Panchase Trek - Trip Report

Seaton, United...
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Panchase Trek - Trip Report
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We are newcomers to Nepal and wanted to see how our knees and OH’s breathing would cope before we tackled something harder. I am 59 and OH is 48. Panchase is also very quiet and does not require any permits and fees. This way if it all did go sour we didn’t waste too much money.

We tried a number of agents who all wanted to charge us an all in price of $40/person/day which we felt was expensive. Eventually we found one that gave us exactly what we were looking for – a guide/porter who would carry up to 15kg. His cost, including his food and bed was 900NPR/day.

Day 1 – Taxi to Kande cost 1200NPR although you can catch a bus. Easy walking to Banskharka which is Rajit’s home (our guide) . Had a great lunch cooked by his mother and wife, plus snacks, milk and honey all home produced - delicious. We paid her 250NPR/person. Rajit then took us on a tour of the village and to meet some neighbours. It was another 1-2 hour pleasant stroll to Bhadaure for our night in The Holliness Guest House. Double room with private bath (cold shower) was 500NPR but there was a hot shower in the shared bathroom. Daal Bhaat 300NPR/person and breakfast of a large bowl of porridge with fruit was 200NPR/person.

Day 2 - Next was a relatively easy walk to Panchase via the lake and temple. The final 500m was on steep steps and this part took just over one hour. OH just kept stopping and catching her breath so no problem. Views from the top are stunning across to the Annapurna range. You can stay here but accomodation is basic and bathroom facilities are some distance from the rooms. It’s 500m back down another set of steep steps on the other side to the Happy Heart Guest House. Room was 300NPR with shared bathroom - not great when compared to The Holliness. Daal Bhaat was 300NPR/person and breakfast, omelette with 2 chapati, 300NPR/person – poor value.

Day 3 - Finally, it’s a 1200m steep step decent to Ghatichhina to catch the bus to Lakeside. 55NPR/person. This part was very tough, especially after the 500m decent the previous day, and really did hurt OH’s knees. We had knee supports and sticks which we think are essential.

Teas/coffees are about 40NPR each and a beer from 360 to 400NPR.

Our overall cost doing it independently was roughly half the cost of the package offered by most agents. Overall, we did enjoy it but will try and avoid such a torrid decent in the future.

Next stop Annapurna Base Camp so if anyone has any suggestions we would love to hear from you.

Settle, United...
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Thanks - some useful, up-to-date information.

Enjoy The Sanctuary !

Sheffield, United...
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Thanks for the report; info about Panchase is thin on the ground. It's not surprising agents try and sell you a package because there is more profit for them. You got a good price for the p/g and meeting his family and touring the village sounds like a nice bonus.

ABC is a great trek; my main suggestion is to give yourself plenty of time and trek at your own pace to cope with the ascents and descents. There is quite a bit of up and because the trail crosses side spurs to the main valley - but it is worth it: if you thought the views from P were good, just wait for the for the scenery at ABC.

Good luck and enjoy the trek.

scoodly

France
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That was amazing reading! Its my dream trek and hopefully will do one day! Thanks for the beautiful report here....

Milan, Italy
Destination Expert
for Tibet, Montagna e sport invernali, Milan, Nepal, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Jomsom, Mustang Region, Namche Bazaar, Sagarmatha National Park, Ladakh, Annapurna Region
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Thank you so much for sharing your experience here with us.

namaste

Rongpuk

5. Re: Panchase Trek - Trip Report

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Quebec
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hello are you the suka from my facebook?

Kathmandu,Nepal
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Namaste Itcanbedone,

It's really useful information and hope that you are going to share ABC experience report too.

Namaste!!!

Lake District...
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for Nepal, Kathmandu
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Yes – Great Trek Report, Thank you for sharing it with us all

For a suggestion on your coming ABC Trek – If you have the time add on Mardi Himal, this is a relatively new trek (Well an old trek but lodges have recently been built so you can now trek the route as a teahouse trek where as before it was camping only)

I was up there this Spring and compared to the main ABC trail it was deserted – Excellent views, simple lodges and food and accommodation prices a lot less than the main ABC trail too.

More details on my trek report on this link

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/c4879/

Good Luck and Happy Safe Trekking

Rob

NYC
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My husband and I would like to only do a day hike on the panchase trail. We can only do one day due to time constraints. Do you think it would be worth the time to do this despite it only being one day?

Seaton, United...
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If you get to Kande you can walk in many directions but you will waste an hour or so each way in a taxi. Probably best to get a local map and see which local walks to Pokhara won't waste your day getting to/from.

Alternatively, if your up for a tough one get the bus from Lakeside to Ghatichhina, which is where we finished, and trek up hill.

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