Annapurna Base Camp Trek Blog

We have prepared this blog, Annapurna Base Camp Trek Blog, with one thought to give you the complete idea to plan this trek in 2023. To make it more precise, we’ve used the most searched queries about this trek on the internet.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a trekker’s favourite, which is why it has been Nepal’s most visited trekking destination in any given year. Embarking on this magnificent journey takes you to the proximity of the 10th highest mountain, Mt. Annapurna I. The base camp of Annapurna sits at 4,130 meters from where you’ll see 7-8 elegant mountains of the Annapurna range. It’s a trek to view the graceful mountains from a very close point.

Being one of the easy and comfortable treks, the 7 days Annapurna Base Camp Trek is best if you’re a novice trekker. You can even start this trek from Pokhara that completes in just five days.

We’ve covered considerable queries and topics like trek itinerary, safety, trek preparations, gears, trek cost, and more. With more pivotal topics on use, we’ve made Annapurna Base Camp Trek Blog more useful with valid info and tips for you.

Is Annapurna Base Camp Trek difficult?

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of the easiest to trek of all the high-altitude treks in Nepal.

The stone-paved hiking trails and thoroughly maintained routes make this trek route safe for trekkers. Also, there’s only one trekking route from Chhomrong that takes you to the base camp of Annapurna. Hence, there’s no associated risk of getting lost.

Even past Machhapuchhre Base Camp, at around 4,000 meters, the trekking route that leads to ABC Base Camp is less rugged. With a less strenuous trail, novice trekkers get an easy trekking experience.

The base camp of Annapurna sits very low, at 4,130 meters. Thus, trekkers don’t require any acclimatization stops to adapt well.

For these reasons, Annapurna Base Camp Trek’s difficulty is very low.

How long is ABC Base Camp Trek?

Your selection of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary makes a difference in trek distance and duration. 

If you drive from Pokhara to Jhinu and start the hike to the base camp, the total trek distance will be around 60 km.

But with different itineraries, like Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Ghandruk and Ghorepani, the trek distance can go past 110 km also.

There are many ways of reaching Jhinu before starting this trek.

Also, you can hike to Ghorepani, Poon Hill, and Tadapani and then start this trek from Chhomrong.

Thus, your itinerary shows the actual ABC Base Camp distance from Pokhara.

What are the number of trek days to Annapurna Base Camp?

The number of days to trek Annapurna Base Camp is not limited, but you can choose seven days, ten days, 14 days, and five days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary.

Upon starting from Pokhara, you can return to Pokhara after hiking to the base camp of Annapurna in just five days. With this itinerary, you’ll only walk on the standard Annapurna Base Camp Trek Route from Jhinu, Chhomrong, Sinuwa, Bamboo, Deurali, and the base camp itself.

But, if you want to explore nearby unique places like Poon Hill, Ghandruk, Hile, Ghorepani, and Tadapani, you can hike to these places first and then join the main trek route later. By trekking these places, you’ll add extra 4-5 days on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary.

We recommend that instead of hiking for just five days to the base camp and returning to Pokhara, touring the ethnic and scenic destinations around Pokhara and Ghandruk will be the best junket around Annapurna. The cultural and scenic blend of the trek gives you a wholesome Annapurna Experience.

Different Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itineraries

A Plethora of vantage points, culturally enriched ethnic villages, panoramic mountains, and beautiful sunrise & sunset make Annapurna Conservation Area unique. It’s why you can hike to various places before joining the main trail to trek to Annapurna Base Camp in 2023.

Ghandruk, Ghorepani, Tadapani, Poon Hill, Khopra Danda, Mardi Himal, Machhapuchhre Model Trek, and other popular trek destinations worth visiting before/after the five days ABC Trek.

Here on Annapurna Base Camp Trek Blog, we’ll give you a short outline of different Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itineraries. Also, we’ll try our best to provide you with a sneak peek of other Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost.

12 days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary

This trek starts at USD 900 per person. However, the cost lowers with large group sizes. Have large groups? We’ll help you with that. Email mailtoneptrek@gmail.com to learn more about price, details, and availability.

• Day 1: Drive/Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara (8 hours/ 25 minutes, 890 meters)
• Day 2: Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul. Trek to Hile (1.5 hours, 3 hours hike, 9 km, 1,430 meters)
• Day 3: Trek from Nayapul to Ghorepani (6 hours, 10 km, 2,840 meters)
• Day 4: Early morning hike to Poon Hill (3,210 meters, 3 hours). Walk from Ghorepani to Tadapani (4 hours, 10 km, 2,610 meters)
• Day 5: Hike from Tadapani to Sinuwa (7 hours, 9.5 km, 2,340 meters)
• Day 6: Trek to Himalaya from Sinuwa (7 hours, 6 km, 2,900 meters)
• Day 7: Trek from Himalaya to Annapurna Base Camp (6 hours, 10 km, 4,130 meters)
• Day 8: Return to Bamboo from ABC (6 hours, 12 km, 2,345 meters)
• Day 9: Trek to Jhinu. Hike to Hot Spring in the evening (6 hours, 7 km, 1,760 meters)
• Day 10: Trek from Jhinu Danda to Pothana (7 hours, 10.7 km, 1,990 meters)
• Day 11: Hike to Phedi (2 hours, 1,500 meters). Drive to Pokhara (1.5 hours)
• Day 12: Drive/Flight to Kathmandu from Pokhara airport.

