Discovering the Himalayan Ecosystem | Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Annapurna Base Camp trek is also known as Annapurna Sanctuary trek, as it takes you through the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, the biggest sanctuary in Nepal for rare animals and birds. The conservation area is so huge that it stretches across five districts. Most of the popular trekking routes in the region, the significant villages, the mountains, lakes and rivers, and so many more spectacles are a part of this conservation area.
During the Annapurna Sanctuary trekking, you will make your way through lush green forests covered in rhododendron and magnolia. During the Annapurna Base Camp trek, there is a high chance that you might come across few of these rare animals and birds. Don’t panic, or you’ll scare them away. Stay calm and probably you’ll get to keep looking at them and appreciate their beauty till your heart’s content.
Annapurna Base Camp Trekking is a 13 days long journey altogether, and during this time, you will have to walk for a duration of 9 days. The places that you’ll cover during the journey include Ulleri, Tadapani, Sinuwas, Deurali, Jhinu Danda, and so on. Needless to say, the major attraction of the trek is Annapurna Base Camp. Situated at an altitude of 4130 m, it is the highest point of the trek. Generally, the trekkers don’t stay at Annapurna Base Camp.
They only tend to go for a day hike up to the place and make a return before the sun sets down. Right before reaching Annapurna Base Camp, the trekkers over Machapuchhre Base Camp. If the trekker don’t choose to stay at Deurali, Machapuchhre Base Camp serves as the secondary night stay option. Both the base camps offer the most amazing views of the peaks in the Annapurna region, mainly Annapurna massif, Machapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and so on.
During the Annapurna Base Camp trekking, the hikers also tend to cover villages such as Ghandruk and Ghorepani. These are probably the most beautiful villages in the entire Annapurna region. At a close proximity to these villages, Poon Hill is located. This 3210 m tall hill offers amazing views of the peaks and as well as the surrounding hills. Poon Hill is the most popular sunrise and sunset view spot in the region. These three attractions are a part of yet another famous trek in the region. And, it goes by the name Ghorepani Pooh Hill Trekking.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost
Quite like any other trekking journey, Annapurna Base Camp trek cost depends upon factors such as the length of the journey, the level of luxury that the trekkers get to experience, the mode of transportation, and so on. Annapurna Base Camp trek cost also depends highly on your travel and tour operator, who’s managing your trip. If you choose a globally popular agency, you’d land up paying higher, however, if you choose some local company, the cost is going to be way less.
Always remember that cost doesn’t justify the quality of services. You might get to enjoy similar services at a comparatively low price. So, going through the packages offered by different companies is quite crucial. Always put your budget to priority. You can’t let your vacation give you stress of all sorts. Depending on all the factors mentioned above Annapurna Base Camp trek cost could range between $700 and $2200.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Difficulty
Annapurna Base Camp trek difficulty level is marked at moderate. The factors that generally make a trekking journey difficult are high altitude, extreme weather, long journey, rough terrain, unavailability of accommodation and food facilities, and so on. These features do exist in Annapurna Base Camp trek as well, however, they are not intense enough to make the journey challenging.
For instance, you do cover high altitude, but most of the times, you’re at an altitude below 3000 m, which is quite normal in a hilly region as such. None of these factors make the trekking journey gruesome. Because of its moderate level difficulty, people belonging to any age group, or having any health related problem can go for this trek. However, it is recommended that you contact your physician first before making such a move.
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Annapurna Circuit trek is the longest and probably the toughest trek in the entire Annapurna region. This is meant for individuals who’re looking to go for a strenuous journey, and experience adventure in the process. It allows you to explore the entire Annapurna region in one go, over a course of time. With so many things to see and do on the route, you should definitely try Annapurna Circuit trek if you love trekking, have tried trekking on other routes, but somehow miraculously left this one.
Altogether, Annapurna Circuit trek journey is 18 days long, however, you trek for a duration of 13 days. During this time, you cover so many different settlement areas like Chame, Pisang, Manang, Jomsom, Tatopani, and so on. All these places are known for their natural beauty and the diversity of culture and religion that is contained inside of them. The trip has all the factors that make it a complete trek. If you love walking for longer duration, like rough terrain and adore high altitude, you’ll love this journey.
One of the most significant points of the trek is Muktinath. It is a religious heritage dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Shiva. The temple is said to be significant for Buddhists as well. Reaching this place is quite a challenge, as you need to make your way through extreme climate and challenging landscapes to reach here. A difficult point in the journey is Thorung La, a high altitude mountain pass that is situated at an altitude of 5416 m. The pass can be crossed only during certain months. The rest of the time, the area is covered in snow, and trying to cross it during these months could have deadly consequences.
Annapurna Circuit trek also opens doors to numerous side treks. One of which is the Nar Phu Valley trek. By adding a couple of days to your itinerary, you could explore the stunning villages of Nar and Phu. In the same way, another significant side trip that you can go for is the trek to Tilicho Lake. During the journey, you also cover Khangsar village and Tilicho Base Camp. Most importantly, during the entire journey, you’re awarded with the outstanding mountain views. You will get to enjoy the sights of peaks such as Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machapuchhre, numerous peaks in the Annapurna Massiff, and so on.
Annapurna Base Camp trek is one of those trekking journeys that you should absolutely go for especially if you’re a trekking enthusiast. It is a trek that is meant for everyone. With moderate difficulty level, anyone can try it. Even the adventure seekers will find a lot of things to explore during the journey. It’s a guarantee that the beauty of the region will mesmerize you.
When you go to the different villages, you get to learn about the locals living there, and you’ll get to experience their outstanding hospitality services. If you have the required time and energy, and are looking to explore further, this trek is flexible enough to be extended. If you don’t have enough time, you could also shorten it. All in all Annapurna Base Camp trek is a journey that you should definitely try. Trekking in Nepal is incomplete without this one.
High Camp Adventure offers exciting travel related services, featuring the most popular destinations in countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. They specialize in trekking and expedition, however, if you’re someone who likes to experience comfort during holidays, you could go for one of their luxury tours. What makes their services quite different from that of others is the focus on client satisfaction. They ensure that their clients have the best possible time during the journey. They even let their clients make changes to the itinerary, as per their interests. This way, the journey is much more personal and close to their customers’ hearts. They are reliable, affordable, on-time and professional. If you’re looking to visit any of these countries during your upcoming holidays, make sure to contact High Camp Adventure, and choose them as your travel partner. Your travel experience with them will be absolutely amazing.
You can check out our other packages of Annapurna Region:
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour