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)
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| 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.
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| The road near Birethanti |
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!
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| The jeep stand at Landrung |
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?
ReplyDeleteI think it will be difficult but I guess that is the long term plan!
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