This time I am traveling to Khopra Danda with 5 Malaysian people. As per our flight schedule, we drove to the airport at 6:30 am from Thamel and we reached the airport at 6:45 am. After reaching the airport we did all the processes and flew to Pokhara at 7:40 am. It took just 25 minutes to reach Pokhara and it was my first time at the new airport of Pokhara. This airport was quite good and more facilitated than the old one. After collecting the baggage I called the Jeep driver and he was outside waiting for us. 

We packed our languages on the Jeep and were ready for our Jeep adventure to Kimche village. When we were driving to Kimche the weather in Pokhara was not clear so we were unable to enjoy the breathtaking view of the snowy peaks. When we reached the Naudanda we stopped for a tea break. Having a break while driving is always a pleasure moment so we enjoyed our short tea break there. 

Our porters are already at the Kimche Village, they took a night bus to Nayapul from Kathmandu and then another bus drive to Kimche from Nayapul. After 2 and half hour’s drive, we reached Kimche and met with our entire team. Then we commence our day one journey of Khopra Danda from Kimche to Ghandruk Village. It was heavy to walk in the sun especially climbing up for the aged people. After around 1 hours hike we reached the Hotel in Ghandruk. 

We explore the Ghandruk Village after having lunch at Hotel and we visited the Gurung Museum, the monastery, and the whole of Ghandruk Village. While we were exploring Ghandruk we met a lot of Nepali visitors mostly students and young people. At the hotel also there are many Nepali tourists. 

Short walk to Tadapani

On day 2 of the Khopra Danda Trek, we started our walk to Tadapani at 7:30 am. In the beginning, it was a bit cold but after some time my body started to warm up. The first part was climbing up and then the second part was on the jungle and mostly Nepali flat. Again need to climb up before taking a tea break at the Bhainsi Kharka. We had quite a long break at the Bhainsi Kharka before starting to climb up for 30 minutes to reach the Nepali flat. It took around 25 minutes to reach Tadapani. 

Tadapani is a small town with around 8 guest houses so that we spent the whole day playing cards and relaxing. In the evening there was full of people so that it was fun to be there. 

On the third day, we started quite earlier because all the group members want to start early in the shadow and cool. Because in the daytime, there was a bit hot and difficult to walk. We had a bit of a change in the itinerary during the Khopra Danda Excursion because there was no room available at the Byali Kharka. 

The first part was inside the jungle and a bit cold and gradually up, while climbing up we took some short breaks at the Mesher Danda and Isharu Danda. We took short breaks a long way at the resting places too. Climbing up is not easy for aged people but we managed it and we reached the Dobato at 11:45 am. 

After reaching there we ordered lunch and then get into our rooms. Everyone was a bit tired because it was almost up all the way there. Unfortunately, the view was not as spectacular as it used to be because of the cloud. We had lunch and then everyone took shower and had a free day. In the evening we played a game it was very fun and everyone on the team was involved. 

Long lunch camp to Dobato

The fourth day was a bit tough and challenging for us because it was a very long day from Dobato to Khopra Danda. We started early at 7 am we followed the trail to Byali Kharka it took us one and a half hours to reach Byali Kharka. The trail to Byali Kharka was not that difficult but some part there was icy and a bit slippery. From Byali Kharka we descended all the way to the river and from there gradually up to Sistibung 

When we reached Sistibung there was a big group having lunch. We also had lunch at the Sistibung and then ascended to Khopra Danda. While climbing up the weather become a bit cloudy and a bit cold but it made it easy to walk. We took a couple of breaks too and followed the electric poles to the lodge. And finally, we reached there at 4:45 pm, when we were there, there were lots of people in the lodge.

Khopra Danda 

Khopra Danda Trek can be the next best trekking trail in Nepal because from there we can enjoy the panoramic view of the mountains. Not only the mountains the glimpse of the surrounding areas is spectacular and this trek can combine with the Poon Hill Trek, Mohare Danda Trek, and many more. Such a potential trekking region has one big problem and that is accommodation. 

At the Khopra Danda, there is only one lodge and this is very expensive for one night it will cost 1000 to 3000 rupees only for sleep. Then other things costs are not much and the second problem is the people who run the guest house there. They don’t have good hospitality sense and business sense. They must learn many things about how to run a hotel in the Himalayas and high region. 

As a trekking guide, I had been on many trekking trails and places I never had such a bad experience. At first, when we reached there I asked for the room key 3 times inky then they respond to me because I booked a room there 15 days ago. Then after we have to wait for dinner till 9 pm and there was not enough food for everything. Additionally, they gave us one room with 3 beds for 5 of us which was very uncomfortable to sleep in. And the next day there was no breakfast for the Nepali guides and Porter. In the end, they gave a small piece of pun bread to each one without any curry or pickle to eat. 

