Annapurna Base Camp Trek: 12 Helpful Things I Wish I’d Known

In 2023, I finally got the chance to hike to Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal. This stunning trek, also known as the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, is one of the World’s most spectacular hikes.

Although a popular hike, this multi-day trek is not something to take lightly. I spent hours and hours researching online to make sure I was as prepared as possible. Despite my research, a few things still took me by surprise.

In this post, I’ve shared the twelve things I wish I had known about hiking to Annapurna Base Camp. From how hot and humid it is to the sheer number of steps, I hope the points I’ve shared help you prepare for this iconic trek.

Related read: Absolutely everything you need to know about the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

It’s not that ‘easy’

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek / Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is considered one of Nepal’s ‘easiest’ multi-day hikes, at least compared to Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit. This is likely due to the lower altitude (ABC only reaches 4,130 metres whereas the others go above 5,000 metres).

I even remember reading somewhere that this trek is a great hike for ‘beginners’. While it might not reach the same altitudes as others, it’s by no means easy.

On average, this iconic trek takes around 9 or 10 days to complete. There are no rest days, and each day involves hiking for a minimum of 6 or 7 hours if not longer.

In addition, this trek is known for its steps, which nicely brings me to my next point…

There are so many steps

Oh my God! The steps. So many steps. I still have nightmares when I think about how many steps we climbed during the trek. One thing they don’t tell you about this hike is the sheer number of steps you’ll be climbing daily. I’m not sure an hour went by without at least one long set of steps.

During our briefing at the start of the tour, our local guide told us about the infamous steps up to the village of Ulleri on day two of the trek. This steep climb consists of around 3,500 stone steps. It feels neverending, especially with the heat and humidity.

As the days progressed, we encountered even more of these stone staircases. Up and down, they never ended.

Don’t get me wrong—it was easy to get into a pace when climbing up the steps, but going down was the tough part. It really, really took its toll on the knees. Even the fittest people in my group were struggling by the end and almost everyone was using a hiking pole or stick.

It can be very hot and humid

The thing that surprised me the most about the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek was how hot and humid it was. The first couple of days and last couple of days were incredibly hot, and I just wasn’t prepared for it.

I was expecting it to be warm at times, but not like I’m on a beach in Thailand. Definitely pack a pair of shorts and some clothes to wear in warmer weather. It may also be sensible to carry some electrolytes to help stay hydrated.

Once we reached the higher altitudes, the temperature cooled down significantly.

Food and drink is very expensive

The cost of food and drink on the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek can be very expensive, especially compared to cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Carrying supplies up to the tea houses requires a lot of effort, and it’s important that the porters who do this are paid fairly. However, this means higher than average food and drink prices.

You can expect to pay around $3/4 USD for breakfast and $8-15 USD for a full meal. The prices increase as you get closer to Annapurna Base Camp.

I recommend budgeting around $50 USD daily for food and other extras such as hot showers and WiFi. You will likely be able to do it for a bit less, but it’s a good idea to have a bit of flexibility in your budget.

On average, I spent around $35 USD per day. Some days I was very strict about spending money, while other days, I didn’t care so much and splurged on extra meals and hot drinks.

Nepali flat is not flat

‘Nepali flat – a little bit up, a little bit down’

During our daily briefings about the plans for the following day, our guide would often tell us we have some ‘Nepali flat’ coming up. Sadly, this is not flat.

Nepali flat is basically a mix of up and down. It’s not necessarily the steepest of climbs, but it’s not flat by any means.

If your guide tells you to expect some ‘Nepali flat’, don’t get your hopes up!

Bring your own snacks

One of my biggest packing regrets for Annapurna Base Camp was not taking many snacks. It sounds silly, but when hiking for hours a day, having a familiar chocolate bar or some sweets can make all the difference.

