One of the most well-liked treks in Nepal is the Annapurna Base Camp trek. The ABC trek is the colloquial name for the Annapurna Base Camp hike. Many hikers from all over the world come to this trail because it’s famous. In six trekking days, you reach the highest elevation of 13,549 feet. The Annapurna Base Camp trekking trail is incredibly gorgeous. You’ll discover the most unique plants and animals while hiking in the Annapurna Sanctuary.
You nearly lose your breath when you see the base camp’s expansive panorama of the Annapurna Massif. The views of the Annapurna South, Machapuchare, and Hiunchuli are a visual feast for the eyes. An intermediate-level hike is ABC. If you have the necessary training, experience, and skill set, you can tackle this journey and take in Nepal’s breathtaking Himalayan scenery. You can also taste Nepali hospitality and culture during the hike. For additional details, including blogs about the Annapurna Base Camp hike, weather reports, route maps, itineraries, and images, scroll down. Head to our FAQ area for the comprehensive packing list relevant to Nepal hikes.
When is the best time to do the Annapurna Base Camp Trek?
Like the rest of Nepal, the Annapurna Region experiences four distinct seasons. Winter, Autumn, Summer, and Spring. Trekking in the Annapurna Massif is particularly popular in March through May and October or November. For hikers, each trekking season has its unique enthusiasm and vibe. In this blog post, learn more about Nepal’s best times to climb and hike.
What is the seasonal weather like?
In summer:
June, July, and August are the months that comprise the summer season. The best time to trekking is in the summer when temperatures are at their highest. However, when the summer monsoon coincides with trekking, you must be extra cautious about your preparations because the routes may be slick and damp.
In Winter:
Fewer people prefer trekking in the Annapurna region during winter (December-January) than spring or fall. The locations along the Annapurna Base Camp hike can get chilly in the winter. Annapurna Base Camp makes people want to trek in the summer, even as cold as -10 degrees Celsius. But there are advantages to traveling in the winter at Annapurna Base Camp. There is little to no possibility of rain and clear skies. Due to off-season reductions, lodging is more affordable and easier to locate. Beyond that, winter offers the most incredible views of the mountains of all the seasons.
In Spring:
The trekking season (March to May) is when most tourists and adventurers visit Annapurna Base Camp. This season has little to no rainfall, and the weather is ideal for trekking. The average daily temperature ranges from -8 to 0 degrees Celsius at the Annapurna Base Camp. For every trekking aficionado, the walk is enjoyable because the lower portions are even warmer.
In Autumn:
Similar to spring, autumn (September, October, and November) is a season that draws hikers from all over the world to the Annapurna Base Camp. Autumn provides excellent hiking conditions because of its moderate temperatures, gentle wind, and little precipitation.
What is the difficulty of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek?
In the Annapurna Region, trekking and hiking can be difficult. That doesn’t mean, though, that you can’t succeed. You can surely make it if you enjoy hiking, and make sure to begin your fitness regimen well in advance of the start of your adventure.
Although most treks in the Annapurna Region are not challenging, hikers and trekkers should nevertheless be in reasonably good physical condition. You are still hiking across Nepal’s Himalayas, after all.
How Much Does The Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost?
Given that the majority of international visitors to Nepal arrive in Kathmandu, it is likely that they will trek in areas other than the Annapurna. The first challenge to walking in the
Annapurna Region is this. It is necessary to make the trip to Pokhara. Any hiking company will automatically take you from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Sometimes by plane, sometimes by bus.
A usual schedule includes getting from Pokhara to Ghorepani and staying in a hotel in Pokhara. It represents a portion of the expenses. Paying an admission fee is unnecessary; however, permits still require payment. It is essential to hike in the Himalayas of Nepal. You need two types of permits for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek:
Information Management System, or TIMS for short:
Every hiker who wants to travel across Nepal must have this permit. A person must pay NRS 2000 for this. It comes out to roughly 17 USD or 15 EUR.
Permit for the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP):
You will want permission as you will be entering the Annapurna Conservation Area. Your trekking provider arranges for all licenses.
