There are several jump-off points leading to the base camp of the Annapurna mountain ranges but there are two that are more popular to trekkers: Pedhi and Nayapul where our trek started. I’ve read that though Pedhi is the nearest from Pokhara, about 45-minute drive, it is the most challenging among other jump-off points because of its killer ascent that lasts for two hours or more. What a way to start your adventure, I say. Nayapul, on the other hand, is a 2-hour away drive from Pokhara but the easiest because of its gradual ascent.
Why did we choose Nayapul? It’s because of acclimatization or simply adaption. Your body needs to carefully adapt to sudden changes in altitude and one of the best ways to acclimatize is to increase the altitude gradually in which Nayapul perfectly fits the bill. The trail from Nayapul to Syauli Bazaar is relaxing and doesn’t require that much energy from you. It’s a looooooong walk.
I’ll discuss acclimatization on my future posts but for the meantime, you should know that this part of trekking is very important for you to avoid acquiring acute mountain sickness (AMS). Many have died because of choosing not to take this altitude sickness seriously. AMS is deadly.
To give you an idea of how a seven-day trek to the base camp of Annapurna feels like, I’ve listed a brief description of what you will encounter on a day-by-day basis. I’ve also linked each day to my Flickr account so you’d have a better picture of how the trails look like.
DAY 1 – Nayapul to Ghandruk
Hike Time: 6 hours
Challenges: Hot open trail from Nayapul to Syauli Bazaar
Villages: Nayapul (1070 meters above sea level), Birethanti (1025 MASL), Syauli Bazaar (1220 MASL), Ghandruk (1940 MASL)
DAY 2 – Ghandruk to Chhomrong
Hike Time: 7.5 hours
Challenges: Steep descent to Kimrong Khola then ascent to Kimrong Danda
Villages: Ghandruk (1940 MASL), Kimrong Khola (1800 MASL), Kimrong Dhanda (2180 MASL), Chhomrong (2170 MASL)
DAY 3 – Chhomrong to Himalaya
Hike Time: 8 hours
Challenges: Long steep stone staircase from Bamboo to Dobhan
Villages: Chhomrong (2170 MASL), Sinuwa (2360 MASL), Bamboo (2310 MASL), Dobhan (2600 MASL), Himalaya (2920 MASL)
DAY 4 – Himalaya to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC)
Hike Time: 7 hours
Challenges: Body vulnerability to altitude sickness
Villages: Himalaya (2920 MASL), Hinku Cave (3170 MASL), Deurali (3230 MASL), Macchapucchre Base Camp – MBC (3700 MASL), ABC (4130 MASL)
DAY 5 – ABC to Bamboo
Hike Time: 6 hours
Challenges: Long steep stone staircase from Dobhan to Bamboo
Villages: ABC (4130 MASL), MBC (3700 MASL), Deurali (3230 MASL), Hinku Cave (3170 MASL), Himalaya (2920 MASL), Dobhan (2600 MASL), Bamboo (2310 MASL)
DAY 6 – Bamboo to Jhinu Danda
Hike Time: 7 hours
Challenges: Steep trail from Chhomrong to Jhinu Danda
Villages: Bamboo (2310 MASL), Sinuwa (2360 MASL), Chhomrong (2170 MASL), Jhinu Danda (1780 MASL)
DAY 7 – Jhinu Danda to Siwai
Hike Time: 7 hours
Challenges: Leeches are widespread in the trails
Villages: Jhinu Danda (1780 MASL), New Bridge (1340 MASL), Kyumi (1200 MASL), Siwai
Here are some of the Nepali words you may find handy and pretty useful along the trails:
- Khola – river
- Danda – hill
- Namaste – hello and goodbye
- Dhanyawad (pronounced as dha-ni-vad) – thank you
- Ramro / Ramri- beautiful
- Keti – girl
- Mitho – delicious
Hike time does not include lunch in the tea houses, which usually takes almost two hours. Also, we had very little rest during the trek because of our limited time to complete the whole activity. But it’s really up to you. Remember that you need not to hurry and must take your time especially in 3000 MASL beyond as AMS usually strikes in this elevation.
Having read these little pieces of information, can you now gauge your ability to trek to the base camp of the tenth highest peak in the world? Stay tuned for more of my stories about our experiences during our adventure to the ABC.
holy sh*t di ko yata kaya umakyat ng base camp! ang haba pala ng trek time, I was thinking mga 3 to 4 hours a day lang eh 🙁
Pwede naman na 3-4 hours a day kaya lang it’d take more days to reach the base camp. 🙂 Alternative is Poon Hill. If I’m not mistaken, it’s just four or five days back and forth. Angel recently trekked there. Maganda rin yung view. 🙂
yun na lang nga muna siguro 🙂
This trip is rated Strenuous [5]. Trekking in Nepal is for active people in good health who enjoy vigorous hiking. Nepal has an “up and down” topography, there is very little level walking. We expect participants to be strong, experienced hikers in good physical condition. Gear and supplies will be carried by porters or yaks, leaving members free to carry only a daypack. No technical climbing or other special abilities are required. However, each person should be equipped with a “spirit of adventure” and have prior experience with backcountry camping, sleeping in a tent and willingness to undergo the potential hardships of outdoor living and long days on the trail. This trek spends considerable time at altitudes between 11,000′ and 17,100′. The trails themselves are only moderate, but at these altitudes hiking will feel more strenuous. A good physical conditioning program must be undertaken several months in advance to get into shape. A physician’s signature is required for participation on this trip.
Striking out in Kathmandu, I rerouted to Pokharaa, low-lying launch pad for Annapurna treks. But interviewing blind at the 100-odd trekking agencies there left me jobless and down in the mouth, thinking I should just give up and carry baskets of rocks at the local quarry for 14 cents a load. Roughly a week later, however, dumb luck found me chatting with the Chinese. I began pleading my case just as they were getting ready to start their trek.
Our 2014 team will likely be similar to our 2013 team with guides such as Garrett Madison, Lakpa Rita Sherpa, Michael Horst, Ben Jones and Vernon Tejas at the helm. As always we will employ our famed Sherpa staff. Our Sherpa team is legendary throughout the climbing community and will be the mainstay of our summit support team. The Sherpa team will set the route and manage a quality base camp which is reknowned throughout the great tent city at the foot of the mountain. We look to bestow our traditions and expertise on every climber.