Planning for a couple of week moderate adventures across foothills of Himalayas with family, individual or school group? Then the Annapurna Base Camp is the one for you! Annapurna base camp or Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is the most amazing destination trip presenting an awesome display of sheer raw power of Nature.

Trek to Annapurna Base Camp incorporates the diverse terrain, wildlife, spectacular blend of milky white snow peaks scenery to primitive Himalayan culture. The natural landscape, the pristine culture and the series episode of distinctive flora and fauna along the trail affirms that the world-famous Annapurna Base Camp trek is once in a lifetime quest and should be on the top of your bucket list.

There are several reasons why the ABC Trek has been glorious to draw the heart and interest of myriad trekkers every year. Here are top ten reasons why you should do Annapurna Base Camp Trekking.

The Annapurna Massif

The ABC Trek is a journey is adorned every step of the way with the majestic views and wonders of the immense Annapurna massif and its several adjacent peaks. ABC trek let in you to appreciate the magnificence of Annapurna massif.

When the trekker’s summit at ABC, you will literally feel overwhelmed when you stand beneath the shadow of the world’s 10^th highest mountain, encircled by snow and immense openness under the flawless sky. The trekkers would definitely forget that it took 4-5 days to get at the base camp.

Ghorepani Poonhill: The vantage point for sunrise and rich culture

During the trek to Annapurna Base Camp, we trek to the charming and the culturally rich Ghorepani. This valley offers the awe-inspiring views of the world’s highest peak with an unforgettable experience of the Gurung and Magar community’s warm hospitality, culture, and tradition programs which make your adventure trek more interesting and unforgettable.

Another prominent part of Annapurna Base Camp trek is the Poon Hill. It is the famous vantage point where you can witness stunning sunrise and sunset. 

Trekkers usually visit the view-point in the early morning to witness the amazing wonder of the sunrise over the peaks. Poonhill provides the 360-degree views of the globe highest Mt Annapurna. Apart from this, the trekkers can take relish of magnificent closer views of Mt Manaslu, Mt Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal, Gangapurna, and other neighboring peaks.

Quaint landscape

The trail of Annapurna Base Camp mingles with diverse and beautiful landscape. The initial days of the trek are spent on well-defined trails walking through a blanketed forest of bamboo, oak and fern. In spring, the entire ridge is filled with beautiful flowers including the Rhododendron, Orchids and many more vibrant flowers. 

Trekking through forests which occasionally open up to sections of terraced farmlands. 

The sound of cascading waterfalls and river on the way takes away all of your tiredness and revitalize with positive energy.  

Extra feature

Machhapuchhre considered a sacred mountain associated with Hindu’s main god Lord Shiva and the dwelling place of Shiva. The name Machhapuchhre literally translates to ‘fishtail’ in English. The peak of the mountain formed like a tail of a fish which is most clearly noticeable from the southwest of the mountain. Macchapucchre Mountain is the most appealing and regarded as ‘virgin peak’ since climbing is prohibited on this mountain.

For completing Annapurna Base Camp Trek we should traverse the Machhapuchhre base Camp Trek which presents the close view of these distinct and beautiful peaks.

Nothing gets better than treating yourself at hot spring water in Jhinu Danda bounded by the natural sights. This natural hot spring nestled at the bank of river Modi Khola below the village Jhinu Danda. It is likely to assume that one who dip their body into this medicinal hot pool rejuvenate weary muscles and heal from aches. Hot water originates from the heart of the mountain that is connected to the pool. The trekkers can relax and enjoy the hot water observing the natural marvels around.

 Annapurna Base Camp 

Annapurna Base Camp Trek (4,130m) is the stunning adventure journey to the Annapurna region of Nepal where you can enjoy the full- view of Annapurna range with its close of view of nearby peaks like Machhapuchre, Hiunchuli, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu.

Easily accessible

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is easily accessible via land and air surface.  The trekkers have opted to have both short and the long trek to the Annapurna. If you have limited time and would like to witness the closer view of Annapurna mountain flight is an option that offers the stunning views Mount Annapurna and neighboring peaks like Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Machhapuchhre and Manaslu.

The beautiful ethnic Culture & tradition of the Villages

Not just the adventurous journey, however, the ABC trek also reflected the cultural journey as, throughout the trek, one gets to experience the special culture and tradition of picturesque ethnic villages. The Gurung and Magar ethnic groups mostly inhabited in this region.

