altitude lake and brings you very close to the south of Annapurna.
Moreover, you can see the mighty peak up close and feel the sacred vibe of the spell-bounding place. Both newbies and well-trained trekkers can perform this trek. The Khopra Danda trek can be ideal for families and traveling with kids. The experienced guide will be with you throughout the trek.
The daytime arrival would be perfect as the beautiful sight of hills and mountains will be waiting great you. At the same time, you have already enjoyed the view of Kathmandu from the plane. One of our representatives will already be there waiting for you at the airport to receive and drop you at the hotel. Likely, once you check in and rest, the trip briefing will be held later in the day. Besides, you will meet your tour guide and learn dos and don’ts about Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake Trek. Also, there will be a final gear checklist; on the contrary, you can buy or rent the gear you have missed out on from the gear shops in Thamel.
overnight at Samsara Resort or a similar 3-star hotel in Thamel
Meals: Not Included
Duration: 25 minutes, Drive: 2-3 hours, Walking Distance: 1-2 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse
If you take the flight to Pokhara, you will witness impressive mountain range views during the trip. Again, while approaching, you will enjoy magical views of the famous Machhapuchchhre Mountain, also known as fishtail peak. While Annapurna Massif, Manaslu, and Dhaulagiri mountains are on the other hand. Once you reach Pokhara, take the vehicle for a short drive to Kimchi and rest there before we start our trek.
Simultaneously, your trek begins from Kimchi and reaches Ghandruk within one or two hours of walking, depending on your pace. After entering Ghandruk, head to your tea house and have some refreshments. On the other hand, you can learn more about the community by visiting the Gurung Museum and a Buddhist Monastery, which lies at the end of the village.
Ghandruk lies on the Gurung Heritage Trail and is one of the most famous Gurung villages that has made the culture and tradition of the Gurung community survive. Most men from these villages around the Annapurna region have served in the British or Indian Army in the Ghandruk.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Walking Distance: 7-8 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse
Today is an adventurous day on the whole trek. Meanwhile, you have to hit the route after having breakfast at Dobato. After climbing the steps to the hill, you will witness the beautiful rhododendron forest. Generally, there is pink and red rhododendron during summertime. A pleasant walk full of iconic views of green valley mountain brings you back to the Dobato, your stop for the night. After a challenging hike, you can rest at a teahouse and make yourself at home. However, you must leave at dawn if you wish to see magical sunrise views early in the morning — overnight in Dobato.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Walking Distance: 6-7 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse
To enjoy the Himalayan sunrise, you need to head towards Muldai Viewpoint. After this magnificent view of the golden sunrise view, you head down the trail, have breakfast, and proceed to Khopra Danda. Although this trail seems strenuous, it’s always a fantastic walk, especially during the spring, when the route is covered with rhododendron petals. You feel like you have entered the mystical mountain kingdom. You can see a few yaks and mules carrying loads on the way. The trial is peaceful, where you can feel nature and be with it. After a long walk, you reach the Khopra danda, where you have to find a teahouse overnight in Khopra Ridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Walking Distance: 9-10 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse
To see the mesmerizing view of the sunrise over the Himalayas got to wake up early morning. The sun shining over the snow-covered Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Himchuli, Nilgiri, Fang, and other peaks is a view yet to discover. Be ready with your camera to capture this glorious view. Later having breakfast on the way, our trek continues to Khayer Lake. To reach Khayer Lake, you need to hike up to the slopes of the Annapurna Massif, which will be one of the highlights of your trek. This lake holds its purity in the presence of the mountains and glaciers, whereas the locals believe that a dip in the pond takes away your sins. Located at a distance of 6km, the Annapurna south looks pretty close. After taking pictures of the impressive views, track back your steps to the teahouse and rest there overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Walking Distance: 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse
After enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayans for the last time, hit the Swanta village. Be careful on the way as it is deep downhill. As you walk down, the Dhaulagiri looms majestically on the horizon. Also, you can enjoy the typical Nepalese Mountain landscape filled with terrace farming and a ridgetop village. If you feel weak because of tiredness, you can explore this scenic village surrounded by potato and paddy fields-Overnight in Swanta Village.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Walking Distance: 4-5 hours
Accommodation: Teahouse
Take the downward trial past paddy fields and lush jungle. When you reach the river there, you can see a local watermill. Walk through the suspension bridge and get to the other side of the river. From there, walk to the Ghorepani; on trial, you can see many other travelers. The trail is the well-laid stone steps to reach Ghorepani village. In Nepali, Ghorepani means horses to water. This route was used during the ancient Tibet trade to carry water to the caravan. Head to the teahouse and rest there for the night-Overnight at Ghorepani.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Walking Distance: 4-5 hours, Drive: 2-3 hours
Accommodation: Hotel Pokhara Batika
Wake up early in the morning and hike up to Poon Hill, which is about 30 min from Ghorepani. Poon Hill is Asia’s beautiful Himalayan viewpoint, where you can get a 360-degree view of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna Massif, Hinchuli, and Gangapurna. Catch the dramatic light of the golden sun rising upon these Himalayas. It’s a magical sight that you will cherish forever. Afterward, hike down and have breakfast, then proceed towards Hile. It is a steep-down walk enriched with inspiring natural views. This Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake Trek end here. Once you reach down the Hile, board a vehicle, and take the scenic drive to Pokhara.
After you reach Pokhara, we will drive you to the hotel close to Phewa Lake. After check-in, you can rest well or walk to Phewa Lake. Overnight in Pokhara.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Flight Duration: 25 minutes
Accommodation: Hotel
As you have your flight in the afternoon, you can spend the first half of the day visiting the lakeside, taking a boat ride yourself. You can visit many places like Gupteshwore Mahadev, David falls, bat cave, Mahendra cave, Seti George, etc. Paragliding, Zip flying, and many more exciting things are to be done in Pokhara.
Meanwhile, make sure you check out from the hotel before visiting places. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, we will drive to your hotel, where you can rest and have free time for shopping. Later you can go around the Thamel to buy souvenirs. Afterward, we will celebrate the completion of your wonderful trip by having a farewell dinner. Our representative will accompany you — overnight in Kathmandu.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
You will be driven to the airport by our representatives to catch your flight on time. If you want to explore Nepal’s other part, Tibet or Bhutan, please let us know, and we will arrange the tour for you. We have a bunch of exciting itineraries that might interest you.
Meals: Breakfast
We have daily departures for private trips, so we recommend booking it according to your schedule. We do not need a minimum group size for the private trip and won’t charge additional charges for a solo traveler.
Please let us know if you need additional services like pre/post accommodation, domestic flight, Everest Mountain Flight, adventurous sports, sightseeing, etc. Please fill out this customized form for your convenience.
Customize this trip with help from our local travel specialist that matches your interests.
We accept major currencies such as the US Dollar, the Great Britain Pound, the Euro, the Australian Dollar, the Singapore Dollar, the Indian Rupee, the Swiss Franc, the Canadian Dollar, the Japanese Yen, the Chinese Yuan, the Saudi Arabian Riyal, the Qatari Riyal, the Thai Baht, the UAE Dirham, the Malaysian Ringgit, the South Korean Won, the Swedish Kroner, the Danish Kroner, the Hong Kong Dollar, the Kuwaiti Dinar, and the Bahrain Dinar.
Type C, D, and M power plugs and sockets are used. The standard voltage and frequency are 230 V and 50Hz, respectively.
Vaccinations You must be completely vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days before traveling to Nepal. Vaccination documentation is required.
On Arrival Visas are available at Nepal's entrance points for travelers. Travelers from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria, on the other hand, are required to obtain a visa through their nearest Nepalese diplomatic post (embassy/consulate).
To confirm the trek/tour package, we want a deposit of at least 20% of the total tour/trek fee. The remaining balance must be paid when you arrive in Nepal. We take Visa, Maestro, MasterCard, American Express, and other major credit cards. The total cost of a Bhutan and Tibet tour must be paid in full at the time of booking.
We strongly advise you to purchase a SIM card for reliable internet access throughout Nepal. Nepal Telecom (owned by the government) and NCELL (owned by the private sector) are the two main SIM card providers in Nepal. It is preferable to get a SIM card at an airport, where staff will assist with activation and data plan purchases. If you have a SIM card, it will be easier for you to contact us and locate our airport agent.
You can charge your electrical devices at hotels and lodges because there are no power outages. In the Himalayan region, however, hotel owners may levy a nominal fee.
The best time to visit Khopra Ridge Trek is in Spring, especially from March to May and September to November in the Autumn season. Hence, the weather is pleasant during this season. Furthermore, the skies remain clear, giving you the best views of the Himalayas. Nevertheless, you can do this trek during December and January; it will be cold while enjoying the crystal unobstructed views of the mountains.
