Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Khopra Ridge - 17 days

After you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport, our guide will pick you up from the airport terminal and drive you to your hotel. Check-in and enjoy a welcome drink.

Later in the afternoon or evening, there will be a briefing at our office or your hotel's lobby. You will meet your trekking guide, who will inform you of the condition of the route and the things you will have to keep in mind while trekking. You can shop for items that you might need during the trek after the briefing. Many shops sell and rent out trekking gear in Thamel. If you haven't brought any gear or equipment, you can rent or buy it from any of the shop. Do not forget to get some local currency (you can withdraw it from the ATM or get it from any of the local money exchange counters), as you will need Nepalese currency to pay for stuff in the mountains.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Wake up early in the morning and get ready to fly to Pokhara. After breakfast, you will be driven to the domestic airport, from where you will catch your flight. The flight is short (about 25 minutes) but filled with incredible views of the Himalayan range. If it's not foggy, you will be able to see the snowcapped summits of the Langtang Range, Ganesh Himal, Dorje Lakpa, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and the Annapurna Range.

After landing in Pokhara, you will exit the airport and board a jeep bound for Hile. Leaving the city, you will be presented with awesome views of Machapuchhre, or Fishtail Peak, and Annapurna South. The highway is pitched and smooth. You will drive past small towns and villages with terraced paddy fields. After crossing Nayapul, the road turns a bit rough and bumpy. The road winds up past the village of Birethati and stops at Hile.

From Hile, you will start your trek and walk past the village of Tikhedhunga. After crossing a metal bridge, you will come to the foot of a long staircase. Trekkers usually refer to it as the 'stairway to hell’, as the staircase has more than three thousand steps. As climbing 3000+ steps is difficult for even the hardiest of trekkers, this is going to be one of the toughest days of your trek. Climb slowly and take frequent breaks. On reaching Ulleri, head to a lodge and rest your tired legs.

Overnight in Ulleri.

Your trek will start right after breakfast. You will climb the stone steps and head up to the dirt jeep track at Banthanti. Follow the road for some time till you reach a small path heading down to the riverside. Walk on the side of the Baraudi River and enter a lush jungle filled with wildlife. You will get to encounter monkeys, colorful Himalayan birds, and butterflies.

Take time to pause and admire the scenery. After a gradual climb on stone steps, you will come to the village of Nayathanti. Rest for a while to catch your breath. Leaving the village, you will continue past a thick jungle of rhododendrons and oaks and come to another picturesque village, Nangethanti. After Nangethanti, you will walk up and down a gradual path. The last bit of your trek will see you climbing a stone staircase to the village of Ghorepani. Climb up the staircase to reach the lodge, where a room has been booked for you.

Ghorepani is a large Magar village that lies on the former Tibet Salt Trade Route. The walking trail to Ghorepani is an ancient trail that was used by traders, travelers, and pilgrims while journeying to and from Tibet. The settlement of Ghorepani is well facilitated with lodges and teahouses.

Overnight in Ghorepani.

Wake up before sunrise and walk up to the base of Poon Hill. Use ahead torch to find your way in the darkness. The route to Poon Hill involves climbing a long concrete staircase. The steps are in good condition, and railings have been built for support. It's a steep climb lasting for about an hour. On reaching the top, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains lighting up in the early morning sun. You can see Dhaulagiri and Gurja Himal. Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Baraha Sikhar, Tukuche, Gangapurna, Nilgiri Himal, Manaslu, Hiunchuli, etc. stretch endlessly, their snow-covered spires changing hues as the sun slowly rises. The snow-white peaks turn from red, pink, and orange to golden and amber. It's a beautiful sight to behold. Take pictures and savor the moment before heading down via the same way.

Once you reach the lodge, you will have a hearty breakfast and begin your trek. Your destination today is Swanta, a traditional Magar village. The trail goes all the way down to the river valley. En route, you can enjoy pastoral scenes of terraced fields and traditional farms. After getting to the valley floor, you will cross a swaying metal bridge and cross the river. On reaching the other side of the valley, you will again resume your upward climb. The trail traverses thick forests of rhododendrons, bamboo, and oak. After a brisk climb, you will finally reach the village of Swanta.

Sitting at the top of a hill on a sloping plateau, the village of Swanta is dotted with paddy fields and homes with blue roofs. Here you will find old traditional Magar houses, which are made of stone and have a unique round shape.

Overnight in Swanta.

Leave Swanta and take the upward trail to Chistibung. The trail winds up past mustard and paddy fields and goes through a pristine forest, with summer camps of cattle herders en route. This is the Khopra Danda Trail, which was recently introduced to tourists. There are no major villages en route up to Khopra Danda, and the trail remains secluded.

