Annapurna Base Camp Trek - 11 days

Best Time to Trek Annapurna Base Camp

The ideal seasons for the ABC Trek, stands out to be Spring starting from March to May, and Autumn, from September to November, due to stable weather conditions and clear scenic views throughout. The chances of precipitation remain low, which makes the surrounding mountains and landscape insights not gloomy and completely visible in each stride. Temperature usually ranges between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius during the day, and may drop upto only -5 degrees Celsius at night, providing a chill day hike and cosy nights at high altitude. 

Spring is usually known as the colorful period, where the whole green valley thrives in the red and pink rhododendrons, with the backdrop of the landscapes and gigantic peaks. As the winter has just come to an end, the air is fresh, and the terrain gets dried out by mid-March, contributing to the navigation being smooth and easy. During the Autumn season, the trail experiences a heavy influx of trekkers, both domestic and international, as Nepal's major festivals, Dashain and Tihar, fall between mid-September and October. The landscapes become prettier with the golden leaves, and one can also witness local harvesting and engage in agricultural work. It can be the perfect span of the year to explore the Annapurna region for those who want to learn about local livelihoods, festivals, and authentic cultures.

This journey can be done during monsoon and winter as well, even though it is called the off-season period, as it does not include any harsh or technical navigation. However, these seasons are only suggested for experienced trekkers, as during this time, the trail experiences heavy rain and snowfall, making the route icy and slippery with the possibility of avalanches and route blockage, levelling up challenges. Careful planning, comprehensive preparations, and packing are a must to tackle cold, freezing temperatures and difficult terrains within this time frame.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Difficulty

Annapurna Base Camp falls under the category of a moderate trekking route, which is not strenuous or demanding compared to other high-altitude or base camp adventures in Nepal. In fact, it is an all-rounder trek that can be commenced by any age group or beginners with proper preparations. The trail is well maintained, does not possess any mountain pass crossings or technical sections, demanding a moderate pace of 4-6 hours daily walk. However, there are some difficulties that some trekkers might face, such as distinct terrain navigation, altitude gain, intense climate change at high altitude, and being unable to adjust to remote areas. 

Soon after reaching the starting point, the Annapurna region, the trip traverses through dense forest areas, and as the day passes by, it changes into a rocky, rugged, and steep section, especially above Chhomrong. The walking distance isn't the most challenging part, but it is the intense change in surroundings and thinning air that may make some people worry and panic. Those who have prior experience can easily reach the summit, the highest point, 4130 m, with no hassle, but those who are new must consider prior preparations, training, and do some research on what to expect along the route.

Altitude Sickness

There's no doubt, when heading to the mountain areas, there is always a certain risk, circulating 24 hours, unlike city areas, the environment there is unusual, from what we experience with the basic, limited rescue amenities as well. The most crucial thing to consider during the trek is the risk of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), as in every adventure, it is quite expected, no matter whether you are a beginner or an experienced hiker.

Meanwhile, if you are panicking about whether you could get one, do not settle back, as this itinerary is set with a gradual ascent without going over the board with 500 meters maximum elevation gain of the rising meters, ensuring the possibility of AMS remains low. Besides, our team will be there with you to assist you, throughouly constantly, taking care of you.

However, apart from that, one must follow several preventive guidelines to minimise the risk or avoid the risk of altitude sickness. Here are useful tips that we highly suggest from past experiences:

• Make sure that you stay hydrated throughout the journey, with 4-5 litres of water per day. If that sounds too much, then follow the substitutional process, like having soupy items, fruits, or noodles, which avoids the dryness of the mouth.
• While taking a higher ascent, do not rush yourself out, and take a slow uphill walk. Sometimes, what happens is that hikers get overexcited or nervous, speeding their climb. Walk slowly and breathe slowly; don't try to speed up your pace.
•  Avoid consuming hard drinks, caffeine, or smoking cigarettes, as they can make you out of breath and also make the body dehydrated, leading to severe altitude sickness.
• If you aren’t allergic to ginger items, then remember to carry dry ginger (available in every mart) and consume ginger soups in the evening. It helps to warm the body and energise the muscles.

