ANNAPUrnA

ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP

The Annapurna base camp trek is one of the most popular treks in the world. It literally brings you face to face with an eight-thousander – for a moderate-difficult trek, this is amazing! The mountain scenery along the route in incredible. At Ghandruk, you get distinct views of Machapuchare, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. Machapuchare, the ‘fish tailed mountain’, is revered by the Nepalese for its exquisite beauty. It is believed to be one of the homes of Lord Shiva. Surrounded by spectacular vistas and rhododendron forests which give way to bamboo groves, you will encounter the marvelous traditional people who live in Annapurna region on the base camp trek. The trail has several sections of forest that is so dense sunlight barely seeps through.

Most of your trek to Annapurna Base Camp is spent below 3,000m/ 10,000 feet. However, the terrain is challenging, with thousands and thousands of stairs.

Annapurna Base Camp is a small cluster of lodges opposite the Annapurna glacier. While this iconic trek does not require climbing skills, you need a good level of fitness and determination. Expect occasional rough terrain, plenty of steps, steep ascents and descents (sometimes of 500 metres or more) and varied weather conditions.

If you are looking for answers to specific questions, read here or go here to see some of our blog posts

Email us

annapurNa BASE CAMP at a glance

Overnight in tea houses or lodges on the mountain

From 15 days tour but can be done in 9 on a modified trek or even longer than 15

Starts and ends in Kathmandu with a flight/drive to Pokhara so it is the same ascent and descent route

Scenic but busier in season

ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP itinerary

Day-1: Arrive Kathmandu

Arrival and transfer to Hotel.

Day-2: Guided Sightseeing

Guided sightseeing around Kathmandu valley.

Day-3: Kathmandu to Pokhara

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna region. Hotel Overnight.

Day-4: Drive: Pokhara & Nayapul and Trek to Ulleri (1960m)

From Pokhara we drive to Nayapul, the start point as well as for the easier Poon Hill Trek. The trek starts out along a dirt road and after some time reaches a suspension bridge. From there, about an hour of climbing an endless series of stone steps take you to the old stone village of village. Tonight you will see an amazing view of Annapurna South (7,219 m) is in the distance.

Day-5 Ulleri - Ghorepani (2774m)

Leaving Ulleri the path heads up yet another series of endless stone stairs but the scenery is breathtaking as it winds past waterfalls, small villages and tea houses and farming areas. Along the way we will stop at Nangathati for a bit of lunch and rest. At the end of todays walk we find the village of Ghorepani, almost a mini Namche Bazaar buzzing with activity, numerous shops, bakeries and even wifi facilities. Ghorepani also has a Health Post, a School, Police check Post, and a temple for you to see, not to mention the amazing view Annapurna range.

Day-6: Ghorepani - Tatopani (2590m)

Early this morning we will hike up the famous Poon hill (3200m) for a magnificent sunrise view over the mountains. After that the route descends and then starts to head up a series of climbs and descents through beautiful rhododendron forests to Tatopani.

Day-7: Tatopani - Chomrong (2170m)

This morning as we descend from Tatopani we get amazing views of upper Modi valley. We trek downhill to the Kimrong Khola where we cross a suspension bridge and then start a gradual uphill trek to a Gurung village of Ghandruk. After a break we continue to hike to Chomrong at the very base of Himal Chuli.

Day-8: Chomrong - Himalaya Hotel (2920m)

Today begins with a steep descent down a bank of rock and then through thickets of bamboo at the lower gorge area. We then trek toward the neck of the gorge at pantheon Barah and climb to Himalaya hotel.

Day-9: Machhapuchhre BC

After trekking away from "Himalayan Hotel" we start to trek into more sparse and arid ground as we approach Machhapuchhre BC. The trail eventually emerges into the Annapurna Sanctuary and straight ahead lies the high lateral moraine of south Annapurna glacier. Machhapuchhre towers above to a incredible height 6993m. This is undoubtedly one of most beautiful mountains in the Himalayas and its profile is reminiscent of the Matterhorn. Machhapuchhre is a sacred mountain and it is strictly forbidden to climb it.

Day-10: Annapurna Base - Doban (3700m)

We climb steadily uphill for about 2 hours. After taking in some unforgettable views, we retrace our steps as we descend down the rail to Doban.

Day-11: Doban - Chomrong /Modi Khola

Today, we pass an experimental sheep farm at Khuldi Bikas and then climb towards Chomrong where the trail continues steeply up stony steps to Kabre Chautara and on to Modi Khola.

Day-12: Chomrong /Modi Khola - Ghandrung (1940m)

After Chomrong the trail continues steeply up more stone stairs to beautiful village of Ghandrung.

Day-13: Ghandrung - Nayapul (1070m). Drive to Pokhara

We continue to trek down hill to meet up with our transport at the village of Nayapul. We then drive back to Pokhara. Hotel

Day-14: Return to Kathmandu

Free at leisure.

Day-15: Departure

Transfer to the airport for your flight home

End of services

Email us

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

bELOW ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE ARE FREQUENTLY ASKED ABOUT THE ANNAPURNA

What is the height of Annapurna base camp?

Annapurna Base Camp elevation is 13,550 feet (or 4,130m. Most of your trek to Annapurna Base Camp is spent below 3,000m/ 10,000 feet.

How difficult/challenging is this trek?

In general if you are happy walking for 5to 6 hrs a day with a light day pack then you should be fine so long as you are fit in advance. Trekkers should be comfortable with occasional rough terrain, but expect long steep climbs. Some days could include ascents and descents of 500 metres or more. Most walking is done in the morning and afternoons are for relaxing. One thing you can’t train for though is altitude and that can prevent people reaching base camp where there is 50% less oxygen compared to sea level. The secret is to acclimatise well and to do so you need to take a slow pace, a good itinerary, ascend to altitude slowly, rest, eat good food, sleep well and drink plenty of fluid.

We rate ABC trek as moderate to difficult for two reasons. First, the distance is around 67 km over 10 days of trekking. Secondly, the altitude gain and loss over the trek, starting the trek at just over 2250m to 4130m at the Annapurna base camp.

How long does it take to hike Annapurna base camp?

The trek takes 15 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. However it can be modied to be longer or shorter to even 8 days

What are the tea houses like?

Tea houses are accommodations along trekking routes in Nepal that offer basic lodging and meals. The rooms are all generally basic. The higher elevation rooms do not have toilets, and some facilities only have squat toilets. Lodges at lower levels may have attached private bathrooms. There is no heating and electricity is often solar and on only for a few hours in the evening. Rooms have a bed, pillow and a thick blanket a small light. To the west, the Annapurna region is protected in a vast conservation area managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). Tea houses in the Annapurna are monitored by the NTNC and must meet specific requirements including fixed pricing, standard menus, and limits on how many tea houses can be built along specific routes.

Which is the best season to Trekking in Annapurna Base camp?

The best time to visit the Annapurna region is either side of the late May to mid-September monsoon season. Late September to November and February to May are the main trekking months with fairly stable conditions, good visibility and temperatures at Base Camp getting up to about -6°C. Although late Nov-Feb are extremely cold, around -15°C by day and much colder at night, clear skies are present with quieter trails.

Can I charge my camera batteries and mobile phone during the trek?

Yes, you can charge your batteries and mobile phones in every place by paying extra at the rooms do not have charging facilities. The price of charging may vary in different places. It is wise to bring your power bank which you can charge in Kathmandu and use it in the higher area as charging batteries in the higher area is quite costly.

What are the meals like on the trek?

You can choose the food from the menu and it depends on the places. You can also choose local dishes and continental/Chinese dishes. However, food is cooked by the basic local lodges so the variety and flavour differs from one place to the next.

How will the altitude affect me on Annapurna trek?

This is a really difficult one to answer directly - "how will I cope with the altitude". To be honest, this is an ' unknown' factor as no-one can predict how your body will cope at altitude. People who have been to altitude many times in the past without problems, may on one climb suddenly develop problems. There are many factors that play a role. The only way to help combat this, is to take all of the necessary precautions, and walk slowly.

Where can I get climbing Insurance for Annapurna Base Camp?

If you are going hiking or climbing or trekking then you need extra cover for your activities. Hiking and Climbing have become popular for many adventure seekers looking to add a climb up Kilimanjaro or a trek to Annapurna or even Island Peak to their list of amazing adventures. But any climb to high altitude carries with it a number of risks and having the correct and good trekking insurance is an absolute must. We recommend two different groups depending on which country you reside in. For further details, click on the icon

Is Annapurna Sanctuary different to Annapurna Base Camp?

The legendary Annapurna Base Camp Trek is also known as the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek.

Which is better, Annapurna Circuit or Annapurna Base Camp?

The two trips are very different. The Annapurna Circuit trek is a longer more challenging trek wtih mountain passes and higher altitudes. The Circuit trek goes around the northern side of the Annapurna Mountain Range and you do not actually go tp Annapurna Base Camp when you are on the Circuit trek. Also, you reach an altitude of 5,420m/ 17,782 feet on the Circuit trek, and on the Base Camp trek, the highest point reached is at 4,131m/ 13,553 feet.

Both the Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Base Camp Trek are quite exciting in their own way. If your goal is to get the best views of the Annapurna Region, then you can choose either one. On either trek, the Annapurna Massif will be center of attention.

read some of our blog posts on ANNAPURNA TREKS

A Himalayan Sandwich - Best times for the Annapurna Circuit

It is one of those treks that give you a little bit of everything on offer in Nepal, but don’t be misguided into thinking it is easy. Tackling high passes like the Thorung La at 5416m is no easy feat and given the unpredictable weather, heading out well prepared is essential.... Continue reading

KEEPING YOUR CELL PHONE ALIVE ON at altitude

Well the answer is quite simple – snuggle up with all of your batteries at night or as soon as the temperatures drop. Packing a spars pair of warm thermal and mohair socks will go a long way to creating a nice warm package for all of your batteries. Continue reading

training for High Altitude?

Altitude is much like elevation only it refers to the distance measured above a specific planetary point, and in most places, this is the distance above sea level. So if we live at the sea, how do we train for high altitude? Getting technical about O2 and altitude At sea-level, the concentration of oxygen in … Continue reading

hiking vs trekking

The terms seem to be used interchangeably on many websites and travel books. It becomes even more confusing when some companies sell their boots as 'trekking boots' and then proceed to state that they can be used on long hikes. And when is a walk a trek and when is it a hike? It becomes … Continue reading

these boots are made for walking

Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail, Everest Base camp or a simple short hike on local trails. We all dream of these amazing places and for some of us, turning those dreams into a reality is like a brand new lease on life.