Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill - 13 days

Best Time 

The ideal seasonal span of the year, during which anyone can undertake this Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Poon Hill, is the whole year, as it is an all-seasonal hike. However, the best seasons are Spring (March-April) and Autumn (October-November). The weather blends perfectly with the climatic conditions, bringing a temperature condition to hike in with less precipitation, i.e., low rainfall and snowfall. 

During the Spring, the whole Annapurna region is adorned with blooming rhododendron forests with many other wildflowers such as snow lotus,  primula, and oaks that bring a thriving colour of red and pink to the otherwise boring landscape. Not only that, as it is the time of the plantation season in the Himalayas, the views become even more pleasant where locals are engaging in the vegetation process of many crops, offering a unique insight into the journey. 

Speaking about Autumn, the hike during these months provides a meaningful cultural insight as the main festivals of Dashain and Tihar fall in October and November, when visitors can truly learn about how such rich festivals are celebrated in the remote areas. Besides, due to the smaller amount of snow/rainfall, the skies become pretty clear with unhindered views of towering mountains and lovely green hills. 

Lastly, if these 2 seasons don't fit into your holiday date, then you can surely opt for winter, as many people love to do the ABC Trek, somewhere between January and mid-December. The route becomes fascinating with snow-covered trails, perfect for someone who loves to build snowmen and also seeks a peaceful hike. Hence, the Ghorepani ABC trek can easily be done at any time of the year with proper planning and appropriate gear.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill Difficulty

The ABC Trek via Poon Hill falls under easy to moderately challenging trekking trails in Nepal, which covers two vantage points, one at 3210 meters, and another at the sanctuary itself, at 4130 meters. Although it is a high-altitude journey, this trip is neither easy nor too hard, and it doesn't include any hazardous sections or technical terrains, making it smoothly achievable with basic fitness and prior preparations by any group, and first timers as well. 

The first half of this combined trip visits the Ghorepani trail with the straightforward track along some stairs with several ascents and descents, of course! But it wouldn’t be a big deal. It doesn’t have an uneven terrain or a leg-trembling long-duration hike; however, it can be a bit challenging on the very first day, as you have to ascend towards Ulleri with a stone staircase and a continuous uphill terrain for 3-4 hours of hiking. If you have a basic level of fitness, then the distance coverage of 8 to 9 kilometres won't be an issue.

The second half goes for the Annapurna Base Camp trail after descending to Tadapani, where the trails consist of numerous up and downhills with some rugged, steep sections along the way. However, in the case of an inclined uphill walk, it is not difficult but surely demands some pre-preparation and a basic level of fitness. The terrain at the higher elevation passes through rough sections, whereas after hitting above 3500 meters, you might feel the rise in altitude gain, with thinning air, so make sure to follow the preventive measures from the very beginning of the trip.

All in all, this combined ABC Poon Hill Trek falls under a moderate adventure which can be done by beginners, families, walking along with kids, with proper preparations and comprehensive packing essentials, matching all seasonal variations.

Altitude Sickness

After crossing an elevation of over 3000 meters, altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is quite expected. Although the highest altitude that this trip reaches tends to be at 4130 meters, at the Annapurna Base Camp itself, the risk of AMS is relatively low. You might be concerned about why it is so.

Our Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill itinerary is set with a gradual ascent of only 200 to 300 meters per day, crafted by the pro expert team, where every day there is a significant rise in altitude, so we can gradually adapt to the rising elevation and ascend without facing the difficulty of AMS. Hence, the possibility of altitude sickness remains minimal, which is a major concern for every hiker, with slow and intellectual ascent, letting your body acclimate to such massive elevation gain.

Here are some of the preventive measures you should follow to avoid the risk of altitude sickness from the very beginning.

• Make sure to hydrate yourself with 3 litres of water per day, if possible. If that sounds too much, then have soupy food for lunch and dinner, which would help to nourish the body and avoid mouth dryness.
• If you are quite concerned or unsure about the AMS, then carry "Diamox", which alters the blood PH and increases respiratory rate, which is most effective for inexperienced hikers.
• Do not rush things and walk at your own pace, slowly adjusting to the elevation shift. If you feel any mild symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, nausea (feeling like vomiting), headache, dizziness (losing control or faintness), and most importantly, insomnia (feeling completely uneasy to get sleep), then please inform the guide as soon as possible. 
• Carrying ginger food items, such as dry ginger (found in markets) or ginger soup, makes the body warm and avoids the coldness of rising elevation.

Preparations

No matter how experienced or novice a hiker you are, preparations remain one of the crucial aspects for the Himalayan odyssey, to make it easy going and hassle-free, and it remains the same for this trek as well. What makes your trip successful is not only about your trekking guide or the agency arranging the requirements and logistics; it's all upto you, how well you prepare, before the journey starts. Here are some of the most important considerations and ways to be prepared for this excursion:

• Discuss your experiences, pace level, and preferences with the expert teams to tailor the dates, durations, and side trips that are comfortable for you.
• Start engaging in cardiovascular exercises, such as running, walking, cycling, or completing 10,000 steps per day, to set a basic fitness level and slowly build up your strength through workouts, focusing on legs and shoulders, which helps for long hikes. You can also do short hikes nearby on Saturday or Sunday, near your home, for 4-5 hours.
• Do a full body checkup, especially lungs and heart, ensuring that you can handle the high altitudes, thinning air, and take suggestions and guidelines from your trusted doctor.
• Do proper, comprehensive research about the trip, know about the trails, tea houses, terrain conditions, and keep realistic expectations accordingly.
• While packing the gear and equipment, rather than packing all the clothes, pack them lightly and only fit in what are essentials, according to the seasonal conditions.
• Before you leave for Nepal, leave your phone contact number, agency details, and itinerary with your day-to-day itinerary with your family or someone you are close to, for emergency communication.
• Get travel insurance, if possible, from your own home country, covering all essentials, such as medical expenses, injuries, theft, trip delays, cancellations, and most importantly, the helicopter evacuation up to 5000 meters.
• Before departing for the trek, address your health issues, any concerns, allergies to meals or anything, or anything related to health, with the trekking guide and the agency as well.
• Estimate the budget for personal expenses, for the drinks, extra meals, snacks, souvenirs, and carry the cash accordingly, estimating expenses on a day-to-day basis, and limit the cash; do not carry more than $500 (chances of theft or loss) for just personal spending on the trail. You can do the money exchange later in Pokhara, if required, after the trip concludes.

Foods and Accommodations

There's no doubt that the trail tends to serve every trekker with the best yet basic cosy lodging facilities. As the expedition is within a remote area from the beginning, the tea houses are simple but comfortable enough to accommodate.

In the lower areas, some rooms with attached washrooms and single bedrooms are quite manageable; however, moving to the upper trails crossing the Tadapan, the washrooms must be shared among all. It is impossible to manage the attached one in the upper section. Every room is hygienic and well-maintained, and comfortable mattresses, blankets, and pillows will be provided. 

For the food, the meal options consist of a variety of choices from Western, Indian, and Asian to local. This region caters to all the tastes and preferences of hikers across the globe. You just have to choose it, and it'll be prepared accordingly by the locals, considering your selection.

Our Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill package covers all the meals - Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with drinks such as tea, coffee, or anything you wish to have, and the lodges along the trekking trail, including 3-star-rated hotels in Pokhara and Kathmandu at the same time.

Travel Insurance

The travel insurance isn't mandatory, but you can include it on your must-do list for this expedition to secure your safety, and you can also hike along the trail without any problem, thinking about what would happen. What situations might occur? 

We are not saying that this journey is a dangerous trip, or that there is a high risk of altitude sickness, as such critical situations are quite low, but it is suggested just for safety, as the emergency medical services might cost thousands of dollars. Having an insurance policy that covers medical bills and helicopter evacuation helps a lot for you and us as well to manage the air evacuation (rare case) as soon as possible.

Trekking Permits

To do this combined trail, there are two permits required: firstly, the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), and secondly, the TIMS Card (Trekkers Information Management System Card), as this trail navigates through the protected area from the very beginning till the end. The permits can be obtained either from Pokhara or Kathmandu at the Nepal Tourism Board office. Once your booking is confirmed with us, the required permits and paperwork will be arranged by us soon after.

For this trek, you'll require the following permits mentioned below:

• ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) costs approximately NPR 3000 per person, i.e., nearly $27 for internationals, whereas for SAARC nationals, the price is relatively low, costing around NPR 2000, i.e., USD 18.
• TIMS Card (Trekkers Information Management System) costs around NPR 2000 for all foreign nationals - $ 18.

Travel Tips

1. Credit Cards and ATM services aren't accessible except in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Ghorepani, and Tadapani, so make sure to do a money exchange in the city area. If you have Dollars, Euros, and IC (Indian Currency) then you are good to go; otherwise, carry Nepali rupees, estimating the daily personal expenses.
2. Carry a waist-small backpack that fits all the basic items, such as gadgets, chargers, cash, medicines, and snacks, even if you hire a porter for emergency purposes and quick access.
3. If possible, try to bring an extra power bank to charge up the phone and camera, as some tea houses don't have electric sockets in the room. Yes! It is available in the dining area, but you have to pay $4-$5, depending on the charging hour.
4. Before starting the hike, create a proper diet chart in one notebook, mentioning your dietary plans and also foods that you are allergic to, so the meals are prepared accordingly.
5. For the WiFi, laundry facility, hot shower, and bottled water, the extra costs are charged by the tea house, so carry some cash if you need some extra services, like $5-$10 per day, depending on your spending.
6. Even though there are several tea houses along the trail, the price tripled up there. Buy quick snacks to grab in between the trek, such as granola bars, protein chocolates, Snickers, and instant noodles to munch on.
7. Do not miss out on bringing an oximeter (to check the oxygen level) and Aqua tabs to purify the water; although it is safe to drink, it is always better to do prevention rather than cure.- will be provided by us. 

Safe Booking Procedure

Every itinerary of ours is tailored to ensure that it fits your budget and time duration. Our Ghorepani ABC Trek is surely an opportunity that you don't want to miss. Hey! If you want to customise the package according to your timeframe and, of course, budget, then feel free to talk with us.

For the booking confirmation, you just need to deposit 10% of the total cost that has been mentioned above. Send us your passport photocopy and 2 photos, and you are just a few steps away from setting your footprint on the Annapurna Himalaya. For special group discounts or any clarification, you can contact us 24/7 at the mentioned details- Whatsapp/Viber +977 9851016914 or +977 985114681,4, email at [email protected].