Annapurna
Base Camp Trek
Renowned for its toughness and beauty, Annapurna Base Camp is an exclusive trekking package. Also known as the ABC trek, it covers rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of Nepal. After arrival in Kathmandu, you will spend your first day wandering among ancient monuments and bustling colorful marketplaces and squares.
Moving on Annapurna
Base Camp welcomes you with degree dramatic views of the Himalayas. During the
trek, each day welcomes you with a set of new exhilaration that rewarded as one
of the vast range of diversified landscape on earth. As you further move inside
the Annapurna region within every few kilometer distance you will be passing
through subtropical to high alpine vegetation zones. About 101 mammals, 39
reptiles, 22 amphibians, 478 species of birds, 9 types of rhododendrons, 38
orchids and 1226 varieties of wild plants are well protected.
Days: 13
Highest
point: Thorung La (Pass) – 5416 m
Difficulty
Level: Easy
Highlights:
·
One of the top ten
trekking destinations in the world
·
Classic walk right into the heart of the
mountains
·
Himalayan Mountain flight from Kathmandu
to Pokhara return
·
Fascinating glimpse into unique hill
cultures of atmospheric village of Landrung
·
Expedition
into an uninhabited wilderness area
·
Ultimate thrill of trekking in the massif
Annapurna Mountains range with some of the world’s highest Mountains; Mt.
Dhaulagiri, Mt. Manalsu, and Mt. Annapurna
·
Passes through world’s highest Throng la pass
·
Spectacular
views of 10 mountains above 6,000m and stunning 360 degree views at Annapurna
base camp.
·
Comfortable
accommodation, camp life and local cuisine
Trip notes:
A
typical day: Generally,
on camping trips, you will be woken up between 6-7 am with a cup of tea and
bowl of hot water for washing. You wash and get ready, and before breakfast
pack your gear into your kitbag which will be carried by a porter. You will get
your kitbag in the afternoon when we reach camp. Breakfast will be outdoors or
in the dining tent, and after breakfast you walk for 2, 3 hours. Lunch is
generally served at 11 am on trail. You will get about an hour break during
lunch when you can rest, write a diary, talk or do anything you like. After
lunch, we walk for 2 to 3 hours and reach to camp late afternoon. All tents and
gear are already set up by the time you arrive, and you are greeted at camp
with tea and snacks. Stow your gear in your tent where your kit bag will also
be waiting, and freshen up before dinner, again served in the dining tent. On
teahouse treks, it’s pretty much the same routine but you have rooms to sleep
in, a dining room to eat in (often with food you can order of the menu) and
proper toilets with running water and showers. Lunch on teahouse treks are on
lodges on the way.
Accommodations
All accommodations for the trek are
on twin sharing basis with inclusive cost and are chosen based on standard of
hygiene, standard of service and food, and location quality. We will spend four
nights in Hotel Shanker and during our trekking we will spend nine nights in
local tea house or lodge in which there are unheated rooms with wooden beds and
foam mattresses. Tea houses or lodges generally have shared washing and toilet
facilities.
Meals
During our Annapurna Base Camp Trek,
3 meals are provided a day where as during your stay in Kathmandu only
breakfast is provided. One can enjoy
typical Nepali food, different ethnic cuisines as well as all types of
international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, Indian, etc.) from pizza
and Chips to apple pie. We can even enjoy hot chocolates, variety of breads,
variety of drinks, and snacks. Breakfast of a day will be served from the tea
house or from a lodge menu where we spent night. Lunch will be served on the
way to destination, dinner and breakfast will be served in the tea house where
we spend the night.
Acclimatization
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is one
of the major threats while trekking in a high altitude region. People have lost
their lives due to carelessness shown in regards to less prioritizing the
acclimatization process. The program is designed understanding the geographical
structure where we move up the trip with slow and steady pace. So for a safe
trek, it is absolutely essential to allow sufficient time for acclimatization. We
take frequent breaks and on the seventh day we completely rest for a day. Most
importantly our guides and trip advisor keep a watch of the trekkers 24/7.
High Altitude Sickness: a trekker may suffer from altitude sickness in the region as the altitude varies drastically. Typical symptoms of altitude sickness are persistent headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, disorientation and loss of balance, persistent cough and difficulty in breathing. As soon as the symptoms are seen immediate response needs to be addressed. A medical evacuation by helicopter or the use of a Hyperbaric chamber (Gamov bag) is the possible solution. Our guides and tour leaders will be monitoring group health on all treks that take us to altitude, and though not common, it is sometimes necessary to take clients off trek and descend to lower altitudes for their safety.
Weather: The climate may be freezing or very low which may drop to -20 degree Celsius during the evening, night and early morning. The daytime temperatures may be generally between 20- 35 degree Celsius. The weather can change and snow fall may occur at any time at higher altitudes.
Health and travel insurance:
Visitors should visit their personal physician or health clinic 4 or 8 weeks before coming to Nepal and vaccinate themselves. Travel and medical insurance is a must, and should include coverage for emergency flights and medical expenses.
