Annapurna Base Camp trek is not a difficult trek, and it is considered one of the most beautiful and popular, attracting tourists with its low complexity and reasonable budget. Going on a hike in Annapurna base camp, you discover the Himalayas – the mountains of the highest and grandest mountain system on the planet. In order to successfully complete the route to the Annapurna base camp, special skills and abilities are not needed. This track is available for everyone with normal physical fitness and no medical contraindications. The Annapurna base camp trek is the most picturesque tourist route, widely known all over the world for its gorgeous views and low difficulty. 

This is a dynamic circular route that is great for the first trip to Nepal. The route passes at comfortable heights – you have to go through mountain paths through deep gorges covered with mighty coniferous forests, bamboo thickets, and forests of rhododendrons. You will meet langurs – monkeys that inhabit the local forests. Trekking to the Annapurna base camp is available to anyone with average physical fitness and takes place in relatively comfortable conditions and at comfortable heights. This hike is ideal for photography enthusiasts and professional photographers. Such landscapes, sunsets, such a starry sky, and such light as in the Himalayas are nowhere else on the planet, and you will definitely catch all this in the lenses of your cameras.

Is Annapurna base camp trek safe for foreigners?

Annapurna Base camp trek is perfectly safe and secure for all nationals from all around the world. First, the trek is more popular than any other route or trek in Nepal, so you will never be alone. Fellow travelers of different nationalities will always accompany you on the way. Second, you can take local porters and guides who will not only accompany you but will make your journey relatively safe, comfortable, and memorable. Third, there are checkpoints at various locations where you have to show your permits and documents. So legal help and assistance will always be available to you. Fourth, Nepalese people are known for their hospitality; they follow their motto “Atithi Devo Bhava,” meaning guests are God. Nepalese faith is based on a combination of Buddhism, Hinduism, and ancient tantra, which creates a special mood for trekking participants in Nepal. On your way, Buddhist stupas will often come across. These sacred hemispheres are necessarily white, decorated with all-seeing eyes. Prayer flags flutter above them. These religious and honest people will always be ready to assist you in any way possible. 

And if you have excellent health and basic climbing and technical skills, you won’t face any medical or health issues. Trekking routes in Annapurna base camp have been laid which are planned so that an ordinary person without mountaineering training can go through here and see a lot. The weather conditions in the Himalayas can be quite unpredictable. Nepalese Government is determined to ensure the safe passage of each climber, and in case of emergency evacuation, military, domestic and medical helicopters are always on alert. 

That’s why climbers from all over the world dream of visiting the Himalayan peaks situated in Nepal. Most of the visitors even schedule their return after being glorified and nostalgic by the magnanimous beauty and hospitality of the nation. Feel free and confident if you are thinking of embarking on this epic journey, as it is the perfect route to experience Nepal and the Himalayas for the first time. 

How long is the Annapurna Base Camp trek?

The classic and the longest route in length, designed for almost twenty days, is the track around Annapurna that bypasses the mountain in a circle, but the mountain range does not close the ring – the beginning and end of the route are in different places. This classic version of the route follows the “counterclockwise” direction, and almost all tourists choose it since, in this case, the ascent to the mountains is smoother. The route starts in the town of Besisahar at an altitude of 800 meters. The first half of the route passes through the Marsyangdi river valley – this is a very picturesque valley, which tourists follow for several days, gradually rising to a height of 4500 meters. Then the most difficult stage is the ascent to the Thorong La Pass (5416 meters high). Having overcome the pass, tourists enter the valley of the Kali-Gandaki River, along which they descend from the mountains to civilization. The route ends in the village of Naya-Pul, from where travelers travel to Pokhara, the nearest major city to Annapurna. The relaxing atmosphere of Pokhara is very conducive to rest and gluttony after a long hike.

The full route is 210 kilometers long and takes about 20 days to complete. It is possible to shorten the trip to 10 days if, after the Thorong-La pass, you decide to fly by small plane from the town of Jomsom to Pokhara, which many tourists do, because by this moment, the most colorful part of the route is already behind.

During the hike along the Annapurna Trek, you can also visit Tilicho Lake, located at an altitude of 5000 meters. For such an alpine lake, it is quite large: 4 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. Above the southern shore of the Tilicho lake rises the seven-thousand peak Tilicho (7134 m). The way from the main trail of the Trek around Annapurna to the lake and back (with an overnight stay at the Tilicho base camp) takes two days, so many tourists decide not to go there, but Tilicho Lake is one of the most amazing places on this route.

There are also several smaller and simpler tracks that are either offshoot from the main ones mentioned above or part of one of them, such as the track to Mount Poon Hill, which opens up breathtaking views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna 1 sparkling in the sun. Perhaps it will be especially interesting to go this route for those people who previously walked the classic track to the Annapurna base camp: you will see familiar places in completely unusual angles, and besides that, visit many more unfamiliar places. Yes, this is also Annapurna. But it is different: quiet, sparsely populated, beautiful.

