Why Short Khopra Danda Trek

Short Khopra Danda (Ridge) Trek

Recently, I was on the trek, which was quite new for me, even though I had done almost all the treks in the Annapurna Region. I haven't counted how many times I did Mardi Himal, Ghorepani, and Annapurna Base Camp, so I was quite excited for this trek, especially the Mulde Viewpoint. Annapurna Khopra Danda was well known to me, but I was excited for the Mulde Viewpoint, which is on the way to Khopra Danda. Indra (our senior guide), 4 customers, 2 porters, and I started our journey from Pokhara. The weather was beautiful, and we could clearly see the mountain views from Pokhara while driving to Ghandruk. The drive is never easy in Nepal, especially when we have to sit for 3 hours on the dirt roads. We Nepalese are used to this kind of road, and I often tell people to get ready for the free massage on the ride!. 

After a 3 and a half-hour drive to Ghandruk, we had our lunch at Ghandruk Village. By the time we reached there, it was cloudy and seemed to be going to rain soon. We didn't see that many people once we started our proper trek towards Tadapani Village. The coronavirus was hitting everywhere, as we can see on the route, and the tea houses were almost empty. I can see the hope for people that it will recover soon and the world will get back on top. The hope is not only for them but also for me, because we are also living in this tourism industry. Before reaching Tadapani, it started raining like hell. We stopped at a small tea house for tea and got time to dry our clothes. The rain was light, and then we started our last push to Tadapani. It's a junction for Ghorepani, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and Khopra Danda.

Everyone was friendly and flexible, which was easy and enjoyable on the trek. The most important thing while going on a trip is to have an open mind and be flexible.

While I am leading the trip, I expect my customers to be friendly and flexible so that I can share more information. We all have problems and burdens inside, whether they're big or small, but opening minds and sharing can help make travel fun. We pick the Himalayas not just to see them but also to be healed, so forget the nitty-gritty, Starbucks, fancy rooms, and beds. If you are up for this kind of trip, then join me!. 

We were hoping the next day the weather would be nice and we could see the mountains. The same thing happened; the morning view was beautiful, and I love this place too. We designed the itinerary based on the views, altitude, and distance. Check out the picture below, which explains more than my words.

My words are getting longer than I was going to write. I am going to make it shorter with the three viewpoints that are the most beautiful and can be combined all together within 5 to 7 days.

Why the Short Khopra Danda Trek?

In simple words, the Khopra Danda Trek route has the best viewpoints. Khopra Danda is not the place we will visit, but on this trek, we will see and visit other beautiful viewpoints. I am an amateur photographer, and I love bouncing in the Nepali mountains to explore and feel it. Most of the pictures and videos of Rugged Trails Nepal clicked with me, and from my own eyes, I would say this is the perfect trek. Eyes never lie! 

Best Viewpoints on the Khopra Danda Trek.

• Mulde Viewpoint - Dobato.
• Khopra Danda - Khayer Lake.
• Poon Hill, Ghorepani.

In a short time, if you can cover all these best viewpoints, why not? If you are doing the Ghorepani Poonhill Trek for 5 days, then I suggest picking this short Khopra Danda Trek. Let's talk about viewpoints. 

Mulde Viewpoint: Dobato (Mulde Hill).

Mulde viewpoint is after Tadapani, and the place is called Deurali. This viewpoint and place weren't that famous; even Khopra Danda was becoming a popular trek in Annapurna. People used to skip and usually make a lunch stop at Deurali, then walk further towards Khopra. Deurali Mulde Viewpoint is just about 25 to 30 minutes away. You can see the viewpoint below, which is incredible and much better than PoonHill. Once we reach Deuarali, it starts snowing, so don't expect snow at the viewpoint. From Mulde viewpoint, we can see the Panoramic Ranges of Gurja Himal, Dhaulagiri Ranges, Nilgiri, Annapurna Ranges, Fishtail, Lamjung Range, Himal Chuli, Boudha Himal, Ganesh, and many other peaks. We will not be able to see all this long-range from Khopra Danda and Poon Hill. 

Khopra Danda or Khopra Ridge.

Khopra Danda is the best viewpoint for Mt. Dhaulagiri, and this is the world's seventh-highest mountain peak. Khopra Danda is also a community trek and quite off the beaten path on this trek. Viewpoint is famous for the Dhaulagiri Ranges, which we can see near the Khopra Ridge and also the Annapurna South. Khayer Lake is another attraction that is a 1-day excursion from Khopra Danda. The mountain views are nothing exciting, but the landscapes are beautiful, which is also people's favorite choice. If you are expecting a big lake, it's not, and we always skip the lake. For those who love to stay one extra day in Khopra, we take them up to the lake.

Poon Hill Viewpoint, Ghorepani.

There are hundreds and millions of pictures and different blogs about this viewpoint, which is always a popular viewpoint. Ghorepani Poon Hill is a popular destination for those who want to explore and see the mountain views more closely within a short time. Rugged Trails Nepal's most popular and short 2 days Ghorepani Poonhill trek departs from Pokhara all around the year. From PoonHill, we can see more mountain ranges than Khopra Danda but less than Mulde Viewpoint. Check out the image below for ideas. 

I love to share one incident, which I think is more important because you need to pick the right person on the trek. The weather was cloudy and it was raining and snowing at Deurali (Mulde Viewpoint). There were a few trekkers, as I mentioned that the coronavirus was hitting the Himalayas too. Since it was snowing badly, we can hear other guides were not helpful to their customers about the morning sunrise view from Muldeviewpoint. It's clearly seen that they didn't want to wake up early in the morning to take in the sunrise. Instead of checking weather reports, they were busy on Facebook, which is weird. I couldn't stop myself and gave everyone hope that the morning would be clear and they could see the best view. Guides must understand the investment of customers and why they come to such places—not just to walk but to see and explore the beauty. Other people and our customers gathered and listened to us; finally, we could see the smile on their faces. When I woke up at midnight to check the weather, it was just unbelievable. The stars were shining, and the views were clear.  The morning wasn't disappointing, and the best view we saw was from the Mulde Viewpoint.

Always travel with that kind of team that is enthusiastic and eager to show something different. 

If you are ready for the Khopra Ridge treks or any other trekking routes in Nepal for 2024 and 2025, get in touch with us. We offer treks for beginners and the most challenging trekking routes. If you don't have enough time for 7 days khopra danda trek itinerary than the below the khopra danda trek itinerary can be customized for 5 days Khopra Trek too. 

5 Days Khopra Danda Trek Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Pokhara and Trek to Ghorepani (2880M). 4 hours of walking

Note: To start the trek; you must fly to Pokhara before 10 a.m. or, lately, 12 in the noon.

Day 02: Ghorepani (Poon Hill) trek to Upper Chistibung (3000 M). 6 hours of walking

Day 03: Explore Khopra Ridge and Khayer Lake (4660 m). 7 hours walk

Day 04: Trek to Tatopani (1250 m). 5 hours of walking.

Day 05: Drive from Tatopani to Pokhara. 4 hours drive.