Vaccination: Visitors must visit their personal physician or health clinic 4 or 8 weeks before coming to Nepal and vaccinate themselves though vaccination is not compulsory. However vaccinations are recommended for the protection.
Note: Some vaccinations are prohibited for the pregnant women and people with allergies.
- Hepatitis A: The vaccination of Hepatitis A is
recommended for all visitors which provide long-term immunity.
- Hepatitis B: This vaccination too is advised to all
travelers. Three intramuscular doses are given in 0, 1 and 6 months.
- Influenza: This vaccination is given annually to
prevent flu.
- Japanese B encephalitis (JBE): JBE vaccination is given
three times over 3 to 4 weeks which avoids mosquito- borne vital
encephalitis. Generally it is recommended for the travelers who travel to
the Terai and other rural areas.
- Meningococcal meningitis: This vaccination is
recommended for the prolonged stays.
- Polio: Polio is generally given in childhood. But if
visitors have not taken it at their childhood then it is recommended
vaccination for them.
- Rabies: Rabies is especially transmitted by street dogs
and monkeys. It is strictly recommended for children and other visitors
who are at the high risk of animal bites or direct contact with bats.
- Tuberculosis (TB): Most people of the west are given
this vaccination in their childhood. But if they are not vaccinated, it is
suggested vaccination for them.
- Typhoid: Typhoid vaccine is available as an injection
and capsules which is recommended for all visitors because Typhoid fever
is growing problem of Nepal.
- Yellow fever: The travelers who come from Africa,
America and other yellow fever infected area should take vaccine for
yellow fever.
- Tetanus diphtheria: Tetanus or diphtheria vaccine
should be taken in every 10 years.
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): This vaccination is
recommended for all the travelers born after 1956 but not for pregnant
women or severely immune compromised individuals.
- Cholera: Cholera is spread because of polluted drinking
water. It is only recommended for the high-risk individuals like health
travelers and people who travel to remote areas.
Packing tips:
- Warm clothes for cold weather, including a set or two
of thermal inner wear.
- Water and wind proof outer shell jacket and pants.
- Walking clothes like lightweight loose trousers, shorts
and comfortable and cool shirts.
- Rain ponchos, wool socks, broken in walking boots, long
trousers, warm hats, gloves, bandana, trekking poles, cap/hat for walking
in the sun
- Sleeping bags if you have them.
- Travelers wearing lenses should carry plenty of lenses
solution and backup prescription glasses.
- Sunglasses or ski glasses if walking in snow or high altitudes.
- Basic first aid kit and personal medication.
- Sunscreen and sun hat help.
- Water purifiers like iodine tablets, filters etc.
- Headlamps with spare batteries.
- Hand sanitizers.
- Photocopies of passports and other important documents
- A travel guide book and map.
- Cameras and carrying cases
- For a comprehensive packing list, see (link to site on
trekking FAQ)
FAQs:
How do we enter Annapurna Region?
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek
starts from Pokhara which is about 25 minutes from Kathmandu by air and is 5
hrs away on drive. From Pokhara we drive to Kande, it’s from Kande where we
start our trek inside the Annapurna region.
What
is ACAP?
ACAP stands for Annapurna
Conservation Area Project of 7,629 km2 area, the first and largest conservation
area in Nepal. Annapurna Conservation Area was established in 1985 and gazette
in 1992. It is implemented across Manang, Mustang, Kaski, Myagdi and Lamjung
districts.
When
is the best time to go to Annapurna Circuit with ABC Trek?
Trekking in the Annapurna reason
is feasible during autumn (September to December) and spring (March, April
& May) seasons. The winter Dec, Jan and Feb is also recommended for this
trek as it goes maximum height of 5416 m, sometimes we may expect foggy weather
as well.
What
is the Visa application process?
Travelers
can apply for Nepalese visa from Nepalese embassy or consulate office situated
nearby. They can also get a visa from Tribhuvan International Airport or from
any other entry point in Nepal if they have no time to visit an embassy, or are
not travelling from their home country. Visitors should have a few sets of
photos, a passport, and required money to apply for visa.
What kind of equipments do we need for trekking?
We highly recommend
you to travel light; carrying loads of stuff can be hectic as well as energy
consuming. We recommend you to bring only the necessary things that you need in
your daily life. Following equipments are recommended like. Down Sleeping Bag,
Down Jacket, Long sleeved shirt, Jumper or fleecy jacket, T-shirts, Trekking shoes or boots, Comfy shoes for
around the camp, Polypropylene/wool socks, Light cotton socks for under wool
socks, Rucksack, Sun hat, Woolen hat, Gloves, Sun block, lipbalm , Goggles or
sunglasses, Long underwear, Thermal wear, Insulated pants Nylon windbreaker,
Nylon wind pants, Water bottle, Sewing kit, Medical & first aid kit, Flash
light, Batteries and bulbs, Swiss army knife, Towel and toiletries etc.
What if I get sick while on trek?
In any case of
emergency or disease, our program associates first try to deal with general
medicine. If the case takes chronic stage depending upon the time and situation
we air lift the patient consulting with your Insurance Company and rescue you.
