Posted by Dano on May 30, 2000 at 12:27:55:
In Reply to: Update - Tatopani to Pokhara via Ben posted by Marino on May 30, 2000 at 11:18:37:
: Here's an update as at early May of this route. It took us 6 hours of hot but relatively simple flat/downhill trekking to get from Tatopani to Galeshor. This is a nicer spot for lunch as Beni is too busy/crowded for my liking, especially after trekking through small villages.
: From Galeshor, you can charter an old Toyota Landcruiser (which acts as a bus) for 20-30 rupees per person to take you to Beni via a rough road. The bus takes 10 minutes with 10 minutes waiting for locals to fill the 'Cruiser so you may wish to walk the 1 hour to Beni instead.
: From Beni the local Tata bus leaves at 2pm or 3-30pm to Pokhara (95rp) - we just missed the 2pm which was frustrating. Getting the 2pm is the key to just a long day and arriving at Pokhara in daylight (instead of a very long day if on the 3-30pm and a nightime arrival). The road from Beni to the 'highway' is still in bad condition and takes 1 hour although not as bad and bumpy as I'd read from posts here 6 months ago.
: The bus timetable may of course change from now to the next trekking season. There are other times for buses to Pokhara but I don't remember these.
: After the highway it's about 3 hours of tedium to Pokhara. The bus stopps at Naya Pul for about 15 minutes whic felt weird as this was our departure point 10 days previously.
: Our bus was delayed an hour due to rain and a minor accident and so arrival at Iceland in Pokhara was not till 9pm - bedtime for trekkers!!!
Why didn't you get a taxi? Surely after a long hike you can afford a modest luxury. I thought the drive was very beautiful, the Chinese road looks great. I got to Pokara in real good time.
I think when I did it the road only came as far as Beni. How did they get a road down that steep escarpement to Goleshar? Or have I got this muddled up? I remember a very steep final climb before arriving in Beni. I thought it was a nice trek, good forest, but a lot of horse trains and yak trains.