Khopra Danda (Ridge) Trek - Itinerary, Cost & Complete Guide

Our day begins with a drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and ends with the steepest climb of the trek, the stone staircase to Ulleri. You gain about 1,000 m today, from 1,070 m at Nayapul to 2,070 m at Ulleri.

We leave Pokhara after breakfast, around 8 am. The road climbs out of the Pokhara valley through Lumle and Naudanda, and on a clear morning you can see Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range behind you. The drive takes 1.5 to 2 hours. When the road is in good condition, the jeep continues past Nayapul to Tikhedhunga, which saves you about two hours of walking.

From Nayapul, a short walk brings you to Birethanti (1,025 m), where the Modi Khola and Bhurungdi Khola rivers meet. Your guide shows your ACAP permit at the checkpoint here. The trail then follows the Bhurungdi Khola upstream through Hile to Tikhedhunga (1,540 m), crossing suspension bridges and passing rice terraces, buffalo sheds and small tea houses. This part is mostly gentle and a good warm-up.

After Tikhedhunga, the trail crosses the river and climbs more than 3,000 stone steps to Ulleri, gaining about 500 m in 2 to 3 hours. This is the hardest section of the whole trek, and it comes on Day 1. Take small steps, rest often and drink water. Mules use the same stairs, so always step to the hillside when a mule train passes.

Ulleri is a Magar village spread along the hillside, with stone houses, slate roofs and views back down the valley. Tonight you stay in a family-run lodge with twin rooms. Some rooms have attached bathrooms, and hot showers are usually available for a small fee.

Walking time is 4 to 5 hours from Nayapul, or 2 to 3 hours if the jeep reaches Tikhedhunga. Withdraw all the cash you need in Pokhara, because there are no ATMs on the trek. Lodges sell bottled water, but a refillable bottle with purification tablets or a filter is cheaper and creates less plastic waste.

Today you climb about 800 m from Ulleri to Ghorepani (2,860 m) through some of the best rhododendron forest in Nepal. The stairs continue, but they are gentler and broken up by flatter stretches along the hillside.

Above Ulleri, the fields end and the forest begins. The trail climbs through rhododendron, oak and magnolia to Banthanti (2,250 m), then on to Nangethanti (2,460 m). Both are small stops with a few teahouses, good for tea and a rest. The last hour to Ghorepani is a steady climb through tall, moss-covered trees.

In March and April, this forest turns red, pink and white with blooming rhododendron, Nepal’s national flower. In autumn, the forest is green and the air is clear. Listen for langur monkeys in the trees, and look for the colourful danphe, Nepal’s national bird, near the upper trail.

Ghorepani means “horse water” in Nepali. It was once a resting point for mule trains carrying goods between the Kali Gandaki valley and the lowlands. Today it is a large village of lodges at the junction of several Annapurna treks, and the busiest stop on the whole route.

Ghorepani lodges are bigger and better equipped than those further on, with warm dining rooms, hot showers and charging for a fee. Wi-Fi is often available.

This is your first night above 2,500 m. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and tell your guide if you feel unwell. Go to bed early, because tomorrow starts before dawn.

Today starts with the most famous sunrise in the Annapurna region and ends on a quiet forest trail far from the crowds.

We leave the lodge at about 4:30 am and climb for 45 to 60 minutes by headlamp to Poon Hill (3,210 m). As the sun rises, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Nilgiri, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre light up one by one. There is a small entry fee, a viewing tower and a tea stall at the top. It is cold and busy, but this view is one of the best in Nepal.

After breakfast in Ghorepani, most trekkers head east to Tadapani. We take the quieter ridge trail instead. It climbs through Deurali (3,090 m) and along the ridge to Dobato (3,420 m), the highest point of the day. Fit trekkers with energy left can take a short detour to the Mulde viewpoint above Dobato for another wide mountain panorama.

From Dobato, the trail descends through old forest to Chistibang (2,950 m), a small lodge stop in a clearing surrounded by trees.

This part of the forest sees far fewer trekkers. The trees are older, covered in moss and hanging lichen, and the trail is narrower. In the shaded sections, frost and ice can last until late morning in November and December.

Chistibang has simple lodges with twin rooms and shared toilets. The dining room stove is the warmest place in the evening.

This is a long day. Fill your water bottles in Ghorepani and carry snacks, because there are few tea stops between Deurali and Chistibang.

Today you climb about 700 m from the forest at Chistibang to the open ridge of Khopra Danda (3,660 m). This is the day most of our trekkers remember best.

The trail climbs steadily through rhododendron and birch forest for most of the morning. As you gain height, the trees become smaller and more spread out, and you start to see high grazing pastures (kharka) where local herders bring their buffalo and yak in summer.

Then the forest ends suddenly. One moment you’re under the trees, the next you’re standing on a wide, grassy ridge with nothing blocking the view.

The Kali Gandaki gorge, one of the deepest in the world, opens up to the west. Directly across it, Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) fills the sky. Tukuche Peak and Nilgiri stand to the north, and Annapurna South and Annapurna I rise close by to the east. At Poon Hill these peaks are far away. At Khopra you sleep facing them.

The lodge on the ridge is community-owned. Committees from the villages below manage it, and the income pays for local schools and health care. Rooms are basic twin rooms and dormitories with shared toilets. Electricity comes from solar power, so charging is limited.

