Eka Experiences

Khopra Ridge Trek With Khayer Lake: offbeat Trek in Nepal

"a lesser-known route encompassing the best views of Nepal's Annapurna region"

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Lying off the beaten path, away from the popular crowded trails of the Annapurna Region, the Khopra Ridge Trek with Khayer Lake Trek offers a Nepal Himalayan experience like no other. With awe-inspiring, close-range views of some of the mighty Himalayan giants like Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Nilgiri (7,061m), Annapurna I (8091m), and Machhapucchre (6,997m), this lesser-trodden route is a mountain lover’s paradise. Filled with jaw-dropping mountain views, idyllic villages, high terraced fields, magical sunsets and serene jungle trails, the trail showcases the beauty of Nepal in full glory.

The two main highlights on this trek are :1) the stunning ridge walk on Khopra Danda (ridge in Nepali) during sunrise and 2) an adventurous hike (subject to trail conditions) to the sacred, high-altitude Khayer Lake. The sight of the shimmering snow and ice panorama from the Khopra ridge can rival any viewpoint in the entire Himalayas. 

The other two breathtaking vantage points that we cover on this trail are Muldai Top and the world-famous Poon Hill. Ideal for experienced hikers as well as fit beginners, this is a moderately challenging trek and demands a good fitness level due to its fair share of ascents and descents. 

A relatively newly opened trail in this part of the country, the accommodation on the route is in village teahouses managed by the locals who are part of the amazing community-led tourism here. This trip is perfect for anyone looking for an offbeat trekking adventure in Nepal and want to experience some of the best views this mountain country has to offer.

  • Duration: 10 days
  • Region: Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal
  • Time: April - May | Sep - Nov
  • Pick Up/Drop Off: Pokhara, Nepal
  • Type: Guided High Altitude Trek + Tea house Experience
  • Grade: Moderately Challenging
  • Max Altitude: 4665 m / 15305 feet
  • Accommodation: Nepali Teahouses + Hotel

Day 1 : Welcome to Pokhara (2697 feet)

  • Pre Trek Briefing and Permit work
  • Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 2 : Drive From Pokhara to Hile (52 Km drive) | Trek Starts: Hile (4,921 ft) – Ulleri (6,578 ft)

  • 2.5 km / 3 hrs Trek Duration
  • Overnight stay in Ulleri Teahouse

Day 3 : Ulleri – Ghorepani (9,775 ft)

  • 7.5 km trek / 5 hrs Trek Duration
  • Overnight stay in Ghorepani Teahouse

Day 4 : Ghorepani (9,775 ft) – Poon Hill Top (10,532 ft) – Ghorepani (1 Km walk) | Trek to Swanta (7,786 ft)

  • 4 km trek / 4.5 hrs  Trek Duration
  • Overnight stay in Swanta Teahouse

Day 5 : Swanta – Sistibung (9,843 ft)

  • 5 km trek / 5-6 hrs Trek Duration
  • Overnight Stay in Sistibung Teahouse

Day 6 : Sistibung – Khopra Ridge / Khopra Danda (12,581 ft)

  • 3 km trek / 3 hrs Trek Duration
  • Overnight stay in Khopra Ridge Teahouse

Day 7 : Khopra Ridge – Khayar Lake (15,305 ft) – Back to Khopra Ridge 

  • 8 km trek/8 hrs Trek Duration
  • Overnight Stay in Khopra Ridge Teahouse

Day 8 : Khopra Ridge – Dobato (11,240 ft)

  • 11 km trek / 7 hrs Trek Duration
  • Overnight stay in Dobato Teahouse

Day 9 : Dobato to Muldai Top (11,930ft) – 1.5 km – Trek to Ghandruk

  • 12 km / 7 hrs Trek Duration
  • Drive back to Pokhara and reach by late evening
  • Overnight stay at Pokhara Hotel

Day 10 : Farewell

  • Depart for Home or extend a few days at the lovely Pokhara

EXPerience Highlights

1. The lesser-known side of Annapurnas

Snow-laden Rhododendrons on Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
A scenic village on Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
Eka Trekkers on Khopra Ridge Trek - Eka Experiences
Landscapes with Rhododendrons
Scenic villages and terraced farms on Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
Eka Trekkers on Khopra Ridge Trek Eka Experiences
Birds of Khopra Ridge Trek_ Eka Experiences
Backpack under Rhododenron tress on the trail
Trail Markers on Trek
Snow sprinkled mountains behind a Rhododendron tree
Snow filled trees on Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
Indian Trekkers on Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal

The Khopra Ridge trek (also called the Khopra Danda Trek in Nepali ) takes us to one of the least visited trails in the Annapurna region. 

