Annapurna Base camp (7 Days)
Trip Overview
Overview
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a breathtaking adventure that takes you through the majestic Himalayas of Nepal. Nestled in the Annapurna Conservation Area, this trek is also a popular choice among nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Starting from Nayapul, the trek winds through lush green forests, terraced fields, and traditional Nepalese villages. The trail gradually ascends, offering stunning views of snow-capped peaks, including the magnificent Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and Hiunchuli. The diverse landscape also presents a mix of rhododendron forests, cascading waterfalls, and deep gorges, making each step of the journey a visual treat. As you continue your ascent, you reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp, surrounded by towering mountains on all sides. The air also becomes crisp, and the tranquility of the surroundings is awe-inspiring. From here, the trail leads to Annapurna Base Camp itself, located at an elevation of 4,130 meters (13,550 feet). Standing amidst the Annapurna Sanctuary, you take greetings by a panoramic amphitheater of snow-covered peaks that seem to touch the heavens. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is not just about the majestic scenery; it also offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture. Along the way, you encounter Gurung and Magar villages, where you can experience the warm hospitality of the locals and learn about their traditions and way of life. The trek typically takes around 7-12 days, depending on your pace and itinerary. It is also considered a moderate trek suitable for trekkers with a basic level of fitness. Teahouses and lodges are available along the route, providing comfortable accommodation and delicious meals, allowing you to rest and refuel for the next day's adventure.Conclusion and Summary
In conclusion, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a mesmerizing journey through the heart of the Himalayas, offering breathtaking mountain vistas, cultural encounters, and a sense of accomplishment. It is an experience that will leave you with lifelong memories and a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature.Trip Highlight
- Exploring Gurung culture and tradition with an overnight stay at Ghandruk Village
- Every day walk with nature
- Closers views of the Annapurna range
- Cover two base camps: Machhapuchre and Annapurna, within the same trek
- Overnight at the lap of the world’s 10th highest mountain, Annapurna.
- Relaxing in the natural hot spring in Jhinu Village
- A short drive from Samrung Khola to Pokhara, passing through various picturesque villages
- Explore the bustling urban centers of Kathmandu and Pokhara before your trek begins.
- Venture into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary to witness incredible natural beauty
- Meet friendly local villagers and learn about their culture in remote alpine communities
Itinerary
On the first day of your epic trek in Nepal, we’ll depart from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, following the Prithvi Highway all the way to Pokhara. Depending on your preference, we can travel by tourist bus or private Jeep—and you can even opt to fly between the two cities, at an added expense. If you prefer to travel by road, the route should take us approximately seven hours to complete. But this is no boring workday commute: our drive will bring us through some of Nepal’s most scenic and alluring rural landscapes. You’ll see how the terrain of the Kathmandu Valley gradually changes, rising to terraced farms of barley dotted here and there with traditional homesteads and finally giving way to the sheer alpine heights of the mighty Himalayas. When we arrive in Pokhara, we’ll get checked into our hotel and spend the rest of the evening exploring this charming lakeside city.
It’s time to start your Annapurna Base Camp Trek. We’ll meet up with our trekking team this morning, including the porters and guide who will lead you unerringly into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary. With our team assembled, we’ll make the short drive to nearby Nayapul before shouldering our backpacks and hitting the trail. Today’s hike makes for a gentle introduction to the rigors of trekking in Nepal, and the scenery here is splendid. We’ll cross gravity-defying suspension bridges, stand in the spray of roaring waterfalls, and marvel at the impossible heights of the Himalayas far above our heads. The frozen summits of Hiunchuli, Machapuchare, and Annapurna South will be especially prominent during today’s trek. After about four or five hours of walking, we’ll find ourselves arriving in the village of Ghandruk. We’ll get checked in at our guesthouse and enjoy a hot meal before turning in and spending our first night in the high Himalayas of Nepal.
Trekking in Nepal is all about enjoying superb views of the tallest mountains in the world, and our short Annapurna Base Camp Trek is no exception. As we depart from Ghandruk, we’ll make a brief descent to the Kimrung Khola River before beginning to climb in the direction of Chhomrong—and it’s here that we’ll earn a wonderful look at the soaring mountains known as Gangapurna, Machapuchare, and Dhaulagiri. These monumental summits will continue to tower over the trail during the course of today’s hike, peeking out from behind row upon row of forest-clad hillsides. While today’s continuous ascent may be challenging, we’ll take plenty of breaks to drink water and savor the marvelous natural scenery of the Himalayas. After about five or six hours of trekking, we’ll pull into Chhomrong just in time for a hearty meal at our teahouse or trekking lodge. Before getting some rest, you’ll definitely want to catch the unforgettable spectacle of the sun setting over the gilded peaks of the Annapurnas.
