Khopra Danda and Annapurna Base Camp Trek -13 Days

Discovery World Trekking provides complimentary (Tribhuvan International Airport) airport-to-hotel transfer during arrival and hotel-to-airport drop-off during departure for all its clients coming to Nepal for a trek. We provide this service so that you would not feel alone in a foreign country or face navigation difficulties. When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will find our company representative holding a pamphlet with your name on it. After greeting you, they will present you with a garland as a welcome gesture and then take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. You must share your flight details with us to take advantage of this free service. 

 

Journey start

You will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport at least one day earlier than the trek departure date (before 3 pm) for last-minute preparations. If, in case, you missed the online trip briefing, it will also provide us time to conduct an in-person trip briefing. During the trek briefing, we will introduce ourselves, provide you with vital information, and recheck your luggage to ensure you have packed all essential clothing/gear/equipment. On the trek departure day, we will board you on a tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara. You will spend one night at Pokhara, and the following morning, we will drive you to Ulleri - your trek starting point.

 

Accommodations

You will be spending ten nights at the best accommodations in the trek regions. We hand-select all those accommodations paying attention to the amenities they provide and the overall hygiene. You will stay in rooms with attached bathrooms at Ghorepani, Chhomrong, and Jhinu Danda; and in standard rooms at Swanta, Khopra Danda, Bayeli Kharka, Tadapani, Himalaya, Annapurna Base Camp, and Bamboo. All of these rooms are on twin sharing basis. 

You will stay for two nights at Silver Oaks Inn in Pokhara with all modern amenities, including 24-hour TV, hot/cold water, laundry, etc.

You will need at least two days of hotel stays in Kathmandu, one before the trek and the other at the end. However, this package does not include Kathamndu hotel stays. There are numerous hotels in Kathmandu to suit your taste and budget, and we do not want to restrict your choices.

 

Meals

As you will be trekking in high elevations, you will need plenty of nutrient-rich food, which we will provide for you. We select tea houses/hotels/restaurants that provide tasty, hygienic, and nutritious food. Though you will get non-veg choices, for hygiene concerns, we do not recommend you take non-veg items. Similarly, we advise you to avoid dairy, alcohol, caffeinated, and chocolate drinks and instead double down on fresh vegetables and liquids (ginger/green/lemon tea, garlic soup (must). 

The food we will serve you will be traditional, western, or Asian. However, as you elevate the food choices get limited and more expensive as well. We will provide you with 11 breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 10 dinners in trek regions. 

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, Butter, Cheese, Honey, Tibetan bread or Chapati, Eggs, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, French toast with Jam, Local Tsampa porridge, fruits, Vegetables, Hot drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Lunch: Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Macaroni dishes, Tenduk, Spaghetti, Noodles, Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts, (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Dinner: Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Tenduk, Spaghetti, Noodles Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable Curry, Potato items, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Vegetable and salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Ramen, Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks Steaks, etc

Khopra Danda and Annapurna Base Camp trek is an all-weather trek, and we conduct these treks throughout the year. However, your experience will largely depend on the weather you trek. Most trekkers complete this trek during spring (March, April, May) and autumn (September, October, and November), taking advantage of cool temperatures, clear skies, minimum chances of rainfall, and great trail conditions. 

Winter (December, January, February) and Summer (June, July, August) treks are less popular. The summer season coincides with the monsoon, bringing in heavy rain and making the trails wet and slippery. In winter, the high trek elevations receive heavy snowfall, and cold temperatures make the treks difficult.

Here are the weather conditions at high trek elevations throughout the year.

 

Spring (March-May)
Spring is a great trek season. The cool temperature, the clear skies, the fresh snow at mountain tops, and the trail condition are very conducive for treks, bringing in droves of trekkers to the trails. The temperature at high altitudes will be between 10 to 0°C. The temperatures constantly rise from March, and the forests you will pass look lovely with multi-colored rhododendron blooms.

 

Summer (June - August)
Summer at high elevations provides favorable temperatures for trekking, but, monsoon coincides with summer in Nepal and brings a lot of rain, which causes the trails to be wet and slippery. Nevertheless, the monsoon feeds the water bodies, making rivers roar and waterfalls spectacular. Due to water abundance, the foliage picks up its color and grows. You can see the whole vegetation blanketing itself with green growth. The day temperatures, at high altitudes, can reach 23°C and fall to 10°C at night. If you love water, this is the season you should trek.

 

Autumn (September - November)
It is another favorable trek season. It is also a harvest season, as grains ripen in the fields. The rain recedes, and a festive season begins. Major festivals, like Dashain, Tihar, Chhat, and Indrajatra, fall during this season. The temperatures are cool, at around 20°C, during the day and 5°C at night. Just as in the spring season, the views are unobstructed, the skies are clear, and trek trails will be in good condition. If you want to enjoy the views and observe the festivities, autumn treks are for you.