The offbeat trek is a great way to explore the Annapurna region while avoiding large crowds. A recently developed and fairly new route in the Annapurna Conservation Area, it offers an unseen and relatively unexplored side of this world-famous region. 

Compared to other crowded and commercial routes here (like the Ghorepani Trek or the Annapurna Base Camp trek), this one is definitely less-crowded and more peaceful. This therefore makes the Khopra Danda trek an excellent alternative for those who are seeking a peaceful mountain holiday.

Apart from the wonderful views, the journey itself becomes special when travellers get to enjoy the lovely forests, lush grasslands and dreamy village settings along the trail. This lesser-visited side is home to some of the culturally-rich and picturesque villages of the Annapurna foothills. 

The area mainly houses the Gurung and Magar settlements with their impressive terraced fields sculpted on the hillsides. The pristine trail also passes through dense Rhododendron forests which turn into a riot of colours during the spring season (March-April).

2. Teahouses and Community-run Lodges

The Khopra Ridge trek is a blend of majestic peak views and a unique cultural ambiance. The stays on this route are a mix of local homestays and typical Nepalese-style teahouses. 

Some of the stays on the route are small community-run lodges which ensure tourism incomes remain and is used within the community. 

This is quite unique to this trail and the region compared to other popular trekking areas of Nepal. Tea houses in Nepal are common mountain huts along the various trekking routes here. They offer basic lodging and meals and usually come with communal and warm dining areas.

Considering the remoteness of these high-altitude places, the facilities and amenities in most of these accommodations are quite basic but cozy and comfortable. 

Staying in these village teahouses and community lodges is a splendid opportunity for visitors to experience the authentic local culture. Travellers get a taste of traditional life in these remote highlands and rural areas along with unique insights into the indigenous mountain communities here. 

Along with sharing their enticing culture and daily lifestyles, the local hospitality and meaningful interactions are memorable and enjoyable. 

The stays also offer a great way to contribute by benefiting entire village communities and uplifting the local rural economy.

Village on the Khopra Ridge Trek
A kid standing at a green pasture on the trail
Villages on Trail
A community run lodge in Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
Small Mountain huts on Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
Beautiful house in remote Nepal
Hikers on the Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
Colourful Rhododendron Tress

3. Unmatched Vantage Points

Muldai Top Mountain Views Khopra Ridge Trek_Eka Experiences
Trekkers viewing the mountain ranges from Khopra Danda
Sunrise time on Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
Eka Clients on Khopra Danda_Khopra Ridge Trek_Eka Experiences
Tibetan Prayer Flag in snowy mountainscapes
Valleys on the Khopra Ridge Trek Nepal
Snow-capped mountains and green valleys
Hikers walking on the Khopra Ridge Trail
Beautiful mountain views from Trek route villages
White Snow-laden Mountain Views Khopra Ridge Trek_Eka Experiences

Our curated route for the Khopra Ridge Trek offers some of the best close-distance mountain views in Nepal. Unlike the commonly taken path, we carefully designed a clockwise loop-hiking route with handpicked village stays. 

Spectacular landscapes, deepest gorges and few of the highest mountains on earth give us company throughout the trail. Some of the snow-capped peaks that are visible on this trekking route include Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m), Nilgiri (7061m), Bharha Shikhar (7647m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna IV, (7525m) Mt Himchuli (6434m), Machhapuchhre (6997m), Gangapurna (7455m) and many others.

From Poon Hill to Mulde/Muldai Top to Khopra Danda (Nepali for Khopra Ridge), these breathtaking viewpoints offer magnificent sunrise and sunset views of snow-capped mountains like nowhere else. 

Here, the twilight hours simply turn magical. The ridge walk on Khopra Danda offers an exceptional panorama of peaks. It is an unforgettable experience for a trekker during sunrise.

The views become even more captivating when the valleys down below get blanketed by clouds with giant mountains spearing through them and towering above.

4. Hidden Khayer Lake In Khopra Ridge Trek

Along with the spellbinding views of Himalayan mountains, the Khopra Ridge Trek also offers an awesome excursion to a lake. 

The Khayer Lake is a hidden alpine lake located at an altitude of 15305 feet above sea level. With spiritual cleansing properties according to the locals, it is a small holy lake considered sacred for both the Hindus and Buddhists of the region. 

The freshwater, high-altitude lake, located deep amidst Annapurna mountain ranges is an adventurous hike from the Khopra Danda area. 

It can be reached by a day trek and is suitable for well-prepared trekkers and adventure lovers. 

