Annapurna Base Camp Trek

It takes around five to six hours by private vehicle to travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara on the Prithvi Highway, a route that follows the Trishuli River in green valleys leading to the west. Domestic flights whisk people over the same journey in about 25 minutes but are known for mountain delays and cancellations, so road travel will keep you to schedule if it is crucial that you make it on time. From Pokhara, it is an hour to Nayapul from where the trek into the Himalayas and its starting points are.

When you return on the final day, it will be by the same vehicle from Nayapul. For a cost of 160 USD, a helicopter return from ABC to Pokhara can be arranged if you choose to skip this part of the trekking.

This can take 20 min only and saves you walking just 20 odd KMs, a ride for less than 20 min takes out more than a day's walking. (This needs to be pre arranged, and your travel insurance should cover it).

Each teahouse on this route has its own restaurant and food quality is often more reliable than novice trekkers may anticipate. On most elevations, the regular offerings typically feature dal bhat (lentil soup, rice, a side of seasonal greens and pickle – the fuel of Nepal, which provides a welcome filling meal), noodle soup, fried rice, pasta, pancakes, porridges, omelettes and garlic soup (often touted as an aid for acclimatisation by many who have trekked in Nepal. There will always be vegetarian options on this trail and vegan trekking can be manageable above Chhomrong but not without some limitations, however all other teahouses will cater adequately to most diets.

Meat should be best avoided on most trails above the villages of Dovan and Himalaya; the logistics are complex, distances between settlements great and cold storage limited.

All of your meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) on the trek will be included as part of our itinerary, however the purchasing of drinking water will need to be taken care of by the trekker, as bottled, boiled & filtered water are the only safe options along the route and vary in cost.

Accommodation on the ABC route varies from deceptively cosy low down the trail to very basic but clean high up. Ghandruk and Chhomrong lodges offer attached or ensuite rooms and hot showers (solar or gas, most of the time) and nice clean rooms, most of which have twin beds. Above Chhomrong, entering the sanctuary, which is a progression of lodges (Bamboo, Dovan, Deurali, MBC and ABC), are more basic, featuring twin beds with thin mattresses, bathrooms down the hall (shared) and cold tap water, and warming up around a central kitchen fire at night rather than heaters in the rooms.

Most of us will pack sleeping bags down to -10C (14F), as it gets freezing up there even in the shoulder seasons, and the bed blankets vary a bit and don’t always seem like the cleanest things, even if the teahouse does provide some.

You should be able to charge your phone or any other gadgets at most teahouses along the trail – just factor in about NPR 100 – 300 per device at the higher reaches.

Two permits are required for this trek, and both are included in our package:

• ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): Issued by the Nepal Tourism Board or NTNC offices in Kathmandu (ACAP counter, Thamel) or Pokhara. Required for entry into the conservation area.

• TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System): Required for all trekkers in Nepal. Available from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

We handle both permits on your behalf before departure. Permit checkpoints are located at Birethanti (near Nayapul), at Ghandruk, and again at Chhomrong — inspections are routine and you will be asked to show both documents at each checkpoint. Keep them in your daypack, not at the bottom of your main bag.

The ABC trek is rated moderate. We do not need to do any climbing or use ropes/technical tools. All of the terrain from Nayapul to our base camp (and back) is a walking trail.

However, by no means is this trek a walk in the park.

Most days we walk five to seven hours and up to six to seven on our longer days (both up and down). The trail itself ranges from stone paved village path in the lower reaches, to a root tangled trail through the bamboo forests and finally to glacial moraine just below MBC. Perhaps the most physically challenging part of this lower route is the constant stone steps - there are thousands of them going both up and down the route which take a toll on knees. Bringing Trekking Poles is recommended.

Over the course of the entire trek the amount of elevation we gain is rather high, but no one day involves huge elevation gains.

Basic fitness, a bit of walking in the hill country and/or climbing stairs a week or so before departure, and the ability to pace ourselves more slowly is all that is required for most people to get to ABC.

The gradual acclimatisation. Time at Ghandruk (2,012m) and Chhomrong (2,170m) at either side of the sanctuary allows the body to adjust before the sharper altitude rises of Day 5 and 6. The vital acclimatising stop is Chhomrong - beyond it, the elevation quickly becomes steeper, and within the sheltered enclosure of the sanctuary, there is little but down if the symptoms are serious.

Beyond MBC (3,700m) most trekkers do begin to experience one or two of the symptoms of altitude sickness – a light headache, slightly labored breathing, loss of appetite.

