Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Among the first few names that come up when we are talking about trekking and hiking in Nepal, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek commands awe-inspiring popularity and fan following amongst occasional hikers as well as serious mountain lovers. The Annapurna Massif has always been a thing of wonder to trekkers worldwide. Adventure enthusiasts who are moved by the nearly-magnetic attraction of the Annapurna Massif flock to Nepal each year to view this magnificent natural creation. The Massif houses some of the world's highest mountains, including the Annapurna I Main, which stands tall at 8,091 meters and is the world's tenth-highest peak.

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek holds a different place in the heart of each mountain-lover. For some, it is the curiosity to see up close the mountain that has the highest climbing fatality ratio amongst other 14 eight-thousanders, for others, it is the opportunity to soak in the sheer beauty and diversity of the Annapurna Conservation Project. Without much ado, let us explore every nitty-gritty about the ABC Trek. 

Why is the Annapurna Base Camp trek so popular ?

When you plan a trek to Annapurna Base Camp, it is imperative that you gather every relevant information about the trek. We will help you with a lot of relevant titbits so that you can plan accordingly.

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is an excellent opportunity to witness the giant Annapurna Massif in all its splendor. The Annapurna Massif contains one eight-thousander (Annapurna I Main) and thirteen more peaks over seven thousand meters! Lying across the north-central part of Nepal, this giant mountain-system has sixteen more peaks over six thousand meters high!

The Annapurna Massif is bounded by the Marshyangdi River on the north and the east, while the Kali Gandaki Gorge, considered one of the deepest of its kind, borders the Massif on the west. The Pokhara valley lies to the south of the Annapurna Massif. The Massif's western end encloses a lofty basin called the Annapurna Sanctuary- the home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. The entire Massif and the surrounding area are housed within the Annapurna Conservation Project, the largest in Nepal.

Annapurna I Main's steep south face makes it one of the most treacherous climbs in the world. The fatality-to-summit ratio is a staggering 32%!

Let's take a look at the perks that a trek to the Annapurna Base Camp offers.

Stunning mountain views

The ABC Trek is the perfect one to appease your appetite for the spellbinding mountain views. You can witness the Macchapucchre, Hiunchuli, and Annapurna South in all their splendor right from Gandhruk. The view of the Macchapucchre and other peaks dominate your trail till Sinuwa, and after you cross the forest at Deurali, the Fish-Tail Peak appears before you in all its glory!

The Annapurna Base Camp just overlooks the Annapurna glacier. From the base camp, you can take a close look at the Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Gandharvachuli, and Macchapucchre and fill your senses.

Close encounters with diverse flora and fauna

The trek to ABC takes you across a variety of vegetation. The trail from Gandhruk to Chomrong is full of rhododendron, bamboo, and fern. Once you cross Sinuwa and enter the Annapurna Sanctuary, the vegetation becomes denser, and oak trees dominate this region. As the altitude increases and you move towards Deurali, the thick forests make way for tall grass and thick-barked trees called Daphne- used for making paper locally. Slowly, the tree-line ends, and the terrain becomes alpine as you move closer to the Machhapuchhre Base Camp. Here, the dense vegetation gives way for sparse grass and patches of flowering plants amidst boulders and rocks.

The entire ABC Trek is housed within the massive Annapurna Conservation Project. The 7,629 square kilometer area is home to 1,226 species of flowering plants, 474 bird species, 102 mammals, 22 amphibians, and 33 reptiles, and you could come close to several such rare and beautiful species.

Getting up-close and personal with the Nepalese culture

The ABC Trek is one of those classic Himalayan adventures where your sole accommodation option will be tea-houses. Tea-houses are a hotspot of people from all over the globe who come to Nepal and embark on memorable treks. Besides interacting with other globe-trotters like yourself, you will also get a chance to be familiar with the ancient Nepalese culture and tradition.

The hospitality of the tea-houses and the humble yet tasty and refreshing platter of food makes up for the shortage of urban amenities.

How difficult is the Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

According to expert mountaineers and seasoned trekkers, the trek to Annapurna Base Camp is rated as moderate to difficult. Let's see why.

• The distance is one of the primary reasons this trek has difficulty assigned as moderate to difficult. You need to cover a formidable distance of 67 kilometers over ten days. It includes three days where you cover more than 10 kilometers. The longest stretch amongst them is the 15.5 kilometer one between ABC and Bamboo.
• The abrupt gain and loss of elevation also make the ABC Trek a moderately difficult one. When you start the trek at Komrong, you are a little above 2,200 meters. But then you have to rapidly climb and reach the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 meters. On the fifth day alone, the trail rises over 1,200 meters in elevation for more than 10 kilometers. It also calls for prior planning and reasonable practice.

Though the ABC Trek is rated moderate to difficult, you can brave it easily if you have appropriate training and adequate physical fitness. A prior experience of a Himalayan expedition or trek is an added bonus.