After a hearty breakfast and a steaming mug of tea, we’ll set off from Chhomrong and travel deeper into the heart of the Himalayas. We’ll use a suspension bridge to cross the Chhomrong Khola River, which will bring us to a steep staircase ascending through a lush rhododendron forest on the way to Sinuwa. When we reach the top, we’ll enjoy a spectacular mountain panorama that just might be the best viewpoint on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek so far. Moving on, we’ll pass through the little mountainside villages of Bamboo and Dovan before arriving at the Himalayan Hotel after about five or six hours of hiking. Also known simply as Himalaya, this community is little more than a small collection of guesthouses and restaurants—but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in hospitality. You’ll fall in love with the friendly people here, and our guesthouse accommodations tonight will make you feel right at home.
Are you ready for the final push into the Annapurna Sanctuary? We’ve still got some distance to cover, but today is sure to represent the highlight of your trek in Nepal. We’ll be visiting two separate base camps today: Machapuchare Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp. Our hike begins by following the glacial moraine as it approaches the Sanctuary. We’ll check in with the locals to make sure there’s no risk of an avalanche before continuing on to Machapuchare Base Camp, where we’ll enjoy up-close-and-personal encounters with the mighty faces of Annapurna I, Annapurna III, and Annapurna South. While this is an incredible sight, our trek has even more wonders in store for us today.
Moving on from Machapuchare Base Camp, we’ll trek for another few hours to reach Annapurna Base Camp itself. When you come face-to-face with the colossal Annapurna massif, you’ll quickly see how the mountain earned its reputation as a dangerous climb. The summit of this skyscraping Himalayan peak reaches to an impressive 8,091 meters in elevation. We’ll content ourselves with taking plenty of photos from the safety of the ground here, enjoying the adrenaline rush of accomplishing the goal of our trek in Nepal: reaching Annapurna Base Camp. We’ll spend the night at one of the lodges here at base camp.
Make sure to get up early this morning—there’s no more sublime sight on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek than what you’ll witness this morning. With a warm cup of tea in hand, you’ll be privileged to watch the sun break across the glorious natural scenery of the Annapurna Sanctuary. After breakfast, we’ll turn our backs to the mighty Annapurnas and begin to retrace our steps, trekking downhill amongst the extraordinary surroundings of the Himalayan mountains. While the path is always easier on the descent, we’ll set a slow and steady pace to benefit our knees on the many steep stairs we’ll be taking. After about five or six hours, we’ll reach the community of Bamboo and pick out the best available guesthouse for tonight’s accommodations. We can also trek a little further to reach Sinuwa, which offers slightly better mountain views—after all, this is your last full day of trekking in Nepal. Whatever your preference, you’ll be assured of a hot meal and a good night’s rest after today’s long hike.
Are you ready for the final stretch of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek? While it’s always sad to bid farewell to the mighty Himalayan mountains, we trust that you’ve had an incredible adventure while trekking in Nepal. The last leg of our journey should only take about two hours on foot; after that, we’ll catch a drive and return to Pokhara. When we arrive, we’ll get checked into our hotel and have plenty of time to relax before enjoying a celebratory dinner with our hiking team. While your short Annapurna Base Camp Trek ends here in Pokhara, we’d be happy to help you with any ongoing travel arrangements. Whether you need transportation back to Kathmandu or would like to further explore Nepal’s adventure capital, you’re in the right hands: the team at Friendship World Trek is standing by and ready to help. Thank you for choosing us to arrange your trek in Nepal!
Departures & Availability
The set departure dates listed are specially quoted and specified for group joining option. Let us know if the set departure dates are not suitable for you- another dates which are suitable for you can certainly be added by us.
Check Available Dates
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All trip prices are per person based on double occupancy, are subject to change without notice and do not include airfare. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars.
Price include
- Free International Airport- Hotel- Airport pick up and drop off by private vehicles
- Meals on a full-board basis (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner/ the main course) during the trek in the mountain.
