UN Secretary General Guterres leaves for Annapurna Base Camp

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who arrived in Pokhara on Monday in the course of his four-day official visit to Nepal, has left for the Annapurna Base Camp.

He left for the Base Camp on a helicopter of the Nepali Army this morning.

The UN high dignitary will hold talks with the locals on the impact of climate change in the Himalayan region, the condition of the mountains among other topics upon reaching the Base Camp, it has been said. The Base Camp is situated at 4, 130 meters above sea level.

All preparations have been completed for welcoming the Secretary General, said Dilip Gurung, the Secretary of the Chhomrong Tourism Committee.

The Annapurna Base Camp is a world-famous and highly rated destination in trekking tourism. The trek around the base of Mt Annapurna is considered as one of the best treks of the world. Mt Annapurna is the tenth highest mountain in the world at 8,091 meters (26,545 ft) above sea level and is well known for the difficulty and danger involved in its ascent.

The Annapurna started drawing the attention of mountaineers around the world after French climber Maurice Herzog led a French expedition to its summit through the north face in 1950, making it the first eight-thousand-meter peak ever successfully climbed.

Tourists specially from Europe, America, Malaysia, China, Korea come for trekking in the Annapurna Base Camp. 

This area has become a popular trekking destination after the world-renowned trekker Eric Simpton trekked to the Annapurna Base Camp in 1996, one and a half decades after the first ascent of the peak.

A marathon competition is held every year from the Annapurna Base Camp to Ghandruk on the occasion of the Annapurna Ascent Day marking the first ascent of the mountain for highlighting the prestige and significance of Mt Annapurna.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek offers spectacular mountain views and gives the opportunity to experience the typical Nepali village, local people and their way of living traditional life in Himalaya. The Annapurna Base Camp route passes through magnificent and tranquil landscapes, charming Gurung and Magar villages, lush green Rhododendron, bamboo and alpine forests.