However, as you trek along you meet with different other groups as well. Exploring the diverse culture of the Himalayas is an amazing experience one can ever obtain in their life.

Stone paved staircases are specialties of any Gurung community or village. Indeed, you will feel great with the warm hospitality, generosity and friendly behavior of Magar and Gurung people during your trek.

Moderate Trek, Suitable for all kinds of Trekkers

Unlike many of the high altitude adventures available in Nepal, ABC trek is a comparatively moderate trek with equal or more incredible adventure experience. The trekking path is moderately easier which makes the trek fit for all kinds of a trekker from individual to family or solo group.

Dainty Tea Houses and social interaction

ABC trek admired as the best way to experience the feeling of staying and eating at the teahouse. After a long day hike, trekkers get to rest comfortably in the lodge which provides a distinct experience. 

Along the trail, the family runs the tea house that is of good quality. More comfort hotels are also available in the trek. Staying in these hotels during your trek to Annapurna is referred to as “Annapurna Trek with comfort. The tea houses offer scrumptious fast food, snacks, and local dishes.  It will leave with an appetizing experience that you’ll certainly remember for a long time.

Apart from meals and accommodation, you get to interact with diverse trekkers coming from different corners of the globe. Also, you will feel a little warmth from the stove while you eat or enjoy in the evening before sleeping.

Surround with many floras and faunas

You get an opportunity to make your way through diversified vegetation, blanketed forest of varied trees, cascading waterfalls and streams. Most importantly blossoming rhododendron trees during spring will definitely blow the mind of trekkers. Further,  you will witness snow else the greenery atmosphere will enthrall you from every corner during a couple of days at base camp,

The exotic wildlife like the snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep, langur monkey, spotted deer, red panda, and pheasants live in this region. Along the way, you can witness the group of mules carrying heaps of goods, on steep flagstone road. 

                                                                                                Article credit: Himvat Gyawali

Have you ever wanted to start on an adventurous trekking experience? If so, Nepal offers you hundreds of adventurous trekking routes. Nepal is also known as a trekking paradise for trekkers all around the world. As trekkers experience the rising and mystical snow blanketed mountains, beautiful terrains, startling landscapes and much more of nature’s blessings like forest, ancient cultures, people of different ethnic groups and rich wildlife.

Among multitudes of exciting trekking routes in Nepal, Ghandruk-Ghorepani-Poonhill trekking route, simply known as Ghorepani route stands out, because it is filled with elevation  variation, aesthetic beauty and cultural diversity all accompanied by a tranquil setting.

The Ghorepani trekkers can experience the rising and mystical snow blanketed mountains, beautiful terrains, startling landscapes and much more of nature’s blessings like forest and rich wildlife. This trek fulfills the dreams of trekkers who wish to accomplish their craving to be in close proximity of the massive snow capped Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range. With all the excitement and thrill the route offers to every visitor. Ghorepani is a perfect destination for families, school groups  and solo trekkers of any age groups because it is one of the lower altitude trek that offer rising to only 3,210m. Poonhill and do not require prior trekking experience.

About Ghorepani

Ghorepani is located in Myagdi district under Dhaulagiri zone. Ghorepani is also an integral part of the Annapurna range situated in the northern central part of Nepal. This picturesque hamlet is nestled within the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) and comprises numerous “tea-house” accommodation facilities to trekkers.  

In ancient time, Ghorepani used to be rest stop for traders where they fed their horses and the place also served as a supplier of drinking water. This is where the name Ghorepani was derived from (Ghore means horse and Pani means water).

Ghorepani lies at an altitude of about 2,874 m above the sea level. Around its 20 kms radius, the elevation difference ranges from 1,190 m to 2,874 m. This remarkable variation in altitude gives rise to diversity in plant and animal species.

Flora and Fauna

Ghorepani is famous for its winter crops of oranges and rhododendrons which can be found along the trails of the foothills. As you go higher, you will find variety of plant species from oak, birch, pine, juniper, orchid to rhododendron. If you are trekking during spring season, you can enjoy the exquisite view of the hilly forest painted by vibrant rhododendron splendidly. Such marvelous exquisiteness indeed enthrall the trekkers along the trail.

