Gen Z Flocks to Annapurna Base Camp and Maurice Herzog Trail During Festive Break

Diwana Sunuwar, a 25-year-old postgraduate student from Pokhara, spent her Dashain and Tihar holidays visiting the newly developed Maurice Herzog Trail and Annapurna Base Camp with her friends.

Anusha Lama from Banepa, Kavrepalanchok, also trekked to the base camp with her college group. Both represent the growing number of Nepali youth—especially from the Gen Z age group—flocking to Annapurna Rural Municipality-4 to explore the new route that blends nature, culture, and adventure.

Following Dashain, improved weather conditions drew an unexpectedly high number of domestic tourists to the Maurice Herzog Trail and Annapurna Base Camp. Around 300 Nepalis visit the base camp daily, 80 percent of them from the Gen Z generation, according to hotel operator Narimaya Garbuja Gurung, who runs a hotel near Panchakunda Lake.

“Many visitors come after seeing photos and videos on social media,” Gurung said. “The crowd has exceeded our hotel’s capacity, making it difficult to manage food and accommodation.”

Foreign tourists remain few, while most trekkers are young Nepalis, often seen capturing photos and videos amid the pristine natural surroundings.

Sangita Lama from Devghat, Tanahun, said she was inspired by social media posts. “The chance to view both the mountains and the lake together is the main attraction here,” she said. “Our generation loves spending holidays discovering new destinations.”

Sandarva Acharya from Jaljala Rural Municipality-4, Parbat, added that Gen Z travelers prefer places that combine accessibility with scenic variety. “This route offers everything—mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, forests, and diverse flora and fauna—all within a short trekking distance,” he said.

The Maurice Herzog Trail diverges eastward from the Beni–Jomsom–Korola Road, part of the Kaligandaki Corridor, providing road access deep into the Himalayan foothills. Travelers drive 20 kilometers along a motorable off-road section from Narchyang to Humkhola, then trek another 18 kilometers to reach the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,150 meters above sea level.

This newly opened trail offers a shorter and less strenuous alternative to the traditional Ghandruk route from Nayapul, which, although closer to Pokhara, involves a longer and more challenging trek. The Maurice Herzog Trail follows the Nilgiri River upstream and passes through scenic waterfalls such as Phutphute and Chhyali, as well as offers view of striking features like the Akashe Cave and several mountains of the Himalayan range including Mount Annapurna, also known as the ‘Elder’ Mountain.

Panchakunda Lake, located at the foot of Mount Annapurna, arrives about an hour’s walk before the base camp. Trekkers can enjoy views of the blue lake and snowcapped peaks together—an experience visitors describe as refreshing and awe-inspiring. The nearby Kagbhusundi Hill also holds religious importance, mentioned in Hindu scriptures such as the Pancharamanya.

The Annapurna Rural Municipality named the route the “Maurice Herzog Trail” in 2020 to honor the French mountaineer who led the first successful ascent of Mount Annapurna on June 3, 1950. The trail was first identified in 2011 under the leadership of Narchyang resident Tej Gurung. After the construction of basic infrastructure, it officially opened to trekkers in 2023. During the early years following its identification, when there were no human settlements along the route, trekkers had to carry their own supplies.

Since last spring, local residents—after obtaining permission from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and the rural municipality—have built temporary hotels at Humkhola, Phutphute Waterfall, Sangikhark, Gufafant, Bhusket, and Panchakunda, each accommodating up to 50 guests. Because ACAP restricts permanent structures, most facilities are made from wood, tarpaulin, and zinc sheets.

Hotel operator Michael Pun of Bhusket said, “We host guests in tents and temporary huts because ACAP doesn’t allow concrete buildings. With the rising number of visitors, ACAP should make it easier to expand capacity and improve facilities.”

Local residents have found new employment as hotel staff and porters, though the area still faces challenges such as waste management, fragile wooden bridges, and limited electricity and communication access. Provincial Assembly member Hari Bahadur Bhandari, who recently visited the area, said he would coordinate with local, provincial, and federal authorities to upgrade the Tatopani–Humkhola road, bridges, trails, and accommodations.

“The Annapurna Base Camp and Maurice Herzog Trail are a unique blend of nature and culture,” Bhandari said. “It’s essential to improve communication, sanitation, and overall infrastructure.”

Annapurna Rural Municipality Chairperson Bharat Kumar Pun said the local government continues to promote the trail through festivals, Mount Annapurna Day celebrations, and integrated master plans for infrastructure development. “We are developing trails, water facilities, rest houses, and public toilets to make this route a sustainable trekking destination,” he said. -- RSS