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NAMASTE NEPAL! PRACTICAL INFO AND EXPERIENCE FEEDBACK

Stay from March 25 to April 16, 2025

· Flight tickets Air India (via Delhi) (via Skyscanner) = 1130 € per person · Planned budget (and respected without too many restrictions and while buying a few small gifts) = 2000 € for the stay for two. Buses, taxis, and entrance fees to various sites represent a budget to consider. Meals are cheap. Drinks like beer/Coke, however, are not cheap and cost the equivalent of a meal. · Exchange rate of the rupee during our stay = 0.0064 € (the exchange rate is almost identical everywhere, including at the airport). · At the airport, purchase of two SIM cards (phone) = 1000 NPR x 2 for 28 days. · Kathmandu: we had booked the hotel upon arrival: Kathmandu Boutique Hotel (+977 015 357 446 – email: booking@kathmanduboutiquehotel.com), very well located in a quiet alley off the street, south of Thamel, a 10-minute walk from Durbar Square. A hotel like Nepal knows how to do, where tall people will have to duck. Night + breakfast = 18 € for two. Very warm welcome, great location, excellent value for money. · Bhaktapur: we had also booked a hotel for the end of our stay because the chance of the year 2025 made the Nepali New Year and Bisket Jatra particularly festive in Bhaktapur: Manju Baha Hotel School (+977 976 7234014 – email: manjubahahotel@gmail.com) located in an old monastery. "A social enterprise transforming an old monastery into a charming hotel, offering professional hospitality training to underprivileged Nepali youth." Night + breakfast = 32 € for two. Beautifully decorated room. Very warm welcome. Don’t miss the Changunarayan site (near Bhaktapur), it’s amazing. And if you’re lucky enough to be in Bhaktapur in mid-April for 3 days, there’s the Bisket Jatra festivities (Newari festival), joyful, noisy, fun, and wild… · Pokhara (hotel recommended by the Kathmandu hotel): Hotel Green Tara, Lakeside, 10th street, set back, quiet (Tel. +977 61 462698 – email: greentara_67@hotmail.com) · Trek permit (Lower Mustang, no need for an agency or guide, permits checked at Ghasa and Jomsom) = 2000 NPR per person (2 ID photos) · Bus Kathmandu/Pokhara and return = 2000 NPR per person · Bus Pokhara/Jomsom, 2 one-way tickets = 2800 NPR. · Taxi: negotiation with a driver we recommend, Vicky (+977 984 075 599). You explain what you want, negotiate the price, and he waits for you during the visit. Very charming, we used him several times. For example: departure from our hotel at 10 AM -> Boudhanath/Pashupatinath/Patan return at 5 PM to the hotel = 6500 NPR – Swayambhunath (round trip) = 1200 NPR · Site prices: https://ntb.gov.np/plan-your-trip/before-you-come/heritage-site-entry-fees o Visitor Pass for Kathmandu Durbar Square (for the duration of the stay, show your visa) = 1000 NPR per person (1 ID photo) o Bhaktapur Durbar Square (old town) = 1800 NPR per person o Patan = 1000 NPR per person o Swayambhu Stupa = 200 NPR per person o Boudha Stupa = 200 NPR per person o Pashupatinath Temple = 1000 NPR per person (interesting to take a guide) o Changunarayan Temple (6 km north of Bhaktapur) = 400 NPR per person o Mountain Museum in Pokhara = 750 NPR per person · E-cigarettes: e-cigarettes are banned in India and confiscated whether they’re in carry-on or checked luggage. On the way there, we had kept them in our carry-on, they were confiscated in Delhi. On the way back, learning from our previous experience, we put them in our checked luggage. Someone came to get us to take them out of our bags and confiscate them… You can find e-cigarettes and products in Kathmandu.

* * *

I’m 74 years old. I went to Nepal in 1982, 1983, and the last time in 1986. I wanted to introduce this beautiful and endearing country to my husband, and it was… now or never. So we decided it was now.

I knew the trek starting from Pokhara: Naudanda/Birethanti/Ghorepani/Tatopani/Kalopani. There was no way I was going to do that trek, especially the 1000-meter staircase to reach Ghorepani… You have to stay humble with age.

