Annapurna Base Camp Trekking

January:

In Nepal, January is in the midst of winter. The higher elevation receives moderate snowfall, whereas the lower elevation is ideal for trekking. Early January is likely to be one of the best times to visit the Annapurna base camp. Annapurna base camp trekking in January provides some of the best mountain views. During the day, you will feel warm, but as night falls, you will feel cold. In January, these areas receive little to no rainfall. As a result, the skies remain clear, and the surroundings appear even sharper.

February: 

The Annapurna Base Camp trek in February is an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to a place where all you can see are mountains and scenery. It’s peaceful because February is the coldest month of the year. Most people dislike trekking in the winter because they believe it is extremely difficult.

March:

The month of March is ideal for trekking and admiring the spectacular mountain peaks. The ABC trekking trail will be crowded with hikers beginning in March. In the Annapurna region, the spring season begins in March, the month of the Rhododendron. Trekking in March will provide you with the most memorable experiences in a pleasant and mild climate.

April:

April is the beginning of spring in Nepal, and the weather is ideal for trekking to Annapurna Base Camp. The views are bright and clear at this time of year, and everyone enjoys spring. The surroundings are vibrant and colorful, with rhododendrons in bloom. It is the best time of year to see various bird and butterfly species. During your April trip to ABC, the weather is completely in your favor. The moderate heat of the sun, combined with the lack of wind, makes it ideal for trekking. Furthermore, the amount of rain and snow is insignificant.

May:

May, the final month of the Spring season in Nepal, is much hotter. The Annapurna Base Camp trek in May has the highest temperature of the year. Temperature and weather will vary depending on the altitude throughout the trek. At lower altitudes, daytime temperatures can reach 20°C. At night, the temperature drops to around 5°C. During the day, the weather in the lower sections will be extremely hot. The nights, on the other hand, are tolerable.

June: 

June is the coldest time of the summer and has the least amount of rainfall. In June, the Annapurna Base Camp has a minimum temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. The month of June is the offseason and therefore less popular for trekking. In the region, June marks the start of the wet monsoon season.

July:
Trekking in Nepal in July isn’t always joyful because the heavy rains can block your view of the beautiful mountains you’ll pass through. In July, you will notice that the temperature is not as chilly on the Annapurna Circuit. During the month, the lowest temperature is 6 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature is 18 degrees Celsius.

August:

In the Annapurna region, August is the off-season for trekking. In August, the monsoon season produces strong rains, especially in lower places. Due to weather-related concerns, most hikers avoid this month. The summer monsoon season comes to an end in August. It rains regularly, and you may feel a little chilly as a result. You should also be cautious because the trails are slippery, and the possibility of landslides and avalanches is considerable. In addition, the temperature on the trails remains between 6 and 18 degrees Celsius.

September:

Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp in September the monsoon season finishes in September, marking the start of the fall season. The optimum time to trek to Annapurna Base Camp is in September. The weather and temperature for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek are ideal. The temperature is pleasant during the day, but it is extremely chilly at night. The temperature drops below 0 degrees at night. The temperature in Annapurna Base Camp varies between 8 and 15 degrees during the day and 0 degrees at night.

October:

October is the month that falls between September and November. As a result, it keeps both monsoon rain and winter’s biting cold at distance. The weather is warm and pleasant in October, with clear skies and fresh air. The nights, on the other hand, are a little chilly, with a brisk breeze coming from the campsite. Throughout October, the weather is pleasant, allowing people to enjoy an unobstructed view of the snow-capped peaks. They can also visit bright valleys and interesting scenery of various colors.

The two most important Hindu festivals (Dashain and Tihar), also fall during this season. It has very great importance among Nepalese People and it is celebrated grandly throughout the country. If you travel during the time of the festival, you will get to experience this festival. You will be warmly invited to participate in this festival.

November:

The last declared peak season for trekking in Nepal is November. Bright, sunny days and beautiful skies characterize November. On the treks, these provide breathtaking, crystal-clear vistas of the mountains. The days are bright and sunny in November. The sky is clear, with perhaps a few stray clouds possible. The weather is cold, ranging from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius. The average temperature lowers to 7 degrees Celsius at night.

December: 

In the Annapurna region, December is a rather dry month. It receives fewer than 25 millimeters of rain every year. The Annapurna region is in the shadow of the Himalayas. As a result, December has a lower chance of rain. It is also possible to walk the Annapurna Circuit in December. In December, hikers will get a unique perspective of the region.

Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp is one of the most exciting adventures you can have. Almost every journey begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara Airport, in the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara. It lies 200 kilometers from Kathmandu, at an elevation of 2711 feet. Flight to Pokhara is also called mountain view flight.

• Every day, many flights depart from Tribhuvan Airport’s domestic terminal for Pokhara.
• You can book tickets online as well as through any travel agency.
• The flight to Pokhara is about 25 minutes from Kathmandu. It’s a beautiful flight, especially if you sit on the right side of the plane and look out the window towards the Himalayas.
• The free Baggage allowance of the Pokhara flight is 25kg for the normal fare. Extra baggage cost 1$ per kg.
• The Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour (ABC) is a breathtaking portrayal of the Himalayas. The journey includes an exciting journey to the Annapurna range as well as other of Nepal’s most beautiful tourist spots.
• The Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour is a great alternative to the Annapurna Circuit Trek, which is extremely popular among Nepalese trekkers. Since Pokhara airport is the nearest take-off location to the Annapurna sanctuary, the Annapurna Base Camp Heli Tour begins there. A one-way flight to the base camp takes 30 minutes, thus the Heli tour lasts about 2 hours.
• The Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour begins with a flight above the charming city of Pokhara (1,400m) and a view of the magical Fewa Lake. Along the route, you’ll get to see some amazing views of Divine creation, sprinkled with isolated Magar and Gurung villages. The enormous snow-capped mountains of the Annapurna Mountain range greet you after 30 minutes of flying.

Though the Annapurna Region Trek is one of the most cherished and sought-after treks on nearly every trekker’s travel list. All most of all the trek in the Annapurna region is located beyond the altitude of 2,500m and altitude sickness is the sneaky monster that sometimes attacks even the fittest trekkers beyond 2500m (8,000ft).

As a result, preventing altitude sickness on the Annapurna basecamp trek and remaining healthy throughout the trek should be your top priorities. With lower air pressure and lower inspiratory oxygen pressure, you’ll be hiking into the high-altitude zone. Acclimatization is the process of progressively becoming familiar with the new climate or changing environmental conditions. Almost everyone going quickly from lower to higher elevations requires altitude adaptation.

At elevations beyond 2,500 meters, AMS symptoms can be detected like:

• Increased breathing.
• Increased urination.
• Restless sleep.
• Periodic breathing at night because of altitude.
• Shortness of breath.
• Extreme fatigue.
• Respiratory failure.
• Cerebral edema.

To guarantee that the condition does not worse, certain precautions should be taken. However, if the symptoms increase, it may be necessary to return to a lower height and seek medical assistance.

Walk slowly and gradually, as our bodies require time to adjust to the oxygen level. At least one day of acclimatization rest is required for high altitude trekking, and you should go as high as possible before returning to a lower height for the night.

• To gain strength stamina for your Annapurna base camp journey, you should undertake various strength training exercises such as running, cycling, jogging, push-ups and going to the gym.
• The greatest remedy is to always stay hydrated. On your walk, instead of drinking cooled water, drink warm water and avoid alcohol, cigarette, and tobacco. You should also eat a balanced diet for strength.
• Before traveling to an altitude greater than 3000 m, you must properly acclimate. If your body displays any signs of altitude sickness, you must either stop immediately where you are or consider descending to a lower altitude.
• Bring a Diamox subscription with you on the trek because it is the most effective altitude sickness medication. However, you should consult with your doctor to see whether it is beneficial.

Drinking-Water

Especially for trekkers, it is very necessary to hydrate your body at a higher altitude than in lower elevations to avoid dehydration and altitude sickness. Lack of fluid can be the main hindrance during the trek. You should hydrate your body with at least 3-4 liters of water daily (Tea, soup, or normal drinking water).

Annapurna region does not have a water shortage. You can get tap water, spring water throughout the trek but it is not safe to drink without purifying it. Also, the sale of plastic water bottles is banned in Annapurna Region since 2015. You will not get to buy plastic water bottles throughout the trek. Therefore, you need to bring your water bottle. We recommend you use a Reusable water bottle or water pouch favorable for both hot and cold water. You can also use a filtration system like LifeStraw.

Here are some ways that you can use to make the water drinkable.

