Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

I was planning to go to Annapurna Base Camp, but my schedule changed due to the avalanche. Thanks to the quick response, we were able to reach the Maldi Himar View Point. Also thank you next time.

We trekked for 6-8 hours a day and covered the route in 10 days. Days 3 (poonhill climb), 9 and 10 (800 floors descent) were the most challenging. It's a very scenic trekking route and because of its popularity, the facilities along the way were pretty good and more than what I expected such as guest houses with wifi, western food and hot showers. Come prepared for steps; there are tons of them.

Essentially I did two treks: the well-known trip to Ghorepani and Poon Hill, and then on to the two base camps. I am 37 and in average physical condition and I found the going tough but not overwhelmingly so. The main challenge is climbing endless steps, both up and down. Hardly any of the trek is actually flat. I didn't have any trouble with my knees and I didn't need the trekking poles I bought in the end but if you don't think you can handle the strain on your knees and thighs etc then you'd probably best look at a trek which is flatter. The first two days consist of walking up to Ghorepani via a series of tiny hamlets. In the sun it can be very hot, despite it being winter. The pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill was one of the hardest parts of the entire journey, mainly because it is done before breakfast and I felt quite weak and faint. I didn't think I would make it but I did in the end. The views at the top are beautiful. It wasn't freezing cold but gloves and a hat were handy. I borrowed a knock-off down jacket and used it during this climb and on a few other evenings but I could have done without it I think. After Poon Hill was one of the most beautiful legs of the trek, walking through pine forests along the ridge of the mountains with spectacular views and then later alongside a stream until we reached Tadapani. After this there were a number of days where we didn't really ascend much but of course there were lots of steps up and down while we gradually skirted around the hills until we reached the valley which leads to MBC. Expect to see more hamlets, some villages, lots of cows and mules and goats, some flowers, plenty of trees and of course from time to time, the mountain peaks. The final two sections from Bamboo to Deurali (3200 metres) and from Deurali to ABC (4100 metres) were very, very tough for me because I began to get out of breath due to the altitude. I was panting like I was running at top speed on the tread mill! My advice is simply to walk very, very slowly when climbing there. Try to take a breath for every step you take. (I was carrying 12kg on my back and it would definitely have been easier with a porter). On the way down it was much quicker. It took me 2.5 hours to get from MBC to ABC, but on the way down, walking at brisk pace, I did the same distance in just 40 minutes. So my walking speed going up was 3 or 4 times slower than coming down. I only stayed at ABC for an hour. The views are wonderful because you are surrounded by mountains and you can see (and hear) the glaciers. There are semi-frozen streams and huge boulders everywhere. I reached ABC on December 12th and it wasn't too cold but apparently I was lucky with the weather and in previous years it has been snowing at that time. That would have made things a lot more difficult. One of the problems I had was washing clothes and drying them because there was so little sunshine, especially as we got higher. In the morning shade persisted until well after 10am and then the sun would go behind the peaks by around 3 or 4pm. At ABC the sun disappeared at 1.52pm! A few items I brought with me which were very useful included a mini water filter (it paid for itself by the end), zip lock bags (to go to the toilet at night instead of walking outside in the freezing cold!), a portable clothes line (I dried my clothes in my room at night), oat bars (for a welcome snack and energy boost - these things aren't available in the trek), a high capacity power bank and a solar charger (you have to pay for electricity after Ghorepani), a microfibre towel (a normal towel would never dry!) and finally sunscreen spray (it gets very hot in the day). I wish I had brought more liner socks (I had only two pairs, four would be better). Four hiking socks were enough. I also brought far too many chargers for my cameras and batteries and those weighed me down a bit. I also forgot to buy a sunhat which would have been useful. I had my own sleeping bag and a thermal liner and I was never cold at night. During the day I relied on trekking pants and a long-sleeved lightweight base layer. If the sun disappeared I either added a wool-based layer or my fleece. I had a thin rain jacket as well and that was very handy for keeping the wind off, though it wasn't very windy really and it never rained. You can see the photos of my trek here: http://tinyurl.com/jlhyprp If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via Twitter @njstone9 Good luck!

Annapurna base camp trek is wonderful experience for me and my kids. I am certain my kids are left with memories they will always treasure. No words or photos can describe the ten days we spent trekking to Annapurna Base Camp and back. It was awesome, it was incredibly hard for my kids but they forgot the hardship quickly as soon as they gazed up to the peaks. It was so icy cold at times because we trekked at the end of December. We laughed so much and sometimes we nearly cried. We stared at the mule trains carrying all sorts of logistics up and down the mountain trails and wondered at the strong porters. We sweated and gasped up the mountain stairways. We feared for our lives on the slippery slopes coming down from Machhapuchhre Base Camp and we came back to life in the pools of the Jhinu hot springs. And through all of this Shiva and Raj guarded us with their amazing knowledge and understanding, never-ending patience and wonderful sense of humor.

I have had no idea on Himalayan trekking and arrangements. It turned out to be an amazing journey to Himalaya with amazing people. It was very challenging, but I loved every moment of it! Really enjoyed the whole trip! Recommended trip and the organizer too.