Annapurna Base Camp Trek: Height, Routes, Weather and Cost

The Annapurna Region, along with the rest of Nepal has 4 distinct seasons. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. The months from March to May and from October or November are the most popular for trekking at the Annapurna Massif. Every trekking season offers its own excitement and atmosphere for hikers. You can read more about the most favorable trekking and hiking seasons in Nepal in this blog post.

What's the weather like in the seasons?

In Summer

Summer season falls in the month of June, July and August. Summer is the month of the hottest temperature and therefore has the most pleasant trekking conditions. But the monsoon that coincides with the summer means that you have to be more careful with your preparation as the trekking trails might be wet and slippery.

In Winter

Winter (December-January) treks in the Annapurna region are not as popular as the Spring or Autumn treks. The places along the Annapurna Base Camp trek can be extremely cold during the winter. The temperature of Annapurna Base Camp itself can be as low as -10 degree C which tempts trekkers to visit this region in pleasant climatic conditions. However, trekking in Annapurna Base Camp in the winter has its own benefits. The skies are clear with little or no chances of rain. The accommodation is easier to find and cheaper too as there are off-season discounts. Further, the views of the mountains during the winter season is the best amongst all seasons.

In Spring

Spring (March-May) is a season in which trekkers and travel enthusiasts come to Annapurna Base Camp in a large number. In this season, the temperature is mild, the rainfall is low and the trekking conditions are perfect. The mean daily temperature in the Annapurna Base Camp is between -8 to 0 degree C. Lower regions along the trek are even warmer making it pleasant for any trekking enthusiast.

In Autumn

Autumn(September, October, November), like Spring, is a season that invites travelers around the world to trek in the Annapurna Base Camp. Moderate temperatures, mild wind, and low precipitation makes Autumn a season of wonderful trekking conditions.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is another name for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek and the ABC-Trek is the abbreviated version of this famed trek. Don’t be confused with the alphabet. All three names are one of the same things and lead you straight to the base camp of Annapurna.

On the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you will reach the base camp of Annapurna I, the legendary Nepalese mountain with a height of 8.091m. The Annapurna Base Camp itself has a height of 4.130 meters.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek versus Annapurna Circuit

Both the Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Base Camp Trek are quite exciting in their own way. If your goal is to get the best views of the Annapurna Region, then you can choose either one. On either trek, the Annapurna Massif will be center of attention. One great advantage of the Annapurna Circuit over the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is that you are hiking in a circular direction. This means that you won’t be seeing things twice. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek includes, you’ve guessed it, the Annapurna Base Camp. This is excluded from the Annapurna Circuit, or you can add an extension.

Annapurna Region versus Everest Region

The first thing that comes to mind when speaking about Mount Everest base camp is climbing. The first thing that comes to mind when speaking about the Annapurna is trekking. You can, however, go climbing in Annapurna and go trekking in Everest. One of the main reasons for choosing the Annapurna Region over the Everest Region is access and altitude. Pokhara, the city of lakes, is the second-largest city of Nepal and is a great starting point for treks in the area. Guesthouses and hotels are well accommodated for trekkers and there is plenty to do before and after your trek. Unlike in the Mount Everest Region, your trek is not dependant on the flight schedules of the plane from Kathmandu to Lukla.

Hiking or trekking in the Annapurna Region can be a challenge. But this doesn’t mean that you can not do it. If you like hiking and make sure you start to get fit well ahead of the start of your trek, you can definitely make it.

The average trek in the Annapurna Region is not difficult but hikers and trekkers should still be moderately fit. After all, you are still trekking through the Himalayas of Nepal. If you are wondering what it physically takes to go trekking in Nepal and what you can do to become the fittest version of yourself, check out this blog post.

As most foreign visitors to Nepal land in Kathmandu, they are likely to go trekking on regions other than Annapurna. This is the first hurdle to trekking in the Annapurna Region. One has to actually travel to Pokhara. All the trekking providers by default offer transport from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Some by bus, others by plane.

An itinerary usually includes hotel accommodation in Pokhara and transport from Pokhara to Ghorepani. This is where some of the costs sit. Although you do not need to pay some kind of entrance fee, you still need to pay for permits. Without it is impossible to hike in the Nepal Himalayas. For the Annapurna Base Camp Trek you need two kinds of permits:

TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System):

This permit is important for every trekker wishing to trek in Nepal. This costs NRS 2000 per person. This equals about 17 USD or 15 EUR.

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit):

As you will be entering the Annapurna Conservation Area, you will need a permit. All permits are arranged by your trekking provider.

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is because of its average duration and difficulty not the most expensive trek in Nepal. Prices vary between the 700 USD and 1000 USD or 600 EUR and 900 EUR.

If you live anywhere else other than the Himalayas, it will be hard to get your legs ready for higher altitudes. After all, it doesn’t get much higher than Nepal. Fortunately, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is not one of the high altitude treks and it is also not as long as some other treks in Nepal. For the ABC Trek, it is fairly easy to get ready.

Should I Hike More?

One solid approach to get the hang of what you do is to rehearse. The best practice for climbing is climbing. Seeing that you are keen on a multi-day trekking experience, we accept that you enjoy walking. Awesome, do it more. If you are fortunate to be encompassed by some hills or even mountains, the time has come to see them all the more frequently. When? In the event that you are new to this, we recommend beginning a half year the start of your trek, essentially going for 60 minutes (or two) climb seven days.

When you get the hang of it, after around three weeks, you will have an ideal opportunity to reinforce your power. Convey a pack of 10 to 15kg and include a more drawn out climb of three hours to your week. On the off chance that this way of life is different to you, you will before long receive the rewards of this moderate exercise.

What Are The Health Benefits of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

Some of the health benefits of trekking and hiking include a lower risk of heart disease, improved blood pressure and sugar levels and of course it helps to control your weight. Once you are ready for the hills, it only gets better. According to Gregory Miller, president of the American Hiking Society, ”a 5% to 10% incline equals a 30% to 40% increase in calorie burn.” Our personal health benefits are a clearer mind and an elevated mood. Trekking keeps us sane.

After a good few months of solid hiking, it is time to put your endurance to the test. Do back to back long hikes. You can simulate a few days of constant trekking by going hiking for a few days. Easy at that. Plan a smaller trekking holiday or keep it simple by hiking your favorite route on repeat. If you are comfortable hiking for 4 hours a day, 3 days in a row while carrying a 10kg to 15kg backpack, you will be fine The above basics will definitely get you in shape for most treks in Nepal including the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. If you want to read more about getting fit for trekking in Nepal, make sure to check out this blog post.

Tea houses are small hotels known as Bhatti. Them being small hotels, you can expect a certain level of comfort. Yes, you can, but just know that comfort is a relative concept. They are comfortable to the extent that you have a place to sleep and that you can enjoy home-cooked meals. That’s right, tea houses are run by local families who have opened their houses to trekkers passing by. On the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you can expect well-fitted teahouses usually with hot water and WiFi access. Because of the lower altitude, it is easier to service and supply these teahouses.

Because trekking in Nepal has become so popular in recent years, more and more tea houses have opened their doors and the concept has improved over the years. The more popular your route, the better the quality of your tea house is. If you are headed to the Everest Region or the Annapurna Conservation area you can expect to see tea houses being of good quality. Quality meaning that you can expect flush toilets, hot showers and in some cases wireless internet. The use of these amenities is at an extra charge. On popular routes, it is even likely that you will stay in a building that has been built with the sole purpose of serving as a tea house. Read more about staying in teahouses here.