Annapurna Base Camp Trekking

Annapurna Base Camp Trek has strong reputation among seasoned trekkers. To be considered an experienced trekker, the ABC Trek is a trek you need to complete. It is second only to Everest Base Camp Trek as the world s premier trekking experience.

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek has a maximum altitude of 13,549 ft (4,130 m) and is set among the towering peaks of Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545 ft), Annapurna South (7,219m / 23,684 ft), Machapuchhre ( 22942 ft / 6,993 m) and Hiunchuli (6,441m / 21,131 ft).

Best Time to go
There is no particular best season to do the Annapurna Base Camp Trek as it can be done in all seasons, although in the winter the Base Camp is often closed due to the excessive snow and the threat of avalanches. Doing this trek in winter is still a thrill and you should not discount the experience. Still, the best time for you to do the ABC Trekking is around October and November.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Route
The route to Annapurna Base Camp is a beautiful thing. You trek from Pokhara, in the northwestern corner of the Pokhara Valley, central Nepal and you will witness many things on the way to Base Camp such as rhododendron forests, cliffs, waterfalls, terraced rice paddies and suspension bridges, all of which makes this trip an amazing spectacle.

Like other trekking sites around Annapurna, Annapurna Base Camp is also protected by Annapurna Conservation Area. It covers 7,629 square kilometers area. The maximum altitude of Annapurna 1 is 8,091m / 26,545 ft from sea level and is the world s tenth highest mountain. Can you imagine yourself in amongst it all?

Annapurna Base Camp trek itinerary:
Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400m / 4,593 ft)
Annapurna Base Camp

An Ammonite Adventure representative will meet you at the Airport and take you to your hotel. Depending on the time of day you arrive, you can rest or explore the suburb of Thamel. The taxi to your hotel is covered in the package but an optional tip is not.
No Meals Included
Overnight in Hotel
Day 2 Sightseeing around Kathmandu and Pre-trip Meeting
Annapurna Base Camp

After breakfast (at your hotel included) you will be picked up by your tour guide. You will be taken to 3 must see attractions:
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Though you are not allowed to go inside the temple as it is strictly for Hindus only, you can clearly see the temple and the activities from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. It is a square two-tiered pagoda temple built on a single-tier plinth which is famous all over the world.
Boudhanath Stupa
Boudhananath is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. It was built in the 5th century with four pairs of eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings. You will find Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet going round the stupa spinning the prayer wheels.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Royal Residential Quarter of Bhupatindra Malla, the famous five-storied temple of Nyatapola in Pagoda style Batsala temple, Bhairavnath temple, Duttatraya Temple, Pujari Muth and Palace of 55 windows. The rest of your time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area for trekking essentials.
Breakfast Included
Overnight in Hotel
Day 3 Bus to Pokhara
Annapurna Base Camp

An Ammonite Adventure representative will pick you up from your hotel and get you to the bus where you will take the 7 hour trip to Pokhara (827m / 2,713 ft). The bus will stop twice along the way for toilets and food. There is generally hot food on offer and it is a good chance to stock up on bottled water. You can upgrade this package to swap the 7-hour bus trip to a 20-minute plane trip. US$110 per person is the usual cost for tickets (no markup added). Prices do vary, best to check on availabilty too.
7 Hour Bus Trip
Breakfast Included
Overnight in Hotel
Day 4 Private Car to Nayapul Trek to Tikhedunga
Annapurna Base Camp

You will be picked up by taxi at your hotel after breakfast and driven to Nayapul (1,010m / 3,313 ft), an hours drive. After a short 15 minute walk along the banks of the Modi Khola, you reach Birethanti (1,015m 3,330 ft), a large village with many shops and teahouses. From Birethanti, the trail continues through the village and follows the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola. The trail climbs steadily up the side of the valley to the village of Hille at 1,430m / 4,691 ft. Another short climb you will reach Tikhedhunga at 1,540m / 5,052 ft.
1 Hour Drive / 3 Hour Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 5 Tikhedunga Ghorepani
Annapurna Base Camp

The trek continues with a steep climb to Ulleri (1,960m / 6,430 ft), a large village. The trail becomes more gentle from this point through forests of oak and rhododendron, towards Banthanti at 2,210m / 7,250ft. From Banthanti you pass through Nayathanti (2,430m / 7,973 ft). A further hour walk sees you arrive at Ghorepani (2,860m / 9,383 ft).
5 Hours Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 6 Ghorepani Poon Hill Tadapani
Annapurna Base Camp

