BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi everyone, looking for some tips on the next leg of my travels. Any thoughts are welcome:

1. How are things in terms of safety in Kathmandu, Pokara, and Anna perna circuit

2. What are trekking conditions like in Anna P?

3. Is there a non-travel agency website that provides a good breakdown of true permit costs for hiking the circuit?

4. Any recommedations for the best routes for someone with 10-14 days of time?

5. Is 2 days good enough to adjust to altitute in Kathmandu? Can I include my travel to Pokara as a part of this?

6. Best budget hostel for Kathmandu and Pokara?

7. I get to Kathmandu tomorrow so if anyone is one the same time line and interested in a similar hike, let me know.

8. Any other recommedations for day trips?

Maybe, Chitwan National Park or hot springs up north near tibet?

9. Any other costs out the door that I should be expecting?

No offense, but from your questions it seems that you need to get yourself a good travel guide and read it. #8D) However, I'll give you some quick answers, and when you've done a bit more homework you can try asking again.

1. I suppose you ask about safety regarding what you can expect from other human beings, and not from Himalaya itself. You'll be fine, people have been doing the Annapurna Circuit all the time throughout various national strikes and problems in Nepal, and nothing bad has come to them because of political turmoil. Now that the king has resigned/been removed, there should be even less problems than before.

2. Trekking conditions depends on when you want to go. Get a travel guide and read up on it. In general you should go late in the autumn, when the rainy season has finished and before the snow starts to fall again.

3. Permit costs should be clearly stated in the travel guide you will get.

4. Within 14 days it IS possible to walk the full Annapurna Circuit if you're a fit hiker. However, to allow for altitude acclimatization and bad weather, you should have another extra week of time available. What you can do is fly from Pokhara to Jomsom, the village to the west of the Thorung La pass. (You'll need to get used to the altitude there before you do anything else, and you may even find that you need to start going down immediately from there.) You can spend a day walking up to Thorung La and back, and then walk down towards Pokhara again. If you find you have time, you can walk to the Annapurna Sanctuary on your way down instead of just following the river.
But again, read a travel guide and see what your options are.

5. Kathmandu is at only 1300 meters/4500 feet, so you can't use it to get used to high altitude. Pokhara is even lower. The best way to get used to altitude is to start walking from somewhere near Pokhara and slowly climb with the path.

6. Lots of options. Use a guide book or just go and see for yourself. No need to book ahead.

7. You'll find someone.

8. Allow for 2 or 3 days to see Chitwan fairly properly. You'll find excellent hot springs in Tatopani, on the trail between Jomsom and Pokhara.

9. Remember that if you go with a guide/sherpa (which you really don't have to), you should pay him well, and you're also responsible for his food and for him having proper equipment to be safe on the trail. This could cost quite a bit on a long hike. But if you're fit and used to the outdoors, you can walk without a guide and be fine.

Happy trails!

Bjørn
http://bjornfree.com/