Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) is a traveler’s paradise. The base camp is hidden inside the Annapurna Sanctuary, which is in the western part of Nepal. The 14-day version of Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the second most desired trek option in Nepal after the Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek.
However, more people end up doing the ABC Trek because it is relatively easier and no less thrilling than other treks. It has the added advantage of allowing you to visit UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu and the beautiful city of Pokhara.
Major attractions during the Annapurna base camp 14-day trek are Ghorepani Poon Hill, the village of Chomrong, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, ABC, and Jhinu Hot Springs. Poon Hill lies about an hour’s hike from Ghorepani and is revered for its sunrise and sunset views over 12 great Himalayan peaks.
Chhomrong, Ghorepani, Tadapani, and Tikhedhunga are settlements of the local Gurung and Magar people. These villages provide a glimpse into the unique heritage and culture of the indigenous people. The hospitality is warm during the trek and the local cuisine is one to die for.
Major rare animals found on the Annapurna base camp trek are Tibetan wolf, black bear, deer, jharal, leopard, etc. Plants like Rhododendron, Juniper, Fir, and Pine dominate the terrain that leads to Annapurna Base Camp.
Trekkers explore many snow-covered mountains over eight thousand meters during this trip. Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Himchuli, Annapurna South, Tukuche, and Fishtail (Machhapuchhre) are unbelievably near Annapurna Base Camp. Mardi Himal is one of the off-beaten treks you can visit ever after this Annapurna base camp trek.
Mt Fishtail is a holy mountain and was recently named the 13th most beautiful mountain in the world. We will have to walk past the base camp of Mt. Machhapuchhre to reach Annapurna Base Camp. Machhapuchhre is also known as the ‘Matterhorn of Asia’.
The last part of the Annapurna base camp trek, as we move past Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC), takes us through the beautiful snow-filled slopes of the mountain. After a few hours of a trek from MBC, we will get to see the first glimpse of the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC).
Annapurna Base Camp is situated at an altitude of 4,130 m. This makes Annapurna Base Camp one of the moderate trekking routes in Nepal. Some Base Camps like Everest are situated way above the 5,000 m mark.
However, this does not mean that you should take things easy. Traveling to the land beyond the mountains can be a challenging affair and 4,000 m plus altitude is not something to be scoffed at. We request you to take extreme care before and during the trek.
Some prior trek experience is required before you embark on a trek toward Annapurna Base Camp. Moreover, if you are traveling in the off-season, particularly during the winter, you must make sure that you have got spikes attached to your shoes. They can be bought at as low as five dollars per piece in Pokhara.
We advise only people who are above the age of 16 and under 60 to embark on this tour. For people who are out of the range of this age group, it is generally not advisable to go on this trip without extensive recent trekking experience.
Day | Mode | Route Itinerary | Elev.(m) | Duration | Overnight | Included |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | Flight | Arrival in kathmandu-Hotel | 1300 m | ----- | Hotel | Dinner |
02 | Car | Kathmandu Sightseeing (4 major places) | 1300 m | 6-7 hrs | Hotel | Breakfast |
03 | Drive | Kathmandu - Pokhara | 900 m | 6-7 hrs | Hotel | Breakfast |
04 | Drive / Trek | Pokhara - Nayapul - Tikhedhunga | 1475 m | 4 / 5 hrs | Lodge | B L D |
05 | Trek | Tikhedhunga - Ulleri-Ghorepani | 2853 m | 5 / 6 hrs | Lodge | B L D |
06 | Trek | Ghorepani-Poonhill- Tadapani | 3210/2630 m | 6 / 7 hrs | Lodge | B L D |
07 | Trek | Tadapani - Chhomrung - Sinuwa | 2340 m | 6 / 7 hrs | Lodge | B L D |
08 | Trek | Sinuwa - Bambu - Dovan - Deurali | 3100 m | 5 / 6 hrs | Lodge | B L D |
09 | Trek | Deurali - MBC - ABC | 4130 m | 4 / 5 hrs | Lodge | B L D |
10 | Trek | ABC - Himalaya hotel - Bamboo | 2340 m | 6 / 7 hrs | Lodge | B L D |
11 | Trek | Bamboo - Chumrun - Jhinu Danda | 1780 m | 6 / 7 hrs | Lodge | B L D |
12 | Trek/drive | Jhinu - Sibai - Nayapul - Pokhara | 900 m | 5 / 6 hrs | Hotel | B L D |
13 | Drive | Pokhara - Kathmandu | 1300 m | 6 / 7 hrs | Hotel | Breakfast |
14 | Flight | Departure from Kathmandu | ----- | ----- | ----- | Breakfast |
You will enter Nepal today. We will welcome you at the airport. Since you are probably jetlagged from the long flight to Kathmandu and definitely tired, we won’t disturb you today and let you rest at ease in your hotel.
Evening we Welcome you to have Nepali Cultural dance show and Typical food.
Kathmandu is multilayered like an artist’s canvas. Civilization is a product of millennia of changes and cultural happenings. There are many tourist attractions in Kathmandu. A single day is definitely not enough. However, we will try to ensure that we make the most of the day at hand.
A guide will accompany you for sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley. Major places to visit in the historic city include the Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and the Durbar Squares in Kathmandu. These sites are UNESCO world heritage sites and are living monuments of the tradition and ancient culture of Nepal.
We will start our trip with a seven-hour drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The city of Pokhara lies to the west of Kathmandu. It is a gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary and is home to many beautiful lakes. The core area of Pokhara lies at the banks of Lake Phewa, the largest among the lakes in the city.
The drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes about seven hours. The serpentine path takes us along the banks of river Trishuli at first and then along the banks of river Marsyangdi. Both rivers originate from the glacial melts in the mountain and thunder along our driveway.
We will have our breakfast and head for Nayapul. The drive to Nayapul takes about one and a half hours. Once we reach Nayapul, we will begin our first steps of the trek. The walk to Tikhedhunga is easy because the path is flat.
Once we pass through a place called Birethanti (1,080 m/ 3,543 ft), the trail begins to move upstream and through the beautiful villages of the Annapurna region -Matathanti, Ramgai, Sudame, Hile, and then Tikhedhunga. All of these villages lie on the bank of Modi Khola.
We will mostly walk along the recently developed motor street. The villages en route are sparsely settled. We will get instructions from our guide about the upcoming trek in the evening.
Ghorepani is one of the most beautiful places in the Annapurna region. It is among the highlights of this trek. We will first cross the Modi river through a high suspension bridge. Moving forward, the path starts to go uphill. After trekking on steep steps for an hour we will reach a place at the top of a hill – Ulleri Village (2,080 m/6,824 ft).
From the center of Ulleri, we will see Annapurna South, Himchuli, and Mt. Fishtail. Ulleri is a bustling place with hotels and shops for trekkers. We will then pass Banthanti (2,300 m/7,545 ft) and Nangethanti (2,450 m/8,038 ft). We will enter deep Rhododendron forests after going past Nagethanti.
We will reach Ghorepani after a long walk through the beautiful forests. Ghorepani provides a stunning view of mountains like Annapurna South, Nilgiri, Mt. Fishtail, and Dhaulagiri
Since the sun rises early in the mountains, we will hike towards Poon Hill before breakfast. The hike towards Poon Hill takes about 30-45 minutes depending upon the pace we choose.
Once we reach Poonhill, we will see a 180 degree view of mountains like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Gangapurna, Tukuche, Machhapuchhre, Himchuli, Mardi and Gurja Himal.
We will return back towards our hotel after memorable one-two hours at Poon Hill. We will then begin our trek towards Tadapani. The road slowly starts to lead eastwards. We will see many waterfalls and rivulets on the way.
If we are happening to be traveling during winter, most of those waterfalls are frozen and provide a spectacular view. We will reach a cross-section between Ghorepani, Chhomrong, and Ghandruk at the end of the day. This place is Tadapani and we will rest here for the day.
The trek from Tadapani will start after a wonderful authentic Nepali breakfast. For the first hour after walking away from Tadapani, we will go downhill. The road here is mostly made up of beaten-up tracks.
We will reach a village called Gurjung after about an hour of trekking. The village is made up of wonderful little houses of the Gurung people. Most of these houses also serve as hotels for travelers. We will take a few moments of rest at Gurjung for refreshment.
The path gets uphill as we move away from Gurung. The beautiful village of Chhomrong meets us at the top of the mountain. You will be surprised to see a large and modern settlement like Chhomrong at the heart of a mountain.
There is a big ravine of the Chhomrong river ahead of us. This part of the trek is difficult. The last part of the trek is relatively easy. We will reach Sinuwa after a long day’s trek and rest there for the night.
As we wake up in the hotel in Sinuwa, we will experience a chilling morning breeze that flows directly from the snow-clad mountains. The road today is long in terms of distance. However, we will be gaining altitude slowly thus making our progress easier.
This part of the trek slowly leaves the Rhododendron and fir forests behind. The vegetation starts to be dominated by pine trees. There is a high chance of spotting Danphe, the national bird of Nepal, in these parts. Animals like Musk deer, Jharal, Himalayan Wolf, Primates, and Porcupine are among the most common animals in these parts.
