10 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek: Of many excuses to come to Nepal, Annapurna Base Camp Trek(ABC) is the main reason why thousands of people pick Nepal over others. People of the world are known for the beauty of the Annapurna region. And they also know that one of the best ways to inhale all of the Annapurna region’s beauty at once is the ABC Trek.
It is a short way to enjoy the entire scenic madness of the Annapurna region for just 10 days, not 13 or 15 days. Only duration is shortened to include trekkers who don’t have more travel time, the highlights are the same as the standard ABC Trek. This 10 days journey to the base camp of the 10th world highest mountain is totally worth it.
Along with Annapurna Base Camp, this trek makes you reach the base camp of the most popular Mt Machhapuchhre(Fishtail). Not only that, but you’ll also traverse through scenic trails of the Annapurna region enjoying the mountains and captivative terrains all day.
The trails of Annapurna Base Camp Trek are most popular for its forested trails. While walking on such trails, it feels like it is just you and nature and no one else. In those woods live the various nice-whistling birds to make a trekker’s heart happy. Moreover, en-route to the base camp, you’ll get to interact or come across Gurung’s. Gurung is the main tribe of the Annapurna region and they have lived there since long showing their unique culture and lifestyle.
If you are mad about dusk and dawn views, then this trek should be your next voyage. That is, this trek makes you reach two favorite destinations to enjoy the sunset and sunrise view: Poonhill for astonishing sunrise view and the base camp itself for both sunrise and sunset views. It is almost impossible to express “how these views look like” in words, you just need to do this trek and find it yourself.
Read the full article to find more about 10 Days ABC Trek. The information regarding best time, food & accommodation, difficulties, itineraries along with frequently asked questions of this wonderful trekking are as below:
Highlights of 10 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Experience the trekking trials of one of the world most admired trek
- Trek amid the lush vegetation and forests of Annapurna region
- Explore and learn more about unique Gurung’s lifestyle and culture
- Enjoy the heartwarming sunrise and mountain panorama from Poonhill
- Reach two base camps in one trek: Machhapuchhre Base Camp and ABC
- One overnight at ABC to watch chilly sunset and sunrise
- Get your eyes washed white by the massive Mt Annapurna and its siblings
Best time for 10 Days ABC Trek
Mild trekking temperature, stable weather, bright and clear visibility, no clouds around skies and mountains, and very low precipitation rate will be defining the best time for this trek. Such time has to be just perfect for an outing with no disappointments.
Well, there are two times that meet all of the above conditions and they are Autumn and Spring. Better known as the peak seasons, trekkers do come to Nepal during these seasons, and trails of Nepal get busy. However, Autumn has a different class than the Spring and because of that Autumn is the busiest time of year. September, October, and November are the months of the busy Autumn. Trekkers doing Annapurna Circuit Trek during Autumn can enjoy the clear skies, the mild daytime temperature of around 15 to 17°C, unobstructed mountain views, stable sunny weather.
Likewise, Spring is the second-best time for ABC Trekking. March, April, and May are the months of Spring days and these months also act good for trekkers. They will get to trek on the sunny and warm day under no clouds above, only clear mountain views in front. Plus, you will get a grand welcome from the already bloomed Rhododendrons while into the woods. It is a dreamable trekking experience on the days of Spring when the Annapurna region upgrades its beauty.
Yet, the two remaining seasons like Winter and Monsoon season are off-seasons for trekking in Nepal. Monsoon brings a lot of rainfall and Winter has the coldest days of the year. These two times are hassle prone times where most of the trekkers don’t prefer to go out for trekking in Nepal. Still, there are some adventurers who like to see Annapurna region’s beauty in the not so good times. If you are one of those then have every kind of preparation and then go for it.
Food and Accommodation on 10 Days ABC Trek
Let’s start with accommodation first, ABC Trek is one of the most popular tea-house trekkings in Nepal. And being a teahouse trekking, you should expect the basic teahouses as the accommodation in the 10 days trek. The tea houses with basic rooms are scattered all over the major stops of ABC Trek. Most of the Rooms are on a twin-sharing basis where two people at maximum can fit. And toilets are not attached to rooms rather there is one toilet for one story. However, these teahouse’s rooms are economic, clean, and suitable enough to spend overnights.
Talking about food on the trek, teahouses provide meals and drinks on the trail. Dal Bhat, Pasta, Potatoes, Eggs, Soup, Pizza, Sandwich, Spaghetti are the commonly available food items in most of the teahouses. However, Dal Bhat is the most popular trekking food in the entire trails of ABC Trek. That is you may not get other items but Dal Bhat is forever there in the menu of every teahouse. Similarly, tea, coffee, energy drinks are also available quite easily.
