Breathtaking panoramic views of Machhapuchhre (6997m), Annapurna South (7219m), Hiunchuli (6441m) and more. Relish the unique culture and hospitality of the Gurung people. Sublime views from villages like Ghorepani and Ghandruk.
A small country with diverse topography and a multitude of cultural treasures, Nepal is one of the best travel destinations in the world. It is home to the mighty Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest– the tallest Mountain Peak on Earth. Nepal presents its visitors with a myriad of amazing features that spread from arid desert landscapes to thick woodlands and vast snowy lands that end in the Himalayas. In just a span of 800 kilometres from north to south, the country has an elevation that diversifies in terms of climate, the geomorphic aspects, and the ethnic populace.
No wonder, considering all the facts, that Nepal is among the best trekking destinations among the global crowd. Similarly, Nepal also presents many different trekking destinations to choose from. It presents trekkers with various choices of treks that they can choose based on their experience, their preference, and other considerable factors like the duration and the difficulty level. As such, among the many different trekking journeys, the Annapurna Base camp Trek is perhaps one of the most famous.
Taking place in the Annapurna region of Nepal, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes trekkers through the gorgeous river valleys embedded with emerald acreages of Pine and Cedarwoods. The region is home to the Mount Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs and also harbours one of the most unique ecosystems in the country. Home to ethnic Rai, Magar, Limbu, and Gurung people, the region is a destination filled with breath-taking natural facets, including the renowned Annapurna Sanctuary, as well as prominent landmarks like Ghandruk and Poon Hill. The Himalayan tapestry of the Annapurna Peaks spectacularly decorates the horizon throughout the trip, giving trekkers an unforgettable experience.
Accommodations during the ABC Trek
There are plenty of accommodations along the trekking trail of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. There are good choices as well among the many numbers. Most of the accommodations come in the form of guesthouses, lodges, and tea-houses. During peak trekking seasons, like spring and the autumn, the accommodations tend to get filled with trekkers pretty fast, so booking ahead of time is a good idea.
You should carry your sleeping bag as their might be a short supply of blankets on the guesthouses. Likewise, regarding equipment, you should also always carry your toiletries, like paper towels and wet wipes.
Similarly, running hot water is not available in all villages, although some do offer the service of hot bucket showers. During the winter months, fires are commonplace, including fires for under your table on the coldest of nights. Some guesthouses situated near Pokhara city also offer wifi services.
Cost of accommodations per day and availability
The cost of accommodation during the Annapurna Base camp Trek varies from one lodge and guesthouse to the next. Generally, it starts with USD 3 to USD 15 per night. The cost, of course, depends upon the standard of the guesthouse. March to May and September to December are the major trekking months where lots of trekkers visit the region for various trekking trips. During these months, the accommodations tend to get over-booked and it can be difficult to find a vacancy. However, due to a large number of accommodations that have sprung up in the region located near the major trekking trails, finding a guesthouse at the end of the trek isn’t too arduous of a task. When one is trekking with a guide, usually the guide will make sure that you have a room in the guesthouse for the night.
Hot Water Cost
The cost of hot showers is not included in the accommodation prices. Thus, you will have to pay an extra USD 2 for a hot shower. There are chances of the price going down during the off-peak season, but it is not a definite idea. It gets easier to bargain a little bit for better prices during the off-trekking seasons. Likewise, the toilet facilities also vary from one location to the next. Remote destinations often have only one toilet that has to be shared by everyone. Otherwise, all guesthouses have toilets, some modelled as squat-toilets while other present western-style toilets.
Extra Charges
Some accommodations charge an hourly fee of about USD 2 to the billing for using electricity on the electronic devices that you may carry. Some accommodations also have wifi services, but they also cost extra, ranging from USD 2 to USD 5. But the wifi services can be slow and often have broken connections. Moreover, for charging the devices, the guesthouses usually have three-pin Indian-style plug outlets.
Drinking-Water and Meals
Once again, there isn’t a definite price that is the same throughout the trekking trip. The cost of meals and drinking water can vary from one guesthouse to the next. It usually depends upon the location and other factors like the isolation and remoteness of the guesthouse. The farther into the trek you go, the higher the price range can become.
Nepali Dal Bhat is the staple food of the country and almost all the guesthouses have this option for meals. It usually starts at USD 2, and at remote locations, the price can go up to USD 9. Likewise, one litre of bottled water can cost, on average, about USD 2, with the price fluctuations depending upon the elevation and the altitude during trekking.
Similarly, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals are available during the trip. There are many choices when it comes to meals, like bakery items, fried food, and other cooked delicacies like soups, egg, pasta, and others.
Regarding drinking water, it is better to bring water purification tablets. They are cost-effective and easier compared to buying bottled drinking water. Additionally, water purification tablets are also better for the environment. You can fill up your bottle with water from the many water bodies that you can find along the way and use the purification tablets for drinking.
Recent Accommodation Updates
Due to heavy snowfall, the hotels along the Annapurna Base Camp Trek had halted their services since February 2019. The hotels and lodges along the trail were received damage due to the heavy snowfall and were unable to function. This had led to the eventual decline in the trekking activities in the region during winter. However, the hotels and guesthouses along the ABC Trek are set to resume service once again from August 18th, 2019.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) announced that there would be a resumption of accommodation services in the region following the snow. The Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) has also informed all the trekking agencies for the recommencement of booking the Annapurna Treks.
The hotels and lodges situated at an altitude of 4,130 meters had suffered heavy damages due to heavy snowfall. The thick blankets of snow had also halted the roads and passageways. After five months, the owners of the guesthouses and the hotels in the region received information from ACAP that the hotels are reopening. Thus, trekking activities are beginning to gather momentum once again.
During the heavy snow days, trekkers used to stay overnight at the Machhapuchhre Base Camp and hike to the Annapurna Base Camp early in the morning instead, since the accommodations at the ABC area were completely closed. However, despite the difficulties in the accommodation, there were a few agencies that continued to take trekkers to the Annapurna Base Camp. The incident of accommodations being negatively harmed obstructed due to heavy snowfall is an incident that is the first of its kind.
Currently, the accommodations along the trekking trail have been reprimanded and reconstructed to suit the trekkers once again. After the heavy snowfall damaged the route and hotels, trekking on that route had been halted by ACAP for a few months. Later, an alternate route through the Machhapuchhre Base Camp had been brought into operation. It took around two hours to reach the Annapurna Base Camp from the base camp of Machhapuchhre. As such, the trekkers were first guided up to the MBC, and from there, trekkers would start the day trip to ABC and had to return before noon.
Conclusion
After the Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the most popular trekking destination in Nepal. The base camp of Mount Annapurna is located at an altitude of 4,130 meters and trekking starts from villages like Phedi of Kande or Nayapul of Kaski. Around 20,000 tourists from all over the world trek the route every year, which makes the Annapurna region one of the most-visited trekking destinations of Nepal. It presents amazing views of the Annapurna peaks and also presents trekkers with a chance to experience the lifestyle of the local ethnic people of the region. It has also been growing steadily in popularity, even more so than before, and pulls in more people every year.
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