12 Day Annapurna Base Camp Hike

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Recommended by 99% of travelers
Trip Facts
Duration12 Days
Trip GradeEasy-Moderate
CountryNepal
Maximum Altitude4130 m
Best TimeMarch-May, Sep-Nov
Overview

“Step into a region of Nepal where mountains pierce the clouds, blankets of fog drift across the slopes of forested valleys, and ancient monasteries keep watch from lonely hilltops. This is the Annapurna Base Camp Trip, and it’s one of the best hikes in the entire country.”

Comfort ABC Hike Highlights

  • Feast your eyes on unbelievable views of the Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri, Machapuchare, and other Himalayan peaks.
  • Stay in local mountainside villages to immerse yourself in Gurung and Magar culture.
  • Visit ancient Tibetan Buddhist monasteries set amongst impossibly scenic mountain terrain.
  • Spot free-roaming wildlife in the natural alpine wilderness of the Annapurna Conservation Area
  • Reach not one base camp but two base camps: Machapuchare Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp.

About ABC Hike -12 Days Overview

The Annapurna Base Camp Hike is also known as the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. This is because the south-facing base camp is situated within the Annapurna Sanctuary itself: a vast, bowl-shaped amphitheater of some of the very highest Himalayan mountains.

But make no mistake: this is a world-class trekking adventure, no matter what you choose to call it. The Annapurnas are part of the western Himalayas, and your adventure in this region of Nepal will bring you through a stunning diversity of ecosystems and landscapes.

From the lowlands of Pokhara, we’ll ascend through subtropical forests of bamboo and rhododendrons to climb above the tree line, where you’ll be met with a stark topography characterized by rock, wind, and sky. This is your chance to experience a paradise of unspoiled nature that’s unlike anything else on the planet.

Discover the Local culture and traditions of the Himalayas.

But ABC Trek is about much more than scenery—it’s about people. The Himalayan kingdoms of Nepal are world-renowned for their unfaltering hospitality and rich customs. From the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu to the adrenaline lover's paradise of Pokhara, you’ll get to explore two of Nepal’s most colorful and fascinating cities. As we ascend higher into the mountains, you’ll enjoy the opportunity to meet villagers of Magar, Gurung, and Tamang ethnicities.

You’ll learn about both Hindu and Buddhist religious traditions as we visit the shrines and monasteries that have stood for ages in the shadow of the Himalayas. Each night, you’ll settle into accommodations at a local teahouse or trekking lodge, where you’ll enjoy a home-cooked meal and the rare opportunity to chat with your host about life in the mountains.

Is it Safe to do a 12-day Annapurna trek itinerary?

Because the Annapurna Base Camp Trek reaches a maximum altitude of just 4,130 meters, it’s more accessible than some of Nepal’s other best-known hikes, like the Everest Base Camp Trek. This makes it perfect for travelers who want to see the spectacular scenery of the Himalayas with less risk of contracting altitude sickness.

In fact, Alpine Ramble Treks has developed this 12-day ABC program itinerary with travelers of all ages and abilities in mind. We’ll hike at your pace, and your guide will ensure your comfort with every step along the trail. We can also customize this itinerary to suit your own travel needs and preferences. When you’re ready to plan for your own Annapurna Base Camp hiking, get in touch with us via WhatsApp at +977 9851175531.

Best Time for ABC Hike- 12 Days in Nepal

Trekking Seasons in Nepal are largely dictated by the summer monsoon, and our trekking to ABC is no exception. The monsoon typically lasts from June to August, and most visitors consequently choose to hike during the spring months of February to May or the autumn months of September to November.

These are the best times of year to enjoy the perfect combination of comfortable temperatures and clear mountain views. But you can hike in the Annapurnas at any time of year, and the snow-laden trails of winter are just as mysterious and evocative as the mist-shrouded hillsides of summer.

Whenever you choose to travel, rest assured that Alpine Ramble Treks will put together a trekking adventure that will surpass even your highest expectations.

ABC TRIP Difficulty & COMFORT 

Our ABC Trek is one of the most accessible hikes in the Himalayas. Most travelers in good health and reasonable physical fitness will be able to complete this itinerary without issue, and no previous trekking experience is required.

