The Khopra Ridge Trek (also spelt Khopra Danda) is a 9-day moderate tea-house trek in Nepal's Annapurna region, run Pokhara to Pokhara over roughly 50 km. The route climbs through Ghandruk, Tadapani, and Dobato to the Khopra ridge at 3,660m, with a long high-point day to the alpine Khayer Lake (4,660m / 15,300 ft) at the foothills of Annapurna South. The ridge faces Dhaulagiri (8,167m), the world's 7th-highest mountain, across the valley.
Highlights
- A front-row seat to Dhaulagiri. The Khopra ridge sits directly across the valley from Dhaulagiri (8,167m), the 7th-highest mountain in the world — sunrise on it is the trek's signature view, and the ridge-top tea house is a viewpoint in itself.
- A ridge walk with steep ascents via Muldai Top (3,630m), crossed on Day 5.
- A real high point. Day 7 is a 16 km round trip from the ridge to Khayer Lake, an alpine lake at 4,660m (15,300 ft) at the foothills of Annapurna South — a genuine big-day payoff on a moderate trek.
Khopra Ridge Trek at a glance
- What is the Khopra Ridge Trek?
- A 9-day moderate trek in Nepal's Annapurna region, from Pokhara up to the Khopra ridge (3,660m) and Khayer Lake (4,660m).
- How hard is it?
- Moderate. No technical terrain — trail walking with steep ridge ascents, and one long 16 km / 9-hour day to Khayer Lake and back. The trek tops out at 4,660m.
- How long does it take?
- 9 days Pokhara to Pokhara, covering roughly 50 km of trail.
- How much does it cost?
- ₹40,000 per trekker (₹45,000 for non-Indians and OCI cardholders) — covers Pokhara hotel nights, tea-house stays, all meals from Day 2 lunch to Day 9 breakfast, transport, and permits.
- When is the best time to go?
- Autumn — the 2026 batch runs 24 October to 1 November.
How difficult is Khopra Ridge Trek, really?
Graded Moderate. There is no climbing on this route: it is seven trail days of 7 km, 6 km, 9 km, 4 km, 16 km, 8.5 km and 5 km, taking 3 hours on the shortest day and 9 hours on the longest, with a road transfer at each end. The hard part is Day 7, a 16 km / 9-hour round trip from the ridge to Khayer Lake and back.
- Terrain
- Day 3 is a gradual ascent. Day 5 is a ridge walk with steep ascents. Day 8 is a mix of gradual and steep descents, and the trail goes through forest.
- Altitude
- High point 4,660m at Khayer Lake on Day 7, reached as a round trip and not slept at. The sleeping ladder is Ghandruk 1,950m, Tadapani 2,650m, Dobato 3,430m, Chhistibang 3,020m, Khopra Ridge 3,660m for two nights, Paudwar 2,010m.
Overview
The trek starts and ends in Pokhara. Day 2 is a road transfer to Ghandruk (1,950m), and from there the trail climbs through Tadapani (2,650m) to Dobato (3,430m). Day 5 crosses Muldai Top (3,630m) — a ridge walk with steep ascents — before dropping to Chhistibang (3,020m). Day 6 gains the Khopra ridge itself at 3,660m, where the tea house looks straight at Dhaulagiri. Day 7 is the big one: 16 km and around 9 hours to Khayer Lake (4,660m) at the foothills of Annapurna South, and back to the ridge. The descent leaves the ridge for the Magar village of Paudwar (2,010m), then a final walk to Tatopani and the drive back to Pokhara.
Who climbs with us
The 9-hour Khayer Lake day gives fit first-timers something to train for, while the tea-house lodging and Pokhara start keep the logistics forgiving.
The route, point by point
| Point | Altitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pokhara | — | Trail-head town; Phewa Lake; first and last hotel night |
| Ghandruk | 1,950m | Village road head; first night on the trail |
| Tadapani | 2,650m | Day 3 tea-house stay; 7 km / 4.5 hrs from Ghandruk |
| Muldai Top | 3,630m | Ridge-walk viewpoint crossed on Day 5 |
| Khopra Ridge | 3,660m | Two nights; tea house facing Dhaulagiri across the valley |
| Khayer Lake | 4,660m | Trek high point; alpine lake below Annapurna South |
| Paudwar | 2,010m | Magar community village on the descent |
| Tatopani | — | Road head for the drive back to Pokhara |
Itinerary
9 days, Pokhara to Pokhara.
Download the full itinerary- Day 1: sleeps at 822m .
- Day 2: sleeps at 1,950m .
- Day 3: sleeps at 2,650m .
- Day 4: sleeps at 3,430m .
- Day 5: sleeps at 3,020m , climbing to 3,630m.
- Day 6: sleeps at 3,660m .
- Day 7: sleeps at 3,660m , climbing to 4,660m.
- Day 8: sleeps at 2,010m , climbing to 3,660m.
- Day 9: sleeps at 822m , climbing to 2,010m.
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Day 1 Reach Pokhara by afternoon
Acclimatise 822mReach Pokhara by afternoon. Explore beautiful Phewa Lake. Briefing of the trek in the evening — get to know each other.
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Day 2 Drive to Ghandruk
Approach 1,950mDrive from Pokhara to Ghandruk. We stay in the beautiful village of Ghandruk tonight. Enjoy local food and culture.
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Day 3 Ghandruk to Tadapani
Approach 2,650mGradual ascent from Ghandruk to Tadapani. Tea-house stay.
