Khopra Trek 8 Days

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

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.

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. On our trek today we get to appreciate the diverse flora and fauna of the region and of course the magnificent view of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South. Trekking in a relatively easy trail we reach Dobato which is dominated by the excellent view of the Annapurna South.

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.

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.

We begin trekking from around six in the morning towards the Kaire 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. We have packed lunch today.

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.

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.

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