Annapurna Base Camp is definitely one of the more famous treks in the Nepal Himalayas, with lots of trekkers from all around the world flocking it to admire the magical snow-capped peaks. This trek is a busy one but what makes it unique is that you start seeing the mighty snowcaps from day one itself!
The Annapurna Base Camp takes you through some of the prettiest villages of the Himalayas like Ghandruk, Chhomrong, and Jhinu. During the beginning, this trek will take you through the world's largest rhododendron forest and dense bamboo jungles, only to end on a serene ridge walk.
This is one of the only treks where the big mountains are seen from day one itself, Annapurna South, Himalchuli and Machhapuchhre are with you throughout the trek and they simply keep getting more and more mesmerising as the trek proceeds.
Experiences on the trail with us
Gallery
-
ItineraryDay 1 : Hotel stay at Kathmandu During the first leg of the journey, you will feel excitement, nervousness & adrenaline like never before. Thamel in Kathmandu is where you will experience the first wave of the trekking culture of Nepal, a unique mix of trekkers from all over the world. Day 2: Kathmandu to Ramechap by Road. Ramechap to Lukla by flight. Trek to Phakding. Flying into Lukla is hands down one of the best flights you would ever take. So make sure you get the window seat on the left and enjoy the ride! The sight of the tiny village nestled in between the mighty Himalayas is mesmerizing. Added to that, is the fact that it is one of the most dangerous runways in the world! Thrilling, isn't it? And then you start your trek to Phakding post-lunch. It’s a three-hour trail and it's at a slightly lower altitude, so you can ease into it, most of it is a descending trail. Day 3: Phakding to Namche Bazaar. Crossing a couple of bridges and trekking on the well-established trail will get you to Namche. And believe us, you will see it all in this little town. We like to say - it is the capital city of EBC Highway. Day 4: Namche Bazaar. This day will be about resting and getting acclimatized so you can visit the museum or roam around the city exploring its culture. The best part of this day will be that you will be able to catch the first glimpse of the mighty Everest! Day 5: Namche to Dole. This day will be about trekking through some serene and beautiful jungles/forest. As you slowly start ascending higher up, you will notice a gradual change in landscape. Day 6: Dole to Machermo. On this day of the trek, you will officially get closer to the higher altitudes and dry lands. You will no longer see villages and locals around, and the tea house will look like isolated army facilities.The dry arid landscape takes over the lush green one. Day 7: Machermo to Gokyo. Get ready to feel the altitude this day. We will be trekking through the Gokyo lakes, and it will be a challenging one. This day will also probably be the one where you will come to a realization of how tiny we truly are when trekking in between the mighty mountains, snow-capped peaks and vast lakes. Day 8: Gokyo Ri lakes. This acclimatization day will be one of the best days of the trek, where you can see a barrage of the eight thousanders’. You will also get to eat at the world’s highest bakery and maybe depending on your energy level, get to see more Gokyo lakes. Then we go to the Everest viewpoint to witness the sunset on Everest at Lake five. As an added bonus you will also get to see Everest from top to bottom, which is not seen anywhere else on the trek. Very few venture here so this had been added on purpose, as we want you to experience this magic. We then walk back under Moonlit Titans to Gokyo Tea house. Day 9: Gokyo to Thangnak. This day is about a short walk across a mighty glacier. The short walk might not be as short as you think though. You will have to stay together and trek like one big family or else you might lose your way alone here! Day 10: Thangnak to Dzongle. Whatever energy you might have conserved till now will all be used on this day. Claimed to be one of the most tiring days of the trek, you will cross the Cho-la pass by traversing through the Cho-la glacier. It will test your stamina and endurance, but believe us, it will be worth it. Day 11: Dzongle to Lobuche. You will wake up to the beauty of Amadablam on this day. Amadablam is one of the most aesthetically beautiful mountain we have ever come across. You will then start your journey towards the Everest Base Camp. You will join the main trail to EBC here. Day 12: Lobuche to Gorakshep. Go for the sunset summit at Kala Patthar. This day will be the most magical and heartfelt experience on the trek hands down. This day has a lot of action, and as you trek you will understand why. You will touch the highest altitude of the trek at Kalapatthar 5,643 m and watch sunset on the worldest highest mountain. And at night you will sleep at the highest Tea house, probably in the world! Day 13 Gorakshep- EBC day: This morning we go for the sunrise summit. We trek to EBC post breakfast and spend most of the day at EBC. By late afternoon we head back to Gorakshep. We then spend this night here as witnessing sunrise and sunset on the peaks is what you have travelled so far for, so we have an extra day so that you don’t miss anything. Day 14: Gorakshep to Pangboche. Going up the mountain is optional but getting down is mandatory. So this day begins your journey down and there will be a lot ahead to be excited about. Day 15: Pangboche. Seeing Amadablam, the most beautiful peak in the