Annapurna Base Camp Trek in 2024: Is it worth it?
In this blog, I’m going to share with you some insightful information regarding Annapurna Base Camp Trek in 2024 and whether it is still an adventure trek in 2024.
How I got the chance to go on a week long Annapurna Base Camp Trek?
For the last ten months, I’ve worked as a content writer for several travel agencies in Nepal. Among them, I used to work regularly for Sublime Trails. I also work as a video editor, landscape photographer, and more. And I got a proposal; I had to give the company photo and video, and in return, I’d get a complete sponsored trip.
Here’s my Annapurna Base Camp Trek Video with a complete travel guide. Do check it out too.
Let’s dive straight into the context. I’ll give you the Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary from Pokhara and to Pokhara.
Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Jhinu via Nayapul, Chhimrong, Birethati, Syauli Bazaar. For three to four hours.
We took the jeep from Pokhara around 8:30 am. The drive was scenic, with Machhapuchhre in the backdrop. We stopped at some points for photographs and then headed to Nayapul.
As I was from the agency, their itinerary only had drive till Nayapul. But, these days, the jeep reaches Jhinu. And the condition of the roads is excellent.
We hiked for almost 6 hours from Nayapul to Jhinu. We walked on the old Annapurna Base Camp Trek Route; to be frank, it was one of the worst trek routes. No trekker hikes this route these days, and as of this, the bushes and plants were throughout the trail. Also, the course was super slippery due to the rain.
Reached Jhinu around 7 pm and it was very dark. It wasn’t that cold in Jhinu. We ate the dinner and went to bed for sleep.
Day 2: Trek from Jhinu to Upper Sinuwa via Chhomrong
It was very tiring day, right from the start to the end. The stone paved stairs throughout the route is what I personally didn’t like much.
From Jhinu, the hike to Chhomrong takes more than a hour. You must hike through the tiring stone paved stairs. It’s like descending a hill and again climbing another hill till Sinuwa.
Sinuwa is beautiful place from where you’ll get the clear glimpse of Chhomrong and other places around the region.
Sinuwa is an ideal place to take hot shower. The shower costs USD 3or NPR 300. Also, the internet here costs USD 1 or NPR 100.
Day 3: Trek from Sinuwa to Deurali
Leaving Sinuwa gets scenic. While hiking through the bamboo forest, you’ll get an elegant glimpse of Machhapuchhre mountain. And by the time you reach Bamboo, the glimpse of Machhapuchhre vanishes.
Leaving Sinuwa sees, you descend for an hour or so till Bamboo. And past Bamboo, it gradually ascends to Dovan and the Himalayas.
You’ll cross several wooden bridges over mini streams and again hike on the stone-paved stairs.
You’ll reach one beautiful waterfall before making the sharp ascend to the Himalayas.
From Dovan, it takes two hours to the Himalayas, where you’ll stop for lunch. There are a few good tea houses in the Himalayas where you can have the lunch of your choice.
After lunch, past Himalaya, you’ll hike for another three hours to Deurali. Deurali on Annapurna Base Camp Trek Route is among the beautiful overnight accommodating places. There are affluent tea houses at Deurali where you’ll also get electricity and wifi.
Day 4: Trek from Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp via Machhapuchhre Base Camp
Until reaching Machhapuchhre Base Camp, the trail passes through the shady gorge, surrounded by towering hills. As a result, this region sees the sun at 10 am.
But past Machhapuchhre Base Camp, the actual colours of Annapurna Base Camp unfold. The mountains in the Annapurna region start appearing as you ascend past MBC. And a one-hour hike past MBC takes you to flat terrain, where you’ll glimpse Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South.
After reaching the base camp, you’ll get surrounded by the ten beautiful mountains of the Annapurna region. The mountains are so close to the base camp that you can reach lower peaks within a few hours of the hike.
There are affluent tea houses at the base camp. Here, you may need more electricity as the tea houses use solar-powered lights. But you can enjoy the wifi.
Evening at Annapurna Base Camp becomes magical as the golden colour of sunset paints the Machhapuchhre mountain elegantly.
Day 5: Trek from Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo/Sinuwa
Staying overnight at Annapurna Base Camp and spending a few hours in the morning completes the sightseeing.
And after breakfast, I packed my gear and prepared for the return hike.
I stopped at Dovan for lunch before descending further to Bamboo. I stayed overnight at a tea house in Bamboo.
As I was with four other trekkers, the group decided to stay at Bamboo.
But, if you can hike further, you can easily hike further to upper Sinuwa.
Day 6: Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu. Evening visit to natural hotspring
After leaving Bamboo, an hour’s hike to Sinuwa was very tiring. Past Sinuwa till the end of Chhomrong, the walk was pretty easy as we were descending only.
But, from the bottom of Chhomrong, the hike to the top was very tiring. Also, the sun was scorching that day, and I was sweating a lot. I had to take two to three stops en route until the top of Chhomrong.
We stopped at a tea house at the end of Chhomrong for lunch.
From Chhomrong, we descended one hour to Jhinu and stopped for overnight accommodation at the tea house.
In the evening, we visited a natural hot springs. I highly recommend visiting the hot spring on Annapurna Base Camp Trek. It costs NPR 100 for Nepali and a few hundred for foreigners.
Day 7: Drive from Jhinu to Pokhara via Nayapul
These days, you can get the jeep/local bus from Jhinu that reaches Pokhara. Though the fare of a jeep is expensive, sharing a jeep among eight trekkers becomes affordable for each individual.
I took the jeep to Nayapul to take a local bus to Pokhara. However, I got a car returning to Pokhara at a meager cost, just NPR 1000.
I returned to Kathmandu on a flight the same day.
My Annapurna Base Camp Trek rating is 3/5.
Is ABC Trek right for you?
Annapurna Base Camp Trek in 2023 is still Nepal’s most hiked trek route. Moreover, more than 50 thousand trekkers visit this place yearly with different itineraries.
I’m not writing this as ABC Trek is a must. However, there are certain things that Annapurna Base Camp Trek offers, and to experience these, it’s the best trek.
Amazing mountain scenery
If there’s one thing I liked the most about ABC Trek, it indeed is the beautiful Annapurna mountain scenery. The 360 panoramic mountain scenery from the base camp gives you immense pleasure. You’ll see Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Khangsar Kang, Mardi Peak, and more from the base camp. Nearly ten elegant mountains are visible from the base camp area.
You’ll feel so good at the base camp that describing it here in words does no justice. They are so close that you can touch the snow at the base of each mountain with several hours of hiking.
Absolute trek for novice trekkers
If you haven’t been to high altitude and looking for maiden high-altitude trekking, Annapurna Base Camp Trek is right for you. I’ve been to ABC Base Camp for three times and so far what I’ve seen is 90% of trekkers are first time trekkers.
The trekking route is moderately difficult with few steep ascends. Since the most sections of the route is stone-paved, you’ll have comfortable walking.
Less probability of altitude sickness
Annapurna Base Camp sits at 4,130 meters, making it a low altitude base camp of 8000 meters tall mountain. Due to low altitude profile, very less trekker experience altitude sickness symptoms. Hence, if you’re worried of mountain sickness, in Annapurna, you won’t get sick.
Best tea houses with plenty amenities
Throughout your trekking, you’ll accommodate in tea houses and lodges. Annapurna region being well established for trekking, the tea houses and lodges here offer best hospitality to trekkers.
You’ll get meal choices, best twin sharing room, wifi, hot showers, and more.
With all services available, you’ll get best meals and cosy accommodation.
