Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek - 5 days

As part of our commitment to providing excellent customer service, we offer a complimentary pick-up and drop-off service to and from Tribhuvan International Airport to/from your hotel for our valued trekking and tour clients.

Upon your arrival at the airport, you will find a Discovery World Trekking representative waiting for you with a pamphlet displaying your name. They will greet you, present you with a garland and then take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. Likewise, when it's time for you to depart, we'll arrange for a representative to pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the airport for your journey back home.

We believe your trek experience should be stress-free and seamless from start to finish, and we hope that our free airport pick-up and drop-off service will contribute to a richer trek experience.

 

Journey start

You will arrive in Kathmandu at least one day before the trip departure day (by 3 pm) for last-minute preparations. The trek normally starts from Pokhara. If you are in Kathmandu, you need to head to Pokhara. You have two choices, by road or by air. If you take a bus, it will take you around 7 hours. From Pokhara, we will drive you to Samrung. The journey should last for about four hours. From Samrun, you will deboard the bus and trek to Sinuwa. It will take another four hours for you to reach Sinuwa, where you will spend your first night. 

 

Accommodations

Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek includes four nights lodge stay at the best lodges/hotels in the trekking regions. You will stay in twin sharing rooms at Sinuwa (2N), Annapurna Base Camp, and Deurali. While not included in the package, you might need two nights of hotel accommodations in Kathmandu before and after the trek. Luckily, Kathmandu has several hotels to suit all tastes and budgets.

Hot showers and Wi-Fi are available at trekking regions for an extra cost.

 

Meals

Due to the high elevation and continuous trek, it is important to consume nutritious food. We will provide you with sufficient healthy meals during the trek. However, the options may be limited compared to urban areas. As a rule, the higher you get, the fewer the food choices. Food also gets expensive with elevations.

To ensure that you are well-fed and satisfied, we carefully select the best lodges in the trekking regions, which serve hygienic, delicious, and nutritious food. Our menu includes a variety of traditional, Asian, and Western cuisines, but as we ascend, the menu options may become more limited.

This package offers you meals on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch, and dinner / main course) in the trek region, including (five breakfasts, five lunches, and four dinners).

Here are your food choices:

Breakfast- Oatmeal, Tibetan bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, fruits, Vegetables, Hot Drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Lunch - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk, Spaghetti, Noodles, Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts, (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Dinner - Dhal, Bhat, Tarkari, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potato items, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Tenduk Spaghetti, Noodles, Vegetable and salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Ramen, Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks, Steaks, etc

To combat the effects of high altitude, we strongly recommend you consume fresh vegetables and liquids such as green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup (a must-have). While non-vegetarian items may be available in the trekking regions, we advise against consuming them due to concerns over hygiene. Similarly, we encourage you to avoid dairy products, alcoholic beverages, caffeinated items, and hot chocolates.

The best time for the Annapurna Base Camp short trek depends on the weather. While the trek is doable throughout the year, some seasons are more favorable. Discovery World Trekking operates the Annapurna Base Camp treks all year round. Here is a breakdown of weather conditions in high-altitude trekking regions based on seasons:

Spring (March-May):

Spring offers a pleasant temperature, clear skies, and breathtaking views, making it a great time for an easy trek. The daily temperature ranges between 10 to 0°C, with the lower regions being warmer. The trekking season typically starts in March, with forests getting colored with rhododendron flowers in April.

Summer (June - August):

The summer months coincide with the monsoon season in Nepal. The summer temperatures range from 10°C to 23°C. While the mornings are usually clear, clouds start to form in the afternoon and bring down heavy rain before disappearing at night. The trails will be wet and slippery. However, the blooming plants provide blanket greenery all over the trek regions. If you love water, this is the time to trek. 

Autumn (September - November):

Autumn is the perfect time to trek to Annapurna Base Camp. Autumn offers moderate temperatures, mild wind, and low precipitation. During this season, the days are mild to warm, with daytime temperatures reaching 20°C in high altitudes. You will find the environment clean and the lowlands lush. Additionally, the biggest Nepali festivals - Dashain, Tihar, Chhat, and Indrajatra- fall during this season, bringing a festive mood to the entire region.

Winter (December - February):

While the winter season can be challenging with temperatures getting as low as -10°C, it attracts a different breed of trekkers looking for a challenge. The winter days are clear, and snow-capped mountains look their best. It's also the season when the trails are the least busy. However, we do not recommend winter trekking for beginners.

Our trekking services can accommodate groups of any size, starting with a minimum of two people. For trek groups of 12 or more, we add an assistant guide to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. If you already have your group, you may be eligible for discounts based on the size of your team. Please note that we do not offer discounts for groups we put together.

 

Trip grade and fitness

The short Annapurna Base Camp trek is a challenging adventure that promises stunning vistas as a reward. Expect to hike for 4 to 7 hours each trekking day. The trials are full of steep uphill, downhill, and straightforward sections that might be rocky or on stone-paved paths. This trek is for physically fit people who are short on time.