 

Winter (December - February)
The temperature at high trek elevations takes a dip and gets heavy snowfall. The coldest part of winter starts in late December and lasts till early February. At high altitudes, the day temperatures can reach -10°C and the nights are even colder. If you love the snow, this is the season for the trek, but if you are allergic to cold, you should at least wait till March to make the trek. 

We conduct private as well as group treks and can handle all group sizes. If you have your group, based on the group size, you will be eligible for discounts. However, you will not get discounts for the groups we gather. We add an assistant guide to all groups with 12 or more.

 

Trip grade and fitness

Khopra Danda and Annapurna Base Camp is a moderately challenging trek. Previous long trek experience is useful but not necessary. An average person who is medically fit can surely complete this trek. You will trek from around five to seven hours each trekking day. The trails consist of steep up-and-down slopes and straightforward sections that can pass through dense forests and alpine, arid landscapes. However, the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the trek. We advise you to participate in stamina-building exercises a few weeks before trek departure. You can try cycling, swimming or jogging. If you suffer from heart, lung, or blood diseases, consult your doctor before booking the trek.

 

Typical day

Each trekking day brings in new experiences as you trek, take pictures, climb, enjoy the scenery, interact with locals, try local dishes, and explore trek regions that most probably look different from those you are used to. You will be trekking from 5 to 7 hours per day based on the trek length and nature of the trails. Our guide will provide you with information about the places as you visit them.

You will have breakfast at around 7 to 8 am. If the trek is going to be a long one, we must begin early. We serve lunch at around noon, often in between the next destination. You will rest for an hour after lunch. Then, you will start on the trails once more. The afternoon trek will be short, for about two to three hours. After reaching the trek destination for that day, you will snack on the extra dietary supplements. Then, you are free to explore nearby places. 

Dinner will be around seven pm. After dinner, your trek leader will brief you about the next day’s plan. You are then free to spend your time as you like before going to bed. Most of our guests read books, play cards, monopoly or chess, or simply learn fun and light Nepali words from our crew before heading to bed.

 

Water/electricity

Electricity is available throughout the lodges you will be staying in. You can use electricity to charge your electronics, such as your mobile or camera. However, you might have to pay a small fee for it. 

You can buy packed water from en-route shops or hotels/lodges. However, some trek regions might not allow plastic bottles. Hence, we recommend you carry a water bottle and buy boiled water from lodges/hotels. We can provide you with water purification pills if you need them.

The lodges in the trek regions are internet-connected, and you can use the Wi-Fi to connect with your friends and families from these lodges you will be staying. You may also buy a local SIM in Kathmandu, but based on your network, the mobile signals may not be strong enough at high altitudes. All our trekking teams remain in contact with the Discovery World Trekking office at least once a day via the trek team lead. We have this policy to ensure the trek progresses as planned and everyone is fine and comfortable. 

 

Travel Insurance

Khopra Danda and Annapurna Base Camp trek is a high-elevation trek that passes through some remote Himalayan regions and comes with risks such as altitude sickness associated with high-altitude treks. Hence, adequate travel insurance is a must for this trek. Your trek insurance must cover helicopter evacuation up to the highest trek altitude (Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130m) and treatment costs. 

If you need help choosing an insurance provider, we can recommend companies based on our previous clients’ experiences. However, we do not sell insurance in any shape or form.

All foreigners, except Indians, need a visa to enter Nepal. However, most foreign nationals are eligible for an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu or at immigration checkpoints along Nepal-India and Nepal-Tibet borders. You will need visa fees, a passport with at least six months of validity, and a passport-size photo to apply for an on-arrival visa. The current visa fee is USD 50 for a 30-day stay. Children under 10 receive a free visa. 

SAARC (Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan) and Chinese nationals are entitled to free visas. However, citizens from certain countries ( Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan) may not get an on-arrival visa and should contact the local Nepalese embassy. 

The Nepal government can change visa rules without prior notice. Hence, please visit https://www.immigration.gov.np for current visa rules. 

 

Money Exchange

Nepali Rupees ( also NRP/NRS/ Rs.) is the official currency of Nepal. 1 USD = ~130 NPR. Even though the traveler’s check is more secure, we advise you to bring cash in major currencies (Euro, Dollar, Pound) and exchange them for Nepali Rupees in Kathmandu. It allows you to avoid lengthy bank processes and commissions while cashing out your traveler’s check. You can easily exchange your currency from legal currency exchanges all over Thamel in Kathmandu. These exchanges display ongoing rates publicly. Some hotels also exchange small amounts of foreign currency.

Please note that if you have Indian Rupees, only Indian Rupee notes of INR. 2,000 and 100 are legal in Nepal. You can also withdraw cash in Nepali Rupees from ATMs in Kathmandu. Several of these ATMs are open throughout the day. You can withdraw up to NRS 35,000 for a fee of NRS.500 using your foreign card. 

There are no currency exchanges in trek regions. So, you need to exchange your currency in Kathmandu before departing for the trek. The exact amount you will require depends on your spending habits. We estimate you will need USD 10 to 20 per trekking day.

