Destination
Nepal
Region
Annapurna
Trip Grade
Moderate/Adventure
Highest Elevation
4130m.
Meal
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation
Tea House
Trek Duration
05 Days
Group Size Min
02 Trekkers
Best Time
September-December & March June
Start/End Point
Pokhara to Pokhara

Trip Overview

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a popular and breathtaking trekking route located in the Annapurna region of Nepal. While the typical duration for this trek is around 7 to 10 days, a 5-day trek to Annapurna Base Camp would be quite challenging and might require a good level of physical fitness and acclimatization. Please note that this shorter duration might mean you miss out on fully enjoying the natural beauty and cultural experiences along the way.

Embark on a captivating journey with the Short 5  Days Annapurna Base Camp trek. In just 7 days, traverse diverse landscapes, from lush valleys to snow-capped peaks. Immerse yourself in local culture, witness stunning vistas, and reach the iconic Annapurna Base Camp. Unveil the Himalayan wonders in a condensed yet exhilarating adventure.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Flora and Fauna

Flora:

  • Rhododendron Forests: In the lower elevations, especially during spring (March to April), you’ll pass through vibrant rhododendron forests in full bloom, adding a splash of color to the landscape.
  • Bamboo and Oak Forests: As you ascend, the forests transition to bamboo and oak trees, creating a lush and serene environment.
  • Alpine Meadows: Higher up, you’ll come across alpine meadows covered with various types of grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs.
  • Juniper and Pine Trees: As you approach the higher elevations, you’ll find juniper and pine trees dotting the landscape.
  • High Altitude Flora: Nearing Annapurna Base Camp, you’ll encounter hardy plants like mosses, lichens, and other cold-resistant species that thrive in the alpine conditions.

Fauna:

  • Himalayan Thar: These wild goats are commonly spotted in the region, particularly in the lower areas with rocky terrain.
  • Langur Monkeys: Look out for langur monkeys swinging through the trees in the forests along the trail.
  • Pika: These small, rabbit-like mammals can be seen scurrying around rocky areas.
  • Various Bird Species: The Annapurna region is home to a diverse range of birdlife, including colorful pheasants, eagles, vultures, and many other species.
  • Snow Leopards (Rare): While extremely elusive and rare to spot, the Annapurna region is known to be a habitat for snow leopards.
  • Red Panda (Rare): Similarly, the red panda, another elusive creature, has been sighted in the higher reaches of the trek, although sightings are infrequent.

Annapurna Base Camp Chhomrong Gurung Village

Chhomrong is a charming Gurung village located along the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trekking route in the Annapurna region of Nepal. It serves as a significant stopover for trekkers en route to the base camp and offers a unique cultural experience. Here’s a glimpse of Chhomrong and its highlights:

Chhomrong Village:

  • Chhomrong is situated at an elevation of approximately 2,170 meters (7,120 feet) above sea level.
  • It is one of the last permanent settlements on the trail before entering the higher reaches of the Annapurna Sanctuary.
  • The village is beautifully nestled on the lap of the Himalayas, surrounded by stunning mountain vistas.
  • The architecture of the traditional Gurung houses, with their distinctive slate-roofed design, adds to the village’s rustic charm.

Gurung Culture:

  • The Gurung people are an ethnic group known for their rich cultural heritage and unique traditions.
  • Chhomrong offers a wonderful opportunity to experience Gurung culture up close, with a chance to interact with the locals and learn about their way of life.
  • Visitors may have the opportunity to witness traditional ceremonies, dances, and rituals, providing insight into the spiritual and social fabric of the Gurung community.

Accommodation and Facilities:

  • Chhomrong is equipped with teahouses and lodges that cater to trekkers, providing basic accommodation and meals.
  • This is a great place to rest, acclimatize, and enjoy local cuisine before continuing the trek to higher altitudes.

Scenic Views:

  • Chhomrong offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, creating a picturesque setting for trekkers.