Accommodations during ABC Trek

The Annapurna Base Camp is a popular trailhead for trekkers, as hundreds of visitors pass by the track each day. There are many tea houses and lodges available, so you don’t need to worry about lodging.

The lodging in this area is simple and includes sharing or attached bathroom, comfortable mattresses, cushions, and pillows, but extra charges are added regarding Hot water buckets, wifi, laundry, and charging. Although the tea houses are not so fancy as all are operated by the locals here, you'll get a comfortable stay. In lower areas, single rooms are readily available in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the trekking regions, but finding them becomes difficult at higher altitudes as lodges are limited throughout the trailheads.

Your comfort and stay throughout the trip are guaranteed by the organisation, whereas you don’t need to worry about pre-booking and safety at lodges. We'll accommodate you in the best lodges in the region and try to manage a single room for every stay. But do not expect this in the higher regions, as there are only a few lodges available.

Meals and Drinking Water

The package covers 3 standard meals throughout the expedition, with a cup of tea or coffee. Along the trailhead, you can find a wide range of foods from traditional foods to international cuisines like Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan that cater to the taste of every visitor.

On the breakfast menu, a wide range of food options are available, like Tibetan bread served with veg curry and boiled eggs, Roti (Indian Chapati), Fresh toast with butter, jam, and omelettes, Oatmeal items, and hot porridge. On top of that, here you’ll also get hot chocolate, espresso, and an Americano, which just gives a perfect kick to heat the body before starting the hike.  

For Lunch and Dinner, you get a variety of traditional Nepalese cuisines and Tibetan local cuisines like Thukpa (made of noodles and vegetables), non-veg momo, or Spanish Momo, that you surely don’t want to miss out! Other options like Ramen, Spaghetti, Fried rice, non-veg and veg curry, dry meats, Thenduk, momo, Pizza, Burgers, and Spaghetti are served. Sounds appetising, right?

While having dinner, take advantage of the dining area seating. Here you can enjoy the heater made out of clay (a traditional heater of the Himalayas), providing warmth to such cold altitudes. So, make the best of this. We recommend you have dal bhat before the trek, as it is a nutritious food that allows you to continue the trek with a happy tummy.

Throughout the trail head, the natural water sources are available; however, as foreign hikers or beginners might not be used to the himalayan natural untreated water, it might not be safe, with the high possibility of an allergic reaction. So, to avoid such conditions, you can consider drinking hot boiled water from the tea houses, on a kettle basis, with small fare, and use a water purification tablet to purify the water as well.

We do not suggest buying bottles, promoting sustainability and the protection of the Annapurna Conservation Area, so it is best if you drink hot boiled water, which is clean, hygenic, and safe to drink as well.

WIFI, Network, and Communication 

Every tea house has the accessibility of WIFI, which you can connect to at the dining area (higher section), or even rooms, upto Chhomrong; however, the WIFI coverage works great, while covering the Ghorepani poon hill route, as it is on the lower elevation side, and stands out to be more facilitated. At the peak season time, due to huge traffic and only limited coverage, the wifi might not be stable in the rooms; however, it connects well to call back home and use social media. For the wi-fi as well, an extra cost is charged between USD 2 and USD 4 at the upper trails, due to limited availability.

On the other hand, for the mobile network coverage, the signals are not consistent at the higher altitudes, as you go deeper into the sanctuary; meanwhile, it runs smoothly in the lower terrains, in fact, on a 4 G / 3 G basis. Just make sure to purchase an NTC (Nepal Telecom) SIM CARD if you do not have any Nepali SIM cards, as it performs effectively compared to others. 

Besides, the lodges also have a telephone call booth, or satellite phones for emergency cases, so do not worry! Either way, you will not find any communication issues throughout the journey, as there are always alternative options.

