Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Trip Overview
Trip at a Glance
- Country: Nepal
- Trip grade: Moderate
- Destination: Nepal
- Activities: Nepal Trekking
- Accommodation: Standard hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Tea houses during the trek.
- Meals: Breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara. 3 meals during the trek
- Maximum altitude: 4130m
- Group size: 1-12
- Best Season: Autumn (Sept. to Nov.) and spring (March to May)
One of the best trekking adventures in the Himalayas, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is an adventure that will blow your mind away. With the spectacular views of the mountains and peaceful natural surroundings, the trek offers a wonderful experience to the trekkers.
What is Annapurna Base Camp Trek like?
Of several trekking trips in the beautiful Annapurna region of the Himalayas, Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you deep in to the beautiful Himalayan valley. Traversing the trail through the gorge up towards the base camp of Annapurna, you explore nature at the best and Himalayan views that take your breath away.
The trek goes to the base camp via Ghorepani Poon Hill and has so much of natural and Himalayan surroundings to explore and enjoy. Its peaceful trail offers one of the best trekking experiences in the Himalayan. As you trek higher towards the base camp, the trail gets more beautiful surroundings of the mountains.
The places to spend overnight and the trail stretch in between offer quality time and experience. Trekking through the beautiful trail that winds up and down the mountains takes a bit of effort. But the effort is worth the experience that you get in return. From the spectacular view of the mountains to lush nature along the trail, everything you come across gives an incredible experience.
Unlike the Everest Base Camp Trek that goes above 5,000 meters from sea level, Annapurna Base Camp Trek reaches 4,130 meters above sea level. Although it doesn’t go as high as many other Himalayan treks, it offers a wonderful trekking experience. Needless to say that it is one of the best base camp treks in Nepal.
View MoreFAQ's
A trekker has to walk a minimum of 5 to 8 hours daily.
As a Himalayan trekking adventure, you will trek through mountainous landscape. Walking up and down the hill during the trek is quite common characteristic of trekking in Nepal.
Yes, definitely. Elevation change is an important part of the trek. As there is a lot of walking up and down the hill, there is an elevation change every day. However, the range of change differs from day to day. It is mostly an uphill trek up to the destination and downhill on the way back. However, the trail winds up and down the mountains throughout the trek regardless of the elevation difference for the day.
Nepal offers trekking adventures throughout the year. However, the autumn and springs seasons are the best seasons to go trekking in Nepal. The months of September-November and March to May offer the best weather and atmosphere for trekking. Althgouh high altitude trekking is quite difficult and impossible in winter season, low altitude trekking can be done throughout the year.
Many people confuse trekking with climbing while these are completely different activities. Trekking is a walking activity in the mountains below snowline while climbing goes way above snowline to the top of a mountain. Trekking is much easier than climbing because you need to learn technical skills to climb a mountains.
Although age is not a bar to go on a trekking adventure in Nepal, you certainly need to consider a few factors before going on a trek. The basic requirement for trekking in Nepal is good fitness level regardless of your age. Since the activity involves a lot of walking up and down the mountains, you need to be fit enough to indulge in the activity for multiple days.
We highly recommend taking a guide with you when you go on the trekking adventure. Even if the trail is well-trodden and has many trekkers trekking, you need to have a guide for many reasons. First of all, a guide is not only the person to show you the trail. A trekking guide has a huge responsibilty of completing the adventure ensuring the safety of trekkers in the strange mountains. Moreover, the guide will also make your trip more than an adventure. It becomes a lifetime experience.
The mountains now have basic teahouse and lodge accommodations for trekkers. You can spend overnight in the warmth of guesthouses called teahouses during the trek unlike tented camps in the past.
The most common food during the trek is Dal Bhat. However, you can choose other food items from the menu. The food items differ from region to region.
You need to prepare your stuff wisely for the trek. The backpack you get ready for the trek should have all essentials and avoid any unnecessary stuff in there. Check this equipment list for a better understanding of what to pack for the trek.
As a high altitude trekking adventure, the trek always has a risk of getting altitude sickness. While it is not predictable who, where, and how they will get it, we all need to be well-aware and prepared for the unwanted. As we gain altitude during the trek, we should be more careful on our pace of walk, food, water, rest, and recovery. Being careful and taking it easy in the mountains can reduce the chance of getting altitude sickness.