Back then, the road didn’t exist. I didn’t consider, with the construction of this road (NH48) along the western bank of the Kali Gandaki, doing a trek along a windy and dusty road. Was there an alternative hiking trail on the eastern bank? No one answered my question on VoyageForum, so I did my research online. And I found this site: "Andrées de Ruiter and Prem Rai - Trekking the Annapurna Circuit, including the new NATT trails that avoid the road - A guide to one of the most beautiful trekking regions in Nepal and the world (2011) - NATT = New Annapurna Trekking Trail".

Phew! A solution was emerging. This circuit from 2011 wasn’t fully marked. The idea was to go from Jomsom to Tatopani, so we needed to make sure the path was well-marked all the way, which we did, and the path exists, marked in red and white!

So, with the walking times information, we built our 8-day circuit:

· Jomsom/Thinigaon · Thinigaon/Chimang · Chimang/Saura · Saura/Kokhetanti · Rest day or, if in good shape: loop to Sekong Lake · Kokhetanti/Jhipra Deurali · Jhipra Deurali/Kopchepani · Kopchepani/Tatopani

It’s a senior trek, after all. So the walking times noted on the sites indicated 3 hours or even 4 hours for the two longest stages. That pace suited us fine.

On March 29, we left Kathmandu (1400m), after visiting the must-see sites, by bus to Pokhara: 200 km and 8.5 hours on a chaotic road under construction. I had a memory of Pokhara where it was the first city where you could see the Himalayan range, especially Machhapuchhare. But the pollution is such, the dust raised by traffic and construction, that no horizon is visible except the first hills around Pokhara.

We stayed 24 hours in Pokhara (820m), and on March 31, we left our luggage at the hotel and set off with our lightest backpacks: change of clothes, toiletries, first aid kit, anti-chafing cream, water bottle, sleeping bag liner, and light shoes for the stages.

We took the bus to Jomsom: 160 km/7.5 hours including stops for bathroom breaks, tea, and lunch. The road is nothing but a chaos of potholes, landslides, construction, dust, rebuilding, and mudslides. In Ghasa, the bus stops, and we’re told we’re at a checkpoint and that the two foreigners in the bus, my husband and I, need to have our permits checked, which takes a few minutes. The driving is rock-and-roll, surprising, and courteous. The drivers have their codes, and on these improbable roads, they’re virtuosos.

We could have chosen the plane, but several reasons dissuaded us: if there’s too much wind, the planes don’t take off; personally, I wasn’t reassured about landing in Jomsom, and this transport has a cost.

We arrived around 2 PM in Jomsom (2720m), and despite the early wake-up, the nearly 8 hours on the bus, and the altitude, we decided to head straight to Thinigaon (2840m). At the Jomsom checkpoint, they told us it was a 30-minute walk. Great! Except we took an hour and a half on an uphill road, bent over to fight a strong wind. But the Himalayan range is there! The Dhaulagiri, the Nilgiri, the Annapurnas as a reward.

In Thinigaon, we found a room at the "Nilgiri View Hotel" run by a didi (big sister in Nepali). From the lodge’s roof, she proudly showed us the different peaks surrounding the village and told us, worried, that it hadn’t snowed here for 3 years. She said there are very few tourists, that the season is rather in September/October/November. It seems there’s not a soul in this village, yet mules pass through the narrow street paved with large flat stones, their bells ringing. We dine at 6 PM and go to bed… Room = 1200 NPR and dinner, breakfast, and drinks = 2560 NPR.

On April 1, we set off at 9 AM, not for Chimang as planned but for Marpha! The didi from the Thinigaon lodge had said it was a 3-hour walk. The first part of this stage is attractive, the mountains are magnificent and imposing, the landscape is superb, there’s no one around, a feeling of being "alone in the world." We follow Dhumbra Tal, this small green lake. The path is a rocky track that climbs steeply. Then, around a hill, we start the big descent that joins the Kali Gandaki. We face the wind head-on, and the violent gusts take our breath away, throw us off balance, and envelop us in dust. We see the road on the other side of the Kali Gandaki. We arrive in the village of Chhairo at 2 PM, completely exhausted and with blistered feet, after 5 hours of walking instead of the planned 3.5 hours.

We’re welcomed by the village nurse, who tells us there’s a lodge in the village. Chhairo is a Tibetan village, a 20-minute walk from Marpha (according to the locals, multiply by 2 or even 3 for us…). We’re going to revise our trek plan and, first of all, spend the night in Chhairo.

