If you love to Trek, you have to do the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. This is a scenic trekking route in Nepal which will bring you close to the Himalayan snowcapped mountains. These are some ultimate tips for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek which is also known as Annapurna Sanctuary Trek.
It was my dream to do a trek to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) in Nepal. If you are reading this, it’s your dream, too! Before doing the trek, I was skeptical about my readiness for doing the trek. As I could successfully do it, I am providing some tips for Annapurna Base Camp Trek which will make your life easier.
Table of Contents
Start Early
You should start before 7:00 AM each day. It will help you protect from the heat of the sun and will give you the flexibility of moving slowly as you will have more time in your hand. Make sure to end the day before the sunsets. And the sun sets quickly in the mountains, so keep that in mind.
Download Maps.me
Load the offline map of that region on your phone. It works without the internet and performs much better than the offline google map in that region.
Travel Light
If you are backpacking and not taking a porter with you, you will be carrying your own bag. As you need to do a lot of uphill climbing, you will feel the weight of your bag with each step. So, pack your bag very carefully. Make it light enough but don’t miss any necessary things. I have drafted a packing list for the ABC trek for your convenience.
Take a Power Bank with You
Although there will not be any network for most of the path, you can use maps.me to navigate. It’s better to have a power bank to charge your mobile and recharge it from the dining hall of a lodge each night.
Take a Good Refillable Bottle
Refill it from fountains, drink enough water. You might not be thirsty, but it’s important to remain hydrated.
Don’t worry about the Accommodation
You will find lodges after a certain distance. You need not carry tents. Better, if you ask your current lodge to call the next lodge about your arrival.
Order Thali at Dinner
A thali usually comprises Lentil, Rice, Vegetables, Pickle, Papadum, and Egg Curry. They will give unlimited rice and lentils for free. Eat as much as you can, leave nothing behind.
Bring a Kindle
You will surely be exhausted after the entire day of the trek. However, the night starts very early. There will not be electricity to run your laptop after a certain point. So, forget about the cinemas. Reading books is your only option for entertainment.
Prepare Physically
Before you come for the trek, make sure you are fit than what you were two months ago. It’s better if you could run at-least 5 Kilometres in each run – four times a day for two months prior to the trek. You can take stairs instead of the elevators, too.
You won’t Lose your Path
It’s well marked. Just keep track of any special sign. It means you don’t need any travel guide. However, it will be a marvellous thing to hire a travel guide if you can afford it because your payment will help a Nepalese family.
Forget about Credit Card or Dollar
Take enough Nepalese Rupees with you. The exchange rate in Pokhara is bad compared to Kathmandu. Exchange your dollar from Thamel.
Bring Dry Foods
Nuts, energy bars, raisins are some foods you can bring from town. Chances are, you will take a good breakfast and dinner skipping lunch.
Learn Local Words
Most common one is Namaste. It’s a greeting in Nepalese, meaning Hello. You can say the word with a warm smile whenever you meet someone.
Be Cautious while Descending
Once you will be done with the trek, you might feel an urge to get back to Pokhara quickly. Descending is much easier than ascending. Unfortunately, descending is riskier, too. You can slip or twist your ankle while going down quickly. Be extra cautious, mindful, and don’t become complacent at this phase.
Don’t Haggle Much
The lodges up in the mountains are cheap. Lodge owners are not that rich, and life is difficult there. Kindly don’t bargain with them, please to save 50 or 100 rupees, it’s merely $0.5 for you but a lot for them.
Buy an Insurance
Annapurna Trek is not dangerous. However, there are so many things that can go wrong. The weather can turn bad, you can twist your ankles, you can suffer from altitude sickness, you can slip on those slippery stones you will cross. So, if things go wrong, you can be in trouble.
Not every insurance company covers injury during trekking and helps in the evacuation process. World Nomads cover this insurance, you can get in touch with them.
Did I miss anything important? Do you want to add anything to the list?
Further Reading
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Packing List
Annapurna Base Camp Trek 7 Days Itinerary
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost
Did you like these tips for Annapurna Base Camp Trek?
Share me your experiences in the comment box, I would love to hear them all!
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