- Friendship World Trek’s experienced, government-licensed, English-speaking trekking guide
- All salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transport, and insurance for the guide and porter
- All necessary papers including Annapurna conservation area permit and TIMS card (Trekking Information Management System) fee.
- Trekking equipment such as the Sleeping bag, and down jacket on request (optional)
- A strong local porter to help the trekker’s luggage during the trek (1 porter for 2 trekkers with limited weights ‘10kg each max’)
- Accommodations: 6- Night at the trekking lodges during the trek
- A handful- An assistant guide for a group of 8 pax or above
- A round-trip transfer (Kathmandu- Pokhara- Kathmandu ) by comfortable tourist bus.
- Private vehicle from Pokhara- Nayapul- Pokhara
- Supplementary snacks: energy bars, crackers, cookies, etc.
- Seasonal fresh fruits are dessert every evening after dinner.
- Appreciation of certificate after the successful trek.
- Farewell Dinner at a typical Nepalese restaurant with traditional shows
- Friendship World Trek’s complimentary free T-shirt, route map, and a duffel bag (if required)
- An oximeter to measure your oxygen and Pulse level during the trek in the mountain, it’s very useful for all the trekkers to be aware of the high altitude sickness.
- Compressive first aid box (Guide will carry it throughout the trek).
- Emergency rescue operation assistance will be arranged in case of complex health conditions (funded by your Travel Insurance)
- All government, Local taxes/ vat, and official Expenses
Price Excludes
- Nepal entry visa fees (you can easily issue the visa on arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu). $25 USD for 15 days Visa.
- Extra accommodation and meals behind schedule (Foods and accommodations before or after the trek)
- Extra drinks as alcoholic & non-alcoholic such as Fanta, Coca-cola, sprite, tea, water, beer, etc.
- Additional costs by out of management control due to the landscape, weather conditions, illness, changes in government policies, strikes, physical condition, etc.
- Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, telephone, WIFI, hot shower, etc at tea houses on a trek.
- Travel insurance has to cover emergency rescue evacuation from the high-altitude
- Personal trekking equipment for this trek
- Tips for guide, staff, and driver (recommended by culture)
- Any other expenses that are not mentioned in the Price Include section of this trek.
Gears And Equipment
TRIP INFORMATION
FOODS
Trek to the world’s 9th highest mountain is obviously an amazing adventure experience of a lifetime. However, the food on this trek is convenient and has a pretty wide selection of the food items on the tea houses menus which are originated and prepared by the local community of the Annapurna conservations area, the most common diet and hygienic meals of the region as given below,
Common Breakfast options – Tibetan Breads, Chapati with Cheese (dry bread- a local wheat bread), Oatmeal, French toast with jam, honey, and peanut butter, Corn Flakes, Hashed brown, fried, Scrambles, and boiled eggs, pancakes, porridge with milk, Muesli, Vegetable items and any kind of hot drinks are available except espresso, Americano
Common Lunch options – different variety of Thukpa (noodle soup), Dahl and Bhat (Nepalese local meal), Momos ( dumplings), Tibetan / chapati bread, Macaroni, Spaghetti, Sherpa Stew, a variety of soups, steaks, potatoes items, Sandwiches, Pizza, rice with curry, spring rolls, burgers and Pizza, yak steak and desserts items.
Common Dinner options– Momos (dumplings) different varieties of Thukpa (noodle soup), Dahl and Bhat (Nepalese local meal), Tibetan / chapati bread, Macaroni, Spaghetti, Sherpa Stew, a variety of soups, steaks, potatoes items, Sandwiches, Pizza, rice with curry, spring rolls, Raman soups, burgers and Pizza, yak steak, desserts items, hot and cold drinks are available on the menus on tea house, the menu’s selected meals are fresh and healthy with hygienic specialists by the mountain for the mountain trekkers.
At the tea houses, the menu has plenty of non-veg items mentioned but officially any of the meats are not on our list of recommendations because the meat in the mountain such as in high areas is not sanitary and healthy. However, we would like to persuade you to avoid taking meat, Alcoholic drinks, and smoking.
Desert and Snack options- Rice Pudding, Apple pie, fruit snicker/ Mars bar, popcorn, cake, pastries, etc.
Hot Drink options – Varieties of hot drinks like black/milk coffees, black/mint/ginger/Green/ lemon honey teas, hot chocolates, hot mango juice, hot oranges juice, hot pineapple juice, etc.)
