Kopra Ridge Trek –08 Days 

There is no doubt that Kopra Ridge is one of the best short treks in Nepal. This trek contains all of the elements of a classic Nepal trekking experience including villages, wildlife, panoramic mountain views and range of landscape from forest to high alpine.

Kopra Ridge trek is located away from the busier trails of Annapurna region of Nepal and for four nights of the itinerary you stay in community lodges set up local villagers. The mountain views from Kopra Ridge are superb and include Mount Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Fang and Nilgiri and also from Ghandruk one can see Mount Machhapuchhre (also known as Fishtail) and Mount Hiunchuli. We start the trip from Pokhara, for the first two days of the trek we follow the popular trails of the Annapurna foothills passing through terraced fields, rhododendron forests and Gurung villages such as Ghandruk. After Tadapani we leave the main trail and for the next five days we walk along a remote trail while staying at the community lodges. We reach our high point at Kopra lodge at 3,660m and it is well worth getting up early before breakfast to see the sunrise across the panorama of Himalayan peaks.

On the descent from Kopra Ridge we pass through alpine pastures, oak forest and rhododendrons to Swanta village where we stay in another community lodge. After a night at Swanta village we walk up to the popular viewpoint of Ghorepani and then descend to Ulleri. The next day is our last one trekking where we walk out to Nayapool to meet our private transport for the drive back to Pokhara.

 DETAILED DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

Fly to Pokhara, drive to Syauli Bazaar (2 hrs drive) and trek to Ghandruk (1920m) – 3 hrs trek  – After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kathmandu Domestic Airport for fly to Pokhara (approx 25 minutes flight ) early in the morning. We can catch amazing views of the Himalayas from the right side of our airplane. Upon our arrival in Pokhara, the beautiful lake city, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and others. Later, we drive to Syauli Bazaar and start the trek to Ghandruk. The village is a major recruitment centre for the famous Gurkha soldiers and is the hub of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, which promotes many varied ecological projects.
Overnight in local lodge (Teahouse) in Ghandruk
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
 

 From Ghandruk continue upwards through Deorali and into the forest then through hododendron forests and over a small pass to Tadapani. This place is surrounding by rhododendrons forest so you will have an opportunity to see lounger monkey. You will see fabulous sunrise over fish tail, Gangapurna and Annapurna range. Overnight teahouse lodge.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After Tadapani we leave the main trail and for the next five days we will walk in more remote area of the Annapurna region while staying at a network of community lodges. This is a lovely walk through rhododendron and oak forest following a trail originally used by villagers from Ghandruk to take their buffaloes, sheep and goats to the higher pastures in the summer months. The trail starts to ascend above the tree line and follows a ridge to Deurali (small pass) and then continues up to Bayeli Kharka where the first community lodge is located. From the lodge the view to west is dominated by Mount Dhaulagiri at 8,167m is the seventh highest mountain in the world. Overnight community lodge.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This section of the trail is on a grassy slope and traverses through pasture with a number of herder’s huts and dzo grazing (crossbred cow and yak). Look out for the colorful Danphe pheasant, the national bird of Nepal, as well as Himalayan tahr on the grassy ridge high above the trail. Overnight community lodge.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

From Upper Chistibung lodge there is a steady ascent through alpine meadows and pastures then as one approaches Kopra Ridge one sees the tip of Annapurna South. However it is only on arrival at Kopra community lodge that the full panorama is revealed: Mount Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Fang and Annapurna South can all be seen. After lunch it is well worth going for a short walk down Kopra Ridge to a viewpoint overlooking Kali Gandaki river far below in this deep valley. Overnight community lodge. In the afternoon we will organize a walk from Kopra Ridge towards Kaire Lake where the views of the Fang and surrounding mountains are superb.
Overnight at community teahouse lodge in Kopra Ridge.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

It takes an hour of descent to get back down to Upper Chistibung community lodge, it is worth stopping for drink then carry on down to Swanta village. Along the way we got more views of Mount Dhaulagiri with this mountain providing a lovely backdrop to the terraced fields and traditional houses in the nearby villages. At Swanta village it is worth visiting Swanta Primary school where there are two teachers funded by the profits from the community lodges. Overnight community lodge.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

An hour or so after leaving Swanta village we join the main trail to Ghorepani where there are of course far more others trekkers making one appreciate the quieter days walking along the Kopra Ridge. After Ghorepani we descend through rhododendron forest to Ulleri where we stay in a teahouse for the night. Overnight teahouse lodge.

Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This is our last day trekking where we walk out to Nayapul to meet our private transport for the drive back to Pokhara.