Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek is one of the most widespread treks in Nepal. It is quite a comfortable and more ephemeral trek than other high altitude expeditions in Nepal. Because of its simplicity, this trek is famous among all tourists all around the world. This tour includes diverse terrain, culture, and wildlife. Along with the most stunning and close up view of the Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre, Hiunchuli, and Dhaulagiri.

In Spring, it showcases many captivating flowers including the national flower of Nepal ­­­­– Rhododendron. Orchids, Machhapuchhre massif and the deepest gorge Kali Gandaki chaperones you during the trek.

You will spot at times high cascading falls. And, you will get to know about people of diverse ethnicity, especially Gurung people when visiting the Ghandruk museum.

Depending on which route you take, you may not pass via Ghandruk though. The trail is the same from Chomrung onwards but you can determine to have or not to have Ghorepani Poon Hill and Ghandruk. Poon hill is a vantage point for the view of Annapurna plus other peaks and for sunrise and sunset.

Additional highlights of this expedition are the hot springs! Very cosy and healing for your aching muscles.

Also, ABC passes through MBC (Machhapuchhre Base Camp). What a blissful moment. Visit two base camps in one trip!

Together with Annapurna Circuit, these trails welcome about seventy proportion of the total trekkers visiting Nepal.

Trip Highlights

• The Annapurna Sanctuary at 4130 m.
• Trekking from the low paddy fields to the core of the Himalayan glaciers
• An approach to the very high mountain in just 14 days.
• Homestay overnight in Luwang, an authentic Gurung village.

Itinerary

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What is the climate like on the Annapurna Base Camp?

As explained in the section herefore Nepal has 4 different seasons. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The months from March to May and from October or November are the most widespread for trekking at the Annapurna Massif. But how’s the climate like in these seasons?

In Summer
The summer season falls in the month of June, July and August. Summer is the month of the hottest temperature and therefore has the most delightful trekking conditions. But the monsoon that overlaps with the summer means that you have to be more alert with your preparation as the trekking routes might be wet and slippery.

In Winter
Winter (December-January) treks in the Annapurna region are not as popular as the Spring or Autumn treks. The spots along the Annapurna Base Camp trek can be excessively cold during the winter. The temperature of Annapurna Base Camp itself can be as low as -10 degrees C which tempts trekkers to visit this region in pleasant climatic conditions. However, trekking in Annapurna Base Camp in the winter has its own advantages. The skies are clear with little or no possibility of rain. The accommodation is more effortless to find and cheaper too as there are off-season discounts. Further, the views of the mountains during the winter season is the best amongst all seasons.

In Spring
Spring (March-May) is a season in which trekkers and voyage lovers come to Annapurna Base Camp in a large number. In this season, the temperature is favourable, the rainfall is low and the trekking conditions are perfect. The mean daily temperature in the Annapurna Base Camp is between -8 to 0 degrees C. Lower regions along the trek are even warmer making it pleasant for any trekking lover.

In Autumn
Autumn(September, October, November), like Spring, is a season that invites travellers around the globe to trek in the Annapurna Base Camp. Mild temperatures, mild wind, and low rainfall make Autumn a season of great trekking conditions.

Why Annapurna Base Camp is among the most widespread expeditions in the world

The Annapurna base camp expedition is one of the most widespread expeditions in the world. It literally brings you face to face with an eight-thousander – for an average-difficult excursion, this is awesome! The fascinating Annapurna massif contains the world’s tenth highest peak. Annapurna I (8,091 m) holds a nearly fatal attraction for mountaineers. It has the highest fatality ratio among the eight-thousanders. This formidable aura apart, the ABC trek holds several treasures for the mountain lover.

Mountain views that leave you spellbound

The Annapurna range points to your desire for mountain views right from Pokhara. This is even before you start the excursion. At Ghandruk, you get distinct views of Machapuchare, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. Views of different peaks of the Annapurna massif and Machapuchare stay with you all the way till Sinuwa. The tip of Machapuchare teases you at Dovan. As you burst out of the woodland beyond Himalaya and Deurali, Machapuchare appears before you in its full glory.

Machapuchare, the ‘fish tailed mountain’, is revered by the Nepalese for its stunning beauty. It is believed to be one of the homes of Lord Shiva. It has never been officially submitted! At the Machapuchare base camp, in addition to Machapuchare, you will see Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Gangapurna and Hiunchuli up close.