The lodge is quite pleasant, and Karma, the hostess, is very friendly. She asks about our plans and suggests we stay in Chhairo the next day, from where we can visit Marpha and also Chimang, a 1-hour walk away, in light mode, meaning without backpacks. She invites us to participate in a village ceremony the next evening.

We immediately accept the proposal, as our feet need rest and the welcome is so warm… Dinner and bed!

We reworked our trek plan, which was too ambitious for our untrained bodies and, let’s face it… no longer in our first youth. In the initial plan, we thought there wouldn’t be too much elevation gain following the Kali Gandaki, but checking the map, we realize there might be significant elevation changes between Sauru and Sirkung. So we plan:

· Tomorrow: visit Marpha (2670m) and Chimang (2744m) · April 3: bus from Chhairo (2700m) to Kalopani (2530m) and continue on foot to Ghasa (2010m) · April 4: Ghasa/Pairataplo (1940m) · April 5: Pairatapla/Gadpar (1580m) · April 6: Gadpar/Narchyang (1510m) · April 7: Narchyang/Tatopani (1190m) · April 8: return to Pokhara.

Normally, it’s all downhill…

April 2, a rest day then… We set off in the morning to explore Marpha. We have to take a temporary bridge because the suspension bridge is closed due to road construction. We join the road and arrive in Marpha, a village famous for its apple orchards, brandy, cider, and apple juice production. This village is magnificent with its stone houses and monastery clinging to the hillside. The road construction spared it. There are people, but very few Western tourists.

We have lunch in Marpha and go back through Chhairo to take the path to Chimang. We cross a fragrant pine forest and find the rocky path; the landscape is splendid. We walk quietly, passing peaceful buffaloes and cows, and arrive at the foot of a stone staircase… 275 steps (which we counted on the way back) leading us to the village of Chimang. Chimang is an isolated Newari village that seems a bit desolate. Despite the slopes, there are crops on every little bit of land. Thankfully, we changed our initial program because there’s no lodge in this village, contrary to what we saw on a map… We wander through the village, which seems very deserted, have coffee in a house from another world, and then head back to Chhairo.

A rest day? = 5 hours of walking!!

Dinner and village ceremony. From what we understand, this ceremony is in honor of the Dalai Lama. Men, women, and children in traditional costumes gather twice a month; they dance, make, and offer small sweet cakes with Tibetan tea (made from tea, yak butter—often rancid—water, and salt). Surprising for first-timers…

Around 10 PM, we leave the ceremony; tomorrow morning, we need to be on the roadside by 7 AM to catch the bus to Kalopani…

This village of Chhairo is very pleasant and welcoming, no tourists, just two motorcyclists who arrived in the evening, one of whom participated in the ceremony and discreetly poured his Tibetan tea outside.

Lodge: "Norsang Tibetan Guesthouse and Restaurant". Total bill for 2 nights, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, and drinks = 8000 NPR.

April 3: bus from Chhairo to Kalopani, about 1.5 hours for the 20 km (200 NPR per person). We descend on the right bank of the Kali Gandaki. We find the red and white markings to resume the trek toward Ghasa. We’re in a fragrant pine forest, the Dhaulagiri on one side and the Annapurnas on the other, magnificent, and the path is pleasant and easy. We get a bit lost in this forest, always looking for the markings. Near Lete, two trekkers pass us, and we meet them again a little further on with two very young children, to whom we give the 2 hard-boiled eggs I didn’t eat this morning. They accepted them without hesitation.

We arrive in a village and ask for directions to Ghasa. The young girls point the way. But we come across a forest being logged, trees cut in all directions. We turn back and ask for confirmation. They confirm… But the two young girls catch up with us and clear the way. We have to step over, go around, and cross the felled trees, with no indication at all. Through this pick-up sticks of felled trees, the girls lead us to the top of a stone staircase, indicating that was the path. It’s the only place where we saw rhododendrons in bloom.

We descend the staircase. At the bottom, to the left, there’s a bridge to go toward Choyo, and to the right, a path to Ghasa. We take the right path and join the road. We should normally find the red and white markings, but we don’t… So we continue on the western bank road of the Kali Gandaki.

A little before the village of Misi, we see fumaroles on the opposite bank that seem to come from the ground. We don’t understand. We stopped to eat in the village of Misi (noodle soup = 600 NPR), but it’s hard to communicate with the elderly people running the guesthouse.