However, this trek does reach altitudes higher than 4,000 meters, and it’s important to drink lots of water and get plenty of rest in order to let your body adjust naturally to the increased elevation. As always, your guide will look after your progress and ensure that you enjoy a safe and rewarding trek to Annapurna Base Camp.

If this itinerary isn’t quite right for you, Alpine Ramble Treks is also proud to offer a host of alternate treks in this region. If you’re on a tighter schedule, consider our ABC Trek – 8 Days itinerary or Annapurna Circuit Trek – 10 Days itinerary. And if you really want to test your hiking mettle at even higher elevations, check out our Everest Base Camp Trek – 8 Days package.

Additional Benefits of ABC Trek with Alpine Ramble

  • Free guided Kathmandu valley sightseeing tour (Swoyembu, Boudhanath, and Pashupatinath temple) 
  • Free transfers to and from Tribhuvan International Airport upon arrival and departure by private vehicle by the friendly crew.
  • Complimentary use of any necessary trekking equipment, such as sleeping bags, down jackets, duffle bags, walkie-talkies, and an oximeter to monitor your oxygen and pulse.
  • Trek with a highly experienced, locally trained guide to learn much about the places.
  • The free access to store the bags/suitcases either in KTM or PKR 
  • Fun souvenirs of your Himalayan adventure: a trekking route map, a t-shirt emblazoned with the Alpine Ramble Treks logo, and a hat!
  • 10% OF ALL PROCEEDS GO TO SUPPORT OUR SOCIAL IMPACTS INITIATIVE

Please note: The trekking times indicated below are approximate and are best used as general guidelines. During the Trek, you’ll be able to travel freely at your own pace.

Itinerary

12 Day Annapurna Base Camp Hike Day-by-day Plan Itinerary

Expand all
Max Altitude: 1,350m/4,429ft Accommodation: Hotel Thamel park/ similar
Max Altitude: 850m/2788ft Meals: Breakfast (Included)Accommodation: HotelDuration: 6-7 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 1510m/3810ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 4-5 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 2850m/9348ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 4-5 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 2610m/8560ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 4-5 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 2170m/7117ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 4-5 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 2820m/8828ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 4-5 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 4130m/13545ft (ABC) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 5-6hrs approx
Max Altitude: 2815m/9120ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 4-5 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 1420m/4590ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 4-5 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 850m/2788ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Trekking Lodge (Tea House)Duration: 4-5 hrs approx
Max Altitude: 1,350m/4,429ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (Included)Accommodation: Hotel Thamel park/ similarDuration: 4-5 hrs approx
Trail Guide

Route Map & Elevation

12 Day Annapurna Base Camp Hike
Cost Details

12 Day Annapurna Base Camp Hike Cost Details

Includes
  • Free International and domestic Airport pick-up and drop by private car.
  • Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner/ the main course) during the trek in the Himalayas.
  • An experienced and Knowledgeable English-speaking Government-registered trekking guide.
  • All food, accommodation, insurance, and transportation are for the guide.
  • Annapurna Conservation Area permit 
  • TIMS card (Trekking Information Management System) 
  • Two nights -3star tourist hotel in Kathmandu, including breakfast
  • Trekking equipment such as the Sleeping bag, down jacket, etc. on return basic
  • Trekking lodge (Tea House) throughout the trek.
  • 2-night accommodation in Pokhara with breakfast
  • The assistant guide group size should be more than six people above in a group.
  • Kathmandu-Pokhara-Nayapul-Pokhara-Kathmandu by bus.
  • Seasonal fresh fruits desert every day 
  • Appreciation of certificate after the successful trek
  • Farewell Dinner at a typical Nepalese restaurant with traditional music and dance
  • Souvenir: Trekking route map/browser and printed ART company T-shirt
  • Compressive first aid box.
  • Emergency rescue operation assistance will be arranged in case of complex health conditions (funded by your Travel Insurance)
  • All government, Local taxes/VAT, and official Expenses
  • 10% OF ALL PROCEEDS GO TO SUPPORT OUR SOCIAL IMPACTS INITIATIVE
Excludes
  • Nepal entry visa fees (you can easily issue the visa on arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu). $25 USD for 15 days Visa.
  • Extra accommodation and meals behind schedule (Foods and accommodations before or after the trek) 
  • Extra drinks as alcoholic & non-alcoholic such as Fanta, Coca-cola, sprite, water, beer, etc. and helper 
  • Additional costs are out of management control due to the landscape, weather conditions, illness, change of government policies, strikes, and physical conditions, etc.
  • Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, telephone, WIFI, hot shower, etc at tea houses on a trek.
  • Travel insurance has to cover emergency rescue evacuation from high-altitude. 
  • Personal trekking equipment for this trek 
  • Tips for guide and staff (Tipping is expected- recommended by our mountain culture) 
  • Any other expenses that are not mentioned in the Price Include section of this trek.
Upcoming Trip