Along the way, you will come across a beautiful waterfall and the mini hydropower plant that provides electricity to the teahouses at Khopra Danda, Chistibung, and Bayeli Kharka. The trail enters a dense forest and goes mostly up past a thick rhododendron forest, which looks heavenly during springtime, the season for the rhododendron flowers to bloom. The path goes mostly up and involves some steep ascents. There's a small teahouse amid the forest where you can stop for tea and refreshment. Later, continue your hike to Chistibung. Right before reaching Chistibung, you will get a view of Ghorepani sitting amidst tall hills.

After a tiring ascent, you will finally reach Chistibung or Dhankharka, where you will stay overnight at a community lodge or a teahouse.

Overnight in Chisitbung.

After breakfast, you will start your trek to Khopra Danda. It's a steep climb that takes you past a narrow path built on the side of a hill. The scenery is beautiful, as you will be able to view the snowy peaks from the trail. While the duration of the hike is short, the climb can be taxing. Go slowly, taking time to catch.

your breath and take in the views. After reaching Khopra Danda, you can head to the community lodge and take a rest.

your breath and take in the views. After reaching Khopra Danda, you can head to the community lodge and take a rest. From the ridge, you will be able to view Dhaulagiri Himal (the seventh-highest mountain in the world) in its entirety. Other mountains that can be seen from Khopra Rdge are Annapurna South, Gurja Himal, Baraha Shikhar, Tukuche, and Nilgiri Himal.

Khopra Danda used to be a summer camp of buffalo, yak, and sheep herders, and there are still remnants of the stone huts built by the villagers at the ridge. Now a large community lodge is built to serve the trekkers visiting the Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake sits on the ridge.

Overnight on Khopra Ridge.

Today you will hike to Khayer Lake, a sacred lake that lies close to Annapurna South. As the lake is located about a four-hour walk from Khopra Ridge, you will start your hike early. Leaving the lodge, you will walk up to the Khopra viewpoint and enjoy the panoramic view of the Himalayan mountains. The trail follows an even path along the ridgeline for some time. Later, it cuts into the side of the ridge and follows a steep incline. Climb on well-built stone staircases and navigate your way past boulders to reach the Khayer Khola (river). You will come across stone shrines dedicated to local deities and abandoned camps of yak herders.

Janai Purnima, a summer full moon Hindu festival, is an auspicious time to visit the lake, and pilgrims camp at this spot for one night before making their way to the lake on the day of the festival. A steep climb over a stony path brings you to Khayer Lake. Fenced by craggy hills, the holy lake of Khayer holds the shrine of the wish-fulfilling goddess Tal Baraha Mata. Locals believe that the goddess fulfills the wishes of her devotees on the condition that the devotees visit the shrine and thank her after their wishes are fulfilled. It is generally believed that if the goddess is not thanked properly, it will lead to unpleasant consequences. Devotees generally offer her animal sacrifices (sheep or fowl) to thank her.

The lake is peaceful and holds a powerful spiritual energy. If you are spiritually inclined, you can feel the energy around the lake. You can enjoy a close-up view of Annapurna South's summit from the lake. After spending some time walking around and taking pictures, you will return to Khopra Ridge via the same route. After returning to the lodge, have a hearty dinner and rest your tired legs.

Overnight in Khopra Ridge.

Leaving Khopra, you will make your way downhill and follow the trail to Dobato. It's a long and tiring hike, but the views are amazing. You will be walking past the most scenic section of this trekking route. Your guide will decide whether you will take the direct but difficult route to Bayeli Kharka or take a more circuitous route via Chistibung. The direct route to Bayeli is short but involves walking on a challenging trail. Trekkers mostly use the long but easier-to-navigate route, which involves a steep descent and ascent via Chistiibung or Dhan Kharka.

Bayeli Kharka is a beautiful summer camp of sheep and cattle herders that lies amidst a magnificent Rhododendron forest. Bayeli Kharka has a couple of teahouses that serve trekkers walking on this route. You can stop for a bit of rest and refreshment before proceeding towards Dobato. The trail winds around the hillsides and goes down to Dobato. Once you reach Dobato, head to a teahouse and take a rest.

Overnight in Dobato.

Dobato lies right below Muldai Peak, a popular viewpoint to enjoy 360-degree views of the Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri, and other peaks. If you want to enjoy the view, you can take an early morning hike to the viewpoint and resume your trek afterwards. Or else you can start your trek to Tadapani right after breakfast.