Despite being very near to the base camp, the hotels in Deurali are equipped with hot water, wifi, and other facilities. We will spend our night at one of the hotels in Deurali.
We will start walking after an early breakfast. First, we reach Machhapuchhre Base camp. We can have a cup of tea with views of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, and Gangapurna within touching distance from here.
The last part of the trek is long and arduous along the slopes of the snowy mountain. We will reach a small valley surrounded by gigantic mountains at the end of the tour. Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) lies in the middle of the valley.
We will be amazed by the 360-degree view of the tall mountains from Annapurna Base Camp. The most beautiful part of the view is looking south towards Machhapuchhre mountain, which was towards our north all along the journey.
If you think the view of the mountains yesterday evening was captivating, you are in for a much grander experience today. The view of the early morning sun shining over some of the tallest mountains in the world is one to cherish for a lifetime. Mountains like Annapurna one ( 8,091m) Annapurna South (7,219m), Himchuli, Machhapuchhre, tent Peak, etc. stand up like giant knights in front of us.
We will need to wake up early today to make the most of the early morning spectacle. We will spend a few moments at the sunset viewpoint, take photographs and return back to our lodge. We will have breakfast at our lodge. There are many choices for breakfast including the Nepali and international menus. We will start our trek back after breakfast.
The best part of today’s trek is that the path leads downhill. In fact, this is true for all subsequent days of the trek from today. We will slowly charter down along the narrow mountain path that we took earlier. The destination for today is Bamboo, a small settlement mostly made up of hotels. We will take a sound rest at bamboo and reenergize ourselves.
Most of the trek today is downhill and we will also leave behind the challenging path filled with heavy snow. We will stroll slowly along the forest while listening to the chirping birds, who are our constant companions.
We will walk past Sinuwa and reach Chhomrong. There are two paths once we reach the top of Chhomrong. One path leads us back to Tadapani – the place from which we came to Chhomrong on our way to Annapurna Base Camp.
The next path, which is a sharp downhill way, leads eastwards towards Jhinu Danda. Jhinu Danda has many beautiful hotels and provides a great view of the Landruk village on the other side of the mountain. The top attraction of Jhinu Danda is the twin hot water springs there.
This is the last day of the trek. The trek today takes place along a level track and there is not much climbing to do. We will move slowly and enjoy the lush green scenery of the Mahabharata mountain range. There are many densely packed villages on either side of the mountain.
We will reach a place called Sibai after a long walk. We will rest for a few moments there and have some snacks. Once we have gathered some rest, we will board a vehicle waiting for us and head back towards Pokhara. We will spend a blissful evening in Pokhara at the Phewa Lakeside and take a much-needed rest.
We will once again follow the Marsyangdi and Trishuli river trail and head back towards Kathmandu. The road is beautiful with traditional Nepali villages, small towns, temples, resting inns, dense forests, and waterfalls alongside. The drive takes about seven hours including breaks. We will transfer you to your hotel following your arrival in Kathmandu.
You have two options today. The first option is to return back to your country. In that case, we will accompany you to the airport and bid you farewell. We will also present you with a souvenir for your tour. The second option is to extend your trip and visit another location in Nepal.
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Optional Addons
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Important Notes and Safety Concerns
While traveling with Ambition Himalaya Treks & Expeditions, we always put your safety first. We want our valued guests and employees to be safe, so we’ve given your tour or trek guide complete authority to change, cancel, or revise any element of the program if it’s deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Ambition Himalaya guarantees that we will do everything possible to stick to the schedule. Natural catastrophes, weather disruptions, health issues, or any other unforeseen circumstances may compel us to alter our planned schedule, and we hope you understand our concerns. Before revising the itinerary, our guide or leader will provide you with the required information and discuss it with you.
Number of People | Price Per Person |
1 Pax | US$ 900 |
2 Pax | US$ 799 |
3-5 Pax | US$ 750 |
6-9 Pax | US$ 650 |
10-15 Pax | US$ 610 |
Over 16 Pax | US$ 570 |
You can go on the Annapurna Base Camp trek throughout the year. But if you seek the most perfect time to experience the majestic splendor of the Annapurna region, then September to November in fall are the best months.
Autumn months after the monsoon period often guarantee better weather, clear blue skies, and mild temperatures between 10°C to 20°C during the day and 5°C at night. You can experience the transparent air in the mountains that almost makes you feel you can touch the grand Himalayas. The cloudless weather and the transforming landscape transport you to the magical wonderland of Annapurna.
The second best months for Annapurna Base Camp Trek are March, April, and May in spring. The climate is warm and pleasant and the entire Annapurna region is literally enveloped with blooming rhododendrons. The initial days of March may be a little colder and the later days of May can be accompanied by rain and a slight increase in temperature due to the approaching monsoon/ summer season.
The summer days of June, July, and August are mostly rainy and hot. The misty mornings and cloudy days with heavy rainfall can spoil your adventure. Additionally, the route to the Annapurna Base Camp can be slippery with the risk of floods and avalanches. Leeches may bother you when walking through dense forests and vegetation.
And the winter days from December to February are shorter with temperatures below freezing point in the Annapurna Base Camp. Let’s not forget about the chilling speedy winds in the greater heights with trails covered with thick snow.
However, as an experienced and reputed travel agency, we can organize the Annapurna Base Camp trek in the season you prefer. We have a team of skilled and knowledgeable local guides who with the right preparation and equipment can make your dream come true in any season.
Annapurna Base Camp trek is a route of moderate difficulty favorable for those who like to trek in the mountains but don’t wish to make the strenuous effort. Despite the harsh fame of Annapurna, you will be able to complete this trek without getting tired as we will cover the trail in shorter sections. However, it does require you to walk for 4 to 7 hours depending on your destination for the day.
You will be at an altitude of 4130 m when you reach Annapurna Base Camp which is the highest elevation gain of this trek. To reach the base camp, the trail consists of moderate levels of ups and downs of the mountainous terrain.
Therefore, you must be averagely fit and capable of walking for a few hours. This trek is relatively straightforward with well-marked routes so it is favorable for those who don’t have much time for intensive training. We suggest you spend some time walking, running, and climbing stairs instead of taking elevators to increase your physical ability.
To make this trek as easy as possible for you, our porters will carry your heavy luggage and our guide will accommodate you in the best available lodging. You can only focus on admiring the views of the great Himalayas and varied landscapes.
Experiencing the symptoms of altitude sickness in the Annapurna Base Camp trek is not uncommon. Especially travelers from lowlands who climb to an altitude of more than 2000 m above sea level can often suffer from acute altitude sickness. If you don’t give enough time to your body to acclimatize or climb quickly, you are at risk of altitude sickness.
If you have a headache, nausea, loss of appetite, weakness, and fatigue, try exhaling with your mouth almost closed and nose slightly pinched. After feeling better, you can descend to lower heights. Some medications such as Diamox can help relieve symptoms and for headaches, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen.
We advise you to make the proper use of the acclimatization days we have planned for you in this trek. Also, climb slowly so your body can be accustomed to altitude change. Drink plenty of fluids such as water, garlic soup, and honey lemon tea, and don’t smoke and avoid drinking alcohol. Please eat nutritious meals and protect your eyes and head from the sun.
Our Annapurna Base Camp trek will take you to the foot of the most beautiful eight thousand meters high mountains of Annapurna. You will travel through different regions and villages each of them with different climate zones. You will be able to feel the extraordinary diversity of Nepal’s nature.
You will walk through the roaring jungle, beautiful terraced farmlands, and bamboo forest, cross the fast ice rivers waterfalls, and mountain springs, and witness the breathtaking panoramas of the snow-covered Himalayan peaks.
You will also be able to touch the mystical temples of Nepal and feel the aroma of blooming rhododendrons. You will have the opportunity to get personal with the splendid Annapurna range including Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Hiunchuli, and Gangapurna. From the Annapurna Base Camp, you will observe the 8091 m high Annapurna I standing at its full glory.
From the Machhapucchre Base Camp, you will witness the Fishtail or Machhapucchre mountain which is regarded as one of the most characteristic peaks in the world. In addition, when the route comes to an end, you can immerse in the natural hot springs of Jhinu Danda and relax after long days of hiking.
You will also have the chance to experience the cultural element when passing through various picturesque traditional Gurung villages. Likewise, you will also be able to observe the alluring sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna range, Gangapurna, Machapuchare, Tukuche Peak, Dhampus Peak, and many more.
Additionally, before beginning the trek, you will spend a day in the beautiful architecturally rich Kathmandu city. You will visit the Buddhist Monkey Temple (Swayambunath), Boudhanath, the largest Hindu temple in Nepal, Pashupatinath, and the main royal square – Durbar Square.
Trust us for your best experience in this magical adventure to the Annapurna Base Camp.
As your reliable travel and trek agency, we promise to make your Annapurna Base Camp trek fun and comfortable. We will arrange everything for you from your accommodation, and food to transportation needs.
From Kathmandu airport, our agent will accompany you to our hotel in the capital in a private car. You will stay in a three-star hotel with adequate amenities of a private bathroom, hot shower, and WIFI. Freshly prepared breakfast of your choice will be provided each morning till your stay in the city. In the tourist city of Pokhara, the same category of accommodation with complimentary breakfast will be provided.
If you wish to have a more luxurious experience, we can also arrange a deluxe hotel for your stay at an additional cost. On your arrival, we will greet you with a nice welcome dinner in one of the charming Nepali restaurants.
The next day, we will organize an exclusive sightseeing tour of the Kathmandu Valley with a private guide, driver, and car or van. As our trek begins, a tourist bus has been arranged for your private road trip to Pokhara. From Pokhara, a private jeep or car has been arranged for your departure to Nayapul.
During the trek, we will accommodate you in high-standard lodges along the trail. The route to Annapurna Base Camp has been well-developed and exposed to Western tourism. So most of the lodges come with an attached bathroom and provision of a hot shower. The room comes with two beds, a table, and warm blankets. For conveniently charging your mobile and devices, there is an electrical socket in the room.
Wifi is also available throughout the route so you can get connected to your loved ones continuously. Please keep in mind, that the lodge may charge extra costs for the services of a hot shower, WIFI, and charging your devices.
Regarding the food options, during the trek, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided to you based on the lodge menu. The lodge menu in each lodge is extremely diverse – you may not have time to try everything during the trip.
You can taste the traditional Dal Vat Tarkari to Momo and pasta. Pizza, Burgers, egg and potato dishes. We don’t suggest you try meat dishes, however, especially in higher altitude zones. In the evening after your dinner, you can delight in the fresh delicious seasonal fruit of Nepal. Drinks are excluded from our food package but if you like, you can try several fruit juices, coke, alcohol, tea, and coffee at a minimal charge.
As our route comes to an end, we will again drive in a private car to Pokhara from Sibai. For the next day’s trip back to Kathmandu, we have booked a comfortable tourist bus for 7 to 8 hours cozy drive.
On the day of your departure, our agent will take you to the international airport three hours before your boarding time.
Note: If you are short of time, we can also book a flight from Kathmandu -Pokhara- Kathmandu at an additional fee.
Want to learn more about this journey in-depth? Essential Trip Information includes a thorough itinerary, information for visa processing, Accommodations, Food , Acclimatization’s and pretty much anything else you could possibly need to know about this tour. Read more inside.
Yes, you can customize your trek to Annapurna Base Camp according to your need. If you lack time, you can take a flight to Pokhara from the capital. From Nayapul, you can trek to Jhunu and Chhumrung to Base Camp. Then from base camp, you can return back to Nayapul.
If you want to extend your trip, you can stay for a few days in Pokhara. Or, you can trek through the villages of Landruk, Tolka, and Pothana Dhampus to Pokhara.
For the mountain experience along with rich cultural diversity and experiencing the untouched natural beauty, the Annapurna circuit trek is favorable. But the Annapurna circuit trek is a more challenging and long journey than the Annapurna Base Camp trek.
Therefore, if you are new to hiking, and wish to gain mountain experience with less physical exertion then the Annapurna Base Camp trek is favorable for you.
Comparatively, Annapurna Base Camp is an easier trek that offers you magnanimous views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Fishtail mountains.
But the Everest Base Camp trek takes you to the foot of the highest peak of the planet and it’s relatively difficult. However, with the continuous development and several new routes and modes of transportation, the EBC trek has also become favorable for anyone with average physical fitness.
No, firstly, you will be traveling in a group with a team of our local guides and porter. Secondly, the trail to the base camp is well-marked and straightforward. The inhabitants of the villages along the route are generous and helpful and will assist you in every possible way. So this trek is perfectly safe.
Based on 1
Review
I and my girlfriend recently completed the Annapurna Base Camp trek and it was one of the best experiences of my life! Mr. Shishir provided us with very useful information that we need. The package we took was reasonable with our budget. In the trekking the views were stunning and the whole experience was incredibly well-organized from start to finish. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and always on hand to answer any questions we had. All in all, We would highly recommend this trek to anyone looking for an incredible adventure in Nepal!
Excellent
No. of People | Price Per Person |
1 Pax | US$ 900 |
2 Pax | US$ 799 |
3-5 Pax | US$ 750 |
6-9 Pax | US$ 650 |
10-15 Pax | US$ 610 |
Over 16 Pax | US$ 570 |
14 Days / From: $ 950
9 Days / From: $ 470
14 Days / From: $ 799
16 Days / From: $ 1,090
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