Complete Guide for Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The Annapurna Base Camp is a popular trekking route in the mountains of Nepal. This route got its popularity after 1956 when foreigners started arriving in Nepal to explore the beauty of the mountains after the official visas were introduced. The Annapurna Sanctuary is an exemplary creation of nature that has a varied landscape and a diverse ecosystem. 

Annapurna area is an oval-shaped plateau that is incredibly known for the astounding Himalayan experiences. The Himalayas over 7000 surround the area and a diverse range of flora and fauna creates the vivid and peaceful atmosphere. 

The route to Annapurna base camp passes through various villages and viewpoints such as Australian Camp, Sinwa, Ghandruk, Landruk and Deurali. There are other routes to visit the Annapurna Base Camp as well. Also, a wonderful option to take a quick glimpse and put your foot at the base of the mountain is via Helicopter. 

Annapurna Base Camp trek is regarded as a cheaper and shorter alternative to Everest region trekking. This is because it has diversity and remote experiences to offer. The base camp is situated directly 40 Km north of Pokhara and lies at an altitude of over 4000 m. 

Trekking in this glacial basin is rewarding as it has a wide range of experiences to offer. The varied ecosystem, flora and fauna, dense tropical jungles of rhododendron and bamboo, and Himalayan panorama alongside the culture and lifestyle of people are remarkably the major things to explore while visiting Annapurna Base Camp. 

The Annapurna region is popular for trekking, hiking, helicopter tour and mountaineering activities. It is further an incredible abode of wide natural spectrums that are connected with the religious belief system of local people. 

Gurung people are the major inhabitants of the Annapurna region and the sanctuary is sacred to them. Some people believe that the Annapurna region is a wonderful depository of gold and various treasures left by snake serpents from India during ancient times. 

It is also said to be the place where several deities from Hinduism, Buddhism and animism reside. According to some Hindu belief, lord shiva resides at the top of mount Machhapuchhre and the plume of snow developed in this mountain is thought to be the smoke of his celestial incense.

Annapurna Base Camp is a moderate level trekking destination that is concise and convenient and offers incredible experiences. However, trekking in this area requires a sort of preparation and backpacking. 

While trekking in any area of Nepal, you must obtain some knowledge about the difficulty level, the climate and weather conditions, accommodation facilities, entry and permits, altitude and acute mountain sickness  and insurance. For your convenience, we’ve tried  to include  everything that you need to know before braving into this wonder of nature in the Annapurna region. 

• Difficulty

Annapurna Base Camp trek is a moderately difficult  trek. It is a comparatively easier trek than other mountain base camp trekking routes. The trek is very adventurous and has a unique diversity of culture and nature in the mountains. For that, this trekking route is highly admired in the Annapurna region. 

Key addition is that it also takes you to the base camp of Machhapuchhre Himal. The slow and steady walk with an average of 4-6 hours trekking per day makes it a convenient and inclusive trek. Also, the Annapurna Base Camp trekking can be completed in a shorter time than other trekking areas such as Everest Base Camp and Dolpo trekking. This also makes the trekking easier. 

Visitors can suffer from common problems like exhaustion. One can feel this due to the long trek. The trek difficulty is moderate. First-time trekkers can also complete this trek easily. But it requires a tough uphill walk, trekkers must be physically fit for that.

There are accommodation and lodging facilities available throughout the trek. The homestays, teahouses and lodges offer the stay facilities in the Annapurna Region, so trekkers do not have to carry their own tents and other camping equipment. 

• Weather and Climate

The weather and climate is the major factor to consider while planning the trek in the Annapurna region. Nepal observes four seasons throughout the year. The spring, summer, autumn and winter. In these seasons, the two seasons, Spring and Autumn, are best for trekking. 

The spring season comprises the months of March, April and May. The clear sky and moderate temperature alongside the blooming rhododendron in the trail is a very vibrant part of the trek. In the spring season, the temperature ranges from 4 degree to 14 degree celsius in the Annapurna region, making it favourable for trekking. However, carrying warm clothes and having proper shoes is highly recommended. 

Summer begins with an unpredictable climate. The frequent rainfall and gradual increase in temperature makes it difficult to trek in the Annapurna Base Camp. Also, the leeches and bushes, rainfall and unpredictable climate make the experience harsh. So, the summer season is not so recommended for trekking activities in Nepal. 

Autumn is the best time to trek in Nepal. Not only in the Annapurna Base Camp but throughout other trekking regions in Nepal, the months September, October and November are considered favorable for trekking. The average temperature in the September and October months varies between 16 to -6, whereas the November month gets colder with -10 degrees at night sometimes. 

Winter has its own sort of experiences to offer. The various trekking parts get filled with snow and makes it very difficult for trekking in the high elevations. Also, the atmosphere gets frosty, so trekking in winter is not recommended in winter. There lies a chance of losing the trail as the trail gets filled with snow and ice. 

• Accommodation

There are accommodation facilities available throughout the trek. The small lodges and teahouses provide accommodation services. So, the Annapurna Base Camp trek is easier because of the human-inhabited villages in several parts of the trek. The food and stay amenities are well maintained in this trail. Accommodation is one of the key factors that make the trekking activity accessible and convenient. 

• Entry and Permits

As the base camp lies in the conservation area, visitors require some permits to travel here. Trekkers must have an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) Card with them. The ACAP permit cost Rs. 2000 (for SAARC nations) and Rs. 3000/US $ 30 (for other nations). The TIMS permit costs Rs. 1000/US $ 10. Trekkers can get these permits from the Nepal tourism board in Kathmandu or the TAAN office in Lakeside, Pokhara.

• Altitude

The altitude of Annapurna Base Camp is 4130 m above sea level. The complete trail of this route ranges from 800 m to 4130 m. And there is not a huge elevation gain in the trekking trail. Meandering through the dense rhododendron and pine forest, and exploring the wonderful mountain vistas will make your trek awesome. 

• Altitude Sickness

Since, the elevation is not so high in Annapurna Base Camp trek and per day elevation gain is also less, there are less chances of Altitude mountain sickness. Still, there lies a possibility of getting Acute Mountain Sickness. So, drinking enough water and energizers to keep yourself hydrated and keeping yourself safe from draining energy is important. It mitigates the risk of getting Altitude sickness in higher elevations. Altitude sickness occurs because of high elevation.  Acclimatizing can be the solution to this problem. 

• Insurance

Insurance is one of the most important factors while planning the trek in Nepal. It helps in unforeseen circumstances and mitigates the economic load. The repatriation and helicopter evacuation in case of emergency are generally covered by trekking insurance. If you are planning to trek in the Annapurna Base Camp, you need to obtain insurance that has coverage up to 6000 m. 

• Packing List Suggestion

Planning the trek and backpacking can be arduous if you are a beginner trekker and don’t have sufficient knowledge of trekking activities. To trek in the Annapurna Base Camp, you don’t have to carry a lot of gear and equipment. However, the basic backpack should be made according to the things you need and the time you are planning to visit. 

For more information about backpacking, visit our backpacking suggestion for trekking in Nepal.

Annapurna Base Camp is a wonderful trekking region in Nepal. It is also one of the most sought after trekking areas of Nepal. Many trekkers all over the world visit Annapurna Base Camp. There are only two options for visiting the Annapurna Base Camp, one is via Helicopter and another is trekking. 

Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour from Pokhara

The Helicopter tour to Annapurna Base camp is the easiest way to reach the foothills of Mount Annapurna. The total flight time of ABC is about two hours. Some of the major attractions of the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter tour are the scenic experience you will get from the flight, tranquil valleys with an excellent bird’s eye view and breakfast at the base camp.

Annapurna Base Camp helicopter tour shortens the 7 days long ABC trekking in 2 hours. It is explorable and very worthy to visit. In this tour, you will get an excellent opportunity to witness the majestic Annapurna massif in front of you.