1. Boiled water

Boiling water is the best way to purify the water. As we are climbing to a higher altitude you need to boil the water for about 3-minute and season it with a pinch of salt before drinking. You can get free cold water in the teahouse but for boiled water, it cost around 1USD per liter.

2. Purification tablets or electrolyte powder.

Purification tablets like chlorine or iodine tablets are commonly used tablets by trekkers to disinfect the water. 1 tablet is enough for a liter of water. It takes around 30 min for the tablets to dissolve and become drinkable. Water, purified by tablets may leave a taste in your mouth.

Electrolyte powder is another option. Electrolyte powder is a better way to purify water than tablets because electrolyte powder contains minerals such as salt, Potassium, Magnesium, which are important for your body during the trek.

3. UV Light water purifier/ SteriPEN.

It is a simple, effective, and environment-friendly way to purify water. It kills the bacteria and virus within 10 sec by exposing them to ultraviolet light using Steripen, without changing the flavor of the water. This is a highly recommended method of purifying water.

The bag of a trekker also reveals the trekker’s level of experience. A good trekker should be a smart backpacker. You should be pre-prepared for the things that you need in the trek.

Here are some of the things that you need to take with you for the trek.

Travel documents

• Airline tickets with the itinerary.
• Travel insurance policy documents.
• Valid passport.
• Copies of passport.
• Passport-sized photos.
• Nepalese cash.
• Travel permits.

Clothing

• A pair of waterproof trekking shoes or hiking boots.
• A pair of flip flop slippers or running shoes.
• 2 sets of thermals (leggings and tops)
• 3-4 pairs of hiking long sleeve shirts or tops.
• Pairs of hiking shorts and pants.
• Fleece jumpers or a set of tracksuits.
• Good quality windproof down jacket.
• Lightweight waterproof rain jacket and pants.
• Neck gaiter, leg warmer, and packet of pocket hand warmers.
• 4-5 pairs of quick-dry socks, underwear, sports bra.
• Pair of inner and outer gloves.
• Knitted Hat, sun cap, beanie, or bandana.
• Glacier Sunglasses and eyeshade.

Trekking equipment

• Waterproof trekking bag of 40-50liter and Rucksack of duffel bag (if your backpack is not enough for all your item and need a potter).
• Reusable water bottle (both hot and cold) of at least 1-2litre.
• A sleeping bag and sleeping bag liner.
• Trekking stick/ poles
• Crampons (If you are trekking in the Winter season, Jan-Feb).
• LED Headtorch or solar lamp (LuminAID Nepal lamp is best as it is solar-charged and very much portable)
• Plug adapter, Charging appliances, power bank, batteries.
• Pocket knife.
• Travel Wallet.

Toiletries

• Rolls of Toilet paper, wet wipes, and tissue.
• Medium-sized quick-drying towel.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Hand sanitizer.
• Sunscreen, lip balm, body lotions.
• Portable mirror.
• Shampoo and soap.

Personal First Aid Kit

• Antibiotics
• Painkillers, Paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin, Nicole
• Sanitary pads
• Anti-inflammatory spray.
• Anti-Nausea tablets.
• Anti-diarrhea pills or power.
• Altitude sickness tablets.
• Water purifying tablets or electrolyte powder.
• Mosquito and Insect Repellent.
• Salt or anti-leech oil (If traveling in the rainy season, July- Aug)
• Earplugs

You can buy or hire trekking clothes and equipment in Kathmandu. If you are buying it, you have to allow an extra day for shopping; however, if you are hiring it, you must inform us in advance so that we can arrange it before you arrive in Kathmandu. This way you can reduce the weight of your luggage and save time and money.

Branded trekking clothes and equipment are available around the Thamel area at a reasonable price.

Note- Kathmandu- Pokhara flight has a luggage allowance of a maximum of 20 kg per person. For extra baggage, they charge 1$ per kg. So, you can wear your trekking boots and jacket to reduce the weight. Have a hand carry bag for your passport, money, medicine, and pair of clothing. And you can also leave your unnecessary items in the Kathmandu hotel.

Accommodation

We will accommodate in star hotel during our stay in Kathmandu.

In Gandruk we will stay in lodges. For the rest of the stop, we stay at teahouses.

Meal

During the trek, we will provide you three-time meals. You can choose from the given menu.

Breakfast– French toast, Cornflakes, Cereal, Pancakes, Bread butter, Eggs, Oatmeal, Porridge, Tea, etc.

