2023 May 4 Tuesday, I started the journey to Annapurna Base Camp with my team and started our bus trip to Pokhara from Sorakhutte Kathmandu. As per the rules of the tourist bus service provider. We have to be at the bus station at 6:30 am to drive to Pokhara. But it took quite a long time for us because one of the team members haven’t done his packaging. And some of the team members ran to the bus station and loaded our luggage on the bus. Before embarking on a journey to Pokhara. I told the bus driver to wait some time for three men from the group.
The driver said that they can not wait there and asked me to call them to come on the way to Balaju’s side. And finally, they got there and started our bus drive to Pokhara for Annapurna Base Camp Trekking. Bus went well and we were all in our own ways to pass the time. After around one hour the bus stopped at Naubesi for 5 minutes for PP brakes. Everyone got down did pp and bought little things to eat. I also bought a packet of bubble gum and shared it with a friend sitting with me as well.
The bus trip was going well, but the real problem started near Dharke. Where the bridge was damaged and only one way was opened. We have to wait there for almost 2 hours, and waiting was not fun for everyone so some of the team members were sleeping. And some of them are reading and listening to music on their mobile phones. After a long awaiting bus started to move and we are all back in a happy mood.
Again bus stopped at Malekhu for lunch. And we all ate Dal Bhat for lunch, I was a bit hungry so that I eat quite heavy lunch. The bus stopped there for 25 minutes and the conductor started calling Explore Pokhara passengers come fast to the bus. We all got into the bus and began again bus drive to Pokhara. While driving I went to the cabin to take a video and I heard that there was a strike and a traffic jam. Because a tripper killed 3 people and more than 11 persons are injured.
I told each person on this ABC Trek team member about the traffic Jam. And after some time again the bus stopped and after a few minutes. There was a very long queue of vehicles. After around one and a half hour bus started to move and everyone got into the bus with smiling faces. The journey going to be later than we expected, and unfortunately, again there was a Jam nearby Birautataar. Because there was a truck stuck on and not able to move any vehicles. Finally at 11: 15 pm a crane come and moved that truck from the road and our journey to Pokhara continued.
Finally, at 12:30 am we reached Pokhara Bus Park and there was no taxi to go Hotel. Lapsang Dong one of my team members found a taxi. And request him to bring two more taxis. Then the taxi driver called a taxi and we finally reached the hotel at 1 am at midnight. There was no dinner for all of us. So some of us went outside to find food and we ate fast food (Birayani and fried chicken). Some of the members slept without eating. Overall it was a very tough day for all of us. This was the first time I was stuck in a traffic Jam for this long and reached Pokhara very late.
Pokhara to Kulmi bus drive and Trek to Chhomrong
Our plan was to take the bus at 7 am, but I changed it because we got to Pokhara at late night. Therefore we plan to take the bus at 8 am. As our planned bus arrived there at 8:15 am because they are a bit confused at come there. After the bus got there we packed our luggage there and start our second day’s journey to Annapurna Base Camp. The bus driver drove the bus quite fast therefore we reached Birethanti around one and a half hours. Where the bus stopped for registered the trekking permit. I registered for the trekking permit. From there again the bus continues to Kulmi and it took around 30 minutes to reach there.
We all got off the bus and the porters are trying to fix the luggage because they have to make it equal to each of them. Then day one of the Annapurna Trekking started, at the first part we have to walk on the road and need to climb up. We all felt a bit tough at the beginning because we have very fresh legs and just got down from a half-day-long bus driving. After climbing up the easy trail started and while we were walking a jeep come and asked us do we want to take the jeep. If you like it will cost 200 rupees per person. We were then 6 people and all of us got into the jeep along the way 16 of us got in the jeep and one pax missed.
All got down from Jeep near Jhinu Bridge and started to walk to Jhinu for lunch. It took just 10 minutes to reach Namaste Guest House, but it took 30 minutes for some of our team members because they took many photos and videos at the bridge. Before everyone got there I ordered the lunch and the food was prepared while they are enjoy the surrounding views. After lunch, we climbed up all the way to Chhomrong and it took us around two and a half hours to reach there. Unfortunately, we need to walk in the rain for the last part of 15 minutes.
After dinner, we enjoyed the best view of the Annapurna South, Himchuli, and Machhapuchhare at nighttime. And we had a lot of fun with the game. Overall, the day of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek was so memorable.
Chhomrong to the Himalayas Village.
I was mentally prepared for the long day to reach the Himalayas. And I told my team members to be ready for the long day of our journey to Annapurna Base Camp. We were all mentally and physically ready to take on today’s challenge so after breakfast we started to walk at 7:45 am. Started well, everyone was enjoying the walk and taking many photos along the way.
A couple of the team members were a bit sick at night time. They got a bit of vomiting and diarrhea. One of them recovered from that but one lady was still sick. However she wants to continue her journey and unfortunately, she vomit again near Lower Sinuwa. And we took quite a long break there, and the rest of the group continue to walk and we plan to go to Upper Sinuwa.
She walked slowly and ultimately we reached Upper Sinuwa and she stayed there and the rest of the team continue to the Himalayas. Had lunch at Bamboo and then we all walked to the Himalayas. After lunch, we walked in the rain all the way to the Himalayas. Walking in the rain with a raincoat is not fun at all but we didn’t have a choice. Today was a bit tough day for all of us and we missed one team member as well.