We continued on the road, not finding the marked path parallel to the road. Landslides, both on the left and right banks, seem to have taken over the marked routes. It’s a place where the Kali Gandaki gorge narrows, and on the opposite bank, the mountain smokes more and more, and we now hear the crackling of fire. Across from us, the mountain is burning… Our initial plan had us passing on that burning bank right now…

We arrive in Ghasa at 3:30 PM, a 6.5-hour stage but with a 1-hour stop at noon. We’re at the "Florida Guesthouse and Restaurant." From our room, we see the mountain smoking on the other side of the river, and at night, we see the flames. In this village, posters show Himalayan eagles and vultures that seem to be protected species. Indeed, we saw (and heard) 3 eagles circling today.

April 4 – Today, heading to Pairothapla or Kopchepani depending on our feet, accommodation options, and simply our desires.

No more smoke on the mountain this morning. It’s chilly, 7:45 AM, the sky is clear, just a smell of smoke outside.

Price of the lodge = 1000 NPR for the night + 3580 NPR for meals.

We cross Ghasa, which stretches over more than a kilometer. We have a drink at the last guesthouse in the village, and the didi, when she learns our destination, tells us to be careful because the villages we’re going to aren’t safe. Should we distribute our rupees in different pockets? Nah, we kept going.

At the exit of Ghasa, we find the red and white markings and take the suspension bridge to cross the boiling waters of the Kali Gandaki. The passage is impressive because the river is tumultuous. Lots of climbs and even more descents. We’re back on the eastern bank. It’s hot! On the narrow path, we meet a group of buffaloes. Who has the right of way? We decide to stick as close as possible to the rock wall and move forward calmly. The buffaloes look at us, chewing placidly, with no intention of jumping on us. Phew!

After a 5-hour stage (including stops), we arrive in Pairothapla, with hot feet and firm thighs, and decide we won’t go any further. It’s a good thing because there’s a lodge, the most basic so far, but with a great welcome. We have a meal and a short nap. The buffaloes we met on the way belong to this house. They come to drink at the fountain by the path.

Our host, very pleasant, doesn’t know what to do to please us and is very attentive. He wants to chat. He has two children, a 4-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. Where do they go to school? Do they go? He tells us that the fires in the mountain are caused by people, but for what reason? We won’t find out, but it’s illegal. From here, we can still see smoke rising in the distance. The wife is a bit less friendly. Corn kernels dry on a woven straw mat on the ground, and the mom sorts them.

From where we are, we overlook the valley and see the road under construction winding along the mountainside on the other bank.

Dinner on the terrace of the house overlooking the path, windbreaker and fleece on: dal bhat chicken for me and chicken curry for my husband: "organic" products, at least local production. There are small vegetable gardens everywhere with all sorts of vegetables.

April 5 – While we’re having breakfast on the terrace of our lodge, 5 porters, straps on their foreheads, heavily loaded, pass by on the path. A few minutes later, a group of 9 people appears. It must be said that since the beginning of our journey, we’ve met very few hikers. Two backpackers in Chhairo, the two hikers near Lete, two female hikers passed us before Pairothapla, a solo female hiker passed us…

The lodge in Pairothapla is called "Bimala Lodge & Thakali Kitchen" – Price for night + 4 meals + 2 breakfasts = 3000 NPR.

The descent toward the Kali Gandaki involves climbs whose steps we didn’t count. Clearly, the landslides on the mountain cause changes to the official ACAP trek marked in red and white, and the marking updates can’t keep up with the pace of these landslides. It’s almost always by chance that we find the markings. Fortunately, we can follow the power line that guides us somewhat.

Drink stop in Kopchepani, the legs are fine, but the feet don’t like being tightly enclosed. A group of trekkers with porters passes on the path. We met buffaloes that we kindly let pass; the path was wide enough, but it was a staircase going up, and we didn’t want to take any risks.

Across, a view of the magnificent Rupse Waterfall on the other bank of the Kali Gandaki, at the bottom, lots of vehicles and people.

Arrival in Gadpar after crossing a rather unwelcoming small village and cultivated gardens between dry stone walls, each better built than the last.

First lodge spotted, first lodge adopted to answer the call of our feet, and a very warm welcome from the owner. Since we hadn’t eaten at noon, we had Tibetan bread/jam. 6-hour stage including 1 hour of stops. Night + dinner + breakfast + drinks = 5060 NPR

April 6 – Today, heading to Narchyang.

For several days, we’ve seen banana trees with their bunches of fruit and even a prickly pear with large fruits ripening.

