Annapurna Region

One of the first important question that comes to one’s mind before traveling to Nepal for trekking purposes is “When to go? or When is the best time to visit Nepal?”. Simply but thoroughly, we will be answering that particular question here and help you decide on when to visit Nepal for the trek of your lifetime in the Himalayan trails leading to Annapurna Base Camp.

• Autumn Season (end of September to early December)

Like any experienced trekker who has been to Nepal would say, Autumn season is undoubtedly the most promising time of the entire year for travelers to travel and visit Nepal’s incredible trekking routes inside Annapurna region such as Annapurna Base Camp trek. As the monsoon clouds have cleared out, trekkers are left with some stunning views and a golden opportunity to witness the overwhelming Himalayan scenery of the legendary snowcapped mountains including the Annapurna massif.

• Spring Season (March to end of May)

After Autumn, Spring season is primarily considered to be the next favorite time for ABC trek.  Blossoming of rhododendron flowers can be witness all over the trek routes during this season. Higher altitude trekking remains comfortable enough to let trekkers relish the authentic joy of trekking in Nepal’s diverse trek routes which goes through several valleys, hills, rivers and villages from lower to high elevations in just a matter of days.

1. Pokhara (via flight)
   

   There are several means to get into Annapurna region but via flight is comparatively the best means to reach Annapurna region till date specially if you don’t have much travel days to spend in Nepal. Also, a direct flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu doesn’t cost you much and the flights are frequently scheduled normally from early morning to late in the evenings.

   Majority of flights to Pokhara tend to take around 30 minutes. And before even landing in Pokhara city. From the usual sidelined city structures to the platonic mountain views, everything about Pokhara seems to be fun and erratic for first time travelers. However, it will be fun nevertheless which will make your holiday an unforgettable one. 

   Note: Weather conditions will highly affect your flights. So be prepared for that as well.
   
   
2. Drive to Pokhara
   

   If you feel like experiencing more then you can take a drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu. You might take a flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu if you don’t have much time as it is the fastest means to reach Pokhara. While the flight lasts around just 25 minutes, the drive will require at least 8 hours.

3. Drive to Bhulebhule or Nayapool
   

   Bus from Kathmandu to Bhulebhule and trek from Bhulebhule. Now this is a much longer route than drive to Pokhara as we have to go all way to Bhulebhule and Nayapool. However, by driving all the way to Nayapool and Bhulebhule, you will be able to jumpstart your trekking adventure inside Annapurna region.

List of visible mountains inside Annapurna Region

• Dhaulagiri 26,795ft / 8,167m
• Manaslu 26,781ft / 8163m
• Annapurna, I 26,502ft / 8,078m
• Annapurna II 26,041ft / 7,937m
• Himal Chuli 25,896ft / 7893m
• Annapurna III 24,767ft / 7,556m
• Annapurna IV 24,666ft / 7,525m
• Ngadi Chuli 24,652ft / 7514m
• Gangapurna 24,457ft / 7,455m
• Tilicho Peak 23,406ft / 7,134m
• Nilgiri 23,406ft / 7,134m
• Lamjung Himal 22,740ft / 6,938m
• Annapurna South 23,684ft / 7,219m
• Machapuchare (Fishtail) 22,943ft / 6993m
• Hiunchuli 21,132ft / 6,441m

1) Pokhara

Whenever someone plans to go travel inside Annapurna region, Pokhara is bound to come up to them no matter what. Not just because it’s the gateway to it. But also, because it is one of the most beautiful cities of Nepal. And my friend that is not an understatement from me. Pokhara truly deserves its popularity as it offers travelers a homage to both relax and travel at the same time.

Surrounded by the serene Phewa Lake, Pokhara has the famous World Peace Pagoda and Sarangkot hill. Lively streets and amusing cafes occupy most of the touristic areas. However, you can always just go and do the thrilling Paragliding to please your thirst for adventure.

2) Annapurna Base Camp

If I leave the glorious Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) out of this list. Then I won’t be dong justice to its readers. And that is because, thousands of trekkers and travelers visit Nepal just to visit this dreamy place. Surrounded by the panoramic views of snow covered mountains, ABC lets you view the world’s tenth highest mountain closely. You get to understand the meaning of pure joy upon visiting this place. With great blue sky above and scenic trails leading to ABC, the ABC is simply a must visit place inside Annapurna Sanctuary.

3) Ghorepani

While there are many charming villages inside Annapurna Sanctuary, Ghorepani is the one that truly stands out the most. At least for me. The location of the village adds an extra to your stay here. You can get an eye-catching view of the mountains and even experience a genuine overnight stay amongst the Gurung people. If you think this through then Ghorepani can be place to understand about Nepalese history and culture. Spending a day here can help you boost your morale and change your perception of Nepal altogether. So, I recommend you guys to visit Ghorepani village if you ever plan to travel in Annapurna region.

4) Poonhill

Similarly, travelers who make the wise decision to visit Ghorepani will eventually hike up to Poonhill. Poonhill is popular among foreigners for being a great vantage point to view the Annapurna range. Besides that, travelers can even see Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Machapuchare. But more than that, the sunrise and sunset views over the summits of the mountains are the most yearned after. For that reason, many wake up early in the morning and hike up to Poonhill to capture those glimpses.

5) Khopra Danda

Next in line after Poonhill is Khopra Danda and that’s because just like Poonhill, Khopra Danda too is a famous viewpoint. Though Khopra Danda lies a bit far than Poonhill. It nonetheless is still a quite amazing place to visit. And if you ever manage to reach here then you are in for a view of your lifetime for sure. If the day is clear and the clouds aren’t present, Mt. Everest can also be seen from here. Along with that, the entire Annapurna massif stands ahead of you. And that is something that truly will captivate your eyes.

Taking you to the phenomenal base camp of the world’s tenth highest mountain – Mt. Annapurna, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of the most popular trek sin the world. Offering vast topological, cultural and geographical diversities, trekkers who embark on a journey to Annapurna Base Camp will surely enjoy their adventure as they get to travel through beautiful village communities and meet charming local people. Furthermore, trekkers can even witness a magnificent 360-degree mountain view that is truly breathtaking.

First and foremost, ABC is situated at a height of 4,310 meters above sea level. However, the route to the base camp goes through lower elevations due to which you don’t really need to worry too much about acclimatization issues. It is considered as a moderate trek that takes you on a journey to Pokhara city and then to other hilly villages like Tikhedhunga and Ghorepani. While doing so, you encounter immense presence of wildlife and vegetation. During the peak seasons of trekking, the entire trek route to Annapurna Base Camp is filled up with huge masses of foreign tourists. Every teahouse/lodge gets full with tourists planning to stay overnight at their hotel.

Typically, you will need to walk for about 7 to 10 km per day while gaining about 200 to 400 meters in elevation. The entire route is doable by any individual; however, they must be physically fit and healthy in order to complete the trek without ensuing much problems on themselves. In addition to that, travelers can even get local accommodations at a very reasonable price. The rooms are normal with individual beds for a comfortable and resting sleep. Besides that, trekkers don’t need to possess any kind of previous trekking experience in order to go for Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

You can take a look down below and see our trekking packages that are designed to let you go for a trek inside Annapurna region.