8 days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary

From	To	Altitude	Time
Kathmandu	Pokhara, Ulleri	1,960 meters	8 hrs/ 25 min/ 4 hours
Ulleri	Ghorepani	2,874 meters	6 hours
Poon Hill, Ghorepani	Tadapani	2,650 meters	6 hours
Tadapani	Sinuwa	2,340 meters	7 hours
Sinuwa	Deurali	3,230 meters	7 hours
Deurali	ABC	4,130 meters	7 hours
ABC	Sinuwa	2,340 meters	6 hours
Sinuwa	Siwai, Pokhara	890 meters	4 hours/ 6 hours

Annapurna Base Camp Trek 7 days Itinerary from Pokhara

• Day 1: Take a drive from Pokhara to Jhinu via Nayapul. Trek to Chhomrong (2 hours, 2,150 meters). Overnight at Chhomrong.
• Day 2: Trek to Dovan from Chhomrong (2,500 meters, 5 hours). Overnight at Dovan.
• Day 3: Trek from Dovan to Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,740 meters, 6 hours). Overnight at MBC.
• Day 4: Hike to Annapurna Base Camp from Machhapuchhre Base Camp (4,130 meters, 3 hours). Overnight at ABC.
• Day 5: Return hike to Bamboo from ABC (2,310 meters, 6 hours). Overnight at Bamboo.
• Day 6: Hike to Jhinu Danda from Bamboo (1,780 meters). Evening hike to Natural Hot Spring for a relaxing bath. Overnight at the tea house in Jhinu.
• Day 7: Drive from Jhinu to Pokhara via Nayapul (3 hours)

Five days Annpurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary starting from Pokahra

From	To	Altitude	Time
Pokhara	Upper Sinuwa	2,350 meters	3 hours/ 4 hours
Upper Sinuwa	Deurali	3,230 meters	6 hours
Deurali	Annapurna Base Camp	4,130 meters	5 hours
Annapurna Base Camp	Bamboo	2,345 meters	6 hours
Bamboo	Jhinu, Pokhara	890 meters	5 hours/3 hours

How to prepare for Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

Even though Annapurna Base Camp Trek is moderate-grade trekking in Nepal, preparing for this trek is a must.

For each day on the ABC trekking route, you must hike for at least five hours. Walking for five days and around 8 km daily requires a certain level of physical fitness.

Cardio exercise is a must if you’re planning for Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Spring 2023. You can also prepare for Annapurna Base Camp Trek by participating in half or full marathons at least once or twice a month of this trek. Also, weekly short hikes help you to build up your stamina.

With adequate preparations, you can hike up to the base camp of Annapurna.

Is Annapurna Base Camp Trek safe?

Yes. Annapurna Base Camp is 100% safe for trekkers. For both individual trekkers and the agency with a guide, all trekkers are safe any time of the year.

Having said this, certain factors still make it risky trekking. Avalanches and landslide-prone areas on the trekking route to the base camp put trekkers at risk during monsoon. Hence, Annapurna Base Camp Trek in June, July, and August is not the best time.

There’s nothing like the theft and robbery of trekkers in ABC Trek. Even individual trekkers can hike without worrying about theft and robbery.

We recommend you book this trek with a local travel agency to be under the supervision of a professional trekking guide.

What are the gears to pack for Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

A medium-lightweight backpack is enough for five days of Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Even if you’re looking for a longer itinerary of ABC Trek, you can complete the trek with a medium-lightweight backpack.

For Upper Body, you can carry T-shirts, fleece, Windstopper, Parka, multiple layers, and a down jacket. It would help if you also put on a woolen hat and neck muffler, especially for high altitudes like Deurali and the base camp.

For the lower body, you can carry pairs of half pants, quick dry pants, trekking pants, socks, trousers, thermals, knee caps, etc. As you’ll be taking hot water showers even at the base camp, it’s better to carry some pairs of underwear.

A decent trekking boot, pole, hat, water bottle, thermos, sunglasses, binoculars, camera, headlamp, and other gear becomes handy while hiking.

Read our essential Annapurna Base Camp Trek backpacking blog for a full backpack for Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

What is the altitude of the base camp of Mt. Annapurna?

Annapurna Base Camp sits at 4,130 meters altitude, making it one of the low altitude seated base camps of 8,000 meters peak, Annapurna I.

