Summary

Pluses

• No guide necessary
• No altitude issues
• No permits or TIMS card*
• Very cheap
• Unexplored, undeveloped and unspoilt
• Good clear paths
• Friendly and helpful people
• Cultural events
• Seeing life here as it is lived
• Lots of kids
• Lots of domestic animals
• Farming in full swing

* All this could change. See Post Annapurna disaster section

Minuses

• Very basic and repetitive food (in some ways this is also a plus)
• Very basic accommodation and often no toilet
• Very poor sleep at times (this might be a purely personal thing)
• Centre of attention all the time (especially for women)
• Trash everywhere!
• Little spectacular scenery (so don't expect snowy mountains all the time)
• Very dry so waterfalls not running
• Drunks seem to attach themselves like flies
• Actual flies