Trip Overview
Highlights
- One of the few treks that leads you to the hidden pockets of Annapurna Himalaya.
- stunning close views of the massive Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range of mountains.
- Enjoyable walks on high Kopra ridges in the shade of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks.
- Walk from low warm paddy fields to cooler alpine hills in the backdrop of the mighty Himalaya.
- Cultural and scenic walks around native Gurung and Poon-Magar farm villages of great culture.
- Explore lovely rhododendron forest from tall trees to bushes a natural garden in springtime within being.
- Exceptional panorama of Himalayan range with striking sunrise views from scenic Poon Hill.
Itinerary
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Day 1 On arrival at the Kathmandu airport 1,340 m meet our staff and transfer to hotel.
Landing at Kathmandu and Nepal international airport, where our guide or staff receives you for the short drive to your respective hotels in the hub of Kathmandu. After checking into your nice rooms with rest after a jet lag, and then rendezvous with another group member of Annapurna Khopra Ridge Trekking, where our guide/leader will brief you with information regarding the treks, hotels and lodges with Nepalese culture, dos and don’ts. Evening enjoys a grand welcome dinner in typical Nepalese restaurants with various native cultures as entertainment.
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Day 2 At Kathmandu with options for tour with time for trek preparations.
Kathmandu is a free day where one can join in our interesting sightseeing tour options, as the capital Kathmandu of Nepal is steeped with historical and religious monuments of world heritage sites. Afternoon at leisure and preparation for Annapurna Khopra Ridge trekking, starting the next early morning with overland or flight to beautiful Pokhara.
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Day 3 Drive to Fly to Pokhara 860 m - 06 hrs ride and 30 mins via air.
As per group size take a coach or in tourist standard bus for the interesting overland journey to reach Nepal Mid-West at Pokhara, where a drive leads to much warmer farm areas past many towns and villages with views of snow-capped peaks, and then reaching finally at scenic Pokhara by its calm Phewa Lake.
(Flying options of 30 mins panoramic flights to land at Pokhara from Kathmandu).
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Day 4 Drive to Bhirethati or Nayapul and start walk to Tirkhedhunga 1,440 m - 05 hrs.
After a pleasant overnight stop at Pokhara facing views of the Annapurna Himalaya range of mountains with Machhapuchare peaks ‘ Fish Tail’ have a hearty breakfast in the hotel then drive beyond Pokhara to commence our first day walks. Journey with grand views of Annapurna heading past farm villages and towns and then by reaching the bank of Modi River to reach Bhirethati, one of the most charming villages around Annapurna area.
From here the walk starts on the old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade route heading past traditional farm villages and then with a slow climb to reach Tirkhedhunga for overnight stops, where you can enjoy beautiful waterfalls close to the lodge.
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Day 5 Trek to Ghorepani 2,856 m via Ulleri village of 06 hrs walks maximum.
Starting our morning walk with a steep climb on stone paved steps to reach the large Ulleri village with views of Annapurna peaks, an interesting farm village of mixed tribes with Gurung and
Magar, from here on slow winding gradual walks into cool serene woodland to reach our destination at Ghorepani, a scenic village with blue-painted houses serving as a lodge and guest house, situated within green rhododendron forest and on Old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade Route.
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Day 6 Morning hike to Poon Hill 3,210 m for sunrise over mountain and walk to Sauta village 2,235 m - 05 hrs.
Morning to reach one of the highlights of the adventure, leaving the lodge early morning at the crack of dawn with an hour climb to reach Poon Hill located above 3,210 m high for glorious sunrise views over the chain of Himalayan mountains covering Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Manaslu range with majestic Machhapuchare Himal, where you see the ridge of Khopra towards the north as well.
After a stunning panorama of mountains and catching sunrise views, descend back to the lodge at Ghorepani for breakfast, and then continue walking downhill into the cool shade of rhododendron woodland facing marvellous mountain views to reach Chitre a nice Poon-Magar village.
From here our route diverts towards Khopra Ridge with grand views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Peaks, as the walk leads to short descent over a stream and then climbs up to farm terraces to reach At Sauta a moderate size farm village of the Magar tribe.
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Day 7 Trek to Kopra Ridge 3,855 m via Chistibung 3,140 - 06 hrs
After a lovely time at Sauta and away from the mass flow of trekkers, as this region seldom ventured by few outside visitors. The morning walk leads past Sauta village on the pleasant path into the rain and alpine forest and then climbs for a few hours to reach the lonely place of Chistibung a small settlement of cattle herders. From here head high where tree lines drop for short alpine bushes and shrubs as a walk leads to a steep climb for a few hours to reach our main destination at Khopra ridge, facing alluring close views of Dhaulagiri range with Vara-Shikar (Annapurna Fang) with Annapurna South at close distance.