Lunch– Dal Bhat set (Rice, vegetable curry, meat curry, Lentils, Tomato Chutney, Salad, Papad) vegetable noodle soup, chicken noodles soup, Mushroom garlic soup, Fried noodles, Mo: Mo, Fried cheese Potato, etc.

Dinner– Dal Bhat set (Rice, vegetable curry, meat curry, Lentils, Tomato Chutney, Salad, Papad), Momo, fried noodles, spaghetti, Thukpa, Pizza, Stews, Fried Potato, etc.

Besides these, there are a variety of other options of food. You can buy it from your pocket.

Transportation

By Bus- From Kathmandu airport to Hotel at Kathmandu and vice-versa.

From Pokhara airport to Kimchi village.

From Naya pul to Pokhara Hotel.

From Hotel to Pokhara Airport.

By Air- Flight to Nepal.

Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back.

Our well-qualified and professional staff will handle all your activities throughout your trek. They will do all the escorting. We are providing you with a highly experienced and licensed guide with fluent English speaking and has excellent communication as well as navigation skills. They will accompany you from Pokhara Airport and guide you to Annapurna Base camp. Each group of 4-5 trekkers will be assigned an assistant guide, as well as a porter for two trekkers (2*15kg =30kg). If your luggage weighs more than 15kg you will be provided a porter individually but you will be charged for 2 people.

All our lead guides, assistant guides, and potters are well professional and experienced. So, we hope for your respect and cooperation with them throughout the trek.

Every day will begin with the ringing of your alarm clock at 6 a.m. and a knock on your door from your guide with the invitation of breakfast. Get up, have breakfast, pack your backpack and get ready to start your day’s walk by 7 a.m.

You will walk through the lush forests of Rhododendron and Oaks, enjoying the scenery, crossing numerous suspension bridges, clicking photos, creating memories, passing by other travelers, interacting with your guide, hearing each other’s stories. 

Lunch will be served at a local teahouse in the late afternoon (1-2 am). Having lunch and an hour of rest, we will proceed to the day’s final destination as per the itinerary. 

On arrival at the destination, check-in at your accommodation, get freshen up, and some rest. As every teahouse where we stay has a large common dining area with a wood-burning stove in the center, there you will get to meet many travelers. You can sit there, laugh at each other stories, play cards, sing songs, play music, and have a good time. This will help you forget all the tiredness of the day. Later in the evening, you will have your dinner together. Enjoy the flavorful Nepalese Dal Bhat. There is this saying Dal Bhat power 24 hr. After dinner, your guide will give a short briefing about the next day’s trek regarding when you must get up when we have to start our trek the next day, where we will stay the next day, how many hours we have to walk and so on.

During this trek, you’ll walk for a minimum of 3 hrs to a maximum of 8 hrs per day.  You will get to experience a glimpse of Gurung culture, their authentic village lifestyle. Ghandruk is the Gurung village and home to many Gurkha soldiers. During the stay at Ghandruk, they will welcome you warmly with their cultural dance and singing at night. We are sure you will be amazed by their culture, lifestyle, and scenery of mountains over the village. During this trek, you will get to see the 7^th and 10^th highest mountain of the world (Mt. Machhapuchre and Mt. Annapurna), the lush forest of Rhododendrons, and Oaks. You will stay a night in the shadow of Mt. Annapurna in Annapurna Base Camp.

Visa procedure.

To travel to Nepal, you’ll need a tourist visa that is valid for the period of your stay in Nepal. Better, if you have a tourist visa valid for at least 2 months because anything can happen during the trip, and staying in Nepal after your visa expires would result in you paying a penalty.  Apply for a visa at your nearest Embassy of Nepal or obtain an On-Arrival visa at immigration in Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. But it’s better to contact your nearest Nepalese Embassy.

Here are the documents that you need, to apply for the tourist visa.

• The Tourist Visa Application Form for Nepal (Fully completed online and printed)
• Original Passport with at least 2 blank pages and validity of at least 6 months.
• Photocopies of your passport’s information page.
• At least 2 recent passport-sized photos of yourself with white background.
• Proof of accommodation in Nepal.
• Valid travel and return flight tickets.
• A bank statement from the last 3 months with a minimum closing balance of NPR2,00,000.
• Receipt of the visa fee for Nepal.

Note: Our trip is for 11 days. 15 days tourist visa costs USD 30 or if you want to extend your stay in Nepal apply for 30 days tourist visa that costs USD 50.

