Sar Pass Trek vs Annapurna Base Camp Trek (in late december), which one to choose?

madhav175

Hello fellow trekkers

Firstly i want to know if the Sar Pass trek route will be accessible in late December (starting 24th December). I am trekking in the mountains for the first time. Please help me choose between the Sar pass trek and the trek to Annapurna base camp. Also kindly mention the rough estimate of the expenses for both the treks excluding the travel costs if known.

mridula

I am alomst definite that Saar pass would be closed in December, there is too much snow sometimes even in May, December is not advisable at all.

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Mridula

Travel Tales from India

madhav175

hi, please tell me if the trekking route to Annapurna base camp will be accessible in late December(starting Dec24th)

mridula

Madav that I unfotunately don't know. I did some google search and at least one site says it is possible till half of december.

http://www.angelnepal.com/annapurnatrek.htm

But then I have no personal experience.

madhav175

hey, i checked that link, there its given last trekking trip those ppl organize is on 20th dec, maybe route will close after that, ok will ask people about this, and yeah, if you have personally been on any trekking trips, please suggest any, in late dec, i am not sure what kind of place i want actually but there should be lots of snow, i should be walking in snow, evrything totally white for miles around me, mountains, hehe, smething like that,and yeah, i am first timer for trekking,please suggest .

mridula

As you say it is your first trek ... what is your level of fitness and tolerance for cold, a lot of cold? Have you thought about it?

I would say do a moderate trek and do Har Ki Doon in Uttrakhand. Give it a thought.

madhav175

Yeah, tolerance for cold. I am in Hyderabad since 20 yrs, not very cold here, min temp i experienced was 11 degree centigrade, haven't experienced ultra cold climate till now, so i don't know about my tolerance for cold, i am doing the Dal houise trek organized by youth hostel association of India from 19th Dec to 24th Dec. The trek route is dalhouise- kalatop- khajjar- chamba, and from there back by road .Plan to do an other trek after that, so will the Dal houise experience help for the next trek i am planning after 24th Dec, will it improve cold tolerance?

sriram_world

Hi Madhav,

I am also thinking of some options for trekking in december end. Check out my posts..for some discussions on several places . My requirement is also to find out lots of snow..

I am just thinking of a 1 or 2 day trek,as it is tough to trek in snow and that too in december end with the weather being cold.

It needs pretty tough guts to plan for a 5 to 10 day trek in cold single degree temperatures..especially for us ..south indians.

I am thinking of chopta and auli for december end...If you are intrested,we can plan together.

Sriram.B

madhav175

Hi Sriram. Read your posts. So you are thinking of auli? I will be in Dal houise on 24th Dec. I have asked people for suggestions about a late winter trek and read many other posts. Some have suugested Har Ki Doon. They say its doable for first timers like me. So i was thinking Har Ki Doon but didn't finalise. I am quite flexible with my itenary, so was looking to spend more time, a min of 5 days. What is the number of days you are planning to spend? and yeah? if you have already been on many trekking trips, can you give me a rough estimate of the cost involved. I am planning on a budget on Rs 10k and not more than it, can you tell the trekking routes which are doable on that budget. Your suggestion would be very helpful in planning my trip.

mridula

Madhav Auli is also a doable place. But when we were trekking around it in June our guide talked about people finding it unbearably cold to camp out at night in October. So maybe you need to think of one day walks with Auli as your base.

sriram_world

Hi Madhav,

I have done some 2 or 3 himalayan treks..but those were in summaer. This is the first time,I am thinking of a winter trek.

Here are some options.

1) Chopta-Tunganath-Chandrashila trek + Deoriatal( 2 or 3 days from chopta)
2) Auli-Gorson bugyal-Auli ) 1 day trek
3) Harkidoon ( 4 to5 days tek )
4) Mcleodganj ( triund-ilaka trk )

This thread is not the right place to discuss the baove treks..as each of them have been discussed a lot..Search for their names in the forum..u will get loads of details.

Reg Budget, 10000 per head..is a good bet..It will take that much to travel to Nindia and do any 2 to 3 day treks there..

Any additional info,PM ME.

Sriram.B

madhav175

thanks for the suggestion. I read a guys post who did har ki doon from Dec 19- Dec 25, he says it is not so difficult. I spoke to a an india mike member from kolkata, he suggested Annapurna base camp trek and moreover he said it will cost 5k excluding the travelling costs to Nepal, now i don't understand how that would be possible when you are telling it will take 10k for a trek of 3-4 days.

sriram_world

I am including everything MAdhav ... Travel cost also...

In case of Chopta the trek cost alone should be less than 3000. I am just giving an average figure ,if a person has to spend for himalayan visits,if travelling from south.

I doubt whether Annapurna base camp trek can be completed with a budget of Rs5000.

Regards
Sriram.B

aman_pruthi

Hey for a first timer, december end is not a good time for himalayan treks...you'll get -10 to -12'C night temperatures even at 10,000 ft and annapurna trek is also a BIG no for first timers and Sarpass would be closed. If you still wanna go that time, try any of these

1) chandrashila-tungnath with deoria tal.
2) sandakphu
3) har-ki-dun
4) dodital
5) 1-2 day treks from Auli, Sangla, Mcleodganj etc