The meandering landscape of Annapurna region is domain for numerous species of native birds like Pink-Browed Rosefinch, White Browed Fulvetta, Red Billed Blue Magpie etc. The animals you are likely to encounter along the route are troops of langur monkeys, Pika, Blue sheep, Himalayan Tahr etc. These incredible varieties of flora and fauna in the Ghorepani trekking region add aesthetic quality to the trekking route.

Cultural Diversity

The Gurung people inhabiting this region are mainly Gorkhas from the Indo-British Army who have settled here from the very beginning. The Gurung community of this region is famous for its warm hospitality and service. These families have came down from generation to generation and have not changed their unique tradition. Therefore trekkers will definitely experience authentic lifestyle and culture of locals in rural setting during your stay in Ghorepani

While trekking the trekkers past picturesque hamlets like Ghorepani, Ulleri, Ghandruk, where you get a authentic portrait of the Nepali life and can understand the unique cooperation between diverse ethnic groups.

Description of the Route

The Ghorepani trekking route starts from Nayapul, a town which is two hours drive away from Pokhara. The next stop is Ghandruk, which is about 8.6 kms from Nayapul and takes around four to five hours by foot. This short and pleasant trekking route is ideal  for friends, families and solo travelers. Ghandruk is situated at around 1,940 m above sea level and it is a stop for all the trekkers whose destination is Ghorepani, Poonhill/ Mulde peak, Khopra ridge or Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). People spend night in Ghandruk and the next early morning they leave for Ghorepani.

The Ghandruk-Ghorepani journey takes usually two days, so the trekkers have to stay overnight at  Tea-House run by locals. At teahouse lodge the hosting family provides trekkers with scrumptious meals and small cozy rooms. The trekkers get opportunity to stay close with locals and relish on authentic local cuisine. The distance from Tadapani to Ghorepani is about 9.7 kms. 

After reaching Ghorepani, the trekkers spend night there to make a pre dawn trek to Poon Hill / Mulde Danda to see the sunrise over the magnificent Himalayas. The Ghorepani-Poon Hill trek is another short trek of about one kilometer. This short venture trek embrace exhilarating glimpses of the high mountains. Entire horizons will be revealed as you reach the Poonhill (3,210m) and Mulde Peak (3,637m).  At the pinnacle of this trek when you witness radiance of sunrise illuminate the silver mountains of the entire massif will leave you enthralled. It appears like magical before our eyes and will be captivated with a 360-degree panoramic views of Annapurna Himalayan range.

After spending rewarding morning trek at Poon Hill, the trekkers descent to Ghorepani and start downhill trek towards Tatopani. The Ghorepani to Tatopani distance is about 16.9 km. Tatopani is famous for its hot-springs where visitors can enjoy a refreshingly natural hot water bath. From Tatopani, trekkers can take a vehicle back to Pokhara via Beni bazaar.

Preparation

If you are travelling or trekking along any route, preparation is an important aspect. If you are trekking with friends and/or families, you should consult with a reliable trekking company and hire a guide. Travel insurance is compulsory for  trekkers and should be taken out at the time of booking.  In addition, it is advisable to prepare trekking gear, clothing and necessary essentials before you head over on your journey.

Ghorepani trekking route is one of the best trekking trails filled with beautiful nature and diverse culture. Most travelers who pursue this trekking expedition are student groups, families and solo trekkers. The government of Nepal and the local authorities are putting their best efforts to improve visitor’s trekking experience of the Ghandruk-Ghorepani route.

Additionally, Nepal is also celebrating the tourism year 2020 and therefore the preparation are at its peak. According to Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel “Nepal has been listed on highest ‘Best Value Destination’ and stands 5th position on the top 10 nation in the world to visit in 2017”. Trekking in Nepal presents precious natural beauty, magnificent Himalayas and endless culture and tradition spread throughout the country.

Ever wondered about finding a perfect destination with a full package of history, culture and natural beauty? There will be a no better place than Lamjung to taste the combination of natural and cultural splendor. Lamjung is gifted with a great enthralling view of mountain ranges, lush hills, rivers and streams, waterfalls, old hamlets as well as the beauty of culture, tradition, religion, multi-ethnic people.

