Khopra Danda vs Poon Hill: Which Annapurna Viewpoint Trek Is for You?

If you want the classic Annapurna sunrise in the shortest time, choose Poon Hill. If you have a few more days and want a higher, quieter ridge with a closer view of Dhaulagiri, choose Khopra Danda, and if you can, do both in one loop.

Last checked: November 2026.

Our Khayer Lake Trek covers Khopra Ridge, Khayer Lake and Poon Hill in 15 days. If time is short, see our Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.

The short answer

Poon Hill is a short, well-worn trek with big lodges, a sunrise viewpoint at 3,210 m, and many other trekkers. Khopra Danda (also called Khopra Ridge) is a longer side trip into higher country, with small community-run lodges and far fewer people. The views overlap, but from Khopra you are higher and closer to the mountains.

	Poon Hill	Khopra Danda
Typical days on trail	3–5	7–9 as part of a loop (our itinerary: Days 3–12)
Highest point	3,210 m (Poon Hill)	3,660 m (Khopra Ridge); about 4,660 m with the Khayer Lake day (sources range from about 4,500 m to 4,700 m)
Crowds in peak season	Heavy at sunrise; busy lodges in Ghorepani	Light; small groups at the lodges
Lodges	Many private teahouses, more choice and comfort	Few, basic, community-run lodges
Main views	Wide panorama: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre	Closer, higher view of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South across the Kali Gandaki side
Difficulty	Easy to moderate, many stone steps	Moderate, longer days, more altitude

How the routes split after Ghorepani and Tadapani

Both treks start near Pokhara, usually from Nayapul, and share the lower trails through Gurung and Magar villages. The Poon Hill trek then follows a well-marked circuit between Ghorepani and Tadapani, with a pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill from Ghorepani.

The Khopra route leaves this circuit and climbs north onto a forested ridge. In our itinerary, you turn off at Tadapani (2,630 m) and head up through rhododendron and oak forest to Bayeli Kharka (3,420 m), then cross to Upper Chistibung (2,975 m) and climb to Khopra Ridge (3,660 m). From Khopra you can make the long day trip to Khayer Lake. You then descend to Swanta (2,200 m) and rejoin the main trail at Ghorepani (2,860 m), ready for Poon Hill the next morning.

You can also run the loop the other way, starting from Ghorepani and finishing at Tadapani. The direction does not change the views much, but going up via Tadapani first gives you a gentler gain before the higher ridge.

Views compared: Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South

Poon Hill gives a wide, classic panorama. On a clear morning you see Dhaulagiri to the west, the Annapurna South and Hiunchuli group ahead, and Machhapuchhre to the east. It is a famous view for good reason, but you share it with a crowd on a small hilltop.

Khopra Ridge sits about 450 m higher than Poon Hill and much closer to the mountains. Dhaulagiri rises directly across the deep Kali Gandaki valley, and Annapurna South and Nilgiri feel close. You can watch sunset and sunrise from right outside your lodge instead of climbing in the dark.

Khayer Lake, above Khopra, adds a high, open basin below Annapurna South. It is a sacred lake for local Hindu and Buddhist communities and the main reason some trekkers choose this route.

Crowds and lodges in peak season

In October, November, March and April, Ghorepani can fill up. Lodges are large and comfortable by trail standards, with heated dining rooms, but the sunrise on Poon Hill can mean a queue on the steps and a crowded viewing area.

On the Khopra side, the lodges at Dobato, Chistibung, Khopra and Swanta are community-run. They are smaller and more basic: twin rooms, shared toilets, limited hot water and a simple menu. Fewer people means quiet evenings, but it also means fewer beds. Khopra has a single community lodge, and it has had trouble meeting demand in peak season, so in busy weeks it is worth having someone call ahead.

Who should pick which

Pick Poon Hill if

• You have 3–5 days or less to trek.
• This is your first trek in Nepal and you want lower altitude.
• You prefer more lodge choice and comfort.
• You are trekking with children or older family members.

Pick Khopra Danda if

• You have a week or more on the trail.
• You want quieter trails and do not mind basic rooms.
• You want to go higher, with an option to reach Khayer Lake.
• You are fit enough for 5–7 hour days and one long day of 8–9 hours.

Since April 2023, Nepal Tourism Board rules have required foreign trekkers in the Annapurna Conservation Area to trek with a licensed guide. Enforcement on Annapurna trails has been inconsistent, so check the current position before you go. On the Khopra route a guide also helps with lodge bookings and route finding in forest sections.

Combining both

You do not have to choose. A Khopra loop that returns via Ghorepani lets you see both viewpoints in one trip. Our Khayer Lake itinerary does exactly this:

• Days 3–4: Nayapul to Ghandruk, then Tadapani
• Days 5–7: Bayeli Kharka, Upper Chistibung, Khopra Ridge
• Day 8: Khayer Lake and back to Khopra
• Days 9–10: Swanta, then Ghorepani
• Day 11: Poon Hill sunrise, descend to Tikhedhunga
• Day 12: Trek to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara

If you want Khopra without Khayer Lake, you can skip Day 8 and save a day. This also lowers your maximum altitude to Khopra Ridge. For more on the lake day itself, see our article “How Hard Is the Khayer Lake Trek? Altitude, Daily Hours and Fitness”.

Weather affects both routes the same way. Clear views are most likely in October and November. Spring brings rhododendrons on both trails but more haze. In winter, Poon Hill stays open, while snow can make the Khopra ridge hard going and can block the Khayer Lake trail for days after a heavy fall. Some lodges on the Khopra side may also close in the coldest weeks, so check before you set out.

What a typical day feels like on each route

On the Poon Hill circuit, most days are 4–6 hours between villages with lodges every hour or two. You can stop for tea often, and if you are slow, there is always another lodge ahead. The trail is mostly stone steps through farmland and forest.

On the Khopra side, lodges are further apart and there are long sections of forest and open ridge with no services. You carry more water and snacks, and the pace is set by the distance to the next community lodge. On our itinerary, the walk from Tadapani to Bayeli Kharka is 5–6 hours, and the descent from Khopra to Swanta is 5–6 hours. In return, you spend the evenings in small dining rooms with only a few other groups.

FAQ

Is Khopra Danda harder than Poon Hill?

Yes, a little. The days are longer and you go about 450 m higher to Khopra Ridge. The optional Khayer Lake day is the hardest part. Anyone who can walk 5–7 hours a day on hills can manage it with a steady pace.

Can I see Poon Hill and Khopra Danda in one trek?

Yes. Most Khopra itineraries loop back through Ghorepani, so you can climb Poon Hill on the way out. Our 15-day Khayer Lake trek includes both.

Which has the better view?

Poon Hill has the wider, classic panorama. Khopra is higher and closer to Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South, with far fewer people. Many trekkers who do both prefer Khopra.

Do I need a permit for both?

Both routes are inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so the same ACAP permit covers either one. Our packages include the ACAP permit and TIMS card.

Plan this trek with us on our Khayer Lake Trek page, or choose the shorter Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek.