Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek – 7 Days

Regarded as one of the best treks in the world, the Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek – 7 days is a must-do if you are on an adventure holiday in Nepal and have a limited time but want to walk across the mountains. Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek – 7 Days take you past typical Nepalese countryside dotted with terraced fields, traditional villages, green hills, snowy mountains, and raging rivers.

Your Short Annapurna Base Camp Tek begins with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, after an overnight stay in the city of lakes, you’ll head towards Matque the starting point of your trek.

A short hike from Matque past a verdant trail brings us to the first stop of our journey, Chhomrong. A traditional Gurung village, Chhomrong offers awesome views of the Annapurna Massif and the mighty Machhapuchhre, Following the trail, you’ll traverse across paddy fields, wooden bridges, farms with mud houses, raging rivers, and lush woodlands rhododendron and oak with moss-draped trees with the trail is filled with the colorful wildflowers. Annapurna Conservation Area Project is a protected zone home to several endangered Himalayan flora and fauna, where unique wildlife of the region can pop up anytime. Red Pandas, Snow Leopards, Himalayan Black Bears, Musk deer, etc. are a few of the animals found here.

Trek alongside the Himalayas

Trek past Himalaya, a riverside settlement, and towards Machhapuchhre Base Camp witness a different sight of the forked summit and views of other mountain ranges. A short ascent from Machhapuchhre Base Camp brings you to the final destination the Annapurna Base Camp. As this is the highest point of your trek, it is normal to feel a little out of breath and dizzy, so it is very crucial to take the advice of your guide and take it slow. As you reach the base camp witness rings of mountains surrounding the base camp. Annapurna Massif, Gangapurna, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. Witness sunset over these mountain peaks and later in the evening head out for a perfect opportunity for stargazing.

Exploring The Mountains

Wake up early and witness sunrise over the white snowcapped peaks turning it to red, pink, orange, yellow, and golden. After spending a brief time head to the trail and retrace your steps back to Bamboo and towards Matque. From Matque you’ll take the highway to Pokhara. A drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu marks the end of your adventurous trip.

Please note that a high level of physical fitness is essential to complete this trek. You should have enough stamina to walk 7-8 hours daily. There are steep ascents on stone steps and a rough gravel trail en route. If you hike regularly and have embarked on multiple-day treks, this adventure will be easy for you. To learn more about how to train for your Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek – 7 Days, please check the essential information section.

Brief Introduction: 

Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek takes you across the shortest route to Annapurna Base Camp, one of the top trekking destinations in Nepal and some of the most beautiful places in the world, heaven in its term.

Experience ethnic Gurung culture, and traditions learning about their wonderful legends surrounded by nature in the heart of wild and unspoiled landscapes. Stay in teahouses run by hospitable local families, enjoying freshly cooked meals prepared from products sourced from organic vegetable gardens.

Annapurna Base Camp

Annapurna Base Camp is a glacial basin lying 40 km directly north of the city of Lakes Pokhara. This oval-shaped plateau sits at an altitude of over 4000 meters surrounded by a ring of mountains of Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre, and other mountain peaks with a 360-degree view. Explore the Annapurna Sanctuary, the sacred glacial basin where locals believe their gods dwell, trekking across unspoiled woodlands and jungles, past vast pasture lands, alongside raging Glacier Rivers.

Annapurna Base Camp’s short, simple, and authentic trek exceeds your veneer of expectations. If you want an adrenaline-packed trekking adventure, then this is for you. Grab your gear put on your hiking boots and head to the Annapurna Base Camp. It is a perfect destination for those on a short vacation in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal.

Travel Insurance:

All clients engaging in any activity must have smart travel insurance or emergency evacuation insurance. Alpine Club of Himalaya highly suggests you obtain a comprehensive insurance plan from a reliable insurance firm that covers emergency evacuation insurance in high altitudes, personal injury, hospital expenditures, repatriation fees, helicopter rescue, and any other misfortune.

Passport and Visa:

Each client must be issued a valid visa with a six-month validity from the date of return by the Nepalese embassy in your country or the immigration office at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Meals and drinking water:

Along the Annapurna Region Trek, you’ll be provided with various Nepali and Tibetan ethnic cuisines and varieties of continental as well as Western meals. The region has several tea-house along the trail, run by local inhabitants providing basic and minimal facilities to luxury ones. Where you’ll have an opportunity to taste various cuisines that you’ll miss it most of the trekking trails of Nepal.

Annapurna Region is a plastic-free zone and has banned the use of bottled Mineral Water. However, drinking water taps are accessible with natural water supplies all along the trekking trail which is untreated. So direct use of water is not recommended, you may refill boiling water or cold filter water from any teahouses.

If you buy a water purification tablet, chlorine drops, or utilize SODIS (sunlight assisted) filtration procedures for further assurance, saving money, and reducing plastic pollution.

Accommodation:

Tourist-friendly hotels, lodges, and local accommodations are available on trekking trails and, providing with basic accommodations to luxury and grandeur ones. Luxury hotels and teahouses are situated along the trail that suits your budgets providing comfortable beds with a pillow, electric blankets, hot and cold showers, free WIFI, and many more.

Teahouse along the Annapurna region provides you with hot shower and western attached bathrooms, and the rooms mostly include twin sharing beds as well as a single bed, with a hygienic and clean atmosphere, good mattresses, a pillow, and blankets.

Campsites are also available along the trail providing a special opportunity for campers to sleep under the stars.

Best Time to Visit:

The best season for trekking to the Annapurna region is during autumn and spring.

The months of September, October, November, March, April, and May are the best time to visit. These months are better in terms of visibility and climate conditions.

During autumn season, the months of September, October, and November are one of the best times for trekking this region. As the weather is clear bringing great visibility of the endless mountain ranges and lush green forest with warm temperatures, the nights are clear and is a perfect opportunity for stargazing.

The spring season of March, April, and May is also the best time to visit the Annapurna Region. The end of the winter season brings a change in the region, with varieties of colorful blooming trees of the sub-alpine forest, high green pasture lands covered with wildflowers, mild temperatures, and clear weather. In this season you’ll witness herds of sheep and yaks grazing in the green highlands.

Monsoon season is not favorable as the weather gets harsh and it’s hard to get around the country, with frequent rainstorms and landslides. So monsoon season is mostly avoided by trekkers.

In the winter season, Annapurna Region receives high snowfall covering most of the trails and making it impossible to travel for this reason.

Equipment list for Annapurna Base Camp Trek

• Valid passport, 2 extra passport-size photos, airline tickets
• Separate photocopies of passport, visa form (easily obtained at Kathmandu airport), proof of insurance
• Dollars, pounds, or Euros in cash for purchasing a Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying for restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, and snacks, and purchasing your own drinks and gifts
• Credit cards, Bank/ATM/Cash machine cards for withdrawing funds from cash machines (bring a photocopy of your cards), traveler’s checks, etc.

Head

• Bandana or head scarf, also useful for dusty conditions
• Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Prescription sunglasses (if required)

Upper Body

• Polypropylene shirts (1 half sleeve and 2 long sleeves)
• Light and expedition-weight thermal tops
• Fleece wind-stopper jacket or pullover
• Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
• Gore-Tex jacket with hood, waterproof and breathable

Hands

• 1 pair of lightweight poly-liner gloves.

Lower Body

• Non-cotton underwear briefs
• Hiking shorts 1 pair
• 1 pair of Hiking trousers
• lightweight thermal bottoms (seasonal) 1 pair
• 1 pair of fleece or woolen trousers
• waterproof shell pants, breathable fabric 1 pair

Feet

• 2 pairs of thin, lightweight inner socks
• 2 pairs of heavy poly or wool socks
• 1 pair of Hiking boots with spare laces (sturdy soles, water resistant, ankle support, “broken in”)

Sleeping

• 1 sleeping bag (good to -10 degrees C or 14 degrees F)*- We will provide and need to be returned after accomplished.

Rucksack and Travel Bags

• 1 medium rucksack (50-70 liters/3000-4500 cubic inches, can be used for an airplane carryon)
• 1 large duffel bag *
• A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables should have good shoulder padding
• Small padlocks for duffel-kit bags
• 2 large waterproof rucksack covers (optional)

Medical

• Small, personal first-aid kit. (simple and light)
• Aspirin, first-aid tape, and plasters (Band-Aids)
• 1 skin-blister repair kit
• Anti-diarrhea pills
• Anti-headache pills
• Cough and/or cold medicine
• Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetylzolamide
• Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin, etc. Do not bring sleeping pills as they are a respiratory depressant.
• Water purification tablets or the water filter
• 1 set of earplugs
• Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lens supplies

Toiletries

• 1 medium-sized quick-drying towel
• Toothbrush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multi-purpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Nail clippers
• Face and body moisturizer
• Female hygiene products
• Small mirror