Category: Blog

In August 2023, I had the opportunity to do the Upper Mustang trek with two girls and two guides (we were two groups that merged together). This journey definitely marked my time in Nepal by the beauty and power of nature, the enriching facts and stories we heard from Guide about the daily lives of people in the villages and mostly by the wonderful atmosphere that Guide made sure was present during the entire 12 days. In fact, he has a way of making you feel at ease to ask questions, very comfortable and safe wherever you might be. Truly grateful for his care and support 24/7 during this trek.

 

We started day 1 from Pokhara and made our way by Jeep to Kagbeni, through Jomsom. Then, on days 2,3 and 4, we walked a lot, through Chele, Ghami and finally to Lo manthang, trekking over 20 km per day. Even with the non-negligeable challenge of the significant altitude, the physical effort did not disturb us because we were singing, chatting and laughing with Guide, discovering the particularities about each village, learning about how people live their daily lives in the mountains, as well as being exposed to the fauna and flora. Guide is an INCREDIBLE photographer! He spots animals miles away and is able to capture the most stunning pictures! During that time, we visited the famous Chungsi cave and another five-story cave (great place to play hide and seek!), as well as the oldest monastery in Mustang from the 8th century. The next 3 days were a bit calmer physically, with shorter distances to walk daily, allowing us to truly discover the Lo manthang region and get to know the lovely Didi working in the tea house, who so kindly showed us buckwheat, mustard, potato and millet fields, as well as taking us to hot springs, which definitely felt really good for our sore legs.

We then continued our trek, (fueling on dal bhat power!), and were absolutely amazed by the majestic scenery. The views are completely different in this region: literally a desert, with sand dunes! It was extremely fulfilling and satisfying to appreciate the dream-like views after having reached the top of our two passages through mountains, which were over 4000 meters of altitude (we celebrated with a happy dance on top!). We also crossed many gorgeous rivers and spent some enjoyable time looking at rocks and finding fossils, in a place that Guide calls “the fossil factory” (he again has an eye for spotting the most fascinating rocks and fossils)!

 

It was so culturally interesting to witness the differences in the villages as our journey progressed: the dialects had particularities, the villagers had different physical traits, and each Dal bhat was unique ! We also had the incredible opportunity to watch a Buddhist prayer ceremony in the evening, where they served warm yak milk.

Our journey ended a day sooner than expected because of a truly unfortunate landslide that hit Kagbeni; it was heartbreaking to see the damage it caused to the village. We therefore planned extra time to travel back to Pokhara, which was another very smart and cautious decision from our guide. All in all, this journey filled me with memories of playing outside with kids in the village, images of powerful mountains, tastes of delicious food, sounds of us laughing all together, curiosity to learn more about the culture in this area, all of this thanks to Guide’s experience, knowledge and wonderful sense of humour. Would most definitely recommend going trekking with Best Agency !

The continuous snowfall has affected springtime Himalayan climbing. Even though the climbing season in the Himalayas has started, climbing has been obstructed due to unexpected snowfall. In the 70-year history of climbing, even though permission for Mount Everest climbing has been granted to most, they have been stopped at the base camp when the weather is adverse.

466 people from 43 mountaineering groups have been granted permission to climb Mt. Everest. Currently, the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)has informed that Mount Everest pollution control is being carried out in 1,300 national and international base camps set up for various mountain climbing expeditions.

This is the first time that an avalanche has hit a team of climbers at the base camp. “The continuous snowfall is not conducive to climbing the mountain,” said Lamakaji Sherpa, chairman of the committee. There has been constant snowfall for the past five days in the Khumbu region. “There is snow up to the waist, and it is increasing day by day,” said Bhumi Raj Upadhyay, warden of Sagarmatha National Park.

Due to the continuous presence of snow, the possibility of climbing up from the second camp is uncertain, said the chairman of the committee. “That’s why the climbers are currently staying and practicing in the first and second camps,” he said.

The Sherpas are continuously providing support to gather equipment for the climbers. Some climbers have been spotted at Namche Bazaar, taking advantage of the favorable weather. “More than a dozen climbers have arrived at Namche via helicopter from the base camp,” said tourism entrepreneur Chimikalden Sherpa. Despite the entry of around 300 foreign tourists daily through airways to the Khumbu region, local hotels are still overcrowded.

