14-Day Khopra Danda and Khayer Lake Trek from Kathmandu

• On arrival at Kathmandu Airport, clear customs and apply for a Nepal visa.

• Meet the tour company representative holding a placard displaying your name.

• Transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu.

• If there is enough time in the afternoon, explore Thamel or the surrounding sites.

• Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening.

Overnight at the hotel.

• In the morning, go on a guided tour of two World Heritage monuments - Boudhanath and Pashupatinath. Boudhanath is one of the most popular and largest Buddhist stupas in the world and a magnet for Tibetan Buddhism.

• Nearby, visit Pashupatinath, one of the holiest and most venerated Hindu temples. The golden-roofed, pagoda-style temple complex hosts numerous monuments, a cremation site, a deer and monkey park, and an eastern classical music centre.

• Prepare for trekking on the next day.

Overnight in a Kathmandu hotel.

Option: Take a mountain flight in the morning (6:40 a.m. - 7:40 a.m.) that offers a bird's-eye view of the magnificent landscape and Himalayan peaks, including Mt. Everest.

• Leave for Pokhara after breakfast.

• Either drive for 6-7 hours to Pokhara or take a 30-minute scenic flight.

• Option: It is a 3-hour drive to Charaundi, the put-in point for rafting on the Trishuli River, ending at Kuringhat; then continue the drive to Pokhara. Rafting cost will be charged extra.

• On arrival in Pokhara, meet the guide and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure to explore Pokhara on your own.

Overnight at the hotel.

• Drive for one and a half hours to Nayapool (1011m), the starting point for trekking.

• From Nayapool, the trail steadily progresses along the Modi Khola to Birethanti, then gradually passes through paddy fields crisscrossed by roads.

• Further ahead, the muddy trail snakes through terraced hills via Sauli Bazaar, a perfect lunch spot.

• The trek then heads north, up the Modi Valley on an uphill journey to Ghandruk. Settled by ethnic Gurung communities, the village is instantly recognisable by its slated-roof houses and rhododendron trees, with a backdrop of majestic mountains including Annapurna South, Machhapuchhare, and Hiunchuli, which are clearly visible in the morning.

Overnight at a local lodge.

• It will take at least 3-4 hours on a steady trek to reach Tadapani from Ghandruk.

• The trail passes through quiet rhododendron forest that reverberates with the occasional singing and chirping of birds.

• The final section of this trek runs through the village of Bherikharka on a slightly uphill leg to Tadapani.

Overnight at a local lodge.

• The trail from Tadapani to Dobato has fewer trekkers and offers a mesmerizing panorama of the Dhaulagiri range, including the Kali Gandaki Valley. There are no settlements or tea houses along this gradually inclining trail.

• By late afternoon, reach Bayali Kharka, a seasonal yak pasture. The pasture is a good viewpoint for the spectacular peaks of the Dhaulagiri range, as well as the sprawling valleys of Kali Gandaki and Ghorepani.

• On reaching Dobato, there is a trail that diverts west to Mule Peak (3637m). Interested trekkers who would like to see more of the wonderful Himalayan peaks can take a side trip to Mule Peak. It takes 30 minutes to reach Mule Peak and another 30 minutes to climb down. Mule Peak offers clear views of more than two dozen mountain peaks, including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Lamjung Himal, along with an equally breathtaking view of Phewa Lake in Pokhara Valley.

Overnight at a local lodge (BLD) (3,426m).

• The first section of the trail from Bayali Kharka to Upper Chistibang descends continuously through a thickly wooded area. The trail offers picturesque views of green hills and faraway villages with a backdrop of beautiful snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

• At Upper Chistibang, originally called Dhankharka, stop for lunch served at a community lodge.

• After leaving Upper Chistibang, the trail begins to climb steadily through alpine meadows to reach the isolated yak pasture known as Khopra Danda. Located above the tree line, Khopra Ridge is an excellent viewpoint and home to the Khopra Danda Community Lodge.

• Go for a short walk down to the lower part of Khopra, which offers a breathtakingly close-up panorama of Mt Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Fang, and Annapurna South, as well as the world's deepest gorge of Kali Gandaki far below.

Overnight at a local lodge.

• Early in the morning, have a warm breakfast and begin the day trek to Khayer Lake.

• Since there are no teahouses along the way or around Khayer Lake, carry a packed lunch.

• The trek immediately begins to ascend, crossing nearby cliffs with stunning views of the Himalayan mountains. The final part of the trek is particularly steep until Khayer Lake. Dedicated to Goddess Barahini, the lake is ensconced deep into a hill just below the summit of Annapurna South. The lake spreads across an area of approximately 2 sq. km.

Overnight at a community lodge.

• From Khopra Danda, the trek is entirely downhill all the way to Paudwar. Paudwar is a densely settled Magar village that also has a community-operated cheese factory and a local honey facility.

• There will be plenty of time to take a village tour, taste the cheese and honey, and interact with locals.

• Choose either a homestay or a local lodge for the overnight stay, subject to availability.

• Paudwar to Tatopani is a downhill walk along an unpaved road. Tatopani has a famous natural hot spring for relaxing and healing.

Overnight at a local lodge.

• After breakfast, drive from Tatopani to Pokhara.

• The rest of the day is free at leisure in Pokhara.

Overnight at the hotel.

• Drive to Kathmandu.

• Alternatively, you can drive to Lumbini or Chitwan National Park for a jungle safari (BL) (1,350m).

• Sightseeing at Bhaktapur (B) (1,350m).

• Enjoy some last-minute shopping or explore Kathmandu.

• Late morning transfer to the airport for your onward flight, or continue with other explorations in Nepal.