Posted 17 October 2024 in Travel wanderlust

Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Guide: Hotels and Experience in Nepal

Nepal is synonymous with adventure, culture and nature. Once you book flights to Nepal, there is no shortage of activities and places to explore. While only the fittest can trek to the summit of Mount Everest and the base camp, a majority can certainly trek to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), which is after all the second most famous place to trek in Nepal.

While this trek alone will leave you flabbergasted traversing beautiful landscapes and charming villages, you get an opportunity to stay in the hotels near the Annapurna Base Camp. If you plan to trek in the right season, the journey is nothing short of magical, along the trails, you will cross bright red rhododendron, lush forests, scenic landscapes, and fairy-tale-like villages.

In this blog, we will provide a detailed Annapurna Base Camp travel guide, the hotels to stay near Annapurna Base Camp, and how to reach Annapurna Base Camp from Pokhara in Nepal. So, lace up your boots and get ready for an adventure in the scenic beauty of Nepal with IndiGo.

The types of hotels to stay while trekking to Annapurna Base Camp:

Staying at comfortable hotels near Annapurna Base Camp is essential since the entire trek is almost 6 days long, both ways. The duration of the Annapurna Base Camp trek highly depends on the individual, but no matter how long you take, it is essential to pre-book your hotel near Annapurna Base Camp, especially during the peak seasons.

Teahouses (Guesthouses)

This is a common village stay experience en route to the Annapurna Base Camp trek. Such teahouses are family-run accommodations. You can expect basic facilities for a night stay and delicious food

You can expect:

The private rooms or dorms at guesthouses near Annapurna Base Camp are provided with comfortable beds, pillows and blankets, the same as the dormitory as well.
The toilets may be on a shared basis. Most of the teahouses offer dining areas where one can enjoy a hearty meal on arrival and departure.

Lodges

Lodges are slightly different than teahouses, they are bigger with more facilities. However, the lodges are available at the initial start of the trek.

You can expect:

Better facilities with bigger beds and comfortable bedding, as well as, complete heated rooms for the comfort of guests.
In the higher altitude lodges, you can find private washrooms with hot water facilities. Good Nepali food is also provided.

Basic Hotels

There is a wide range of basic hotels, most of them are located at the lower altitudes in places like Pokhara.

You can expect:

Private rooms with balcony, easy accessibility to restaurants and other hangout places.
The hotels include attached bathrooms and additional comforts such as furniture and WiFi facilities.

Hostel-style accommodations

In the lower parts of Annapurna, there are several hostel-style accommodations for travellers. These shared rooms are cheaper compared to other hotels near the Annapurna Base Camp trekking area.

You can expect:

The rooms are minimal with simple furnishings and few amenities.
Often, such places have basic washrooms and are shared among other travellers.

Overall, these are the type of hotels you can find near the Annapurna Base Camp route. No matter where you choose to stay, make sure to pre-book during peak season.

When is the best time to hike Annapurna Base Camp?

The best time to trek to Annapurna Base Camp depends on your preference. If you wish less crowd, then winter or spring is ideal. Since autumn is considered the peak tourist season to trek to Annapurna Base Camp.

Autumn: The months between September and November are perfect to trek to Annapurna Base Camp. It is a peak tourist season, so make sure to book hotels in advance so that you will have your room ready as soon as you arrive. During this time, the weather is pleasant and dry with clear sky and stunning views of the mountains.
Spring: During spring, between March and May, the crowd is less making it perfect for trekking. The weather conditions are similar to autumn, with diverse flora adding charm to your trekking experience at ABC.
Winter: December to February is cold in the Annapurna region, it is an ideal time to trek if you enjoy snow. Most people prefer this time of the year since there are few trekkers, giving ample opportunity to enjoy the sights yourself. However, it can get very cold with snow in every direction, so trek cautiously.
Monsoon: June to August is the monsoon season. Despite the nature is lustrous and the landscape is greener and more beautiful, it is not the best time to trek to Annapurna Base Camp because the rain may obstruct your entire experience.

What are the tips to remember while hiking to Annapurna Base Camp?

