Grade:Moderate

Location: Nepal

Altitude:4130 m

Duration:9 Days

Annapurna Base Camp trek is one of the most popular treks in Nepal. The Annapurna Base Camp trek is popularly known as the ABC trek. Given its international fame, the trek attracts many trekkers from all over the globe. Over a period of 6 trekking days, you gain the maximum altitude of 13,549 ft. The trail of the Annapurna Base Camp trek is breathtakingly beautiful. As you hike through the Annapurna Sanctuary, you come across the most striking flora and fauna. The grand view of the Annapurna Massif from the base camp almost takes your breath away. Views of the Hiunchuli, Machapuchare and, Annapurna South are a treat for the sore eyes. ABC is a moderate level trek. With the right experience, skill set and training you can attempt this trek and enjoy the beauty of the Himalayas in Nepal. The trek also gives you a chance to catch a glimpse of Nepali culture and hospitality. Scroll down for more information like Annapurna Base Camp trek blogs, weather details, route maps, itineraries and photos. Head to our FAQ section for the detailed packing list specific to Nepal treks.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Pokhara

Today you arrive in Pokhara. Meet our team and there will be a briefing and introduction session. Overnight in hotel..

Day 2

Drive Pokhara to Nayapul (3,812 ft) - 40 km / 2 hrs. Trek Nayapul - Ghandruk (6,571 ft) - 11.6 km / 5 hours

Today is the first day of the Annapurna Base Camp trek and our destination is Ghandruk, a beautiful Gurung village. We start with a 2-hour road journey to Nayapul from Pokhara. On reaching Nayapul, the trail first drops down to Birethanti, crossing an old suspension bridge over the Bhurungdi River. Birethanti is a beautiful village, where trekkers will have to fulfill the necessary check-in formalities at the office of ACAP. Then, the ultimate upward walk begins towards Ghandruk. Initially, the trail climbs gently on a dirt road till Syauli Bazar. Leaving the dirt road and the river bank from Syauli Bazar, you will start climbing a series of stone steps till Kimche. You will cross the dirt road a couple of times as you climb the steps to Kimche. From Kimche, the gradient eases out a little, but you are only done with half the climb. It will take another 2 hours to reach your lodge at Ghandruk, which is one of the cosiest villages on the trail. Ghandruk also houses a museum of local Gurung culture. If the weather is clear, you will be able to see the Hiunchuli and Macchapucchre peaks from your teahouse in the evening.

Day 3

Ghandruk to Lower Sinuwa (7,414 ft) - 11 km / 5 hrs

Sinuwa is the destination set for today. Today’s hike is a roller coaster on foot. Once you hike through the entire village of Ghandruk, the trail climbs up 200 m gradually to reach Kimrong Danda, a small village perched on top of a ridge. The village offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. From Kimrong Danda, you descend 400 m sharply through oak and rhododendron forests, crossing the Kimrong Khola at the valley floor. Once you cross the river, you will pass through the lower Kimrong village before climbing up again to Chhomrong. It is a 500 m climb to one of the biggest villages (with authentic Italian coffee) in the valley - you will have to stop at an ACAP Checkpost here. Chhomrong stretches from the top of the ridge down to valley floor, and you will descend 400 m through the entire village down to the stream. The day is not yet done, and you must climb another 200 m up steep stone steps to reach Lower Sinuwa, our halt for the night.

Day 4

Lower Sinuwa to Deurali (10,400 ft) - 12 km / 6 hrs

You will start from Lower Sinuwa today and climb 250 m to the upper village. Upper Sinuwa offers brilliant views of the higher valley. The trail is level for the first few kilometres, passing through dense bamboo and rhododendron forests. If you are hiking here in April, the rhododendron trees are in full bloom and the forest is alive with red flowers and birdsong. This section is one of the best parts of the trail. Once you reach Kuldigar, you will descend to Bamboo on the valley floor. The bamboo forests get denser as you climb gradually towards Deurali, passing through the villages of Dovan (look out for a giant waterfall crashing onto the river just across the village) and Himalaya - yes, that’s what the village is named. Just before you reach Deurali, you will pass the Hinku caves next to the trail and traverse a fan of avalanched snow and debris. The climb from Bamboo to Deurali is a whopping 900 m and should take 4 hrs - if you’ve prepared well! Deurali is a small village just at the base of Macchapuchhre - one of the most perfectly shaped mountains in the world.

