Khayar Lake Trek

Trip Overview

Trip Facts

Country: Nepal
Trip grade: Moderate
Destination: Annapurna
Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Hotel, Teahouse
Meals: Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners
Maximum altitude: 4665m
Group size: 1+
Best Season: Mar-May / Sep-Nov

Khayar Lake Trek is a new walking adventure in the Annapurna region of the Himalayas. It takes you to explore the wilderness of the mountain solitude in the region. This adventure is one of the most peaceful and wilderness trekking adventures in Annapurna. If you love walking in the mountains in a quiet atmosphere with fewer trekkers, you will love this adventure.

Taking you to an area that people did not know as a trekking destination until recently, Khayar Lake Trek offers an incredible trekking experience. This trek is also becoming popular as Khopra Danda Trek amongst the trekkers. The trek blends the experience of walking in a popular trekking area, Ghorepani Poon Hill, and a less-explored region, Khayar Lake.

What you see during Khayar Lake Trek

Many people would not even imagine that such a trek exists in the Annapurna region. Because, when people consider Annapurna to go trekking, they assume the trekking areas to be popular. But this trek is trekking in the wilderness of the Annapurna region. Although local people would tread the trail for various purposes like a pilgrimage to Khayar Lake, it was not a trekkers’ area.

But now that, it has come into operation, it has come with the wonderful wilderness of the mountains. However, the entire trek is not in the wilderness. It also uses the trail used by Ghorepani Poon Hill and Annapurna Sanctuary Trek.

Once you start trekking Ghorepani onwards, you will start experiencing a more peaceful area of the mountains. The trek takes you ultimately to Khayar Lake (4665m) above Khopra Danda where you will enjoy the magnificence of the Annapurna region. As you trek towards the higher elevation of Khayar Lake, you will experience a quieter region of the mountains.

Reasons this trip becomes an Experience

Nepal Climbing Adventure always strives to offer an adventure traveling experience that you can cherish. While the Khyar Lake Trek is beautiful in its all essence, your experience of trekking there becomes even more beautiful with us.

By the time we take you to the base camp and bring you back, we take one step ahead to offer you a beautiful experience. We keep your safety and happiness as our top priority and you will experience the same during the trip.

Trekking with us to Khayar Lake is traveling in safe hands.

Detail Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Normally, your arrival in Kathmandu is the day one of this trip. We will come to pick you up at the airport as per your flight time and transfer you to the hotel. There are no activities today apart from a trip briefing meeting. The information about the meeting time will be available upon your arrival at the hotel.

You have time to relax and go for any last-minute preparation for the trip. Welcome to Kathmandu!

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 02: Kathmandu – Pokhara (900m) (6-7 Hrs. Drive by Tourist Bus)

On the second day of the trip, we have a long day drive to Pokhara. Our day starts pretty early in the morning and we get ready for the drive. We will go to the tourist bus station to board the bus to Pokhara.

It takes us 6-7 hours to drive 200 kilometers from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Although the drive is long for the distance, the scenic surroundings of the highway will ease the travel a bit. We will drive past small and beautiful towns and villages along the highway. Most of the time, we will drive along beautiful rivers.

Once we reach Pokhara 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu, we will have enough time to go around and explore the Lakeside. Pokhara offers an incredibly beautiful view of the Annapurna range. This peaceful city has various natural attractions like lakes, caves, mountains, and green surroundings.

We will spend quite a relaxing time in Pokhara after checking into hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

Day 03: Pokhara – Nayapul – Ulleri (2050m) 1.5 Hrs Drive/6 Hrs. Trek

We are going to begin the trekking adventure into the Annapurna region from today. Before the first day of the trek begins, we need to drive about 1.5 hours to Nayapul from Pokhara after breakfast. Once we reach Nayapul, we will get ready and excited to start the first day of the trek to Khayar Lake.

Our destination for the day is Ulleri village. It takes us about six hours walk to reach the village. The walk today is a relatively easy one except for the final part of the walk. The first 3-4 hours of the walk is along the dirt road and is an easy start. As soon as we start the walk, peaceful and beautiful natural surroundings take over. We trek to Tikhedhunga to start the final leg of the walk for the day which is a demanding uphill walk. Almost two hours of steep uphill walk on steps eventually will take us to Ulleri village where we stay overnight today at a teahouse. The beautiful village of Ulleri lies in the mountain slope surrounded by greenery and mountains.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 04: Ulleri – Ghorepani (2875m) 5 Hrs. Trek

After the first experience of staying overnight in a teahouse in the mountains of Nepal, we wake up for a beautiful morning. Our trek for the day will take us to Ghorepani and it is all uphill walk through the forest. As we traverse the trail through forest, we slowly gain the elevation. It will take us about five hours to reach Ghorepani village to stay overnight.