Planning to go for a trekking expedition in Nepal? You will be in for a treat since the country offers stunning landscapes for adventure activities. However, if you are a newbie going on a trekking trip in Nepal, there are a few basic tips to remember while hiking to Annapurna base camp:

Obtain permits: You need to obtain an entry permit for the Annapurna Conversation Area from either Kathmandu or Pokhara at the Tourism Office.
Book hotels in advance: Trekking to ABC is moderate, but it is at least 6 days of trekking. Make sure to pre-book the hotels along the way in advance with the help of Google Maps or ask an agent to help set a route.
Altitude: The Annapurna Base is at an elevation of 4,130 m. During your trek, the air gets thinner making your head hurt. It is recommended to stay hydrated and walk slow as you can to avoid altitude sickness.
Pack wisely: No matter when you plan your ABC trek, the weather gets colder in the higher ranges. Pack warm clothes as well as waterproof trekking boots.
Sleeping gear: In case you wish to bring your tent for the trek, you can do so, especially during peak season when hotel rooms are full. You can request the hotel if you can camp outside. Make sure to get a thick base for the tent as well as good sleeping bags, trekking poles, and a headlamp.
Physical fitness: Prepare mentally and physically before trekking. Start training your body months in advance and walk as much as you can for practice. Also, focus on building your stamina so that you can handle long days of continuous trekking.
Food and water: The reason why the ABC trek is comfortable and convenient for first-timers is that there are several villages on the way to the base camp. You will get plenty of food and drink, but make sure to carry energy bars and water.
First-aid kit: During trekking, accidents may happen, so carry a miniature first-aid kit to cover injuries and meds for altitude sickness. Also, give your contact information to the hotel or your family for emergencies.

How to get to Annapurna Base Camp?

Getting to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) is easy since it is a well-known and well-marked trek. Here is a step-by-step guide to reach the starting point of the ABC trek:

Arrive in Nepal

Step 1: Fly into Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). It is the main international airport for Nepal. From here, you can either take any roadway for a domestic flight to Pokhara.

Step 2: Travel to Pokhara from Kathmandu either by a domestic flight or bus/cab. The flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara may take 30 minutes. The buses on the other hand will take a maximum of 8 hours and shared cabs may take 6 hours.

Step 3: Get to the ABC starting point from one of these points -

Get a shared jeep from Pokhara: In Pokhara, go to Hari Chowk from where you can get a shared jeep. It will drop you till Jhinu Danda (the start of the trek).
Cost: NPR 1000/Per Person

Alternatively:
Catch a bus from Pokhara bus stand: You can get on a bus to Nayapul and begin your hike or wait for another jeep from Nayapul. Despite being a cheaper option, it can be time-consuming.

Annapurna Base Camp trekking itinerary

This is an example of an Annapurna Base Camp itinerary for first-time travellers:

Nayapul to Tikhedhunga or Ulleri: Trekking starting point from Nayapul, trek to Tikhedhunga
Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani: Traverse beautiful villages and terrace fields from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani
Ghorepani to Tadapani: Continue your trek through the beautiful rhododendron forest to Tadapani
Tadapani to Chomrong: From Tadapani, decent to the Modi Khola Valley and enter Annapurna Sanctuary
Chomrong to Bamboo: This is a long trek from Chomrong to Bamboo through dense forest, you will cross the Modi Khola (River)
Bamboo to Machapuchare Base Camp: From Bamboo you need to ascend into the sanctuary and go to Machapuchare Base Camp
Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC) to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC): Finally, you will have to trek through MBC to ABC

Begin your return journey by retracing your steps back to Nayapul.

Alternatively, for a short trek to Annapurna Base Camp, follow this itinerary:

Day 1: Pokhara to Jhinu Danda (jeep) - Walk to Chhomrong: Arrive here from Pokhara via jeep and begin your trek. You will need to cross the long suspension bridge that will take up the mountain to Chhomrong.

Day 2: Chhomrong to Himalaya: The next morning, leave Chhomrong, (You will find a tourist checkpost at the end of Chhomrong). Cross other hamlets like Sinuwa, Bamboo, and Dovan before arriving at your base Himalaya.

Day 3: Himalaya to MBC: Leave Himalaya and walk towards MBC (or ABC if you can make it without getting the infamous altitude sickness). Cross hamlets like Deurali before arriving at MBC.

Day 4: MBC to ABC - ABC to Bamboo: Wake up at 4 AM and trek for 1.5 to 2 hours to ABC to watch the stunning sunrise. After spending some time there, walk down to MBC, get your bags, have breakfast and retrace your steps.

Note: You can skip Himalaya and spend a night in Bamboo instead.

Day 5: Bamboo to Jhinu Danda, Jeep to Pokhara: Begin your final walk to Pokhara from Bamboo. You can traverse the hamlets and arrive at Jhinu Danda to catch a jeep to Pokhara.

Note: You can also visit the hot spring at Jhinu Danda before making your final walk to the jeep stand. Don’t worry, you will find jeeps as well as buses the whole day, until sunset.

Takeaway

This simplified Annapurna Base Camp trekking guide may help first-timers plan an expedition to Nepal and embark on this route. You can book direct flights to Kathmandu with IndiGo and begin your adventure and create many memories.