Annapurna Base Camp trek, a breathtaking Himalayan journey that takes you to the foot of the tenth highest peak in the world is something of an extraordinary experience. In this thrilling joyride, you will have the opportunity to explore the popular Gurung and Thakali settlements along the way as you head toward the icy slopes of the pristine Himalayas.
After the circuit trekking prospect of the tenth-highest peak, this classical base camp trek is the second most popular alternative in the Annapurna region. If you are planning this trip and curious about the Annapurna Base Camp Trek difficulty, this classical base camp trek in the central Himalayas is a moderately challenging excursion.Â
The journey isn’t that strenuous but it isn’t easy either. You will need to traverse across diverse terrains including glacial moraines to reach the base of this towering peak. But, determining whether this trip is suitable for a beginner or not depends on the abilities of the individual.
Compared to other Himalayan trekking endeavors Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal is considered a relatively easier journey. Let’s check out some important aspects of this journey before deciding whether it is right for you ir not.
Outline Itinerary of Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal
Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu (1,400 meters) to Pokhara (823 meters)
Day 02: Pokhara to Nayapul (1,010 meters) drive and trek to Tikhedhunga (1,570 meters)
Day 03: Trekking from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2,840 meters)
Day 04: Hike to Poon Hill (3,210 meters) and trek to Tadapani (2,610 meters)
Day 05: Trek from Tadapani to Chomrong (2,140 meters)
Day 06: Trek from Chomrong to Dovan (2,500 meters)
Day 07: Dovan to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 meters)
Day 08: Trek to Bamboo (2,345 meters)
Day 09: Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu Danda (1,780 meters)
Day 10: Jhinud Danda to Nayapul trek and drive to Pokhara
Day 11: Return to Kathmandu via jeep/bus or flight
How Difficult is Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal?
Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal is one of the moderate-level trekking adventures in the Himalayan region of Nepal. This classical base camp trek in one of the mainstream trekking destinations in the country is known for its milder difficulty level.
The above-mentioned outline itinerary also gives you some idea of the route and what you can expect during your trip. Unlike other base camp and circuit trekking adventures, this Himalayan trek doesn’t take you across a highly elevated region.
The trekking trails are also not that challenging and the technical section along the route is non-existent. Still, you shouldn’t take this high-altitude trek like any other short hike that you take part in occasionally. Here are some of the challenging aspects of this classical base camp trek that you have to be on the lookout for during your trip.
High Elevations
Even though the elevation in this base camp trek is not that significant, you will still reach the alpine zone, above 4,000 meters in your journey. As there are risk of altitude sickness above the altitude of 3,000 meters, you will still need to be careful of symptoms related to altitude sickness even if its risk is pretty low in this journey.Â
You will begin your trek after driving from Pokhara to Nayapul (1,010 meters) and climb to the highest altitude point of this trek at Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 meters). So, even if the other regions along the trekking route don’t have major altitudes, you will still need to acclimatize properly for comfortable and safe trekking.
Trekking Distance
Annapurna Base Camp Trek distance is around 90 km to 110 km (55 miles to 68 miles). Although the trails are not that challenging, the rugged landscapes and steep sections of the Annapurna region can be a bit demanding for trekkers who haven’t prepared physically.
Trekkers will need to walk for 5 to 6 hours on average in this trekking journey and moving along the rising trail isn’t that easy as oxygen saturation level starts to gradually drop as you ascend higher. On top of that, you will be carrying your backpack with a significant weight which requires both good stamina and endurance level.
Remoteness of Route
Although the Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal’s route is not as remote as other Himalayan trekking adventures and as the circuit route has access to roadways on both ends, it is still a remote exploration.
You will need to traverse across the remote sections of the Himalayas as you ascend higher and higher. The teahouses in the lower regions offer an adequate level of services and amenities, however, as you move to higher altitudes they are on a limited number.
Similarly, most parts of the higher regions are not that developed and the available services are on a pretty much basic level. So, expecting a high level of service like a popular vacation destination can be disappointing on this trip.
Climatic Conditions
Although the majority part of the climate during ABC Trek will be determined by the season of your visit. The climatic conditions at the high altitude region can be unreliable at times as the alpine zone has its own climate.
So, even if you are doing your adventure in the high seasons like autumn and spring, make sure to pack appropriately to handle any kind of climatic conditions thrown your way. It is also important to keep yourself warm in the alpine zones as they are known to be generally cold.
Can a Beginner Really Do This Trek?
As we discussed the overall difficulty level of the trek, you now understand that this journey isn’t that strenuous. Every Himalayan trekking adventure has demanding and challenging sides, but the Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal is still on the milder side.
The journey isn’t that physically challenging or strenuous, if you are trekking buying a package, you will also get enough acclimatization period. With enough resting period and time to adjust to a new altitude, you will not find it hard to follow the day-to-day itinerary.
So, this classical Himalayan base camp trek is certainly suitable for beginners. What’s even more assuring is that the success rate of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is at absolute 100%. So, well-prepared trekkers hardly daily to conquer the exciting routes of this mainstream region.
Is There a Secret to Making Efficient Preparations?
Yes, obviously, and the secret is don’t slack off, put in some serious dedication while preparing. If it’s hard for you to find your motivation, remember, that the dedication you put in while training will determine how much you will enjoy the journey.
The experience can be different depending on how well you prepare for the trip, while other trekkers are taking their time to relish the Himalayan environment, you may have to struggle to catch a breath.
So, train like you mean it and to pull off long hours of walking with ease. The trekking trails in the Annapurna region are famous for having a lot of steep sections, so you can work on your leg muscles. Include stair climbing and occasional practice hikes in your preparation.Â
Just remember that you need a good stamina level to manage the long hours of trek. Your strength will also come into play as you will have to carry your luggage as you move to high elevation points.
If you are having confusion where to start, you should first assess your abilities and take suggestions from a trainer or guide to come up with the ultimate training schedules.
Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal Trek Cost
This base camp trek is one of the shortest and relatively easiest trekking adventures in the Annapurna region. Although the overall cost will depend on the length of your trip and what other highlights you will explore during the journey, the general Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal cost is around $600 to $800.
The overall number of itinerary plans will determine the cost of your trip, but just to save some extra bucks don’t go for the cheaper quick paced packages. Select the package that gives you enough acclimatizing time before heading toward high altitude points.
As Annapurna is a mainstream trekking destination, you can also request a luxurious mode of trek and custom-tailored packages that suit your needs. However, the cost of such packages is higher than the standard trek packages and can cost up to $2,000 per person.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Best Time
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek best time will depend on the preference of the trekkers. As the seasons throughout the year do have their own unique add to the Himalayan journey, the experience differs depending on the season.
For instance, the high seasons; spring (March- May) and autumn (Septemeber- November) have a suitable climatic condition that ensures a comfortable journey. But, if you are doing this trek during the low season like monsoon (June- August) and winter (December- February), you will have to overcome weather challenges along with other difficulty factors.
Monsoon is the peak point of the summer season in the country and receives continuous rainfall. So, you will have to come with some extra contingency days and helpful gear to traverse across slipper/muddy trails.
Winter, the coldest season may be a snow wonderland but moving across the snow-covered trail is certainly not easy. Besides carrying heavy gear to keep yourself warm, due to extreme climatic conditions, it is also hard to acclimatize properly during this season.
On the contrary, both autumn and spring have dry and smooth trekking trails, and temperatures in the region are pleasant. To top it all, the cultural experience and captivating natural prospects of these peak seasons favored by nature will help you forge memories that you will treasure for your lifetime.
