Annapurna Base Camp Trek 14 days-A wonderful trip in the Himalayas

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of the most popular treks in the world.The ABC trek holds several treasures for the mountain lover. You will get life changing experience in the trekking. So, you must absolutely do trek transforms lives far more than you imagine. What you like on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the mountain views that leave you spellbound. You will get distinct views of Himalayas like Machapuchare, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli from the trail. Machapuchare, the ‘fish tailed mountain’, is revered by the Nepalese for its exquisite beauty. It is believed to be one of the homes of Lord Shiva. It has never been officially summitted.

The Annapurna Base Camp is a small cluster of lodges opposite the Annapurna glacier. As you look up from the edge of the glacier, you come face to face with the Annapurna massif. Annapurna I, III and South, Gangapurna, Gandharvachuli and Machapuchare are all there to meet your gaze when your eyes rest upon them. 

Annapurna Base Camp Trekking is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area.The trek is nestled in the 7,629 sq km Annapurna Conservation Area. This is home to 1,226 species of flowering plants, 102 mammals, 474 birds, 33 reptiles and 22 amphibians. If you’re lucky you might spot an exotic bird or even a marmot.

Moreover, you can also enjoy Nepali culture trekking to Annapurna base camp. ABC is a classic tea house trek.You stay in small lodges which typically accommodate 20-25 people. These are run by locals. People also migrate from different parts of Nepal to work here in the tourist season. Interacting with the staff at tea houses, guides and porters on the trail will give you a glimpse into their way of life.The food served at tea houses is prepared in the Nepalese style. 

Thus, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is melting pot of adventurous souls. The ABC trek attracts mountain lovers from all over the world. In October, when the views are known to be outstanding, expect to hear a variety of languages on the trail. Tea houses become convenient forums to discuss and exchange notes with strangers who could be from anywhere. You experience this kind of diversity on very few treks.

Trek Difficulty-Annapurna Base Camp trek is a moderate difficult trek. For the most part, it is a moderate hike through the villages of Nepal.However, the terrain becomes difficult as you get closer to Annapurna Base Camp. The descent after ABC is a long walk of almost 9 hours.This makes the trek a moderate-difficult one. It is a good trek for experienced trekkers.

Trekking Preparation-You will need at least 8 weeks of solid preparation for this trek. You can begin preparation by going for brisk walks and then do brisk jogs to improve your cardio. Your target should be to cover 10 km in under 60 minutes minutes comfortably by the start of the trek.

Best time trekking Annapurna Base Camp-Spring and Autumn are two distinct seasons for the Annapurna Base Camp trek. In Spring, although you will find patches of hard snow at higher altitudes, the temperature during the day will be slightly warmer than that in Autumn, when there won’t be any snow on the trek. Even the air is different. While Spring is moist, Autumn is dry and crisp.In Autumn, the temperature is between 15 °C and 18 °C in the day time and at night time, it will drop between 5 °C and -5 °C. Likewise, in the Spring, the temperature is between 20 °C and 24 °C and at it will dorm between 10 °C and 5 °C.

Permit for Annapurna Base Camp Trek-Trekkers Information Management Systems(TIMS) and Annapurna Conservation Area Project(ACAP) permits are necessary trekking around Annapurna Sanctuary and Base Camp. We will handle and organize you. For this, we need your scanned passport copy and passport size photographs by email in advance.

Accommodation on the trek-Accommodation along the route is in the form of tea houses. The standards are basic but comfortable mostly. Rooms have anywhere from 2 beds to a dorm of 7 or 8. Expect a thin mattress, pillow and warm blanket. The sheets were varying levels of clean and we preferred to use your sleeping bag. 

Internet and WiFi-Hot water, Hot Shower and WiFi is available throughout the trek but cost an extra fee, usually around USD 10 to 15 USD per person. There will be cellphone signal as far as Sinwa, past there almost everywhere, including the base camp.

Food on Annapurna Base Camp Trek-Almost all the teahouses serve the same menu which is regulated by the authorities and prices are set. The menu is surprisingly good and prices are increasing slightly as you get higher up. Dal baht is a standard option it provides great sustenance for trekking, it’s one of the more expensive options on offer but you get unlimited refills so it’s worth it. There are also a range of pasta meals, noodles, rice and egg and toast combinations for breakfast.

Drinking Water-Plastic bottles are banned after a certain point so make sure you bring a refillable bottle. Tea houses sell 1 ltr of safe drinking water for between 200-270 NPR or you can bring your own sterilizing method. A Steripen or iodine tablets will save you the fee of refilling your drink bottle several times a day and further up drank directly from the streams or taps without any problems.

In short, the Annapurna Base Camp trek will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your trip so far and we really recommend it to anyone traveling in Nepal.

