Overview
In Nepal, we learn our ABCs by knowing that it stands for Annapurna Base Camp! And a trek to Annapurna Base Camp is one of the more and best popular trekking trails that we offer. It is quite easy to understand why. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project is an incredible place to see the vast beauty of the Himalayas. This area has been preserved in its natural beauty by the government of Nepal for all time, thereby guaranteeing that these lands will not lose their pristine quality. There are many snowcapped peaks that rise high against the cobalt blue skies. There are traditional villages that belong to the Gurung, Thakali and Magar people who have made this place their home for centuries. There are forests of rhododendron, oak and pine, along with carpets of wildflowers and hidden waterfalls.
ABC is the traditional spot for climbers to begin their ascent of Annapurna I, the 10th highest peak in the world (8,091 m). We won’t be climbing the mountain, but we will have plenty of opportunities to see all of the mountains of the Annapurna Range. There will be an opportunity to witness a spectacular sunrise over the mountains at Poon Hill (elev. 3210 m) as well as an opportunity to see the world’s deepest gorge on the Kali Gandaki River.
The varied elevations of the ABC trek will give visitors a chance to see a wide variety of flora and fauna as the trail passes from sub-tropical to alpine. There will be plenty of cultural opportunities as you pass through various villages. Each village is home to a specific ethnic group, and they maintain their culture with a great deal of pride. They love to show off their culture to visitors, making them feel welcome as they trek through this wonderful land.
The Annapurna Base Camp trek is a wonderful adventure, covering a total of 12 days, of which eight of those is dedicated to trekking. We at Vertical Expedition invite you to talk with a representative today about doing the ABC Trek!
Itinerary
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport where you will be met by your representative of Vertical Expedition. You will be escorted to your hotel where there are complimentary welcome drinks and a short briefing with plenty of time to relax from your flight.
Your day will be spent visiting several of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is a great day to get a feel of the culture, spirituality and the beauty of the famed Kathmandu Valley. The Valley is larger than the country of Singapore and is known for its temples, shopping and great hospitality.
This morning, we catch an early breakfast and then fly to the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara. It is a 25 minute flight, but what a flight! We follow along the backbone of the mighty Himalayas where we will see the Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and Annapurna Ranges. Be sure to get a seat on the right-hand side of the plane for the best views of the mountains. Once we arrive at the airport in Pokhara, we take a private vehicle to Nayapul, our starting point of the trek. The trek takes us upwards through a variety of flora as we rise in elevation. Our destination is the Gurung village of Ghandruk, which is a delightful village. There is a local museum that proudly displays the local culture of these delightful people. The trek today is around six hours and we will spend the night at a local lodge in Ghandruk.
The day begins with a climb for an hour to reach Kimrungdanda that will afford us incredible views of Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Hiunchuli and Gangapurna mountains. The trail is up and down, with some challenges as we steeply climb to Chere Danda and finally wind our way down to the village of Chhomrong where we will spend the night in a local lodge. Trekking time for the day’s between 5 and 6 hours.
This is a day of steps as we will be descending down 2500 stone steps to reach a suspension bridge over the river. The stone steps were built by the local village development committees in order to make for faster travel in the mountains for the residents. These trails are the “highways” of the mountains, designed to move people from village to village. You will meet many of the local people as they carry an assortment of goods from place to place. The trail today passes through some beautiful forests to the village of Kuldihar. From here it is an easy downhill walk to our destination village of Bamboo where we will spend the night at a local hotel. Trekking time is 4 – 5 hours.
We rise early begin our walk through a cold, damp, dense forest. The ascent is gentle as we make our way to the Himalaya Hotel where the forest opens up to incredible vistas of the snowcapped peaks. Below us, a glacial river runs the rapids below. Our trail now becomes steeper as we make our way to Hinku Cave. There is plenty of incredible scenery all along the way, with magical views of the valley below as we work our way to the village of Deurali where we will spend the night in a local lodge. Trekking time is 5 – 6 hours.
Today we retrace our steps back to the village of Bamboo, enjoying dense forests and scenic vistas. Trekking time is 7 – 8 hours and we will spend the night in Bamboo Village.
Today is definitely up and down as we trek to Jhinu Danda. The first part of the trek will take us to Kuldighar Village through Chhomrong Khola. Then its uphill Jhinu Danda where we will be able to enjoy its famed hot springs, spending the night at a lodge here. Trekking time is 5 – 6 hours.
