Lamjung and Manang, Nepal
Around the Annapurna and up to Annapurna-Sanctuary
Classical trekking around the holy mountain Machhapuchhre and the 8000 m peaks of Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri I.
Facts
Let’s see where it is:
On tour:
October to December 1998
Getting there:
Fly into Kathmandu. Take the Pokhara-public bus to Dumre and from there further on to Besisahar.
Best time of the year:
The weather is usually stable from September to December. It will be noticeably colder towards the end of the year, in December the temperatures at night can drop down to –30°C in regions above 4000 m.
Starting point:
Besisahar in the district Gorkha
Route:
From Besisahar (760 m) you follow the river of Marsyangdi passing Bhulbhule, Jagat, Chame and Pisang to Manang (3440 m). You reach Muktinath (3760 m) in the district Mustang over the Thorong La pass (5415 m). The trek passes Jomsom, Marpha and Tatopani and leads you up to Poon Hill (3190 m). From Ghorapani (2860 m) you walk to Chomrong in the valley of Modi Khola, from where you can reach the Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3700 m) and further on the Annapurna Base Camp (4130 m).
Accommodation:
Lodges for overnight stay are always reachable within a day’s distance.
Caution:
From my own experience I can strongly recommend a good acclimatization. In this area the height adjustment over 3000 m is fairly possible because of its moderate slopes, but you have to take your time. In case of a high-altitude problem one can get quickly in serious trouble or even a life-threatening situation, because it is impossible to get low enough in one day through the relatively flat terrain. And: also here rescue helicopters do not fly in bad weather. Unfortunately deaths among hikers happens every season through the consequences of poor acclimatization.
Culinary recommendation:
The national dish Dal Bhat (lentils on rice) tastes even better, the further you approach the remote mountainous regions towards Muktinath.