This is your highest sleeping point. Walk slowly, drink 3 to 4 litres of water. Nights on the ridge often drop below freezing, so keep your down jacket and warm hat close. Cold weather drains batteries quickly, so keep your phone and camera in your sleeping bag overnight.

Today is a free day at Khopra Danda (3,660 m). You can spend it resting and exploring the ridge, or join an optional hike to Khayer Lake (4,660 m). The choice is yours, and both are a good way to spend the day.

The Khayer Lake hike is not a required part of the trek. Decide based on your fitness, how much energy you have after four days of walking, how you slept at altitude, and what you want from the day. Many of our trekkers choose to stay on the ridge, and they don’t miss out on the main reason for coming: the view of Dhaulagiri from Khopra.

Talk it over with your guide the evening before. You can also decide in the morning, once you see how you feel. A slow day on the ridge gives your body time to recover before the long descent. Walk along the ridge for different angles on Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South, take photos as the light changes, read by the dining room stove, or visit the herders’ pastures nearby. The mountains look different every hour, from the first pink light at sunrise to the gold at sunset.

The hike starts around 5:30 am and climbs about 1,000 m over high pastures and rocky ground to the lake. It isn’t technical, but the steady climb in thin air makes it the hardest walk of the trek. Most groups reach the lake in 4 to 5 hours and return to Khopra in about 3 hours.

Khayer Lake sits in a bowl of rock at the foot of Annapurna South. It is sacred to Hindu communities in the villages below, and pilgrims walk up each August for the full-moon festival. The rest of the year, you may have it almost to yourself.

There are no teahouses on the way, so the lodge prepares a packed lunch. Carry at least 2 litres of water, a warm layer, gloves and sunglasses.

Even if you choose to go, your guide may cancel or turn back if the weather closes in, there is fresh snow, or anyone shows signs of altitude sickness. Safety always comes first. Whatever you choose, you sleep at the Khopra lodge again tonight.

Today you descend about 1,400 m from Khopra Ridge to the village of Swanta (2,270 m). Get up early for one last sunrise on Dhaulagiri before you leave.

The trail drops off the ridge through pastures, then into rhododendron and oak forest. It is steep in many places, with long sections of stone steps and loose earth. The forest slowly gives way to terraced fields and the first village houses.

Partway down, the trail passes through Paudwar, one of the villages linked to the community lodges on the ridge. Here you can see where the income from your stay goes: the school, the health post and the families who help run the lodges. If you have time, stop for tea and talk to people.

Swanta is a quiet Magar village on a sunny hillside. Houses are built from stone with slate roofs, and most families farm millet, maize and potatoes on the terraces around them.

Swanta has a few simple, family-run lodges with twin rooms. The air is warmer here, and you’ll sleep much better than on the ridge.

This descent is harder on the knees than most people expect. Use trekking poles, take short steps and slow down on loose or wet sections. If your knees are sore, tell your guide, and we can take more breaks.

Today you walk down into the Kali Gandaki valley, losing more than 1,000 m of height and finishing at the hot springs of Tatopani (1,190 m).

From Swanta, the trail crosses the hillside to Chitre (2,390 m), then begins a long descent through Shikha (1,935 m) and Ghara (1,700 m). The upper section passes through forest. Lower down, the trail goes past terraced fields and farmhouses, and the day gets steadily warmer.

As you descend, the vegetation changes from oak and rhododendron to banana, orange and bamboo. Shikha and Ghara are farming villages with stone paths, small temples and children on their way to school. Near the end, the trail joins the road along the Kali Gandaki, which can be dusty when jeeps pass.

Tatopani means “hot water” in Nepali. The natural hot springs sit beside the river in two small pools. After a week of stairs, a long soak is the best way to end the trek. There is a small entry fee, so bring swimwear and a few hundred rupees.

Tatopani lodges are more comfortable than those higher up, with garden seating and attached bathrooms in many rooms. The village is known for its oranges, so try some if they’re in season.

This is a long day of downhill walking. Keep using your poles, drink water and protect yourself from the sun in the lower valley. Tonight is a good time to thank your guide and porters, as tomorrow is a driving day.

Today you drive from Tatopani back to Pokhara (820 m), following the Kali Gandaki river for most of the way.

The road runs south along the Kali Gandaki to Beni, a busy market town where the Myagdi Khola joins the river. From Beni, it follows the Modi and Kali Gandaki valleys through Kusma and back into the Pokhara valley. The first section to Beni is rough and bumpy in places, and the whole drive takes about 5 to 6 hours, depending on road conditions and traffic.

You’ll pass small roadside villages, long suspension bridges and the deep, narrow sides of the Kali Gandaki valley. Stop for tea in Beni, and look back for your last views of the hills you have just walked through.

We reach Pokhara by mid-afternoon. Then it’s a hot shower, a good meal by Phewa Lake, and the kind of sleep you only get after a week of real walking. If you want to stay longer, we can arrange a rest day, paragliding, a boat trip on Phewa Lake, or onward travel to Kathmandu or Chitwan.

The first part of the road is bumpy, so take motion-sickness tablets if you need them. In monsoon and just after, landslides can delay the drive, so avoid booking a flight out of Pokhara on the same evening.