While the natural surroundings of the trail keep us amazed during the walk, Ghorepani village has a breathtaking view of the mountains. When we reach Upper Ghorepani and if weather is clear, we will get to see a beautiful view of the gigantic snow-capped mountains right in front of us.

We will spend the rest of the time at Ghorepani enjoying the wonderful view of the mountains and surroundings.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 05: Ghorepani – Poon Hill (3210m) – Swata (2050m) 6 Hrs. Trek

We will start the day really early today since we plan to hike up to Poon Hill for the sunrise. The hike starts much earlier, before the break of the dawn. It is about an hour’s steep uphill hike to reach Poon Hill from Ghorepani. We will make it to the Sunrise View Point to enjoy the amazing sunrise over the Himalayas. As the daylight appears, we can enjoy the magnificence of the mountains in the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range of the Himalayas.

After the sunrise and spending some time at the top, we descend to Ghorepani and continue the walk for the day to Swata after breakfast. It will be another four hours of the trek up and down the mountains to Swata. Although the walk tests us with lots of uphill and downhill trails, it is certainly a beautiful walk through the forest and a beautiful view.

Once we reach Swata and settle into a teahouse for the night, we will spend time enjoying the view of the surrounding mountains.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 06: Swata – Khopra Danda (3660m) 5 Hrs Trek

It is going to be a big day in terms of elevation gain. We will gain almost 1600 meters of elevation while walking from Swata to Khopra Danda. It takes us about five hours to traverse the trail. As we tread the path towards the higher elevation, we will experience the change in the landscapes. The view of the surrounding nature and mountains makes the walk a beautiful adventure. Once we reach Khopra Danda, we will rest and relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 07: Khopra Danda – Khayar Lake (4660m) 6 Hrs Trek

It is going to be a challenging day of the trek. The destination of our walk today is to Khayar Lake Base Camp, just below the lake. It will take us about six hours to reach the destination. As the elevation increases and the landscapes change, the walk will become more challenging. But the beautiful view of the surroundings and mountains will make our walk a beautiful adventure. We reach Khayar Lake base camp eventually to stay overnight.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 08: Khayar Lake Exploration Day

We spend the whole day today exploring Khayar Lake and its surroundings. The lake situated at a high altitude is one of the most scenic lakes in the region. Locals also make a pilgrimage to this lake once a year. We will absorb the vibes that the lake and its surroundings offer.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 09: Khayar Lake – Khopra Danda

After exploring Khayar Lake for a whole day, we trek back towards lower elevation. The destination of our walk today is Khopra Danda. Once we reach the destination, we will spend a relaxing time.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Khopra Danda – Chhistibung (3100m) 6 Hrs Trek

Our trek to Chhistibung today is about five hours that takes us past beautiful places in the region. A walk that mixes nature and the view of the mountains, we will try to enjoy the best of the region. We spend overnight at Chhistibung after the walk of about six hours.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Chhistibung – Dobato (3460m) 5 Hrs Trek

We will trek to Dobato today from Chhistibung. The walk that starts after breakfast takes us through a beautiful area with an amazing view of the surroundings. It will take us around six hours to reach Dobato to stay overnight.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Dobato – Tadapani (2625m) 4 Hrs Trek

It is rather a short walking day today to Tadapani. We meet the trail to Annapurna Base Camp today when we reach Tadapani to stay overnight. A beautiful downhill walk to Tadapani takes us through beautiful natural surroundings. The view of the mountains from Tadapani is also breathtaking.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13: Tadapani – Ghandruk (1940m) 3.5 Hrs Trek

From Tadapani, we take the trail to the right heading towards Ghandruk village. If you take the trail to the left and down, you will take the Annapurna base camp trail. But our destination for the walk today is Ghandruk, an ethnic Gurung village in the region. It will take us about three and a half hours to reach the destination through a forested trail on a downhill walk.

