Annapurna Base Camp Trek is Nepal’s second best trek, an alternative to Everest Base Camp Trek and is a moderate trek. When you reach Annapurna Base Camp, you will see a load of mountains. Nightly sky above your head with multitude stars, you stand face-to-face with these mountains from the lodges at Annapurna Base Camp in the paradise of the remote earth of beautiful mountainous Nepal, which NEVER RUNS OUT OF SNOWY PEAKS. In terms of beautiful mountains, moderate grade, and positional occupation, ABC trek is alluring.
Annapurna Region, where Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes place, is beautiful and blessed with Annapurna Ranges. In addition to these, it also has a lot of trekking areas, where you can do short treks as well as long treks.
Trekking through terraced farmlands and by passing through hilly villages, backed up by beautiful waterfalls and eye-catching mountain vistas, you follow the path that leads to Annapurna Base Camp. The beauty of the path also includes from lush hills to barren lands to a line of some snow-covered 8000 m peaks.
Some of these peaks are Annapurna’s, Fishtail, Himchuli and Lamjung, whose beauty makes a lasting impression. The villages that you trek through while going from one trekking destination to another belong to Gurung people, and the Annapurna Ranges that you see constitute of Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Annapurna III, and Annapurna IV, including others. This is a real treat from the mountains to the trekkers, who come from different parts of the world to trek to ABC.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek means walking patiently on the flight of stairs (3000 steps) by capturing the beauty of the distant mountains, sitting on one of these stairs, traversing terraced farmlands, standing still in front of breath-taking mountains vistas, and heading to the Mountain World.
The distant beauty of Annapurna Ranges can also be captured through a short trek, such as Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek or through a long trek called Annapurna Circuit Trek, but if you want to capture the best view, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the means to do it because it leads you straightly and closely to Annapurna Ranges.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Weather and Best Season
The best time for Annapurna Base Camp Trek is from mid September to November in autumn season and March to May in spring. However, it can done all the time in a year. Every season in Nepal has its specific features to offer to the trekkers. Trekking in Monsoon season will be good for photographers, videographers, researchers, botanists and adventure enthusiasts.
Autumn Season (September, October, November)
Autumn is the best time of year for trekking to Annapurna Base Camp. It is a dry season, moderate temperature, clear skies and beautiful mountain views. The visibility is high, crowded trekking trails and busy hotels. Experience the culture, festival and colorful surrounding at your best.
Winter Season (December, January, February)
If you like quieter, trek Annapurna base camp in winter. It is possible even in January and February but warm trekking gears are must. Dry air, clear skies, warmer days and best mountain visibility are to experience. Never trek alone in winter. You can’t underestimate the weather of mountains.
Spring (March, April, May)
This is another best time after Autumn season and most busiest time of trekking. In spring, the weather is warm and cool night. Rhododendrons are at full bloom with red hills.
Monsoon Season (June, July, August)
Monsoon is the rainy season and has the high risk of landslides, flood, mosquitoes and leeches on the trail. The view will not be good if it rains all the day. So, Annapurna Base Camp Trek during monsoon is not highly recommended. However, you can trek to ABC even in the monsoon season with rain gears, guide and full preparation.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Difficulty
Hike to Annapurna Base Camp at an elevation of 4310m wouldn’t be so much difficult if you are a good walker/hiker. Annapurna base camp trek is a moderate type of trekking. Even a non-professional trekker can do it easily. A few days hiking up to 4310m will provide you the glimpses of Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Fishtail at a close. You will have a exciting experience hiking through the hills, dense alpine forests, villages and banks of holy rivers.
The following points will define the difficulty of Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Duration of ABC Trek
Usually, it takes around two weeks to trek Annapurna Base Camp but if you are experienced hiker and go for rapid, you can make it within 7-9 days. The trek itinerary can be extended or reduced as per your requirement. Due to transportation access Annapurna Base Camp trekking can be done within 1 week.
On an average, the walking hour during trekking will be 5-6 hours. But, if you go longer time walking, the trekking length would be shorter. But, you would not have happy trekking experience if you go express walking.
Take a look at our blog post, Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Preparation and training for detail information how much you walk a day.
Altitude Sickness
For ABC trek, you need to have basic knowledge about the mountain path, hiking experience as this is moderate trek. There might be gradual elevation rise and some long step stone stairs en-route. You might experience the symptoms of altitude sickness during trekking. Be careful of it. Consult to your guide if you have some experience of dizziness, headache, dehydration and vomiting.
Trekking Season, Weather and Temperature
Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp is best during autumn and spring. But, if you consider winter and monsoon time, it may be worse (sometimes but not always). It is well known that trekking in Nepal during monsoon and winter is not highly recommended.
But you can do it if you have strong determination. Be careful about the altitude sickness, availability of tea house en-route, snowfall at winter and the road link. Sometime, the flood, landslide may cause disconnecting the roads and bad weather may be the reason for flight cancels.
Annapurna base camp short trek
If you are limited by time, no problem we can arrange you Annapurna Base Camp Trekking 10 days or Annapurna Base Camp Treks 7 days. These are the short ABC trek itineraries that we have for the trekkers who do not have much time to trek Annapurna Base Camp Trek 13 days.
You can read our blog for trek distance, route map, cost details, trek difficulty. Visit our blog section for Annapurna Base Camp trek information.
ABC Trek Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to hotel
Day 02: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Day 03: 1.5 hour Drive Pokhara to Nayapul & Trek to Ulleri 6 hrs
Day 04: Ulleri to Ghorepani 5-6 hrs trek
Day 05: Ghorepani hike to Poon Hill & Tadapani 5-6 hrs trek
Day 06: Trek from Tadapani to Chhomrung 5-6 hrs trek
Day 07: Trek from Dovan to Deurali – 4 hrs trek
Day 08: Trek from Deurali to Machhapuchre Base camp & Annapurna Base Camp – 5 hrs trek
Day 09: Trek from Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) to Bamboo – 6 hrs trek
Day 10: Bamboo to Jhinudada hot Spring – 5 hrs trek
Day 11: Trek from Jhinudada to Dhampus Phedi 6-7 hrs trek & drive to Pokhara one-hour drive
Day 12: Drive Pokhara to Kathmandu 6-7 hrs drive by bus
Day 13: Free time in Kathmandu, final departure to onward destination or home.