Short & Sweet Annapurna Base Camp Trek
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duration 10 days
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usd 1,190 All inclusive
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difficulty Hard
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best season Sep-Dec | Mar-May
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max altitude From 4,600 feet at Kathmandu to 13,550 at Annapurna Base Camp
trip overview
Go to the base camp of Mount Annapurna passing through ever changing landscape in this 10 days of grueling but rewarding trek. The Himalayas are tough beasts to conquer but it is worth the effort for an adventure of a lifetime.
Constantly changing ecosystems. That is what you will get in your journey from Kathmandu to Annapurna Base Camp through Pokhara and several Himalayan villages. From walking on snow more than 13,000 feet above the sea level to passing through forests, crossing rivers, and moving across valleys, you will get everything the Himalayas have to offer. Annapurna, the Goddess of Harvests, stands in the distance as you make a tough journey towards her feet. And once you get there, you will be rewarded with a blissful experience for your pilgrimage.
Detail itinerary
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day 01Arrival.
We will receive you at the airport in Kathmandu (4,600 feet) and take you to your hotel.
- Accomodation: Hotel
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day 02Sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley. Pre-trip meeting.
We will take you around Kathmandu to different heritage sites and happening places to make you see why this ancient city is so popular among tourists. Kathmandu is rich in culture and the ancient parts of the city have not changed for hundreds of years. A pre-trip meeting will be held in the evening to run you through the itinerary.
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meal: Breakfast
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day 03Drive to Pokhara (around 3,000ft in the city) by tourist bus.
A tourist bus will take you to Pokhara, the famous tourist town on the bank of the Phewa Lake. We reach Pokhara in seven hours and have to pass green hills after hills to get there. Everyone going to or returning from Annapurna stays at Pokhara, so you will meet plenty of travellers like yourself here. The lakeside area offers an amazing nightlife to relax you ahead of your trekking trip.
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meal: Breakfast
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day 04Drive to Nayapool (3,477ft). Trek to Jhinu (5,840ft).
It is a very short drive to Nayapool village where the trekking circuit around Mount Annapurna begins. We will begin our own expedition by hiking up to Jhinu Danda. It takes a few hours and the first day of any trekking is tough but there is a hot water spring at Jhinu that will ease your pain a little.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
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day 05Trek to Dovan (8,540ft).
There is no rest for the weary. We have to climb up for about six hours through forests and enter the Modi Khola Valley to reach Dovan village. Rest well as we trek to Annapurna Base Camp the next day.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner
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day 06Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (13,550ft).
You have to walk again for the entire day to reach our point of interest. To reach this glacial basin, we have to pass through narrow ways between the bases of Mount Himchuli (21,132 feet) and Mount Machhapuchchhre (22,943 feet). Standing on the foot of the Annapurna Mass it is breathtaking; you will be surrounded by mountains over 23,000 feet. No wonder the local people consider this place a home of the gods.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
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day 07Trek to Chomrong (7,120ft).
We have to leave Annapurna behind. It is an entire day of trekking, as much as nine hours. But its downhill and the view of the beautiful Himalayan range and the rhododendron forests and rivers along the way might distract you away from your fatigue.
- Accomodation: Guesthouse
- Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
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day 08Trek to Syauli Bazaar (3,870ft). Drive to Pokhara.
We trek further downhill to Syauli Bazaar. This is a relatively short trek as we reach there in not more than four hours. We pass through small and beautiful villages which offer plenty of material for the shutterbug. Our long and exhausting trek ends at Syauli Bazaar from where we drive back to Pokhara. Pokhara is the perfect place if you wish to go for an end-of-trek party and drink away your pain.
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meal: Breakfast & Lunch
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day 09Drive to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner.
We will drive back to Kathmandu in our tourist bus. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner from our side to thank you for visiting Nepal and bid you goodbye.
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meal: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner
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day 10Final Departure.
It has been a tiring 10 days in Nepal but you will go home feeling that you did conquer nature a little bit. We will drop you to the airport.
- Meal: Breakfast
Included in cost
- Receive you from and drop you to the airport or hotel in our company vehicle.
- Stay at a three-star hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis. Breakfast is on us.