The route to Tadapani takes you past a thick rhododendron forest. The route follows a downhill trail. You will stop at the village of Isharu for lunch before continuing to Tadapani. Along the way, you will be able to spy gray-faced langurs swinging in the tall trees. After about 3 or 4 hours of trekking, you will finally reach your destination.

Tadapani is a charming Gurung village surrounded by one of the largest rhododendron forests in Nepal. The village has several lodges and teahouses. Your guide will book a room for you at one of the modern and comfortable lodges.

Overnight in Tadapani.

Today's walk involves a long descent and a steep ascent. Leaving Tadapani, you will make your way past the gorgeous rhododendron forest. The hike is pleasant and filled with beautiful sights and sounds of birds chirping. As you go lower, you will come across the picturesque villages of Chuile and Ghurjung, terraced fields's, and horses and ponies grazing on open pastures. The trail goes right down to the Kimrong Khola (river).

Cross the Kimrong river via a metal suspension bridge, and after getting to the other side, you will have a steep ascent. Climb on stone staircases, take multiple pauses to catch your breath, and enjoy the heartwarming views of the Nepalese countryside. Unlike on the Khopra route, you will encounter a lot more locals along this route. You can get an insight into the rural lifestyle of the Gurung people and enjoy ample opportunities to interact with them.

After Gurjung, you will take a narrow path with a steep drop and walk on a gradual incline and flat path. Cross another suspension bridge and arrive at the village of Chhomrong, an important stop on the route. Annapurna South and Hiunchuli can be seen towering above, close to the village. Have your permits checked at the ACAP Check Point before proceeding towards a teahouse. On reaching the teahouse, you can take off your hiking boots and finally rest your tired legs.

Overnight in Chhomrong.

Leaving Chhomrong, you will head down to the Chhomrong River and cross it via a suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge, you will take an upward path past terraced fields. Soon you will reach the village of Sinuwa, another pretty Gurung village with lots of teahouses and lodges. From Sinuwa, climb along a stone staircase and cross Upper Sinuwa. Compared to the other days, the trail is going to be steady, and there won't be that many ups and downs. Another thing is that from Upper Sinuwa onwards, there are no villages till Annapurna Base Camp. At Bamboo, Dovan, Himalaya, and ABC, you will find only a cluster of teahouses built to facilitate the trekkers.

Thickets of bamboo grow close to the trail, and the forked summit of Machapuchhre, or Fishtail Peak, appears closer as you proceed towards Bamboo. The trail gets covered by a dense growth of trees, and the views of the mountain disappear. A signboard prohibiting the intake of chicken, pork, beef, and buffalo meat from this point onwards is placed at the entrance of Bamboo.

The Anapurna Sanctuary and the forests leading to it are sacred ground for the locals. They regard the mountains and the forests beneath them as the resting places of their guardian deities. This is the reason why climbing is not allowed on Machhapuchre or Fishtail Peak. Please respect the culture and religious beliefs of the local people and refrain from taking any of the prohibited meat items with you. On reaching Bamboo, you will head to a teahouse and stay overnight.

Overnight in Bamboo.

Leaving Bamboo, you will walk through the forest and head towards Deurali. You will walk past Dovanand the Himalayas before finally arriving at Deurali. The climb will be steady and not as steep as in previous days. While there are no villages en route, you will find teahouses offering warm food and a place to stay for trekkers. Here, all the supplies are carried by porters, which makes food items a lot more expensive than in the cities or lower villages.

The walk to Deurali is filled with beautiful sights of waterfalls, streams with small wooden bridges, and forests. You will be walking alongside the Modi River. In about one and a half or two hours of starting your trek from Bamboo, you will reach Dovan. You can rest for a while and have some refreshments before continuing your trek. On your way to the Himalayas, you will come across an amazing view of a waterfall. The water cascading from many directions is a sight to behold. This is a sacred site, and there's a shrine built at the base of the waterfall. Pause for a while and soak in the beauty of the place. Follow the staircase and walk alongside the river. In a little while, you will reach Himalayas, where you can stop for lunch or tea.

From Himalayas, the route ascends gradually and goes up a flight of stone steps to Hinku Cave. The Hinku Cave is a historic site, as this is where the first trekkers and expedition groups to Annapurna Base Camp and Annapurna I camped out during the early fifties. The French expedition group led by Maurice Herzog was the first to ascend an 8000-meter peak in the world when they summited Annapurna I in 1950. The Hinku Cave has been providing shelter to shepherds and cattle herders for hundreds of years. You can rest for a while at the cave before continuing your journey.

