Annapurna Base Camp trek is the most frequented trekking package in Nepal. Nearly one-third of the international trekkers visiting Nepal make this trek. There are many reasons behind their preference for the Annapurna trekking region. Annapurna Base Camp trek is 4130m high from sea level and its popularity is growing day over day because of its trails, natural and cultural rewards, cost, and duration. First of all, this region lies close to Lake City Pokhara, which is the most popular tourist destination in Nepal.
The trails are comparatively well maintained and comfortable as well as on low elevation. The local communities and the concerned authorities have realized the importance of tourism for economic growth. Moreover, the tourism agencies in collaboration with the local communities are actively involved in promoting Annapurna region trekking. Due to the low altitude and proper conditions, this trek is suitable for trekkers of all ages.
You will enjoy the snowcapped peaks of the Gandaki Province during this trek. Mt. Annapurna (8,091m) and Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m) are the eight-thousanders in this region. Mt. Annapurna was first ascended by a French expedition team led by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lechenal on June 3, 1950. It became the first eight-thousander in the world ever to climb successfully and created a history in mountaineering.
Besides these, there are ten other peaks in the Dhaulagiri Massif and the Annapurna Massif. Mt. Fishtail is the most beautiful mountain in the world. It is one of the highest virgin peaks in the world as well. Its image of the turquoise water of the Phewa Lake is the most attractive thing to observe in Pokhara.
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is another attraction of this trip. Also known as Annapurna Sanctuary, you find 1,233 species of flowering plants, 105 mammals, and 518 bird species. Also, 40 species of reptiles and 23 amphibians are the assets of biodiversity of this conservation center established in 1986. The common animal, species found here are Himalayan Thar (Ghoral), Blue Sheep, white monkey (Langur), and some species of deer. Birds of diverse species like pheasants and Himalayan Monal (Danphe: the national bird of Nepal) are found here. A sudden encounter with these birds and animals makes your Annapurna Base Camp trek more meaningful and a lifelong memory.
The cultural features of this region are equally magnetic to draw the attention of foreign tourists. Although you can find all the ethnic communities living here, Gurung and Magar cultures are dominant.
The Gurung and Magar males are mostly involved in the military and police forces of many countries. During the World Wars, they fought bravely from the British side and earned great respect for their fearlessness. This is why, they are known as the Brave Gurkhas who prefer death to disrespect.
Annapurna Base Camp trek lets you know their unique socio-cultural aspects preserved for centuries. You can also listen to their bravery and other stories they made or saw during those Great Wars.
Though the natural and cultural rewards are just incredible, the cost of the Annapurna Base Camp trek is also reasonable. The cost of any trek or tour package is determined by duration, service qualities, routes as well as number of guides and porters. As it is one of the less challenging treks, you don’t need a large number of them during this trek.
Last but not least, as there are many trekking packages within the Annapurna region, you can customize this trek. You can add up to the itinerary if you have enough vacation, budget, and desire to walk more.
There are many short treks in the Annapurna region including the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, Ghandruk Trek, Royal Trek, etc. Annapurna Circuit trek, Mardi Himal Trek, Tilicho Lake Trek, etc. are other popular treks. You can also connect this trek with Upper Mustang Trek, Guerrilla Trek, and Upper Dolpo Trek.
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We specialize in community-based treks and tours throughout Nepal at all times of the year. We conduct camping trekking, teahouse trekking, and Homestay/Village tours in Nepal by becoming one of the most reliable travel partners. Once you book a tour or trek package with us, you won’t think of other alternatives to explore the natural and cultural richness of Nepal in the future. Let us serve you once!
Generally, trekking in Nepal can be broadly divided into three groups on the basis of food and accommodation facilities. They are Camping Trekking, Teahouse Trekking, and Hiking Trekking respectively.
Camping trekking is the oldest form of trekking long before the development of the teahouses on the trekking routes. It was not that easy to establish and run teahouses, hotels, and lodges in the Himalayan regions due to the geographical complexities. Although the trekkers had to pay a comparatively high amount of cost to manage the crew, the entertainment you find during the trek is beyond description!
Even though teahouses are established in most of the trekking regions, still trekkers prefer going camping and trekking for a different experience in the Himalayas. National and international climbers and trekkers still like to go to the Everest Base Camp trek, Manaslu Circuit trek, Makalu Base Camp trek, Upper Mustang trek, and Upper Dolpo trek by spending nights at the tented camps. While doing camping trekking, you need to arrange all the things regarding the journey. During the trek, you need things from foodstuffs, and camping gear to a large-sized crew. The crew contains a team leader, a professional cook, a kitchen helper, a guide, and porters as well. As the load of foodstuffs and camping gear is heavy, you need to manage a large number of porters. To afford all these items, you need to pay a large sum of the budget. Consequently, the cost of a camping trek happens to be higher.
The next type of trekking is hiking in which you set off to a specific destination right from the place you are living. It is the shortest form of trekking, especially for a few hours of a day. You pack the dry food items or cooked food by yourselves. On the other hand, you buy the food items found around the destination as well. After relishing the natural and socio-cultural aspects of the specified places, you return to the hotel booked for the accommodation. Hiking trekking is done in a group of certain members it is more memorable to experience once in a lifetime!