Once we reach Ghandruk and check into a guesthouse, we will spend the rest of the day enjoy the view of mountains and surroundings. We can also go for a walk around the village exploring its beauty.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 14: Ghandruk – Nayapul – Pokhara (900) 3.5 Hrs Trek/1.5 Hrs Drive

We are on the final day of our trek. The morning will bring a spectacular view of the mountains in the Annapurna. We can look in the direction of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek and Mardi Himal Trek.

Our walk for the day to Nayapul will take us about 3.5 hours. The trail descends to the bank of the Modi River and heads straight towards Nayapul. Once we reach Nayapul, we will get into the vehicle and drive to Pokhara. After about one and a half hours of drive, we reach Pokhara to bring our trip to end.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 15: Pokhara – Kathmandu 7 Hrs Drive

As we have completed our trekking journey, it’s time now to return back to Kathmandu. We will get ready for the early morning bus ride back to Kathmandu. It will take another seven hours to reach Kathmandu.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

Day 16: Departure Day

The trip has come to an end today. We have to bid farewell for this time hoping to meet again for another adventure soon. We will drive you to the airport for your departure flight as scheduled.

Meal: Breakfast

Cost Details

What is included?

All airport and hotel transfers
Welcome and farewell dinner
Accommodation and meals during the whole of the trek.
Accomodation in a 3 star hotel in Pokhara
All necessary paper works and permits
Government and local taxes
An experienced English speaking trekking guide, assistant trek guide(4 trekkers,1 assistant guide), porters(2 trekkers, 1 porter) including their salary, insurance, food, lodging and all equipment.
A comprehensive medical kit

What is not included?

Nepal Visa fee(bring small denomination cash USD and two passport photographs)
International airfare
Excess baggage charges
Extra night accommodation apart from the schedule due to any reasons
Lunch and evening meals in Pokhara and in case of early return than the scheduled itinerary
Private vehicle from Pokhara and back
Travel and rescue insurance
Personal expenses
Tips for travel guides or porters

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions - Trekking in Nepal

Are you a licensed trekking agency?

Yes, we are a licensed company to operate adventure tours in Nepal. We have been organizing tours, Treks, and Expeditions for our valued clients for over two decades. Our long journey and experience in the field have made us pioneer in the industry.

Do the guides speak English and have first aid training?

All of our guides are experienced experts in their job and speak fluent English. Most of them are born in the areas they guide trekkers to and have several years of experience as trekking guides in the mountains. It's mandatory that they are trained in first aid and also carry a first aid kit with them during the trek.

How big are the groups?

We always do our best to team up a small group of likeminded people to give them a memorable and insightful adventure travel experience, coupled with an invaluable opportunity to interact with each other in the true spirit that comes with adventure. Our trek groups generally comprise of maximum 12 members. We need a minimum of 2 participants to run our fixed departure dates. For private trips, no minimum or maximum numbers apply.

Are permits included in the price of the trek?

Yes. All of the necessary permits for your trek are included in the price and will be arranged for you prior to your trek. For certain restricted regions (like Manaslu and Makalu), you'll need to have a full day in Kathmandu prior to your trek as your trek operator will need your passport for the permit registration.

Do you arrange private treks?

Yes, we do. If you would like to travel independently, or with your friends, families & colleagues you are invited to choose any of the trips at a timeframe that best suits you for any number of people (minimum 1 & maximum 100 at a time). The costs for private trips are generally fixed on the basis of group size, trek area, duration, and trek style, and is negotiable. We also arrange TREKS FOR A SINGLE WOMAN. If by any chance, none of our fixed group departure dates work for you and you do not have anyone to accompany you, you can still be able to make your preferred trip with us. There is absolutely nothing to worry about if you want to go solo. We assign local guides, porters, etc who you can trust your life with.

Do you provide any equipment while trekking?

On all our Camping treks, we provide all the tents, sometimes dome tents, sometimes sturdy A-frames and normally people share one tent between two; a foam mattress each; all the cutlery and utensils, cooking pots, stoves; candles/kerosene lantern, tables, and stools, kitchen tent, dining tent and toilet tent; all the main meals while trekking but not snacks. On Tea house treks there isn’t really a necessity to provide any equipment.

But you are provided a duffel bag if you don’t have one and a down jacket if you haven’t flown in with your own. This is loaned to you and must be returned when the trek is done.

How difficult are the treks?