Due to its usual length and degree of difficulty, the Annapurna Base Camp trip is relatively inexpensive in Nepal. There is a price range of 700 USD to 1000 USD or 600 EUR to 900 EUR.
Selecting an appropriate trek for Annapurna Base Camp might be challenging. Try giving the ABC Trek as much time as possible if you want to perform it well. You should spend time in Pokhara, too, as transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara is usually part of the package. The village is simply too charming to ignore. In addition, you should extend your leg a little since you will be going a considerable distance to get there.
ABC Trek Itinerary:
Day 1: Travel to Pokhara, 820 meters (2,690 feet) west of the Kathmandu Valley.
Driving Distance: 205 km / 127 mi 6-7 hours:
We have an early breakfast before boarding a tourist bus to Pokhara, which should take 6-7 hours. Along the trip, we can witness little springs, rivers linking one another, and the scenic Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers running beside verdant, rocky slopes.
Pokhara is a stunning valley surrounded by the peaks of Annapurna (8,091m), Machapuchare (6,993m), Dhaulagiri (8,169m), Manaslu (8,156m), and Lamjung Himal (6,983m). It’s famous for its lakes, Phewa and Begnas.
Pokhara is a tourist haven with all the pleasures of contemporary life. We invite you to explore Pokhara to encounter diverse cultures and see a range of tourist destinations.
Day 2: Take a car from Pokhara to Nayapul, Birethanti, or Tikhedhunga (1,570m). Walk up to Ulleri, which is 1,540 meters (5,050 feet) high.
We have a filling breakfast at Phewa Lake, then travel a short distance over stunning scenery to Tikhedhunga. The path is relatively gentle as it travels past Birethanti and Nayapul. You can see beautiful terraced farms along the Bhurungdi Khola from the road.
After Birethanti, we travel to Tikhedunga on an off-road journey. The trip begins in Tikhedhunga, travels through the settlements of Sudame and Hile, and concludes in Ulleri (2073 meters). It will take you three hours to hike.
Day 3: Trek to Ghorepani (2,860m/9,385ft) from Ulleri (1,540m/5,050ft):
Today’s walk’s fascinating part is the gradual ascent. You can enjoy views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchre, and Hiunchuli snow peaks from the track. Walking through the rhododendron forest, we can spot many wild animals, refreshing springs, and flowing rivers. The route following takes us to Ghorepani, a magnificent town perched on a hilltop.
From this village, you can see the majestic Himalayas in all their splendor, including Mountain names like Fishtail, Tukuche, Dhampus, Nilgiri, Annapurna South, Barah Sikhar, and Machhapuchhre to name a few.
Day 4: The hike starts early in the morning at Poon Hill (3,210m / 10,525ft) and ends at Tadapani (2,630m) / Chuile (2,309m):
It is the day for you if you adore seeing sunrises. We get to Poon Hill early in the morning, before dawn, and arrive in time to see the Himalayan sunrise. You can witness the light illuminating 32 peaks of the Annapurna range, along with the Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Machhapuchre mountains, from Poon Hill. Since Poon Hill is a well-known location for photography, we want to take full advantage of our trip there by shooting as many photos as possible.
After exploring Poon Hill, we return to our lodge, eat breakfast, and begin the hike to Tadapni, which is 2,630 meters (8,630 feet) above sea level. However, we must travel through Deurali (2960m) and Bandthanti to get to Tadapani. Should we reach Tadapani ahead of schedule, we will hike a bit farther to reach Chuile Village.
Day 5: Trek from Tadapani (2,630m) / Chuile (2,309m) to Chomrong (2,165m)/ Sinuwa (2,340m):
Today’s walk will differ slightly depending on where we stayed the night before. If Tadapani is the destination, we will eat breakfast there before continuing to Chomrong (2,165m/7,105ft), passing through Chile en route. We go through the beautiful Ghandruk Village and then drop steeply to the Kimron River before getting to Chomrong. From the path, you can beautifully see Fishtail and Annapurna South.