We recommend you take part in stamina-building activities such as cycling, jogging, or swimming a few weeks before the trek. Remember, the fitter you are, the more enjoyable the trip will be.

We do not recommend this trek for individuals with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease. If you suffer from sensitive medical conditions, you must consult your doctor. 

Every day comes with a new adventure with exciting climbing opportunities, breathtaking landscape views, and opportunities to explore traditional villages. Our experienced and friendly guide or Sherpa will share historical information and interesting facts about the places as you pass them. Meanwhile, porters will take care of your luggage. However, we expect you to bring a small backpack with you for your essentials.

 

Typical day

Your day starts with a hot cup of tea or coffee in the early morning. After breakfast, the trek begins between 7 and 8 AM, depending on the length and difficulty of the path. We'll trek for three to four hours before stopping for lunch. After lunch, you'll rest for an hour before continuing the trek.

The afternoon walk is typically shorter, lasting around two to three hours. Once you reach your overnight lodge/hotel you can take extra snacks and free time to explore the nearby areas.

We will serve dinner around 7 PM. After dinner, your guide will brief you on the next day's plan. After this briefing, you can spend your evening playing games like Monopoly, chess, or cards, watching mountaineering documentaries, or learning a few light Nepali words from our crew. Many guests enjoy reading books before settling down for the night.

 

Electricity and water

During this trek, you can recharge your batteries using the electricity available in lodges, but please note there may be a charge for this service. For water, you can purchase bottled water from stores along the route, but to minimize the impact on the environment, we recommend you bring your refillable water bottle and purchase boiled or filtered water from lodges or tea houses. We also recommend you use water purification tablets before drinking water, which we can provide if you do not have them.

Please do not drink water from taps, wells, or rivers in trekking areas, as the water may not be drinkable.

 

Communication

Trek regions have hotels/lodges that are internet-connected, and you can contact your friends, families, and colleagues from these hotels and lodges. The trek routes have mobile phone coverage. However, the reliability varies depending on the network you use. If you need a local SIM card, you can easily purchase one in Kathmandu. Discovery World Trekking maintains contact with all trek teams at least once per day via mobile phone to ensure that the trek is progressing as planned and everyone is happy.

 

Insurance

The high-altitude mountain treks are not for casual visits as they come with inherent risks associated with high altitudes, including altitude sickness. Hence, you will need adequate insurance, including a helicopter rescue up to the highest trek altitude (4,130m at Annapurna Base Camp) and treatment costs. 

If you require assistance selecting an insurer, we can recommend insurance companies based on our previous clients' experiences. However, we do not sell insurance in any way. In an emergency, we will use the insurance and other documents you provided to arrange an effective rescue. We advise you to send your insurance details and other relevant documents within a week of booking the trek.

Foreigners, excluding Indians, need a visa to enter Nepal. Fortunately, citizens from most countries are eligible for an on-arrival visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport or immigration checkpoints along Nepal-India or Nepal-China border. To apply for a visa, you will need a passport with at least six months of validity, a passport-sized photo, and payment of visa fees. The current visa fee for a 30-day stay is USD 50.

Citizens of China and the SAARC countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka) are eligible for a free visa. Children under the age of ten also receive free visas.

Nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan may not be eligible for an on-arrival visa. If you are a citizen of these countries, you must contact your local Nepalese embassy.

It is important to note that the Nepalese government can modify visa regulations without prior notice. To obtain the most up-to-date visa information, please visit https://www.immigration.gov.np/.

 

Money Exchange

Nepal's official currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR), and its exchange rate is approximately 130 NPR per 1 USD. 

You can easily exchange your major foreign currency through banks, co-operatives, and legal money exchanges widely available in Kathmandu and all over Thamel in particular. These money exchanges publicly display their rates. 

Some hotels may also offer this service for small amounts of cash. However, money exchange facilities are unavailable in trekking regions, so you must exchange currency in Kathmandu. We recommend budgeting around 20 USD per trek day for spending purposes.

If you have Indian Rupees (INR), note that only INR 100 and 2,000 notes are legal tender in Nepal. While traveler's cheques offer security, we suggest bringing cash and exchanging them to avoid lengthy bank processes and their high commission rates. ATMs that dispense Nepalese Rupees are available throughout Kathmandu, and many of them operate 24/7, although a withdrawal fee of Rs 500 applies for withdrawals of Rs 35,000.

Luggage

We provide porters to carry your luggage. However luggage weight limit is 9 kg per person. Each porter will carry the luggage for two trekkers. The combined weight must not exceed 18 kg. We prioritize the safety of our porters and never overload them. However, we also expect to carry a regular backpack for your essential documents and valuable items. If necessary, we can arrange one porter for a trekker. We encourage travelers to pack light to make their journey easier. Discovery World Trekking offers a complimentary luggage storage service for customers who do not have a place to store their excess luggage.

