ABC Trek in 7 Days from Pokhara

Itinerary of ABC Trek in 7 Days from Pokhara

Includes/Excludes

Best Time

You can go to ABC Trek at any time of the year. However, fall (September to November) is the ideal time to journey. Fall is a dry season with clear blue skies and moderate temperatures. Snow melts, clearing the path, and the rivers and waterfalls along the route are serene. However, the trail can be crowded, and the accommodations may be full.

Spring (March to May) is the second best time for the Annapurna Base Camp trek. The trail will bloom with red and white azaleas and many other exotic flowers of the Annapurna region, a good time for botanists to visit. However, be cautious of the probability of an avalanche in the early spring days.

However, the monsoon (June to August) is not the right time. There is heavy rainfall from early in the morning, with dark clouds always on the horizon. So, you will not have good views of the mountains. There is also a probability of leeches, mosquitoes, landslides, and slippery roads. However, the animals in the forests come into action during this season.

You can also go during winter (December to February) if you want quieter. The day starts late, with clear skies, dry air d, and cold and snowy weather. However, it would help to be cautious about avalanches when hiking from Deurali to Machhapuchhre Base Camp.

Elevation and trekking distance

The ABC trek starts from Pokhara town at 822 m altitude and ends at Annapurna Base Camp at 4130 m. The round trip is approximately 74.2 km in Pokhara. An average of 15 km and 4 to 7 hours of walking is required daily. The total duration of the walk is seven days.

The highest elevation we will reach and spend the night at is ABC, and the second highest elevation is Machhapuchhre Base Camp, at 3700 m.

It is possible to extend and customize the program. While some complete this walk in 1 week, some extend it to 20 days.

Maximum/Minimum walk per day

The ABC trek is a scenic trek that follows a clear path from the starting point of Nayapul to the final destination, Annapurna Base Camp, and does not involve any extra difficulty regarding the trekking route or terrain. The paths are pretty broad, clear, and with solid ground. Since the altitude will be approximately 2,000 meters from the start, a path that ascends daily is generally followed. Although the path’s slope is usually low, it gets steeper at some points.

However, we will complete this trek within a week, walking for 5 to 6 hours almost every day with a lunch break. The walk is often relatively straightforward since the trail is relatively easy without technical complexity.

The most challenging day will be the fourth day when we hike from Dovan to ABC via MBC, requiring us to walk for approximately 7 to 8 hours.

Difficulty and Acclimatization

The ABC trek is a class B or moderate trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal. Although not difficult, there are still many challenges along the route. The average duration for completing the ABC trek is 11 to 14 days, but our ABC trek is seven days, so you have to walk 5 to 6 hours on almost all trekking days.

For beginners who have not trekked for long hours at high altitudes, we suggest you plan a 14-day ABC trek to have more time to rest and visit, even at a slow pace.

Another challenge you may face during the ABC trek is the terrain. Although the trail is well-marked and does not require much technical skill, you still have to overcome the winding trails with up-and-down steep slopes. There are also natural stone staircases that can exhaust your leg muscles.

Therefore, you must be in good shape and stamina to tackle these challenges.

Can a beginner trek to Annapurna base camp?

ABC Trek is a moderate-level trek suitable for children, older people, and those new to trekking. Although the route involves difficult travel and steep ups and downs, the chances of getting altitude sickness on the mountain are relatively low compared to other trekking routes in the Himalayas.

Furthermore, moderately traveled trails are more open. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek itinerary is pretty much flat land consisting mainly of cool streams and vast forests as you progress toward the base camp. It gradually increases to higher altitudes from the lowlands, giving trekkers several days to adapt to the increased height.

Therefore, people of all ages can go on a trekking trip with the guidance and support of a tour guide. The Annapurna Base Camp trek is one of the best options for anyone looking for an adventurous journey with the family.

Preparation and training

We have listed your difficulty level and challenges during our ABC trek in 7 days. However, don’t let these challenges postpone your trip. With good preparation and training sessions, you can easily overcome them.

Before going on this trip, you should focus on increasing your endurance and strength. For this purpose, you should start an exercise regime at least a month before your departure date.

It would help if you exercised by climbing stairs, walking uphill and downhill, and jogging to increase cardiovascular endurance. Keep up the
exercise routine for 21 days will make your body get used to walking for many days, and travel time will no longer be a concern.

Alternate routes

To date, the classic route to the ABC takes us to the southern base camp of Annapurna. However, the Annapurna Munlity (ARM) explored the new route five years ago. This new route will take you to the Northern base camp in Annapurna. Equally significant and beautiful, the trail is relatively new, yet to be explored, and yet to be more popular.

