The Khopra Ridge Trek takes you into one of the most rewarding off-beaten corners of the Annapurna region in Nepal. Less crowded than its famous neighbour, the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, this journey offers an equally spectacular — if not more intimate — experience of the Himalayas, combining dense forests, remote kharkas, sacred alpine lakes, and commanding ridge-top views of some of the world's highest peaks. The undisputed highlight is reaching Khopra Ridge at 3,660 m, where a breathtaking close-up panorama of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and Nilgiri unfolds before you.
We begin our 14-day journey with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara along the Prithvi Highway — the gateway to the Annapurna Region. After a day exploring Pokhara's lakeside charm beside the calm waters of Phewa Lake, we drive to Nayapul and begin our trek toward Ghandruk at 1,940 m, a celebrated village of the Gurung community nestled in the foothills of the Annapurna massif, offering stunning early views of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna.
From Ghandruk, the trail climbs through dense rhododendron forests to Tadapani, before we leave the main Annapurna trail and venture onto the quiet, off-beaten path toward Khopra Ridge. This is where the trek truly comes into its own. The route passes through the vast open pastures of Bayeli Kharka, where yak herders roam, and the mighty Dhaulagiri dominates the western horizon. With luck, you may also spot the Danphe pheasant — Nepal's national bird — or a Himalayan Thar along the trail.
We continue upward through alpine meadows and grasslands to Upper Chistibung before making our final ascent to Khopra Ridge. Standing on the ridge, the views are nothing short of extraordinary — Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Fang, and countless surrounding peaks fill the skyline in every direction. From the ridge, we hike to the sacred Khayer Lake, a revered holy site in both Hindu and Buddhist tradition, believed to grant spiritual liberation to those who bathe in its waters. The stillness of the lake, framed by high mountain peaks, is unlike anywhere else on the trek.
The descent carries us through Swanta village and down along terraced farmlands, forests, and river valleys to Ulleri, before the trail leads us back to Pokhara. Throughout the journey, we pass through remote villages largely untouched by mass tourism, cross suspension bridges over rushing mountain streams, and walk through some of the most pristine natural landscapes the Annapurna region has to offer.
We conclude our trek with a drive back to Kathmandu along the scenic Prithvi Highway — taking home memories of wild ridgelines, sacred lakes, and a Himalayan wilderness that few travellers are fortunate enough to witness.
