North Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) are the best times for this trek. Both offer stable weather, clear mountain views, firm trails and comfortable daytime temperatures.

Spring brings rhododendron forests in full bloom at lower altitudes from March to April—a spectacular backdrop on the approach. Days are warming and skies are generally clear. Autumn has the best post-monsoon clarity: sharply defined peaks, dry trails and comfortable temperatures for camping.

Temperatures at North ABC (4,130 m): In spring (March to May), daytime temperatures range from 10°C / 50°F to 15°C / 59°F with freezing nights. In autumn (October to November), daytime temperatures range from 10°C / 50°F to 20°C / 68°F. In winter (December to February), nights at base camp can fall to minus 20°C / minus 4°F with heavy snow on the trails. The monsoon (June to September) brings leeches on the lower trails and slippery, wet conditions—not suitable for camping. Swotah recommends spring or autumn for this trek.

Two trekking permits are required for North Annapurna Base Camp Trek, both obtained through Swotah before departure from Kathmandu:

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NRS 3,000 per person (approximately USD 22). The ACAP protects over 952 km² of the Annapurna region including the North ABC trekking zone, and the fee goes directly toward conservation and community development programs in the area.

TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) Card: NRS 3,000 per person (approximately USD 22). The TIMS card registers your trek with Nepal Tourism and is a safety measure allowing authorities to locate trekkers in emergencies. Both permits are included in the tour price.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you stay in comfortable 3-star hotels with Wi-Fi, attached bathrooms and heating and cooling. In Tatopani (night 3), accommodation is in a basic guesthouse—comfortable for one night with simple facilities.

For the six nights on trek (two nights at Sardhi Kharka, one at Bhusket Mela, and three nights at North ABC), you sleep in a two-person waterproof tent provided by Swotah. The camp is fully set up by the porter crew before you arrive, with a separate dining tent, kitchen tent and toilet tent. Bring your own sleeping bag (rated to at least minus 10°C for the ABC nights); sleeping bags can be hired or purchased in Kathmandu or Pokhara if you do not have one.

On the six camping nights, all meals are prepared by Swotah's camp chef using fresh ingredients—many brought from Kathmandu or Pokhara, with local produce purchased where possible to support communities along the route.

Breakfast: porridge, Tibetan bread or roti, eggs, pancakes, tea and coffee. Lunch and dinner: Nepali dal bhat (rice, lentil soup and vegetables), vegetable pasta, chowmein (fried noodles), fried rice, soups. The majority of camp food is vegetarian; some tinned meat and fish is also available. Please inform Swotah at booking if you are vegetarian or vegan. Alcohol and plastic water bottles are not carried by porters—boiled drinking water is provided at camp, so bring your own refillable bottle. Hot tea, coffee and hot chocolate are always available at camp.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, breakfast is included at the hotel; lunch and dinner are at your own expense (a wide variety of Nepali and international food is available). In Tatopani, dinner and lunch are at the guesthouse.

Bring snacks—energy bars, dried fruit and nuts, chocolate—for the trekking days. You will appreciate having them. Bring hand sanitiser and use it before eating at camp; do not eat food that has been out for hours, and drink only the boiled water provided.

This is a fully supported camping trek—you carry only your day pack; the porter crew carries all camping equipment. Each trekker shares a porter with one other guest, and your personal bag must not exceed 10 kg / 22 lbs.

Swotah's camping crew consists of your guide, porters and a camp chef. The crew carries: two-person tents, a dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent, cooking equipment and all food for the six camp nights. They leave camp before you in the morning and walk ahead—porters routinely walk faster than trekkers even carrying equipment—so by the time you arrive at the next camp, tea is waiting and dinner is being prepared.

At each campsite your day begins with a cup of hot tea brought to the tent. Breakfast follows; while you eat, the crew breaks down the previous camp. Lunch is either a cooked meal at a scenic stop or a packed lunch depending on terrain. Evenings are around the campfire; cold nights above 3,000 m make the fire welcome before an early bedtime. A campfire, clear skies and no city lights: the stars at 4,000 m are extraordinary.

Gurungs are the most prominent ethnic group in the Annapurna region and the communities you are most likely to pass through on this trek. They speak a Tibeto-Burman language and have a distinct culture with colourful traditional dress. Many Gurungs are Buddhist, though shamanic beliefs and practices—the Ghyabre and Klehbri traditions—remain alive alongside Buddhism. They have served in the British Gurkha regiments for generations; their reputation for courage, loyalty and physical strength made them among the most valued soldiers in the British Indian army. Their stone houses with slate roofs are built for the mountain environment: warm in winter and cool in summer.

