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Nepal - renowned for its breathtaking and majestic trekking routes. It's said that the specialty of Nepal is trekking, from walking through lush forests to experiencing the chilling mountain weather. Spending over half a month in Nepal, I breathed in city dust, but on the mountains, it was pure snow. Surrounded by stunning snow-capped peaks.
Nepal - a trekking paradise attracting numerous trekkers from around the globe every year.
Nepal is famous for its iconic trekking routes such as Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, and Annapurna Circuit. Each trek offers different altitudes, temperatures, and landscapes. Despite not being a frequent trekker, I decided to tackle the Annapurna Base Camp route due to its moderate difficulty level, which I found quite manageable.
Essential gear for trekking preparations.
Preparing for the ABC trek isn't too difficult, so packing trekking essentials doesn't take much time. If you're trekking independently, you'll need: a lightweight backpack with personal items, trekking poles, specialized trekking shoes, 2-3 pairs of socks, energy bars, two water bottles, a water filtration device, wet wipes, etc. If you've booked a tour or hired a porter, your backpack will be much lighter, and accommodations at tea houses will be arranged.
I say the ABC trek isn't too difficult because there are plenty of tea houses along the route for accommodation, showers, meals, and even wifi. If you're on a tour, everything is organized according to the itinerary. If you're trekking independently, you can stop at any tea house along the way whenever you feel tired.
Due to the long duration of the trek, thorough and careful gear preparation is essential.
Best Time to Trek to Annapurna Base Camp?
The peak trekking seasons for ABC, favored by both tourists and locals, are April, May, and September through November. During these times, the snow at ABC starts to melt. Trekking towards the end of October and early November, at an altitude of 3700m, reveals a breathtaking sight of golden grass amidst the snow-capped mountains. July and August bring monsoon rains, while January and February are bitterly cold and snowy, making trekking more challenging. It's crucial to consider the timing.
At ABC, the scenery varies with altitude, ranging from terraced fields to rainforests, bamboo groves, glacial streams, and vibrant rhododendrons. Each elevation offers a different range of emotions and experiences.
By 2 p.m., clouds will envelop the peaks.
Weather Notes: Around 2 p.m., clouds typically cover the surrounding snow-capped mountains, making the afternoon trek slightly challenging. Especially when climbing from MBC to ABC, it's advisable to reach before 2 p.m. to capture the most beautiful snow-capped mountain shots before the clouds obscure the view.
Temperatures drop significantly as evening approaches at ABC.
Food, Drinks, and Essentials at Annapurna Base Camp
There are numerous tea houses along the ABC trek, so food isn't a major concern. You only need to prepare some light snacks like energy bars, chocolate, vitamins, etc. Most tea houses offer a menu for you to choose from. Food prices at tea houses range from 500 to 700 rupees, and the dishes are quite similar across all tea houses, which might become monotonous. For drinks, you can use water purification tablets to filter water from taps or streams.
Additionally, at different altitudes, the prices for services like hot showers and wifi vary, ranging from 150 to 300 rupees per service.
There are several rest stops along the ABC trek route.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary
Key Points Along the Trek
Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara approximately 6 - 7 hours (850m)
After a week of exploring and enjoying the lively atmosphere of Kathmandu, I began my journey to Pokhara by jeep. We departed at 8 a.m. and arrived at 3 p.m., spending the entire day on the road. For those who want to maximize their time, taking an overnight bus to arrive in Pokhara early the next morning is an option.
The road from Kathmandu to Pokhara was quite rough (during my trip in October 2022) due to ongoing repairs, with many potholes and a high chance of motion sickness. However, there were also serene stretches along the Trisuli River with peaceful scenery to enjoy.
For those looking to save time, traveling to Pokhara by plane takes about 30 minutes. The airfare from the capital to Pokhara is relatively expensive for foreigners, around 100 USD for a one-way trip, while Nepali residents pay less than half of that.
In Pokhara, you can stay and explore for about one to two days, walking or biking around the town and the large lake. I spent several days indulging in activities and shopping in Pokhara, finding prices here relatively cheaper than in Kathmandu.
Traveling from the capital Kathmandu to the city of Pokhara
Day 2: Pokhara to Chomrong approximately 5 - 6 hours (2170m)
From Pokhara, you'll be driven by jeep to the edge of the forest for trekking (if booked as part of a tour), otherwise, you'll have to catch a ride. This journey is quite perilous, making you wonder how the vehicle manages to navigate the rough terrain, providing both an exciting and frightening experience. It takes nearly 3 hours to reach the edge of the forest. Then, trek from the forest edge to the village of Chomrong at 2170m altitude. It's about another 4 hours to reach Sinuwa for rest and dinner.
