Kopra Ridge Trek: Exploring the Hidden Beauty

• Welcome at the airport according to your flight schedule and transfer to the hotel (Kathmandu Prince Hotel or equivalent). 
• Introduction, trek briefing with the guide.
•  Lunch and dinner on your own. 
• Overnight at the hotel in a double room.

• Breakfast at the hotel, then free time while we handle formalities and permits (TIMS card and Annapurna National Park entry). 
• Possibility to rent or buy equipment if needed. 
• Overnight at the hotel. 
• Lunch and dinner on your own.

Note: Optionally, you can have a cultural guide to visit historical sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

• After breakfast (included in the overnight stay), depart by tourist bus to Pokhara. 
• Check-in at Karuna Hotel. Rest from the journey. 
• Overnight at the hotel. 
• Lunch and dinner on your own.

• Departure by taxi from Pokhara by road to reach Khare, the first village on the Annapurna Sanctuary trail.
•  A 1.5-hour walk through rice fields to reach Australian Camp, offering a splendid view of Annapurna South at 7,219 m.
•  Descend to Pothana, then a slow ascent to the Bhickok Deurali pass (2,100 m) before descending to Landruk. 
• Overnight in a lodge.
•  1.5 hours of walking.

• To reach the village of Ghandruk with stone houses, one of the most important villages of the Gurung ethnic group, you need to reach the bottom of the valley, cross the Modi Khola river, and climb up through stone staircases. 
• Overnight in a lodge. 
• 5 hours of walking 

– Elevation gain: +750 m / -200 m

• A pleasant path along a balcony to reach the river, then a crossing through a forest of giant rhododendrons. Arrival in Tadapani, with a view of the valley leading to the Annapurna Sanctuary. 
• Overnight in a lodge. 
• 5 hours of walking 

– Elevation gain: +700 m / -190 m

• Take a rarely used path by others. The trail initially ascends through a rhododendron forest. Views of the Annapurna range emerging above the tree line are superb. 
• Arrive in Dobato, also known as Isharu. 
• Overnight in a lodge. 
• 5 hours of walking 

– Elevation gain: +900 m / -170 m

• Early departure to witness the sunrise, with a remarkable view of a rhododendron forest. At the top, we can admire Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Huinchuli, and Machhapuchhare. Descend to the community lodge in Dobato for breakfast, then depart for Chistibung via a ridge and a small pass, followed by a long descent through rhododendrons to reach the valley floor, then an ascent to reach Chistibung, still surrounded by rhododendrons. 
• Overnight in a lodge.
•  5 hours of walking 

– Elevation gain: +420 m / -860 m

• The trail passes through a beautiful rhododendron forest to a small sacred pond. 
• The view opens up; the path winds between rocks and reaches a ridge from where the view of Dhaulagiri is remarkable.
•  A little more effort to reach the community lodge at Kopra. 
• Magnificent views and an extraordinary panorama formed by Annapurna South, just a few kilometers away (but whose ascent takes weeks!), and the peaks of Fang and Nilgiri to the north. Beyond the depths of the Kali Gandaki valley, the Dhaulagiri Himal dominates the entire western horizon. 
• Overnight in a lodge. 
• 5 hours of walking 

– Elevation gain: +615 m / -15 m

• Gentle ascent at first, then steep to Khayer Barah Lake through a path of rocky slopes. Beautiful lake at the foot of Annapurna South. 
• It is said that the goddess Khayer Barahi blesses visitors with deep faith. 
• Overnight in a lodge.
•  9 to 12 hours of walking 

– Elevation gain: +1167 m / -1167 m

• Follow the path that descends regularly and steeply. This region is known for its wildlife; if you are attentive, you may spot a Himalayan tahr, a robust and agile mammal, or a Danfe pheasant, the national bird of Nepal. 
• We re-enter the dense rhododendron forest, pass by the Chistibung lodge before reaching a wooden bridge spanning a river. The path continues, pleasant and well-marked. We arrive at the lovely village of Swanta, amidst rice fields. 
• Overnight in a lodge. 
• (Breakfast, lunch, dinner.)
•  6-7 hours of walking. 

Ascent: 395 m. Descent: 1790 m.

• Proceed through rice fields. Descend to a small river and take a quick look at the water mill supplying many villages nearby. 
• From there, cross the suspension bridge and ascend to the village of Chittre. 
• We then join the wide trail connecting Tatopani to Ghorepani (end of the grand Annapurna circuit). 
• The path ascends to the village of Ghorepani, where the views of the previous days' stages are magnificent. 
• Overnight in a lodge (comfortable, hot shower in prospect). 
• (Breakfast, lunch, dinner.) 
• 4-5 hours of walking. 
• Ascent: 560 m. Descent: 150 m.

• End of the trek Very early before sunrise, optional ascent with a headlamp to Poon Hill, a wonderful place to witness the sunrise over the Himalayan range. 
• Return to Ghorepani for breakfast. Then, descend via stairs, and cross Magar ethnic villages to Ulleri. Take a local bus to Pokhara. 
• 5.5 hours of walking + 3 hours by bus 
• Free overnight and dinner in Pokhara.

– Elevation gain: +340 m / -1220 m. 

• After breakfast, return to Kathmandu by plane. Overnight at the hotel. 
• Free meals at noon and in the evening.

• Breakfast at the hotel, free time, and transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule. 
• Free meals at noon and in the evening.