Jeep access to Manang side of Annapurna Circuit
Musing on February trip there. I prefer the high country to the Middle Hills and am wondering about skipping some of them to get a head start. Will come from Pokhara. Anyone know the likely jeep-hours from Pokhara to say, Chame? Or any other info. Trying to balance getting up there but not spending days in a cab. I know it is possible to get from Besisahar to Manang in a day, but No....
If you prefer the high country how about getting there over the Namun Bhanjyang pass (4800m or so) which was the only way to Manang until early sixties when a trail was forced along the Marsyangdi river valley above Tal. The trail comes down to Timang from where it is a 3-4 day hike to Manang.
The shared jeep or public bus does not go directly from Pokhara to Manang in a day. It would be best to travel from Pokhara to Besishar by public bus and then catch a shared jeep to Manang (Dharpani/Chame/Pisang/Manang).
There are 2 roads from Besi to Pok. The main highway is very slow. The other is fast but the jeeps leave early to avoid the detours. By the time you read this I imagine things would have changed again!
6 to 8 hours from Besisahar to Chame is what I heard.
A few weeks ago quite high season not long after the floods and all the issues getting out of valley I got a private jeep from Thamel to Jagat and despite all of that it took 8 hours and despite needing cow bars to push the Annapurnas Circuit trekkers out of the road .
Coming back from Ngawal I had a Bolero and I’m pretty sure it took about 6 hours down to Beshishar( less certain of that but pretty sure). From Beshishar to Pokhara all on back roads in a car not going through Dhumre was just over 3 hours at a crawl on the main road it would have been much longer. Not sure that’s any use.
As Manang is at 3,519 metres (11,545 ft). I'd suggest a nights aclimitisation en-route rather than trying to get there in a single day.
Good Luck
Rob
pokhara to Beshishahar in a local transport, then you can take a shared jeep. It is recommended that you look into the altitude of the places as well, so that without altitude sickness you can enjoy your full trip. Have a wonderful trip to Nepal.
Some how I am thinking da captain understands altitude, even without a Garmin!
Yeah , it's captainbruce , not a novice in Nepal.
It took me about 5 hrs from Besisahar to Chame and as I know from Chame to Manang is 3-4 another hrs.So it's possible to get to Manang from Pokhara by private jeep in a very long day on the bumty road.
True, John, but Rob is always right to bang on about it, Lord knows I do so myself.
Thanks to all for the time estimates
So it looks like 2 days to Chame unless your driver is on amphetamines and you have a backside of steel. Might do the walking after all.....
#Ark,
Looks good but the pass is marked at 5500+ on maps and it will be camping so in February thats too hardcore, must have been a great walk!