The lake is the highest point of our trip and this hike beautifully adds on to the thrill of the entire Khopra Ridge experience.

Khopra Ridge Khayar Lake Pokhara Trek Nepal_EKA Experiences31
Khopra Ridge Khayar Lake Pokhara Trek Nepal_EKA Experiences29
Snow Capped Mountain Views Khopra Ridge Trek_Eka Experiences
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TRAVEL REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS

Reviews Platform Logo
EXCELLENT
188 reviews
EXCELLENT
139 reviews
"We had a great time during our West Sikkim trip and can absolutely recommend Eka for unique experiences far from the usual touristy crowd! The home stays were great and the families there were more than welcoming. Although we got surprised by rain, the organisers quickly adjusted the schedule so that we could still make the most out of the trip. From breathtaking mountains, lush green jungles, beautiful monasteries and amazing food (not to forget the traditional drink Chang 🙂 ), this trip really had everything!"
Jenny Poser
Jenny PoserGermany/Goa
"Did the ‘Nomad trails of Changthang Plateau in Ladakh’ curated by Eka Experiences during July 2022...Right from guiding the team members during the preparation stage, to food, tents & other misc amenities...every minute detail was well taken care of...Full credit to Jeet for keeping us engaged with different games, group activities, stories, anecdotes etc etc. The sessions were an absolute blast..... Thank you Eka for providing such a wonderful experience. I am filled with happiness and gratitude when I remember those moments. Looking forward to planning the next outing with you guys."
Ankur Gupta
Ankur GuptaBangalore
"A group of us successfully completed the Kashmir Great lakes trek in July 2022 under the guidance of the Trek Guide, Indrajit and his very experienced support team. This trek is NOT for beginners. Its scale of difficulty ranges from moderate to difficult. This is one of the more challenging treks I hv done. Thanks Indrajit for everything that made this as very awesome experience for me and made us feel safe!. Looking forward to more treks with your company."
Jayakumari KM
Jayakumari KMSingapore
"..On high altitude Himalayan trek we are more concerned about safety than anything else....I was trekking with son and daughter. After interacting and discussing with Abhirup we were confident that we are in right hands. Soft spoken, energetic, dependable and best of all well qualified in mountaineering, high altitude crisis handling, emergency medication, etc. Assisted and treated my daughter when she fell sick on the first day itself. Kept whole trek group in good humour throughout and was continuosly sharing all information about the Himalayas, surrounding mountains...."
Ravilochan Achar
Ravilochan AcharMangalore
"they try to strike a balance between sticking to the targets and reaching the destination while making every bit of the journey filled with exciting experiences. You have the liberty to enjoy your solitude, yet have the opportunity to mingle and melt into a variegated group of people. They give you a holistic experience encompassing learning, adventure, thrill, cultural life, delicious local food, homestays, camping, scenic views and many more on the list.. The experience is unparalleled, transcendental. Guys, go and grab your own EKA experience!!"
Simantini Pattanayak
Simantini PattanayakDehradun
"Abhirup is a very talented individual with an unparalleled understanding of the Himalayas, a keen star gazer and a very knowledgeable bird watcher too... Trekking with him as the leader is one of the best experiences one can have - he takes people high up on the alpine ranges but most importantly brings everybody back safely."
Sayantan Mandal
Sayantan MandalHyderabad
"Highly recommend Eka experiences for offbeat trails...recently been to the West Sikkim trail. Very well organized by Abhirup right from the transport, very good homestays in all places , amazing local cuisine and great trekking experiences. Would definitely love to do more adventures with Eka in future."
Shruti Raiturcar
Shruti RaiturcarGoa
"...A wonderful person with a great experience. The treks are fun and adventurous. We went to such beautiful places which we could just dream of. Photos would not make enough justice to the places. The treks are well organised, on time, with all safety measures in place. We were taken care of the best we could get in such remote places. Abhirup was always around to help, to take care. We were checked each day of our health, of our vitals both before and after the trek. Overall a wonderful experience, which we can never forget!!"
Krishnan KN
Krishnan KNBangalore
"You know it's an incredible experience when it leaves an imprint on you. We did the Kashmir Great Lakes trek with Eka Experiences and i keep going back to it ever since I got back about a month back. The team at Eka experiences is experienced, quality centric and passionate about what they do....Indrajit and Abhirup are onto something here. Carving niche experiences within an industry that's crowded and easily motivated to provide substandard experiences in the race to scale their businesses. Eka experiences ensured that each trip is curated. Looking forward to our next trip. "
Pritesh Kamani
Pritesh KamaniBangalore
Previous
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TRAVEL REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS

Reviews Platform Logo
EXCELLENT
188 reviews
EXCELLENT
139 reviews
"We had a great time during our West Sikkim trip and can absolutely recommend Eka for unique experiences far from the usual touristy crowd! The home stays were great and the families there were more than welcoming. Although we got surprised by rain, the organisers quickly adjusted the schedule so that we could still make the most out of the trip. From breathtaking mountains, lush green jungles, beautiful monasteries and amazing food (not to forget the traditional drink Chang 🙂 ), this trip really had everything!"
Jenny Poser
Jenny PoserGermany/Goa
"Did the ‘Nomad trails of Changthang Plateau in Ladakh’ curated by Eka Experiences during July 2022...Right from guiding the team members during the preparation stage, to food, tents & other misc amenities...every minute detail was well taken care of...Full credit to Jeet for keeping us engaged with different games, group activities, stories, anecdotes etc etc. The sessions were an absolute blast..... Thank you Eka for providing such a wonderful experience. I am filled with happiness and gratitude when I remember those moments. Looking forward to planning the next outing with you guys."
Ankur Gupta
Ankur GuptaBangalore
"A group of us successfully completed the Kashmir Great lakes trek in July 2022 under the guidance of the Trek Guide, Indrajit and his very experienced support team. This trek is NOT for beginners. Its scale of difficulty ranges from moderate to difficult. This is one of the more challenging treks I hv done. Thanks Indrajit for everything that made this as very awesome experience for me and made us feel safe!. Looking forward to more treks with your company."
Jayakumari KM
Jayakumari KMSingapore
"..On high altitude Himalayan trek we are more concerned about safety than anything else....I was trekking with son and daughter. After interacting and discussing with Abhirup we were confident that we are in right hands. Soft spoken, energetic, dependable and best of all well qualified in mountaineering, high altitude crisis handling, emergency medication, etc. Assisted and treated my daughter when she fell sick on the first day itself. Kept whole trek group in good humour throughout and was continuosly sharing all information about the Himalayas, surrounding mountains...."
Ravilochan Achar
Ravilochan AcharMangalore
"they try to strike a balance between sticking to the targets and reaching the destination while making every bit of the journey filled with exciting experiences. You have the liberty to enjoy your solitude, yet have the opportunity to mingle and melt into a variegated group of people. They give you a holistic experience encompassing learning, adventure, thrill, cultural life, delicious local food, homestays, camping, scenic views and many more on the list.. The experience is unparalleled, transcendental. Guys, go and grab your own EKA experience!!"
Simantini Pattanayak
Simantini PattanayakDehradun
"Abhirup is a very talented individual with an unparalleled understanding of the Himalayas, a keen star gazer and a very knowledgeable bird watcher too... Trekking with him as the leader is one of the best experiences one can have - he takes people high up on the alpine ranges but most importantly brings everybody back safely."
Sayantan Mandal
Sayantan MandalHyderabad
"Highly recommend Eka experiences for offbeat trails...recently been to the West Sikkim trail. Very well organized by Abhirup right from the transport, very good homestays in all places , amazing local cuisine and great trekking experiences. Would definitely love to do more adventures with Eka in future."
Shruti Raiturcar
Shruti RaiturcarGoa
"...A wonderful person with a great experience. The treks are fun and adventurous. We went to such beautiful places which we could just dream of. Photos would not make enough justice to the places. The treks are well organised, on time, with all safety measures in place. We were taken care of the best we could get in such remote places. Abhirup was always around to help, to take care. We were checked each day of our health, of our vitals both before and after the trek. Overall a wonderful experience, which we can never forget!!"
Krishnan KN
Krishnan KNBangalore
"You know it's an incredible experience when it leaves an imprint on you. We did the Kashmir Great Lakes trek with Eka Experiences and i keep going back to it ever since I got back about a month back. The team at Eka experiences is experienced, quality centric and passionate about what they do....Indrajit and Abhirup are onto something here. Carving niche experiences within an industry that's crowded and easily motivated to provide substandard experiences in the race to scale their businesses. Eka experiences ensured that each trip is curated. Looking forward to our next trip. "
Pritesh Kamani
Pritesh KamaniBangalore
Previous
Next

For Trip Booking, Costs and More Details, Please Contact Us:

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A personalized itinerary can be crafted based on your group’s interests, expectations, and preferred dates and time duration. For tailoring a suitable Khopra Ridge Trek plan just for you, please Call/Whatsapp on +91 8951064013 or mail us at contact@ekaxp.in