KATHMANDU: Annapurna Base Camp and the Maurice Herzog Trek in Narchyang, Myagdi, have attracted a growing number of domestic and international tourists during the Dashain and Tihar holidays, supported by favourable weather and improved trekking facilities.
Located at an altitude of around 4,050 metres, Annapurna Base Camp has emerged as a popular destination for adventure seekers, offering spectacular views of Annapurna I (8,091 metres), Panchkunda Lake and surrounding mountain landscapes.
According to Tej Gurung, a promoter of the Maurice Herzog Trek, around 200 tourists have been visiting the base camp daily since Dashain. Young people and working professionals have increasingly chosen the destination for short holiday trips.
Tourism entrepreneurs have also reported increased business along the route, with restaurants, tea shops and accommodation facilities experiencing higher demand.
The trek can generally be completed within two to three days. Visitors can travel around 20 kilometres by vehicle from Narchyang to Humkhola before undertaking an approximately 21-kilometre trek to reach the base camp.
To accommodate the growing number of visitors, temporary shelters, tea shops and other facilities have been established at different points along the trail. Drinking water facilities, toilets and shelters have also been developed at locations including Phutphute Waterfall, Gufaphat, Bhusket and Panchkunda Lake.
The trekking trail and suspension bridges have undergone maintenance with support from federal, provincial and local governments.
The area also highlights its mountaineering history through statues of French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, and Nepali support staff member Sonam Wangchuk Sherpa. An open-air museum has also been established.
A tourist information centre featuring a bamboo boat-inspired structure was recently set up at the entrance to the trekking route.
Named after French mountaineer Maurice Herzog, who led the first successful expedition to Annapurna I in 1950, the trail offers visitors a combination of adventure, natural beauty and historical significance.
With improved infrastructure and rising visitor numbers, the Maurice Herzog Trek is gradually gaining recognition as an emerging adventure tourism destination in Myagdi.