Himalaya to Annapurna Base Camp
Going up and up was not that easy for everyone, therefore we plan to start at 7 am. As per our plan, we started to walk at 7:25 am 25 minutes late than the actual plan. Everyone was at their own pace to climb up so that we crossed each other along the way. We wait for everyone at Deurali before the avalanche area. The direct way through the avalanche was blocked therefore everyone was walking from another side. And we also follow that.
Our plan is to eat lunch at Machhapuchare Base Camp, it was quite long so I went in front to order lunch for the entire team. Slowly team arrived there for lunch and ate lunch there before commencing the journey to Annapurna Base Camp. Most of the team members are first-time climbing such high altitudes so that it took time. While going up slowly started to snow and that made it cold for all of us. Although most of them are enjoying that snowy because it’s the first time they are experiencing snowfall.
Ultimately, we reached our targeted destination and are ready to celebrate the success. After dinner, everyone went to sleep but it was very hard to sleep at 4130m high for the first time. So some of the team members, almost each of them struggle to have a good night’s sleep. But there was no choice except then lie down on the bed.
Happy Moment at Annapurna Base Camp
Because of the lack of good sleep, not everyone was ready to enjoy the sunrise view. I called everyone and all of them slowly got ready to enjoy a glimpse of the 360-degree angle view of the surrounding Mountain peaks including the Annapurna first. Everyone seems so happy to be there because they are enjoying the view of the white snow, and white gigantic Himalayan pinnacles.
The sunrise view was spectacular, and the white snow in the surrounding areas was unbelievable. Not only we were there, but there were also other many other trekkers also enjoying the beauty of the Annapurna Base Camp. And this is the main purpose of our this lifetime journey to Annapurna Base Camp. Walking on the snow was fun because of that creaky sound and sometimes going deeper into the snow was very fun. Everyone wants to take photos and videos for Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and other social media platforms.
As a guide, I always enjoy how people enjoy the final destination and here I sat alone in a place and observed how everyone does things in their own way. Someone taking photos with their national flag, some of them taking photos with their loved ones, and someone taking photos with their toys. There was various kind of people who were enjoying the moment at ABC.
Annapurna Base Camp To Bamboo
Today going to be a long day for all of us because it was the one and half-day camp to go up. Therefore after breakfast, we started to descend from ABC according to our plan. We took some beautiful photos at the Namaste Annapurna Board. Then all of us were on our own way down and had planned to meet everyone at Himalayan for lunch. I tried to be with everyone, but going down was also not that easy for everyone. Because of the huge stones along the way and the icy snow.
While walking down there was rain and snow storm so it was very tough to walk down with a raincoat. It took quite a long time to get everyone to Deurlai. I walked in front of everyone from Deurali to order lunch. Some of the team members were there just 20 minutes gap and some of them took almost 1 hour later than me. We had lunch together and get down all the way to Bamboo via Doven in the rain.
Bamboo to Ghinu Danda (Ghinu Hotspring)
We have to walk down the same way that we climbed when we hike up to Annapurna Base Camp 4310m. Therefore everyone knew what kind of way we have to walk down. So I started in front because one of our team members was at Upper Sinuwa because she was sick while going up. When I was there she was ready to walk and her luggage was already taken by Porter. We wait for everyone there and had a cup of coffee.
After everyone arrived there and had a cup of coffee, we commence our journey to Chhomrong for lunch. It was a long way down and more than 5000 steps to climb up to reach Chhomrong. Some of our team members were very strong to walk which is why for them it was not that difficult to compare to some other team members. We had a heavy lunch but need to wait a bit long because there were some other groups too.
Lunch was heavy as well as very delicious. Then we started our walk to Ghinu Danda, from Chhomrong the way is almost 98% downstairs. Everyone walk in their own rhythms and pace and our plan was to go to Hot Spring. When we got to Jhinu Danda. Some of our team members heard that the Hot Spring is full of people, which is why we decided not to go. Today was the last day of our magnificent journey to Annapurna Base Camp. So we had the final fun game at the Jhinu to know each other well.
Jhinu to Pokhara Jeep and Bus
Today was the last day of the trek in the mountain. We made a plan to take a jeep from Jhinu and a bus from Kulmi. Because there was road construction going on near Ghandruk. and not about to take a bus or Jeep all the from Jhinu to Pokhara. We booked two jeeps to Jhandruk and then walk for 30 minutes to reach Kulmi where the bus was waiting for us. We pack our luggage on the bus and embarking the journey to Pokhara on the bus with Nepali music.
It took around 4 hours to reach Pokhara. And our journey to Annapurna Base Camp ended after saying goodbye to the porters. But I stayed at Pokhara with team members. At Pokhara, everyone was free to do their own things so I slept almost for 4 hours. Then in the evening, we walked to the lakeside and did some shopping. Overall our trip was very excellent and everyone was happy.
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu
The last time when we traveled from Kathmandu to Pokhara on the bus. It took a very long time so this time we switch on Heice. As per our plan, Heice arrived at Hotel at 7:15 am. And we packed our luggage and start the Heice journey to Kathmandu. Luckily this time there were no traffic jams and we arrived in Kathmandu around 4 pm. Then I went to my home after check-in with all the members at the hotel. And had a farewell dinner in Thamel with a cultural show. After dinner, we exchanged each other’s contact numbers and social media platforms.
Note: Pokhara to Kathmandu on Heice will take around 6 hours. But this time it taking a long time because of the road construction going on.
Read this article about reasons to do Annapurna Base Camp Trek
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