First-Timer's Complete Guide to Annapurna Base Camp

You need two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card. These are obtained in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Our packages include all permit fees — you don't need to arrange anything separately.

ABC sits at 4,130m — high enough for mild altitude sickness to affect some trekkers. Classic symptoms include headache, nausea, and fatigue. Our itinerary is designed with built-in acclimatisation days. The golden rule: if you feel worse, we descend. Your safety takes priority over the summit.

Each day typically starts at 7am after a hot breakfast at the teahouse. You'll walk 4–7 hours with a lunch stop at a village en route. Teahouses provide dal bhat, noodles, soup, and hot drinks. Wifi is available but unreliable above Chhomrong. Charging phones costs a small fee per hour.

Standing at Annapurna Base Camp surrounded by the Annapurna massif — Annapurna I at 8,091m filling the sky directly above you — is one of the most profound experiences in trekking. No photograph does it justice. First-timers often stand in silence for several minutes. That silence says everything.