Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the most trekked trekking trail in Nepal. As this is the most renowned trekking trail in Nepal, you must know these basic things before trekking to Annapurna Base Camp 4130m. This trek will offer the classic 360-degree angle MK mountain view from the ABC. The best experience of waking in the village to jungle and jungle to Mountain.
That is why knowing the most essential things before doing Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the first step to successfully completing this trek. As an experienced trekking guide and trek organizer, I have figured out these 10 things you should know before doing Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
1: Require Documents
2: Trekking Itinerary and routes
3: Connectivity
4: Types of accommodation
5: Food
6: Drinking Water
7: Electricity
8: Best time to travel ABC
9: Types of Trek / Trek Difficulties
10: Medicine
1: Require Documents
If you plan to trek to Annapurna Base Camp in the future, then you must know what kind of documents you need. The first document you need is a Passport and entree Visa in Nepal. Visa you can get on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport and enter the borders.
Then you need to obtain the permit for Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) as Annapurna Base Camp is located inside the ACAP. Additionally need to issue a TIMS Card (Trekking Information Management System) as an entree permit.
Most importantly, you have to have the best travel insurance to cover emergency evacuation or treatment. Because you never know what will happen in the mountains.
2: Trekking Itinerary and routes.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek can combine with various trekking trails such as Mardi Himal, Poon Hill, Khopra Danda, etc. Or can do directly from Jhinu or Ghandruk. So that be clear about what you are doing, doing Annapurna Base Camp Trek only or connecting with with other treks. Thus, you should know the trekking itinerary and routes before doing Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
Basic Itinerary of Annapurna Base Camp Trek
| Day 1 | Drive from Pokhara to Jhinu Bridge and trek to Chhomrong |
| Day 2 | Chhomrong to Himalaya |
| Day 3 | Himalaya to ABC |
| Day 4 | ABC to Bamboo |
| Day 5 | Bamboo to Jhinu Danda |
| Day 6 | Drive Jhinu to Pokhara. |
Other Itinerary
Annapurna Base Camp via Poon Hill
3: Connectivity (Mobile network and Internet)
Connectivity is the most important thing you should know before trek to Annapurna Base Camp. In Nepal, there are two kinds of Mobile SIM cards, NTC and NCELL. In the Annapurna Base Camp Region mostly works NTC so that you should buy an NTC SIM card to connect with your loved one.
Nowadays, there is available WIFI in every place even in the Annapurna Base Camp. But it is not that reliable because of the remoteness of the region. However, you can connect with your friends and family. Remember you have to pay to use WIFI, it costs 250 rupees to 300 rupees according to a different place.
4: Types of Accommodation.
In most of the Mountain region, there are Hotels, Guest Houses, and Lodges. In the lower part of the Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Trail, there are enough hotels and guest houses.
But upper part of the Annapurna Base Camp region there is not enough infrastructure which is why during the peak season there are very difficult to find hotel rooms if you do not book in advance. And it is not possible to get a private room and need to share with 4 to 6 people in a room.
If you need to shower each day that is possible but need to pay for each shower because it is a gas shower.
5: Food.
Food is another important thing to consider before going for any hiking and trekking adventure. The same thing applies that you must know what kind of foods are available while trekking to Annapurna Base Camp.
In the Annapurna Base Camp region, every hotels and guest houses have a food menu, which designed by the Hotel Community of that region. Basic foods are available in each place and you can order as you like. In some hotels, they are selling good quality coffee as well.
Nepal is a nation where religion is on top and many people believe and have faith in it. When you are going to do Annapurna Base Camp Trek, because of the religious faith meat is not allowed to take with you. So if you are a meat lover then you have to stop eating meat for a couple of days because it is not available there.
6: Drinking Water.
Annapurna Base Camp is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area and this area is a protected area as well. Therefore there is no allowed to take and sell plastic bottles so mineral water is not available in that zone. But in every hotel, they have boiled water and safe drinking water.
Another option is to take the water purifying tablet or other device that can purify water to drink. There are many streams and rivers where you can refill water in your bottle to purify as you want.
Safe drinking water and boiled water will cost NRS 100 to 150 varying in different guest houses. But in the lower part there you can get mineral water as well.
7: Electricity
Nowadays electricity is more valuable than food for human beings because their life depends on various gadgets such as Mobile Phones, laptops, cameras, etc. All these devices only work with electricity. Many people want to capture their lifetime journey to Annapurna Base Camp on their Cameras as Photos or Video. To do that requires Electricity to charge your Camera or Phone.
There is electricity available till Machhapuchhare, but need to pay for charging the devices and it will cost around 200 to 500 rupees. At the Annapurna Base Camp, it is not possible to charge your devices because there is no electricity. Limited lights are managed from a Solar Panel that also doesn’t work when there is a problem with the weather.
8: Best Time to Trek to Annapurna Base Camp
For the best traveling experience, one must catch the right time and season. Trek to Annapurna Base Camp also needs to be done at the right time and season. Usually, the best time to travel at the base camp of the world’s 10th-highest peak is the spring and autumn.
Spring season in Nepal is March, April, and May, and the Autumn season in Nepal is September, October, and November. Even during the winter season is also possible to do Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp. However, this season is very cold and there will be a lot of snow, and difficult to find the right path to ABC.
9: Types of Trek / Trekking Difficulty
In Nepal, there are various types of trekking trials that can be found, like challenging, hard, mid-level, and easy trekking. Annapurna Base Camp Trek is categorized as a mid-level trek in Nepal. That is why this trek is not easy for everyone.
If you plan to trek to Annapurna Base Camp, you must know your fitness level before embarking on a real journey to Annapurna Himalayas. If your fitness level is not that perfect then do more exercise, and do some hiking which is available in your area. Also, it’s very important to stay strong mentally while trekking to the base camp of the 10th highest peak in the world.
10: Medicare facilities
When traveling to remote areas of Nepal, firstly you have to have your personal medicine which you use regularly if any. In the Annapurna Base Camp, there is no medical camp or hospital like the Everest Base Camp region. So that you have to manage or carry very basic medicine or needed medicare for yourself.
Additionally, other medicines like anti-insects are very useful to take with you while trek to Annapurna Base Camp. In that area, there will be mosquitoes in the lower area and even leeches during the summer and autumn seasons. So that knowing about the required medicine before trekking to Annapurna Base Camp is very helpful in successfully accomplishing the journey.