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Day 8 Rest day at Kopra for optional hike to holy Khair Lake - 06 hrs both ways.
A leisurely morning if not joining for a long hike to holy Khair Lake, a glacial pond considered sacred by local villagers, where once a year in the month of August great religious festival takes place during full moon time. Walk on a narrow ridge facing close views of Annapurna South and Vara Shikar peaks as our route Leads with a few short ups and downs (in snow conditions it is tough to follow the tracks) to reach Khair Lake, a glacial pond fed from the glaciers of Annapurna South and Vara-Shikar peaks. An amazing place worth tough long walks of 3-4 hrs, after spending some time with great views return to Kopra Ridge for an overnight on completing a long and scenic day hike.
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Day 9 Trek to Do-Bato 3,419 m - 05 hrs.
The return journey leads on an alternative route, but the first morning descends back to Chistibung, where our trail leads due east past many cattle herders’ shelters and grazing fields, the walk enters into beautiful and cool rhododendron and pine forest all the way to a nice clearing grassy field at Do-Bato for an overnight stop, with grand views of Annapurna and Machhapuchare Himal.
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Day 10 Trek to Ghandruk 1,930 m via Tadapani 2,635 m - 06 hrs.
After being in complete wilderness morning walk leads to joining the main trekkers on the downhill walk to reach Tadapani a place with many good lodges and views of peaks, then into a lovely cool forest on the downhill walk to reach the large Gurung village in Ghandruk. Ghandruk is one of the largest villages and a door to many treks and adventures around the Annapurna region with time here visit its Gurung museum.
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Day 11 Trek to Bhirethati 1,100 m or Nayapul and drive to Pokhara- 05 hrs.
Enjoying morning views, our last day walk of the adventure leads on a nice trail downhill to reach the bottom of a hill by the Modi River where short walks lead to the road head at nice Bhirethati village for the drive back to scenic beautiful Pokhara by its calm Phewa Lake.
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Day 12 Drive or fly back to Kathmandu afternoon free at leisure.
Morning from Pokhara is an exciting overland journey back to Kathmandu on route to observe Nepalese country life as the drive leads past farm villages and towns and to reach Kathmandu around the afternoon time, the rest of the day is free for individual activities and shopping souvenirs.
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Day 13 International departure for homeward bound.
After a wonderful time in Nepal with an amazing time in the high mountains enjoying walks on Annapurna Kopra Ridge Trek, with the last day in the Himalayan country enjoying awesome adventures where our staff and guide transfer you to the airport for your flight back home or next port of call.
What's Included
- Airport pick up and drop service in a private vehicle
- Welcome dinner and farewell dinner.
- 3-Night accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
- 2-Night accommodation standard hotel in Pokhara with breakfast
- Accommodation during the trekking in a teahouse/Lodge
- Full board meals during the trek (B, L, D and Tea or Coffee) fruits after dinner
- Tourist Stander Bus drive to and Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmandu(option for 30m flight if require)
- Gov.certified well trained English speaking trek guide
- Cost of the guide and potter(sherpa) their salary, insurance, equipment, food, and accommodation
- One potter every two members of trekkers group and All government necessary document ACAP permit/TIMS card.
- Purified drinking water while on a trek and Down jackets, the sleeping bag must be returned to the company after completion of your trek.
- Company’s duffel bag and a company’s t-shirt as a souvenir, trekking route map and First Aid Kit box (carried by your trek guide)
- The arrangement of helicopter rescue service (trekker’s travel insurance must cover this expense)
- All applicable federal and route local taxes.
- Adventure certificate (after completion of the trek)
- Final departure to the airport.
Included
- International Airfare/Nepal Visa
- Food in Kathmandu and Pokhara besides welcome and farewell dinner.
- Personal expenses for your clothing and personal gears
- Your personal expenses such as mineral water, soft and alcoholic beverages, laundry, hot drinking water on the trek
- Bar bills, hot showers, internet, battery chargers Wi: Fi etc.
- Your Personal travel insurance that would cover helicopter evacuation as well as medical expenses and trip cancellation
- Tipping the trekking crew
- Any other expenses not mentioned in the "service Included" section.