Best time to visit the Annapurna Base Camp

The best time to visit the Annapurna Base Camp will definitely depend on your purpose for the trek. It could be nature photography or clicking the climbers' pictures who attempt to summit the Annapurna I Main and other mountains. If such is the case, you should visit the ABC when the skies are sunny; the weather is pleasant and breathtaking views are customary.

The two favorable seasons for doing the ABC Trek are Spring/pre-monsoon and Autumn/post-monsoon. The pre-monsoon season stretches from mid-March to mid-May. Though the weather is primarily pleasant, the skies might often turn cloudy, and you could be a victim of the sudden rains.

On the other hand, most trekkers favor the post-monsoon season for the ABC Trek. The skies are clear, and witnessing exceptional views is common. End-September to mid-November is the best time to trek to the Annapurna Base Camp.

But if you are asking about the best month to embark on this expedition, it is undoubtedly October.

Some more adventurous souls often embark on the ABC Trek in January. But the temperatures are exceptionally low, and it ranges between -10 degrees celsius to -15 degrees celsius. It turns frigid, and the trail could be full of snow. The only upside is that the trail is far less-crowded during this time of the year, and you can peacefully enjoy the beauty of the Himalayas.

Gear guide and checklist for the trek to Annapurna Base Camp

Let's do a detailed analysis of everything you need to pack for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

Clothes:

If you are trekking during the peak season, you need to pack the following clothes for your adventure. A pair of lightweight hiking shirts, lightweight trousers, and half-pants, comfortable hiking underwear, thermals, lightweight down jacket, gloves, lightweight hiking socks, shorts, wind-cheater jacket, comfortable sports bra (for women), a pair of sunglasses and a nice, comfy sun hat will do it for you.

For your Spring/Autumn trek to Annapurna Base Camp, you don't need to pack extra woolen clothes. But you need thermals for the frigid nights.

Suppose you are trekking close to the Monsoon season. In that case, you must always carry a couple of full-sleeve trekking shirts, wind-proof and waterproof trekking trousers, Windstopper and waterproof jackets, a heavier down jacket, rain jacket, rain pants, and thick socks that repel leeches.

If you plan to trek during the Winter season, you should pack a warm shirt and trousers along with other layered clothing pieces. Carry lightweight woolen jumpers and fleece or wool trousers, sweaters, thermal underwear, heavyweight gloves or mittens, down jackets, woolen scarves, and caps.

Toiletries and hygiene products:

If you want to trek to Annapurna Base Camp successfully, you have to take good care of your health and hygiene. You should carry a basic first aid kit, water purification tablets, and few essential medicines that prevent acute mountain sickness symptoms.

The necessary toiletries and hygiene products include sunscreen, lip balm, face and body moisturizers, biodegradable soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, towel, shampoo, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, nail clippers, sanitary napkins, or menstrual cups (for women).

Toiletries will be hard to get in the mountains, and hence you should take the onus of maintaining your personal hygiene by carrying these essentials with you.

Essential travel documents:

The ACAP permit and the TIMS Card are the two most essential documents you will need in the ABC Trek. Apart from them, you should always keep your travel documents handy if you have to verify them at a checkpoint. These are passport, visa, air tickets, travel insurance, voucher, passport-sized photos, map and guide book, Nepalese currency, the ACAP permit, and the TIMS Card.

Basic electronics:

Though it might not seem like it, still, basic electronics are also essential for a trek. These contain your mobile phones, charger, power bank, plug adapter, headlamp, extra batteries, camera, and memory card.

Since the tea-houses encounter frequent power outages and charging your devices becomes costly as you move higher, you should concentrate on preserving charge by minimizing unnecessary usage.

Footwear:

Footwears are some of the most critical gears that you will need in a trek. Since walking over wet and slippery trails are common, your hiking boots should be sturdy, well-made, and water-resistant. Along with your hiking boots, you need to carry a pair of lightweight sandals for your time at the tea-houses or for those moments when you are not on the trail.

You should also carry 2 to 3 pairs of socks. Use lightweight, woolen socks. But if you are trekking during the Monsoons, you should wear thick, heavy socks to protect yourself from leeches.

Sleeping gear:

Sleeping gears are recommended for the ABC Trek because you might not be getting a really comfortable, warm bed at the tea-house where you are staying. Sometimes, the rooms lack insulation too, and it gets chilly at night. Carrying a sleeping bag with a hood and an insulated mat will keep you warm and comfy.

Extra gear:

Some extra items you could need for your Annapurna Base Camp Trek are trekking poles, water bottles, binoculars, earplugs, eye masks, and alarm clocks.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek itinerary

The ABC Trek's span is roughly ten days. You could save a day if you are really fast and adapt effortlessly to high-altitude conditions. Let's take a look at the itinerary.

