Khopra Hill Trek

Arrive at Kathmandu and meet your Mantra Adventure representative. Transfer to Thamel hotel for an evening orientation briefing. The Khopra Ridge trek is one of Nepal's finest off-the-beaten-path routes — expect exceptional Dhaulagiri and Annapurna views with far fewer crowds than the main ABC trail. Welcome dinner included. Meals: Dinner.

Morning flight or 6-hour bus to Pokhara, then a drive to the trailhead at Nayapul. The trek begins gently through Gurung farming villages above the Modi Khola. Hile — a small village on a forested ridge — is a quiet, authentic introduction to the Annapurna foothills far from the main trekking crowds. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

Climb through dense rhododendron and oak forest — ablaze with blooms in March and April — past the waterfalls of Ulleri (famous for its 3,600+ stone steps) and through Banthanti to reach Ghorepani. The ridge-top village offers spectacular sunset views over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Range. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Before dawn, climb Poon Hill for a legendary Himalayan sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Annapurna I and Machhapuchhre. Return for breakfast, then descend south-east towards Swanta — a village that marks the start of the Khopra Ridge trail proper, away from the main Poon Hill tourist circuit. Walking time: 5–6 hours total. Meals: All included.

The Khopra Ridge trail follows a high ridge with continuous Himalayan views. The route passes through rhododendron and oak forest, occasionally breaking into open meadows with sweeping panoramas of Dhaulagiri (7,982m) — the seventh highest mountain on earth. This section sees relatively few trekkers; wildlife sightings of Himalayan tahr and rufous-bellied woodpeckers are common. Walking time: 4–5 hours. Meals: All included.

Ascend steeply to Khopra Danda — the main community lodge on the ridge at 3,660 metres. The views from here are among the best in the Annapurna region: an uninterrupted panorama of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Nilgiri, Tilicho Peak and, on clear days, Annapurna I itself. Sunset from the ridge is frequently described by trekkers as the most beautiful they have ever seen. Walking time: 4–5 hours. Meals: All included.

Acclimatisation day and high-point hike to the sacred Khayer Lake at 4,500 metres — a glacial lake revered by both Hindus and Buddhists as the abode of the god Khayer. The trail climbs through alpine meadows grazed by yaks. The panoramic views from the lake edge take in the full Annapurna South and Dhaulagiri massifs. Return to Khopra Ridge for the night. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Descend through forests of birch, maple and rhododendron back into the main Annapurna trekking circuit at Tadapani. The contrast between the high ridgeline solitude of Khopra and the relative bustle of the main trail is striking. Walking time: 4–5 hours. Meals: All included.

Descend through Ghandruk — a classically beautiful Gurung village — to Nayapul for the jeep transfer back to Pokhara. Arrive in time for a lakeside dinner at Phewa Lake. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

Morning flight to Kathmandu. Airport transfer for your international departure or a free day in the city. End of Mantra Adventure services. Meals: Breakfast.