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A short teahouse loop from Pokhara through Magar and Gurung villages and rhododendron forest to Ghorepani and the Poon Hill viewpoint (3,210 m), returning via Tadapani and Ghandruk.
- Days
- 4 days
- Maximum altitude
- 3,210 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
Pokhara & Annapurna, Annapurna Region
Khopra Danda Trek
A quieter loop west of the Annapurna Sanctuary from Ghandruk via Tadapani, Dobato and Khopra Ridge (about 3,660 m) to Swanta, Ghorepani and Poon Hill, with an optional hike to Khayer Lake.
- Days
- 6-9
- Max altitude
- 3,660 m
- Distance
- about 50 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best months
- Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Start / end
- Ghandruk or Kimche (by jeep from Pokhara) / Ulleri, Hile or Nayapul (by jeep to Pokhara)
- Sleep in
- Teahouses, Lodges, Homestays
- Permits
- 2 required
Overview
The Khopra Danda trek leaves the busy Poon Hill trail for high pastures and forest west of Annapurna South. Its centre is Khopra Ridge, a grassy shoulder at about 3,660 m with a community-run lodge, facing Dhaulagiri across the Kali Gandaki and Annapurna South close to the north-east.
This plan goes anticlockwise: from Ghandruk to Tadapani and up to Dobato, over the ridge via Bayeli Kharka and Chistibang to Khopra, then down through the farming village of Swanta to Ghorepani and Poon Hill. From Khopra, a long day hike reaches Khayer Lake, a small holy lake at about 4,500-4,660 m.
Lodges above Tadapani are few and simple, trails are less marked than on the Poon Hill loop, and the ridge is exposed to weather, so a guide is useful even where the rule is not enforced.
Dhaulagiri across the Kali Gandaki from Khopra RidgeClose views of Annapurna South and NilgiriSunrise at Muldai and Poon Hill on the same tripCommunity-run lodge on the ridgeOptional hike to the holy Khayer Lake
Why it is rated moderate
- Several days above 3,000 m, with a night at about 3,660 m
- Long climbs and descents on less-marked trails
- Exposed ridge with snow possible from December to March
- Optional Khayer Lake hike reaches about 4,500-4,660 m
Elevation profile
About altitudeSleeping altitude for each night. The dashed lines at 3,000 m and 4,000 m mark heights where altitude illness becomes more common. General information only, not medical advice.
Hover, tap or use the arrow keys to see each day. Shaded columns are acclimatisation days.
Show the profile as a table
| Day | Overnight | Sleeping altitude | High point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tadapani | 2,630 m | - |
| 2 | Dobato | 3,420 m | - |
| 3 | Khopra Ridge | 3,660 m | - |
| 4 | Khopra Ridge (rest) | 3,660 m | - |
| 5 | Swanta | 2,214 m | - |
| 6 | Ghorepani | 2,874 m | - |
| 7 | Pokhara | 822 m | 3,210 m |
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Drive to Ghandruk, walk to Tadapanisleep 2,630 m3-4 habout 8 km
About 3-4 hours by jeep to Ghandruk or Kimche, then a forest climb to the lodges at Tadapani.
Teahouse in TadapaniAbout Tadapani
Day 2Tadapani to Dobatosleep 3,420 m5-6 habout 7 km
North through rhododendron forest and buffalo pastures to the ridge-top lodges of Dobato. The sleeping altitude rises by about 800 m.
Teahouse in DobatoAbout Dobato
Day 3Muldai sunrise, Dobato to Khoprasleep 3,660 m6-8 habout 10 km
Optional pre-dawn climb to the Muldai viewpoint, then along the ridge via Bayeli Kharka, down through forest to the Chistibang pastures and up above the tree line to Khopra Ridge.
Community lodge on Khopra RidgeAbout Khopra Ridge
Day 4, acclimatisationRest day at Khopra, optional Khayer Lakesleep 3,660 m
Rest, or hike to Khayer Lake (about 4,500-4,660 m), roughly 7-9 hours return. Go only with a guide, in settled weather and if fully well; turn back early if the trail is snowbound.
Community lodge on Khopra RidgeAbout Khopra Ridge
Day 5Khopra to Swantasleep 2,214 m4-5 habout 9.6 km
A long descent past Chistibang (Dhan Kharka) through forest and pasture to the Magar farming village of Swanta.
Lodge or homestay in SwantaAbout Swanta
Day 6Swanta to Ghorepanisleep 2,874 m4-5 habout 8 km
Down through village fields, across a suspension bridge and up through Chitre to Ghorepani on its ridge.
Teahouse in GhorepaniAbout Ghorepani
Day 7Poon Hill at dawn, down to Ulleri, drive to Pokharasleep 822 m4-5 habout 10 km
Climb to Poon Hill for sunrise, then descend the stone staircase to Ulleri or Hile for a jeep to Pokhara (roughly 3-4 hours).
