ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY TREK (ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK, or ABC TREK)
The most popular trek in Nepal Himalayas, nevertheless one of the most beautiful.
Technically very easy, less than a week long, possible for trekking on your own, without a professional guide.
You can pay for a group tour with a guide if you are not comfortable with going on your own, but in my opinion you’ll enjoy it more going yourself. It’s totally worth it! See for yourself.
ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY TREK ( ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK, OR ABC TREK)
Trek takes 7-10 days in total. If you are fit and well acclimatized it can take 6 days.
WHAT Equipment You need for ABC trek?
Basicly all you need can fit in one 30-45l backpack:
Good hiking boots, light pants, breathable clothes, a hat, sunglasses, warm sleeping bag, extra fleece or down jacket, raincoat, underwear and socks, toothbrush and sun cream. A good camera would be nice. That’s it.
There are many lodges with double, triple-person rooms and the cheapest… dorms.
If you eat in the lodges, bed can be really cheap (around 30-40 rupies).
Best place to start ANNAPURNA TREK is POKHARA. You can take a local bus to PHEDI (1,5-2h). More expensive will be a taxi.
DAY 1 Pokhara-Phedi-Tolka
My trek was in mid September- the end of Monsoon. Still a lot of moisture and many leeches on the way. If you go in that period- take boots, a HAT! and a long sleeve to cover your body.
Phedi to Tolka takes around 6h. 1000m ascent and 400m descent.
First you climb up the hill, and reach Dhampus village, where ACAP checkpoint is. To enter Annapurna Conservation Area you need a 2000Rs permit. You can also get it in Pokhara travel offices, and you need a photo for it.
On the way you pass some Huts and hotels in Pothana, and after a stone-paved trail through the forest to Deorali, you make a steep ascent through the forest full of birds and pass some Guest Houses.
We spent first night in Tolka.
DAY 2 Tolka-Chhomrong
A short day of 6h trek. You start with 450m descent, and then about 900m ascent. Don’t rush because every few meters you get better sights and views…
Once you reach Chhomrong village you’ll want to stay there! The View of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare are breathtaking. Take some sunset and sunrise pictures.
DAY 3 Chhomrong-Himalayan Hotel
Little over 1100m ascent and 500m descent. 7-8h
Most people make this route in 2 days staying in Bamboo. We had good acclimatization and we reached Bamboo early so decided to climb some more, all the way to Himalayan Hotel.
You get higher and air is getting thinner and less oxygen so don’t rush yourself if you are not well acclimatized to avoid high altitude sickness. Stay for a hot tea in guesthouses on the way and enjoy views. If you feel not well and get headache take an aspirin and if necessary go down. Stay hydrated and better not drink alcohol as we did 😉
DAY 4 Himalayan Hotel – Annapurna Base Camp
1300m ascent (4-5h). On the way we stop in Machapuchare Base camp lodge for lunch. After a nice trek along a glacier we reach ABC.
The view of Annapurnas in Annapurna Sanctuary is unbelievable. If it’s the first 8-thousand peak you see emotions are even higher. Lodges in ABC are comfortable, but it can get really cold at night (4130m), so if you don’t have 4 season sleeping bag ask for extra blankets! Get up early and take some sunrise pictures.
DAY 5 ANNAPURNA SANCTUARY-Chhomrong
From 4130m (ABC) to 2150m (Chhomrong). Fortunately weather was better with lots of sunshine one the way back so atmosphere was much different.
We wanted to stay one more night in Chhomrong because the view of Machapuchare from there really takes a breath away.
DAY 6 Chomrong-Naya Pul-Pokhara
Taking little different route back to Pokhara via Naya pul to see more. A steep hillsides and crossing through rice fields terraces, and a picturesque school in the mountains was an extra cherry on cake for this trek.