About Lamjung

Lamjung District lies in the north-central part of Nepal in Western Development Region. The Lamjung district is a unique blend of the landscapes that comprises of the three distinct ecological zones of Nepal:  the Middle Hills (43%), High Mountains (39%) and the Himalaya (18%) in an area of 1,692 sq. km. With an elevation range from 500 m to 7,690 m within a distance of 50 km, Lamjung is one of the three districts of Nepal with the greatest elevation differences.

Places to visit in Lamjung

Lamjung is a perfect hub for anyone looking forward to explore the history, natural scenario and the cultural beauty of a place at once. Situated on the major trekking trail like the Annapurna Circuit, Lamjung offers various places for the tourists to explore.

Ghale Gaun

Ghale Gaun is the beautiful village which is famous for its unspoiled charming beauty and preserved culture of indigenous Gurung people. The Ghale Gaun is also developed as a model touristic destination in SAARC countries. The SAARC Village Tourism Museum is one of the major attractions of the village which was inaugurated by the president Bidhya Devi Bhandari in 2017.

Ghale Gaun is an ideal village to experience the warm culture and lifestyle of the Gurung people. Spending a night or more with the local people enrich the experiences of visitor with the heart filled love and traditional culture that are still in practice today.

Ghale Gaun makes the visitors feel like they are not away from their home by the warm welcome and family environment. The welcome with the garland and tika and the demonstration of the traditional dances and songs are a specialty of the Ghale Gaun village that the tourists can experience. The best part is still yet to come. The tourists can also dress in the traditional attire and capture the moment for a lifetime. The old cultural dances like the Jhyaure, Serka, Dohori, Ghantu, Ghyabring, Krishna Charitra and Jhakri are still alive in the village are performed in the special occasion with the sweet melody of the traditional instruments.

The village also offers the closer views of the mountains that include Machhapuchhare (6,693 m), Annapurna (8,091 m), Annapurna II (7,939 m), Annapurna IV (7,525 m), Lamjung Himal, Himchuli (6,747 m) and several other peaks.

The Lamjung Durbar

Standing on the top of the Besishahar, the Lamjung Durbar is the historical property. Historians claim that it is the place from where the Shah dynasty originated. The Lamjung palace is a perfect destination for a short day trek. Only about 2 hours walk from the Besishahar, the trek offers with the beautiful view of the mountains.

The historical palace is the combination of a temple and a residence. The doors and the windows of the palace are more rectangular in shape and are colored dark. There is also a sunken courtyard in the front of the palace. Many people gather together in the courtyard especially during the festival of Dashain and sacrifice the animals.

Besides the historical significance of the palace, the palace is also favored as a site to view the beautiful sunrise and sunset. Plus, the top offers with the wonderful views of the underlying Besishahar, Marshyangadi valley, and several mountain peaks.

Baraha Pokhari

Baraha Pokhari (3,100 m) is not less than a paradise. It is a beautiful lake on the lap of the mountains in Lamjung. Visitors can trek around the lake and enjoy the outstanding beauty of the thick rhododendron forest during spring season, old stone steps and the temple on the edge.

Sharing the border with two conservation areas namely Annapurna Conservation Area and Manaslu Conservation Area, the Barahi Pokhari further welcome the tourists to continue to reach other spots such as Mun Pokhari and Dudh Pokhari. Thus, Baraha Pokhari is the ultimate destination that provides such a warm, romantic and gorgeous visit into nature.

The lake is not only naturally beautiful but also holds cultural significance. Every spring in April, on a full moon day, there occurs a Mela at the Baraha Pokhari. People from distant pay visit to this place and make a dip in the lake to purify their soul. They also worship the Barahi goddess to get their wish fulfilled.

Trekking Around Lamjung Valley

Trekking around Lamjung valley is not generally taken as a separate trial. However, Lamjung is popular as a starting point of the Annapurna Circuit Trek and the end of the Manaslu Trek. According to the report published by the Kathmandu post in February 2018, there was a considerable increase in the number of tourist trekking around the Annapurna Circuit via Lamjung. In 2017, the statistics of Annapurna Area Conservation Project’s (AACP) showed that the number of tourists visiting the route was the highest in the last 21 years. Thus, Lamjung is flourishing in the sector of trekking and if you are someone who loves to trek, then Lamjung is a place of interest to visit.