region up close from its base camp is an experience to remember from this campsite. You can then visit the monasteries in Pang Boche in the morning. Day 16: Pang Boche to Namche/Jorsalle. As you descend lower, we can say this can be the day when it’s okay to visit some of those party houses if you want and choose your poisons. Here, we either stop at Namche or head to Jorsalle, which has a tea house by the river, a serene place. You can either shorten the next hike to Lukla by heading to Jorsalle or celebrate the evening at Namche. Day 17: Namche/Jorsalle to Lukla. Arguably one of the hardest days on the trek if you choose to stop at Namche, with a lot of trekking downhill involved. But then you can have the best sleep you have ever had at the end of the day! Day 18: Fly back to Ramechap What goes up comes down! And so, this day will be the end of this journey. From Ramechap, you will catch a transport to Kathmandu and end your trip on a bustling note. And since you would by then have EBC ticked off your list, we are sure there is no stopping you anymore and we will see you soon on the next one! Maybe on the Anapurana Base Camp trek or the quieter Khopra Ridge trek next time.
-
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)1) Will the tea house room have Blankets/Quilts? Yes, they will all provide warm blankets and beds. But as an added precaution we will also provide personal fleece liners to every trekker. 2) Will I need Gaiters and Microspikes on the trek? If it is required, we will provide them when necessary. 3) Do I have a weight limit for my porter bag? Yes, we would like you to respect the mountains and their people and limit your weight to 10kgs. 4) Do I need to get insurance coverage? Yes, in case of medical emergencies or evacuations, helicopter charges will be covered by the insurance only if you have one. 5) Travel (Adventure Travel) Insurance Travel Insurance is ideal for everyone traveling outside their country. Your insurance should include adventure travel and sports, and should cover emergency rescue operations or helicopter lift-off when needed. Along with adventure travel insurance, it could cover personal accidents, medical expenses, and personal liability. 6) Emergency Rescue & Health Care Emergency rescue is conducted throughout the Himalaya in case of any accidents or sudden health deterioration. Helicopter rescue missions in such cases are covered by the insurance. However, you must check with your medical insurance before signing off on the documents. If not please make sure you get one before your trek. 7) Can I order anything from the menu and will that be covered by Beyond The Wall? Yes, you can order any one item from the menu at the time of the meal in tea houses during the trek and we will pay for it. 8) Food & Accommodation Rice and Lentil, popularly known as Dal Bhaat, is the staple diet of most Nepalese. Rich in proteins and carbohydrates, Dal Bhaat can be eaten anytime during the day. Along with many other authentic dishes, Nepal hosts the finest array of international cuisines; American, Thai, Chinese, and Continental, etc, along with fast food which is commonly found in base camp and tea houses. Oats, Muesli, Roast, Pizza, Pancakes, and sandwiches are commonly found in almost every trek trail. 9) Trek Permits A permit required to trek in Nepal will be provided by Beyond The Wall. 10) About connectivity, since you are traveling to a different country you can buy a local sim card or update your SIM for international travel. But it is not mandatory as Nepal is a wifi-enabled country with every hotel, cafe, and even tea house throughout the trek having wifi connectivity. If you still want to buy a sim you can buy it from the airport in Kathmandu. We recommend you buy a SIM from the operator called Namaste. To buy a sim you will need your Passport / any form of ID, a passport size photo, and around 1200/- Nepali rupees, ie. about 750/ INR. 11) Use of Electrical Devices and Connectivity Electrical appliances use 220-240 volts and 50 MHZ of power to operate in Nepal (Some countries use 110-120 volts of electricity, and accept very specific shaped plugs.) If your appliance’s plug doesn’t match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter to the plugin. These adapters help fit your appliances in any socket. 12) Local Currency and Payments Most of your stay and food will be taken care of by us once you reach Kathmandu. For stay at Kathmandu, it is better if you exchange currency at the airport. Although many places in Kathmandu do accept Indian Rupees, it would be ideal if you exchange your currency here. There are many licensed money exchangers in the city. Make sure you carry enough Nepali Rupees for the trek if you want extra facilities like Wifi, hot water, packaged drinking water, etc. There are ATMs in Kathmandu where you can withdraw money using your debit/credit cards, but they will charge a nominal fee for each transaction. Please check with your bank that your debit/credit card can do transactions in Nepal. Keeping some spare US Dollars is a good idea. 13) Batch size We as an organization believe in giving the best of the experience that comes with the outdoors. We also understand that nature is something that is better experienced without much disturbance around and in calm solitude so, on the basis of keeping it a truly uplifting experience, we keep our group size limited to 10 trekkers per batch. 14) Tipping custom for guides and porters. It is a part of the trekking culture to tip your porters and guides.