Gateway to Annapurna Sanctuary:

  • Chhomrong is the gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary, a natural amphitheater surrounded by some of the world’s highest peaks.
  • Trekkers continue their journey from Chhomrong towards higher elevations, passing through dense forests, and alpine meadows, and eventually reaching Annapurna Base Camp.

Why Choose 5 Days ABC Trek

Choosing a 5-day Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek is a decision that comes with both benefits and considerations. Here are some reasons why you might opt for the shorter 5-day trek to ABC:

  1. Limited Time: If you have limited time available for trekking but still want to experience the beauty of the Annapurna region and reach the base camp, a 5-day trek provides a condensed yet rewarding adventure.
  2. Physical Challenge: A shorter trek means covering more distance each day, which can be appealing to those seeking a more physically demanding challenge within a compressed timeframe.
  3. Prior Trekking Experience: If you have prior trekking experience and are accustomed to hiking at higher altitudes, a 5-day trek might be suitable for you. However, it’s essential to be well-prepared and properly acclimatized.
  4. Highlights and Views: The trek still offers the highlights of the ABC route, including beautiful landscapes, Gurung villages, and the majestic Annapurna Sanctuary. You’ll also have the opportunity to witness the breathtaking scenery at Annapurna Base Camp.
  5. Logistical Convenience: The shorter trek allows for efficient use of time and resources, making it suitable for those who are looking for a quick mountain adventure without an extended time commitment.

However, it’s important to consider the potential challenges and limitations of a 5-day ABC trek:

  1. Altitude Acclimatization: Rapid ascent to higher altitudes can increase the risk of altitude sickness. Proper acclimatization is crucial, and a shorter trek might limit your body’s ability to adjust to the changing altitude.
  2. Physical Demands: The shorter duration means longer daily trekking distances, which can be physically demanding and may not allow for sufficient rest and recovery.
  3. Limited Enjoyment: The Annapurna region offers diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and side trips that enrich the trekking experience. A shorter trek might mean missing out on fully enjoying these aspects.
  4. Unpredictable Weather: The weather in the Himalayas can be unpredictable. A shorter trek might reduce your flexibility to wait out unfavorable weather conditions.
  5. Safety Concerns: Rushing through the trek may increase the risk of accidents and injuries, as well as altitude-related health issues.

Before deciding on a 5-day ABC trek, carefully assess your fitness level, altitude tolerance, and trekking experience. If possible, consider a longer itinerary (7-10 days) to allow for better acclimatization and a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. Consult with local trekking agencies and guides to make an informed decision based on your individual circumstances.

Best time for Annapurna Base Camp Trek 5 days

The best time for a 5-day Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek is during the pre-monsoon (spring) and post-monsoon (autumn) seasons. These periods provide the most favorable weather conditions and stunning views, ensuring a memorable and safe trekking experience. Here are the recommended times for a 5-day ABC trek:

1. Spring (Pre-Monsoon): March to May

  • March to early April: Rhododendron forests are in full bloom, adding vibrant colors to the landscape.
  • Moderate temperatures and clear skies make for excellent trekking conditions.
  • Warmer days and cooler nights at lower altitudes.
  • Stunning mountain views with crisp visibility.

2. Autumn (Post-Monsoon): September to November

  • September to October: Clear skies and excellent visibility provide breathtaking views of the mountains.
  • Comfortable temperatures during the day and cool nights.
  • Stable weather conditions and less chance of rain.
  • Vibrant landscapes with harvest season activities in local villages.

It’s important to note that while the above seasons are generally considered the best times for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, weather patterns can vary from year to year. Additionally, trekking during the winter (December to February) and monsoon (June to August) seasons is possible but comes with its own set of challenges, such as cold temperatures, snowfall, and increased risk of avalanches in winter, as well as rain and leeches during the monsoon.

