Annapurna Khopra Hill trek is a trek that takes you away from the busy trails of the Annapurna Base Camp trek or the Annapurna Circuit trek. This trek lies in some off-the-beaten-tracks of the Annapurna region. When you come to Nepal for this trek organized by The Great Adventure Treks, you will first enjoy two of the most popular cities of Nepal- Kathmandu and Pokhara. From Pokhara, you will drive to Nayapul and start your trek from there. Initially, the trek takes you along the classic route in the Annapurna region. That is you will trek through some beautifully located villages in this region like Tikhedhunga, Ghorepani, and Tadapani. These villages offer some splendid views of mountains like Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Annapurna. You will also go to Poon Hill, where the sun rises over the great panorama of the Himalayas from Dhaulagiri-Annapurna to Manaslu mountain range. From Poon Hill, the trek takes you along a different route. It takes you along some of the lesser known village of Baili Kharka before reaching Khopra Ridge. Khopra ridge is one of the best locations to catch the views of Mount Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna South, Varaha Shikhar, and Kali Gandaki gorge.
This great trekking organized by The Great Adventure Treks takes you to the heart of traditional local villages in the Annapurna region. The trekking trails to these villages are quite fresh as they are seldom used by western trekkers. This trek is one of the best ones in the region. It takes you to fresh trails, offers you some delightful walks in the ACAP region and makes you more familiar with the Gurung culture of the various regions you will travel to.
Best Time for Annapurna Khopra Ridge Trek
Autumn (September, October, and November) and Spring (March, April, and May) are the best seasons for completing the Annapurna Khopra Ridge trek. The number of trekkers who come to complete this trek in these two seasons is higher than other seasons. The mornings are often Clear in these seasons. So, you can catch some splendid views of mountains of the Annapurna region. Mild sunshine and low amount of precipitation are other reasons why this trek is popular in the autumn and spring season. The low altitude of this trek also allows for some wonderful time in the winter season as well. Winter is not as cold in Annapurna Khopra trek like other high-altitude treks. The views of mountains are the most amazing in the winter season. If you prepare for the occasional showers and slippery trails by having sturdy trekking equipment to keep the effect of rain away, you can enjoy the Annapurna Khopra Ridge in the summer season as well.
Annapurna Khopra Ridge Trek Difficulty
The 15-day Khopra ridge trek takes you to a maximum altitude of 3660 meters at Khopra Hill. The altitude gains during this trek are also quite low. Adjusting to the altitude changes will be relatively easy. As you are trekking in mountainous areas, you are likely to encounter some steep uphills and downhills along the way. You will hike up more than 3000 stairs in Ulleri. Low altitude gains during the trek combined with regular uphills and downhills means that Annapurna Khopra ridge trek is a moderately difficult one. As with every other moderately difficult trek, some amount of physical preparation is necessary for Annapurna Khopra Ridge trek. A few preparation hikes will also help you immensely to complete this trek.
Main Attractions of the Annapurna Khopra Ridge Trek
- Walk along the rhododendron and orchid forests of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).
- Tour of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu
- Scenic bus ride to and from Pokhara
- Boating in the beautiful lakes in Pokhara.
- Trek to picturesque villages like Ghorepani, Tadapani, Baili Kharka, Swanta amongst others.
- Astonishing views of Mount Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Annapurna South from Khopra ridge.
- Catch sights of rare species like Dzos, Himalayan Tahr, Danphe etc.
- Mesmeric sunrise amidst Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range from Poon Hill.
- Thrilling views of the Kali Gandaki gorge, which is the deepest gorge in the world.
Annapurna Khopra Ridge
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and drive to Hotel (1,365 m / 4477 ft), Hotel Accommodation
Day 02: Half day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu, Hotel Accommodation
Day 03: Drive to Pokhara (828 m /2690 ft) 6 – 7 hrs, Hotel Accommodation.
Day 04: Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and Trek to Tikhedhunga (1565 m /5133 ft ), 2 hrs drive and 3 – 4 hrs trek, Tea House Accommodation.
Day 05: Trek from Tikhedhunga – Ghorepani (2850 m / 9348 ft), Tea House Accommodation.
Day 06: Trek from Ghorepani – Tadapani (2660 m / 8725 ft) via Poon Hill (3210 m / 10529 ft), Tea House Accommodation.
Day 07: Trek from Tadapani Baili -Kharka (3450 m /11,316 ft ) 5 – 6 hrs, Tea House Accommodation.
Day 08: Trek from Baili Kharka – Khopra Danda (Ridge) (3660 m /12,005 ft ) 5 – 6 hrs, Tea House Accommodation.
Day 09: Trek from Khopra Danda – Paudwar (1750 m /5740 ft) 3½ – 4 hrs, Tea House Accommodation.
Day 10: Trek from Paudwar – Swanta (2400 m / 7872 ft) 3 – 4 hrs, Tea House Accommodation.
Day 11: Trek from Swanta – Baili Kharka (3450 m /11,316 ft ) 6 – 7 hrs, Tea House Accommodation.
Day 12: Trek from Baili Kharka – Tadapani (2675 m /8774 ft ) 6 hrs, Tea House Accommodation.
Day 13: Trek from Tadapani- Nayapul (1070 m /3510 ft ) and drive to Pokhara, Hotel Accommodation.
Day 14:Drive back from Pokhara to Kathmandu on a comfortable tourist bus. 7 – 8 hrs, Hotel Accommodation.
Day 15: Final Departure
On availability of your time and interest after your trek, please feel free to choose our DAY TOURS, NEPAL TOURS , Jungle Safaris or other options from our website. Here are some trip extensions that might interest you.