Electricity and Charging Facilities 

As the trekking route is quite remote and a high-altitude tea house, it has limited facilities for electricity and charging, so do not expect a quick and exceptional service when it comes to charging sockets and electricity, as it is run by solar energy.

While at the lower trail, the charging plug is attached in the room itself; as you ascend higher, above 3000 meters (Chhomrong), it is only available at the dining area, where you have to wait in a queue to get your gadgets charged, paying an extra fare of USD 3 to USD 5, depending on the lodge.

Even though every, lodges, do include such rechargeable accessibility, waiting in line might be frustrating for some, so it is advisable to bring a powerbank (20,000 mAh), to get your batteries, mobiles, cameras, etc., charged in an emergency.

Whereas, as for the electricity, as the weather changes drastically, at the high points, the power availability sometimes might get affected, due to inconsistency of the sunlight, and all the lodges largely depend on the solar panels, so it is better to carry a powerbank, one extra as well, for such emergency cases.

Transportation 

For the transportation facilities, you will be provided with all the in and out services soon after you land here in Nepal. Even though this trip doesn't include your arrival date, it's your own choice, when you want to arrive here and explore the Kathmandu valley beforehand, you will be received at the airport via private vehicle, and dropped off at the hotel directly and same remains during your date to returning to home, where you will be transferred to the hotel with the assistance of the airport representative. This airport pick-up and drop-off is not included in the cost; hence, we provide it as a complimentary service for your ease and comfort.

Meanwhile, to reach Pokhara for the Annapurna Base Camp Trekking, a comfortable sofa-seated tourist bus with AC will be provided from Kathmandu to Pokhara, whereas, from Pokhara (PKR), to reach Ulleri, a private jeep is used, rewarding hikers with a 2-hour scenic view. The modes of transportation remain the same to return via private jeep from Siwai to Pokhara and a comfy sofa tourist bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Note: You can upgrade transportation to a flight mode of transportation as well, at an additional cost of USD 100 to USD 130 per head. We can arrange the air transportation happily, or any other private mode of transit, as per your request.

A Typical Day during Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Every day the trip can be a little different from yesterday's due to weather conditions, changes in landscapes, and your overall mood and physical fitness. All breakfast meals are served at 7 am in the teahouses or lodges where you spend the night. The breakfast options will typically include porridge, along with eggs, bread, and tea or coffee.

Once you hand your bags to the porter, he quickly goes ahead before the rest of your group follows. During our trail hike, we stop at a teahouse to eat noodles or Dal Bhat as our main lunch meal. It is essential to eat proper meals and stay hydrated for well-being throughout the ABC Trekking route.

The trek duration spans between 5 and 7 hours daily. The trek requires a decent fitness level to make walking more comfortable, but it can be done by everyone with patience. The guide will point out important sights and give you cultural insights while you enjoy the surroundings. Please inform your guide if you experience any health problems so he can assist you. Most important of all, take time to admire the breathtaking mountain peaks that tower above you. 

We will reach our lodge to enjoy hot or cold drinks before proceeding to dinner. Bedtime is early, and we suggest limiting your alcohol consumption throughout the adventure. Also, before taking a nap, do not miss out on playing UNO, playing Nepalese instruments such as the Madal and Flute (Basunri), and singing songs while mingling with locals and fellow hikers.

Guides and Porter

Even though ABC Trek can be done without a guide, legally, as there are no such restrictions about solo trekking not being allowed at the trailhead, we highly suggest you hike with an experienced registered guide. If you are wondering why, then these two reasons make your navigation with a licensed guide a must-do adventure. Firstly, having such an experienced partner, who will assist you throughout the journey, ensures that you are hiking via the safest route, covering every highlighted aspect of the Annapurna region. Secondly, they are medically trained as well, which means they follow emergency protocols intelligently and take immediate action if any unfortunate situations arise en route. 