Lamjung Himal Trek

Lamjung offers the tourists with the beautiful Lamjung Himal trek with an impressing view of the Lamjung Himal and the surrounding landscapes. Lying in the Annapurna region, the Lamjung Himal trek is low altitude trek that passes through the terrain and the low land villages offering the spectacular views of the Annapurna Himalayan Range, Dhaulagiri Himalayan Range, and Manaslu Himalayan Range.

The nine days long trek starts from Besishahar. 4 hours trek from Besishahar through the rhododendron forest, the trail reaches to Baglungpani. Going further from Baglungpani is the Ghale Gaun: the beautiful Gurung village.

The trail then follows the Gangapokhara, Neghuche and then Rambrong Base Camp. Rambrong stands at an altitude of 3,900 meters and is the highest point in the trekking trail. The Rambrong peak is about two hours climb from the base and offers an even closer view of the mountains.

Descending from the Rambrong Base Camp, three hours into the forest and another three-hour straight walk leads to Nausima. Continuing again for 6 hours between the thick forests, trekkers reach the Tangting; another beautiful Gurung village. Trekkers witness the beautiful Annapurna II, Annapurna IV, and Lamjung Himal.

Leaving from the Tangting village next comes Pokhara. Here comes the end of the trek and thus you can have a spare day in Pokhara or fly back to Kathmandu.

Adventures in Lamjung

If you love to fill your life with adventures and stories rather than stuff, Lamjung has something more to offer you other than trekking:

The Honey Hunting

The Honey Hunting is probably one of the most surprising activities any visitors will witness. The Honey Hunting is a traditional skill practiced by the tribes to collect honey from wild bees in the Himalayan foothills.

Honey hunting actually risky and requires courage and to accomplish. The Honey hunting activity has now become an important part of the annual Siurung festival held in Lamjung. The honey hunting requires a team of three persons: one on the top, one on the middle to extract and the last on the bottom to collect the honey.

Quite sure that the scenario of the locals climbing up the rope and ladder hundreds of feet above the ground is enough to give goose booms to anyone who is witnessing it live. The honey hunting has become a source of income generation for the local and a good way of keeping alive the tradition through sustainable tourism. The honey collected has a high medicinal and economic value in the international market.

The honey hunting has been conducted in steep hills of Ghanpokhara, Khudri, Taghring, Bhulhule, Bhujung, and Dudhpokhari.

Rafting

Being in Lamjung and not going for rafting in Marsyangdhi? That will make your trek quite incomplete. Rafting has always been a wonderful experience and there could be no more interesting way than doing it in Marsyangdhi, the most suitable site.

The soaring cliffs, swift-flowing River, and multi-shaped gorges add an extra thrill to the adventure. Jumping with the flow of the water between the canyons and magnificent rocks, you should give rafting a try while being in Lamjung.

All trekkers have their own stories he or she loves to share. It is one huge indispensable part of the travel experience.
Before writing about my trekking experience on Khopra Ridge, I would like to state that I  have been engaged in the tourism industry as a guide and porter for 21 years and have been working for Nepal Sanctuary Treks for the last five years. I feel privileged to work with one of the reputed and sustainable trekking companies in Nepal.
We have driven into the values of delivering quality services, and safety and are committed to sustainability. The most likely of this company is personalized service and concerned about their staff and clients. Above and beyond, the company conducts various in-house and external training for staff that helps to sharpen their skills and enhance their knowledge.
Khadka N. Rai: Trekking Guide

About Khopra Ridge

A few days of trek to Khopra ridge were filled up with excitement and enchanted by the natural charm. Khopra Ridge is one of the best short treks in Nepal. This trek comprises all the components of a classic Nepal trekking experience including hamlets, local culture wildlife, panoramic mountain views, and a range of landscapes from forest to high alpine. Besides, the trail is dominated by a blanketed forest of vibrant rhododendron, oak, and pine trees.

I feel that Khopra Ridge (3,660m/12,007ft.) is a spectacular balcony from which to observe and experience the majestic and splendid views of the mountain above 8,000m like Mount Dhaulagiri I-V (8,167m), Annapurna I (8,091m).
Apart from this one can take relish experiencing and observing the Nilgiri range (7,061m), Bharha Shikhar (7,647m),  Annapurna South (7,219m), Gurja Peak, Dhampus peak, and Tukuche that stand up in line blanketing in the everlasting snow.

