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Annapurna Base Camp (ABC)
This 17 day trip begins in Kathmandu, takes you on a 12 day lodged trek to ABC and transits back through the relaxed lake side town of Pokhara.
ABC itself is right at the heart of the Annapurna Himal and if you trekked around the Annapurna Circuit, you would completely circumnavigate ABC without actually seeing it; it is surrounded on 3 sides by glacial terrain.
Download this useful map of the ABC route.
Having flown into Kathmandu, this journey really begins with a drive through the Nepali countryside to Phedi, the start point of your trek. It's a gentle introduction up through Damphus and on through Landruk until you get to Chomrung on Day 3. By now you will have seen and appreciated that this region exists naturally; the local people would live here regardless if trekkers came through or not. The Modi Khola river flows down from ABC and you will pick up this very deep valley early on and see just how vast the hillside terracing extends.
This region represents the real Nepal; self sufficient and very rural. An absolute joy to experience.
Chomrung is a deceptively large village that is perched on the hillside facing the entrance to the large steep gully that leads up to the Base camp as if to guard it! The ascent is a good 3 days and if the condition of the group is good, you can ascend to ABC and stay there. If not, you can stay at a lower altitude and walk up to ABC pre-dawn to watch the sun rise over the surrounding peaks.
Once you have descended out of the Modi Khola, it is time to contour around and trek through the dense and beautiful rhododendron forests that engulfs Tadapani. It is then onto Ghorepani, gateway to Poon Hill, which is a photographers dream at sunrise. This prominent point overlooks two major mountain ranges: the Annapurna Massif and the Dhaulagiri range.
From here it is just 2 more days and you will have reached Naya Pul, a 90 min drive back to Pokhara and a well earned rest. Pokhara is the perfect place to recharge your batteries; it is tranquil and yet full of life. There is plenty to do whether it be microliting, paragliding or just lazing about in the excellent resort. Finally, it's back to Kathmandu, final shopping or browsing around before your flight home.
