The beginning of the Annapurna Sanctuary hike proper and a chance to enjoy the bustling village of Chhomrong.

Statistics

2 - 3

hrs

534

m

1,001

m

17

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Moderate

Description

From Tadapani drop down steeply into the valley below and head across another of the famous Nepalese suspension bridges.

Undulate around to Taglung village and then get ready for the ascent to Chhomrong.

The area around Chhomrong is famous because of its thousands of stone steps.

Lines of steps as long as these are quite rare in much of the Himalaya but in this region (and particularly around Chhomrong) they are ubiquitous.

The ascent isn’t actually too tough but the somewhat unrelenting nature of the steps quickly takes its toll on your thighs and you’ll see why coming from the very bottom of the valley would have been pretty hard going! Your reward when you do reach Chhomgrong is a fun village full of bakeries, lodges and souvenir stalls.

The views aren’t bad either! From Chhomring much of your route over the next few days is visible and the legendary “Fish Tail” mountain Machapuchhre is also visible in the distance.

The village is spread over quite a wide area and sits on a steep hillside so an inquisitive soul will find an endless treasure trove of interesting things to look at once you’ve got booked into a lodge or set up camp.

Wandering around the village with no firm plan other than to explore is highly recommended and will provide you with a good insight into real life in this spectacular valley. The next day’s trekking takes you into higher, colder mountains so savour the warmth and thick air of Chhomrong and maybe even consider having a final beer! (Drinking alcohol is not recommended at the upcoming camps due to the altitude).