This stage is quite peaceful and pleasant. We take a suspension bridge to cross a tributary of the Kali Gandaki. While we’re resting for a moment before crossing the bridge, a couple of porters, a man and a woman, arrive and start across the bridge with their wood load in a basket held by a strap on their forehead, making them bend. We set off too… lighter than them.

On the other side of the bridge… a stone staircase, and it climbs steeply. The porter couple didn’t take this staircase; they went right on the path.

At the top of the staircase, we arrive in Narchyang after a 4-hour stage. A magnificent waterfall overlooks the village. We get lost in this fairly large village looking for a lodge. After wandering around for a while, we ask for directions, and an 84-year-old man takes us through the whole village and accompanies us to a very nice lodge run by a woman.

We chat with our hostess, who asks where we’re from and where we’re going. We explain that we want to reach Tatopani the next day and then return to Pokhara. She tells us there are 4x4s going directly to Pokhara and that it would probably be easier than taking a bus that might be full in Tatopani. After a quick consultation, we decide to return to Pokhara the next day by 4x4. She finds us a 4x4 with 2 seats left, departure at 8 AM – 5 hours on the road and 1500 NPR per person. A charming didi who does everything to be pleasant and helpful.

Narchyang community lodge = night + snacks + dinner + breakfast = 3000 NPR.

There you go, our trek ends tomorrow. Many necessary changes and adaptations to our initial trek, but no regrets, it was superb and a great experience that, for my part, I won’t be able to repeat. Always this encounter with the endearing, welcoming, curious, and very kind Nepali people. It was now or never, and we did it!

* * *

In conclusion, 3 full weeks in Nepal is a duration that allows visiting Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, enjoying the various sites, and soaking in the atmosphere and urban Nepali life.

The trek, even revised and corrected, allowed us to get close to the impressive Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks. One or two acclimatization days might be necessary to get the body in tune with this magical and extraordinary land.

Népal: quel trek choisir en février 2014 English translation pending

by Gaspard1979 · 2014-01-02 · 4 replies

Bonjour, Nous partons ma femme et moi faire un trek à partir du 20 janvier au Népal. Nous hésitons entre 3 treks :

1) le + facile : Ghorepani round trek - 8 jours - Tikhedhunga - Ghorepani - Tadapani - Chhomrong - Landrunk - Pothana 445 euro par pers avec guide et porteur

2) le + accessible : Annapurna Sanctuary trek - 13 jours - Pokhara - Tikhedhunga - Ghorepani - Tadapani - Chhomrong - Dovan - Deurali - Annapurna Base camp - Bamboo - Jhinu Danda - Landruk - Pothana - Pokhara 650 Euro par pers avec guide et porteur

3) le + difficile : Annapurna Circuit Trek 14 jours - Besisahar - Ngadi- Jagat - Dharapani - Chame - Pisang - Ngwal - Manang - (acclimatization day at manang - Yak Kharka - Thorong Phedi - Muktinath - Kagbeni - Pokhara 825 euros par pers. avec guide et porteur

--> Lequel choisir ???!! Merci de vos conseils avisés.

Cdt

Christine & Gaspard

Pour les touristes allant au Népal (nouvelles du 23 août 2004) English translation pending

by Grosminet · 2004-08-23 · 8 replies

😉 Bonjour tout le monde,

Je voulais simplement en complément de l’article de Véronique Brocard que j’ai mis en ligne sur le site ou des dépêches de l ‘AFP vous faire un point de situation. Vous trouverez ci-joint un E-mail de ce jour d’une agence Francophone réputée de Kathmandou qui m’écris sur la situation Népalaise et sur l’accueil des touristes que nous sommes.

Je tenais à vous faire un point suite à la lecture de certains message sur les forums.

Il n’y a aucune raison de céder à la panique devant des évènements ou les touristes ne sont surtout pas en ligne de mire. La situation que les Népalais vivent relève d’une crise interne que l’on ne doit pas ignorer mais pas au point de ce faire peur inutilement et aussi d’annuler son voyage . Le pays n’est pas à feu ni à sang. Les touristes sont toujours les biens venus et encore plus en ces moments difficiles ou bien entendu le Népal à besoin de notre présence . Pour ma part, je serais au Népal avec mon épouse en Octobre 2004 pour faire un long trekking.

Je vous souhaite une bonne lecture du message ci-dessous en provenance d'une agence du Népal installée à Katmandou

Cordialement.

