The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek

 South Col Expeditions  is trekking to the Annapurna Base Camp this spring. This iconic trek covers the route to the south base camp of Annapurna I, the tenth highest mountain in the world. This route starts in the foothills close to Pokhara and climbs to 4030 metres and includes brilliant views of the Annapurna group, Macchapuchare, Gangapurna and many other Himalayan giants.

DATES
April 13th 2014 to April 24th 2014 Kathmandu to Kathmandu.

COSTS
For details of the cost and other information please do e-mail sujoyrdas@gmail.com for a trek pdf.

PHOTOGRAPHS
For photographs of the Annapurna region please do visit http://www.sujoydas.com/Nepal-Himalaya/Annapurna

TESTIMONIALS
For testimonials from past South Col clients please do visit http://www.southcol.com/testimonials

TREK SCHEDULE
DAY 01 – KATHMANDU TO POKHARA
We travel the six/seven hour journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara in a micro bus with scenic views along the river valley.

DAY 02 – POKHARA TO PHEDI BY ROAD AND THEN TREK TO TOLKA (1810m) 7 to 8 hours
The next morning we drive forty minutes to Phedi. We will start climbing to a ridge by traversing fields and forest and following a stone staircase, we reach to a small Hindu temple and then a short climb which will take us to Dhampus village. After a short break, we trek through the rhododendron forest and trails paved with stones and take a steep climb to Pothana village (2000 m). Lunch at Pothana. After lunch, the path slowly ascends until we reach Bhichowk Deorali (2149 m) from here we can see the view of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. We then take a steep descent to Modi Khola and gently climb to a ridge and then take short descent to the village of Tolka (1810 m), our night stop. 

Gurung Cottage, Ghandrung

I had the pleasure of spending two lovely days at Gurung Cottage Ghandrung last month basking in the sunshine with Annapurna and Macchapuchare floating high above the clouds. Kisam Gurung is an excellent host and goes out of his way to make his visitors comfortable.  Ghandrung is possibly the first night out of Pokhara on the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek.
 Kisam can be contacted at  gurungcottage@yahoo.com. He has only five rooms so advance booking is recommended!

Annapurna South from Ghandrung

In December 2007 I had taken a team of fourteen trekkers including two children for a five day circuit in the Annapurna foothills north of Pokhara.

 On the first day we stopped at Gurung Cottage, a small guest house in the village of Ghandrung. The first day of the trek is always hard and the stiff four hour climb from Syuli Bazaar near the river to Ghandrung had been especially tough for the team straight out of the plains.

  The last trekker entered Ghandrung around 5 30 pm in the fading dusk. The weather was not particularly good with clouds swirling in the valley and visibility was low. We could not see the view of the Annapurnas and Mache Puchare which Ghandrung is famous for.

  I was sipping a cup of tea in the stone patio of Gurung Cottage, chatting with Kisam Gurung, the owner, who I was meeting after a year.  We both lamented the inclement weather which looked as though it would deprive our group of the dress circle view. Suddenly, as if by magic, the cloud curtain started to clear and the tip of Annapurna South came into view.

  We watched mesmerized and called out to the other members.  The cloud cover dropped even lower and we could see a major portion of the peak glinting in the last rays of the setting sun. Instinctively I grabbed my camera and took a few shots. Within minutes the cloud curtain was back and the magic moment was over!