The quaint village of Chomrong boasts numerous staircases and breathtaking surroundings.
The path here is quite scenic, primarily consisting of staircases, which can be a bit tiring, but the tranquil natural scenery is incredibly chill.
A glimpse of the small corner of Chomrong village.
Day 3: Dovan approximately 5 - 6 hours (2600m)
Feeling a bit damp from trekking nearly 6-7 hours yesterday, today we continue our ascent to Dovan at 2600m altitude. This is the easiest trekking day as the trail mostly descends and ascends gently.
The vegetation along the path to Dovan and Bamboo is lush and vibrant.
We passed through Bamboo (2300m) with its stunning vegetation and stopped here for lunch. After lunch, we continued trekking to Dovan for rest. According to the schedule, we were supposed to trek to a tea house at Himalaya, but we decided to stop and rest at Dovan to prepare for the upcoming long day. As evening fell in Dovan, the temperature gradually dropped, requiring us to layer up with 4 shirts, wear a hat, and double up on socks to stay warm, yet still feeling chilly.
Stargazing at night in Dovan rest stop.
The night sky at Dovan reveals plenty of stars, visible to the naked eye, but stargazing at ABC offers an even clearer view.
Day 4: Dovan to Machhapuchhre Base Camp approximately 7 - 8 hours (3700m)
We passed through various points today including Deurali (3200m), traversing through the rainforest, and crossing Barah Temple. The trail was much steeper today as we ascended to higher altitudes.
Barah Temple alongside the magnificent waterfall.
Experiencing an incredibly thrilling adventure as clouds enveloped us at 3 p.m., leaving us wandering aimlessly as visibility was reduced. Walking along the Modi River bank, where vegetation is sparse and oxygen is scarce, yet the scenery of the valley and mountains compensates for it. This was the toughest day of the journey, trekking non-stop to Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) at 3700m altitude. Exhausted, I reached MBC at 5 p.m., just as darkness descended, plunging straight into a swarm of snakes due to the cold.
Mist and clouds at 3 p.m. on the trekking route.
Day 5: Annapurna Base Camp approximately 2 hours (4130m)
It only takes about 2 hours to reach ABC from MBC, but due to the breathtaking surroundings, capturing Instagram-worthy photos from every angle, I ended up spending 4 hours. During this season, ABC is covered in golden grass. If you trek in the early months, expect heavy snowfall, making the climb extremely challenging.
The scenery from MBC to ABC during the golden grass season.
Checked in with the completion board marking the end of the ABC trek.
Everything around was stunningly beautiful, mesmerizing. I lay amidst the golden grass, played with melting snow by the stream, sat atop snowy peaks admiring the sunset, and read books. I fulfilled my longing to breathe in sync with the snowy mountains. As night fell, the temperature dropped to -10 degrees Celsius at ABC, the sky was clear, and for the first time, I witnessed a starry night sky shining brightly.
Reading books and watching the sunset on the peak of ABC.
Day 6: Annapurna Base Camp back to Sinuwa approximately 8 - 10 hours.
The morning at ABC was quite chilly. I woke up early to admire the sunrise, marvel at the grandeur of nature, and take one last look before returning to the city. Today, I trekked from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. back to Sinuwa for another night's rest. The descent was relatively easy and not too exhausting as it was mostly downhill, but the long trek was tiring. Some people manage to trek from ABC back to Bamboo in Pokhara overnight, completing the journey in just one day.
The scenery at MBC during the golden grass season.
Day 7: Sinuwa back to Pokhara approximately 8 hours.
Wrapping up the journey from Sinuwa back to Bamboo and hopping on a jeep ride back to Pokhara in utter exhaustion. Below is the complete map of the ABC trekking route.
Itinerary of the trekking points along with their respective altitudes for each segment.
So here I conclude this trekking journey, without the need for a helicopter ride down. I've always been the last one in the group, the slowest trekker. Yet, ultimately, I've set foot on the summit.
I still can't believe I've climbed up and down the mountain. During the trek, I experienced many things: from breathing techniques, resting methods, observing, to looking deep into my soul. Just a bit sore feet and tired body. This journey made me realize, there's so much to explore in the world outside, so let's travel while we're still young, go far away so that when we return, we know for sure whom we miss.