Difficulties on 10 Days ABC Trek
10 Days ABC Trek is a high altitude trek and does have some difficulties which may not be for all of you. I mean to say that the regular high altitude trekkers are pretty comfortable with any sort of itineraries. But starters can face some problems on the trek. The main troubles of ABC Trek 10 Days are total distance and altitude sickness.
The total distance of the trek is 115km in a round trip. As you have to start the trek to complete the entire distance in just 10 days. Here, to meet the daily trek requirement, you have to walk around 5 to 7 hours each day on the uneven trails. So this can be a problem for those who are doing the first trek of their life.
Also, this trek is a high altitude trek which reaches Base Camp(4,130m) of Mt Annapurna. So, someone who has no prior memories of trekking in the high altitude treks can face difficulty in front of the Altitude sickness. And, altitude sickness is real and fatal if no precautions and immediate treatments take place.
So, yes, overall distance and altitude sickness are the two problems, especially for beginners. For example, bad weather and temperature during off-seasons, overcrowded trails, and teahouses during on-seasons. For such problems, you can either change the trekking date or else have to adjust to it all.
Detailed 10 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary
Drive hours: 6 hours
Altitude Gain: 950m
Your first day of the trek will start with a bus drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu. It will be a 6 hours drive through scenic and serpentine highway. After breakfast at your hotel, you will be received by our team to take you to the bus for Pokhara. It will be an eventful 6 hours as your bus will traverse over the highway which is touched and very nearby woods, hills, and rivers.
After 6 hours of drive, you will touch down the touristic town of Nepal, Pokhara. It is a beautiful city with lakes nearby the town and green hills and towering peaks at the backdrop. You’ll explore this beautiful city after check-in. There are many awesome hangouts around the lakeside where you can spend some time enjoying the urban life before heading out for the rural trek. Overnight at Pokhara after seeing the city.
Drive hours: 2 hours
Drive Duration: 9km
Trek Duration: 3 hours
Altitude Gain: 1560m
Today, after breakfast you’ll leave Pokhara with a 2 hours drive for Naya Pul. While leaving Pokhara, you’ll enjoy a picturesque view of hills and forests through your window. And as soon as you arrive at Nayapul(1,100m), you’ll hit the trails towards Tikhedhunga.
It is the first time you’ll be trekking on the trekking trails of the Annapurnas. Nayapul to Tikhedhunga trail takes place through off-roads, farmlands, villages, forests and some suspension bridges. If there are no clouds around the skies you may start to see aspiring views of Mt Machhapuchhre. Leaving Nayapul you will reach Birethanti after ascending the trail that is surrounded by lush and green forest. The route continues to ascend upward until you reach Tikhedhunga, a beautiful village situated at the bottom of surrounding hills. Overnight at Tikhedhunga’s teahouse.
Trek Duration: 7 hours
Altitude Gain: 2,880m
After an overnight at beautiful Tikhedhunga, it’s time to move ahead and today you’ll aim for Ghorepani. Before you head out for the trek, intake a heavy diet as it will be one of the longest days of the trek. It is mostly uphill trek until Ghorepani. But you will feel healed by the views that you’ll come across while moving forward.
Half of the day’s trek will be spent until Ulleri from Tikhedhunga as the trail is steep. Ulleri will host a short break for you after the strenuous trek and then you’ll join the trail to reach Ghorepani before nightfall. Ghorepani is the major settlement of Gurung’s and from here you can have the best views of Annapurna range. After the whole day’s stretch, you will finally make it to the Ghorepani. Have an awesome food there and then take a well-earned rest at one of the teahouses of Ghorepani.
Trek Duration: 5 hours
Altitude Gain: 2,610m
On this day, you’ll do an early morning hike up to Poon Hill(3,210m), the most popular place to enjoy the sunrise and mountain views in Nepal. Poon Hill is only 2 hours uphill hike from Ghorepani. Once you reach the viewpoint of Poon Hill, you will get awestruck by the sunrise view arising just behind the Annapurna range. It also offers a wide panorama of terrains and peaks of the Annapurna region. Some of the peaks seen from the Poon Hill are: Annapurna South, Annapurna Main, Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Dhaulagiri, Macchapuchhre(Fishtail).