Details Itinerary

Day 01: Pokhara drive to Sewai (1500m) Trek to Chhomrong (2160m)

Trek time: 5-6 Hours
Accommodation: Stay Overnight at Guest House

Day 02: Trek to Himalaya(2850m.) 7-8 hour

Trek time: 7-8 Hour
Accommodation: Stay Overnight at Guest House

Day 03: Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (4130m.)5-6 hour

Trek time: 6-7 hour
Accommodation: Stay Overnight at Guest House

Day 04: Trek to Sinuwa (2340m.) 6-7 hour

Trek time: 6-7 Hours
Accommodation: Stay Overnight at Guest House

Day 05: Trek to Sewi and Drive to Pokhara 5 hours

Trek time: 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Stay Overnight at Hotel

Cost Include/Exclude

Cost Includes

  • Pokhara to Siwai and return to Pokhara By Local Express bus or Sharing Jeep
  • You’re Meal in During the Trekking as Your standard meals (3 times a day Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with a cup of tea or Coffee).
  • All Trekking Permit and Paperwork as Annapurna conservation entry permits (ACAP) and Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Permit.
  • All accommodations in lodge/tea houses during the treks.
  • Trekking Guide: Government License holder Trekking An experienced, helpful, friendly, and English-speaking. His well-paid salary, meals, accommodation insurance, etc.
  •  Trekking porter ( one porter for two members) No Porter for Solo Trekkers
  • After the successful trip, Everest Trekking Routes will Provide an Adventure Certificate.
  • Arrangement of Emergency Helicopter service which will be paid for by your Travel insurance company.
  • Medical supplies (first aid kit will be available).
  • All government taxes and Services are charged.

Cost Excludes

  • Meals and Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Private Car, Jeep, Van, or Helicopter
  • Trekking Equipment (Down Jacket, Sleeping Bag, Wal)
  • personal expenses (bar bills, beer, coke, a bottle of water, hot water, phone call, laundry service, Helicopter rescue, Electronic device recharge such as Mobile, Camera, etc.)
  • Tips for guide, porters, and driver.

Trip Map

FAQ

Fixed Departure Booking

Departure Date Duration Availability Cost Booking

Recent Client Reviews

Liau Gii Hau

Malaysia

LangTang 8 days tour

I requested Mr. Rabin Gurung to have a guide/porter before starting my journey, and he sent a very experienced guide Mr. Phul to be my guide/porter. Mr. Phul has more than 25+ years of experience becoming a mountain guide. I had problems during the hike up to the mountain but Mr. Phul always gave me support all the way, he shared the newer things in the jungle with my brother along the trek.

Source by: TripAdvisor

Yap Chun Sing

Singapore

Wonderful Experience trekking in Manaslu

Had a wonderful time hiking at the Manaslu area with my tour guide Sushil Gurung and porter Madan Gurung. They helped us with our every need from last minute rental gear like sleeping bags to telling us more about Nepal and being knowledgeable about the area. Both of them are experienced and knowledgeable. Both of them are very observant about how you are coping with the pace and terrain and will change pace to suit your pace.

Source by: TripAdvisor

Deon Poh

Singapore

Manaslu Circuit Trekking

Positive experience liaising with Everest Trekking for our Manaslu Circuit Trek.
The guide made adjustments to our plans based on our comfort/fitness level and the weather so that we managed to finish the trail.
Our guide helped us secure some last-minute stuff for us like our sleeping bag rentals.
Most importantly the hike itself was great as well thanks to our guide for his hospitality and our porter’s hard work.
Appreciate the apples cut for us every night during the hike carried by the guide and to the porter for pushing through even though his eyes hurt from the sun glare from the snow.
Thank you for this great experience.
Everest Trekking liaison: Rabin Gurung
Guide: Sushil Gurung
Porter: Madan Gurung

Source by: TripAdvisor

Mook Kunnapat

Bangkok, Thailand

Annapurna Base Camp trekking

ในช่วง 5 ปีที่ผ่านมาได้มีโอกาศไปเดิน Trek ที่เนปาลกับไกด์ Rabin มา 3 ครั้งแล้ว ประทับใจทุกครั้ง ทีมงานลูกหาบดีเรียบร้อยใส่ใจ บริการดี ไว้ใจได้ ราคาสมเหตุสมผล ใครจะไปเนปาลแนะนำเลยครับ!!