Classifying the difficulty of a trek is like walking a thin red-line, as it depends on your fitness and experience hiking in the mountains. In the Himalaya, a trek's difficulty depends on the steepness of the trail, the general altitude, and the duration of the trek. Generally, the higher you go the more difficult the trek becomes. For most treks in the lower foothills (Ghorepani, Poonhill, Ghandruk, and Pikey Peak), it's fairly moderate trekking, although some days will be more challenging than others. For higher-altitude treks (i.e. Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Annapurna Circuit, and Nar Phu), the treks become more challenging as you get going over 5,000m passes with longer days. If you’re an avid walker and enjoy hiking, then there’s no better adventure than trekking.

How long do we walk each day?

Much of our trekking ventures are classified into THREE different categories according to the level of difficulty. Soft Adventure treks are only about a week to 10 days in duration. They generally don't go above 4000 meters and each day, you can expect to be walking for around 4 – 5 hours. While moderate to fairly challenging treks are longer treks that go right into high mountain country. Physically quite tiring, these involve approx 6-8 hours trekking along rocky ridges of high Himalayan peaks. Arduous treks are longer treks that go far beyond the normal haunts of trekkers and tourists. Physically challenging, these may involve 7-9 hours trekking and likely to include unfavorable weather conditions and activities that are not only physically challenging but also tax the mind. These trips are not for greenhorns.

What is exactly 'teahouse' trekking?

Teahouse trekking refers to staying at a small local lodge or mountain hut each night of your trek. The lodges are basic but pretty cozy; enough to shelter you from the bitter mountain winds. They consist of 5-10 rooms with a common area used for eating and hanging out. Most treks in Nepal are teahouse treks where the lodges are run by members of the local community. Bunking out at these teahouses in some of the harshest territories on earth will give you a true sense of what life is in the wild.

What do we mean by FOT trek?

On FOT or a ‘Fully Organized Trek’, all meals and sleeping arrangements will be fully organized by the support crew. FOTs are also known as CAMPING TREKS. On camping treks, you will be sleeping in tents. A trekking crew consists of one sirdar, one cook, and kitchen crew, Sherpa assistants, and porters depending on the size of the group. Under the leadership of the Sirdar (local trek leader), the crew consists of several Sherpa assistants who will ensure you don't take the wrong path, a cook and kitchen crew to keep you well-fed with delicious and nutritious meals, and the porters to transport all the gear from camp to camp.

Our main aim is to make the trek as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible. The ratio of both Sherpa guides and kitchen crew to group members is generally 1:4 and the ratio of porters to group members is around 3:1 at the beginning of the trek, but this decreases as food is eaten and loads become smaller. For bathroom facilities, we carry a toilet tent. Your camping staff dig a deep hole in the ground for excrement and cover the hole with soil after nature’s call is done. Camping treks are more expensive than teahouse treks. These treks are generally operated in remote restricted alpine zones that go above the tree-lines. Camping treks can also be used as options for teahouse treks throughout the Himalaya to enjoy the true spirit of adventure!

What is security like during trekking?

Security for our clients is always a foremost priority for us. All our guides and other support crew are carefully chosen for your trips. Our guides hold licenses issued by the Nepal Government. They are very honest and reliable. But we would also advise you to take care of your own personal belongings. If you are on ‘camping treks’ please do not leave your bags unattended at any time for your own safety. Take your main bag inside the tent once you reach the campsite. At night, all bags and belongings are kept in the middle of the tent. Your guide assigns a Sherpa on a rotation basis to guard the campsite throughout the night. If you are on a ‘Tea house or GAP trek’ arrangement, you will be sleeping in local teahouses. You need to take sensible precautions yourself at all times. Never leave your baggage unattended and keep your lodge room locked when you go out.

What happens if I fall ill during the trek?

If by chance you fall ill during your trek, the first course of action depends on what's wrong with you. If it's altitude sickness, moving to lower altitudes and taking altitude medication will solve most cases; if it's quite severe, your guide will arrange for emergency evacuation by helicopter (be sure that emergency helicopter rescue is covered in your travel insurance). If you have a stomach sickness, bug, or any other types of food or water-related illnesses, your guide will have medication on hand for the most common illnesses.

What type of food is served during a trek?

