Leave the Poon Hill crowds at Ghorepani or Tadapani and climb to a lonely grassy ridge where a community lodge looks straight across the Kali Gandaki at Dhaulagiri's south face, then up to a sacred lake beneath Annapurna South.
The Khopra route was developed as a community trek: the lodges are run by local villages, and their profits support schools and health posts in the valleys below.
It branches off the Poon Hill route at Ghorepani or Tadapani and climbs through rhododendron forest and high pastures, where herders graze yak and buffalo in summer, to Khopra Danda at 3,660 metres. From the ridge the view is enormous: Dhaulagiri's south face across the Kali Gandaki gorge, one of the deepest valleys on earth, with the Annapurnas close at your back.
A long day trip climbs to Khayer Lake at 4,660 metres, a small glacial lake beneath Annapurna South, sacred to Hindus, with a pilgrimage at the full moon of August. It sees far fewer walkers than the Sanctuary. Carry warm layers; the ridge is exposed.
An eight-day loop that starts like Poon Hill and ends like the Ghandruk circuit.
Jeep to Ulleri and climb through Banthanti's rhododendron forest to Ghorepani at 2,860 metres.
Sunrise on Poon Hill, then leave the crowds on a quiet path down to the Magar village of Swanta and its community lodge.
A steep climb through forest and pasture past Chistibung to the lodge on Khopra Danda, facing Dhaulagiri.
A long, high return day to Khayer Lake at 4,660 metres, below Annapurna South. Start at dawn; only go if acclimatised and the weather is clear.
Traverse the high ridge via Dobato and its viewpoint to Tadapani, then descend through Ghandruk to the road.
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ACAP permit required, and most foreign trekkers must hire a licensed guide. A guide who knows the route is valuable here: trails are fainter than on the main circuits.
Community lodges at Swanta, Chistibung, Khopra and Dobato: simple, warm, and good value. Your spending stays in the villages.
Khayer Lake is higher than Annapurna Base Camp. Acclimatise at Khopra and turn back if anyone in the group feels unwell.
Pokhara practical notes →
The shorter version of this trek.
Into the Sanctuary.
A ridge straight at the Fishtail.
A short trek from the lake.
Big views, small climb.
A recovery walk after the trek.
Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences; Pexels photographs under the Pexels licence.
