on June 10, 2024
The classic Annapurna Circuit trek, once a 21-day journey, can now be completed in 3-5 days due to a new road network built on top of some trails. Nepal’s Annapurna region received 191,558 visitors in 2023, with most spending less than a week on the trek. While visitor numbers have increased, the average time spent on the trail has significantly decreased.
Economic Impact: This trend has negatively impacted tea houses and local tourism businesses located along the classic Annapurna Circuit route, particularly south of Chame and Marpha. These businesses heavily invested in lodges,hotels, and restaurants and now face a decline in visitors. While the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) has protected status, its trails themselves do not.
Potential solutions:
For Government Entities: Ideally, Local Bodies (LBs), the provincial tourism ministry, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA), and the Government of Nepal (GoN) would collaborate to protect these historic trails. Currently, there’s a lack of coordination. Local Bodies need to prioritize both local development and sustainable tourism. Major pilgrimage and trekking trails deserve protected status as national heritage. If such a category doesn’t exist, consider creating one similar to UNESCO World Heritage Sites but specifically for trails.
For the Private Sector: A few outdoor agencies are already putting effort into finding alternative trails within the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) and adjusting itineraries accordingly. This approach offers a differentiating factor in Nepal’s crowded outdoor industry by taking travelers off the beaten path.
Lessons Learned: The Annapurna Conservation Area serves as a good example of how protected status, collaboration with local communities, and Local Body involvement can prevent excessive environmental damage. However, it also highlights the potential pitfalls of neglecting the economic impact of tourism development in a region heavily reliant on tourism revenue.
Himalayan Adventure Labs recently created an alternative Annapurna Circuit route that avoids jeep tracks, offering a true circuit experience starting and ending in Sikles. This route traverses three passes exceeding 5,000 meters (including Namun La with some rounding) and requires at least 2-3 nights of camping (shorter variations are possible). Two short sections in the Annapurna foothills require further scouting. We’re excited to further explore this route after the monsoon season!
New AC Route Details:
Distance: 290.75 km
Elevation Range: 1116m to 5409m
Elevation Gain/Loss: +22852m / -22851m