I’ve trekked in Nepal with Rabin 3 times in the past 5 years, and it’s been awesome!! Great team, reliable services, and reasonable price. Highly Recommended!!

Source by: TripAdvisor

Mike Q

Austral

Manaslu basecamp and Circuit and Tsum Valley

I have just completed a trek of the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum valley with three other friends. The trip was magnificent, stunning mountain peaks, ancient forest, impressive rivers and waterfalls and interesting villages. During the trip we were very well looked after by our guide, Dhansingh Gurung who gently and efficiently took us through 21 days of trekking over diverse terrain and Sangam (Durga) our porter who was always helpful and cheerful. Both Dhansingh and Durga added considerably to the enjoyment of the experience with their friendliness and local knowledge. If I return to Nepal, I will definitely use our guide and porter again.

Sorce on: TripAdvisor

Jasmin H

Germany

Gokyo Lakes with Gokyo Ri

The trekking was an extraordinary experience. Breathtaking views of Everest and the surrounding 8000s. Rabin Gurung always made sure we have a nice accommodation, enough for eating and drinking, warm and comfortable. He is a really caring guide. I would do another trip with him right away. He organised everything so that we could totally focus on the hiking.

Source from: TripAdvisor

Tuffy Kin Leung

USA

Gokyo Lake — EBC

My wife and I had an amazing experience with both Dhansingh and Rabin Gurung. We took a 2 weeks trek with them from Lukla — Gokyo Lake — EBC . What a blessing we had them along the way , we will never forget and be grateful and thankful for the unquie, warm , genuine hospitality that we had , plus all the priceless encounters within the nature. Namaste!

Email: tuffyl@yahoo.com

Sources from: TripAdvisor

Toft Lars

Denmark

Mera Peak Climbing Guided & Trip Operation by Everest Trekking Routes

My brother and I had the pleasure of having Rabin as our guide on the trip to Mera Peak Expedition.
Everything was planned to perfection and we had a great time with Rabin, who is friendly, funny, and always helpful.
Last but not least, we reached the summit.

Source: TripAdvisor

Soren Dorfhoff

Denmark

Island Peak, Everest Base Camp and Lobuche Peak Climbing (October 2022)

I have now used Everest Trekking Routes for two trips to Nepal. I can’t put my finger on anything that needs improvement. The initial communication part is spot on. They are quick to respond and I usually my questions answered on the first reply. Both times I have been greeted at the airport by a super polite guide. I’ve felt welcome and gotten all my needs tended to.
On my second trip, we could not fly to Lukla, because of bad weather. Instead of waiting for the weather to clear up, they arranged alternative transport to the mountains, to avoid wasting precious days in Kathmandu.

The whole city experience has been an absolute pleasure. Except for the hard work, summiting a mountain 😅

Best recommendations to the guys from Everest Trekking Routes 👌

Source: Tripadvisor

Family Tour in Nepal

Alex Lim

Singapore

Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Rabin Gurung

This is my second trip with Rabin and I am already looking forward to a third trip with him soon. That shows how much I value his services, his extensive experiences with the treks, his honesty, and of course, the great supporting staff he have.

I feel safe and well taken care of with Rabin as my guide. He is a man with integrity and deal in a most honest way with us. This is unlike lots of horror stories you read about guides and tea-house owners collaborating to fleece hikers. We pay exactly what we consumed at the tea houses based on the published menu prices, no more and no less. With Rabin, there is no hidden cost.

With more than 20 years of trekking experience, he gave good advises on the route and safety measures to take. For example, he insisted that we started off early on a particular day so that we will reach a section with an ice sheet before the ice started to melt and traversing the ice-sheet becomes dangerous and difficult.