The Annapurna Base Camp is a small collection of lodges opposite the Annapurna glacier. As you look up from the edge of the glacier, you come face to face with the Annapurna massif. Annapurna I, III and South, Gangapurna, Gandharvachuli and Machapuchare are all there to meet your gaze when your eyes rest upon them.

Trekking inside the woodlands of the Annapurna Conservation Area

The trail takes you through a mixture of greenery. While voyaging from Ghandruk to Chomrung you are covered by rhododendron, fern and bamboo. Once you cross Sinuwa to enter the Annapurna sanctuary, the forest becomes dense. Towering oak trees become famous here. As you move higher up towards Deurali, the dense forests give way to tall grass. Around this area, you will find trees with thick bark called Daphne. This is used by locals to make paper. These trees are typically found near Sandakphu as well. Closer to Machapuchare base camp, the topography turns Alpine. You see patches of hay amidst boulders. There are also flowering plants blazing the trail at this section.

The trail has 3 sections via a forest that is so dense that sunlight hardly seeps through. The first one starts right after the villages around Chomrung and extends till New Bridge. On the trail from Sinuwa, you hear the Modi Khola roaring past right next to you. But the trees around are so dense that you can’t actually see the river. The third stretch is after Bamboo and goes all the way to Dovan. The beauty of this expedition is that you walk via these forests not once, but twice!

The trek is nestled in the 7,629 sq km Annapurna Conservation Area. This is home to 1,226 species of flowering plants, 102 mammals, 474 birds, 33 reptiles and 22 amphibians. If you’re lucky you might spot an exotic bird or even a marmot.

A peek into Nepali culture

This expedition is a traditional tea house tour. You stay in small haunts which generally accommodate 20-25 people. These are run by villagers. People also emigrate from diverse parts of Nepal to work here during the tourist season. Interacting with the staff at tea houses, guides and porters on the route will give you a glance into their way of life. Most people speak English so communication is not a problem. The food served at tea houses is prepared in the Nepalese style. You will notice that a lot of it is quite similar to Indian food.

Ghandruk is the biggest village in this area. As you begin the expedition, you walk past several small villages, each inhabited by less than a hundred people. This route is generally used by the villagers to get to their homes and fields. So you’re likely to bump into locals right till Sinuwa, where the Annapurna Sanctuary begins. The area just outside the villages is cultivated with banana plantations and paddy fields.

The melting pot of adventurous spirits

The ABC trek attracts peak lovers from all over the globe. In October, when the views are known to be awesome, expect to hear a variety of languages on the pathway. Tea homes evolve convenient forums to discuss and exchange notes with foreigners who could be from anywhere. You experience this kind of diversity on very few treks.

Mostly asked questions by travellers

Is the Annapurna Base Camp expedition safe?

Trekking is an adventure sport that comes with inherent risks. However, at Trekape, we take great care in planning our treks and itineraries to guarantee safety on the trek.

The Annapurna Base Camp trek has a buffer day enclosed in the itinerary. This guarantees that we have a day more to finish the trek in case of an unfavourable climate.

Excluding this, the trekape trek team for a full-strength batch includes a Trek Leader, Guide, cook and helper. The team is provided with an oximeter, blood pressure monitor, stretcher, oxygen cylinder, walkie talkies and a high-altitude medical (HAM) kit. The Trek Leader maintains a health card with a record of every trekker’s vitals (Blood pressure and oximeter readings) taken twice a day.

Training appropriately for the trek for at least a month, hydrating yourself during the trek will also guarantee you complete the trek safely and in a good condition.

How challenging is the Annapurna Base Camp trek?

We rate the Annapurna Base Camp trek as “Moderate-Difficult.” There are two major reasons the ABC trek is considered Moderate-Difficult.

The first is the distance. The trekker covers a total distance of 67 km over 10 days of the trek. This encloses three days where you cover more than 10 km, with the longest being 15.5 km from ABC to Bamboo.

Secondly, the sheer altitude gain and loss. Beginning the trek at just over 7,300 ft at Komrong, you rapidly climb up to 13,550 ft at the ABC. On the fifth day of the trek, the trail rises over 4,000 ft in elevation over 10 km. This is something you must factor in when you plan to do the trek.

This is why, at trekape, we suggested only trekkers with prior experience in the Himalayas (preferably above 13,000 ft) and good physical fitness (you must be able to cover 5 km in 35 minutes).

Conclusion

Hope this helps in deciding on and planning out your trek to Annapurna Base Camp.

Happy journey.