Emmanuel BETHUNE

Le texte à l'état brut :

".......En reponse a vos emails et en prevision de vos inquietudes a la suite des informations qui ont cicules en France sur la situation au Nepal je vous adresse ce email d informations. Dorenavant je vous tiendrai informe de la situation regulierement. Contrairement a ce que certains de vous ont craint apres avoir ecoute les informations en France, la ville de Kathmandu n est pas assiegee par les maoistes...loin de la. Depuis le 18 Aout le mouvement maoiste impose un blocus sur la route reliant l Inde au Nepal. La demande du mouvement maoiste est de connaitre la situation de leurs camarades arretes par la police et l armee, ceux ci ayant disparu apres leur arrestation, et d obtenir des indemnites pour les familles de maoistes tues par l armee. Les vehicules prives et les bus de passagers ne sont pas concernes par le blocus.Les maoistes menacent les vehicules transportant l approvisionnement vers la capitale. Les premiers jours par crainte de represaille, la plupart des vehicules, prives compris, n ont pas circule.Mais bcp ont repris la route depuis hier. les bus de touristes et les voitures privees principalement. Les camions sont eux escortes par la police et l armee. L'approvisionnement minimum de la ville est assure. Il est certain que la circulation est loin d etre retablie mais les legumes, le riz arrivent a nouveau.Bien sur les prix ont augmente.Mais jusqu a maintenant les habitants de la vallee n ont pas encore reellement conscience du blocus. Il sera plus visible s il dure plus de 15jours. La demande des maoistes etant precise: des informations sur leurs camarades arretes et des indemnites aux familles de maoistes tues par l armee, il est a esperer qu un dialogue avec le gouvernement aura bientot lieu. Comme l a ecrit un journaliste dans le dernier numero du "Nepali Times", depuis 6 mois les maoistes sont bcp moins presents dans Kathmandu a cause de la traque policiere dont ils font l objet. Ce blocus est un moyen de rappeler leur presence aux habitants de la vallee. voir l article:http://www.nepalnews.com/ntimes/issue210/nation.htm

Cet ete nos trekkings au Mustang et au Dolpo se sont bien passes. LA "donation" imposee par les maoistes pour chaque trekkeur est toujours de 1000Rs (11euros)sur les Annapurna et le Langtang. Mais elle atteind USD100 au Dolpo. A L Everest: pas de presence maoiste. Aucune violence sur des toursites n a ete reporte durant cette saison. LA ligne de conduite du mouvement est toujours de preserver le tourisme au Nepal...tout en s'octroyant un droit de passsage. Debut Aout le site du Ministere des Affaires etrangeres francais a retire le Nepal de la liste des pays a ne pas visiter. Je vous tiendrai informer de la situation chaque semaine par email et suis a votre disposition pour plus d informations......""

Projet de voyage Népal - Laos et Inde avril à août 2014 English translation pending

by Dolma63 · 2013-12-01 · 28 replies

Bonjour à tous,

J'ai posé un congés sans soldes de mi-Avril à fin Aout 2014. Je souhaiterais d'abord me rendre au Népal de mi-Avril jusqu'à mi-mai. Il me semble que c'est encore une bonne période pour faire le tour des Annapurnas? Tout vos conseils sur ce trek sont bons à prendre car je compte le faire seule (si je puis dire car je ne pense pas que je serai la seule touriste en chemin!). Je resterai au Népal 30 jours le temps du visa touriste.

Je compte ensuite me rendre au Laos. En regardant les comparateurs de vol je me suis rendue compte que les prix étaient moins cher en faisant Katmandou - Bangkok - Vientiane que Katmandou -Vientiane. Pas obligatoirement besoin de visa pour la Thaïlande apparemment donc ça me semble donc faisable. Vos conseils sont encore les bienvenus ainsi que votre indulgence car ce que je dit est peut être ridicule je m'en rends pas bien compte je commence tout juste mes recherches :)

Pour le Laos je compte aussi y rester 30 jours (encore le temps du visa touriste) donc de mi-mai à mi-juin. J'aimerai rester quelques jours à Vientiane (et me remettre des trajets !) puis me rendre en bus? en train? à Luang Prabang et y flaner peut être deux semaines. Puis retour Vientiane pour rejoindre Bangkok en train si possible? Merci de vos conseils concernant tous ces déplacements!