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Day 4 Tadapani to Dobato
Approach 3,430mA moderate-level day with glimpses of the major mountains as the trail climbs to Dobato.
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Day 5 Dobato to Chhistibang via Muldai Top
Approach 3,020mToday's trail goes via Muldai Top (3,630m / 11,900 ft), offering amazing views. A ridge walk with steep ascents, then down to Chhistibang.
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Day 6 Chhistibang to Khopra Ridge
Approach 3,660mAs we make our way to the Khopra ridge, a few of the highest mountain peaks in the world welcome us. The tea house at Khopra ridge is a viewpoint in itself.
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Day 7 Khopra to Khayer Lake and back
Climb 4,660mToday is a long day. After experiencing the sunrise over Dhaulagiri, the 7th-highest mountain in the world, we make our way to the alpine lake of Khayer at the foothills of Annapurna South, and back to the ridge.
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Day 8 Khopra Ridge to Paudwar
Descend 2,010mA mix of gradual and steep descents. The trail goes through forest, reaching the Magar community village of Paudwar.
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Day 9 Paudwar to Tatopani, drive to Pokhara
Descend 822mAfter a 5 km hike we reach Tatopani and make our way back to Pokhara by road. Hotel stay.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation — first and last day in hotel (Pokhara), Day 2 to Day 8 stay in tea houses (sharing)
- Meals — all meals starting from Day 2 lunch to Day 9 breakfast
- Transport — Pokhara to Ghandruk and back to Pokhara
- Certified trek leads, experienced guides, and support staff
- All necessary permits and entry fees, TIMS card
Not included
- Any kind of personal expenses
- Porters charges for backpack offloading
- WiFi, battery charges, filter water, hot showers
- Customary tip to guides and porters
- Evacuation and medical expenses (advisable to get insurance)
- Anything not outlined under 'Inclusions'
How it compares to other peaks
| Peak | Altitude | Grade | Best for | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khopra Ridge (this trek) | 4,660m | Moderate | Dhaulagiri-facing ridge walk | An Annapurna-region trail with a 4,660m high-point day at Khayer Lake. |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 4,130m | Moderate | Sanctuary amphitheatre walk | Pick this for the classic 360° Sanctuary basin under Annapurna I. |
| Everest Base Camp | 5,364m | Moderate | Higher-altitude Khumbu trek | Pick this for the higher-altitude Everest experience and Sherpa villages. |
| Markha Valley Trek | 5,260m | Moderate | Ladakhi tea-house trek | Pick this for arid Ladakhi tea-house trekking with a high-pass finish. |
| Dev Kyara Trek | 4,100m | Moderate | Garhwal meadow trek | Pick this if you want an Indian-Himalayan meadow trek at similar altitude. |
Dates & availability
One departure scheduled, Pokhara to Pokhara. Get in touch for private or custom dates.
- OCT 24–1 2026Open crosses October–November₹40,000 per trekker
Need different dates? Private departures are possible through Mar – May · Sep – Nov with a minimum of 4 trekkers — message us on WhatsApp.
Your leaders
Subodh Bhadauriya ITRA
Lead Trek Leader · Mountain Athlete · 8+ years
What we don't do
- We don't pad the itinerary
- Nine days is what the walk needs — one arrival day, one road transfer, and seven days on the trail. No invented rest days that exist only to inflate the price.
- We don't fabricate summit success rates
- This is a trek, not a climb — there is no summit day. We don't market metrics that don't apply.
- We don't run rolling weekly departures
- One curated batch, small group, certified trek leads. If the dates don't fit, trek with us next season.
Permits, rules and cancellation
Permits
- All necessary permits and entry fees, including the TIMS card, are covered in the trek fee and handled by TVT (per the TVT Khopra Ridge brochure)
Cancellation
- Cancellation between 90 days to 60 days — 75% refund
- Cancellation between 60 days to 30 days — 30% refund
- Cancellation less than 30 days from the start of the trek — no refund
Rules on the mountain
- Consumption of alcohol and smoking during trek is not allowed
- Do not litter and disturb the flora and fauna; respect local culture
- Usage of loud speaker not allowed
- Help us preserve natural ecosystem and follow 'Leave No Trace' rule
Frequently asked
How much does the Khopra Ridge Trek cost?
₹40,000 per trekker; ₹45,000 for non-Indians and OCI cardholders. Covers Pokhara hotel nights, tea-house stays from Day 2 to Day 8, all meals from Day 2 lunch to Day 9 breakfast, road transport, permits, and the TIMS card. Insurance, evacuation, personal expenses, hot showers, WiFi, and porter offloading are extra.
What's the highest point on the trek?
Khayer Lake, 4,660m (15,300 ft), reached on Day 7 as a round trip from the Khopra ridge. The ridge itself, where you sleep two nights, is at 3,660m.
Which mountains do you see from Khopra Ridge?
The ridge faces Dhaulagiri (8,167m), the 7th-highest mountain in the world, across the valley — sunrise on it is the signature view. Khayer Lake sits at the foothills of Annapurna South.
What kind of accommodation should I expect?
Hotel in Pokhara on Day 1 and Day 9. Tea houses on Days 2–8 — basic, sharing rooms, common dining hall. Hot showers, WiFi, and battery charging are typically charged extra at tea houses and are not included.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be able to walk 4–6 hours a day for consecutive days and handle the 16 km / 9-hour Khayer Lake day at altitude.
Do I need a permit?
Yes — all necessary permits, entry fees, and the TIMS card are included in the trek fee and handled by TVT.