Then you will retrace back to Ghorepani for breakfast before you head towards Tadapani. It will be a descending and easy trek to Tadapani. That means you can trek relaxed by enjoying the mountains without any rush. After some hours of gentle descent, you will enter Tadapani, another important Gurung settlement. Overnight at Tadapani’s lodge amid the beautiful houses of Gurungs.
Trek Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Altitude Gain: 2,340m
You’ll wake up early to see morning views from Tadapani and after breakfast you’ll leave for Sinuwa. It will be a descending trek through several settlements and rhododendron forests. Chile, Talung, and Chhomrong are some of the Gurung villages that you will pass by today. Along with brief insight into locals lifestyle, you will get served the mountains and greenery views along the way.
Your descending trek will take a break at Chhomrong for rest and lunch. Then gaining some energy, you will restart the trek but with an ascend this time. The last stretch will be a bit more difficult than the entire day’s trek. Climbing the hill successfully, you will reach Sinuwa where you take immediate rest after the hard ascent. Overnight at one of the teahouses of Sinuwa.
Trek Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Altitude Gain: 3,200m
On the route to the base camp, now it’s time to depart from Sinuwa for Deurali. It will be a 6 to 7 hours trek which is mostly uphill through forested trails. En route to Deurali, you will arrive at Bamboo before Deurali. Bamboo is a place where you will not find any trees except Bamboos. And walking amid Bamboo trees is an awesome walk.
Then out of Bamboo, you’ll move through places like Dovan and Himalaya before finally arriving at Deurali. Almost every minute today you will find yourself somewhere in between woods. If you are in the Spring season, the forest area is dotted with reddish rhododendron flowers. To reach Deurali from Himalaya is a steep climb amid dry forest.
Also, a river flows very near to the Deurali trail making the view more scenic. Moving upwards, you will find a waterfall made by the same river. Take some rest beside the waterfall and then hit the trail that continues up to Deurali.
Overnight in Deurali’s teahouse.
Trek Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Altitude Gain: 4,310m
The day you were waiting for a long time has arrived finally when you will reach Annapurna Base Camp. For that you will take a leave from Deurali after breakfast and head upwards. A river bed will guide you climb upwards to the Bagar. Then after some strenuous hours you will reach the base camp of Mt Machhapuchhre(Fishtail). There at the base camp you will take a short break for lunch and enjoy the view of various peaks.
From there, you will make entry to the Annapurna Sanctuary where there is no much vegetation but only mountain views. After some more hours, you will finally arrive at your ultimate destination of the trek, Annapurna Base Camp(4,130m). If you have reached there before sunset then enjoy some evening mountain views standing in the base camp. The entire Annapurna range is viewed with 360-degree rotation from the base camp. Overnight will be at the base camp as there are several teahouses.
Trek Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Altitude Gain: 2,340m
You’ll wake up early before dawn just to watch the panoramic mountain views along with the sunrise. Golden ball rising just behind the whitish mountains is the kind of vision you’ll get. Spend time around ABC enjoying the view until the sun gets really up. Then take breakfast and head for the home return as your goal to reach and see ABC has already achieved.
While returning from ABC you’ll trek through the same track by retracing the earlier footprints. The retracing trek is easier as most of the trails are descending. Crossing Mt Fishtail Base Camp, then Deurali, Himalaya and Bamboo once again you’ll reach Sinuwa. Until Sinuwa it will be nightfall and you cannot proceed any further. Therefore, overnight at Sinuwa.
Trek Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Altitude Gain: 1,700m
After a restful night at Sinuwa, you’ll sign off from the village to reach Jhinu Danda Hot spring(1700m). It will also be an easy trek because of downhill trekking. En route to Jhinu Danda, you’ll pass by the same trekking trails crossing the already visited villages.
Sometimes through woods, sometimes through farmlands, you will reach Jhinu Dada after 5 to 6 hours of trek from Sinuwa. Jhinu Danda is known for its natural hot spring which heals the ached and tired visitors from ABC Trek. You are also around the ending of the trip so make every minute count there. Overnight at Jhinu Danda.
Trek Duration: 4 hours
Drive Duration: 2 hours
Altitude Gain: 1,400m
It will be the last day of the 10 days Annapurna Base Camp Trek. You’ll leave Jhinu Danda for Siwai which is around 4 hours of trek. For that, you’ll follow the river bed of the Modi river up to Siwai. And after reaching Siwai, there you will hop in a vehicle to reach Pokhara. Pokhara is a 2 hours bus ride away from Siwai. Upon reaching Pokhara your 10 days journey finally comes to an end.
