Khopra Ridge Community Trek

The Kopra Ridge, locally known as Khopra, is located away from the busier trails of Annapurna region but provides equally remarkable views of the Himalayas including Mount Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Fang and Nilgiri. Another attraction of our trek is the holy Kaire Lake, which requires a little wandering away from the Kopra Ridge.

We leave the main trail after Tadapani and for the next few days, walk along a remote trail while staying at the community tea-houses. The 13-day trip is suitablefor those who wish to enjoy the grandeur of Mt. Annapurna while also taking pleasure in the solace of a more remote trail. Complete with unique heritage, culture and breathtaking landscape, the trip will be well worth our time.

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

Upon our arrival in the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, we will be greeted by a representative from Visit Nepal 2020 who will drop us off at our hotel.  In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by Visit Nepal 2020 at The Ship Restaurant Bar & Lounge. For dinner, you will be served excellent authentic Nepalese cuisine which will introduce you to the Nepalese food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Included meals:D

Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu

Today after breakfast we enjoy a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu which are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. We visit the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) and Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath), which is also one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, we get our equipment checked by our climbing leader, get introduced to fellow participants, Overnight in Kathmandu.

Included meals:B

Day 03: Fly to Pokhara, drive to Syauli Bazaar and trek to Ghandruk (30 mins flight, 2 hours drive and 3 hours trek)

We fly to Pokhara early in the morning. We can catch amazing views of the Himalayas from the right side of our airplane. Upon our arrival in Pokhara, the beautiful lake city, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and others. Later, we drive to Syauli Bazaar and start the trek to Ghandruk. The village is a major recruitment centre for the famous Gurkha soldiers and is the hub of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, which promotes many varied ecological projects. Overnight in Ghandruk.

Included meals:BLD

Day 04: Ghandruk to Tadapani (2,590m) 3-4 hours

In Ghandruk, we get to enjoy astonishing views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli Mountains. From here we continue upwards through Deurali and into the dense rhododendron forests. The Rhododendron is Nepal’s national flower and when they bloom, the forests turn into gardens of dazzling red flowers when seen from the air or from afar. After trekking over a small pass we reach Tadapani where we get to enjoy excellent views of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna and Hiunchuli mountains. There are many Tibetans in the village who sell things for the tourists to take back home as a souvenirs. Overnight in Tadapani.

Included meals:BLD

Day 05: Tadapani to Bayeli Kharka (3,420m): 5- 6 hours

After Tadapani we leave the main trail and for the next five days we will walk in a more remote area of the Annapurna region. We begin our trek by entering into a beautiful rhododendron and oak forest on an upward trail. Then after a small descent we continue climbing to the shoulder of a hill through a rhododendron forest that is reminiscent of images from Lord of the Rings. We also pass several clearings with abandoned shacks before arriving on a bigger ridge top clearing at Dobato, which in good weather should provide splendid views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. We continue ascending up to Bayeli Kharka. From the village, we enjoy arresting views of Mt. Dhaulagiri which is the seventh highest mountain in the world. Overnight in Bayeli Kharka.

Included meals:BLD

Day 06: Bayeli Kharka to Upper Chistibung (2,975m) 4-5 hours

After breakfast, we descend through open ground and beautiful forest to reach the pastures of Lower Chistibung. Next, we ascend gradually through a forest before reaching Upper Chistibung which is a temporary herder’s settlement. If you’re lucky you might even spot the colorful Lophophorus (Danphe), the national bird of Nepal, as well as Himalayan Thar on the grassy ridge high above the trail. Overnight in Upper Chistibung.

Included meals:BLD

Day 07: Trek to Khopra Ridge (3,660m): 3-4 hours

We embark on a steady climb above the tree line through alpine meadows and pastures to reach Khopra. As we approach Khopra Ridge, we see the tip of Annapurna South. Upon reaching Khopra we go for a short walk down Khopra Ridge to a viewpoint overlooking Kali Gandaki river far below in this deep valley. From Khopra we also admire the stunning mountain panorama including Mt. Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and Annapurna South. Overnight in Khopra.

Day 08: Rest day in Khopra Ridge: Tour of Kaire Lake (4500m): 10-11 hours

Today we embark on a long journey to Khopra Lake from where we attain excellent views of the Fang and surrounding mountains. Considered to be a sacred lake by the Hindus, it is believed that bathing in the lake will help attain Nirvana. As Hinduism and Buddhism are intricately related in Nepal, we can even see a number of Hindu and Buddhist shrines on the lakeside. For those of us, who do not want to walk all the way to the lake, a half day walk from Khopra can also be arranged. Overnight in Khopra Ridge. (B,L,D).

Day 09: Trek to Swanta Village (2,200m): 5-5 hours

From Khopra Ridge we descend off the hillside and continue downhill on a steep trail. Along the way we get more views of Mount Dhaulagiri with the mountain providing a lovely backdrop to the terraced fields and traditional houses in the nearby villages. Overnight in Swanta village.

Included meals:BLD

Day 10: Trek to Ulleri (2,050m): 5-6 hours

From Swanta we descend through the village fields to a small river and take a quick look at the local water mill. From here we cross the suspension bridge and head upwards to the village of Chittre, where we’ll join the main trekking trail at Ghorepani. After Ghorepani we descend through rhododendron forest to Ulleri where we stay the night.

Included meals:BLD

Day 11: Trek to Naya Pul then drive to Pokhara: 5-6 hours trek, 1 hour drive

On our way to Nayapul, we get to enjoy the amazing hill landscape of western Nepal. Our trek will end at Nayapul where we board our vehicle to Pokhara, the beautiful lake city.  Even from the city we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Manaslu (8,156m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), the five peaks of Annapurna and others. We check-in to our hotel and take a rest. We may also stroll in the streets of Pokhara and just enjoy being in one of the most beautiful cities of Nepal. Overnight in Pokhara.

Included meals:BL

Day 12: Sightseeing in Pokhara then fly to Kathmandu

We leave our hotel early in the morning to visit the Shanti Stupa, a Buddhist Stupa ranked as the top second attraction in Pokhara by TripAdvisor. Located atop a hill, the stupa provides panoramic view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, Pokhara city and the Fewa Lake. While here, we also enjoy amazing view of the sun as it rises from the mighty Himalayas. We then head back to Pokhara and continue touring the city’s landmarks. Davis Falls is a unique waterfall that flows directly into a narrow and deep canal which has no end. The Shiva Cave is located near to Davis Fall and houses a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, a primary Hindu God. We also do some boating in Phewa Lake, the largest lake in Pokhara and visit Bindyabasini Temple located at the center of the Lake. We visit the famous International Mountain Museum (IMM) that records, documents and chronicles the past and present development of mountaineering activities in the world and the Himalayas in particular. During the late afternoon, we fly to Kathmandu. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner at The Ship Restaurant Bar & Lounge in Kathmandu where we can pick our meal from their carefully crafted menu that offer a wide range of choices. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Included meals:B

Day 13: Final Departure

Our journey in Nepal comes to an end today! A Visit Nepal 2020 representative will escort us to the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. On our way home, we have plenty of time to plan our next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.

Included meals:B

Important Note : 
Your safety is of paramount concern while traveling with Visit Nepal 2020. Please note that your leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary; however, since this adventure entails travelling in remote mountainous regions, we cannot guarantee that we will not deviate from it. Weather conditions, health condition of a group member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required.