There is not much difference in the climatic situation between Nepal and Europe as in Australia. January is the coldest, and July is the hottest. You can assume climatic conditions as moderate, which refers to winter as dry and summer are hot. The main point to remember is that the climate in Nepal varies because of the massive range of altitudes and landscapes. The monsoon lasts from around the end of June to August. During this period, 80%of the rainfall occurs, but the remaining year is dry. March to May is Spring, and September to November is the autumn season, the most pleasant season. December to February is the coldest as the temperature drops down to negatives in the mountain and Himalayan regions.
Hotels, airlines, travel agencies, and airlines accept foreign currencies. Speaking of which, credit card payments are also accepted at most established businesses. There are numerous cash or ATMs in the cities, and most will receive cards issued by any central international banking. (plus, cirrus, etcetera.) You can withdraw Nepalese Rupees 20000 (Approximately USD 175) at one time at most of the ATMs; however, you can withdraw repeatedly. In most tourist-class hotels, restaurants, and airlines, significant ATMs visa, Master Card, JCB, and American Express are readily accepted. But please note that the transaction fee is included during processing and the surcharge is around 4 % or higher.
Once you drop off at the airport, your baggage should be cleared by customs at the entry point. You can bring your laptop, camera, and other electronic devices, apart from your personal belongings. If you want to purchase an antique in Nepal while taking it out with you, the item must be certified by the Department of Archeology. In other words, it is illegal to take country objects out of its 100 years and older premises.
It is a humble request to provide your emergency contact information while filling out the forms to book the trip. Likewise, you can give the contact details of a family member or someone dear to you.
Nepal is considered the safest and most hospitable country for both groups and solo travelers. Nevertheless, Nepalese are very warm and friendly towards tourists, and most go out of their way to assist visitors visiting their country. To be safe, one must always take care of one’s belongings. It will help if you keep your cash, jewelry, and other expensive gadgets and accessories safe. With attention, you should never roam around during nighttime, especially at locations with less flow of people.
In Nepal, the standard voltage is 220V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. Meanwhile, most hotels in cities have a multi-adapter style socket, but teahouses may have two-pronged or three-pronged Ones along the trial use of solar polar.
Before you go for a trek, we advise you to visit a physician specializing in travel-related illness six months before your departure. Take the required boosters and vaccinations necessary. Some treatments require six months for a complete course, and it is advisable to take the entire course before going on an adventure. You may not have to worry about tropical illness if trekking in the mountains.
During trekking, your heavy luggage is carried by a porter, while you will be bringing a light daypack filled with your essential belongings and accessories. Please note your baggage is not exceed 15 kg carried by your porter. One porter will be bringing the baggage of two clients. For more information, the baggage allowance for domestic flights is 15 kg. In brief, you will have to pay for extra luggage if your total baggage weight exceeds 15 kg.
While walking in high altitudes like Khopra Ridge or Khopra Danda, and Khayer Lake Trek, is always more challenging than in lower elevations. Generally speaking, if you are in good health, possess average physical fitness, are self-confident, and have reliable willpower, you can complete the trek. We recommend regular physical exercise and jogging for weeks before the trips. These will help you to enhance your strength, stability, and flexibility. This would be an asset if you have the experience, but no technical skills are required for this trek. Trekkers with past or pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases must consult their doctors before the trip. We also advise you to inform Peregrine treks if you have any medical conditions before booking the trek.
The air gets thin at higher altitudes above 2000m, and oxygen levels decrease. Acclimatization is before you get used to the thin air at higher elevations. They are going to the top, and too fast results in acute mountain sickness. The symptoms include breathing difficulty, nausea, headache, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, vomiting, etcetera. Overall, left untreated will affect the brain and the lungs resulting in death within a couple of hours.
This Khopra Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake Trek itinerary are made by trekking and medical experts, so we design all of our routes with sufficient time for acclimatization. This adds that one or two rest days have been assigned at a lower elevation before you venture into the higher altitudes (3500-4000). It will give you the proper time to get used to rarefied air. Furthermore, our guide will be carrying a first aid kit. With medicines and antibiotics on trial, keep yourself hydrated, as dehydration doubles the risk of AMS. However, always consult your physician before booking a trek.
The best experience we had with Peregrine was the whole tour of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek was tailor-made for our requirements; all our requests were reviewed, discussed, and accepted and, in some instances, with a better recommendation.
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