12 Day Annapurna Base Camp Hike Dates and Price

Private Trip

The Trip departure dates both for group and private tours are available any time of the year, click here to select your own desired dates! 

Must-Know

Essential Information

Foods on 12 Days ABC trip

Trek to the world's 9th highest mountain is obviously an amazing adventure experience of a lifetime. However, the food on the trek to Annapurna base camp is convenient and has a pretty wide selection of the food items on the tea houses' menus, which are originated and prepared by the local community of the Annapurna conservations area, the most common diet and hygienic meals of the region as given below,

Common Breakfast options - Tibetan Breads (a fried bread in oil, it’s also named Gurung bread in the Annapurna area), Chapati with Cheese (dry bread- a local wheat bread), Oatmeal, French toast with jam, honey, and peanut butter, Corn Flakes, Hashed brown, fried, Scrambles and boiled eggs, pancakes, porridge with milk, Muesli, Vegetable items and any kind of hot drinks are available except espresso, Americano.

Common Lunch options – different variety of Thukpa (noodle soup), Dahl and Bhat (Nepalese local meal), Momos ( dumplings), Tibetan / chapati bread, Macaroni, Spaghetti, Sherpa Stew, a variety of soups, steaks, potato items, Sandwiches, Pizza, rice with curry, spring rolls, burgers and Pizza, yak steak and desserts items.

Common Dinner options- Momos (dumplings), different varieties of Thukpa (noodle soup), Dahl and Bhat (Nepalese local meal), Tibetan / chapati bread, Macaroni, Spaghetti, Sherpa Stew, a variety of soups, steaks, potato items, Sandwiches, Pizza, rice with curry, spring rolls, Raman soups, burgers and Pizza, yak steak, desserts items, hot and cold drinks are available on the menus on tea house, the menu’s selected meals are fresh and healthy with hygienic specialists by the mountain for the mountain trekkers.

At the tea houses, the menu has plenty of non-veg items mentioned, but officially, none of the meats are on our list of recommendations because the meat in the mountains, such as in high areas, is not sanitary and healthy. However, we would like to persuade you to avoid eating meat, Alcoholic drinks, and smoking.

Desert and Snack options- Rice Pudding, Apple pie, fruit snicker/Mars bar, popcorn, cake, pastries, etc.

Hot Drink options – Varieties of hot drinks like black/milk coffees, black/mint/ginger/Green/ lemon honey teas, hot chocolates, hot mango juice, hot orange juice, hot pineapple juice, etc.)

For the foods in the Mountains, open this LINK: Travel insurance for 12 Days Annapurna Base camp trek, the Best time to go, and trekking equipment. 

Our FAQs

12 Day Annapurna Base Camp Hike FAQs

Yes, a visa is required to enter Nepal except for SAARC and Chinese nationals. One can get a visa at the Royal Nepalese Embassy or consulate or at the airport upon arrival. Two copies of passport-sized photographs are required to get a visa.

The accommodation on the Annapurna base camp trek is pretty convenient and it’s much the same as it is in the Everest base camp trek or Langtang valley trek. We always provide the best tea houses or trekking lodges for sleeping overnight during the trek in the mountains, the rooms are booked in the best lodge with two beds in each room with western toilet facilities and solar hot showers, wherever available. However, the higher we climb lower the facility we get due to the lack of facilities at such higher areas. As we ascend higher above Bambo and towards the base camp, the accommodation from these places will be basic with shared toilets and bucket shower, the room is normally dumetry type with 2-4 beds in a room.

The Highest elevation of the Annapurna base camp trek is 4130 meters above sea level. 

Yes, We have a safe and sound place to store where you can easily store your luggage at our hotel or office.