 

Extra personal expenses 

While the Discovery World Trekking package covers most of the expenses during the trek, there are additional personal expenses that you will need to cover. You are responsible for your meals and accommodations in Kathmandu, as well as expenses such as visa applications, travel insurance, beverages, snacks, tips for the crew, and souvenirs. We suggest bringing cash in major currencies and exchanging them for Nepali Rupees.

During the trek, we recommend budgeting around USD 10-20 per day for personal expenses such as drinks, Wi-Fi access, snacks, or hot showers. Please note that money exchange facilities are not available in trekking regions, and locals do not accept foreign currencies, so you must change your currency in Kathmandu before the trek.

 

Trek safety

At Discovery World Trekking, the safety, security, and satisfaction of our clients are our top priorities. We take all necessary precautions to ensure your safety, including carrying appropriate gear, equipment, and first aid kits to handle any situation. Our guides are extensively trained in first aid and prepared to respond in case of any emergency. They also carry oximeters to monitor your oxygen blood saturation level at high altitudes. 

In the event that a trekker falls ill due to altitude sickness, our trek guide will assess the situation and take appropriate measures, such as stopping the trek, taking breaks, or descending immediately.

For emergencies, we have provisions to deploy a helicopter (funded by insurance) to ensure your safe return. We also travel as a group to provide an added layer of safety.

 

Discovery World Trekking crew

The Discovery World Trekking crew consists of trained and experienced guides/Sherpas who will accompany you to ensure your journey is safe, comfortable, and memorable. We provide porters to carry your luggage, with one porter assigned for every two trekkers, carrying a maximum combined weight of 18 kg. Therefore, the luggage weight limit is 9 kg per trekker. However, we can provide one porter per person if needed.

Our crew members are locals from the remote Himalayan region with exceptional physical endurance at high altitudes. We value our staff and ensure their well-being by paying them fairly, providing insurance, clothing, food, and lodging throughout the expedition, and offering medical care when necessary. We prioritize their happiness because we believe that only a happy person can make others happy.

Our trek leaders have completed intensive wilderness first aid training. They hold government-authorized trekking guide certificates and are fluent in English and other major languages. Moreover, they have completed conservation and biodiversity training, and have experience in rock climbing.

 

Responsible Travel

At Discovery World Trekking, we believe in safeguarding the environment against the detrimental impacts of tourism. For this reason, we collaborate with the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) to conduct eco-friendly expeditions. If we use campsites, we try to leave them in a better state than we found them. We dispose of waste properly and urge all our trekkers not to leave any trace behind in the trek regions except for their footprints.

 

Booking and payment

Discovery World Trekking is a government-authorized, registered, and bonded trekking and touring operator in Nepal. We have been providing our services for over a decade. Moreover, we are proud members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), which ensures that you can trust us for your trekking needs. 

We require 10 percent of the trip as advance to confirm the booking. You can pay via bank transfer, online payment (through our website), or Wise-pay. The remaining trip cost is payable upon your arrival in Kathmandu, and we accept cash, bank transfers, and credit card payments. Further, we will email you with payment details, including available payment modes.

 

Tipping

Tipping is primarily at the discretion of trekkers. Nepali society accepts tipping and views tipping as a means of expressing gratitude. Tipping does not form part of our employees' wages. We recommend you tip based on the length and cost of your trip and service quality. Additionally, we suggest you tip collectively at the end of the trek.

 

Last-minute booking

While we strongly advise booking in advance, we understand, it may not always be possible. Therefore, Discovery World Trekking offers a special provision for last-minute bookings. If you need to make a last-minute booking, you must clear 100% of the trip payment 24 hours before the trek departure date.

Please note that although we will do our utmost to conduct treks at any time, unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, such as adverse weather or lodging unavailability might result in trek delays. So, you cannot hold us responsible for any such changes. To learn more, you can contact us at 977-9840055491 (Paul Gurung) or email us at [email protected].

 

Trip extensions

If you have a few days extra in Nepal after completing the five-day short Annapurna Base Camp trek, we can arrange several enjoyable activities for you. These include sightseeing in and around the Kathmandu Valley, a jungle safari in Chitwan, paragliding, rafting, and canoeing.

 

Feedback

After Annapurna Base Camp Trek, we will organize a farewell dinner in Kathmandu. After dinner, we will present you with a certificate recognizing your trekking achievement. It will be an excellent time to share your feedback with us.

 

Useful info

Important information: This trek has fixed departure dates from Kathmandu and Pokhara. However, we are happy to customize the trip to meet your specific requests and schedule. Please review the designated departure dates for this trek. If they do not suit your schedule, contact us, and we will arrange a trip that accommodates your convenience.

Please be aware that unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, such as adverse weather, landslides, or unavailability of lodging, may require us to modify the itinerary. In such rare cases, your team leader will make decisions that are in the best interest of all group members. We will be delighted to guide you on your trek to Annapurna Base Camp.