Magars occupy the lower and middle hills in the Annapurna region. One of Nepal's largest indigenous ethnic groups, the Magars have their own language and are known for weaving and metalwork crafts. Like the Gurungs, they blend Buddhist and Hindu beliefs with animist traditions. Their stone and wood houses are suited to the mid-hill climate. The Magars also have a long history of military service in the Gurkha regiments.

On day five (Sardhi Kharka to Bhusket Mela), the trail passes sky caves—naturally formed cliff cavities at height, used for centuries by the people of the upper Mustang and northern Annapurna region as burial sites, meditation retreats and places of spiritual practice. Some caves contain ancient Buddhist murals, clay figurines and artefacts. The Mustang sky caves, first properly explored by researchers from the mid-20th century, revealed human remains and artefacts dating back more than 2,000 years. For the Gurung and Magar communities of the area, the caves retain spiritual and cultural significance. Please do not remove, damage or disturb any object or painting inside or near the caves.

North Annapurna Base Camp lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area—one of the largest protected areas in Nepal—which shelters over 100 species of animals and more than 1,200 species of plants including orchids.

Wildlife on this trek: Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur) are commonly seen on the rocky slopes above the treeline. Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)—a large goat-like ungulate—graze the cliff faces and alpine meadows. Langur monkeys are seen in the lower forests. The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) and Himalayan Brown Bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) are present in the conservation area; sightings are rare but possible. Among birds, the Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus)—Nepal's national bird, also called the Impeyan pheasant—is strikingly colourful and frequently seen. The Crimson-horned Pheasant and various vulture species are also recorded.

In spring, rhododendron forests below 3,000 m are in full bloom—pink, red and white—alongside oak, pine and bamboo groves at lower elevations. Above the treeline are alpine meadows and, above the camp, glaciers and permanent snow fields.

Annapurna North Base Camp at 4,130 m / 13,550 ft sits at the foot of the north face of Annapurna I—one of the most formidable and avalanche-prone faces in the Himalaya. The Annapurna Massif dominates the skyline from camp; on clear mornings the mountain catches the first light before the valley below is lit. Glaciers and seracs surround the camp.

Day at base camp (day 7 of the trek): A short one to two hour hike from camp to Modern Base Camp, then approximately 45 minutes further toward Tilicho Peak for close views of glaciers and ice cliffs. This is a gentle exploration in a dramatic high-altitude landscape.

Glacier day (day 8 of the trek): A rest and exploration day among the glaciers immediately around camp. The clarity of the air and the absence of light pollution make photography outstanding—particularly at the golden hour at dawn and dusk when the peaks change colour. This is also a day to relax, acclimatise and appreciate one of the most remote and beautiful campsites in the Annapurna region.

The North ABC route passes through an ecologically fragile and culturally significant area. Swotah's camping crew is briefed on responsible waste management: all camp waste is carried out, not buried or burned at camp. We ask all guests to observe the same standard. Carry everything you bring onto the trail back out with you; leave nothing at camp or on the trail—not food wrappers, not tissue, nothing.

Do not disturb wildlife, pick flowers or plants, or damage any rock formations. At sky caves and cultural sites, do not touch, move or remove any objects. Be sensitive to Gurung and Magar community traditions when passing through villages—ask before photographing people. Remove shoes when entering any temple or prayer space.

Money: All food, accommodation and transport are included during the camping portion of the trek. At guesthouses and in Kathmandu and Pokhara you will need cash. A rough budget of NRS 500 (approximately USD 4) per day on trekking days covers any incidental hot drinks or snacks available for sale en route. Budget NRS 3,000 (approximately USD 20) per day in Pokhara and Kathmandu for meals and personal extras. Bring Nepali Rupees from Kathmandu (or exchange at Pokhara ATMs); there are no ATMs or card facilities on the trail.

Tips: Tipping is standard and appreciated. A guide should receive approximately 10% of the total trek cost divided by the number of group members. Porters receive approximately USD 10 per day (camp trek rate) and the camp chef approximately USD 15 per day, divided by group members. Pay porters at the point where they leave you; guides can be paid at the end of the trek. Swotah will brief you on specific amounts on arrival in Kathmandu.

Communication: Buy a Nepali Ncell SIM card at the airport on arrival. Coverage works in most areas of this trek but cannot be guaranteed at base camp. Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara have Wi-Fi. The guide carries a satellite phone or emergency communication device; ensure your travel insurance details and emergency contacts are with your guide before leaving Kathmandu.