A quieter side of Annapurna
Most Annapurna treks follow one of the great circuits. Khopra Ridge does something different. After Tadapani it leaves the main trail and spends five days in a more remote part of the region, on forest paths, pastures and ridge-top lodges, close to the lake city of Pokhara yet far from its pace. The ranges of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, and the fishtail summit of Machhapuchhre, appear at different points along the way when the weather allows. The trip is built around walking: a handful of walking days, one long acclimatisation hike to Kaire Lake, and a day in Pokhara at the end. The walking days are few, but a certain level of fitness is still needed.
The route, ridge by ridge
The walking begins at Syauli Bazaar and climbs to Ghandruk, then on to Tadapani through Deurali and dense rhododendron forest, crossing a small pass. Beyond Tadapani the trail to Dobato is described as relatively easy, and the stretch towards Chistibung includes a narrow ledge flanked by rhododendron. The path drops to the pastures of Lower Chistibung and climbs again to the herders’ settlement of Upper Chistibung. Above the tree line, alpine meadows lead to Khopra Ridge, where a short walk reaches a viewpoint over the Kali Gandaki river. The way down is steep, past terraced fields to Swanta, then over a suspension bridge and up to Chittre. The trail joins the main route at Ghorepani before the forested descent to Ulleri and the road at Nayapul.
Villages, herders and a sacred lake
Ghandruk is a major recruitment centre for Gurkha soldiers and the hub of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, which runs a range of ecological projects. At Tadapani, many Tibetans live in the village and sell souvenirs to visitors. Upper Chistibung is a temporary herders’ settlement, a reminder that these high pastures are worked as well as walked. Around Swanta, traditional houses and terraced fields sit below the slopes of Dhaulagiri, and a local water mill stands beside the path on the way out. Kaire Lake is considered sacred by Hindus, and because Hinduism and Buddhism are closely intertwined in Nepal, both Hindu and Buddhist shrines stand on its shore. Your guide can explain what you are seeing and how to behave around it.
Altitude, pace and effort
The trip begins in Kathmandu at 1,350 m (4,429 ft) and climbs by stages: Ghandruk at 1,940 m, Tadapani at 2,700 m, Dobato at 3,350 m, and then Khopra Ridge at 3,660 m (12,008 ft), the highest sleeping point. After a night at Upper Chistibung, 2,975 m, the Khopra climb takes about 3–4 hours. The second night at Khopra is the acclimatisation day: the walk to Kaire Lake reaches 4,500 m (14,765 ft) and takes about 10–11 hours, before returning to sleep at 3,660 m. A half-day walk from Khopra can be arranged instead. Day 9 then descends steeply to Swanta at 2,200 m, a drop of roughly 1,460 m. Most other walking days run 3–6 hours. Please tell your guide early if you are not feeling well.
Where you sleep and eat
In Kathmandu you stay at the Radisson or the Marriott, with breakfast only; other Kathmandu meals are not included. On the trail you stay in hotels or teahouses, or similar. Past Tadapani, most stops have just two or three houses able to host groups, which gives the evenings a quieter, more local feel than the crowded teahouse neighbourhoods of the busiest routes. In Pokhara the itinerary names Hotel Landmark, or similar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided on the trek, and a packed lunch is taken on the Kaire Lake day. Rooms and facilities are simple, and lodging standards vary from place to place.
Seasons on the ridge
Two seasons stand out in the route’s own character. In spring the rhododendron forests between Tadapani and Dobato bloom, and the woods turn red. In autumn the same forests remain a pleasure to walk through. Conditions change with elevation, from forest below Dobato to open meadow above the tree line at Khopra. Weather can also affect the two domestic flights and the road sections, in which case your guide will adjust the plan. Views of the mountains depend on the day, and we cannot promise them.
Our approach
Every group is led by licensed, English-speaking guides, with 1 guide for every 8 guests, and supported by porters, with 1 porter for every 2 guests. All required permits are arranged, and salary and insurance are provided for all crew members. Airport and trailhead transfers are private, and the domestic flights the route needs are included. The itinerary builds in one acclimatisation day at Khopra Ridge. The trip ends with a farewell dinner on your last evening in Kathmandu.