- Sightseeing around Kathmandu in a private vehicle with our guide. All entrance fees will be paid.
- Stay at guesthouses during the trek on a twin-sharing basis. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners will also be taken care of.
- Local government-licensed guides.
- Porters (one each for a pair of travellers) and local support staff to help you trek.
- Fees for entering Annapurna Conservation Area and Trekkers’ Information Management System card
- We will lend you a down jacket and a sleeping bag for throughout the trek.
- Fully paid round-trip bus tickets for Kathmandu-Pokhara ride and back. Other rides in private vehicles included in the itinerary.
- A duffel bag, a sun hat and a t-shirt as a souvenir from us.
- A traditional Nepali feast with cultural shows as a farewell dinner.
- All tourist fees, government charges and other official expenses throughout the trip.
Not included in cost
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu.
- Additional stay before, during or after the set itinerary.
- Charges at airports or other areas for excess luggage.
- Alcohol, hot or cold drinks, bottled water, and other snacks.
- Phone calls, internet, laundry, additional porters, and other personal expenses.
- Travel insurance. (It is compulsory and covers emergency rescue and evacuation.)
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu.
- Visa fees for entering Nepal.
- Trekking equipment.
- Other expenses not mentioned in “Included in cost” list.
Accomodation during the Trip
In Kathmandu, you will stay in a three-star hotel while you will be staying at standard guesthouses during your travel. There will be electricity, internet, laundry and hot showers in all of the places you stay. You will have to share your room with a fellow traveller in our typical package. Single supplement will be served on request and will cost an additional USD 230.Also note that single rooms is easily available in Kathmandu and the trekking regions at lower elevation but it might be difficult to find them at higher elevations.
faqs
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How do I come to Nepal?You have to book your own international flight from your country to Nepal and back according to your trip departure dates.
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What happens after I land into Nepal?A chauffeur from Mountain Kick will come receive you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Representatives of the company will visit you at the hotel itself and brief you on your trip.
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What will a trekking trip with Mountain Kick involve?You will trek in the Himalayas in a group of international travellers fully assisted by our guides, porters and local support staff. We will take care of your entire trip as soon as you land in Kathmandu and safely take to your preferred destination and back as per the package you choose. Travel will involve plenty of sightseeing and mixing with local culture.
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In what physical condition do I need to be for the trip?A regular person can complete the trip with help from our guides and porters. But it is important that you are healthy and have no physical injuries. Trekking for long hours in high altitude and difficult terrain will surely put a strain on your body and you might suffer severe physical and mental breakdown, especially if you are trekking in the Himalayas for the first time. It is, therefore, expected that you have taken light endurance training especially for longer trips.
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How long do I have to trek each day?On most days of your trips, you will trek for a couple of hours only. But some trekking days require as much as six hours to eight of walking in high altitude. However, there will be plenty time each day for rest and acclimatization.
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Where will I be staying during the trip?In Kathmandu, you will stay in a three-star hotel while you will be staying at standard guesthouses during your travel. There will be electricity, internet, laundry and hot showers in all of the places you stay. You will have to share your room with a fellow traveller in our typical package. At some destinations, especially in the Himalayas, you will have to stay in a tented camp. If you want to make separate living arrangements, talk to us beforehand and we can arrange single rooms for additional $250. Some guesthouses at very high altitudes and remote places may not have attached washrooms or single rooms.
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And food?All your major meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in your trekking package except in Kathmandu (where only breakfast is provided for). You will be served local food at all places we dine but you can order anything you like on the menu which you will have to pay for yourself. You will have a range of options so there won’t be a problem if you are a vegetarian or vegan. We make sure you get healthy and hygienic food throughout your travel.
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How much help do I get during the trek?Our guides and porters always put your safety and comfort first. We have English-speaking guides who take you to all major attractions throughout the travel and are happy to answer all your queries. We have one porter assigned each for two travellers and you will have to pay separately if you want to hire extra porters. We have local support staff in all villages and camps you reach to assist you in any way possible.
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What happens in case of injuries and emergencies?The guides always carry a professional first aid kit with them to treat with minor injuries. We also have health professionals at villages and camps along the journey. The travel insurance you take (which is compulsory) covers any and all emergency rescue and evacuation.
