Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake Trek

The Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake trek is a relatively new and less crowded trekking route that offers breathtaking views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges in the Annapurna region of Nepal. The trek is moderate in difficulty and takes around 12-14 days to complete, depending on your pace and itinerary.

The trek starts from Nayapul, a 1-2 hour drive from Pokhara. From there, you will trek through various villages, forests, and ridges, gradually gaining altitude. The first few days of the trek follow the same route as the popular Ghorepani Poon Hill trek but then diverges towards Khopra Ridge.

On the way to Khopra Ridge, you will pass through several charming villages, including Tadapani, Bayeli, and Chistibung. You can enjoy stunning views of the Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) peaks along the way. You can also visit traditional villages and interact with the friendly locals, who warmly welcome you.

The Khopra Ridge is a beautiful viewpoint that offers panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. From there, you can see the stunning peaks of Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Nilgiri (7061m), Machhapuchhre (6993m), and Hiunchuli (6441m). You can also witness the beautiful sunrise and sunset views from this viewpoint.

After exploring the Khopra Ridge, the trek continues towards Khayer Lake, a sacred lake for Hindus and Buddhists. The lake is surrounded by beautiful mountains and is considered one of Nepal’s holiest lakes. Legend has it that a dip in the lake can cure various diseases and ailments.

On the way to Khayer Lake, you will pass through beautiful forests, streams, and meadows, where you can spot yaks, mountain goats, and other wildlife. The trek to Khayer Lake is challenging, but the stunning views and the serene atmosphere of the lake make it all worthwhile.

The best time to go on this trek is from March to May and September to November when the weather is dry and clear, and the views are spectacular. During the monsoon season (June to August), the trail can be muddy and slippery, and sponges may be on the way.

Accommodation options on the trek range from basic teahouses to comfortable lodges, and there are plenty of opportunities to try local Nepalese cuisine along the way. You can also hire a guide and a porter to help you with your luggage and navigation.

The Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake trek is an excellent alternative to the more popular treks in the Annapurna region, offering stunning views, cultural experiences, and a sense of adventure. This trek will bring unforgettable memories of Nepal’s natural beauty and hospitality.

Overall, the Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake trek is a beautiful but highly underrated trek in Nepal. It is one of the newly opened treks with less difficulty, is cheap, and has plenty of new places to explore around the Annapurna region. This is one of the most minor trek regions and has opened many roads for tourism in Nepal. Many trekkers who have visited the said trekking site have praised the management and beauty of the trekking route. So, let’s get to know the history of the trek.

History of Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake Trek

Khopra Danda is a beautiful hill station recently gaining tourists’ attention as a trekking destination. Before becoming a tourist station, the place was trendy for cattle and yak grazing; however, the location and the insane view of mountains from the Danda motivated the government to make it a tourist site. The place was relatively barren before, but nowadays, several lodges, hotels, and teahouses provide services to the trekkers.

Along with Khopra Danda, you will come across Khayer Lake if you pass through the same road, and it is one of the most beautiful locations in Nepal. The Khayer Lake is still treated as a religious site in Nepal as many local people believe the lake’s water is medicine for people suffering from skin disease. After the popularity of Khopra Danda started, the trekkers began trekking its surroundings when they found Khayer Lake, which also became an equally attractive trekking destination.

Major Attractions of Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake Trek

Despite being one of the underrated treks of Nepal, Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake trek are among the easy to moderate difficulty treks and fall under one of Nepal’s most beautiful trekking destinations.
During this trek, the trend kickers will take full advantage of the beautiful journey from Pokhara to Ghandruk and witness and explore some of the best attractions that the trek has to offer. Let’s look at some major attractions you can explore during this trek.

Ghandruk Village

Ghandruk village is a small but beautiful village that lies 32km northwest of Pokhara and is a VDC of the Kaski District. It is commonplace for trekkers to go on either the Annapurna Base Camp Trek or the Annapurna Circuit Trek. The village is beautiful, and the people are welcoming but less influenced by Western culture than in other major towns or cities in the Annapurna region. The main attraction of Ghandruk village lies on one of the highest elevations in the world. You can see beautiful mountains from the village, like Hiunchuli, Macchapuchre, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, etc.

Mulde View Point

Mulde View Point, which lies east of Ghorepani, is another unique but underrated trekking destination in Nepal. It is one of the most comfortable treks for tourists as it has lots of accommodation services, straight, easy trekking trails, and various ethnic people with different cultures who are highly welcoming. One of the critical attractions of Mulde View Point is its elevation, where you can see many mountains and a surrounding area that consists of pine trees, fast-flowing rivers, and rhododendron forests.

Khayer Lake

Khayer Lake is the famous sacred lake located on the southern side of the base of the Annapurna Himal. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in Nepal, with an equally beautiful vista surrounding it. The lake is at an elevation of 4660m, from which all the mountain ranges of the Annapurna region can be seen. The lake’s backdrop and the beautiful mountains vista make the place perfect for clicking photos and saving memories for a lifetime.

Best Time for Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake Trek

It is always essential to book your trek according to the time or season of the destination you are visiting. The climate, temperature, chance of rainfall, or natural disasters like floods will hamper your trek more than you can imagine, and they are all influenced by season, so let’s look at the best time for this particular Trek.

Autumn Season (September to December)

Generally, experts believe the best trekking season in Nepal is the Spring season, which falls from March to May; however, for Khopra Dada and Khayer Lake, mid to late autumn is the best season for trekking. Generally, this time, the weather is chilly, which makes the days and nights neither too hot nor too cold, and you can enjoy a whole trekking experience wearing comfortable clothes and even swim in the pools of the resorts or rivers and lakes if allowed.

Spring Season

Another good season for the trek is the spring, which is the dry summer season. Generally, the weather is clear, but there are sudden chances of rainfall and fast winds. The days are hotter, but as the afternoon passes, it becomes more incredible to trek.

Winter Season

The following season for a trek in Khapra Danda and Khayer Lake is winter when the place becomes very cold at an elevation of over 4600m. The chances of the Khopra Dada becoming close for trekking can be high this season, so you must research before planning your time. This season is still a decent trek time if you are OK with cold days and even colder nights.

Monsoon Season

Monsoon Season is the worst season to go on a Khopra Dada and Khayer Lake. Even since the pre-monsoon season begins, the weather becomes dry and humid, which is not fun for trekking for several days. Constant regular rainfall for even 5-6 days will ruin the fun. There are chances of insects and leeches, and the risk of floods and landslides is real. Clouds, humidity, and steam block the views, so the monsoon season is the worst season for trekking, which you should avoid duly.