We have a large team of porters and assistant guides to take care of our team of 12 hikers and everyone on Rabin’s team have been extremely helpful and friendly. My teenage son enjoyed playing Uno and sliding down the ABC  Trek icy slope with a teenage porter, a fellow hiker who has walking difficulties was supported all the way by assistant guides and porters and our meals were all ordered in advance so the group don’t have to wait long for food to be served.

Singapore

Sources from: TripAdvisor

Family Tour in Nepal

Mark Gamboa

Vancouver, British Columbia

Everest Base Camp Trek with Suk Bahadur Gurung

Searching for the perfect company to embark on the EBC trek was not easy when doing research on who to go with. I happen to have really lucked out by choosing to go with Everest Trekking Routes, because they were great, through and through.

I did the trek in November but started inquiring with them back in February. Rabin is the CEO of the company, and he has helped me in every way possible. He was prompt in answering my questions via email and meticulously arranged the EBC trek, which felt customized to all my needs. In person, he was kind and courteous. And my guide Suk was friendly and helpful throughout the hike. He had brought all the necessary medication for me and asked every day how I was feeling. Suk is also a very good card player and was grateful for his company on the 12-day hike/ Kathmandu City Hike.

I’m sure most of you reading this have gone with some tour company elsewhere in the world, and perhaps you might agree that most of them have treated you as simply a commodity in the assembly line. By going with Everest Trekking Routes, I never felt that. Rabin and Suk took care of me from beginning to end, and I sing all their praises for getting me to Everest Base Camp, which was a major deal for me and my friends and Family. Rabin and Suk became family to me. Thank you for everything, guys!

Antonia Carol Suning

Sabah Malaysia

Everest Base Camp & Lobuche Peak with Rabin Gurung

It was such a hard fight to join this trip. Because I had to work hard to find funding for this training. It is the first summit I attended team NOBAT ( No Boundary Adventurers Association Sabah ) to the Himalayas with AMG (Adventure Mountain Guide Rabin Gurung), I gained a great experience, which Mr. Rabin Gurung was very friendly and kind as a mountain guide who experience he made this trip so enjoyable, and build a better friendship.

I would like to thank him for giving the best service to us, this is the first time I walk for 21 days hahaha. In every step, he remained faithful to accompany and not leave us, even though there are 2 people in our group who did not succeed, and he sent us back to our high camp Lobuche to support the spirit reaching the summit of Lobuche Peak Climbing.

Nice trip and good services such as tents, food, and stories you tell about your family, it is good, and I enjoyed the trip because you protected me and my team so much.

Keep up the good work you AMG! I am happy to see and to know you! Good luck! * extra bonus able to speak Bahasa Melayu! hehe

Jasen Moore & Helen Kerrandjas

Canada

Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Rabin Gurung

While Rabin is a very knowledgeable and capable guide it was his kindness, Warm smile, and Constant eagerness to help that made our trip truly memorable. Rabin Gurung quickly earned our trust and friendship and would be an excellent companion on any trek! we would very happily Recommend Rabin to anyone who is making a trip to Nepal. He is is a wonderful person and a good friend.

Email: helen.karrandjas@maclaren.com
Details Address: 191 Millwood Rd, Upper Toronto, ON M4S 1J6 Canada

Jaistin Tamin

Sabah Malaysia

Everest Base Camp, Island Peak, Lobuche Peak & Chulu West Peak with Rabin Gurung

Sewaktu saya ditugaskan oleh persatuan NOBAT untuk mendapatkan khidmat ‘trekking guide’ bagi ekspedisi NOBAT Himalaya 2013, saya telah menghubungi beberapa ‘trekking agent’ di Kathmandu melalui emel. Saya tertarik dengan laman web Rabin Gurung dan ‘testimonial’ dari beberapa individu yang penat mendapatkan khidmatnya. Rabin memberikan tawaran kos yang paling berpatutan. Dari raut wajahnya saja saya yakin dia adalah orang yang jujur dan’friendly’. Satu kelebihan lain ialah dia boleh berbahasa Malaysia.

