The Khayer Lake Trek

Grade 1 2 3 4 5
Grade 4 – Demanding
These treks require participants to be in excellent health. They take you into the high Himalaya, altitudes ranging from 9,000ft / 2,800m to often in excess of 16,500ft / 5,000m. Trails venture into sparsely populated or uninhabited high-mountain wilderness, and are often ill defined, occasionally on glacial moraines. Average walking is 6 - 9 hours a day.

Click here for a full explanation of Trip Difficulty Grading

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Trek Difficulty Grading

Our treks vary from easy hikes in the foothills to challenging climbing adventures in the high Himalaya. More often than not, we use trails that have since ancient times been the only link between villages, settlements, and their inhabitants. The trails may take you through a well-inhabited area with many villages and tea-shops, or through a mountain wilderness without a single permanent settlement for days, but one thing is certain: there'll be lots of ups and downs as we walk from one Himalayan valley to another. Treks are graded on the basis of altitude, trails, walking hours per day, and length of trek.

Grade 1 – Easy
Treks in the foothills staying below 6,500ft / 2,000m. Trails are relatively gentle & wide, and average walking is 3 - 4 hours a day.
Grade 2 – Moderate
Treks in the foothills and the middle-hills going up to 10,000ft / 3,000m. Trails are mostly gentle and wide, but at times may involve more difficult stretches like a steep stone staircase. Average walking is 5 - 6 hours a day.
Grade 3 – Challenging
Fairly demanding treks, usually in the high Himalaya, going up to 13,000ft / 4,000m. Trails can be ill defined, narrow, steep, and rocky, and will usually take you into uninhabited or sparsely inhabited areas. Average walking is 6 - 7 hours a day.
Grade 4 – Demanding
These treks require participants to be in excellent health. They take you into the high Himalaya, altitudes ranging from 9,000ft / 2,800m to often in excess of 16,500ft / 5,000m. Trails venture into sparsely populated or uninhabited high-mountain wilderness, and are often ill defined, occasionally on glacial moraines. Average walking is 6 - 9 hours a day.
Note on altitudes
The altitude definitions indicate elevations through the major part of the trek. Treks usually involve side-trips into elevations exceeding the altitude ranges defined for their grades. Grade 3 and grade 4 trek itineraries are designed to allow proper acclimatization, with acclimatization days when we take side trips to higher elevations where necessary.

 

18 days – An outstanding "off-the-beaten-track" community and wilderness trek
  • 14 days demanding trekking in the middle hills and high Himalaya (maximum elevation 4,827m / 15,830′)
  • Spectacular close-up views of the Annapurna & Dhaulagiri Himal
  • Encounter seldom-visited Brahmin & Magar settlements of the middle hills
  • High Himalaya wilderness experience
dhaulagiri-270x180The ideal trip for those wishing to get “off the beaten tracks”. This trek has you spending the better part in the peace of the mountains and away from the popular trekking trails. This lodge-based trek offers the best of the glorious Annapurna region: breathtaking mountain views, remote ethnic villages, high-Himalaya wilderness, and even some trekking on the popular trails.

The trek begins at the trail-head in Nayapul and takes a seldom-trekked route to Poon Hill, passing through forested areas, interesting Brahmin and Magar settlements, and terraced cultivation. We stay in community lodges along the way. At Mohare, we take in a marvelous view of sunrise over the Himalaya — comparable to that from Poon Hill. We then venture beyond into a pristine alpine wilderness amidst dramatic close-up views of two majestic 8,000m / 26,000? ranges, the Annapurna & Dhaulagiri Himal. This is the domain of many exotic species of wildlife including the Himalayan Tahr (mountain goat), the endangered Red Panda, and the iridescent Impeyan Pheasant or Danfe, the national bird of Nepal. The highlight and high-point of the trek is the sacred lake of Khayer Barahi Tal, from where the summit of Annapurna South appears close enough to touch. After a week in isolated high-Himalayan splendor, we descend to meet the main trekking trail above the Gurung village of Ghandruk.

An incomparable trek combining spectacular Himalayan wilderness with the cultural encounters of the lower hills.

Trip Itinerarymap_axl

Day 1  Arrival and orientation.
Day 2  Morning drive to Pokhara. Rest of day at leisure.
Days 3-5  Drive Pokhara (884m / 2,900′) to Nayapul (900m / 2,950′); trek through Brahmin and Magar settlements to Nangi (2,320m / 7,610′).
Days 6-7  Trek to Mohare (3,320m / 10,890′). Enjoy a dawn panorama of the Central Nepal Himalaya and continue via Poon Hill (3,210m / 10,530′) to meet the main trail at Ghorepani (2,870m / 9,410′).
Days 8-10  Leave the main trail to head up to Khopra ridge (3,660m / 12,010′) with stops at Swanta (2,270m / 7,446′) and Dhan Kharka (3,026m / 9,930′).
Day 11  Day excursion to Khayer Lake (4,827m / 15,830′).
Days 12-14  Descend via Bayeli Kharka (3,450m / 11,320′) to meet the main trail at Tadapani (2,710m / 8,890′). Continue to Ghandruk (2,150m / 7,050′).
Days 15-16  Trek across the Modi Khola gorge to Pothana (1,990m / 6,530′). Finish trek at Phedi (1,130m / 3,710′). Drive to Pokhara.
Day 17  Drive to Kathmandu.
Day 18  Departure.

Dates and Pricing

Sep 28 - Oct 15
Oct 12 - Oct 29
Oct 26 - Nov 12
Nov 9 - Nov 26
Nov 23 - Dec 10

Feb 26 - Mar 15
Mar 12 - Mar 29
Mar 26 - Apr 12
Apr 9 - Apr 26
Apr 23 - May 10

  Standard Hotels
2 - 5 personsUS$ 1,215
6 - 12 personsUS$ 1,089
Single room supplement US$ 150
Cost Information
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Cost Information

The trip cost quoted is the cost per person, and includes:

  • Hotels: Accommodations in Kathmandu and Pokhara on twin / triple room-sharing basis with breakfast.
  • Tours: Sightseeing tours indicated with a certified English-speaking guide.
  • Transfers: All land transfers by car (Toyota Corolla or similar) or van (Toyota Hiace or similar).
  • Trekking: Room-sharing accommodation in local lodges, all meals, services of trek crew (guide, sherpa(s), and porter(s) to carry all luggage & equipment), applicable trekking / ACAP permit / National Park entry fees.
  • Permits, Fees, & Taxes: All applicable permits, entry fees, and taxes.
  • Trek leader: We provide a trek leader on groups of six or more. A tour leader can be provided upon request for smaller groups, upon additional cost.

Not included in the cost are:

  • Meals other than indicated.
  • Flights: All internal flights are extra. Internal airfares indicated are subject to change without notice.
  • Personal clothing & equipment (upon confirmation you’ll receive a clothing & necessity checklist of items we recommend you bring, items you can hire / purchase locally are indicated).
  • Personal expenses, bottled / alcoholic beverages, and tips to crew.
  • Insurance: We strongly recommend that all trip participants be covered by their own personal insurance that also covers emergency evacuation.
  • Other unforeseeable expenses that may arise due to factors beyond our control, like bad weather or flight cancellations.
  • Nepal visa fee.

 
  Standard Hotels
KathmanduNirvana Garden Hotel
PokharaSampada Inn
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