Combination of famous trekking routes- Annapurna base camp and Poonhill, Annapurna sanctuary trek is one of the most famous trekking destination in Nepal. Trek costs USD 700PP including accommodation, transportation, guides, porter, permit and trekking gears.
Trek to Annapurna Sanctuary combines Annapurna base camp trek with Poonhill trek, named after the famous viewpoint Poonhill. Normally Annapurna Sanctuary trek takes 10 days but you can easily finish it on 9 days. On this trek you will visit and explore Annapurna Base Camp located at an altitude of 4130m and experience the phenomenal 360 degree views of Himalayan peaks. Poonhill also offer unparalleled sunrise views over Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Lamjung, Fishtail, Hiunchuli, Gandharba and other peaks.
The trail covers much of the Annapurna conservation area which has been known for its successful eco tourism model where the culture of Gurung, Magar and Bahun communities and their livelihoods maintain a symbiotic relationship with the ecological biodiversity of the region. Annapurna conservation area is a prime habitat for many endangered flora and fauna including Snow Leopard and Himalayan Black Bear.
Also regarded as the alternative route to Annapurna circuit trek, Annapurna Sanctuary trek has plenty of lodges and guesthouses with well maintained trail. The trek is best approached during Spring (Mar-May) and Autumn (Sep-Nov) seasons.
There are two routes to make this Annapurna sanctuary trek. But, route starting from Nayapur/Ghorepani to /Tadapani/Chhomrong then uphill to Annapurna base camp and back Pokhara from Jhinnu is probably the best one.
Trek to Annapurna sanctuary 9 days 7 nights is the most popular trekking trail in the world cost – rivaled only by Everest Base Camp trek – offering 360 degree panorama of Annapurna range. Here are the some highlight of this trek.
Trekking package includes all required services, such as ground transportation, permit, accommodation, food, guide and porter, all documentation, staff insurance etc. There is simply no hidden cost. The cost per person decreases with the increase in group sizes.
There are two routes to make this Annapurna sanctuary trek. Please find the most scenic route map below.
The moderate level beautiful trek to Annapurna sanctuary is one of the must do trek in Nepal. Here is the day do day details itineracy for Annapurna sanctuary 9 days 8 nights trek from Pokhara.
Annapurna Sanctuary trek is one of the best selling Nepal trek package. We always suggest our guest to know some must know things about this trip. Here are some important information about this trip.
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Annapurna Base camp is a popular and prominent trekking trail in Nepal. Here you will find plenty of well-equipped tea houses (lodges) along all points of the trek. Trekkers will have a variety of accommodation to choose for their comfortable stay.
In lower elevation, you can find rooms with attached bathroom. Such rooms are available on twin or double sharing basis. In contrast, in higher elevation, rooms come with 3 to 5 beds on a sharing basis.
Tea houses are lodges specially designed to provide comfortable and affordable rest-place for trekkers. The lodges on the trails of ABC trek are relatively comfortable and affordable. There is no facility for heating rooms in Annapurna trekking region. WIFI is freely available in nearly all lodges in the Annapurna region. For charging your mobile phone, torch and other electronics, you are highly recommended to bring your own power banks. Because they are limited in numbers, good lodges often pre-booked or booked in advance.
Camping trek is also possible in Annapurna region. It is generally common for Annapurna expedition teams to do camping trek. Tents are used for accommodation, cooking, sleeping, resting and as toilets. A special cooking staff will prepare food for expedition members and porters are employed to carry tents and other logistics.
Today, a range of food is available for trekkers on Annapurna Base Camp trek. But because Annapurna region sits at high altitude and everything has to be transported either on helicopter, by porters or on yaks, food are relatively expensive. Nepali rice and lentils, soups, Momos, fried rice, dishes, noodles, Tsampa, spaghetti, spring rolls are available during the trek. The prices fo the same item of food increases with increasing altitude.
Those trekking in Annapurna region are recommended to choose locally-produced organic vegetables and cereals over meat items owing to the high cost of the latter in transporting and preserving in high-altitude region.
Bottled water and Jars are highly used by trekkers on the EBC trek. They can be easily purchase from local stores along the trekking trail.
Boiled Water on the other hand are the safest- they are offered by lodges upon request and is often charged a certain price.
The third option is to use local water collected from local streams/rivers for drinking. This can be made drinkable by adding water purification tablets or chlorine dioxide before drinking. But due to its strong smell, trekkers often avoid drinking this type of water which can result in dehydration. So we highly recommend to use boiling water at all times.
Annapurna base camp trek from Pokhara is one of the most famous trekking routes in Nepal. Pokhara serves as the entry and ending point for the Annapurna Base Camp trek and trekkers use it as a place of relaxation before and after the trek. Located just 200Km away from Kathmandu, Pokhara is easily accessible by both road and planes. Porters and guides can also be hired easily in Pokhara and there are plenty of trekking gear shops.
