Annapurna Base Camp Trek, cost, Itinerary, Best season.

Best Time

The best time for the Annapurna Base Camp trek is the spring months from March to April and May and autumn from September to November. These months offer a beautiful panorama of mountains with clear visibility to a stone’s throw.

Summer months throughout June, July, and August are accompanied by heavy monsoon rain. The heavy rainfall can turn routes into slippery and muddy obstacle courses full of leeches, snow, or avalanches.

Whereas the cold freezing temperature and heavy blanket of snow accompany the winter months of December, January, and February. These conditions can cause blockage along the trail and ruin the chances of success of an expedition.

Elevation and trekking distance

The amphitheatrical Annapurna Base Camp is situated at an elevation of 4130 m above sea level. It lies 168 km away from the bustling city of Kathmandu and 37.1 km from Pokhara.

It will take us around two weeks to cover this distance from the capital and around 10 days from Pokhara. We begin this journey with a bus drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara along a 201 km long road. From Pokhara, we will cover the distance of 9.6 km to reach Tikhedhunga from where our actual trek begins.

Our 13-day Annapurna Base Camp trek consists of 8 trekking days covering a distance of around 10 km each day. You can easily attain this distance on foot walking an average of 4 to 6 hours a day.

Maximum/Minimum walk per day

The actual trek day on our Annapurna Base Camp trek itinerary begins on the third day when you will walk for just about 3 hours to reach Ulleri from Tikedhunga. The hiking time from here depends on your pace, the terrain that you are walking along, and the village we have scheduled for an overnight stay.

On average, you will be walking for 4 to 6 hours each day with a short lunch break of about an hour at noon. This trek is considered one of the easiest and shortest treks for nothing because the maximum walk you undertake in this journey is only for 6 to 7 hours on day 6, day 7, and day 9.

On day 6, you will reach Lower Sinuwa from Tadapani, on day 7, you will arrive at Deurali from Sinuwa, and on day 9, you will explore the Base Camp and hike back to Bamboo.

Difficulty

The Annapurna Base Camp trek is not a technically difficult trail. Apart from decent physical, and mental condition along with strong motivation, you don’t need specialized equipment or knowledge of climbing techniques.

In addition, the route to the base camp is a popular well-marked trail with numerous villages along the way offering food and accommodation. Plus, according to our program, we will first visit Poon Hill before going to the Annapurna Base Camp. Therefore, you will have good acclimatization before reaching the base camp.

Can a beginner trek to Annapurna base camp?

Yes, the Annapurna Base Camp trek is one of the easiest treks in Nepal which will prepare you for other difficult high-altitude treks such as the Everest Base Camp trek.

You don’t need to possess past experience in climbing or mountaineering to join this trek. The route is straightforward and doesn’t require walking along the difficult alpine terrain. Therefore, no special technical knowledge or use of equipment is needed in this trek.

The only criteria for the success of this expedition is a decent physical and mental status. If you have any chronic condition, please seek advice from your doctor before participating in this trek.

Preparation and training

Although easy, the Annapurna Base camp is located at an altitude of more than 4000 meters. You still need to traverse through some alpine terrain and hike for about 44 to 7 hours a day.

Therefore, good physical fitness is a must. We suggest you begin climbing, running, swimming, and cycling 30 days before joining this trek. Hiking for 3 to 4 hours a day with light weigh backpack on your shoulder will adequately prepare you for the trek days in the Annapurna region.

Also, practicing yoga and meditation for a strong mindset will help you remain calm in any unexpected situation that may occur in high altitude trek.

Alternate routes

The most amazing feature of the Annapurna Base Camp trek is the availability of alternative routes. You can shorten or extend your trip with numerous options of trekking routes available.

You can skip the visit to Poon Hill and trek directly through the villages of Chhomrong, Deurali to the base camp.

There is also another lesser-known new route that begins from Narchyang village in Myagdi district. Then walking through the villages of Kalokhola, and Phoolbari, you will arrive at the base camp.

Another uncrowded trail leads to the Annapurna Base Camp from Lete of Mustang. With five days of trek, you will arrive at the base camp. You can also charter a helicopter from Narchyang and Daana to reach the base camp which is an expensive option costing you NPR 1,50,000.

Altitude Sickness

The probability of altitude sickness in the Annapurna Base Camp trek is less but not zero. Even experienced trekkers can sometimes feel nauseated, tend to vomit, or have mild headaches. Some may have difficulty breathing and could not sleep at night.

At an altitude of more than 3000 m, the oxygen level in the air is less which is the main cause of this sickness. However, if you gain altitude slowly and calmly giving your body time to adapt to the thin air of the mountains, you can avoid this sickness.

Hydrating your body adequately and descending immediately as you feel the symptoms can help to quickly relieve its symptoms.

Meals and Drink

As part of our comprehensive Annapurna Base Camp trek package, we offer you accommodation in a 3-star standard hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara with complimentary breakfast every morning.

