Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Trek Facts:

Destination: Nepal

Highest Altitude: 4130 meters

Difficulty: Challenging

Duration: 07 Days

Group size: Min. 1 Pax.

Trek Highlights:

• Walk through the diverse landscapes of Annapurna Region.
• Authentic lifestyle and culture of the Gurung and Magar community.
• Explore some of the highest snow-capped peaks in the world.
• Varieties of flora and fauna at Annapurna Conservation Area.

The Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek is like stepping into a realm of ethereal beauty, where nature’s grandeur unfolds before your eyes. This remarkable adventure takes you through a stunning of landscapes, each one more breathtaking than the last. As the trek starts from Nayapul, a gateway to the Annapurna region, you’ll find yourself traversing verdant villages, terraced fields, and verdant rhododendron forests.

The trail reveals tantalizing glimpses of snow-cloaked giants, including the Annapurna I (8,091 meters) and the enigmatic Machapuchare (6,993 meters). Ascending steadily, your anticipation grows with every step, until you reach the hidden jewel nestled at an altitude of 4,130 meters—the Annapurna Base Camp. Standing amidst this natural amphitheater of majestic peaks, you’re enveloped in a profound sense of wonder and gratitude, as if you’ve unlocked a secret gateway to the heart of the Himalayas.

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek, on the other hand, is so much more than what you see; it’s an amazing cultural experience. In the course of your journey, you will meet lively communities such as hospitable Gurung and Magar which have their own cultures and traditions intertwined with rugged mountain terrain. You’ll be enjoying hearty local cuisine and connecting with other travelers from around the world as you rest in charming tea houses tucked between the wilderness.

The journey weaves together adventure, natural brilliance, and the richness of human experiences, creating a tapestry of memories that will forever grace your heart. Whether you’re a seasoned trekker seeking a new summit or a wide-eyed explorer embarking on your first Himalayan odyssey, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek offers a transformative passage into a world where dreams blend seamlessly with reality—a world that words can only hope to capture in fragments.

Is short Annapurna base camp trek too difficult?

Finishing the Annapurna Base Camp Trek in 7 days is a very challenging trip. Normally,  this trek is typically around 7 to 10 days, allowing for proper acclimatization and a more comfortable pace. Condensing the trek into a shorter timeframe means covering longer distances each day. It can be physically demanding and increase the risk of altitude sickness. If you’re an experienced trekker with excellent fitness, it may be possible, but it’s important to be aware of the potential risks. Each day you will be gaining like 1000 meters above the sea level. So, you need prepare yourself for the extreme days during your trek.

So here are the list of difficulties during the short Annapurna Base Camp Trek:

• No acclimatization day throughout the trek.
• Risk of altitude sickness and fatigue legs.
• Walking 6-7 hours in a day isn’t easy.
• Unpredictable weather at the higher altitude might cause some trouble.

Starting point of short ABC Trek

There are several starting points of Annapurna Base Camp Trek. However, in this short Annapurna Base Camp Trek itinerary, we start the trek from Nayapul. Meanwhile, other starting points are Ghandruk, Sewai and Matque. It all depends on the itinerary you want to have and the number of days you have for ABC Trek.

Best time to do Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek

It is very important to choose right time if you have limited time frame to enjoy the beauty of Himalayas. Because, you will walk for 6-7 hours in a day to witness one of the highest mountains in the world. So, Autumn and Spring season allows you to enjoy the mountain vistas as much as you can. During these two seasons, the weather are stable with clear blue sky. With less chances of rainfall, you can enjoy all the views by yourself.

Useful Tips for short Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp within a week is very extreme and challenging. So, you need to be aware of small details that can help you to achieve this trip successfully. Here are the list of useful tips for short Annapurna base camp trek:

• At the beginning of the trek walk slowly.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the trek.
• Follow the footsteps of your guide.
• Avoid alcohol as much as you can in higher elevation.
• Always respect the culture of the local people.
• If you feel symptoms of altitude sickness, tell to your guide, he will give you some advice to recover from it.

Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary:

Day 01: Drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu

The first day of this journey begins with the 7 hours drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Enjoy the hillside and fast flowing rivers, villages, along the highway to Pokhara. Overnight stay at Pokhara.

Day 02: Drive to Nayapul and trek to Jhinu Danda (4-5 hours, 1780 meters)

After having breakfast at Pokhara, we kick off the day with an hour drive to Nayapul. After reaching Nayapul, we will start to walk to Jhinu Danda. The trail passes through the attractive village of Birethanti, crossing the Modi river, we continue our walk. During the walk, you can see some glimpse of the mountains before approaching to Jhinu Danda. Overnight stay at Jhinu Danda.

Day 03: Jhinu Danda to Bamboo (6-7 hours, 2310 meters)

We start the day from Jhinu Danda after having the breakfast. The trail descends through forests and crosses rivers, passing through villages like Chhomrong and Sinuwa. Bamboo is a popular resting point for trekkers heading to the Annapurna Base Camp. Enjoy the scenic views, suspension bridges, and peaceful surroundings along the way. Overnight stay at Bamboo.

Day 04: Bamboo to Deurali (4-5 hours, 3230 meters)

We start our day walking through a dense bamboo forests, which is a bit cold and damp. Likewise, the trail is steep at some point ascending ahead. Similarly, after crossing the Himalayas, the vegetation changes and start to open up. You can see the glacial river flowing down below. The trail starts to get difficult after Himalayas, the forests are dry and we will descend down to reach Deurali. Overnight stay at Deurali.

Day 05: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (6-7 hours, 4130 meters)

Finally, you are heading to the base camp of one of the highest mountains in the world. We start our trek passing the avalanche site uphill enjoying the views of mountains. We suggest to take it slow and steady at first, as we are going at higher elevation today. Similarly, we will have a short break at Macchapuchre Base camp and witness magical views of Annapurna, Mt. Fishtail, Hiuchuli and many more. From here, we will walk for around 2 hours to reach Annapurna Base Camp. Overnight stay at Annapurna Base Camp.

Day 06: ABC to sinuwa (6-7 hours, 2340 meters)

You won’t get better way to start your day with sunrise view on the white snowcapped mountains. The 360 degrees views of mountains with sunrise looks unreal and magical. You can see Mardi Himal, Annapurna I, Annapurna south, Gangapurna, Hiuchuli and many other peaks. Likewise, we will capture some memories in our lens and trek down to Sinuwa via, Deurali and Himalayas. Overnight stay at Sinuwa.

Day 07: Sinuwa to sewai and drive back Pokhara.

From Sinuwa, we will trek down to sewai through chommrong. Sewai will be our last stop, from where we will take a Jeep and drive to Pokhara. It takes about an hour or 2 to reach Pokhara.

Cost includes:

• Kathmandu-Pokhara transportation costs by tourist Bus.
• Pokhara-Nayapul and Sewai to Pokhara transportation costs.
• Trekkers Information Management system permit card.
• Annapurna Conservation Area project permit card.
• Guide expenses for 7 days including his meals, accommodations and insurance.
• All meals and accommodations during the trek. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
• All government and local taxes.

Cost excludes:

• Personal expenses during the trek.
• Flight ticket price (Add USD 120 if you need to take flight)
• Travel insurance and rescue evacuation.

Also read: Annapurna Circuit Trek