There are several trekking routes leading up to the Annapurna base camp. But they all follow the same trail all the way to Chhomrong. Trekkers have multiple options to start the trek from different location based on one’s interest, budget and time availability. Nayapul-Ghandruk-Chhomrong-ABC-Jhinnu -Pokhara, Nayapul-Jhinnu – Chhomrong- ABC, Nayapul-Poonhill – Tadapani-Chhomrong- ABC-Chhomrong- Jhinnu-Tolka-Phedi are some popular ABC routes.
Annapurna Base Camp trekking via Poonhill combine the experience of Poonhill with Annapurna Base Camp. This trek is also called Annapurna Sanctuary trek and can be completed within 9 days. It takes you to some of most scenic places in Annapurna conservation area, such as Poonhill, Chhomrong and ABC.
Also known as Annapurna sanctuary trek, ABC trek via Ghorepani follows the route, Nayapul-Ulleri-Ghorepani (Poonhill)-Tadapani-Chhomrong-ABC-Jhinnu-Nayapurl- Pokhara. This trek covers visit to Poonhill and Ghorepan and trek to Annapurna Base Camp.
This trek can be completed from 4 to 7 days. Below are the itineraries for ABC trek.
Annapurna Base Camp trek is the first trekking route to be opened in Nepal. So it is a classical route still in favor of most avid trekkers. The trek starts off at Pokhara with a short drive to Nayapul, the launching point of the trek. You will pass through Ghandruk and Chhomrong, Jhinnu, before returning the same route back to Pokhara.
Annapurna base camp trek in 6 days involves 4 days of trekking uphill followed by 2 days of downhill trek. On your return route, you will stay overnight in Bamboo, then trek to Jinnu-Ghandruk border from where you will drive back to Pokhara.
Annapurna Base Camp trek in 5 days sets off at Jhinnu towards Chhomrong on Day 1. The next day you will join the classical Annapurna base camp trek route. On Day 5, you will reach Ghandruk via Jinnu on a suspension bridge before driving back to Pokhara.
Annapurna base camp trek in 4 days leads you to Annapurna Base Camp using classical ABC route. After reaching ABC, you will take a short helicopter ride back to Pokhara.
ABC trek on a helicopter is a 4 days program. Spend the first 4 days trekking all the way to Annapurna Base Camp passing through Naypul, Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Himalaya, Duerali and Fishtail Base Camp. Then on 5th day return to Pokhara from ABC on a helicopter. This is a good option for those tourists who have limited time and are looking for a comfortable adventure.
ABC trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek are two popular trekking routes in Annapurna conservation area. ABC trek reaches up to a height of 4130m whereas Annapurna Circuit trek will go up to 5420 meters (Thorangla Pass). Both trekking routes offering stunning 360-degree views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges and features high passes and experience of walking in trans Himalayan landscape.
Both ABC trek and Tilicho Lake trek lies in the famous Annapurna region. The goal of ABC trek is Annapurna Base Camp (4130m) while that of Tilicho Lake trek is the pristine Tilicho Lake(4919m). While trekking to Tilicho Lake, you will also visit Manang. In case of bad weather and high snowfall, Tilicho Lake becomes inaccessible, however ABC trek is still possible even during snowfall.
The main highlights of Everest Base Camp are Kalapathar (5550m) and Everest Base Camp (5360m) and that of ABC trek is 4130m. EBC trek can be completed in 12 days, ABC trek in all of 7 days. EBC trek is regarded as strenuous trek as opposed to ABC trek which is graded moderate. Furthermore, EBC trek hosts rich Sherpa culture while ABC is home to diverse culture.
ABC trek is a classical trek which leads you to Annapurna Base Camp located at 4130m. In contrast Mardi Himal is relatively a newly opened trek in Annapurna region that allows you to reach Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4500m. In spite of many similarities, Mardi Himal trek has an edge over ABC trek in that one can easily find access to a motorable road from every point along Mardi Himal trek which is not the case for ABC trek.
The highest altitude of Annapurna Base Camp trek is 4130m. Its height has been found to increase due to the movement of Himalayan tectonic plates.
ABC trek can be done throughout year. But October to November and Feb to April are considered the best time to do this trek due to good weather. Trekking during the periods can be fun, safe and rewarding as there is a greater prospect of seeing snowcapped mountain every day.
Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp is possible during monsoon season when most other trekking areas not. Because Annapurna Base Camp is perfectly surrounded by mountains on all sides, one can easily see snow-capped mountains even during monsoon period. In addition, there is no or little risk of landslides in Annapurna Base Camp region due to its lush vegetation.
Annapurna Base Camp trek is highly recommended during the winter season when the entire valley turns heavenly beautiful with snowfall and glaciers. You will be walking on a soft and crunchy snowy trail above 3000m. You may have to use crampon, from Deurali to Embassy, on an icy path.
During the months of December and January, the temperature at Annapurna Base Camp can drop to -10 degree Celsius at night and up to 15 degrees during daytime. This period is also great for trekking in ABC because of clear blue skies, stable weather, less rainfall, snow and mountains.
For those who come from tropical climate, Annapurna Base Camp trek in February and March is best. As you are less familiar with cold, you can experience snow without feeling too cold. During this period, the temperature remains about -2 degrees Celsius at night and 20 degrees during day time with less chances of rainfall.
Sunny and blue skies mark the month of April at Annapurna Base Camp. So, ABC trek in April will be perfect. It is 25 degree Celsius in the afternoon and can go as low as zero at night. You will experience warm wind flow and great views of mountains and beautiful rhododendron flowers.
June signals the start of monsoon season. Trekking in Annapurna Base Camp is possible in June but you will be lucky to find a good weather. You should expect rainfall anytime and you may not see the mountains. But one thing is certain- you are less likely to be bitten by leeches.
Annapurna Base Camp trek in August and September means you will have to deal with post-monsoon season. This is when the skies are mostly cloudy, remaining only partially open for mountain viewing. You are in store for some hot days as temperature run as much as 20-25 degrees in daytime and 0-5 degrees at night. Also be careful of leeches in lower trekking areas
October and November are counted among the best period for Annapurna Base Camp trek. The weather is warm- not too cold- with less chances of rainfall. You can clearly see the beautiful mountains and feel snow. The temperature could drop to -2 degree Celsius at night and go up to 20 during day time. One of the greatest perks of ABC trek in October and November is the opportunity to witness local festivals and cultural activities in cities and mountains.
The total distance coverage of Annapurna Base Camp trek is 62km. This is a two-way calculation, starting from Nayapul and ending back to the same spot. The one-way length from Nayapul to Annapurna Base Camp is roughly 31 km.
The idea that Nepalese enjoy heavy discount while trekking in mountains is not entirely true. Local tourists, i.e., Nepalese, also have to pay as much as foreigners for most trekking services such as guides, porters and food. This means the price quoted on menu is equally applicable for both Nepali tourists and foreigners. Though, Nepali trekkers do not need to buy TIMS card and entrance ticket to Annapurna conservation area.
Indian tourists usually get special discount on hotel and flight fares. Like Nepalese, they also get partial waivers on the purchase of TIMS card and protected area permits. But they are not entitled to any discount on hotel charges in Annapurna base camp route.
Annapurna Base Camp trek without guide is certainly possible and every year trekkers can be seen trekking guide-free. The risk of not taking a guide is far outweigh the small cost trekkers want to save. To begin with, Annapurna Base Camp trek is an avalanche prone zone, as there is danger of landslides and sporadic rainfall. Also, there are several routes in ABC and trekkers may get lost or disappear if they don’t know the area well. So, it is strongly advised to take knowledgeable and experienced guide along while on ABC trek.
ABC Trek 7 days 6 nights – we felt lucky to engage Eyes on Nepal
Me and my friends engaged Eyes on Nepal for 7 days 6 nights ABC Trek. The experience was beyond words can describe. Feeling lucky and blessed as we succeed it with help of the whole team of Eyes on Nepal.
We were recommended by a friend who just engaged them in September, said they are good. We wrote to Angie, and immediately we got a reply, and after a few emails, we confirmed the trek.
The price is good which we paid USD 500 per person. They provide us with trekking sticks, sleeping bags, all meals, a porter, a trekking guide – Deepak (thank to him without him we won’t be able to make it). He is very patient, professional, and caring. He always provide us with hot tea (free) and chocolate( he bought but we paid him back) whenever we felt like giving up halfway.
I want to mention on trekking quality too… We were provided the sleeping bags, and this is actually to our surprise.
The sleeping bag quality is very good, other trekkers on the same lodge were not provided sleeping bags by their trekking agency (met a few trekking along the trekking route, they were told to pay USD 5 per day to rent the sleeping bags and they refused, thus they trekked without the sleeping bags. But, our ABC package included all the trekking needs already).
We felt lucky to engage Eyes On Nepal as it was freezing in the night especially at the Annapurna base camp. We felt so lucky to get the hygiene, clean and nice sleeping bags that really help us to rest and sleep well, it was too cold at night to sleep without the sleeping bags.
For foods in mountains, Deepak lets us choose whatever we want from the menu too for all restaurants and lodge for lunch and dinner. We had good foods and we ate fruits too. This is a luxury especially in the cold mountain. Instead of eating “dhal bhat*(we don’t like it) every day, we ate Pizza, spaghetti, noodle soup, chicken, mutton etc. Other trekkers are provided only preordered meal – “Dhal Baht” and we felt lucky again to engage Eyes On Nepal.
Overall, this is a good trek with good trekking guide – Deepak as we were provided sufficiently on all we need in mountain.
Next year, will go for EBC Trek, will sure engage Eyes on Nepal again. Good Job done… Will tell all my friends and family who are visiting Nepal soon.