The most common type of trekking in Nepal is teahouse trekking. In recent days, the Nepalese people although in remote areas have come to realize the importance of the tourism industry. It not only helps in developing infrastructures but also the economic progress of a family and the entire society. A teahouse is a small place serving tea and other light refreshments for travelers or locals. It is a type of junction where people from all around a particular village gather and share the news and views. It is more popular in the places where the development infrastructures are less developed. It is the best way to collect information about the natural and cultural circumstances of that place. Apart from this, they serve food and accommodation for travelers who happen to pass by these places. Teahouse not only serves travelers but also is a reliable medium for the local people to earn their livelihood. It can also bring about changes in the lives of rural people and their living standards. The Annapurna Base Camp Teahouse trek is the easiest way to explore the natural and cultural diversity of Annapurna region. Teahouse trekking is more comfortable and less expensive than camping trekking. Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of the oldest and most comfortable teahouse trekking in Nepal. There are many reasons for the Annapurna Base Camp trek being on the bucket list of the trekkers visiting the Himalayas. The Himalayan panoramas, flora and fauna of Annapurna Sanctuary, ethnic cultural beauties, easy access, and moderate type of trekking are some of the prime causes. Above all, the teahouse food and accommodation facilities are the most important driving force for trekkers from all over the world. The teahouses of this region provide comparatively better services than the houses of other regions. Also, the cost of Annapurna Base Camp Teahouse Trek is more reasonable than in other trekking regions of Nepal.
The teahouses en route Annapurna Base Camp provide you with breakfast, meals, snacks, and dinner. You might also find these items in the lower elevation by choosing from the menu. However, in the higher altitude, you might have to compromise on the luxury. The most common food items you find are the typical Nepal Daal Bhaat Tarkari Achar, mo:mos, chowmein, noodles, and tortilla/roti (bread). We highly recommend you have the typical Nepali meals to keep you fit and fine so that you can accomplish the trekking. As they are hygienic and organic, you won’t have any health-related problems. Besides this, you also find some continental cuisines like: Pizza, Spaghetti, and some chicken items including local food items. And, you should always have bottled water as the normal water may not fit for your health. To avoid any water-borne infections, you should always bring water-purifying medicines like Chlorine Dioxide and pills. Alternatively, you can carry a portable water purifier or filter while walking in the Himalayas.
Teahouses during Annapurna Base Camp trek avail limited types of beverage items as well. For your kind information, we don’t suggest you have non-veg items as they may not be fresh at the higher altitudes. But, if you find them fresh and hygienic, you can also taste them. The cost of the food items including beverages is listed below in the table:
| Particulars | Cost Per | Remarks |
1. Dal Bhaat 2. Tea/Coffee 3. Coke/Fanta 4. Mo:Mo / Chowmin 5. Mineral Water 6. Beer | $ 6-8 time $1.5 - $ 3,5 cup $ 2- $ 3 Bottle $ 5 - $ 8 Plate $ 1- $ 2 bottle $ 5 - $ 8 bottle | In some stopovers, the given cost may differ as well! |
Teahouses in Annapurna region provide accommodation facilities to visitors at all times of the year. They provide basic to deluxe facilities of accommodation depending upon the availability and your desire to pay an extra charge. In some teahouses, you can find attached restrooms while in most of the others, you have to go out of the house for excretion. As going out of the house may not be familiar to you, you should always keep a torch light in your backpack. This helps you go out even in the areas where there is no electricity facility. If the teahouse is in remote areas closer to the dense forests, you had better go with your friends. In such places, going out alone at night may be dangerous as the nocturnal animals might attack you occasionally. The average amount you have to pay for a room per night equals $ 10 - $ 12 depending upon the type of it. The room is cozy with a clean and comfortable bed with a bed sheet and blanket changed after every use. You can also find table or ceiling fans for cooling conditions at lower altitudes. Most of the teahouses have electricity facilities and you can find solar facilities for lighting and charging different gadgets. In the past, it was not that easy to get hot water for a shower. If you wanted to take a hot shower, you had to pay an extra charge. But nowadays, as electricity and solar panels are installed, you can get hot water without any difficulty. Most of the teahouses have bathrooms with hot water 24/7. The cost of the hot shower is included in the accommodation charge.
In some villages, you can also find homestay facilities as well. The local community people, especially the women are active in providing food and accommodation facilities to the trekkers in their vicinity. Homestay was introduced to promote tourism at the rural level so that it can benefit the living standard of the local people. As the people are involved in providing food and accommodation services to the tourists, they can easily earn their livelihood. Most of the ethnic villages located in Annapurna trekking region have been running homestay facilities since the 90s. Apart from the contribution on the economic side, it has encouraged the people to be involved in the conservation of their lifestyle, culture, and tradition. Homestay services have taught the people how to keep their native socio-cultural aspects unaffected by the imported culture and tradition. In some villages, you find the small museums established to conserve their traditional customs and costumes. You can find traditional tools, important manuscripts or inscriptions of their language, and historical relics that reflect their history. You can find in-depth knowledge about their forefathers and their original cultural rites and rituals.
Doing the Annapurna Base Camp Teahouse trek is the best way to meet the Brave Gurkhas who fought bravely in the World Wars. Most of the villages of this region are populated by the Gurung and Magar ethnic communities. The male members of these communities have been serving in the security forces of Great Britain, India, Singapore, Hongkong, and many more including Nepal. Spending nights with these friendly and fearless people gives you a lifelong memory while trekking in Nepal. You will hear many more interesting stories they have heard or made during their lifetime. In addition, homestay is a chance for cultural exchange as well. You can learn to cook their local cuisines while sharing the same kitchen with the host family.
Teahouse trekking is the most common type of trekking in Nepal. Among them, Annapurna Base Camp Teahouse trek is the most popular one. The teahouses opened and ran on the routes to provide food and accommodation facilities during this trek. What you have to do is just focus on getting the best of the beautiful scenery of the Himalayas, flora and fauna as well as the cultural richness of this region.
During this trip, you can relish the typical Nepali cuisines made up of organic grains and vegetables. Moreover, you will find fast food items like soup, omelets, and daal bhat in almost all the rest points. Continental food items like European, Italian, Chinese, and Indian are also found as per your appetite.
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