On CAMPING TREKs we provide three delicious, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a tasty mix of local and western dishes. Your day starts with a king-size breakfast consisting of a choice of porridge, muesli, and cereals followed by omelet, fried, or scrambled eggs with ‘chapattis’ [rounded bread made from wheat] or multigrain-bread. Also included are seasonal fresh fruits. Lunch is generally a selection of organic salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta, and traditional bread. Dinner is a truly hearty 3-course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetables, meat, and rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert [which may include a finger-licking crusty apple pie].

Ironically, some of the best apple pies in the country are found on these mountains and not in Thamel, Asia’s hub for backpackers; as many tourists would assume. Tea and coffee are also provided at all meals. We use as much fresh organic produce as possible available at some of the villages we hike through and special diets are regularly catered for. The trek leaders maintain very tight controls on health and hygiene in the kitchen with respect to general cleanliness and food preparation and also within the group with respect to personal hygiene.

All foods are well cooked and vegetables are treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. We only serve Boiled water for drinking. Antiseptic soaps and potassium or iodine treated water are provided for washing. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for. On Tea House treks we provide standard breakfast, lunch, and three-course dinner, tea or coffee is also included with each meal. Your guide will help with menu selection and ensure that you get the best value meals possible. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive. Most teahouses offer a variety of rice and soupy noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread, and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate, and soft drinks and in some areas, you will find fresh fruit in season. You can buy packaged water (bottled mineral water) from local lodges and shop en route or you can also ask your guide to fill your water bottle with boiled water and treat it with water purification pills. Although it's held that gluttony is a sin, nevertheless, we ensure our trekking guests are well fed in as much as they can digest to cope with the arduous trails and the tough elevations.

Do I need to carry my own gear?

You'll carry your daily essentials (sunblock, water, hat, light jacket, and camera) but your porter will carry the bulk of your gear, such as extra clothing and overnight basics. Porters are especially helpful for longer treks where you'll be carrying more gear. For shorter treks (2-3 days), you may opt just to have a guide if you're comfortable carrying your own gear, but hiring a porter is a great way to support the local economy and is quite affordable. It's also the safest thing to do when you’re hiking on the biggest and most rugged mountains on planet earth.

How much could porters carry?

Porters typically carry up to 30 kgs max. (To ensure they're not overloaded). For fragile items, such as cameras, it's still best to carry these items yourself. If you have more than 15 kg., please carry the extra weight in your day pack. In the commercial trade, when transporting goods and supplies up into the high mountains, some porters carry up to 100 kgs and get paid less than a fair wage provided by some so-called responsible trekking companies. However, doing things like this weighs on the conscience and we totally avoid such unfair situations.

We know the risk that comes with neglecting our porters and follow all mandatory guidelines as stipulated by the IPPG international porters association.

What is the overnight accommodation like?

In cities like Kathmandu or Lhasa, accommodation will be in hotels of your preference. We have a pool of hotels that ranges from luxury deluxe to budget hotels. While on a trek accommodation will depend on the trek style. If you are taking a camping trip then you will be sleeping in tents. Whilst we endeavor to stay in the best possible accommodation along the way, you should be aware that most teahouses, particularly in the smaller villages, are pretty basic but cozy enough to protect you from the harsh elements. The bedrooms are usually very small, the shared bathroom facilities are often outside and meals are served in a communal dining hall. Although simple, the teahouses do provide shelter and warmth and are normally run by friendly local families. Tea house treks are less expensive than Camping treks and are largely suitable for small groups. Usually, during busy seasons if private rooms in smaller villages are fully occupied you might have to bunk out in a dormitory. But then this is what adventure is all about.

Can we change the itinerary?

Depending on the prevailing situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your senior guide. However, the date of trek completion should always coincide with the original itinerary. You should keep in mind that this is an adventure trip into some of the most remote regions in the world, where many unforeseen circumstances may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original itinerary.

Is tipping included and if not, how much should I budget?

Tips are always appreciated by your support team after the trip. The amount depends on your budget and appreciation of their work. Guiding on some of the riskiest trails on earth is a tough job and your crew always makes sure they lead from the front. Some trekkers give 10% of the total tour cost as tips. The hat is passed around and the whole group contributes. Most trekkers happily provide tips with big hearts. The choice is yours if you feel they’ve been worth it.

Great way to see Nepal and visit places in remote villages

I really enjoyed seeing places in the mountains and hillside villages. The places we went were unique and I saw some amazing views. The company were professional and helpful, with quick responses.

Jess Karlsson, West Leederville