Day 01:  Drive to Pokhara (914m, 6/7 hours)
Drive to Pokhara, the tourist's paradise with full of natural as well as cultural heritage sites such as lakes, caves, and Buddhist and Hindu temples along with the magnificent views of mountains. Stay overnight at hotel in Pokhara.
Day 02:  Drive to Nayapul (1050m) and trek to Tikhedhunga.  
Breakfast and drive to Nayapul. Now you begin your trek from Nayapul (1050m) to Tirkhedhunga (1577m) via Birethanti (1065m.) which takes about four and a half hours. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 03: Trek to Ghorepani (2675 m, 6 hours)
Trek with steep ascend for the first 2 hours in the morning to Ulleri (2070m). Then comparatively easy trek thorough forest in the afternoon.  On the way you can view the Machhapuchhare or Fish Tail (6997m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and Annapurna (7219m) south. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 04: Trek to Poon Hill (3180m) and then to Tadapani (2675m, 5/6 hours)
Early morning hike to Poon Hill (3232m.) to enjoy the superb sunrise over Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m), Tukuche Peak (6920m), Nilgiri (6940m), Varaha Shikhar (7847m), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna South (7219m), Annapurna III (7855m), Machhapuchhare (6993m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna II (7937m), Lamjung Himal (6931m) and other numerous snowcapped mountain peaks. After breakfast back breakfast in Ghorepani, trek to Tadapani (2650 m). Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 05: Trek to Ghandruk (1950m, 3/4 hours)
It is an easy descend trek all the way through rhododendron and oak forests to Ghandruk is a traditional Gurung village which offers good views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna (7455m.), Annapurna III (7755m.) and Fishtail. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 06: Trek to Chhomrong (2040m, 5/6 hours)
In the beginning, you ascend gently for an hour up to Ghandrukkot (2100m) followed by a steep descend to the Kimrong  Khola (1700m). Chhomrong is a gateway to Annapurna Sanctuary trek and inhabited by Gurung, one of the major ethnic groups of Nepal. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 07: Trek to Bamboo (2340m, 5/6 hours).
Trek descends on a stone staircase and crosses the Chhomrong climbing further on a rocky trail to Sinuwa. You descend a long, steep stone staircase into deep bamboo and rhododendron forests. It is then a short distance on a muddy trail to Bamboo Lodge (2340m). Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 08: Trek to Deurali (3230m, 5/6 hours).
Trek gently ascends through bamboo forests with varieties of rhododendron and oak trees. The first town you reach is Dovan (2630m.) where there are few lodges and camp sites. Now you pass through muddy trail which traverses high above the river. It takes approximately twenty minutes to reach Deurali (3230m.) Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 09: Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (4170m, 4/5 hours) via Machhapuchhare Base Camp (3820m)
This is one of the places, where you can enjoy the view of Mount Hiunchuli (6441m), Annapurna South (7229), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna III (7555m.), Gangapurna (7454m.) and Machhapuchhare or Fish Tail (6997m.). The path follows through alpine forest.  After a short trek, you begin to approach Annapurna Base Camp (4170m). From here, you can see the panoramic views of several Himalayan peaks. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 10: Trek to Dovan (2630m, 5/6 hours).
You will trek from Himalayan Hotel to Dovan. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 11: Trek to Jhinu danda (1750m, 6/7 hours)
Trek downhill to Jhinu danda hot spring. You can unwind yourself at the hot springs. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 12: Trek from Jhinu danda to Pothana (1600m, 5/6 hours)
Trek to Pothana via Landruk and Tolkha. Stay overnight at lodge.
Day 13: Trek to Dhampus Phedi and drive back to Pokhara.
The trail gently descends to Dhampus, a village mainly inhabited by Gurungs. Now you trek through flat terrace for some distance and steeply descend to Dhampus Phedi. You will drive from Dhampus Phedi to Pokhara. Stay overnight at hotel.
Day 14: Pokhara to Kathmandu (5/6 hours)
On the way you will head up to Damauli, Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar, where Nepal's first cable car joins the Manakamana Temple. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to the capital city of Kathmandu.

Trek Gear List: No need to bring unnecessary trekking equipment with you for trekking in Nepal. The following trekking equipment and gears are recommended before trekking in Nepal. Most of the trekking equipment what you will need can be rented or purchased  in Nepal either in Kathmandu or Pokhara at cheap price. We will help you with the necessary arrangements. Except your day pack all the luggage will be carried by porters. There is an allowance of 15kg per person. Additional personal items not needed for the trekking part of the trip can be stored in the storage room of hotel without extra cost.
Head:
Sun hat or scarf
Light balaclava or warm fleece hat
Sunglasses with UV protection
Lower Body:
Under Garments
Hiking shorts
Lightweight cotton long pants
Light and expedition weight thermal bottoms
Fleece or wool pants (seasonal)
Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell pants
Feet:
Thin, lightweight inner socks
Thick, warm wool hiking socks
Hiking boots with spare laces
Camp shoes (sneakers and/or sandals)
Gaiters for hiking in winter to the base camp
Upper Body:
T-shirts
Light and expedition weight thermal tops
Fleece jacket or pullover
Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
Down vest and/or jacket
Hands:
Lightweight gloves
Heavyweight gloves or mittens with a waterproof shell outer (seasonal)
Accessories:
Sleeping bag rated to zero DC 
Headlamp (e.g. Petzl Zoom) with spare bulbs and batteries
Trekking Bags/Duffel bag 
Basic First Aid Kit
Large plastic bags - for keeping items dry insidetrekbag
Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
Trekking Poles
Water bottle (2) or camel bag
Toiletries (Small wash towel, Toilet papers etc)
Ear Plug (who know some people on group are snoring)
Toiletries:
1 medium sized quick drying towel
Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
Deodorants
Nail clippers
Face and body moisturizer
Feminine hygiene products
Small mirror
Personal Hygiene:
Wet wipes (baby wipes)
Tissue /toilet roll
Anti bacterial hands wash
Extras/Luxuries:
Binoculars
Novels
Trail Map/Guide book
Journal & Pen
iPod
Pencils and small notebooks
Travel game i.e. chess, backgammon, scrabble
Modest swim suits (for Kathmandu)