I returned last night from a trek to ABC and thought I share some notes on the ongoing roadworks/environmental destruction in the Annapurna Conservation Area.
If you start at Nayapul the road goes as far as Hille on the way to Ghorepani with a new road under construction to Ulleri that as of a week ago was getting ready to cut through the infamous staircase that leads up from Tikhedhunga. On the other side of the ridge, the road to Ghandruk has now passed Kyumi and the rhythmic sound of a rock breaker echoes up the valley. Additionally, there is a road to Kimche from where you can start or finish your Ghandruk trek.
Across the river, there is now a road as far as Landruk but apart from a few parked up 4-wheel drives, it didn't have any traffic while I walked it, however, the village of Tolka seems to be already feeling the impact of it with hotels trying to use spurious signage to entice trekkers of the easy road gradient onto steep staircases that lead past their establishments.
For the 2018 trekking season, it seems feasible that you might take an early morning ride to Ulleri walk up to Poon Hill admire the view and come back in the evening. All in one very long day.
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