Entry permits and Requirements

Annapurna Region is a Conservation Area. To travel over the Annapurna region, the trekkers need to get permits from the Government of Nepal. The entry permits that you need for the trekking in the Annapurna region are-

Note: You can get both the Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit and TIMS Card from Nepal Tourism Board in Bhirkuti Mandap, Kathmandu, or Tourist Information Centre in Pokhara.

For the issue of the TIMS Card, you need at least 2 members, accompanied by a licensed guide.

For more information about TIMS Card here is the link.

(If you are traveling from a travel/trekking agency your agency will arrange all the Permits.)

Documents required to get the permits.

• Complete the permit form with your passport details and tour details (Trekking area, Entry and Exit date, and point, Route of Trekking, Emergency contact information for Nepal and your Home country).
• 4 Passport size photo.
• 4 Photocopies of passport personal information page.
• Copy of Travel Insurance policy to obtain TIMS card.

During the journey, you may encounter several unexpected incidents or losses. Trekking in Nepal is an adventurous and occasionally dangerous activity, especially at high altitudes. Trekkers must have travel insurance before visiting Nepal for trekking.

You might come across some physical injury, illness, unexpected accident during the trek and all the medical expenses and loss has to be borne by yourself.

As we will be trekking up to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m), you need to choose an insurance policy that will cover all the possible risks that you may come across from the start of your journey to your final destination. The following threats should be covered by your travel insurance. The following threats should be covered by your travel insurance:

• Cancellation of Domestic and International flights.
• Lost and stolen baggage and passport.
• Hospital and Medical expenses (Physical injury, Acute Mountain sickness, Altitude sickness, sudden accident)
• Emergency rescue such as Helicopter.
• All high-altitude trek risk factors up to 4,200m.

You need to choose your travel insurance wisely so that, in the case of such an incident, your travel insurance will cover the costs.

You can get your travel insurance in either your home country or in Nepal.

Annapurna region is a region with numerous trekking trails. Annapurna region is the most popular trekking region in Nepal. This region is also known for its typical Gurung culture and Gurung villages. Throughout the trek, you will encounter many traditional villages inhabited by the Gurung and Magar. All travelers should travel responsibly in these regions. You must respect the local people, their culture, religion and try to limit any negative activities that will impact their local culture and environment. As Plastic water bottles is banned in the Annapurna region in 2015, we expect you not to bring any plastic wastage and properly dispose of the plastic garbage (food warmers, plastic water bottles). You might encounter rare species on the way to Annapurna Base Camp, you rather not disturbed them. You can support them by adapting yourself to their lifestyle. 

Your responsible travel will help Nepal achieve long-term sustainable tourism.

Electricity facility.

Despite the challenging geography and weather conditions, the Annapurna region has been providing electricity and access to the Internet.

Electricity in Annapurna Region is powered by hydroelectricity so you can get free access to electricity throughout the trek. At lower altitudes, all the hotel rooms have charging sockets, but at higher altitudes, there is a commonplace for charging usually in the dining area, and you will be charged extra for the use of electricity for charging device on a different basis (Per device and voltage of your device).

Charging mobile phone costs 1.5$- 2$ per device.

Internet Facility and Service

Internet and network facility is must need to contact your family, friends, employee, to post updates and upload photos during the trek.

Internet access is available throughout the Annapurna Region, but in some areas, WI-FI might become slow due to the lack of reach of signal to tower and difficult topography.

At higher altitudes, you will have access to the internet, but have to pay extra.

Cost of WI-FI service in higher altitude- NPR 300/USD 2.5

Both NTC and NCell cellular service has been providing the network in Annapurna Region. You can buy the NCell or NTC sim card from the stores in Kathmandu for 1USD. By taking data packages you can use the internet service up to Annapurna base camp.

NTC cellular service is most preferred over NCell. NTC provides good service and signals connectivity throughout the Annapurna region, in comparison to NCell.

Document needed to buy a sim card.

For foreigner = 1 passport size photo, Passport photocopy, or valid identity card.

For Nepali = 1 Passport size Photo, Photocopy of Citizenship.

Some useful tips to reduce the use of electricity.

• Extra batteries for the camera.
• Power bank with 5000-10000mAh.
• The solar charger and solar lamp (LuminAID lamp).
• As possible less usage of a device with low brightness, GPS, and WI-FI off.