Apabila bertemu dengan Rabin buat pertama kalinya di Kathmandu, memang sah bahawa kami telah membuat pilihan yang tepat. Sepanjang trekking, Rabin sangat professional dalam khidmatnya. Beliau flexible dan mudah diajak berunding. Kami tidak lagi menganggapnya sebagai pemandu jalan tetapi sebagai sahabat..kepada sesiapa yang ingin trekking di Himalaya, sila dapatkan khidmat Rabin. Saya percaya anda bakal membuat pilihan yang tepat.
Email: cliffhanger_08@yahoo.com

Island Peak Climbing

Jeff Tucker & Wanida Tucker

USA

Manaslu Circuit & Tsum Valley with Rabin Gurung

Recently my wife and I visited Nepal for the eighteenth time and enjoyed a wonderful trek, one of the best treks ever, and this was largely due to our guide, Rabin Gurung (Trekking Guide in Nepal), with whom we also trekked around Manaslu in 2010.

If you come to Nepal with the idea of doing ‘your own trek’ with a small party, I highly recommend hiring Rabin. Not only does he have many years of experience but he is very honest and humble, so much so that one woman at a very basic lodge on our recent trek, impressed by his honesty, told my wife that “this man is a very good man, honest man, all other guide-man say lie to customers, say them that price is higher than the real price, so they can get more money.”

Rabin is always in good humor and friendly and gets along well with the local people and the porters too. Furthermore, his varied experience from his earlier years as a porter and cook helped to make him a better guide. I can’t remember how many times during our treks, when we stopped at a new or very basic lodge, or even at a tea house for lunch, when the owner’s cooking skills were at most primitive, Rabin tactfully volunteered to move into the kitchen and some amazingly delicious food would come out, made from the most simple ingredients.

Three years ago, in March of 2010, the Manaslu trek was not what it is now. Along the entire trek from Arughat (where we had to start walking), until we reached to Annapurna circuit route, there was at that time only a single lodge with what could be called a ‘menu’, and that was the one and only lodge in Sama village at that time. All other villages either had nothing but dal bhat and perhaps chapatis, or nothing to eat and no lodge at all. We had to camp some places, but when we could, we stayed in the simple lodges that existed and he often improved our diet by cooking foods that the proprietor did not know how to cook, sometimes even such a basic menu item as an omelet, to be rolled up inside a chapati for breakfast.

This year, again in March, we decided to return to the same area, with the desire to explore the newly opened valley of Tsum. This is a lovely, beautiful valley populated by some 4000 Tibetan people, who have lived for nearly a thousand years in that inaccessible ‘hidden valley’, connected by easy passes to Tibet but until not so many decades ago, without any reasonable connection to Nepal through the truly stupendous canyons of the lower section of the valley. Indeed, many inhabitants could not speak any Nepali, only Tibetan, which made it difficult at times. We had a double permit, which if you ever want to see Tsum Valley thoroughly, I highly recommend. Most people try to do a quick one-week detour to Tsum Valley as a kind of bonus side trip on the way around Manaslu. They never know what they have missed. Some of the most interesting villages and friendliest people, and some truly awesome scenery, can be visited in Tsum valley if you have time. One week is too little time to see more than a quick glimpse of the Valley.

I and my wife have been trekking in Nepal for years, myself since 1981, and our trek to Manaslu was the first time we had ever used a guide (because it was required on that trek), despite having visited some very remote areas such as crossing the Trashi Labtsa Pass from Khumbu into Rolwaling with friends in 1982. I had doubts about using a guide, I had seen how so many of them control their clients and take a commission from lodge owners to fill their pockets, I have seen many guides from Kathmandu who knew less about the local people and places than I did. I say this not to boast but as a word of caution: there are all too few honest, humble, helpful, and experienced guides out there, and many of those who are have moved into the higher levels of trekking management and no longer guide. But from the first days, on our 2010 Manaslu trek, we were impressed by the level of experience Rabin has, and also his sensitivity in allowing us to make our own itinerary day by day. He never was angry, never showed irritation, always explained patiently what was going on, and was always in a good mood. We were a group of five at that time, and by the end of the first week, we all agreed that if we returned to Nepal for another trek requiring a guide, we would try to get Rabin again.

