Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 in Myagdi, which houses the Annapurna I Base Camp, has witnessed a record number of visitors, marking the highest tourist influx since the route’s recognition 13 years ago. With the long Dashain and Tihar festival holidays, thousands of domestic tourists visited the Annapurna Base Camp, according to trail advocate Tej Gurung.
As per Gurung, approximately 3,000 tourists have explored the base camp since Dashain, including a substantial number of international visitors. On Wednesday alone, around 300 domestic and foreign tourists gathered at the camp, located on the northern face of the 8,091-meter Annapurna I, the climbing base for this formidable peak.
Annapurna I was first climbed on June 3, 1950, by French mountaineers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, creating mountaineering history. In Herzog’s honor, the trail from Narchyang to the north base camp was named the “Maurice Herzog Trail.” The Annapurna trekking route features the serene Panchakunda Lake, waterfalls, and vibrant biodiversity, which are key attractions for trekkers.
Identified in 2011, the route has since seen infrastructure improvements, including shelters and promotional efforts, which have led to increased tourist traffic, said Annapurna Rural Municipality Chair Bharat Kumar Pun. “With rising tourist numbers, we are planning to develop community lodges from Humkhola to the base camp to enhance accommodation options, and we have initiated the land acquisition process,” he said. This year, the municipality allocated NPR 10 million to build lodges at the base camp and Bhuskhet Mela in line with the integrated tourism master plan, Pun added.
The trail, stretching 20 km from Pokharebagar to Humkhola, is accessible by road, while a 16 km trekking route leads from Humkhola to the base camp. Although hotels and lodges are available up to Humkhola, visitors must bring provisions for the remaining stretch due to a lack of facilities along the trail. At the base camp, climbers often camp in tents, while the internal shelters provide lodging for domestic tourists. The municipality aims to improve communication, drinking water, and other facilities, elevating the base camp as a safe and premium trekking destination, said Deputy Chairperson Chhadiva Kumari Tilizapun.
Maurice Herzog’s Son, Matthias, Visits Base Camp to Honor Father’s Legacy
Following in the footsteps of his father, Maurice Herzog, Matthias Herzog recently trekked to the Annapurna Base Camp. Maurice Herzog’s historic ascent of Annapurna in 1950 marked a monumental achievement in mountaineering history. Matthias retraced his father’s route to the base camp, arriving on Saturday. He laid a garland on the statue of Maurice Herzog near Panchakunda Lake, a tribute to his father’s legacy, according to trail advocate Tej Gurung.
Matthias, whose visit coincided with the upcoming 75th anniversary of his father’s ascent in 2025, expressed pride in standing where his father once walked. He announced plans to translate Maurice Herzog’s book, The Annapurna, into several languages, including Nepali.
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