• Day 1: You will arrive in Pokhara (820 m) and stay overnight.
• Day 2: It is officially the first day of the trek. You will first take transportation from Pokhara (820 m) to Nayapul (1070 m). Then you will trek downhill to Birethanti and cross the suspension bridge built over the Bhurungdi River. From Birethanti, your trail rises uphill. You will have to trek along the Modi river initially. Then your course starts winding up to Kimche and finally reaches the Ghandruk village (1940 m). The entire day's trek will take 6 to 7 hours.
• Day 3: You will leave the village of Ghandruk (1940 m) behind and initially trek along the Modi river before crossing a bridge at the Kimrong river. The trail rises steeply till the Gurung village in Chomrong (2170 m) after crossing the Jhinu Danda. At Chomrong, you will cross the bridge over the Chomrong river. From this place, you will hike to Sinuwa (2360 m), crossing a magical forest of bamboo, oak, and rhododendrons. This day's trek will also comprise 6 to 7 hours in total.
• Day 4: This day's trek starts on an effortless note as you trek from Sinuwa (2360 m) to reach Kuldhigar (2540 m). From this point, a steep staircase leads you to a suspension bridge crossing, after which you reach Dobhan (2600 m). The entire trail is lined by oak, bamboo, and rhododendron forests. You will hike across the valley to Himalaya (2920 m) and the Hinku cave (3170 m) to reach Deurali (3230 m)- your destination for the day. The day four trek also spans for 6 to 7 hours on average. You can stay at Deurali for a day more if you want to appreciate the natural beauty and witness the stunning peaks of the Annapurna Massif from a distance.
• Day 5: It is the most critical day of your trek as you start the final stretch towards the ABC. You will begin walking along the Modi river and reach Bagar (3300 m). From Bagar, you hike to the Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3700 m). You can spend some time at the MBC and witness some of the Himalayan peaks' most striking views. From the MBC, you will have to hike a little more to reach the Annapurna Sanctuary. From there, you will reach the Base Camp at Annapurna South (4130 m). The ABC will offer you a panoramic view of some of the highest mountain peaks in the world. The journey will span for 6 to 7 hours, and you need to stay overnight at the ABC.
• Day 6: You can spend some more time at the Annapurna Sanctuary and enjoy the brilliance of the Himalayas around you. After you are done spending time at the Annapurna Sanctuary, you will retrace your trails and reach Bamboo (2300 m) via Bagar, Deurali, and Dobhan. The downhill hike will last for 6 to 7 hours, and you will cross many waterfalls, caves, and rhododendron forests to reach your destination for the day.
• Day 7: The day will start from Bamboo (2300 m) and take you to Kuldhigar (2540 m) to visit the ACAP office. From this point, you will hike downhill. You will cross Sinuwa and the bridge over the Chomrong river to reach the Gurung village. From here, a steep downhill climb will bring you to Jhinu Danda (1780 m), where you can relax and unwind at the Jhinu hot springs after 6 to 7 hours of trekking throughout the day.
• Day 8: The day starts with crossing the bridge across the Modi river and several local settlements and forests to reach Syauli Bazar (550 m) in the Lamjung district. From here, the terrain becomes flatter. You will have to cross the suspension bridge built across the Bhurungdi river to reach Nayapul (1070 m). From Nayapul, the bus will take you back to Pokhara, where you will stay overnight.
• Day 9: You can unwind and relax for a day at Pokhara or check out of accommodation and take the transport back home. It is the end of an incredible trekking experience.

Getting fit for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek

For a long-drawn adventure like the ABC Trek, you should be prepared well. Since you are ascending to high altitudes and reaching 4,130 meters, it is essential to prepare in advance. You should be in the best of physical and mental shapes to enjoy the trek to the fullest. Your training regime should cover the following critical facets.

Aerobic training:

For multi-day hikes, you need to have excellent cardiovascular endurance. For this, you can light to moderately intense activities like swimming, running, cycling, and every other activity that gets your hearts and lungs proactive and guarantees a supply of fresh oxygen to your body for aerobic metabolism.

Strength training:

During hiking, you need to have strength in your upper body muscles and legs. While the former helps you carry weight, the latter carries your entire form throughout the trek. While you can train with gym machines like treadmills and elliptical cross trainers, you can also embark on short day hikes on uneven and rough terrain with some weight on your shoulders. You can consider increasing those weights gradually. Strength training will help you condition your muscles for ascending and descending on various terrain with weights on your back.

Altitude training:

It is essential to include some altitude training in your regime to avoid the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Still, if you get the symptoms, you should stop ascending. If the conditions become worse, then you should descend fast and get help.

You can mimic altitude training in your house by climbing the stairs as hard and fast as possible. Then you should descend at a steady pace as well.

Mental training:

Though trekking is a fun and recreational activity, there are times when your mind starts playing games on your body, and the entire experience becomes exhausting. You should be well prepared for surprising downpours, a radical change of weather, sudden gusts of cold wind, broken gear, blisters, etc. These kinds of situations might make you feel defeated and compel you to give up.

But the key is to have a steely resolve and not give up in these situations. Be optimistic, and always look forward to the more remarkable accomplishment that lies ahead. Pushing yourself in an adverse situation will help you achieve something more extraordinary and gather a rewarding experience in the end. So it is essential to prepare yourself mentally for the worst possible scenarios that are going to take place during the actual trek.