-
InclusionsPre-Trek Preparation: As trip leaders, I understand how important it is to feel confident and prepared for any trek, especially a big one like this. That's why we make it a priority to check in with each participant regularly via phone calls, taking the time to listen to their progress and any concerns they may have. We make sure that everyone feels ready and fit for the trek to enjoy it fullest. Accommodation: Stay starts from hotel in Kathmandu on Day 1 till Lukla on Day 17. You will be staying in tea houses on all days of the trek. *The rooms in the hotel and tea houses can vary from single, double, or triple occupancy, depending on the availability. Meals: Three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and evening tea will be provided by us on all trek days. Included meals start with dinner at Kathmandu on Day 1 and end with breakfast at Lukla on Day 18. *At tea houses, you get to choose one menu item at the time of meal during all your trekking days.(Except alcoholic drinks) Hot water: One cup of hot water per person will be provided twice a day (Morning and Night Domestic Flights: Ramechap ⇄ Lukla Airport Transfers: With included Domestic flight. Internal Travel: The taxi fare from Ramechap to Kathmandu back is included. We will arrange for the means of transport as required. Safety Equipment: First aid, medical kit, oxygen cylinder, oximeter will be carried by the trip leader. Trip Leader: Experienced outdoor leader with Wilderness medical knowledge/Wilderness First Responder certified. Certified Local Guide: A licensed guide with ample experience as a Himalayan Guide & with good communication skills will be a part of the team. Porter: You can opt to offload one backpack weighing not more than 10 kg. TIMS and Permit: Trekkers information Management System and Permit for trekking in Nepal will be taken care of.
-
ExclusionsInternal Travel: Depending on the Airport rules, the Kathmandu - Lukla flights can be cancelled and only flights from Ramechap to Lukla run during certain seasons. In such seasons, the taxi fare to Ramechap and back will not be included. We will arrange for the means of transport as required. Rescue: Travel Insurance is not included. Rescue expenses incurred by helicopter, horse, mule or any other means are not included. Airport transfer: Transport from KTM International airport on arrival from your country to the hotel and back to KTM International airport after the trek is complete is not covered by us. We can arrange for means of transport if required. Phone, WiFi, and other battery charging costs – Tea houses in Nepal generally have an additional cost for extra electricity provided. Backpack Offloading of more than 10 kg. Hot Water for shower/bathing- Tea houses charge extra money for a bucket of hot water. Packaged drinking water is not included except in Gorakshep where you will be provided with 2L packaged drinking water. Any tip to porters or guides. Anything apart from Inclusion. Personal expenses of any kind.
-
Cancellation PolicyWe as an organization put in our hundred percent to make sure that you get the best experience throughout the trek with us. To do so we personally book tea houses for each of our treks prior to the trek date and ensure good quality and service. However we do understand that due to unforseen circumstances you might have to cancel your trek. We will process the refund as below- More than 30 days before the start of the trek or due to natural calamities- 4% cancellation fee 15 days - 30 days before start of trek – 15% cancellation fee 14 days - start of trek – No refund can be provided. The money will be transferred to the bank accounts from where the payment was made within a week.