AMV Story & Description

 
Annapurna Mon Village is a partnership between Thomas, French ex-NGO worker in Nepal, and Basanta, Nepali tourism entrepreneur from Pokhara. In 2012 the two friends decided to create a guest house in Ghachok, Basanta's native village. Stone & wooden houses have been renovated and built, respecting the local style and using the traditional skills of Nepali craftsmen.
There are 12 rooms (double or twin beds) in 3 different houses, including 5 rooms with attached bathroom and 7 other rooms. Another house is for the restaurant and can be used for seminars, meetings and screening.
Annapurna Mon Village welcomes trekkers as well as guests who will appreciate staying a few days in a peaceful and natural environment.
We offer Nepali and continental food made from local products and organic vegetables grown in our garden.
 
Annapurna Mon Village
Annapurna Mon Village

About Ghachok Village

 
Ghachok village lies at an altitude of 1200m in the Seti river valley, north of Pokhara (200 km West of Kathmandu).
From there you can see the Mt Machhapuchare (6996m) and the whole Annapurna range from Annapurna 1 (8092m) to Lamjung Himal (6953m).
 
Ghachok Village
AMV is within the Annapurna Conservation Area

Climate

 
Ghachok enjoys a mild subtropical climate, with a dry season from October to May and a wet season (monsoon) from June to September. The best periods to visit are October to December and February to May when the mountains are very clear and the temperatures are warm. In November you can see the harvest and enjoy the Nepali festivals of Dashain and Tihar. In March-April you can see the rhododendrons flowering.
 
Climate in Ghachok
Rice harvest in November
 
You can still visit Ghachok from late December to early February, it is warm in the day, but it can be cold at night when trekking in higher altitude. During the monsoon expect some rain and hot temperatures. Ghachok is very green all year round thanks to water coming from numerous springs and rivers. Villagers grow rice, wheat, maize, and millet along with vegetable and fruit.

Wild Life

 
There is a very rich and diversified fauna around Ghachok : deers, monkeys, leopards in the forest, Himalayan goat tahr, blue sheep bharal, and yaks in higher altitude, and many species of butterflies and birds. At the "vulture restaurant" which is located by the Seti river, several protected species of Himalayan vulture can be observed in their natural environment.
 
Wild Life in Ghachok
 Langur monkeys

Population and Culture

 
Ghachok is inhabited by several castes and ethnic groups : Brahmans, Chhetris, Dalits, Newars, Gurung, Magyar. The majority of the villagers follow Hinduism and you can watch various festivals.
 
Population in Ghachok
 Shiva Ratri festival in February
 
Walking around the village is an excellent opportunity to observe the daily life of Nepalese people in the country side. You can see many children wearing their school uniform as there are several schools in the village, from primary level to higher secondary.

Community Support

 
We are integrated in Ghachok village and feel it is our responsibility to support the community. We are buying products from the locals (milk, eggs, chicken), we hire local guides and porters, and thus contribute to the local economy. Besides, our main concern goes to children education. We are committed to support the Bal Kalyan public primary school which is next to our guest house by providing the children with a good environment : distribution of school stationery, clothes, books given by individual sponsors, renovation of the classrooms and the school building thanks to the non-profit organization Solidarité France Népal. We welcome volunteers and ideas if you want to help.
 
Community Support - Ghachok Village
Children of Bal Kalyan School

Eco Friendly

 
We are doing our best to make AMV ecologically friendly :
- We grow vegetables from our own garden, without using any chemical fertilizer or pesticide
- We sort out and convert organic waste into compost for the garden
- We use solar panels for electricity and to heat water
 
Annapurna Mon Village