Jhinu sits at 1,700 meters, Chhomrong sits at 2,140 meters, Sinuwa sits at 2,300 meters, Bamboo sits at 2,310 meters, Deurali sits at 3,200, and Machhapuchhre Base Camp sits at 3,700 meters.

With these altitudes in mind, you can plan your Annapurna Base Camp Itinerary and prepare for the trek wisely.

Is Annapurna Base Camp Trek best for beginners?

Yes. Annapurna Base Camp Trek is among the best treks for beginners. Apart from multiple day hikes, it’s an ideal trek for the best views of the Annapurna mountain range.

It’s the low-altitude seated base camp of an 8,000-meter tall mountain. It’s why trekking here is almost free from getting altitude sickness.

The stone-paved stairs and well-maintained trekking routes here offer a comfortable hiking experience. However, the stone-paved stairs of Chhomrong often make you feel tired.

Moreover, every tea houses on ABC Trek route offer modern amenities. The wider varieties of meals, twin sharing rooms, electricity, internet, and hot water shower are absolute for trekkers.

Many beginner trekkers take ABC Trek as preparation for Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, and other high-altitude trekking in Nepal. Hiking here gives them an idea about high-altitude terrain, fitness level, mental strength, and what to expect while trekking in Nepal.

Can I trek Annapurna Base Camp Solo in 2023?

It’s an absolute NO. It may sound unacceptable to every Free Individual Trekker who plans solo trekking in Nepal.

From April 1, 2023, the Nepal government has mandated that only foreign nationals can trek in Nepal with a trekking guide. A licensed trek guide from a licensed local agency is a must if you want to trek to Annapurna Base Camp. Not only ABC Trek but every trekking destination have made trekking guides mandatory.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek was a hub for free individual trekkers in the past. It was among Nepal’s most hiked destinations by solo trekkers. The accessible trekking routes, affordable tea houses, and no need for trek guides were why FIT benefited from trekking here.

However, with the change in trekking policy in Nepal, there’ll be no more Free Individual Trekking. And it implies Annapurna Base Camp Solo Trekking as well. You just can’t.

Is Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost expensive?

There are four to five different Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itineraries that you can plan. So, your ABC Trek Cost depends on what Itinerary fits your preference.

If you want the 14 days ABC Trek, it can cost around USD 1100. However, increasing the number of trekkers in groups can get you this trek at lower costs. The ABC Trek 7 days Itinerary costs you around USD 900. Starting from Pokhara, the shortest, five days Annapurna Base Camp Trek costs around USD 300.

If you want to customize the Itinerary of your preference, you can have your handpicked Itinerary for ABC Trek. However, with further customization, the overall cost of the trek can go high.

Read our Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost blog to know the overall cost of this trek.

What is the best time for Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is best when the landscapes become vibrant, clear, and unobstructed. The multicoloured rhododendron blossom, paddy farmlands of lower temperate regions, and snow-topped Annapurna mountains are the attractions of this trek. To experience these aesthetes, Spring and Autumn are two ideal months. However, excluding monsoon months, ABC Trek is doable even during the winter.

The early Spring can be when you can witness the snow-covered mountains. Also, the terrain past Deurali, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, and the entire landscape gets blanketed with thick snow. The colourful forest of Chhomrong, Sinuwa, Dovan, and Bamboo makes your Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Spring the best.

The mild temperature, crystal clear viewing, and rain-free days are best in Autumn, from September to November. An added awe-struck glimpse of the Annapurna mountain range makes it the best time for Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

Due to these favourable conditions, tea houses during Autumn and Spring on the ABC Trek route get filled with trekkers. Early Autumn is the best if you want a peaceful hike with less trekking on the trail.

Not recommended time for ABC Trek

We don’t recommend you plan your ABC Trek in Summer.

June, July, and August are three summer months in Nepal. These months are rainy, and trekking becomes a nightmare and trouble-filled.

A few sections in Annapurna Base Camp Trekking are prone to avalanches. Also, the trekking routes become slippery during the rainy days. Moreover, bugs, mosquitoes, and leeches bites make the trek even more challenging.

Not to mention, the clouds and fog cover entire landscapes, thus ruining the conspicuous viewing experience. It’s also when most tea houses get closed due to lesser trekkers.

Is the base camp of Mount Annapurna snowy in March?

Yes. Annapurna Base Camp remains snow-covered in early March. The daytime temperature averages 15 degrees or less and drops below freezing during nighttime. Also, frequent early spring rain can cause snowfall leaving Annapurna Base Camp snowy in March.

The winter snow in Annapurna Base Camp past Deurali remains till mid-March. At the base camp, the snow even deposits till early April.

Hence, if you want to visit snow-filled Annapurna Base Camp, March can be your month. Remember to wear warm clothes and a decent sleeping bag to sleep warm overnight at the tea house.

Find our Annapurna Base Camp Trek Blog useful? Learn more about different elements of Annapurna Region Trekking.