Ascenters to Annapurna Base Camp frequently spend the night in Chomrong hamlet, which is located on the flank of the massive Annapurna range. If we had stayed at Chuile the night before, we would spend the night at Sinuwa.
Day 6: Trek from Chomrong (2,165m)/ Sinuwa (2,340m) to Himalaya (2,890m)/Deurali (3,174m):
Today’s walk will differ slightly depending on where we stayed the night before. If Tadapani is the destination, we will eat breakfast there before continuing to Chomrong (2,165m/7,105ft), passing through Chile en route. We cross the pretty Ghandruk Village and then go down steeply to the Kimron River before getting to Chomrong. From the path, you can see Fishtail and Annapurna South in a way that will take your breath away.
People who trek to Annapurna Base Camp stay overnight in Chomrong village, which sits on the side of the massive Annapurna range. If we had stayed at Chuile the night before, we would remain in Sinuwa for the night.
Day 7: Trek from Himalaya (2,890m) / Deurali (3,174m) to ABC (4,130m / 13,550ft) via Machhapuchhare Base Camp:
If we spend the final night in the Himalayas, we will take a different path through more woods and a tight ravine along the Modi Khola Glacier Valley. Before
Arriving at the Annapurna Sanctuary entrance, which leads to ABC, we will also pass the lodges of Deurali and a massive overhanging rock known as Hinku Cave. On the other hand, the hike begins in Deurali if we spend the night there.
We will be walking close to the Annapurna glaciers all day. Machhapuchhre Base Camp provides a fantastic overview of the surrounding mountains as we travel through them. Nevertheless, we keep traveling northwest till we arrive at ABC.
You can see a complete 360-degree view from Annapurna Base Camp, including Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Annapurna III, Machhapuchhare, and Annapurna South, all the way to Annapurna I, which stands at 8,097 meters (26,566 feet) tall.
You will be walking near many massive mountains on this journey, such as the Annapurna Massif (Annapurna I–IV), Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, Paungda Danda, and many more peaks rising between 6000 and 8000 meters above sea level. Because of the breathtaking grandeur of the surrounding snow-capped mountains, this may be the one day in your life that you never forget. The Base Camp is where we’ll stay the night.
Day 8: Trek from ABC (4,130m / 13,550ft) to Bamboo (2,350m / 7,700ft):
We’ve made our mark on ABC, so it’s time to go down. We will take a path that leads us out of the Modi River Valley and the Annapurna Sanctuary. We will finally get to Bamboo (2,350m / 7,700 feet), where we will have a peaceful break and end our day.
Day 9: Trek from Bamboo (2,350m / 7,700ft) to Jhinu Danda (1,780m / 6,393ft) and nearby natural hot springs:
We move on toward Jhinu Danda after making the exhausting trek from ABC to Bamboo the previous day.
We first follow a trail that descends to Kimrong Khola, after which we climb through peaceful forests of oak, bamboo, and rhododendron to arrive at Jhinu Danda.
Every year, hundreds of people flock to Jhinu Danda, an exotic location well-known for its calming natural hot springs, where we may unwind and ease our sore muscles. You may view the rich flora and rhododendron forest from the hot springs.
Day 10: Trek from Jhinu Danda (1,780m / 6,393ft) to Siwa/Ghandruk Phedi (1,150m / 3,770ft) and drive to Pokhara (820m) via Nayapul:
Today is the last day we will be spending on the trekking trails. We head along the plain dust road to the right of Modi Khola after leaving Jhinu Danda. The walk along this trek section is the most leisurely of the journey. We will say farewell to the trails at Siwa/Ghandruk Phedi after spending roughly three hours walking and then have a scenic drive to Pokhara. We are going to stay the night in Pokhara.
Day 11: Drive from Pokhara (820m / 2,690ft) to Kathmandu (1,350m / 4,450ft):
We catch a tourist bus early in the morning from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The 200-kilometer path offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and terraced farms as it first follows the Marsyangdi River and then the Trishuli River. After one final ascent by the bus, we finally reached Kathmandu, the trip’s starting point. We hope your journey was enjoyable and left you with enduring memories as your tour ends.