Yes, permits are necessary for the trek. Since, you are going on our package, we take care of everything. You do not need to worry about arranging the permit for yourself.
When you are on our trek package, we provide porters to carry your backpack in the mountains. A porter carries the backpacks of two trekkers.You suggest you to keep your backpack around 10 kg.
Yes, you will need some cash in the mountain. Although your major meals are included in our package, you may need money for drinks, shower, souvenir shopping, wifi, device charging, and tips to guide and porters at the end of the trip.
We will brief you on how much to take on the first day of the trip when we meet in Kathmandu.
No, there is no acclimatization break during the trek. Although it is a Himalayan trekking trip, it does not require you to take any extra days for acclimatization. You can adjust in the climate as you trek to the higher elevation.
We focus on small group adventures to ensure that every one is well-taken care of and they enjoy the trek. We keep our group to the maximum limit of 16 people.
In that unfortunate case, we will make sure that you are well taken care of. If you cannot continue your journey further towards the destination and want to rest or return back, we will arrange a porter to be with you and take care of you while rest of the group members continue the trek.
Detail Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrival in Kathmandu (4,264ft/1,300m)
Day 02 : 30 minutes’ Flight or 6 hours’ drive to Pokhara (2,700ft/827m), then 6 hours’ trek to Ghandruk (6360 ft/1940m)
Day 03 : Trek from Ghandruk to Chhomrong (7120ft/2170m): 5 - 6 hours
Day 04 : Trek from Chhomrong to Bamboo (7578ft/2310m): 4 - 5 hours
Day 05 : Trek from Bamboo to Deurali (10,595ft/3230m): 3 - 4 hours
Day 06 : Trek from Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (13,545ft/4,130m) via Machhapuchhre Base Camp (12135ft/3700m): 5- 6 hours
Day 07 : Trek from Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo: 7 – 8 hours
Day 08 : Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu Danda (5770 ft/1760m): 5 - 6 hours
Day 09 : 6 hours’ Trek from Jhinu Danda to Naya Pul then 1 hour’s drive to Pokhara
Day 10 : 30 minutes’ Flight or 6 hours’ drive back to Kathmandu
Day 11 : Final Departure
Cost Details
What is included?
- Pick up and drop services from and to the Airport in a private transport
- Hotel accommodation in twin sharing basis in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Accommodation at Teahouses/Guesthouses/Lodges during the trek
- Meals as mentioned in the Itinerary
- Experienced, Government Licensed, English speaking Guide
- Porter (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
- Salary, Insurance, Food, and Accommodation of the staff
- All the documentation, trekking permits, TIMs
- All the local and government taxes
What is not included?
- Nepal Entry Visa Fee
- International Airfare
- Extra luggage/baggage charges
- Extended stay
- Emergency Evacuation charge
- Medical and Travel Insurance
Hari was an amazing guide on my trip to Annapurna Base Camp. Knowledgeable about the area, great company throughout the day and in the evenings, he made sure I was comfortable the whole trip. Everything was sorted for the length of my stay in Nepal. He also sorted out white water rafting and bungee jumping at the last minute for me. Would definitely recommend it!
Tom P, UK
We had the pleasure of meeting Hari on the Annapurna Base Camp trek, he was not the only kind and considerate but also he really went the extra mile to make us feel comfortable and at home! He even came and hung out with us after the trek, what a legend! Can't recommend highly enough! Grab this chance of being with Hari from Step on Himalaya to make your trip full of fun and tension-free.
Sarah B, Australia
When in an unknown place, you will always have a scary feeling with awkwardness, thinking of how would the place be or how would the people be? But when you decide to trek, you will go for it, Likewise, when we decided Annapurna Base Camp Trek, we simultaneously decided to choose Step on Himalaya and it really turned out very well. An incredible experience in the amazing Himalayan ranges of Annapurna region.. Very grateful to Step on Himalaya for making our trip so wonderful and memorable... A personal recommendation for Step on Himalaya for any kind of visit to Nepal. I assure you will not regret choosing Step on Himalaya as your trekking mate.
Neethu u, India
Amazing trekking to Annapurna Base Camp! Wonderful landscapes, great people, and hospitality!
Great to be guided by Hari who showed us all the best traditions of Nepalese people as well as best places during our trekking!
Step on Himalaya - Strongly recommended!