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What if I want to do something beyond the itinerary?We are always happy to accommodate your wishes during the travel so far as they do not conflict with schedules and other travellers. If you have special plans, you can talk to us beforehand so that we can arrange a customized trip for you.
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What equipment do I bring?You have to bring all travel equipment yourself. Please see the equipment section for a standard list of required equipment prepared by our guides. Most of the items are easily available in Kathmandu in case if you miss any and we also lend you some of the gears for the duration of the trip for a small fee.
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Will I get to communicate with the outer world?There is internet and telephone connection in all of our stops for the day throughout the journey. You will be able to call back home or post your pictures on Facebook every day.
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What travel documents do I need?As soon as you land into Kathmandu, we take care of all your travel documents required during your trip. You just need to bring your passport and a copy of your travel insurance. Tourist fees and permits to enter certain areas will be arranged for by Mountain Kick.
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Which is best time of the year to travel?Most of the trekking routes are open throughout the year but September through to December and March to May are the best months to travel.
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What are the modes of transportation for travel mentioned in the itinerary?Rides for sightseeing and reaching destinations within city limits are done in a private vehicle like a car, a jeep or a microbus. Most of the long distance travel is done in luxurious tourist buses hired exclusively by the company. In some journeys, you may also need to take a public bus but as you will travel in a group with our guides and support staff, you need not worry about your safety or comfort.
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How much money do I need to carry during the trip?Around $50 will be enough to buy you lunch and dinner in Kathmandu. During your travel, you can get by with around $25 a day. But it depends on how much you want to spend. Due to the exchange rate and predominantly rural economy of Nepal, things are pretty cheap in Nepal.
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Can I use my credit cards?Almost all international credit cards are accepted in Nepal. However, not all places, especially during your travel, accept them. There may be a fee involved in processing your card.
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Are tips for my guides and porters expected? How much?Our staff do not expect you to tip them. Generally, travellers tip them if they are satisfied with the service as a means of gratitude. Even when travellers tip the guides and porters, there is no fixed rate. However, if you like to tip them, follow customs of your own country for tipping (which, as we have learned, is 10 to 15 percent of total cost for most western countries).
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Where will I get a visa to come to Nepal?You can obtain a visa at your home country through Nepal’s embassy or consular office. But you can easily get a visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You just need two passport-size photographs. A tourist visa with multiple entry for 30 days costs $40 while the same for 90 days costs $100.
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How do I book a tour?Click Book Now to enter your details and we shall contact you. You can contact us directly for any further information or to prepare a customized itinerary for you. For payment information, see our Terms and Conditions.
Trip notes
- Please make sure you take a travel insurance at home before arriving here. It is mandatory and you cannot take it in Nepal. Your insurance agent will know which insurance plan suits your travel.
- It is advisable that you free up a few days before and after your trip schedule. For reasons beyond our control like flight delays, accidents and natural hazards, the itinerary may have to be altered.
- Please inform us and our guides if you have any medical condition that might affect your trip. Please consult your doctor beforehand for any precautions you need to take and always carry medicines if you need them. However, our guides and local support staff have been trained in basic medical intervention and your travel insurance covers any emergency rescue or evacuation.
- You may decide to alter your itinerary to some degree as long as there are no time constraints and everyone consents, if you are travelling in a group. Talk to us before embarking on the trip or you may also talk to our guides to see if we can arrange something. One thing we have learned from mountaineering all these years is however good you plan your journey, there are bound to be some improvisations to make our experience richer.
- Short but challenging. Most days of the trip involve trekking from morning to evening so you have to have endurance as well as resolve.
Equipment List
General
- 2 season sleeping bag – one.
- Spring down jacket – one.
- Duffel – one. (We will provide you one complementary duffel bag for you to keep.)
- 35-45 liter daypack – one.
We give you the power to choose the departure date that suits your group best. A private trip is a perfect solution if you can’t find a published departure date that you and your companions agree on. You can set up a private departure for most of the trips we offer.
We never force our customers to follow our set itinerary.You can customize your itinerary exactly the way you want. Please share with us your ideas.
