New Roads in the Annapurna Region | Nepal

New Roads in the Annapurna Region

In the last few years, a large number of new roads have come up in the Annapurna region (most of them remain dirt tracks for four-wheel-drive jeeps), and these roads can reduce the trekking days for popular treks in the region. I list some of these roads below and give the cost of a reserved Jeep in some cases where I have used them.

Pokhara to Kimche

Kimche is about 1 hour’s walk below Ghandrung, and this road goes up to Nayapul (black top) and then on a dirt track to Kimche. The black top section is quite good now, and the whole journey by jeep takes about 2 hours. There are also buses running from the Pokhara bus park. NPR 9000/-

Pokhara to Ghandrung

It is now possible to go all the way up to Ghandrung by taking a lower road (not the Kimche one) by jeep, and it would take about 2.5 hours to reach Ghandrung. An early departure from Pokhara would make it possible to trek to Tadapani the same day. NPR 10,000/-

Pokhara to Kimrong Danda

The same road that goes to Ghandrung carries on further to Kimrong Danda, possibly a 30-minute drive from Ghandrung.

Pokhara to Landrung

The approach to the Annapurna Base Camp trek would be shortened by a day or more by driving to Landrung in about 3 hours and heading up to Jhinu Danda the same day. But there is also now a road that ends below Jhinu, so for ABC trekkers looking to save time, this would be the better option (see below). NPR 12,000/-

Pokhara, below Jhinu Danda

This road goes near Jhinu Danda in about 3–3.5 hours from Pokhara, so from here you could walk to Chomrong the same day. NPR 12,000/-

Pokhara to Dhampus

This walk from Phedi is now effectively over, as the road goes all the way to Dhampus in about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Pokhara. You could do a day trek in this region, walking from Dhampus to Australian Camp and then down to Kande to meet the road and back to Pokhara.

Pokhara to Pitam Deorali

Pitam Deorali is the usual first day’s stop for the Mardi Himal trek, but now it is possible to drive here in about 2 to 2.5 hours and go to Forest Camp the same day if you can leave Pokhara by 7 a.m.

Mardi Himal Roads

There are the following options for the Mardi trek, depending on where you enter or exit the trek:

Pokhara to Siding: 2 hours, NPR 8,000/-

Pokhara to Kalimati 1 hour 30 min

Pokhara to Lawang: 1 hour, 30 minutes

 Ghorepani Trek

The road now goes up to Banthanti, and it is being steadily pushed towards Ghorepani. From Banthanti to Nayapul, it would be about 50 minutes, and 1 hour and 15 minutes to Pokhara from there. NPR 10,000/-

 Khopra Trek

There are different approaches and exits for this trek, but if you walk from Khopra to Swanta, you can get a jeep from here to Pokhara via Beni, which takes 4-5 hours. NPR 18,000/-

Annapurna Circuit Roads

The Annapurna Circuit trek has been impacted by roads on both sides: along the Marsyandi from Besisahar to Manang and along the Kali Gandaki from Pokhara to Beni, Jomsom, and Muktinath. The dirt track from Jomsom goes past Kagbeni all the way to Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang, possibly changing the standard Mustang trek to a jeep safari.

Regarding the circuit, the upper route from Pisang to Manang is still spectacular, and after two days of acclimatization in Manang, you could attempt Tilicho or Thorung La. However, some alternative walking trails have been built on the other side of the river (referred to as the NAAT trails), and these do pass the roads to a great extent. The only thing is that the trekking experience is not so enjoyable as you can hear the cars and motorbikes on the other side.