Excluded
Equipment List
Usefull Information
Fixed Departure
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Faq
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On Annapurna Kopra Trek walks can I bring family with children?
Certainly, this will be an exciting holiday for your people as well as for adults, where walking leads to ups and downs that are only the tough bit, otherwise, it’s a great interesting walk for all. For minor infants please bring a carriage with straps to carry the younger kids, especially on ups and down trails, where we can hire extra porters to carry the baby with the carriage.
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When do I book for Annapurna Kopra Ridge Trek?
Depending upon your time and duration for the trek you can book this trip at least 2-3 weeks ahead of our departure dates for the trek, with advance payment as per the norms and rules of the company. Make sure that you have checked your medical and physical fitness before signing for the trip and as well purchasing medical and travel insurance which is very important for this kind of adventurous trek in Nepal Himalaya.
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How many people will be in the group?
From a minimum of 3-4 people in the group with a maximum of 10-15 persons in the group, in some cases we do allow booking for a single person as well, running independently at extra cost than in groups.
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What will be weather like on the trek?
The season-wise, where the best time is from March to May when most of the day is clear with minimum temperatures of 0° to 20° Celsius depending upon the altitude and areas. Where most of the morning till mid-days clears for views and walks, sometimes afternoon can get overcast with chances of light rains and snow. March to May will be lively with wildflowers in full bloom especially various species of rhododendron (the national flower of Nepal) from trees to short bushes.
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How are the lodge and Tea-House on Treks?
Tea-House is the word used in the early days when there were smaller numbers of lodges on route trekking, at present each village has more than 10 to 20 good lodges with pleasant room accommodations, serving excellent food menus as per the season-wise. Some villages above 2,500 m do have a nice lodge, but due to freezing cold temperatures in the night and morning time where they have toilets on the outside, with some inside as common bathrooms and restrooms. All rooms and dining with warm heating and cosy facilities make your stay much more pleasant and enjoyable. On Kopra walks after Ghorepani Lodge are simple and basic for a few days, as this route is away from main trekking trails with less number of walkers using this scenic and peaceful route.
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Are there electricity and network for cell-phones?
Most of the places do have electricity on route trekking run by hydro-power after main villages, where much of electric supply are private and individual of the lodge owners with sun/solar power to activate electric just for the lodge and as well for customers to charge their computers and cell-phones. Some places do have networks for cell phones and as well for internet like Wi-Fi above Ghorepani and Chitre village, some areas due to high peaks and hills, the networks are disturbed in deep areas like around river gorge areas. At present nearly all people in Nepal including remote villages do have an assist to cell phones with fine network connections only in bad weather the line can be broken, otherwise it is fine and in working order.
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What happens if some is sick and have to break the trek?
In this situation where our guides are well equipped with knowledge for emergency and medical purposes, depending upon the seriousness of the victims if it is much critical where the nearest medical attention is needed, we call for immediate evacuation for Helicopter services to reach the victims to the nearest medical station and hospital.
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What to expect on this journey?
Scenic views of the world’s highest mountains with the Dhaulagiri-Annapurna and Manaslu ranges include magnificent Machhapuchare Himal ‘Fish Tail’ peaks, where a walk leads you around Buddhist country is interwoven with old traditional life and custom similar to Tibetans. The walk leads to visiting Gurung and Poon-Magar villages and encountering many farm fields and terraces of interesting traditional life of the local villagers.
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Who are Gurung and Poon-Magar people?
Gurung and Magar tribes are high hills people of Nepal's Far Mid-West Himalaya spread out throughout Nepal, where most concentrated within Annapurna and Dhaulagiri areas of both Hindu and Buddhist religion and origin, these hill tribes are famous as legendary Gurkha soldiers in the foreign legion and army like British, India as well some as a police force in Singapore and security guards in many parts of the world overseas. Besides men-folk as famous Gurkha soldiers, the hill people are mostly farmers and cattle herders as a traditional profession.
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Is it really spectacular in flowering times of March to May?
Absolutely the best months of the year and seasons for botany students, and flower and nature lovers, where hills and valleys are alive with wildflowers in full bloom with riots of different colours, rhododendron from tall trees to short bushes will be in flowering times, rhododendron national flower of Nepal also.
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Testimonials
Trek Details
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Best Seasons Sep- Dec, Mar-May
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Group Size 2+
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Duration 12 Night/13 Days
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Maximum Altitude 4,246m
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Trek Difficulty Moderate to Adventurous
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Accommodation On Lodge
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Transportation Private Vehicle/Tourist Bus/Flight