Around 300 tourists reach ABC daily as roads reopen, weather improves

KASKI: Trekkers heading to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) have surged in recent days after road sections that were blocked by floods and landslides reopened and weather conditions improved.

Dilip Gurung, secretary of Chhomrong Tourism Management Committee, said around 300 tourists are now reaching ABC each day and that arrivals of foreign visitors, including those from SAARC countries, have risen.

Officials said the rise in visitors to ABC is due to landslides on trekking routes in the Manang and Manaslu regions, which have made several paths impassable. Many tourists who had planned to go to those areas have chosen the ABC trek instead, the committee said.

Him Bahadur Gurung, ward chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality-11, said the road network from Pokhara through Ghandruk to ABC is currently open. This has improved access for both domestic and international trekkers.

The ABC sits at about 4,130 metres above sea level and is one of the world’s best-known trekking destinations, offering close-up views of Annapurna massif and Mount Machhapuchchhre. The route via Machhapuchchhre Base Camp remains a major attraction, with trekkers able to see peaks such as Machhapuchchhre, Annapurna South and Annapurna I from the trail.

With visitor numbers rising, the rural municipality has recently opened a primary healthcare centre to support the health and safety of trekkers and local communities.