Brians
4th May 2006, 10:42 PM
Annapurna area:
The Maoists hang out around the Sanctuary trail turn of area. They will either meet you on the trail or visit the hotels in the evening. It's probable that you will get stopped. The going rate is 1500rp each for trekkers. Porters and guides pay less.
Make sure you get a receipt, they may check it later on. Alos be aware there are a few 'robbers' around who maskerade as Maoists and won't have a reciept book.
Everest area:
If you fly in and out of Lukla you will be very unlikely to meet Maoists, (last ones seen were 3 years ago according to the locals). If you go via Jiri, you will probably meet them in Shrivilaya. The rate is 5000rp. If you go via Tumblingtar it's the same but less chance you will be approached.
note: A group of Polish trekkers refused to pay a day out of Jiri and the Maoists escorted them back to Jiri at gunpoint last month. They then paid and they let them go. The Maoist area command wasn't impressed, but nobody was hurt.
Note that both Jiri and Tumblingtar are heavy Maoist areas, and they believe they are fighting for a good cause. The recent ceasfire will not effect the collection of fees as I understand it.
If you don't want to pay fly in.
note:
When I came out last week from Jiri I had to walk to Bhakktapur, almost 200km from Jiri due to the road closures, there were rocks and trees all over and the locals were scared to move around except on foot.
It's very peacful now, but the Kathmandu hotels had mass cancellations for May.
Due to the Maoist action the Annapurna area is quieter than the Everest region, which was itself very quite for this time of year.
Brian
The Maoists hang out around the Sanctuary trail turn of area. They will either meet you on the trail or visit the hotels in the evening. It's probable that you will get stopped. The going rate is 1500rp each for trekkers. Porters and guides pay less.
Make sure you get a receipt, they may check it later on. Alos be aware there are a few 'robbers' around who maskerade as Maoists and won't have a reciept book.
Everest area:
If you fly in and out of Lukla you will be very unlikely to meet Maoists, (last ones seen were 3 years ago according to the locals). If you go via Jiri, you will probably meet them in Shrivilaya. The rate is 5000rp. If you go via Tumblingtar it's the same but less chance you will be approached.
note: A group of Polish trekkers refused to pay a day out of Jiri and the Maoists escorted them back to Jiri at gunpoint last month. They then paid and they let them go. The Maoist area command wasn't impressed, but nobody was hurt.
Note that both Jiri and Tumblingtar are heavy Maoist areas, and they believe they are fighting for a good cause. The recent ceasfire will not effect the collection of fees as I understand it.
If you don't want to pay fly in.
note:
When I came out last week from Jiri I had to walk to Bhakktapur, almost 200km from Jiri due to the road closures, there were rocks and trees all over and the locals were scared to move around except on foot.
It's very peacful now, but the Kathmandu hotels had mass cancellations for May.
Due to the Maoist action the Annapurna area is quieter than the Everest region, which was itself very quite for this time of year.
Brian