DRINKING WATER ON THE TREK
The water on a trek is available at every trekking lodge or shopping shop along the way, buying a regular bottle of mineral water costs 1-3 USD per litter. Annapurna region has plenty of water sources to get the water as you can also refill the water from random taps or water sources, refilling waters from any of those sources is potable but it will be fine to drink with a Lifestraw or using the water purification pills – at least 2-4 L water per day is recommended to drink that keeps you hydrated.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodations on the mountain are simple in tea hoses/ Trekking Lodges. The rooms come usually in double occupancy with a wooden bed, blankets, mattresses, pillows, and attached bathrooms (not everywhere), and the view is spectacular from the rooms of mountain tea houses. Likewise, single rooms are available (except Himalaya and ABC) and they will be provided for solo female travelers.
We will ensure and accommodate you to the best available tea houses with great views of the mountain and sceneries during the trek
SAFETY AND SATISFACTIONS
SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY- NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF OUR CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEES.
This trek is a guided trip and you will be accompanied by one of the experienced and friendly trekking guides/ Sherpa who originally come from the mountain (same region) of Nepal, the guide will be carrying all the essentials equipment with a first aid kit for safety reasons; we would like you to take some of your own personal mediation on this trek. However, in emergency cases, if our clients have any trouble with mountain sickness or any unforeseen circumstances then we will always be standing by to send a rescue helicopter to bring our clients back to lower places or Kathmandu.
Note:During the trek, make sure you are always in the safe zone of the place wherever you are while trekking on the mountain because you may encounter a number of mules, yaks are carrying the suppliers for hotels, Yaks Donkey and Jokpa use for the major transportations in the Himalayas region, as we always need to be aware with them, and stay at the safe place, especially at the narrow section of the trail.
PASSPORT AND VISA
If you are traveling to Nepal you need to have a visa to enter Nepal. However, the arrival visa is available at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu where you can simply get an “On Arrival Visa” and you must enter Nepal within six months from the visa-issued date. Your total stay is counted starting from the day you enter Nepal.
You will be charged $40 USD as visa application fees for 30 days tourist visa to the forefingers except for Chinese and Indian. For those tourists who have Indian and Chinese passports then you do not need a visa (Free Visa)!
EXTRA PERSONAL EXPENSES
During the trek, all your foods are included in the package (Lunch, Breakfast, and Dinner with hot drinks), the foods will be served as per the package program and besides that, any personal and Barbier bills would be extra.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
For safety reasons, Travel insurance is mandatory for trekkers participating in any trek and tour programs in the mountains. Getting travel insurance, especially while traveling in mountain areas, is like security on which you can rely and enjoy your trip without any worries. We highly recommend getting good compressive travel insurance that covers things like emergency helicopter rescue, and medical evacuation expenses. It will be an assisted protection tour to cover personal injury, injury, and repatriation expenses, and any kind of illness will be covered. Having good travel insurance will not only guarantee you peace of mind while you travel with us but also provide you with complete coverage for anything that may go wrong.
PACKING LIST FOR ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK
The following lists are the essential trekking gear that is recommended for trekking in Nepal and all listed gear can also be bought easily in Kathmandu, Kathmandu has a number of shops selling the necessary clothes and gear for trekkers.
- A few pairs of Thermal tops
- Fleece jacket/pullover
- Windcheater – waterproof shell jacket one pair
- Down jacket -( It will be provided by the company if you do not have your own)
- Comfortable Fleece/wool trousers
- Trekking pants- at least 2 pairs
- Mittens/woolen gloves
- Warm Hiking socks
- Trekking shoes with spare laces
- Pair of flip flop
- Underwear & Swimming costume
- Hiking Cotton trousers/t-shirts
- Sun hat/scarf
- Sunglasses
- Sleeping bag -( It will be provided by the company if you do not have your own)
- Trekking poles (Not 100%)
- Day bag above 40 L
- 1 set- Headlamp
- Small lock for the day backpack
- Reusable water bottles- 2 letters
- Water purification tablets/ electric light
- Wash towel
- Toiletries (wet tissue, quick-drying towel, toilet paper, moisturizers, lip balms, sunscreens, sanitary pads, hand sanitizer, nail clipper, small mirror, toothpaste & brush, etc)
- Rain poncho
- Basic personal first aid kit
Annapurna Base Camp Trek 7 Days Route Map
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
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