Our Annapurna Base Camp Trekking package covers an experienced licensed English-speaking guide and all his expenses throughout the journey; hence, there is no additional cost required to hire guides, excluding the tipping factor, which is expected as a respect for their hardships. They are highly experienced with more than 10+ years of experience and are locals, being medically equipped as well; hence, your safety and comfort are highly taken care of. Meanwhile, if you want a porter, then you can hire one by adding a cost of USD 20 to USD 25 per day; one porter can be shared between 2 hikers, where a 22 kg backpack can be carried by him, which means 1 porter can be shared between 2 hikers.

Trekking Permits

To trek to the Annapurna Base Camp, one of the most crucial aspects that every trekker must consider is obtaining the required permits for this adventure trail.

To trail along this protected area, there are basically two permits required: firstly, the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), and secondly, the TIMS Card (Trekkers Information Management System Card), which can be obtained from either Kathmandu or Pokhara, as well, depending on the starting point of the trip.

While, as of now, as per the 2026 update, the TIMS Card is not required, which used to cost approximately $ 18 for foreign nationals, and only $ 3 per head for the SAARC nationals. However, the requirement of the TIMs varies, every month, or on a seasonal basis, so it's best if you check the recent update for the information.

At present, the only required permit is the ACAP, NPR 3,000 (approximately $27) for foreigners. NPR 1000 (approximately $9) for SAARC countries. The permit fee goes directly to the protection of the wildlife, boosts the local economy and projects, and goes into the upgrade of the trail, and also keeps track of the inflow and outflow of the hikers, ensuring safety from the very first, along with sustainability.

After your booking is confirmed with us, we at Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition arrange both essential permits and paperwork. Just make sure to send us your valid passport photo and recent photograph, and while at the trailhead, these permits must be with you throughout the trail.

Booking procedure

Do not wait any longer for the epic adventure of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and book a spot now! To make things easy, we provide everything you need for the trip, including food, lodging, transportation, permits, and expert guides (all of their permits, food, insurance, and so on).

You can email us at info(a)destinationhimalayatreks.com for the booking confirmation, or you can phone or message us on WhatsApp at +977 9851016814 with any questions. For the payment, you can directly pay through our website or simply transfer the advance payment. To manage everything, we just deduct 10% of the entire fee; the remaining sum may be paid after you get to Kathmandu. 

Last-minute booking

Destination Himalaya Treks and Expedition helps us to book your last-minute trek during peak season with ease. You must pay 100% to confirm the last-minute booking since we need to pay for a guide, along with porters, and accommodation in advance to ensure your trip. You can get more information through our WhatsApp or Viber at (+977 9851016814) and also email directly to us at [email protected].

Tips

• Make sure to withdraw sufficient Nepali rupees from banks in Kathmandu or Pokhara ahead of your trek because ATMs are not available during the trek. The teahouses accept Nepalese cash only.
• Get a local SIM card from Ncell or NTC in Kathmandu or Pokhara to use during emergencies, as these providers supply sufficient network coverage throughout the trek. You can connect with your friends and family, though coverage may be limited at high altitudes.
• Make sure to keep drinking water throughout your trek to prevent dehydration. You can bring a reusable water bottle with a 2-3 litre capacity and refill it in teahouses and use filtration tablets to ensure the water is safe to drink.
• You will need a portable high-capacity power bank or charger when planning to use your phone or camera. Remote areas often lack reliable charging facilities at teahouses, despite some locations providing power sources.
• Even though there are several tea houses along the trail, the prices are very high. Buy quick snacks to grab on the trek, such as granola bars, protein chocolates, and instant noodles.
• Carry only the necessary trekking equipment to keep your backpack lightweight. A fully necessary trekking kit should include layered clothes, proper boots, a sleeping bag, and essential products such as sunscreen, lip balm, moisturisers, and required medications. 
• Make sure to carry an oximeter and check your pulse rate through the oximeter (given by us). If it goes lower than it should, then inform the guide immediately.