All the way downhill to Swata

Day four was very heavy for all of us at day five we woke up quite early for the sunrise view. Unfortunately, today was not our day so that there was not a good view and no sunrise too. Although we had a glimpse of Mt. Annapurna South, Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna first, and many more. Took some photos and make some videos before back for breakfast at the lodge. 

Breakfast took a long time to arrive at the table so the porters pack the luggage and ready to move to Swata. After a long wait, we got one little Pun bread as breakfast, we had a quick breakfast and then started our journey to Swata. It was all the way down to Sistibung, a river view resort, and then to the electric hydropower near the river. From the river, it took another one and a half hours to reach Swata. 

We had late lunch there around 2:30 pm, after lunch, we set up our room and then try to find local chicken for dinner. Luckily, we are able to find the chicken in the hotel where we are staying for a night. We bought two chickens and one of the group members (Mooi) cooked both chickens for the Nepali staff and her friends. OMG, we finished two whole chickens, all of us were very full and a bit uncomfortable. 

Walking through the rice field and Rhodhodendern forest to Ghorepani 

After breakfast in Swata, we commenced our journey to Ghorepani via Chitre village on the sixth day of the Khopra Danda Trek. Our first part of the journey was on the traced land and the second was on the Rhododendron forest. On the field, there were barely and potatoes plants which makes the land looks beautiful. While walking in the jungle we show many kinds of flowers booming in the Rhodondern trees. 

It took us five hours to reach Ghorepani and had lunch there and spent the whole day there. In the afternoon we went to the local restaurant to eat Momo and luckily we got Momos there. Today there (Ghorepani) were coming 184 Chinese tourists and the hotel we were staying there were booked for 65 people. Around 4:30 they started to arrive at the hotel and started to make noise. Chinese are the number one noise maker on the trekking routes after Nepali and Indian tourists. 

At night also they are making noise, similarly, their guides also make noise after drinking free alcohol from the hotel. It was a horrible night for all the other tourists who were at Ghorepani on that day. 

Crowded Poon Hill and Long Jeep drive to Pokhara. 

The Chinese tourists woke up at 2:30 am at night and started to make noise and disturbed our sleep. Then 4:30 they started their hike to Poon Hill. After them, at 4:50 am we also started our trek to Poon Hill it took us around 1 hour to reach to summit of Poon Hill. When we were there the noise of the Chinese people was loud and many of the other trekkers were not enjoying themselves there. And we also just took a couple of photos and descended to Ghorepani. 

Our plan was to take the Jeep from Ghorepani to Pokhara. So that after breakfast, we packed our luggage and put it on the jeep, and started our drive to Pokhara. The drive was very long than I expected it took around 6 hours to reach Pokhara. After we reached there we went for lunch together with the porters and then said goodbye to them. 

Paragliding and Pokhara City Tour

Pokhara is an adventure base camp, there are possibilities for many adventure activities such as Paragliding, Bungee jumping, Rafting, Hiking, Cycling, and many more. That is why we also planned to do Paragliding in Pokhara. As per our plan, we drove to the Paragliding spot and now the Paragliding take-off spot was changed because of the new airport in Pokhara. It took around 30 minutes to arrive there. 

When we reached there, there was a preparing for a grand welcome for 80 Chinese tourists. The chief minister of the Gandaki Province was there with the typical and traditional musical instruments. They welcome Chinese tourists with music and a bunch of flowers. And the first one to fly was the CM and his security personnel and then turn-by-turn tourists after 21 people in our group had the opportunity to fly. It was an amazing experience for all of us and we flew for around 25 minutes in the sky. 

After Paragliding we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant and then started our Pokhara Tour. First, we drive to International Mountain Museum, we spent around one and a half hours there. Secondly, we visited the Gupteswore Cave and Devis Fall, these two places we spend around 45 minutes, and then drove back to Hotel. In the evening we enjoy the Aarati Puja at the Barahi Ghat Lakeside of Pokhara. 

Flight delay for 5 hours 

At the end of the Khopra Danda Trek, as per our schedule, we have to fly back to Kathmandu. Our flight ticket was for 9 am in the morning and we drove to the airport after breakfast at 7:30 am. I was a bit afraid that there might be no flight because the previous day there was no flight to Kathmandu from Pokhara. When we reached there flight was delayed and the airline company request us to wait. 

We waited until 12 noon and then decided to cancel the flight and drive to Kathmandu. I called the vehicle service office for a Jeep and they sent a Jeep and that Jeep was not enough for 6 of us. So I have to find another Jeep, while I am calling my friends and vehicle companies for a Jeep there was no Jeep available. At the same time, I got the info that the airport is open for flights. 

I ran inside the airport to reissue the ticket and waited for the flight. Finally, at 3:30 pm we flew back to Kathmandu and drove back to the hotel in Thamel. Then the memorable journey to the Khopra Danda ended. 

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