Annapurna Trekking Packages

There are various trekking packages to Annapurna Base Camp that pass through different villages and vantage points allowing you to explore the diverse landscapes and mind blowing sceneries. The Annapurna Base Camp can be reached within 7 days. A slightly longer itinerary of the trek is of 10 days and another itinerary is through the Ghorepani Poonhill.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek 7 Days

Most of the trekkers prefer to start the trek from Nayapul. A 7 days trek can make a trip to Annapurna base camp. Annapurna base camp trek is the most famous trekking route near Pokhara.

The first day of your Annapurna base camp trip starts from Pokhara. A drive will take you to Nayapul from there you can start a walk. You can even make a drive to Ghandruk if you don’t want to walk more. But as per our itinerary it’s better to stay your night in Ghandruk. Ghandruk is 12 km north from Nayapul, it takes 5-6 hours of hike to reach.

A real trek starts from Sinuwa, the up/down trails. A 7-8 hours of walk will take you to Sinuwa.  The further trek will take you to Deurali. On the way, you can experience the alpine forest, rivers and landscape views of hills and jungles.

The trek ahead will take you to base camp, the final point of your trip. The base camp is surrounded by several mountains. In north Annapurna itself and in south Fishtail is there. The base camp is so beautiful, you may enjoy every moment which you spend over there. 

You will enjoy the early morning views of the sunrise over the mountains, and experience the best views of the Himalayas. After breakfast you will return back to Dovan. From Dovan, you will trek towards the popular Ghandruk village. 

The village has several attractions, culture, tradition, people, local foods are some of them. You may love to explore their lifestyle, daily activities, locality and the wonderful views from the village. After exploring the local lifestyle, and spending some time with the people, you will drive back to Pokhara.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek 10 Days

Annapurna Base Camp trek for 10 days is a popular way to explore the beauty of Annapurna region. In this itinerary, you will be visiting the Machhapuchhre Base Camp and Ghandruk village. This trek is a little longer than the 7 days but it takes you to some of the most beautiful cultural villages of the Annapurna region. 

There are several hotels in the Annapurna Base Camp offering the accommodation facilities. Some of the popular hotels in the Annapurna Base Camp are mentioned here. 

There are two possible ways to reach the Annapurna base camp. One can make a trek which takes a long time or make a helicopter tour which is a short visit from Pokhara.

By Trek:

After a 25 minutes flight from Kathmandu, you will reach Pokhara. After reaching Pokhara, One and a half-hour drive takes you to Nayapul. The further drive from Nayapul leads to Ghandruk. 

The trek generally starts from Ghandruk. The trail takes you to Chhomrong, Sinuwa, Himalaya, Deurali, Machhapuchchhre Base Camp and finally to the Annapurna base camp. The duration of the trek depends on your preference and physical fitness.

By Helicopter:

Another easy option can be the helicopter tour to Annapurna base camp. From Pokhara, you can get a sharing as well as chartered helicopter tour to Annapurna base camp. It provides you iconic Himalayan views, landing at ABC, have breakfast there and enjoy the breathtaking Himalayas. You will get a 30 minutes time to spend in the Annapurna base camp.

Related Article: Annapurna Permits and Entry fees

Spring is the best season to visit the Annapurna base camp. The months of March, April and May will offer you the best views of the Himalayas. Besides that, you can experience the wild flora and fauna. 

Post monsoon season is Autumn, which is another best time to visit. The season of the festival will offer happiness through the trekking routes, clear weather, warm climate and scenic views of the forests.

Winter and monsoon are the low seasons, people rarely visit at this time. We don’t suggest visiting during the winter as there is heavy snowfall after Deurali at that time. You may encounter avalanches and landslides during the winter and monsoon time. Hotels and Accommodations

ABC trek has now become famous for trekking among travellers. The hotels and accommodation in the base camp are tea houses with clean and basic facilities. It provides visitors with different types of food, either Nepali, Indian or Continental. They also provide homestay facilities.

Related Article: Best Trekking Trails in Annapurna Region