La mousson au Laos à cette époque (mai/juin) peut-elle être vraiment un frein? Dois-je songer à une autre destination où cela reste -t-il envisageable?

Vu que je peux rester 15 jours en Thailande peut être en profiter si c'est réalisable pas loin de Bangkok. Après je suis pas une grande fan des grandes villes donc pour l'instant à mon arrivée à Bangok je compte y passer quelques jours et prendre un vol direction l'inde.

De Juin à fin Aout je rejoindrais tranquillement (ou pas) le Zanskar.

J'espère que vous pourrez m'apporter quelques infos à moi apprentie routarde :)

Je suis déjà partie en Inde deux fois seule et à chaque fois au Ladakh pour faire quelques treks! J'aimerai bien découvrir d'autres pays durant ce congés...

A vous de m'éclairer sur ce qui est réalisable ou pas !

Merci !

Tour des Annapurnas en mars: variantes, budget, route...? English translation pending

by Zebulon787 · 2011-01-27 · 22 replies

Bonjour,

Je suis un sportif moyen (2h par semaine), je n'ai jamais fait d'alpinisme, je me débrouille en anglais. Je pars au Népal du 11-12 mars jusqu'au 4 avril, ce qui fait 24 jours au total et ça me laisse 18 jours pour un trek. Dans l'idéal j'aimerais partir avec juste un guide-porteur (pour pouvoir plus facilement bavarder avec les autres trekkeurs, mais je ne suis pas allergique aux groupes). L'an dernier j'avais fait le tour du Manaslu avec une agence et donc avec un groupe et ça s'était plutôt bien passé. J'avais loué mon sac de couchage, cette année je vais peut-être en acheter un d'occase si j'en trouve un...

Mes questions : - c'est mieux que j'emporte toutes mes affaires durant le trek ou bien je laisse mes "affaires de ville" à Kathmandu dans un hôtel ? - voici en gros le trek que je voudrais faire : Tour des Annapurna et lac Tilicho, 20 Jours (mais je devrai supprimer 2 jours (= 2 étapes) si je veux tenir dans mes 18 jours) http://www.gpgtreks.com.np/treks/a_annapurna6.php - quel est le plus bel itinéraire que je peux faire sachant que j'ai 18 jours pour le trek et que j'aimerais passer 2 jours à Pokhara (que je ne connais pas encore) au retour ? sachant que j'ai pas du tout envie de trekker au milieu des jeep, minibus et des troupeaux de mules (zigzaguer au milieu des bouses de mules, bof bof...) : quelles étapes je peux zapper ? (c'est-à-dire les faire en jeep ou bus plutôt qu'à pied) - je commencerais le trek à Khudi pour terminer à Phedi ? D'après les témoignages que j'ai lus, le tronçon Jomosom-Tatopani c'est de la route donc c'est pourri, non ? Par contre apparemment après Tatopani c'est super ? (Poon Hill) - j'aimerais faire un crochet (en combien de jours ?) par le lac Tilicho (par exemple Manang-Khangsar-Tilicho base camp-Tilicho lake-Tilicho Base Camp– Yak Kharka) mais sans passer par le col Mesokantu La car ça risque d'être trop dur pour moi physiquement, et en plus j'ai lu dans les forums qu'en mars il y aura probablement trop de neige... Apparemment aller au Chilico lake en cas de mauvais temps c'est très difficile et dangereux ? (chutes de pierres) - y a-t-il des lodges sur le parcours pour aller (et revenir) au lac Tilicho ou faut-il prévoir une tente ? Sinon, j'ai entendu parler aussi de la vallée de Nar Phu et des villages de Ngawal et Ghyaru... - pour le guide porteur : j'essaie de contacter ceux qu'on m'a conseillés (je ne sais pas s'ils seront dispo) ou je passe par une agence locale ? Il faut que je signe un contrat avec le guide-porteur ? c'est quoi les tarifs en ce moment pour un guide-porteur ? le prix inclut quoi ? C'est mieux que je cherche tout seul les lodges où je vais dormir ou bien c'est le job du guide-porteur ? Il porte combien de kg envion ? (ses affaires + 2/3 des miennes) En général, il mange et dort de son coté, le guide-porteur ? - si je dors dans les lodges, un sac de couchage -10/-15 confort c'est ce qu'il faut ? - trajet Pokhara-Kathmandu : en bus ou en avion ? si avion, c'est quel prix et comment et quand prendre son billet ?

Merci d'avance de vos réponses !🙂