A new tourist information centre and checkpoint have been established at Banskot, the gateway to the Maurice Herzog Trail in Narchyang, Annapurna Rural Municipality–4, Myagdi, to improve visitor services, strengthen trekking management and promote the Annapurna First Base Camp as an emerging trekking destination. The centre has been established through the initiative of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and the local Conservation Area Management Committee. It is expected to make trekking more organized and convenient for both domestic and international visitors heading towards the Annapurna First Base Camp through the Maurice Herzog Trail.
Tourist Information Centre to Improve Trekking Services and Visitor Management
The newly established information centre will collect and maintain records of domestic and international tourists visiting the trail and base camp. It will also provide essential information about the trekking route, base camp, available facilities, conservation regulations and guidelines that visitors need to follow during their journey. The centre will further assist trekkers by providing information about local services and facilities while helping address difficulties that may arise along the trail. Through systematic visitor registration and information management, the initiative is expected to strengthen trekking administration and improve the overall experience of visitors exploring the Annapurna region.
The centre was jointly inaugurated on Wednesday by Bharat Kumar Pun, Chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality, and Rabin Kadariya, Director of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). According to Bhim Poudel, Conservation Officer at ACAP Ghandruk, the centre has been established to maintain proper records of visitors travelling to the Annapurna First Base Camp, provide reliable information about the trekking route and ensure that trekkers are aware of necessary rules, regulations and tourism-related information.
Local Initiative to Strengthen Annapurna First Base Camp Tourism
Tej Gurung, Chairperson of the Narchyang Conservation Area Management Committee and an advocate of the Maurice Herzog Trail, said the information centre would play an important role in promoting the trail among domestic and international tourists. He stated that the centre would provide information about the Annapurna First Base Camp, the Maurice Herzog Trail and the services available along the route. It will also collect tourist details, facilitate information sharing and help address problems encountered by trekkers during their journeys.
According to Gurung, one staff member will be assigned to the centre until the end of the Tihar festival, after which the number of staff will be increased to two to ensure regular services. The establishment of the centre is expected to strengthen local tourism management while making essential visitor information more accessible. It will also help local authorities and conservation bodies maintain updated records of tourist arrivals and better understand visitor movement in the area.
Annapurna First Base Camp: An Emerging Destination for Adventure Trekkers
Located at an altitude of 4,050 metres, the northern base camp of Annapurna I has increasingly attracted domestic trekkers in recent years. Standing at 8,091 metres, Annapurna I is widely recognized as the first mountain above 8,000 metres to be successfully climbed, adding historical and mountaineering significance to the destination. The Maurice Herzog Trail provides access to this spectacular base camp and is gradually developing as an attractive destination for adventure trekking, offering mountain scenery, waterfalls, alpine landscapes and natural attractions. To reach the base camp, trekkers first travel approximately 20 kilometres by road from Bensi village in Narchyang through Banskot, Dobhan and Chhotepa to Humkhola.
From Humkhola, visitors must continue on foot for approximately 21 kilometres, with the trek generally taking two days to reach the base camp. Major attractions along the route include the picturesque Phutphute Waterfall, Panchakunda Lake at the base camp and panoramic views of the surrounding Himalayan mountain ranges. These natural features have contributed to the growing appeal of the Maurice Herzog Trail among adventure and nature enthusiasts.
Improved Infrastructure and Local Hospitality Supporting Trekking Tourism
The development of tourism infrastructure has also contributed to making the Maurice Herzog Trail more accessible. Annapurna Rural Municipality has undertaken infrastructure development, trail maintenance and the construction of suspension bridges in the trekking area, helping improve access and facilitate visitors’ journeys. In addition, private businesses have established tea shops, hotels and restaurants at different locations along the route through agreements with the rural municipality. These facilities provide trekkers with food and accommodation options, making the journey more convenient and supporting local economic activities.
The establishment of the tourist information centre is expected to complement these existing facilities by improving visitor registration, information delivery and coordination of trekking services. Annapurna Rural Municipality Chairperson Bharat Kumar Pun expressed confidence that the centre would help maintain systematic records of tourists visiting the Annapurna First Base Camp while making tourism information and visitor services more effective. With growing interest in the Annapurna First Base Camp and continued improvements in local infrastructure and hospitality services, the information centre marks another step towards strengthening trekking tourism in Narchyang and promoting the Maurice Herzog Trail as an emerging adventure destination in Nepal.
