About Annapurna Base Camp Trek
If you are seeking a short but immensely beautiful adventure, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is for you.
Annapurna base camp is a popular trek among the many treks here in Nepal. It guides you through the streets of Kathmandu to the mists of cold solitary mountains. ABC is also known as Annapurna Sanctuary Trek due to the protected areas you walk upon. This trek is an attraction within itself as it takes you to the legendary mountain which is the first among all the 8000m peaks to be successfully climbed in its entire history, Mt Annapurna.
With the experience of not only the mountains but each and every aspect representing Nepal, the trek represents itself as fruitful and worthwhile. In the entire trek, you will be a spectator to 13 peaks above 7000m and no less than 16 peaks more than 6000m. To add to the trek, beautiful Nepal unfolds its heavenly routes to the mountains including cascading waterfalls, rivers, the deepest gorge, and the green lush fields covering up the plains and the hills.
Annapurna base camp trek is preferable to the other treks because not only does it lead you to the ABC but during the trek you pass through Machhepuchhre Base Camp as well, providing you the opportunity to explore two base camps in one journey and within the same cost. Witnessing Annapurna Massif and Machhepuchhre Massif during the same trip makes you wonder if you really are in heaven. Other than these massifs, you will have magnificent views of other infamous snow-capped Himalayas of Nepal such as Dhaulagiri, Hiunchuli, Manaslu, and many more. Talking about the experience on the trek, the deepest gorge Kali Gandaki and Mt Machhepuchhre accompanies you throughout the trek. Moreover, a day in the village of Ghandruk makes you admire the culture and tradition of the Gurung community, one among the many diverse ethnicities in Nepal that resides in these areas. Other highlights to this trek are Ghorepani and Poon Hill, a vantage point for the views of Annapurna plus other peaks and sunrise and sunset. But these destination including Gandruk, Ghorepani, and Poon Hill are optional to the trek and solely depends on the route you take towards the shadows of Mt. Annapurna.
Annapurna base camp trek is a 15 days journey from the day of your arrival at Kathmandu to the day you retrace your way back to the capital again. For the first two days, you rest up in a cozy hotel embracing the chaotic city of Kathmandu and exploring the various UNESCO World Heritage Sites located within the city. After strolling around the capital of the country, the journey begins on the third day of your arrival by either road or flight, to the city of lakes, Pokhara. Pokhara is famous for the beauty it holds and the tourism it attracts. The city is quite famous as a tourist area as you will have a variety of options to explore and have a soulful experience of Nepal. The cool breeze touching your face as you dip your feet in the cold water of the lakes and admiring the view will make you feel alive and this is one of the experiences Pokhara offers you with. As you can do many things in Pokhara such as visit lakes which are Fewa Tal, Begnas Tal, Rupa lake, and more, with many other adventures such as paragliding in Sarangkot, cycling, ziplining, boating, visiting the Davids fall, Seti Khola, infamous Peace Pagoda, the gorgeous temples such as Bindabasini and Talbarahi, this journey serves you the best holiday you can ever have. Exploring amazing caves is also an additional attraction to this journey. A glimpse of Mt Machhapuchhre is seen before the trek even begins which excites and triggers the traveler inside you even more.
The trek eventually begins when you reach Nayapul after one hour ride from the city of Pokhara which is at an elevation of 1070 m. You hike up to Ulleri (1960 m) and then to Ghorepani (2580 m). Ghorepani is a place situated in the Dhaulagiri Zone of the Myagdi district from where you continue the walk through the Ghandruk village loop treks and finally, rest for the day. As you settle down in Ghorepani you start to feel the difference in the tradition, culture, and even the food from the city areas. Continuing to the trek you acclimatize the next day and hike up to Poon hill to admire the 180-degree view of Annapurna and cover a short trek to Chuile through Ghorepani again. Chuile is a more tranquil setting having just one lodge but the rooms here have access to stunning vistas. As you move forward in the Annapurna Base Camp Trek you head towards Shinwa (2360 m). It takes about six to seven hours to reach Shinwa from Chuile. Deurali, being the next destination for the eighth day which resides on an elevation of 3200m, takes about six hours of hike. The next morning you get ready and leave for the highlight of the trek, the Annapurna Base Camp which lies at an altitude of 4130m, which takes you approximately five to six hours from Deurali to reach. At an elevation of 4130m, surrounded by the gigantic mountains with the cold hovering around and the sun rays hitting against the enormous rocky peaks covered with snow is just surreal to acknowledge let alone to live the moment gives you the chills to being alive in this beautiful world. You might find the journey to the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek ending but the trek offers you more than just one base camp. As you descend having thought that the trek is over, you find yourself walking along the routes leading you to another base camp which is Machhepuchhre Base Camp (3700 m), where you can see the mesmerizing views of the Fishtail massif around you. Breathing along the mountains within the Annapurna range along with the fantastic views of the Himalayas all around is surreal. With all the amazing and beautiful experience you move along the trails and descend to Bamboo (1780 m). The hike from ABC to Bamboo takes about five hours. Although descending seems like the journey is over there is more to explore such as the hot springs in Jhinu Danda. On the eleventh day you reach Hot springs and then retracing the trail back to Nayapul the next day, you finally arrive back at Pokhara. The final destination is Kathmandu you travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu to catch your flight back home.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek however can be adjusted to your convenience and the time you are willing to spend here in Nepal.