A very early start, you will trek for an hour in the dark to Poon Hill (3,193m / 10,475 ft). You will reach the perfect spot to see the sunrise with an unobstructed view of the high Himalayas with the early sun showing off their stunning beauty. You will spend about 1 hour at Poon Hill before returning to Ghorepani for a hot breakfast. After breakfast, you will continue the trek along ridges, and through pine and rhododendron forests, towards Deurali (3,106m / 10,190 ft). Continuing, you descend to the Ban Thanti (3,180m / 10,433 ft) and on to Tadapani (2,630m / 8,628 ft).
7 Hours Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 7 Tadapani Chomrong
Annapurna Base Camp

Heading North North-East, you continue on to Chomrong (2,170m / 7,119 ft). The trek to Chomrong is generally down the hill and you pass through the ever-present rhododendron forests.
5 Hours Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 8 Chomrong Himalaya Hotel
Annapurna Base Camp

The trail drops down to Chomrong Khola where you will cross using the suspension bridge. Once on the other side, you continue to climb to Khuldighar (2,540m / 8,333 ft) where there is the ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area) visitor centre. There is a clearing in the forest a little further on from which the route travels very steeply down a rock bank and then levels out. The trek passes Avalanche Chutes located north of Bamboo and south of Dobhan. After Dobhan, you will pass the Baraha Temple then continue on to Himalaya Hotel (2,920m / 9,580 ft).
7 Hours Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 9 Himalaya Hotel Machhapuchchhre Base Camp
Annapurna Base Camp

Today you trek up through the rhododendron forest alongside Modi Khola to Machhapuchchhre Base Camp (3,700m / 12,139 ft). Shortly after Himalaya Hotel, you will stop off at Hinku Cave which used to be a landmark for the earlier Annapurna I expeditions as it was used as a camp and a supply depot. Machapuchare Base Camp isn t really a base camp in the true sense since climbing Mt. Machapuchare is not permitted.
5 Hours Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 10 Rest Day
Annapurna Base Camp

It is required that you spen 24 hours at Machhapuchchhre BC to avoid AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Annapurna BC is almost half a kilometre up (430m / 1,410 ft) to be exact. This rapid elevation can prove to be dangerous for some. Learn more about altitude sickness
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 11 Machhapuchchhre BC Annapurna BC
Annapurna Base Camp

You will need an early morning start to climb up to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m / 13,549 ft). The going will be challanging but definatly well worth the effort. You may feel the effects of minor AMS.
3 Hours Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 12 Annapurna Base Camp Bamboo
Annapurna Base Camp

An early morning start will see you descending all the way down to Bamboo. It is quite a long day at around 7 hours trekking but because its downhill, the going is easy and fast compaired to trekking uphill.
5 Hours Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 13 Bamboo Jhinu
Annapurna Base Camp

Today you follow the same trail down to Chomrong. Once you have passed Khuldighar, there is an experimental sheep farm. The trail continues through rhododendron and bamboo fields. From Chomrong, the trail descends very steeply to the Jhinu, where you can bath in natural hot springs.
5 Hours Trekking
All Meals Included
Overnight in Guesthouse
Day 14 Jhinu Nayapul Drive to Pokhara
Annapurna Base Camp

From Jhinu you walk on the right side of Modi Khola for 4.5 hrs to Birethanti which can be considered one of the best and the most relaxing walks of the entire trek. Once you reach Nayapul you will be met by your driver and driven an hour back to Pokhara. Once checked into your hotel, you will take a guided walk to Fewa Lake for a boating trip to Barahi Temple. (unless you would rather rest)
1-hour drive / 4 Hours Exploring Fewa Lake
Breakfast Included
Overnight in Hotel
Day 15 Guided Sightseeing in Pokhara
Annapurna Base Camp