Suitable for any ages

Khopra ridge can be ideal for any age group normally from 10 up to 70. As far as you are physically fit, even beyond 70 can embark on this adventure without any difficulties.
Generally, this trek is a quite moderate elevation and does not need technical or previous trekking experience. Even though it is a moderate trek, however, with a good level of physical fitness, first-time trekkers, and families with no previous trekking experience can board this incredible adventure.

All year round trekking

To trek Khopra ridge, one does not need to wait for a special season i.e. spring, or autumn. As it does not climb to a very high altitude and the more exposed parts of the trail get a lot of sunshine. The atmosphere is clear in comparison to other regions. So, the trek is possible for most of the year. Khopra Ridge trek can be undertaken even in monsoon season. The only thing is one should be cautious of leeches and muddy trails.

Accommodation

The locals operate community lodges and private lodges along the trail. Whereas, there is only one community lodge in Khopra ridge. The lodging facilities and food are very basic. Despite basic facilities, you can find fun-loving communities that are welcoming and are the main essence of this trek.

Khopra Ridge Journey

On 31 December 2018, our trekking crew and clients set off for 10 days trek to Khopra ridge. We took an early morning short and spectacular flight to Pokhara.  Our Khopra Ridge trekking began from the beautiful city Pokhara (820m) where we did 1.5 hours scenic drive to Lumle.

Alternatively, one can drive to Nayapul from Pokhara as well which is an old route. This time we chose to trek from Lumle from where we officially started our trek. Lumle is a charming little town in the Kaski district. Once we reached Lumle (1,610m) we had lunch and trekked towards Seuli bazaar bypassing Chandrakot.

Chandrakot (1,580m) is a famous touristic area in the Annapurna region. We enjoyed the magnificent view of the Annapurna range in Chandrakot. This village is dominated by the people of mixed communities. After enjoying the beautiful Himalayas we took descent through the beautiful lush village all the way to Tomijung village.

Further taking decent for an hour we reached a bank of Modi River and crossed the suspension bridge.  After walking through flat trails for 2 hours we finally reached Seuli Bazaar (1,170m) where we stayed overnight.

The next day we had an early breakfast and took the ascent trail. Following the motorway and crossing the road we took the main trekking trail to Ghandruk. After 3 hours of trek, we reached picturesque Ghandruk village (1,970m), a settlement of 4000-5000 people mainly inhabited by the Gurung community.

We were greeted by the exquisite sight of clear snow-capped mountains like Fishtail, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and Annapurna south which are remarkably close. After lunch at Ghandruk, we visited the Gurung Cultural museum, did a village tour, and observed the traditional houses which are still preserved by villagers. The countryside is incredibly picturesque and tranquil.
On the way, we came across local people adorned with their traditional costumes. Trek to Ghandruk appealed to us with the rich Gurung culture and tradition of people living in this exotic place.

On the third day of our trek, we had our decent breakfast and leave commercial classic trek routes to follow the main trekking trail. Further, we took ascent and walked through a beautiful blanketed forest of rhododendron trees enjoying the unspoiled nature and melodies of exotic birds. We continued our trek, walking and resting at teashops and having masala tea.

I must say, the pristine forest at the trail is splendidly beautiful. During our trek to Tandapani (2,590m), we saw innumerable episodes of flora and fauna like Himalaya bulbul, babbler, eagle, and langur monkeys, which gave us an imprint of being in a wonderland.  After 45 minutes of a trek from Bhaise Kharka through the middle of the rhododendron forest, we arrived at Tandapani and rest overnight in a private lodge.

On the fourth day of our trek, after an early breakfast at 7:30 am we continued to trek to Bayeli. We leave the main trail and started to trek towards a less touristic trekking trail. Further, hiked to Bayeli Kharka (3,420m) through the thick forest of rhododendron and oak tree. As we inclined, we had a pleasant walk through the middle of the forest of shrouded pine trees.

The area is a habitat for animals like pandas, bears, pine marten, mongooses, and many more. Our luck favored this time that we had a unique opportunity to observe the Pine Martens in close proximity. Along the trail, we spotted langur monkeys playing in their clan and hanging on a tree in its natural state which was truly charismatic. After 2.5 hours of trek, we reached Meshar where we found only one teahouse.