Not at all, you’ll be provided 3 meals a day: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner during the trek in the mountains and it’s a good idea to carry some power bars, cereal bars or other high energy foods with you. Powder Gatorade is also recommended to fight dehydration.

Yes, The trekkers should have to have registered trekking permits, and TIMS (Trekker's Management Systems), they are all helped and provided by Alpine Ramble Treks- it's all included on our package program.

Yes, you could choose to own your departure date according to your time and schedule If the published Group Departure dates are not suitable for your travel plan, we will help you to customize the trip Itinerary. 

The best months for trekking in Nepal are in the months of September, October & November in the Autumn season and March, April & May in the Spring season.

The Answer is absolutely safe even for the solo female traveler, who loves to explore Nepal through the reliable team with us; our Alpine Ramble team has been leading many successful solo female trips in Nepal Himalayas.

Yes, upon arrival at Tribhuvan International airport, you’ll be received and welcomed by our official representative then transfer to the hotel at Thamel, which is the most interesting tourist hub with many facilities in Nepal. Overnight at the hotel.

Yes, we highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel to Nepal; it’s easier and better to purchase travel insurance in your own country.

Yes, almost every teahouse has Wi-Fi Facility at a little extra Cost during the trek in the Mountains.

Yes, a hot shower is available and it will be prepared by the gas, it is called a gas shower or bucket shower. Normally, we wouldn't prefer to take showers above the 4000 meters height because of the cold situation.

Yes. Any of your currency can be exchanged in Nepal at better rates. 

 Yes, the  Laundry services are available in every place or camp except for Annapurna base camp and Himalayas! 

You could use the credit card only in cities, areas of Nepal, in the mountains; the credit card is not acceptable in most places.

Acute mountain sickness is an illness that can affect any mountain climbers, hikers, trekkers, or travelers at high altitudes, normally; it can be suffered above high of 9,000 feet. Acute mountain sickness is caused by reduced air pressure and lowers oxygen levels at high altitudes. If you feel dizzy, suffer palpitations or severe headaches, and return immediately to a lower altitude. Do not take altitude sickness lightly. It can be fatal! Please familiarize yourself with the symptoms of altitude sickness before your trek. Do not ignore even the mildest of altitude symptoms, inform your guide, porters, or hotel staff immediately. Generally, Our guides carry basic medicine and first aid equipment including simple painkillers, altitude sickness tablets, bandages, balm for muscle ache, and medication to treat diarrhea and vomiting.

It depends on the nature of the sickness. Generally, if you become sick, you will descend to a lower high altitude with the help and support of the staff. If you are seriously ill, injured etc we will arrange an emergency helicopter evacuation service. Our guide will take immediate action according to the situation in the mountains. Please ensure you arrange travel insurance that covers you for an evacuation service and trekking at high altitudes.

You will need to carry a good-size of a daypack where you could put your personal belongings, water, camera, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, a fleece jacket, and gloves for higher altitudes. The porters will carry the bigger packs with your clothes etc. They will carry packs up to 15kg.

In city areas of Nepal like Kathmandu and Pokhara, your hotel accommodation will generally include an attached bathroom and have facilities such as air conditioning, reception, Restaurant, and dining services. The level of accommodation is generally Nepalese 3 star and is comfortable and clean. If you require an upgrade of accommodation in Kathmandu or Pokhara, there are many 4 stars and 5-star options at an extra cost. Please let us know if you like high categories hotel service like 5 stars then we will be glad to book for you.

Accommodation in the mountain, you will be staying in “Teahouses.” Accommodation is limited, particularly the higher you get, so your room may differ from a private single/double room to a bed in a dormitory. The accommodation is very basic and there will frequently be shared shower and toilet facilities with other trekkers sometime. Every teahouse has a common dining hall offering varieties of local and western kinds of meals including hot drinks like coffee and any kind of tea in the mountains.

Eventually, almost every trekking region has tea House facilities in Nepal; during the treks in the mountains, we provide standard breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Your guide/ porter will help you with the menu selection and ensure that you get the best value meals possible. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive. Most teahouses offer a variety of rice and noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread, and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate, and soft drinks and in some areas, you will find fresh fruit in season. You can buy packaged water (bottled mineral water) from a local lodge and shop en route or you can also ask your guide to fill your water bottle with boiled water and treat it with water purification pills

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