Hotel in Pokharahigh point Poon Hill, 3,210 m
Stages, times and altitudes vary by operator, weather and pace. Partner agencies confirm the exact plan.
Route map
Trail geometry from OpenStreetMap.
Permits
ACAP entry permit (Annapurna Conservation Area)Conservation area
Issued by the National Trust for Nature Conservation, which runs the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, at its offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara or through its online e-permit system. Carry it with your passport; it is checked at trail posts.
TIMS cardTrekker card
Check whether a TIMS card is currently required; since 2023 it has been issued through registered trekking agencies.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against National Trust for Nature Conservation (Annapurna Conservation Area Project, e-permit links). Guide rule: Nepal bans solo trekking for tourists, guides mandatory from April 1 (The National, March 2023).
Nepal trekking permits explainedWhen to go
Best months: Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- September to November: October and November give clear views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South; nights at Khopra are cold.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February: snow can cover the ridge and the Khayer Lake trail; some high lodges may close.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May: rhododendrons flower in the forests around Tadapani and Ghorepani; afternoons often cloud over.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August: rain, leeches and cloud; Hindu pilgrims visit Khayer Lake around the Janai Purnima full moon in August.
Weather on the route
Forecasts for start (Tadapani, 2,630 m), highest overnight (Khopra Ridge, 3,660 m), end (Pokhara, 822 m). Mountain weather changes fast; check again on the day.
Weather in Tadapani (start)
Forecast for 2,630 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Weather in Khopra Ridge (highest overnight)
Forecast for 3,660 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Weather in Pokhara (end)
Forecast for 822 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Safety
Above about 3,000 m, a widely used guideline (CDC Yellow Book; Wilderness Medical Society) is to raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a day and to add a rest day every 3 to 4 days. This is general information, not medical advice.
Know the signs of acute mountain sickness: headache with nausea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, dizziness or poor sleep. Do not go higher with symptoms and go down if they get worse. Confusion, stumbling or breathlessness at rest are emergencies: descend at once and get help.
Buy travel insurance that covers trekking and helicopter evacuation to the highest point of the trek, and see a doctor before you travel about any altitude medicine.
Khayer Lake is a long, high day on faint trail; do not attempt it in snow, cloud or with any altitude symptoms.
Trails between Dobato, Bayeli Kharka and Khopra are less marked than the main routes, and weather on the open ridge changes quickly.
Rescue is slower than on the main trails; insurance should cover helicopter evacuation.
What to pack
- Warm sleeping bag for Khopra Ridge
- Windproof shell and warm layers for the open ridge
- Microspikes from December to March
- Headlamp for sunrise climbs
- Trekking poles for the long stone staircases, especially on descents.
- Snacks for long days between lodges
- Cash for the whole trek
Side trips and alternatives
Khayer Lake
A holy lake at about 4,500-4,660 m above Khopra Ridge, roughly 7-9 hours return.
From Khopra, trails drop west via Paudwar to Gharkhola and roads towards Tatopani and Beni.
Linked by trail from Ghorepani; adds a community-lodge hilltop south-west of Poon Hill.
Khopra Danda questions
How long is the Khopra Danda trek?
Usually 6-9 days from Pokhara, depending on the start point and whether you add a day for Khayer Lake.
How high is Khopra Danda?
Khopra Ridge is about 3,660 m. Khayer Lake above it is about 4,500-4,660 m.
Is Khopra Danda harder than Poon Hill?
Yes. It goes higher, has several nights above 3,000 m and uses quieter, less-marked trails.
What permits do I need for Khopra Danda?
An ACAP entry permit; check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
Where do you sleep on Khopra Ridge?
In a community-run lodge on the ridge, with dormitory and private rooms.
Similar treks
A four-day loop from Pokhara via Ghandruk, Tadapani and Dobato to the Muldai viewpoint (about 3,637 m) for sunrise, returning over Ghorepani and Poon Hill.
- Days
- 4 days
- Maximum altitude
- 3,637 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
A short community-run trek from the Beni side through Magar villages to Mohare Danda (about 3,300 m), a hilltop with a community lodge facing Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas.
- Days
- 5 days
- Maximum altitude
- 3,300 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Editorial draft: altitudes, permits and rules are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Khopra Danda trekking itinerary, Full Time Explorer, Khopra Danda trek itinerary, Discovery World Trekking, Muldai View Point trek, Day Tours Nepal, National Trust for Nature Conservation (Annapurna Conservation Area Project, e-permit links), Nepal bans solo trekking for tourists, guides mandatory from April 1 (The National, March 2023)
Khopra Danda · 7 days