How many km is the Annapurna base camp trek?

Annapurna base camp trek covers 110 km to 211 km depending on the route you take and is calculated between 18-21days. You need to cover 10-15 km a day with 6 hours of walking every day. Indeed, trekking requires excellent physical stamina. The ups and downs on the road, the height that plays a fundamental role and that makes many people unable to continue on their way, and snow, which may seem beautiful from afar but walking on it for hours can generate tremendous fatigue, are determining factors. On top, if you decide to carry your backpacks all the time without hiring porters or guides can make your journey relatively harder. Horses, donkeys to carry your luggage, porters, and guides to assist on your journey are readily available for this trek. So it is wise to hire for these services instead of embarking on a lone journey without any assistance. 

Is Annapurna Base Camp Trek best to do during the monsoon season?

Monsoon season is definitely not the best time for the Annapurna base camp trek. The monsoon season around the region begins from June which lasts until the end of September, with a peak in July-August. This does not mean at all that it rains continuously (there is not so much rain on the Annapurna track due to the fact that the mountains do not let them through), but the peaks are almost always covered with clouds, so there is a high probability that you will not see main beauties of the Himalayas. Additionally, you will be accompanied by leeches and slippery roads, and because it is the off-season for trekking, the guest houses will be far from villages, and nearby guest houses and lodges will be closed temporarily until the arrival of peak tourist season. However, if you decide to do the trek during monsoon season, the positive thing will be that you will not find many people and that you will only notice the cold on the tops. 

 The best time to travel to these places, and indeed to Nepal in general, is two spring months – March and April, and autumn from late September to early December. The temperature at this time of the year is very comfortable for hiking, there is practically no fog, and this is immediately a plus in the form of an incredible starry sky and breathtaking sunrises at an altitude of four thousand meters.

What is the weather like at Annapurna Base Camp?

In the valley where the Annapurna base camp is located, it is quite cold even on the hottest days, and at night the temperature drops below zero (do not forget about the giant ice walls around). In October and November, you can see clear skies, but the way will be more crowded. From December to February, there are clear views on the way to the trek, but it is very cold, especially on the tops. From this date, snowfalls are also more frequent, and the risk of avalanches much greater. March and April are a good time because the cold is much less, the weather is warmer in the lower areas, the rains and leeches have not yet arrived, and the best of all is that there are not many people on the road. Another point in favor is that the rhododendron is in bloom and the snowy peaks and the red in the trees look beautiful.

What is the highest point you reach during the Annapurna base camp trek?

The Annapurna base camp lies at the height of 4130 m, so this is the maximum height you reach during your expedition to the Annapurna base camp trek. It lies in a valley that the locals call the Annapurna Sanctuary. It is surrounded by a ring of majestic mountains, peaks that rise into the heavenly heights, sheer walls of the corridors, and permafrost. From what you see, it literally takes your breath away! There is a special atmosphere here.

Is there a risk of altitude sickness during the Annapurna base camp trek?

When you exceed 2500 m in altitude, the atmospheric pressure decreases, which affects the amount of oxygen. In this situation of higher pressure, the amount of oxygen that the blood receives is less, and you may suffer from altitude sickness. This causes:

• Dizziness
• Exhaustion
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nervousness
• Vomiting
• Hallucinations (in extreme cases)

The most severe cases can trigger high-altitude pulmonary edema or high-altitude cerebral edema. But these are extreme cases, do not rush.

Before the symptoms of dizziness, exhaustion, etc., the first thing is to go down and rest until you feel better. Hydration is key to preventing altitude sickness and also avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol. Not all climbers experience this condition; those who are in good health and fitness and who follow the rule of acclimatization don’t suffer from this condition. 

What to Pack for the Annapurna base camp trek? 

While you pack your backpack for your Annapurna base camp trek, always try that your luggage does not exceed 10 kg. Some of the things that can come in handy:

• Trekking backpack. Do not skimp on expenses and invest in a good one, since in it you will carry all the weight during the days of your journey.
• High-top boots or trekking shoes.
• Waterproof raincoat.
• Sunglasses.
• High factor sunscreen.
• A first aid kit to treat and disinfect wounds.
• A headlamp 
• GPS.

How to prepare for Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

After you prepare yourself physically and mentally for the Annapurna base camp trek and packing your backpack with necessary clothing and equipment, you need two permits to begin your trek. The permits are the ACAP (Annapurna Protected Area Entry Permit). The other permit is the TIMS, the permit with which you get the card with which they control you on the route at the different checkpoints for the trek. You can obtain these permits at Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu, or in Pokhara at Damside. For ACAP, you need to pay $30 per person, and for TIMS, you pay $10 per person. You will need 2 ID photos for each permit per person. You will also need to be specific about the route you want to take because you have to detail the itinerary.