A German woman trekking alone in Nepal, who went missing on November 25, was found dead on Monday, December 1.
Astrid Elizabeth Weiser (Weisser in some sources), in her mid-30s, apparently died in a fall. An independent trekker with no guide or companions, she was on a multi-day journey through the Annapurna region.
According to Nepal news reports, Weiser had reached the Khopra part of the Annapurna region by late November. She stayed at the Khopra Community Lodge on the evening of November 24. This simple lodge is run by local residents.
On the morning of November 25, Weiser sent her final communication to her family from the lodge. She then set off alone toward Dobato, aiming to cover a standard segment of the Khopra Danda (or Khopra Ridge) Trek.
This route is part of the Annapurna Conservation Area, requiring permits, which she presumably obtained. Although the 2023 Nepal tourism regulations require all foreign trekkers in this area to hire a licensed guide, enforcement has remained lax.
Missing trekker announcement on social media. Photo: Facebook
The Khopra-Dobato section
According to detailed itineraries from trekking operators like Rad Global Adventure, the Khopra to Dobato route is a moderate descent spanning approximately 11km and typically taking 5 to 7 hours for fit hikers. From Khopra Ridge (3,660m), the trail drops steeply through open alpine pastures dotted with grazing yaks, transitioning into dense rhododendron and oak forests that provide shade but also obscure views of the sheer drop-offs.
In places, the path narrows to one to two meters in width, hugging cliff edges with potential exposures of 100 to 200 meters. Slips in foggy or wet conditions are a danger during the post-monsoon period. Still, hikers require no technical gear.
After the initial two kilometers of descent — where Weiser’s accident occurred — the terrain levels into rolling meadows and forest.
Route map of the Khopra Danda Trek. Photo: Nepalholiday.com
This section is part of the Khopra Danda Trek, a 5 to 12-day itinerary, depending on side trips. It’s a lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path alternative for those seeking solitude and fewer crowds compared to high-traffic trails like the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, which sees over 50,000 visitors annually, or the classic Annapurna Circuit with its 30,000-40,000 trekkers per year.
The Khopra Danda route draws just 5,000-10,000 participants yearly, with fewer than 10 people per day often encountered on the Khopra-Dobato leg. This makes it ideal for experienced independent hikers, but riskier for novices due to limited infrastructure and traffic.
Frame of a video posted by Rajman Gurung of the place where Astrid Weiser was found, 160m below the route.
Discovery of the body
Weiser vanished shortly after starting her descent. Family members reported her missing after several days without contact, prompting informal searches by local guides and residents of the Khopra area.
According to Nepal News, on the afternoon of December 1, her body was discovered 160m off the trail, still just one to two kilometers from Khopra. The local police recovered her remains that day and transported the body to Kathmandu for examination. Preliminary investigations pointed to an accidental fall, consistent with the steep terrain.
The incident has sparked renewed debates about the dangers of solo hiking, the need for stricter enforcement of guide requirements, improved trail markings, and better information for visitors.
Overall fatality rates in Nepal range from 7 to 15 per 100,000 participants, with solo trekkers facing higher risks.
A helicopter airlifted Weiser’s body to Kathmandu for examination. Frame of a video by Rajman Gurung