As the journey begins, we will provide you breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the trek with a hot cup of tea or coffee with every meal. The lodge along the route offers a diverse menu from Nepali, Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan to Italian.

You can try the national dish of Dal Vat Tarkari, or taste the famous momos, pasta, pizza, thukpa, burgers, egg, and potato dishes. In the evening, we will provide you with fresh seasonal fruit from Nepal.

Drinks other than tea and coffee are excluded from our package. But you can enjoy several fruit juices, coke, alcohol, tea, and coffee at a minimal price of NPR 200 to NPR 300.

Transportation

We delight in serving our guests and providing them with the best comfort. As you join this trek, we will take care of all your air and ground transportation throughout the trekking period.

From the airport, our private vehicle will take you to our hotel in Kathmandu. The next day, we will take you to Pokhara on a deluxe tourist bus. At an extra cost, we can also arrange for a domestic flight to Pokhara – Kathmandu- Pokhara. From Nayapul, you will ride on a private jeep or bus to reach Tikedhunga.

At the end of the trip, you will return to Pokahra from Jhinu Danda via a private jeep. After a comfortable ride on a tourist bus to Kathmandu, we will transfer you to the hotel in the capital. On your departure day, we will then conclude our service by driving you to the International airport via a private mode of transportation.

Gadgets charging and Internet/wifi

You can conveniently charge your gadgets along the entire trail of Annapurna Base Camp. The lodges along the route have rooms with electrical sockets where you can easily charge your devices.

Regarding the internet, most of the lodges provide good speed WIFI connection for uninterrupted internet service. In lower altitudes, the lodge owners may provide these services free of cost. But in higher altitudes, the owners may charge extra costs for charging and WIFI service.

Another option for an internet connection is using the data package provided by NCELL or NTC. You can purchase these SIMS in Kathmandu or Pokhara and activate the package by dialing *17123# for NCELL and *1415*7# for NTC.

Permits

We need an Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit and a Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Permit for the Annapurna Base Camp trek.

The ACAP is issued by the Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu, or Pokhara at the cost of NPR 3000 per person. TIMS is obtained from the TAAN office in Kathmandu or any registered trek agency at the cost of NPR 2000 per person.

Your Extra expenses

For your extra or personal expenses, you can either go crazy or go relatively frugal. In the cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara, the choice of restaurants and various attractions is huge. For example, if you want some fun along with adventure, you can always go for paragliding on Lake Pokhara or rafting on Trishuli.

Likewise, you can go berserk to purchase several souvenirs from Pashmina, Handicrafts, clay pottery, Thangkas, or unique Nepali and Tibetan carpets in Thamel of Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Basically, your extra expenses are based on your spending habits and budget but on average it is wise to carry NPR 20000 to NR 30,000 cash on hand.

What to expect?

The Annapurna Base Camp trek trail is the most scenic, naturally enriched iconic trail in Nepal. All along the route, you will have outstanding views of various mountains. This short trek will give you a vast glimpse of Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Hiunchuli, Machhapucchre, and Gangapurna.

In addition, you will walk through the dense rhododendron forests, and terraced rice fields, see amazing waterfalls, and cross beautiful rivers. You will also be able to relax in the natural thermal spring of Jhinu Danda for a well-deserved natural therapy.

Private trip vs group joining

For the personal experience and view of all the natural wonders to yourself, a private trip to the Annapurna Base Camp is favorable for you. However, the exclusive service and attention of guides and porters come at a slightly higher price.

For a more reasonable option, the group tour to the Annapurna base camp is advisable as the cost is shared equally among all the members of the group. However, you also have to share the attention of guides and porters, and all other services during the entire trek.

Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for our Annapurna Base Camp trek and you have to present a copy of your insurance before joining this trip. Without the insurance copy, we cannot obtain the needed permits.

We suggest you take out the insurance that can cover an altitude of more than 4000 m. it should also allow for mountain rescue, ambulance transport, or repatriation. It should support you financially for any health problems or accidents, whether or not you are trekking.

Booking open for 2024 and 2025

We are delighted to announce the opening of reservations as well as the launch of our early Booking offer for the magical trip to Annapurna Base Camp in 2024 and 2025.

Come discover and rediscover the fantastic Annapurna region. A trip for both young and old, we have everything for everybody. We can’t wait to welcome you in 2024 and 2025 so don’t hesitate to contact us, on our website, by telephone, or even by email, go for it!

Book your 2024 vacation now and take advantage of the discount we offer for early birds.

Trip Extension

 If you wish to extend your Annapurna Base Camp trek, please inform us so we can manage the most favorable tour for you. We have several options available: you can stay for 2 or 3 days in Kathmandu to explore the legendary landmarks of this valley. Or, you can stay for a few days in Pokhara and engage in some extreme sports such as paragliding, bungee jumping, or rafting.

Not a fan of extreme sports? Why not go on a jungle safari on a jeep or elephant in Chitwan National Park or take a luxury tour of Pokhara? Join some meditation centers or yoga centers for spiritual rejuvenation.

There are numerous options we can recommend. Do not hesitate to inform us about your preference.