Friday, June 6, 2014

Approach to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek

With the construction of roads in the Annapurna foothills, there are now a number of alternative approaches to the ABC Trek. All these options can also be used as exit points as well. 

Phedi 
Phedi is a 40 minute drive from Pokhara along the Beni-Baglung road. This was the preferred approach to the ABC trek but there is a 550 metre ascent from Phedi to Dhampus on the very first day itself which is hard going! Many trekkers now take the alternatives routes given below, but this option may be a good one on the descent. (Phedi to Dhampus 3 hrs)

View from Dhampus above Phedi

Kande
Around thirty minutes further up from Phedi on the same road lies Kande. This approach is now gaining in popularity as  there is only a 200 metre climb to the ridge at Austrian Camp (wrongly marked as Australian Camp!) and then a half hour down to Pothana. The Austrian Camp is well worth a night stop and there are spectacular views from here. (Kande to Austrian Camp 1 hr 30 min)




Birethanti- Kimche
Beyond Kande, the road reaches Nayapul and then Birethanti. This used to be the approach for trekkers wanting to reach Ghandrung on the first day. But now it is possible to drive beyond Birethanti to Kimche and then walk for an hour and a half uphill to  Ghandrung -  both buses and jeeps ply on this road from Pokhara. It is possible to get a bus to Pokhara while descending from Ghandung from Kimche though the road is not very good.


The road near Birethanti
Landrung
There is now a road upto Landrung and there is a jeep service (shared) from Pokhara to Landrung every morning. The jeep takes around 3 hours. The road is not good. I did not use the jeep service but found  jeeps at the Landrung jeep stand! This can shorten the ABC trek  by a day and a half!


The jeep stand at Landrung
Good luck for your trek! For more information on the full route please do visit http://sujoyrdas.blogspot.in/2014/02/annapurna-sanctuary-abc-trek-walking.html and for photos please visit http://www.sujoydas.com/Nepal-Himalaya/The-Annapurna-Base-Camp-Trek-2/

3 comments:

  1. Dramatic changes indeed from 34 years ago when I trekked to the Annapurna Sanctuary! Are there any plans to push a road all the way to Chomrong?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it will be difficult but I guess that is the long term plan!

      Delete
  2. I am extremely impressed along with your writing abilities, Thanks for this great share.

    ReplyDelete

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