This is standard practice, which often subsides with hydration and rest. The procedure for sleeping in the ABC itself (4,130m) is generally a few hours there followed by descending to a much lower altitude to sleep; for this reason our trek itinerary brings trekkers back down to Dovan or Himalaya (approximately 2,900m) to sleep. Top rule is to never sleep at the maximum altitude reached that day. Drink 2-3 litres of water a day, stay off the alcohol over 3,000m, and notify your guide as soon as possible if unwell.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a real possibility above 3,000 m and should be treated with respect, not bravado. Symptoms to watch for:

• Persistent headache that does not improve with rest or paracetamol

• Nausea or vomiting

• Dizziness and loss of balance or coordination

• Fatigue that is out of proportion to exertion

• Difficulty sleeping

• Shortness of breath at rest

If these symptoms appear, stop ascending. If they worsen over 12–24 hours rather than improving with rest, descend. Even a 300–500 m drop in altitude typically brings rapid improvement. Left untreated, AMS can progress to High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), both of which are medical emergencies requiring immediate descent and evacuation. Our guides carry a pulse oximeter and are trained to recognise the early signs of altitude illness. Helicopter evacuation from ABC and MBC is possible and is covered by most good-quality high-altitude trekking insurance policies.

Prevention strategies:

• Ascend gradually — this itinerary is designed to do exactly that

• Stay consistently hydrated throughout each day

• Avoid alcohol and sedative sleeping tablets above 3,000 m

• Eat enough at altitude even when appetite decreases

• Communicate with your guide if you feel any symptoms at all

Clothing

• Moisture-wicking base layers (top and bottom)

• Insulating mid-layer (fleece or down jacket)

• Waterproof outer jacket and trousers

• Two pairs of trekking trousers

• Warm hat and sun hat

• Lightweight gloves and warm gloves

• Buff or neck gaiter

• Trekking socks (4–5 pairs; merino wool recommended)

• Camp shoes or sandals for evenings at the teahouse

Trekking Gear

• Trekking boots, broken in before the trip (critical)

• Trekking poles

• 30–40 litre daypack

• Sleeping bag rated to –10°C

• Sleeping bag liner

• Headlamp with spare batteries

• UV-protection sunglasses

• Dry bags or waterproof pack liner

Personal Items

• High-SPF sunscreen (reapply frequently at altitude)

• SPF lip balm

• Insect repellent (lower trail, especially spring and monsoon)

• Hand sanitiser

• Small pack towel

• Earplugs (teahouse walls are thin)

• Reusable water bottle

Electronics

• Camera or smartphone

• Portable power bank

• Universal travel adapter

• Headphone or earphones

Documents

• Passport (original)

• Travel insurance policy and emergency contact number

• Backup copies of permits

• Emergency cash in Nepali rupees

Medicines

• Diamox (acetazolamide) — consult your doctor before the trek

• Paracetamol and ibuprofen

• Oral rehydration sachets

• Antihistamines

• Blister plasters and moleskin

• Personal prescription medications

• Basic first aid kit

Comprehensive travel insurance is not optional for this trek and should be purchased before your arrival in Nepal. The maximum altitude of 4,130 m places you well into the range where standard travel policies typically do not cover medical evacuation without a specific high-altitude trekking add-on. Helicopter rescue from ABC or MBC to Pokhara costs several thousand US dollars if you are not insured. Make sure your policy specifically covers:

• High-altitude trekking, confirmed up to at least 5,000 m

• Emergency helicopter evacuation

• Hospital treatment and emergency medical care

• Trip cancellation and curtailment

• Loss or theft of belongings

Read the policy document carefully before purchasing — many standard travel policies exclude trekking above 3,000 m unless an adventure sports rider is added. Carry a printed or downloaded copy of the policy and the insurer's emergency contact number at all times on the trail.

This is far more than just a ticked box on the travel agenda – the Annapurna Base Camp trek offers eleven days of truly authentic adventure – exploring local culture in Gurung villages, traversing thick rhododendron forest, descending on a glacier haven, which feels almost completely cut off from all that is world below, and offering you the most stunning, unhindered 360 degree view of some of earth’s most iconic mountains. Very few treks on this planet give so much diversity to its visitors within one trail.

Our home turf, the Annapurna’s… We at Nepal Adventure Holidays are based in Kathmandu. Our trekking guides hail from villages through which we’ll trek. So you understand when I say we know Annapurna region in every season and in every manner of weather! What that means for you… you will not be booked with another middleman company, you’ll be booking straight from the local team who will accompany you.

We’ve sorted every permit, city hotels, teahouse lodging, every single meal, transportation and even your guides from the day of your arrival in the country till the point you step onto your very first stone of Annapurna Base Camp. All we require you to do…is to walk! The spectacular views, the unparalleled experience awaits you. So when will we see you? We welcome you to begin the trip planning soon. Send our Pokhara team a quick call or email with your requirements and we will assist you further to custom make the trek according to the time that will suit your calendar and our team, we’d love to be the crew walking with you!!