The improvement in weather is expected to take some more time. The Chief of the Meteorology Department, Sajina Shakya, has not predicted snowfall in the Himalayan region for a few more days. “Snowfall will decrease from Friday. But it will take a few more days to improve the weather in the entire Himalayan region,” she said.

The majestic city of Shigatse Dzong stands atop a hill overlooking the ancient city in Tibet, offering an impressive view of the peripheral landscape. Located in the historic city of Shigatse, the Dzong was built in the 17th century by Karma Phuntsok Namgyal, the second in the line of the Nyak family who governed Tibet from 1565 to 1642. Over the centuries, it has served as a political and religious center, and today is one of Tibet’s most important cultural sites.

Shigatse Dzong is a testament to the cultural and religious diversity that has enriched Tibet over the years and pays homage to the people who have shaped this remote and beautiful part of the world. Its formidable walls and towers remind us of the strength and resilience of Tibetan culture and tradition. The sprawling complex of temples and courtyards is a stunning example of Tibetan art, architecture, and culture.

Perched atop a lofty hill at an elevation of 3,860 meters, the Shigatse Dzong overlooks the Yarlung Tsangpo (al Brahmaputra River) and Niang chu (Nyang Chu) rivers, its majestic presence a testament to the town’s former glory as the capital of U-Tsang province. Despite its high altitude, the average temperature remains moderate at 16°C in the summer and −5°C during winter.

Yet, the oxygen content of the air is most striking – at 67 percent of the sea level; the air is thin and crisp. The county, whose population is estimated at 94,000, is also named after the town of Shigatse, and the iconic Tashilhunpo Monastery stands as a reminder of its rich cultural heritage.

The continuous snowfall has affected springtime Himalayan climbing. Even though the climbing season in the Himalayas has started, climbing has been obstructed due to unexpected snowfall. In the 70-year history of climbing, even though permission for Mount Everest climbing has been granted to most, they have been stopped at the base camp when the weather is adverse.

466 people from 43 mountaineering groups have been granted permission to climb Mt. Everest. Currently, the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC)has informed that Mount Everest pollution control is being carried out in 1,300 national and international base camps set up for various mountain climbing expeditions.

This is the first time that an avalanche has hit a team of climbers at the base camp. “The continuous snowfall is not conducive to climbing the mountain,” said Lamakaji Sherpa, chairman of the committee. There has been constant snowfall for the past five days in the Khumbu region. “There is snow up to the waist, and it is increasing day by day,” said Bhumi Raj Upadhyay, warden of Sagarmatha National Park.

Due to the continuous presence of snow, the possibility of climbing up from the second camp is uncertain, said the chairman of the committee. “That’s why the climbers are currently staying and practicing in the first and second camps,” he said.

The Sherpas are continuously providing support to gather equipment for the climbers. Some climbers have been spotted at Namche Bazaar, taking advantage of the favorable weather. “More than a dozen climbers have arrived at Namche via helicopter from the base camp,” said tourism entrepreneur Chimikalden Sherpa. Despite the entry of around 300 foreign tourists daily through airways to the Khumbu region, local hotels are still overcrowded.

The improvement in weather is expected to take some more time. The Chief of the Meteorology Department, Sajina Shakya, has not predicted snowfall in the Himalayan region for a few more days. “Snowfall will decrease from Friday. But it will take a few more days to improve the weather in the entire Himalayan region,” she said.

Most trekking destinations in the Annapurna Region, including the famous Annapurna Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek, fall under the Annapurna Conservation area. Foreigners must have a few official permits to enter the Annapurna Conservation Area. Otherwise, you are not allowed to join this area.

Thus, we have come up with some essential information about the Annapurna Circuit Trek Permit that you should know before trekking in Annapurna.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek permit cost is NPR 3000 for non-SAARC countries and NPR 1000 for SAARC countries. Furthermore, a TIMS card fee of NPR 2000 is also required for the trek.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek typically commences from Besisahar in the Marshyangdi Valley and concludes in Pokhara. The journey from Kathmandu to Besisahar takes approximately 7 hours, offering scenic views of paddy fields, quaint towns, and more. For the best experience, it is recommended to undertake the trek during the Autumn season (September to November) or Spring season (March to May).