Khopra Ridge Trek-08Day

Last updated on August 20th, 2023 at 04:58 am

In order to improve the quality of life in remote mountain villages, the Government of Nepal working on connecting each beautiful mountain villages by road. The great challenge is the increasing numbers of buses and jeeps passes through poorly made road with dust and disturb trekkers. Road construction loose the earth causing landslide, rock-fall as well as mudslide. It also shortening the length of the trek and its challenging everyone. We have taken it as an opportunity to develop alternative, off-the-crowd trekking route and Annapurna Alternative Trek was developed as an Annapurna Two Viewpoint Trek having each of viewpoints their own uniqueness. It’s Community Lodge Trek, community based Eco-village trek where lodges are owned by the village community in an area not so dominated by tourism especially in the Khopra Ridge trail.

Poonhill Viewpoint is the climax of trek in Khopra Ridge –Ghorepani section with climbing Poonhill at dawn to enjoy most spectacular mountain views. As the sun touches the snow-capped summits the Himalayan giants, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna (8,091m) along with a maze of other peaks, slowly begin to appear, like magic, before our eyes. Enjoy trekking in the spectacular mountain scenery through charming villages inhabited by the Gurungs, dense rhododendron forests full of birds and deep sub-tropical valleys, all set below the Annapurna with the picturesque fluted peak of Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail Peak) dominating the skyline. Muldehill Viewpoint commands a majestic sweep of the central Himalaya from its 3,650m perch including Gurja Himal (7193m), Dhaulagiri VI (7268m), Jirbang (6062m), Dhaulagiri IV (7661m), Dhaulagiri V (7618m), Dhaulagiri III (7715m), Dhaulagiri II (7751m), Dhaulagiri I (8167m), Tukuche Peak (6920m), Nilgiri South (6940m), Nilgiri North (7061m), Annapurna Fang (Barah Sikhar -7857m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m), Annapurna III (7555m), Machhapuchhre (Fishtail -6997m), Annapurna II (7937m), Lamjung Himal (6983m), Ngadi Peak (7871m), Himalchuli (7371m), Boudha Himal (6672m) & Ganesh IV (7104m).

Newly explored trail along the Annapurna Conservation Area, moderate grade with ascending height of 3800m, the viewpoint presents the spectacular and panoramic view of Dhaulagiri –Annapurna –Manaslu massif.

DAY 01: DRIVE TO NAYAPUL, TREK TO BANTHANTI (2250M): 1.5 HRS DRIVE, 5-6 HRS TREK
After breakfast in Pokhara, we will have an hour scenic drive to Naya Pul following dirt and windy Beni -Baglung ‘highway’. After submission our conservation permit and trekking registration certificate to the ACAP authorities (Ghandruk trail splits here), we commence our trek to Birethanti hamlet beside the Modi River. We head up the main trail to Sudame where we climb gradually up the side of the valley, reaching Hile (1495m) before pushing on to Banthanti via Tikhe Dhunga.

DAY 02: TREK TO GHOREPANI (2860M) 5-6 HRS
Today we spend a pleasant day’s walking, trekking through rhododendron and oak forests and across the Bhurungdi Khola stream before making a short, final climb to Nangethanti (2460m). After lunch in Nangethanti we head up to Ghorepani. Overnight stay at lodge

DAY 03: TREK TO POON HILL (3210M) & SWANTA VILLAGE (2200M) 5-6 HRS
After an early start at around 05:00 hrs, we will ascend to Poon Hill (3210m), one hour steep climb leads us to a brilliant viewpoint, providing an unobstructed sunrise over the high Himalayas. After spending half an hour on the hillside and enjoy a good cup of coffee or tea, we come back to Ghorepani, have a hot breakfast, and start walking to Swanta Village. From Ghorepani the trail drops down. Standing at the bottom of the Annapurna South (7219m), Swanta Village is along in a green valley and community lodge offer some of the best foods. Overnight stay in the community house.

DAY 04: TREK TO UPPER CHISTIBUNG (2975M) 4-5 HRS
After breakfast, the trail climbs steeply up to the settlement called Upper Chistibung or Dandakharka village for four hours. Normally, it is possible to skip the village as the next settlement the Khopra Ridge is half day walk away from here. However, in terms of getting well acclimatized before reaching to the wonderful Khayer Lake 4600m in next days, one night stop at this settlement is must. Overnight stay in the community house.

DAY 05: TREK TO KHOPRA RIDGE (3600M) 3-4 HRS
After breakfast, we have a stead ascend from the Upper Shistibung lodge and go through alpine meadows and pasturelands. As we continue on the trail, we see the tip of the Annapurna South emerge in the distance which means we are almost to the Khopra Ridge. Lunch will be ready when we arrive at the lodge. The lodge itself offers view of the Mount Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna South, Annapurna Fang and many other countless peaks. After lunch, we have short climb to the Mulde Hill View Point to appreciate the sunset over the panorama of Dhaulagiri & Annapurna Himalayan ranges. Overnight stay at Community Lodge.

DAY 06: SUNRISE FROM MULDE VIEW POINT (3673M), REST DAY.
Wake up early in the morning to have sunrise view. Return back to the lodge to have a hot breakfast, rest of the whole day is for leisure to appreciate the view from the Khopra Ridge. Optional: There is a holy lake and glacier that camps up the side of Annapurna South called Khayer Lake (4660m). Day trip is possible. Overnight stay at the Guest House.

DAY 07: TREK TO TATOPANI HOT SPRING (1250M) 7-8 HRS
Wake up early in the morning to for breakfast. After breakfast, we start our long day descend down to the Tatopani Hotspring. The difficult day will be washed away by the hotspring. Overnight stay at the Guest House.

DAY 08: DRIVE TO POKHARA 6-7 HRS
After breakfast, we take a shared public bus or public jeep drive on the off-road till Beni for 3-4 hours. Another four hours public bus drive to Pokhara from Beni. Trip ends!