Poon Hill only · 7 days
The shorter, easier loop without the climb to Khopra. See our [Poon Hill trek](/treks/poon-hill/).
Annapurna (Khopra ridge)
Khopra Danda Trek
Poon Hill, then up to a high ridge facing Dhaulagiri
- Days10
- High point3,640 m / 11,942 ft
- GradeModerate to hard, 3 of 5
- Best monthsMar, Apr, Oct, Nov
Overview
The Poon Hill sunrise, then off the main trail via Swanta and Chistibung to Khopra Danda, a high ridge facing Dhaulagiri, returning through Dobato and Tadapani to Ghandruk.
Highlights
- Sunrise from Poon Hill (3,210 m) over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range
- Khopra Danda (3,640 m), a high grassy ridge facing Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South
- Quiet trails off the main teahouse routes, through forest and high pasture
- Back via Dobato and Tadapani to the Gurung village of Ghandruk
- Ten days from Kathmandu, with no mountain flights
Guide & safety
- A licensed trekking guide with you every day.
Is this trek for me?
Fitness & difficulty
Moderate to hard, 3 of 5 Moderate
- No climbing skills needed, but the climbs to Khopra and over to Dobato are long and steep.
- Lodges above Swanta are few and simple, so days are planned around where you can sleep.
- You sleep at 3,640 m on Khopra Danda, high enough for altitude sickness, so read our safety approach before you go.
10 days · scroll to climb
Day by day
The marker follows you down the itinerary. Red figures are height gained since where you slept the night before.
Loading map…
Day 1: Tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Most of the day on the road. Night in Pokhara.
Day 2: Drive to Nayapul, trek to Ulleri
Day 3: Trek to Ghorepani
Day 4: Sunrise on Poon Hill, trek to Swanta
Sleep at Swanta.
Day 5: Trek to Chistibung
Day 6: Trek up to Khopra Danda
Day 7: Trek to Dobato
Day 8: Trek to Tadapani
Day 9: Trek to Ghandruk, drive to Pokhara
Day 10: Tourist bus back to Kathmandu
Dates & price
Plan your dates
Pick the day you want to start walking. We'll lay out your whole trip and check the season.
- Arrive in Kathmandu by–
- Trek–
- Fly home from–
- Tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara
- Drive to Nayapul, trek to Ulleri2,010 m
- Trek to Ghorepani2,860 m
- Sunrise on Poon Hill, trek to Swanta2,240 m
- Trek to Chistibung3,040 m
- Trek up to Khopra Danda3,640 m
- Trek to Dobato3,450 m
- Trek to Tadapani2,680 m
- Trek to Ghandruk, drive to Pokhara1,940 m
- Tourist bus back to Kathmandu
Private trek
Your own guide and your own pace, starting on a date you choose in season.
Small group departures
Ask us for current details.
What's included
In the price
Included
- Licensed trekking guide
- Tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back
- Two hotel nights in Pokhara, before and after the trek
- Teahouse accommodation on the trek
- All meals on the trek: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit
Not included
- International flights and Nepal visa
- Hotel nights in Kathmandu
- Porter (we can add one; ask us for the price)
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and porters
You pay on the trail
- Hot shower
- On request
- Wi-Fi
- On request
- Phone or battery charging
- On request
- Dal bhat (set meal)
- On request
Prices rise the higher you go. Bring cash in Nepali rupees.
No hidden costs, no surprise group merging, a named guide, and a descend-first safety plan. Read our promises → Ask us
Make it yours
Ask about these →Extend or change it
Other ways to walk it
Add-ons
Khayer Lake
From Khopra, a long day hike climbs to Khayer Lake, a sacred lake high above the ridge. Ask us
Extra nights in Pokhara
Rest by Phewa Lake, take the cable car up to Sarangkot, or try paragliding over the valley.
Practicalities
Good to know
Where you'll stay
Teahouses are family-run lodges: simple twin rooms with foam mattresses and blankets, and a shared dining room warmed by a stove in the evening. Toilets are often shared, and hot showers and charging cost extra the higher you go.
Teahouse lodges, twin-share rooms
What you'll eat
Most teahouses serve a similar menu: dal bhat (rice, lentil soup and vegetable curry, usually with free refills), noodles, momos, eggs, porridge, pancakes and plenty of tea. Higher up the menu shrinks and prices rise, because everything is carried in.
Permits
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
- NPR 3,000 (SAARC nationals NPR 1,000)
- TIMS card (arranged by your trekking agency)
- NPR 2,000 (SAARC nationals NPR 1,000)
Before and after, in Pokhara
Your bus from Kathmandu and hotel nights in Pokhara are included. For an airport pickup, extra nights or a rest day with the Sarangkot cable car, we help you arrange it.
Plan your Pokhara days →Khopra Danda guides
Questions
FAQ
How hard is the Khopra Danda trek?
Moderate. It starts like the Poon Hill trek, then climbs steeply off the main trail to sleep at 3,640 m. It's a good step up from Poon Hill before a higher trek.
Khopra Danda or Poon Hill?
Poon Hill is shorter and easier. Khopra Danda adds three days, goes higher and is much quieter, with a wider view of Dhaulagiri.
Do I need a guide?
Since 1 April 2023, Nepal requires foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas, including the Annapurna Conservation Area, to trek with a licensed guide. See our [guide rules explainer](/journal/do-i-need-a-guide-nepal/).
What permits do I need?
An Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). Your guide arranges it.
Ready?
Plan your Khopra Danda
Tell us your dates. We'll send a day-by-day plan and full quote within 24 hours.
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