The route from Hinku Cave to Deurali is in an avalanche zone, so you need to be careful while crossing this stretch, especially if the weather is bad. The path is stony and filled with boulders, therefore careful while crossing this section.

Deurali, your stop for tonight, lies in a gorgeous location surrounded by mountains. The place has a couple of teahouses and offers a close-up view of Machapuchhre.

Overnight in Deurali.

You will start your trek early and head towards Annapurna Base Camp. As you gain altitude, you will feel the air getting thinner and may have difficulty breathing. Walk slowly and steadily, and drink plenty of water. It's important to keep yourself hydrated to avoid AMS.

Walking out of Deurali, you will find yourself in a narrow valley surrounded by towering peaks. While the views are amazing, you will have to be careful as the route up to Machapuchhre Base Camp is an avalanche-prone zone. Walk alongside the Modi River while enjoying the views of the mountains. The trail gradually climbs to the Machapuchhre Base Camp or MBC. You can get a close-up view of Machapuchhre or Fishtail Peak from the camp. Since this is a sacred mountain, setting foot on it or climbing activities are not allowed. MBC has a rescue center, a helipad for emergency evacuations, and a few teahouses.

You can rest for a while and have some refreshments at a teahouse in MBC before moving further up to your destination, ABC. You need to be careful on the final stretch of the hike, as the path is usually frozen and slippery. Make sure to watch your footing while enjoying the view of the mountains. You can see the Annapurna Massif and other peaks rising like a frozen wall right above the base camp. On reaching ABC, you can head to a teahouse where rooms have been booked for you and take a brief rest.

Later, you can head to a viewpoint above the camp to gaze at the spectacular glacial basin known as the Annapurna Sanctuary. At the viewpoint, colorful prayer flags are strung, and there are some stone memorials for those who have lost their lives in the Annapurnas.In the evening, if the sky is clear, you can savor the sunset view over the frozen mountains. The Annapurna Base Camp is also one of the best places in the Himalayas for stargazing, as you can get a clear view of the Milky Way galaxy from the base camp. If you are into photography and filmmaking, you can capture a time-lapse of the magnificent night sky lit up by stars.

Overnight in Annapurna Base Camp.

Wake up early in the morning and head to the viewpoint to catch a magnificent sunrise over the Annapurna Massif. The 360-degree view of the mountains in the golden sunlight looks spectacular. You can enjoy close-up views of Annapurna I, II, III, and IV, Annapurna South, Baraha Shikhar, or Annapurna Fang, Huinchuli, Gangapurna, etc. from the viewpoint. All these high mountains rise from the glacial basin known as the Annapurna Sanctuary. For Gurungs, this is a holy place where they believe their guardian deities reside. Truly, this place looks magical and heavenly, especially when lit up by the early morning sun.

After enjoying the breathtaking sunrise, you will have your breakfast and start your hike back to bamboo. You will return via the same route, stopping briefly at Deurali, Himalaya, and Dovan for lunch, rest, and refreshment. On your return journey, too, savor the stunning and natural views of the Himalayan landscape. On reaching Bamboo, head to a teahouse, have a warm meal, and take a rest.

Overnight in Bamboo.

After breakfast, you will start your hike and make your way to Jhinu Danda. The trail goes up and down and passes a dense bamboo and oak forest. Pause at intervals to drink in the mesmerizing view of Machapuchhre or Fishtail Peak. Climb up and down the stone steps past terraced fields and the picturesque villages of Sinuwa and Chhomrong. After walking for about five to six hours, you will finally reach Jhinu Danda.

Cross the suspension bridge over the Modi River and walk over to the other side. After walking for a while, you will come to the jeep stand, from where you can catch a jeep bound for Pokhara. Depending on the condition of the road between Jhinu and Nayapul, you will reach Pokhara in about 3 or 4 hours. On reaching Pokhara, you will be driven to a hotel where a room has already been booked for you. Check-in, take a nice hot shower, and relax. In the evening, if you are not too tired, you can take a stroll by the lakeside.

Overnight in Pokhara.

From Pokhara, you take a flight to Kathmandu. On reaching Kathmandu, you will be driven to your hotel. You can spend the day resting at your hotel or venture out and explore the city by yourself. We can also book a half-day guided sightseeing tour (at an added charge) for you if you wish. Kathmandu is home to seven of the eight cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, and these are worth exploring.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Your memorable Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Khopra Ridge trekking adventure has finally ended, and it's time to bid farewell to Nepal. Our driver will drop you off at the airport on time to catch your flight. If you want to extend your holiday or visit the neighboring countries of Bhutan, India, or the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, please feel free to contact us. We have a range of itineraries that might interest you.