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The area around the Annapurna massif is perhaps the best known trekking destination and is certainly the most popular for trekking in Nepal located in the mid west of Nepal bounded in the west by the Barbung Khola and Dolpo, and in the east by the Budhi Gandaki, the mountains of central Nepal are dominated by the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. T he main Himalayan range runs south of the border with Tibet means that the northern parts of the area are in the rain shadow and are considerably drier than the southern slopes of the mountains which leads to unusually diverse landscapes. The The Annapurna region covers a wide range of trekking destinations from well-developed trail to Annapurna Base Camp to treks in remote semi-wilderness areas and requiring special permit trail. Between these two mountains runs the valley of the Kali-Gandaki River, the deepest gorge on earth. Combine this with lush, fertile farming land, stands of undistributed natural forest and a mixture of different ethnic inhabitants and you have a diverse range of scenic experiences that makes this area one of the most satisfying trekking destinations in Nepal.
Permits and Fees
For most of the Annapurna trekking area, no trekking permits are required. The exception is upper Mustang where a fee of US$700 per person is levied for a ten-day visit.
Most of the area is within the area controlled by Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Entry to this area is controlled and an entry permit has to be purchased. The permit must be purchased before starting the trek and can be obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Access
Regardless of the trek chosen it is most likely that Pokhara will be either starting or ending point of your trek. For road travel there are a number of tourist buses available daily from Kathmandu.
For those trekking in the eastern side of the Annapurna massif the most likely starting point will be Besishahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung district. Buses from Kathmandu, Pokhara and the Terai arrive and depart here on a regular daily basis. The bus trip from Kathmandu to Besishahar takes around four to five hours but, at this time, there are no tourist bus services available. Most treks starting or ending in Pokhara will require the use of buses or hired cars to reach the trailheads.
There are air strips in Jomssom and Manang so flight can be arranged as per your destination and schedule. However there are no direct flight from Katmandu but daily from Pokhara in the season and alternately in off-season.
Flora and Fauna
The range of geographical and climatic regions has led to a diverse variety of flora and fauna within the Annapurna region too. From heavily cultivated and the landscape, terraced paddy fields to forest of oak, beech and rhododendron then a coniferous forests of pine and, ultimately, juniper just below the tree line. In the rain shadow, to the north of the mountains, the landscape is quite barren being an extension south of the Tibetan plateau. Here there are only stunted bushes and shrubs except for close to the rivers where irrigated cropping is possible. The native animals to be seen here include many birds the most obvious being the pika, blue sheep and Himalayan Thar.
Trails and facilities
Most of the trekking routes in the Annapurna region are well serviced by teahouses. This is particularly true for most popular treks-the Jomsom trek, the Annapurna circuit and Annapurna base camp treks. Trekkers should be aware, however that there is always the risk of being stranded by bad weather or injury/sickness between teahouses, particularly in the more remote parts of the trek itineraries. a good example is on the Annapurna circuit where there is one very long day when the high pass of Thorong La has to be crossed. There is no shelter available for most of this day and some trekkers have been caught unprepared by bad weather and altitude problems. The treks in less developed areas, particularly Siklis, Royal trail, Mustang, Dhaulagiri and other village stay trek, definitely require trekkers to be fully organized.
People and Culture
The most prominent ethnic groups in the Annapurna region are the Gurung, the Thakali and the Manangba. Their heartland, however, is centered on the hills and valleys between the Marsyandi river and the kali Gandaki. The Thakali come from the upper kali Gandaki valley around Jomsom where their traditional farming has being supplemented by trade and, in particular, hotel and restaurant businesses. The Manange are found in the upper reaches of the Marsyandi River and are in many ways similar to the Gurungs to whom they are possibly related. They are skilled traders and trace their roots back to Tibet. Religiously, the Manange and the Gurungs of the upper hills is Buddhist with traces of their ancient, shamanistic faith still apparent. The communities live further south are predominantly Hindu. All of the communities, particularly the Gurungs are famed for their cultural performances, which are easily seen while trekking in the region.
Season
The best times to trek in are during spring and autumn. Spring is the time for rhododendrons while the clearest skies are found after the monsoon in October and November. At these times the weather is generally mild and there is little rainfall. The monsoon, from June to September, is the ideal time to visit pats of the region that falls in the rain shadow. Particularly, upper mustang is the perfect destination during the rainy season. The winter months provide good trekking conditions throughout the foothills but some of the higher passes will be closed due to snow. |
