Rich in culture, nature and remoteness this special and newly developed rural trek is 'off the beaten track' and enables close contact with several ethnic groups. One of them is the Pun-Magar ethnic group who have their own language, culture and customs. This trek offers a variety of accommodation, ranging from staying with local families, lodges and community-run lodges specifically built to encourage eco-tourism in this remote area. You will have the great opportunity to experience rural life in the villages of Nepal and the contrast of hiking two days in terrain populated only by yaks. A strenuous 9-hour side trip can be made to the beautiful sacred lake of Khaire at 4700m.
A one hour and a half drive takes us to Nayapul ~ the starting point of our trek. From Nayapul, we take the northwest path and cross a suspension bridge over the Modi river. We walk through Deupur village. The trail is gently uphill until we reach Purna Gaun (1780m) where we spend our first night.
From Lespar, we climb steep hills and forests, all the way up to Nangi village (2340m). Nangi village is a beautiful and famous village. Lespar has a high secondary school, telephone facilities and a Nepalese handicrafts center which is interesting to visit. The Dhaulagiri Mountain range is visible from the village.
Today we climb uphill via Hampal pass to Mohare Camp (3300m) through a wild forest and we stay in the community lodge. On the way from the pass to Mohare camp we can enjoy the view of the Annapurna range. From Mohare Camp, there is an amazing panoramic view of the mountains. We will wake up early the next morning to admire the beautiful sunrise on the mountains
After enjoying the magnificent mountain views, we start our journey slowly by walking downhill through a trail surrounded by rhododendron, pine, oak and juniper trees. We hear and see various species of birds on our way to the very famous view point of Poon Hill. We then continue down to Ghorepani for about an hour and have lunch. After lunch, we continue walking down through the forest to the Chitre village for about one and a half hours. From Chitre village, we take a new path to Swanta village (2260m), which is the gateway to the Khopra trek.
Immediately after leaving Swanta we enter the forest and walk through a very cool and pleasant path, hearing the sound of the river and the birds singing. After two hours, we cross a stream and we have a lunch at Kharka before we start to climb the steep Khopra Hill for another one and a half to two hours, reaching Chistibang at 3020m. We halt there for the night, among the rhododendron and oak trees.
We continue climbing uphill to Khopra (3660m) and spend the night there. Khopra is on of the highlights of this trek and provides commanding view of the Dhaulagiri and surrounding mountains for sunset and sunrise. Khopra has internet and telephone facilities.
If weather conditions are not good or the trip to Khaire Lake is considered too long, it is worthwhile to hike to First Lake near the yak sheds and have a splendid view of Annapurna south, Dhaulagiri and surrounding peaks.
There are two possible ways for Dobato: 1. High route In spring or during the dry season, we take the high route straight above Khopra, enjoying the views of the fully bloomed rhododendron forest and admiring the landscapes of the Kali Gandaki valley and the spectacular mountains. The path is very narrow and can be slippery in some places. A good balance and no fear of heights is a priority. With rain or snow, it is absolutely dangerous to walk this way. Walking crampons are recommended in case of a quick weather change. 2. Low route In winter or during the snow season, we take the lower route to avoid icy paths. The lower path is a little longer, and goes uphill and downhill through the forest but is much safer.
From the lodge in Dobato we first follow the forest trail to Isaru where there are two lodges after one hour and another after one and a half hours of walking. After two hours we reach a junction and from there we continue to Tadapani, a touristy junction facing Mt. Annapurna South, Himchuli, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). From here, we take an easy and pleasant trail toward Ghandruk through a forest of rhododendrons. We are usually welcomed by grey monkeys (Langur) and will have sufficient time for viewing and photos.
From Ghandruk we walk down to the steel bridge across the Modi Khola and have a short steep climb up to Landruk. From here we walk gently up through the beautiful village of Tolka and continue our way up to Deurali (2100m) from where we descend to Pothana. Here, we enjoy our last night in the mountains.
For our last day, we hike for just a few hours to complete our 12 day trek. After a good breakfast, we descend toward the village of Dhampus and have our last view of the Annapurna’s before heading down to Phedi. Here our transport back to Pokhara is waiting.
Please know only groups of two or more trekkers are eligible for the trek.
Trek Price does not include:
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Yak, Yak, Yak Nepal Trek (Nangi Khopra)
Difficulty level : moderate
This rural trek offers access to Nangi village between Beni and Poon Hill , Khopra to the north of Ghorepani in the Annapurna region. Nangi Village is the location of a vibrant development project providing formal and vocational schooling as well as wireless internet access to the community. Khopra is a remote isolated village offering panoramic mountain views of the Annapurna range.
Trek Duration : 5 – 14 days
Trail Open : Oct – Nov and Apr – May
Level of Difficulty : Moderate / Challenging
Highest Point : 3700m