After breakfast, a full day sightseeing tour of Pokhara city begins. There will be a professional city guide and a private tourist vehicle at your disposal. You will visit the following sites: Bindhabasini Temple The temple lies in the centre of the religious old bazaar. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, another manifestation of Shakti. The park grounds offer a fine picnic and relaxing area. Davis Fall Locally known as Patale Chhango and located in the southern flank of the Pokhara valley, it is where the stream flowing from Fewa Lake collapses and surges down the rock into a deep gorge, leaping through several potholes. This is hugely popular with tourists and locals alike. Gupteshwor Cave The revered Gupteshwor Cave has situated 2 km from the Pokhara airport. The entrance is right across from Davis fall and the cave is almost 3 km long. It has some big hall-sized rooms and some passages where you have to crawl on all four. This cave holds special value to Hindus since a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved here in the condition it was discovered. Seti River Gorges Carved by the Seti Gandaki River, it is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. K.I. Singh bridge at Bagar, Mahendrapool and Prithivi Highway Bridge near bus park provide a perfect view of the river s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water. Tibetan Refugee Camps The Tibetan village Tashiling in the south and the Tashi Palkhel village in the north of Pokhara are renowned for the production and trade of woollen carpets and other handicrafts. The original Tibetan settlers in this region migrated to Nepal in the 50s. World Peace Pagoda World Peace Pagoda, also known as Pokhara Shanti Stupa, is a Buddhist pagoda-style monument. It is the shrine built as a symbol of peace. The spot is situated at the height of 2,100 meters on the Ananda Hill. Nepal has two of the eighty peace pagodas in the world i.e. Shanti Stupa in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and Shanti Stupa in Pokhara. It also provides a panoramic view of the Annapurna range, Pokhara city and Fewa Lake.
8 Hours Exploring
Breakfast Included
Overnight in Hotel
Day 16 Bus to Kathmandu
Annapurna Base Camp

You can upgrade this package to swap the 7-hour bus trip to a 20-minute plane trip. US$110 per person is the usual cost for tickets (no markup added). Prices do vary, best to check on availabilty too.
7-hour Bus Trip
Breakfast Included
Overnight in Hotel
Day 17 Leisure day in Kathmandu / Departure
Annapurna Base Camp

Today is yours to do as you wish. If you are departing Nepal, an Ammonite Adventure representative will get you to the Airport in plenty of time.
Breakfast Included
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Level
Annapurna Base Camp is considered Demanding. A good level of cardiovascular fitness and some trekking experience is strongly advised. In a scale of 1 to 10, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is rated 7. Your safety and the safety of the support team safety of everyone on the trek is our highest concern and like all strenuous treks, the ABC Trek is treated as an expedition.
Difficulties of ABC Trekking
Altitude Sickness, Accommodation, Food, Weather, Lack of proper guide may be some common difficulties of Annapurna Base Camp Trekking.
Altitude Sickness
The term Altitude Sickness is used often but there are intact 3 types of Altitude Sickness. The most common is actually Acute Mountain Sickness or AMS for short. AMS becomes a real threat when ascending at altitudes of 3,000m / 9,000ft or more. AMS comes into effect usually because a trekker or climber ascends too quickly. As the air becomes thinner, there is less oxygen available. Your lungs need time to adjust in order to carry much-needed oxygen to the different parts of your body. All Ammonite Adventure treks over 3,000m / 9,000ft include rest days known as acclimatization days. Read more about altitude sickness
Accommodation
While on the trek, all accommodation is included in the price. You will stay in either a guesthouse or a teahouse. Which one depends on the time of year you are trekking. A Guesthouse is more like a low budget hotel room. You will likely have a shower and a western toilet (they will be shared with other trekkers). You may also have WiFi. A Teahouse is basically an extension of a family home (usually very basic, most likely no shower and a drop toilet.) In either case, the hospitality is always outstanding. When a package includes nights in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan etc, the price includes a 3-star Hotel. 3 Stars in Nepal equates to 4 stars. You can, if you like, upgrade your accommodation to 5 Star (Nepali 5 star that is) which is a solid 4 star in most western countries.
Food
While on the trek, all food is included in the price. The food is basic but extremely nutritious to keep you going. When a package includes nights in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan etc, the price includes breakfast as long as you have it at the Hotel.
Considerations
Adventure travel, very nature, involves an element of the unexpected. In remote and developing countries such as Nepal, do not expect standards you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable and itineraries may be altered. To get the most out of your adventure it is important that you are flexible, positive and eager to take on all the challenges that arise. If you are uncertain about your suitability for this trip we recommend that you speak with one of Ammonite Adventures Team Members.