Rich Gurung culture and hospitality will breathe life and culture into your journey. Enjoy a diverse fauna, green hills and the snow-clad mountain peaks as you put one foot in front of the other. Visit local Gurung Museum at Ghandruk. Mt. Annapurna (8,091M) is the 10th highest mountain in the world. We stand at an altitude of 4,130 meters at its base camp. Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of the most sought after trip in Nepal.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Elevation Map

As you will see below, we will start our trip at the comfortable altitude of 1400 meters in Kathmandu. Pokhara has average altitude of 800 meters. At Ghandruk, we will break the record of Kathmandu. After that, we will gain ascent of 3700 meters and 4100 meters at the Base Camps of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna respectively.

The descend is more gradual and faster than the ascent. As you can see, we are already at the height of 1200 meters at Jinudanda. After that, we descend further as we reach Nayapul and Pokhara.

When people speak and hear “Annapurna”, they are normally imagining a massive peak looming over them. However, Annapurna defines an entire region worth of hills, mountains, rivers, valleys, people and their culture. Annapurna fosters a rich civilization with its fertile lands and abundance of water and minerals. In fact, the name Annapurna origins from Sanskrit and means “The Goddess of Harvests”. Buckwheat, potatoes and rice are commonly grown crops. And naturally pine, oak and rhododendron decorate the hills.

What’s Annapurna Base Camp Trek feels like?

Catch the first glimpse of Annapurna and Machhapuchhre from Pokhara itself. The scene is mesmerizing specially from across the Fewa Lake. From Nayapul, the trek officially starts. The first stop, Ghandruk, provides a great insight into life in the hills, and the native Gurung Culture. They are known to be very hospitable, simple and elegant. Enjoy stunning view of the mountains as you move forward. Travel faster between Kathmandu and Pokhara on a domestic flight.

Non-natives know Machhapuchhre by it’s nickname – the Fishtail Mountain. This is because the peak starkly resembles the tail of a fish. We will also witness other famous peaks in the Annapurna Range. However, Machhapuchhre and Annapurna dominates the landscape most of the time.

Best time for Annapurna Base Camp Trek- weather and climate

There are four main seasons in Nepal, and trekking activity is mostly enjoyed during Spring and Autumn. Annapurna Base Camp Trek can be done in all the weathers, except extreme rainy (June/July) seasons. It’s also possible to do this trek in winter but foggy weather will likely disrupt the views. However, there is more snow and early/late winter is also a great time to travel to the Base Camp.

The route and logistics

The route to Annapurna Base Camp Trek is quite different from Annapurna Circuit  but both routes lies in ACAP areas project. Starting from Nayapul, we head towards the villages of Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Machhapuchhre Base Camp and finally to the base camp itself. On our way back, we resort at the hot springs available in Jinudanda for a natural hot bath. The trip is graded as moderately difficult, and requires 4 to 6 hours of walking everyday. You reach the altitude of over 4000 meters when you reach the base camp. We organize food, logistics, trekking permits and all necessary transfers for you in this trek. You can relax and just focus on the trekking experience!

Safety and Insurance for Annapurna Base Camp Trek 

Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS, is a serious risk as we ascend to higher elevations. If you feel headache, fatigue and restlessness during the trek, you will need to inform your trek leader. After that, measures will be taken to help you feel at ease. In most cases, descending to a lower point and acclimatizing helps. In serious cases, emergency evacuation can be easily organized at your request. Helicopters are used in such evacuation, which can get costly. So, we recommend that you have a proper insurance that covers these risks.

Apart from that, you will need to stay alert and follow the safety guidelines provided by your trekking leader.

What to Pack for Annapurna Base Camp trek?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with what to pack during a trek. Generally, you need to have a good pair of trekking boots, windcheaters, a warm jacket, trekking socks, sticks, first aid kit, along with other common trekking gears available in the market to buy and rent.

You can do this either at your home country or in one of the trekking shops in Thamel . We provide free assistance in buying/renting these accessories if you are in Nepal. It’s good to have a water filter opposed to buying bottled water. If you have any questions, you can always contact us.

Book Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Hiking Adventure has brought you this unique itinerary of Annapurna Base Camp Trek with intense planning and detailing. The routes have been carefully planned to cover maximum ground in a short period of time while ensuring you receive most efficient and enriching experience.

Guide and Cost for Annapurna Base Camp Trek 

A well-informed guide with excellent communication skills will travel along with you so that your journey will be laden with information of the region, its people, and their customs. We have the most competitive cost for the trip along with quality.

Hiking Adventure hopes to give you the ultimate experience in Annapurna trekking, as you visit places that will make you fall in love with the simplicity of nature and the serenity of the high mountains.

Furthermore, do read our blog for more information: Annapurna Base Camp Trek logistics.