Day 5

Deurali to Machhapuchhre Base Camp (12,070 ft) - 4 km / 3 hrs

Today is one of the shorter days of the trek. Although people generally used to hike up to Annapurna Base Camp on the fourth day of the trek, that is not possible anymore. Most of the teahouses and lodges at ABC were destroyed during the winter and spring in 2019, which makes it impossible to stay at ABC. We will hike up till Macchapuchhre Base Camp today. You will climb up 500 m , crossing the Modi Khola twice, and passing through sparsely vegetated slopes. As you climb higher up the valley, you will have to climb through accumulated snow from the winter. Macchapuchhre Base Camp offers excellent views of Macchapucchre, and even Annapurna South if you take a short walk from your lodge. Overnight at MBC.

Day 6

Macchapuchhre Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp (13,451 ft) to Bamboo (7,582 ft) - 17 km / 7 hrs

Wake up two hours before sunrise today, and hike the last few kilometres to ABC. You will gradually ascend over the right lateral moraine of the Annapurna glacier. The trail is an easy, pleasant climb. As you reach ABC and the sun starts coming up, you will realise you’re surrounded by massive 7000 m and 8000 m peaks. ABC is right at the foot of Hiunchuli and Annapurna South (7,219 m). To the right, you will see the main Annapurna (8.091 m) peak. To the east of Annapurna are Khangsar Kang, Tare Kang, Gangapurna and Annapurna III. A gigantic wall of steep rock and ice rises up from the glacier to the summit of Annapurna. It will be one of the best sunrises you will ever see. After enjoying the mighty Annapurna Sanctuary, we retrace the same trail that drops all the way down through Deurali, Himalaya and Dovan to Bamboo. After walking for about 6 hours, we finally reach the destination of the day, that is, Bamboo.

Day 7

Bamboo to Jhinu (5,659 ft) - 9 km / 4 hrs

Jhinu Danda is the destination set for today. From Bamboo, we first hike up to Kuldhigar, where the office of ACAP and the visitor center is located. We then hike down to the bridge across the Chhomrong River passing Sinuwa. We cross the bridge and enter a beautiful Gurung village of Chhomrong. From Chhomrong, a steep descent will take us to Jhinu Danda. The Jhinu hot springs is 15-20 minutes downhill from Jhinu Danda. A 15 minute descent from the village to the riverbed takes you to the hot springs - three pools brimming with naturally heated water - the perfect balm for your aching legs after 6 days of hard trekking!

Day 8

Jhinu to Nayapul - 12 km / 5 hrs and Drive to Pokhara - 40 km / 2 hrs

Pokhara is the destination set for the day. Crossing the bridge over the Modi River, the trail initially passes through sporadic bamboo forest, which then crosses various small settlements up and downhill, decorated with terrace farms featuring seasonal crops till Siwai. The road intersects with the trail here, and you have the option of hiring a jeep to avoid hiking the last 8 km to Nayapul. If you choose to continue hiking, it will take another 2 hours to reach Birethanti where you will complete check out at the ACAP Checkpost. From Birethanti, it is a 10 minute climb to Nayapul, where you will board your vehicles for the drive to Pokhara. You can take a stroll along the Lakeside cafes and market, or actually go to Phewa Tal and sit by the lakeside bars or even take a boat out onto the lake. Overnight in Pokhara

Day 9

Depart from Pokhara

What's Included

Accommodation in Pokhara on Day 1 and Day 8
Accommodation in guesthouse/lodge on all trek days
Permits (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
Safety Equipment includes static rescue rope, seat harness, carabiners, pulleys
Experienced guide

What's Not Included

Any Expense of personal nature.
Any meals during the trek/road journey/hotel accomodation
Any tip to porters or guides which is a customary thing in Nepal
Travel Insurance and Rescue Evacuation in case of emergency
Any kind of Insurance
Meals during the trek
Any Expense not specified in the inclusions list.
Gaiters, microspikes and sleeping bags (wherever necessary) are not included and thus have to rented from Pokhara by you.

Are you Eligible for this Adventure?

Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you to a height of 4,130M and is rated a moderate level trek for its long trekking distances. For its elevation and distances, it is recommended for trekkers with some prior experience in the high-altitudes.

Moderate

4130 m

85 km

BRS Level Required

BRS 4

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a level 4 adventure on the Bikat Rating Scale.

This makes it mandatory for you to have high-altitude experience of preferably multiple treks marked at level 3 on the BRS. The altitude, the terrain, and the nature of the climb demand a certain level of endurance and a need for you to be aware of how your body reacts to the various features of the high-altitude environment.

If you do not know what level of BRS trek would suit you best, worry not! Fill out this Form:

we will send you a progression chart to help you comfortably get out of your comfort zone in order to level up and ultimately reach your highest potential in the big, bad world of outdoor adventure.

Packing List

This is a list of essential items for individuals doing the trek with Bikat Adventures. This list contains only those items which the participants are required to bring with them. The list excludes those items which are provided by Bikat Adventures on the trek. We have divided the items into five categories. All the items in the list are essential except for those marked as optional.

Trekking Gear

Ruck sack bag with rain cover. Qty -1
Day Pack Bag - Recommended for treks with summit day
Head Torch with spare Batteries. Qty -1
U V protection sunglasses. Qty -1 Here is how you can choose the best sunglasses for trekking.
Water Bottles: 2 bottles of 1 liter each

Footwear

Non-skid, deep treaded, high-ankle trekking shoes Qty -1
Pair of light weight Slipper/Sandals Qty -1

Clothing

Quick Dry Warm lower or Track Pants. Qty - 2
Full sleeves T-shirts/ Sweatshirts. 1 for every 2 days of trekking
Pair of thick woolen socks. 1 pair for every two days of trekking
Thermal Body warmer Upper & Lower. Qty-1
Undergarments. Qty - 1 for every day of trekking
Warm jacket closed at wrist & neck .Qty-1
Full sleeves sweater. Qty -1
Rain wear ( Jacket & Pants ) . Qty-1
Pair of waterproof, warm gloves. Qty-1
Woolen cap. Qty-1
Sun shielding Hat. Qty -1

Toiletries

Personal toiletries kit (Small Towel, Toilet paper, paper soap, Bar soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, cold cream, etc.)
Sun screen lotion small pack. Qty -1 Here is your Sun Protection 101 to stay safe in the bright sunny outdoors.
Lip Balm small pack. Qty-1

Utensils

Small size, Light weight & Leak proof lunch box. Qty-1
Plate. Qty- 1
Spoon.Qty-1
Tea/Coffee (plastic) Mug.Qty-1

Miscellaneous

Camera (Optional)
Carry your medicines in plenty in case you have any specific ailment. Consult your doctor before joining the trek.
Dry fruits, Nuts, Chocolate bars (Optional)

Frequently Asked Questions

You must have done a small trek of 2-3 days before Hampta Pass and hiked to an altitude of more than 3000 meters.

Jog/Run for 4 Kms in 35-40 mins or Walk continuously for 8 Kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better) - - You would be required to produce a screenshot from a fitness app testifying the same
Hold your breath for 25-30 seconds

If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.

Know campsite basics like how to use a sleeping bag, sleeping tet, toilet tent.
Ascending & Descending technique for mountain trails.
Basic mountain mannerisms.

The trek to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) has several obvious perks. Besides being an absolutely stunning journey through the best that the Himalayas have to offer and good name recognition when you tell people you pulled off one of Nepal’s most famous hikes, it also is an excellent stepping stone to Everest Base Camp or similar higher BRS treks.

Best months to do EBC Trek are March, April, May, September, October, and November.

The base for ABC trek is Pokhra which is well connected with Kathmandu by Road & Air. To get to Kathmandu from Delhi, you can take one of the following options - By Air: There are multiple flights daily connecting Delhi and Kathmandu. Return airfare will cost you between INR 10,000 - INR 15,000 By Road: The road distance between Delhi and Kathmandu is 1,152 km. A DTC service is operated on this route that will cost you around INR 5,000 for a return journey. You can also drive to Kathmandu in your own vehicle. By Rail: There are multiple trains operating daily from Delhi to Gorakhpur near the India - Nepal border. From Gorakhpur, you will have to take a bus to the Sunauli across the border. From Sunauli, you will have to take another bus to Kathmandu. Expect the return journey to cost you between INR 4,000 - INR 7,000

There is 3G connectivity for local network NCell for most of the Annapurna base camp trek.

You will be in Kathmandu at the beginning and end of this trek. There are a number of places to explore in Kathmandu - walk through the old city, explore the streets of Thamel, visit the famous Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath temples, take thangka painting workshops or learn how to cook local cuisine. You can also drive or fly to Pokhara in Central Nepal and explore the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri regions - rife with vast trekking options as well! Another must-see attraction is the Royal Palace, the site of the infamous 2001 massacre of the Royal Family by the then Crown Prince, and now converted into the Narayanhiti Palace Museum.

The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied by their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.

You will be provided with shared accommodation in a hotel in Pokhra. On the trail, you will be provided twin or triple sharing accommodation in lodges/tea houses/guest houses.

Since Annapurna Base Camp is not a camping trek, tents and sleeping bags are not required.

There are adequate, hygienic facilities throughout the ABC trail and at all accommodations.

Gaiters and microspikes will not be provided by us. If needed, then you can rent the same from Nepal. However, these are not needed for Nepal treks.

Meals are not included during Annapurna base camp trek. The lodges/guest houses on this trek have ample eating options.

We do not provide renting option for Nepal treks

Depending on the season, the temperature on Annapurna Base Camp trek can drop to -20°C at night and be as high as 30°C during the day time.

There may be fresh snowfall in the region depending on the weather. There will be permanent snow accumulation at higher altitudes, though not necessarily on the trail itself.

You can offload your backpack (up to 10 kg) on this trek. This portage fee is not included in the trek cost. To avail this facility you need to purchase this add on while booking your trek.

A team of the participant will be led by a TIMS certified guide. All participants are requested to abide by the directions of the guide. We maintain 1:6 ratio of guide/assistant guide and participants.

It is not mandatory but it is more convenient with the pole.

You can buy your trekking necessities from Kathmandu. However we recommend that you do not leave anything essential for the last minute purchase as you might not find sufficient time for shopping.

Yes, it is absolutely safe for a solo woman to travel in fix departures. A lot of solo women trekkers trek with us every year.

Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.

Not applicable in this trek

You will be dropped off at the hotel/guest house in Pokhra at the end of the trek.

Please do carry either your passport or Voter ID card, along with a few passport size photographs.

Why Bikat?

Small Group Size

Our batch sizes are capped at 15 for smaller treks with the trek leader and trekker ratio of 1:8. This ratio, in our years of experience, has proven to deliver the best trekking experience for individuals as well as groups. Capping the size of the group ensures individual attention to each trekker so that no signs of distress or need during the trek go unnoticed. It also helps to form a more cohesive cohort with better group energy which helps define the rhythm and pace of days on the trek.

As you go higher up on the BRS scale, since the stakes are higher, expeditions have an even smaller group size with the ratio of expedition leader to climber set at 1:2.

Qualified Trek Leaders

We follow a rigorous regime of hiring and training our experts in the field. Each trek leader is a certified mountaineer with years of experience in the field. In addition to their qualification, they also go through practical and situational training to tackle any and all kinds of sudden conditions that may present themselves on the ground. Being unpredictable is the core nature of the mountains but being ready for any circumstance as best as possible is a controllable asset that we try to nurture.

Our field experts are also trained in basic medicine and first-aid response.

Watch: Forerunners - The Making of A Trek Leader At Bikat Adventures

Guided Progression

Since Bikat Adventures is a learning-based organization, we help you climb up the ladder of difficulty within the sphere of outdoor adventure systematically. Our on-ground training modules are designed to handhold you through the upskilling process so that you are ready to take on bigger challenges.

Equipment Quality and Check

All the gear used on our treks and expeditions is tried and tested, maintained for good quality, and is overall top-notch in quality and condition. We are continually looking to obtain the best of everything there is in the market so as to ensure optimum safety.

Support Systems

Along with the staff you see on-ground, we have a team of superheroes working in the background to give you the best experience possible. Our background team also comprises local staff from each area who know the region best. Having local support helps with studying the area, pre-planning, execution, and in receiving timely support in case of emergencies in these remote locations.

Communication

Our on-field staff is in constant contact with our teams based in primary locations so as to eliminate any avoidable delay in reaching additional help and support when required. We try to use the best tools for communication available, including satellite phones, in regions where they are not restricted.

Reviews

Cancellation Policy

Cash refund

Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date

Cancellations between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure date

Cancellations within 15 days prior to departure date

Voucher refund

Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date

Cancellations within 5 days prior to departure date

Please Note:

Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers
This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.

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