The trail had the footprints of legendary climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal, who were part of the French expedition to climb the Annapurna for the first time in 1950.

The route is less known and less promoted, but it will lead you through some of the unspoiled nature of the Annapurna. If you don’t mind sacrificing luxury and comfort for a few days in exchange for the purest nature, you should try this new route.

This route also begins from Pokhara, where you will drive to Tatopani. Then, you will walk past Ghasa, Lete, and Thulo Bugin. The lack of tea houses here requires you to carry tents overnight.

The further trail will lead you to Miristi Khola (4,130m) via Thulo Bugin Pass at 4400 m altitude. Then, you will set foot in the northern base camp of Annapurna, from where you can witness the grand majesty of the north face of Annapurna massifs.

Then, you can return via the circular route or hike to Jungle Camp, Riverside Camp, and Lete to Pokhara via Tatopani.

Altitude Sickness

Our ABC trek begins from Pokhara, at an elevation of less than 1000 m, and ends at ABC, at an elevation of 4130 m, where you will also spend a night. When you pass the 3,000m altitude mark, the oxygen level will decrease as you go higher. It will be tough for your body to adapt to the current environment immediately, and you may experience symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headache, dizziness, vomiting, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, etc.

If so, notify our tour guide whenever you feel unwell; returning to lower altitude areas is best rather than ignoring them. In addition, you can also take Diamox to help prevent altitude sickness. Remember to always
hydrate your body, maintain a balanced diet, avoid smoking, and use alcoholic beverages to minimize these effects.

Also, take your pace slowly, and don’t push yourself too hard to follow the crowd. In the long run, it will significantly affect your health and delay your plans. Keep moving slowly, and always go with your teammates or guides.

Accommodation, Transportation, Meal, and Drink

Our ABC trek in 7 days begins from Pokhara, so our service will cover all your logistics as the trek starts from Pokhara. During the ABC trek, we will offer you accommodation in tea houses along the villages, where we will rest for the night. You have to share rooms with your fellow group members. In the off-trekking season, a single room may be available in the tea house, but it can be pretty impossible in spring and autumn.

During the trek, we offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the tea houses. The tea house menu includes Dal Bhat Tarkari, momos (dumplings), pasta, rice bowls, soups, pizza, and, in some places, buffalo yak steak and apple pie.

There is bottled water for safe drinking water, but it is not environmentally friendly. So, we suggest using water purifiers, UV sterilizers, and water filters to purify your water when refilling your bottle from the tap or spring.

Please note that services in Kathmandu and Pokhara are excluded from our service, along with beverages, bars, and snack bills, such as sweets and desserts.

Regarding transportation, we offer private vehicle transfers from Pokhara to Nayapul and Nayapul to Pokhara.

Gadgets charging Communication and Internet/wifi

You will have adequate access to the internet in almost all places in the Annapurna region, including the base camp. You can connect to the internet via wifi or the local SIM of NTC or NCELL. Tea houses offer wifi at an additional charge of USD 3 to USD 4 per hour.

To purchase the local SIMs of NTC or NCELL, you can buy them in Kathmandu or Pokhara by presenting a copy of your passport and photo. Recharge the balance and activate the data package by dialing *17123# for Ncell and *1415# for NTC.

You can use NTC sim for communication as it has better coverage in the Annapurna region than Ncell.

You can also charge your mobiles, batteries, laptops, iPads, or any other electric devices at Tea houses along the route at an additional cost.

Permits

Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit and the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Permit are needed for our ABC trek in 7 days. Our included services include the service cost and process of obtaining these permits.

What to expect?

Along with the incredible panorama of the famous mountain peaks Machhapuchhare, Annapurna I, Gangapurna, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Baraha Shikhar, Khangsha Kang, Tarke Kang, Annapurna III, Tharpa Chuli, Singu Chuli, and many more, the ABC trek also offers the unique chance to explore the typical Gurung Villages of Ghandruk, Chhomrong, and Dovan.

This trek offers much more than just trekking directly to the base camp. After this trip, you will come to say that you will undoubtedly walk not only on the mountain but also through the life, culture, and traditions of the people who live here. The base camp approach route is specially designed for trekkers who enjoy the flora and fauna and a panoramic view of the Himalayan range.

Passing through the Annapurna Conservation Area, you can meet rare and endangered species, including red pandas and musk deer. Pandas will also have the opportunity to indulge in a relaxing bath in the natural hot spring of Jhinu Danda.