For trekkers who are somewhat fit, the Annapurna Base Camp Trip starting from a base in Pokhara is a fantastic first multi-day trek. Without a guide, we finished the Annapurna Base Camp trip in 7 days, however, we did take a vehicle for a brief distance at the beginning and end to speed things up. We had not done any planning ahead of time and had never gone on a multi-day journey. It was difficult but very doable and well worth it!
Facts about the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Approximately 60 kilometers, depending on your starting point and itinerary.
Duration: 5-7 days
Moderate to challenging in difficulty. High altitude and has some very steep terrain, but most of the way on decent pathways.
When is the perfect time to trek to Annapurna Base Camp?
In Nepal, there are primarily two trekking seasons. The first takes place in the dry and mild weather of late October or early November. The second is the beginning of spring, which lasts from April to May and can be rainier but has blooming flowers. Mid-April was when we completed the Annapurna Base Camp hike, and we experienced both fully bright days and some afternoon showers.
To Have Some More Trekking Adventure Then You can also look out for Triund Trek.
Permits for the trek to Annapurna Base Camp
You need a TIM card and permit to trek in the majority of Nepal. These can be found in the tourist attractions in Pokhara or Kathmandu. When you arrive in Pokhara, it is best to head right there because it is only a short walk from the tourist bus terminal.
For foreigners, the TIMS card is 2000 NPR, and the permit is 2260 NPR. Four passport photos are required, which the Pokhara center will take and print at no cost to you. It costs 200 NPR for 4 images if, like us, you want to have them taken in advance (we were unaware that it could be done at the center).
The entire process takes about 15 minutes, but if the center is crowded, it can take longer.
Do you need a guide for the hike to Annapurna Base Camp?
Without a guide or porter, we chose to complete the Annapurna Base Camp hike, and we believe this was the right choice. Along the way, we encountered many other travelers, and it was fun to plan to stay in the same towns and hike together. Travelers who were accompanied by guides had more rigid requirements for where they needed to stay and how far they needed to hike each day.
Route and schedule for the trek to Annapurna Base Camp
Your trek’s beginning is entirely up to you. There are a few ways to start your trek if you’re traveling from Pokhara:
An overview of the trek each day as we took it is shown here. The image is of a map that was sent to us when we requested our permits and was very helpful. It allows you to plan each day according to your skills, energy levels, and available time because it provides you with an approximate distance, time, and climb between each of the towns. It is best to just go with the flow each day rather than setting goals for yourself because you never know what the weather, injuries, or other factors will bring.
Day 1
taxi plus a jeep to Kimchi. Kimchi to Ghandruk: one hour of stair climbing.
1 hour, fairly flat, from Ghandruk to Komrong
Day 2: Overnight in Kompong (due to rain).
Kompong to Kimrong: one hour of steep descent
Kalimpong to Chomrong: 2.5 hours of strong ascent and level terrain. Chomrong to Sinuwa is a 1.5-hour journey that involves a severe valley descent and ascent. Nighttime Sinuwa (due to rain)
DAY 3
Sinuwa to Bamboo: 1 hour and 15 minutes, downhill and with several stairs. Dovan to Bamboo is a simple 50-minute drive. 1.5 hours uphill through a lot of deep jungle from Dovan to the Himalayas Amazing landscape from the Himalayas to Durali in one hour and ten minutes of difficult uphill travel
Durali 4 night
1.5 hours from Durali to MBC, largely flat with occasional steep sections. 1 hour and 20 minutes, easy-going upward, but difficult at altitude, MBC to ABC. MBC overnight (We should have stayed at ABC for the following morning because we didn’t have clear views.
5th day
Up and over to ABC for sunrise. 4 hours from MBC to Bamboo Bamboo overnight
6 DAYS
4.5 hours to travel from Bamboo to Jhinu with a hot springs stop. Jhinu overnight
7TH DAY
Taking a jeep back to Pokhara from Jhinu takes about three hours.
Cost of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Here is a general breakdown of the costs you may incur while hiking:
300-400 NPR per night for lodging and 400-600 NPR per meal (gets more expensive the higher you are)
Free tap water is available, while purified water costs 50 NPR per liter.
Permits: ACAP permit is $30 and TIMS permit is $20, for a total of $50.
Nepal Visa: $15 for a 15-day entrance permit
(Optional) Jeep from Kimche to Pokhara: 2500 NPR
Flights from and to Pokhara cost $160 round-trip.
Have fun hiking to Annapurna Base Camp!
One of the highlights of our lives was completing the seven-day journey to Annapurna Base Camp.
It involved overcoming obstacles as a team by cooperating. Additionally, it served as proof that anything we set our minds to can be accomplished.