This is the final day of trekking as we descend to the village of Nayapul. Here we pick up our private vehicle to take us to Pokhara where we will stay in a Three Star Hotel.
We will be able to explore the city of Pokhara in the morning. We will be staying near Lakeside, which is the heart of the most scenic part of the city. There is plenty to see when in Pokhara, which includes Devis Falls and boating on Phewa Lake. The flight to Kathmandu is relatively short, only 25 minutes. However, if you want to take a first class bus back to Kathmandu, then you will leave early so you can enjoy traveling along fast-flowing mountain rivers and through canyons as you climb upwards to Kathmandu. Either way is a great way to travel for the day. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with a cultural show. We will spend the night at a Three Star Hotel in Kathmandu.
All good things must come to an end, and your trip to Nepal is no exception. Before leaving, why not talk to your representative at Vertical Expedition about returning to Nepal for your next holiday. The vast majority of people make a return trip to Nepal because they are impressed by not only the beauty, but also the local people. Vertical Expedition offers trips into neighboring Tibet, Bhutan and India. Be sure to discuss your interests and plans with them today.
Trip Information
- All airport/hotel transfers
- 3 nights in 3-Star Hotel in Kathmandu
- 1 night in 3-Star Hotel in Pokhara
- During the trek, double occupancy in tea houses/local lodges is all that is available.
- All accommodations and meals during the trek.
- One day of guided sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley, along with tour guide and entrance fees.
- Domestic flights (Kathmandu to Pokhara and back)
- An experienced, English speaking trekking leader/guide. All guides, porters and Sherpas are government licensed and experienced. There will be one porter provided for two trekkers to carry luggage. Your fees cover their salaries, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging. We take good care of our trekking guides, Sherpas and porters, as well as giving them additional training that is not required by the Government of Nepal.
- Vertical Expedition will provide free of charge a sleeping bag, duffle bag, t-shirt and trekking map (sleeping bags & duffle bags are to be returned after trip completion.)
- Farewell Dinner along with one cultural show.
- A comprehensive medical kit
- All government and local taxes
- Nepal Visa (bring US currency along with four passport size photographs. You can buy visa upon arrival at airport.)
- International airline ticket to and from Nepal.
- Excess luggage charge
- Personal clothing and gear
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (and also in the case of early return from the mountains that the scheduled itinerary.)
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountains (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, hot shower in mountains, etc.)
- Cost raised by cancellation, landslide, weather, political unrest and illness will not be our responsibility as these are factors out of our control.
- Tips for driver, guide and porters.
Extras
FAQS
THE TREKKING GROUP
For this trek there will be one team leader/guide. We also provide an assistant leader (1 assistant per six trekkers), and Sherpa porters for carrying luggage (usual compliment is one porter for two trekkers). This arrangement ensures that anybody in the group gets sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned. Vertical Expedition can run this trek for any size group, but the maximum size is 12 people in order to make it a pleasant and enjoyable trip. However, if you would like to have a larger group, Vertical Expedition can make the appropriate arrangements as well.
ACCOMODATIONS
All accommodations for Annapurna Base Camp Family Trek are on twin sharing basis with inclusive trip costs and are chosen based on standard hygiene, standard of service and food, location and more. There are two styles of accommodations during the trip. We will spend three nights in 3-Star Hotels in Kathmandu and one night in Pokhara. For the remaining seven nights, we will stay at local tea houses or local lodges. Some of these places have shared toilets and washing facilities. Solo travelers may share a room with someone of the same sex, or if requested, we can arrange for a private room for an additional fee. However, please understand that in some remote places single rooms might not be feasible, even if the extra fee is paid. These are remote villages that we are dealing with. We at Vertical Expedition will do all we can to make your trip as pleasant and enjoyable as possible.
MEALS
During the trek, we 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, drinks and snacks. Breakfast and Dinner will be served from the tea house or lodge menu where we spend our night. Lunch will be served on the way to our destination and usually along the trail. Note that at the tea houses and lodges, the food is good, although the menus will be limited. A farewell dinner with cultural show and breakfast will be served in our stay in Kathmandu as well as breakfast served in Pokhara.