Traveling light helps a lot when going for long treks like this. Though we will assign porters to carry your luggage, your luggage weight limit is 9 kg. One porter will carry luggage for two persons and no more, which comes to 18 kg. You can store your extra luggage at the Discovery World Trekking store for free for the duration of the trek. We also expect you to carry a regular backpack to keep your valuables and essentials safe with you. 

We will check your luggage to ensure you have packed all essential things for the trek during the trek briefing.

 

Extra personal expenses

Though this package covers all major expenses, it does not cover all expenses. You must bring spending money to meet several expenses such as beverages (hot (tea/coffee), cold and alcoholic drinks, visa fees, souvenirs, tips for the trek crew, snacks, hotel stays in Kathmandu, etc. The exact amount you require depends on your spending habits. We advise you to bring cash (major currency) and exchange them for Nepali Rupees. Trek regions do not honor foreign currencies. 

 

Trek safety

Discovery World Trekking guarantees client safety, security, and satisfaction. We consider all our clients as extended family and take care of them accordingly. There are several policies in place to ensure trek safety. We carry all the essential standard gear and equipment, including first aid kits, ready to face any situation. Our guides will use oximeters to monitor your blood oxygen level at high altitudes to detect the first signs of altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is quite common in high-elevation treks but can be serious in severe conditions. In emergencies, we will use a helicopter (funded by insurance) to rescue you and bring you to safety. Hence, adequate insurance is a must. Further, you will be trekking as a group for an extra layer of protection. 

 

Discovery World Trekking crew

Our staff members come from the high Himalayas. Hence they have natural endurance and can easily remain at high altitudes without being affected. They have years of experience in conducting high-altitude treks. All our staff members are precious to us. We pay them well and cover their food, lodging, equipment, and insurance costs. We believe that only happy people can keep others happy, and we put every effort to keep our staff happy. 

As you visit new places, our trek guide and porters will accompany you, providing information about the places as you travel. All our trek guides have:

• Nepal-government issued trek licenses
• Rock climbing experience and conservation and bio-diversity training
• Fluency in speaking English and another language
• Completed extensive wilderness first aid training

 

Responsible travel

Tourism can bring adverse effects to trek destinations and may potentially make tourist destinations unattractive in the future. So, we do our part to keep tourist destinations away from adverse tourism effects. We aim to leave behind only the footprints in the trek regions. We dispose of waste properly and encourage all our guests to do the same. If we use campsites, we try our best to leave them in a better condition than when we used them. Furthermore, we partner with Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) to organize eco-friendly trips. 

 

Booking and payment

Discovery World Trekking is a Nepal-government registered and bonded trek and tour company in service for over a decade. We are also members of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN). Hence, you can book treks with us in confidence.

We require 10% of the trek cost as an advance to book the trek. You can pay through bank transfers, online, or using Wise. The rest of the trek cost is due when you arrive in Kathmandu. Again, you can pay in cash, through bank transfer, Wise, or using credit cards. We will also email you about cost details, including modes of payment available. 

Please send us your required documents, such as insurance copy and flight details, within a week of booking your trek so that we can complete official processes and preparations.

 

Tipping

Nepali culture accepts tipping and Nepalis view tipping as a validation of service quality. Tipping is at the traveler’s discretion. We believe the tipping amount should reflect the length of the trip, trip cost, and the quality of service received. We recommend you tip at the end of the trek and do so collectively. Tipping does not form part of wages at Discovery World Trekking.

 

Last-minute booking

It is always better to book treks in advance, but many people are impulsive, and they want to trek on short notice. For those people, Discovery World Trekking has a provision for a last-minute booking. In the case of last-minute booking, trekkers must clear 100 % of the trek cost 24 hours before the intended trip departure date. Though we are ready to conduct trips at any moment, for last-minute treks, you cannot hold us responsible for delays due to circumstances beyond our control, such as bad weather or unavailability of lodging, etc. 

 

Trip extensions

After completing the Khopra Danda and Annapurna Base Camo trek, if you have a few days to spend in Nepal, we can organize activities for you. You can go sightseeing in and around Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan Jungle Safari, canoeing, rafting, and so on. You may even decide to go on another trek. 

 

Feedback

After your trek concludes, Discovery World Trekking will organize a farewell dinner in Kathmandu. After dinner, we will present you with a Discovery World Trekking trek achievement certificate. It is also the right time to give us feedback so that we can improve our services in the future. 

 

Useful info

This trek includes fixed departure dates from Kathmandu and Pokhara. However, if the departure dates do not suit you, let us know. We can organize treks at your convenience. Moreover, we can tailor this trek to suit your interest. 

The trek itinerary above is a general guideline. In rare cases, we might need to modify the itinerary for safety and security, such as in the case of bad weather, floods, landslides, etc. If such a case arises, your trek leader will decide on the ulterior route, taking into account the interest of the trek group and in consultation with the Discovery World Trekking office.