Trekking in Annapurna Area, Nepal Part II
Begnas Tal
Practical information:
Difficulty: B (easy)
Number of days: 2-8
Elevation (max.): Less than 2,000 m.
See Tourists: Begnas Tal
Begna’s Valley, the second largest lake in the Annapurna region, is only approx. 45 minutes from Pokhara by car, but it’s like getting to a whole other world. Begnas is the opposite, buzzing Pokhara opposite; here is quiet and peaceful and only quite a few tourists use the area as a starting point for trekking trips through the low-lying, hilly landscape.
All trekking in the Begnas area takes place below an altitude of 2,000 meters, and the many fine hiking trails connect the area’s many villages, which are cultural highlights of the trekking trips. A fantastic insight into life among the region’s minorities as well as flora and fauna is provided, while the high Himalayan mountains rise proudly in the background. Among the trekking options is the Royal Trek, which is a four-day trekking route that England’s Prince Charles walked in the 80s. The route starts approx. an hour’s drive outside Pokhara and ending at Begnas.
According to themakeupexplorer, the accommodation at Begnas is completely unique to Nepal. In October 2018, Tourist opened the country’s only permanent tent camp with canvas tents in the African safari style. The tents are a full 35 sqm. large and has private shower and toilet as well as real beds and porch overlooking Lake Begnas. It is an added bonus that it is almost only Tourist’s own guests who wander in the area.
Damodar & Teri La
Practical information:
Difficulty: D (average +)
Number of days: 19-21
Elevation (max.): 5,700 m.
If you want to experience an adventure completely out of the ordinary, this trek to the least visited areas of the Annapurna area is tailor-made. This trip goes really far away from western civilization, other tourists as well as country law and order.
The trek starts with a few days on the popular Annapurna route, which is left along rocky steep paths that lead us north to the isolated village of Nar. From there, the route continues along Labse Khola (“Khola” means river) up into an area that is extremely rarely visited by trekkers – or others.
The highlight of the trek is the snow-capped Teri La, a pass discovered by Bill Tilman during the English Annapurna expedition in 1950. Later, the northern detour is reached by the river Kali Gandaki, and the next few days are spent exploring the ancient kingdom, Mustang and the capital Lo Manthang.
The trek is for adventurers who are not afraid to expose their senses to a little of everything – views of the world’s highest mountains, an exciting culture and nature and bird and animal life, which varies according to altitude, climate and religion.
The trek ends in Koto, from where it continues by jeep to Besisahar and then Kathmandu.
Dhaulagiri Rundt
Practical information:
Difficulty: D (average +)
Number of days: 15
Height (max.): 5,335 m.
The 8,167 meter high Himalayan giant, Dhaulagiri, which was the target of the first Danish 8000 meter expedition in the spring of 1991, is remote, on the outskirts of the Annapurna region. The trek, which starts in Baglung 2.5 hours drive from Pokhara, is for real adventurers: The route winds far away from both the main road and villages and stays over 4,500 meters for several days.
Mount Dhaulagiri is perhaps known to former Nepal trekkers as it is seen from the Kali Gandaki valley on the famous Annapurna route. Since the goal of the trek is the interior of the Dhaulagiri massif, which is surrounded like an amphitheater of steep peaks, the hike goes along glaciers and snow for a few days. After Hidden Valley, there is the opportunity to go up on a 6-thousand, Dhampus Peak.
This incredible trek is one of Nepal’s most adventurous high alpine hikes. The route combines the popular area of Pokhara with several days of glacier hiking at Dhaulagiri Base Camp and through Hidden Valley. From here, the trek goes through the Kali Gandaki Valley before ending in Jomsom.
Mardi Himal
Practical information:
Difficulty: C (light medium)
Number of days: 7
Height (max.): 4,255 m.
See Tourists: Mardi Himal trek
The Mardi Himal is not far from one of Nepal’s most popular treks, the Annapurna Base Camp trek, yet a few trekkers disappear.
The trek starts in the small village of Phedi outside Pokhara, and the path winds through open fields and deep rhododendron forests before rising up and out of the forest at an altitude of 3,300 meters. Here the landscape changes drastically to alpine and offers beautiful views of Annapurna, the Fishtail Mountain and not least the Mardi Himal.
From here, the hike goes via a ridge that offers views of beautiful valleys on both sides and the Annapurna mountain range to the north. The highest point of the route is reached at “Upper View Point” at 4,255 meters altitude, after which the path goes back and dives down to the cozy village of Sidhing.
The trek ends at Lumre, from where the car returns to Pokhara.