The trekking hours were longer as compared to other days. From Meshar, we inclined for 1.5 hours to Isaru and had a tea break. Now the trail started to ascend above the tree line and follow a ridge to Dobato where we stopped for lunch and then continued to march towards Bayeli Kharka.

The aesthetically attractive landscapes and pastures of the region made our trekking a heavenly affair.  I experienced that in winter one will feel severe cold in Bayeli because this place is nestled above the tree line area. In spite of the misty and foggy weather, we enjoyed the view of the Annapurna range from our lodge at Bayeli Kharka.

On the fifth day of our trek, we had breakfast at the lodge and head downhill through the shaded forest of rhododendron and pine trees. The trekking portion traversed a handful of streams that came down from the hill and froze in the winter to form a stretch of ice.

The snow piled up on the ground where we walked up on snow dodging some difficult parts. On this day it took us five hours to reach Chistibung (2,975m) whereas the normal hours to reach a destination are only 3-4 hours. Once we got to Chistibung we had our lunch and overnight at the community lodge.
The next day of our trek leads us to our final destination Khopra ridge (3,640m). We took a gradual ascent through alpine meadows and pastures for three hours then as one approached Khopra Ridge, we saw the tip of Annapurna South and several other peaks.

Upon reaching our destination which is the Khopra community lodge, we had our lunch. We were mesmerized by the closer view of magnificent mountains and felt like, we would fly right then and touch the peak of the mountains.

The surrounding from the ridge looked so magical, we couldn’t believe our eyes as if we were viewing a real backdrop or some kind of HD Wallpaper. Whereas we could see the other side of the valley with dramatic and panoramic changeable layers of hills.
If you are lucky enough you might encounter a bear, deer, Himalaya Tahr, and lhophophorus, the national bird of Nepal. However, this time we came across with blood pheasant along the trail.

On the seventh day of our trek, we woke up early with the beautiful sunrise across the panorama of the Himalayas. My mind and soul were actually enchanted when I witnessed the rising sun’s golden rays sweep through the silver mountains and transformed their colors from ivory to gold.

After breakfast at the lodge, we hiked towards Khayer Lake (4,500m) to observe glaciers, lakes, and Mountain View. Khayer Lake offers a marvelous alpine experience and is suitable to gain altitude, and observe the glacier and lake.

Due to weather conditions, we have to return back from the middle of the trail. However, we managed to reach an altitude of 4,000 meters.  We retraced back to the community lodge to have our lunch.

Afterward, we descended down to Chistibung (2,975m) passing through a meadow, oak, and rhododendron forest, and stayed overnight in Chistibung.

The next day after breakfast we took a descent all the way to Swanta village (2,200m). Swanta village is a settlement of the Magar community. We witnessed spectacular beautiful terrace-farms ornament land and traditional houses with Mount Dhaulagiri backdrop.
The rich and brimming rice plantation, several quaint sights of valleys and Himalayan foregrounds mesmerized any travelers.

After 4 hours of trek, we finally reached Swanta village. When we arrived at our lodge, the snowflakes have begun to fall, and we were very glad to be back. With a hot tea warming up our hands it was wonderful to watch the snow falling on the village from inside.

After a night at Swanta village, we ascended to Ghorepani and had lunch there. Further, we took descended the trail to Ulleri (1,309m) through rhododendron, alder, and oak trees. Ulleri is a big settlement of the Gurung community. We arrived at our destination after a long trek.
On the final day of our trek, we had our breakfast and took a descent of 4000-5000 stone stairs steps for two hours. Then we traversed the suspension bridge and reached Tikhedhunga. Further, we walked flat trails passing the villages like Hille, Banjgara, Sudame.

From Sudame we walked for 1 hour all the way to Birethathi where we checked out ACAP. After half an hour of walking, we finally reached the endpoint of the trek called Nayapul where we met our private transport and drove back to Pokhara.

In a nutshell, I would highly recommend taking this trip as it is very suitable for visitors who truly wish to enjoy the wonderful unique vibrant culture and a marvelous view of mountains with the awe-inspiring landscape.  Khopra ridge is a little part of heaven on earth that everyone should visit once in a lifetime.