This is what we did in March 2013 on our visit to Tsum Valley. Using more porters in order to have tents and extra food, we planned to visit the highest area of the upper end of Tsum Valley and ascend to one of the high passes overlooking Tibet. This year was plagued by poor weather and too much snow in March, however, and we were unable to do that, as were all the people who had set out to trek around Manaslu this March: the deep snow at higher elevations did not allow anyone in the first weeks of March to cross the Larkya La and go around Manaslu. But we had time, and because of the tents and food we had, we also had more options. The tents and food we used in a wonderful visit to the nunnery at Gumalungdang, up a steep side valley surrounded by the huge peaks of Ganesh Himal. We camped there for two nights, as there is no accommodation yet, and enjoyed incredible sunrise views of the nearby Ganesh Himal and also the distant great Peaks of HImalchuli, Ngadi Chuli, and Manaslu.

Tsum Valley is developing rapidly, as is the Manaslu circuit. However, particularly if you are new to Nepal trekking, don’t believe the hype that many agencies will tell you, that the Manaslu trek is the “new Annapurna circuit”. The Annapurna trek, over a period of three decades, developed a huge infrastructure for trekkers, with scores and scores of hotels, often equipped with deluxe menus and services, hot showers, laundry service, spring mattresses, etc. I think it will be some time yet before these things appear on the Manaslu trek, and if you find them in some places, don’t expect them at the next place. Tsum Valley is one step back in development yet.

One problem to watch out for is this: Manaslu Tsum Valley’s popularity and this can be said for Manaslu too, is growing much faster than services can be built–may be large because the road around Annapurna has grown so quickly and has put people off from that once glorious trek. We were there both times in March when there are fewer trekkers than in April or especially during the high season in October and November. In Tsum, as of March 2013, there was only one real lodge with rooms, and that was just a bit beyond Lokhpa at the foot of the valley. The other ‘lodges’ were basically beds in a side room of a local house, the largest such able to sleep ten people but others only four or five. Most villages had only one such place for trekkers to sleep, some villages had no place. When we reached Mu Gompa, in March all but one of the 80 monks were away from the valley for the winter, and furthermore, there was no food available at all. Only because we had our tents and stove and food for going higher up the valley (which we were unable to do because of snow), were we able to stay there e and eat our own food, instead of returning to Nile village the same day. The same goes for Gumbalunddang, where no food was available. if you are going o visit Tsum valley, and perhaps Manaslu too, during the busiest season, think seriously about hiring at least one EXTRA porter and having a tent, stove, and food, in case of accommodation is full! It might be worth it! Also, think of the porters: we saw many groups of two or three with a guide and a single porter carrying an enormous load, who was trailing far behind the others during the day. Many of them were unhappy with the arrangement.

In conclusion, this time with four people in our group, and with several porters and with Rabin as our guide again, we once more enjoyed what all agreed was one of the best treks we’ve ever done in the Himalayas, out of a total number of over thirty now, in Nepal and India. Rabin is an excellent choice for a guide. He is honest and will help you save money instead of trying to find ways to squeeze more for himself, he is fun and funny and friendly and all along the trails, he makes new friends with the people we meet along the way. He is experienced but doesn’t try to tell the customers what to do, he asks what they want to do, and then explains the options. If you are the type of trekker who is truly interested in Nepal, in the places, the culture, and religion and people and villages, and like to understand what is happening around you, hire Rabin as your guide, you won’t be disappointed. Indeed, like us (except for one, the same group that went around Manaslu with Rabin three years earlier), perhaps you will want to return to Nepal and go on another trek with Rabin Gurung!

Email: jefftckr@s8.dion.ne.jp

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