It’s worth noting that Nepal doesn’t have the greatest snack selection. As I had been in Malaysia before my trek, I opted to wait and buy my snacks in Nepal. This backfired a little as there was a lot less to choose from in Nepal. Many of the Western snacks were expensive, and the other snacks weren’t a good choice for hiking.

If you’re coming from home, consider bringing some of your favourite snacks with you. Snacks good for hiking include nuts, chocolate, protein bars and sweets/candy.

There are hot showers (but not always)

I was under the impression that showers, let alone hot showers, wouldn’t be an option during the trek.

A lot of the information online advises against showering as the water could be contaminated. However, our guide told us that the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek showers were perfectly safe to use; just try to avoid swallowing any water.

Side note: It’s important to do your own research so you can decide whether to shower. All of my group showered regularly without any issues, but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen.

Most of the tea houses we stayed in had hot water (except at Annapurna Base Camp). Granted, the hot water was very limited and did sometimes run out. However, most days ended with a warm shower, which was much appreciated.

Having a hot shower normally comes at an additional cost. The hot showers I had all cost between $1 and $2 USD.

Take hiking poles (even if you don’t think you’ll need them) 

We’ve already established that the trek to Annapurna Base Camp has a tonne of steps, and walking down these steps can put a lot of extra pressure on your knees.

One way to help reduce this extra pressure is to use hiking poles. I’ve used hiking poles a couple of times, but I didn’t think I would need them on this hike. How wrong I was!! Thankfully, a few other members of the group and I were able to purchase some in the village of Chhomrong during the trek.

If you’ve ever had a slight twinge in your knees when hiking downhill, I recommend using hiking poles. There are thousands and thousands of steps to climb up and down every single day and the poles will help to relieve this pressure on your knees.

Pack as lightly as you can

At the start of the trek, you’ll be given a large duffel bag to carry everything you need. This includes anything you need at night but not during the day. The porters will walk ahead with all the duffel bags each morning and meet you at the next accommodation.

You’ll need to carry anything you need during the day yourself, so it’s a good idea to have a suitably sized day pack.

Try not to overpack (like me). The duffel bag needs to fit in everything including your sleeping bag and all of your spare clothes. For some reason, I decided I needed to pack an extra pair of shoes which took up so much space. You’ll pack and unpack your bag daily, so keep it as simple as possible.

Think carefully about what you need inside your daypack. My bag was filled with random bits, and it was so heavy! You’re responsible for carrying this bag, so keep it as light as possible.

Don’t underestimate the altitude

The Annapurna Base Camp trek is classed as an ‘easy’ trek. Although it does not reach the same altitudes as Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit, it still rises above 4,000 metres.

Altitude sickness is a possibility and not something to be written off. Many of the people in my group felt the effects of the altitude, including shortness of breath, trouble sleeping, and headaches.

On the day I trekked to Base Camp, I could really feel the altitude. Every step felt like a huge effort and it was hard to catch my breath.

Granted, the altitude on this trek is lower, but that doesn’t mean altitude sickness isn’t a risk.

Take a poncho

At the start of the trek, our guide suggested we all buy rain ponchos from the local markets. Most of us were prepped with waterproof coats and trousers heading into the mountains, so I questioned whether I needed one.

Turns out they’re incredibly useful! They’re easy to put on, keep your backpack dry, and you don’t have to worry about drying out your coat or trousers.

My waterproof coat got wet early on and it took a couple of days for it to dry. I was very grateful to then use my poncho instead.

Be wary of the meat

It’s a good idea to avoid eating meat on the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. The tea houses are at high altitudes and away from any roads, so the meat can take a while to reach them. Even if the tea houses have their own animals on site, they often lack sufficient refrigeration, and the meat easily spoils.

I ordered a vegetarian curry one day but it came with chicken. I didn’t want to be rude or waste the food, so I ate it anyway. My stomach was not happy for the next 24 hours…

Our local guide told us to avoid the meat if we could, although he did say it would be safe in a couple of tea houses.

I hope you found this post useful. You can book the EXACT tour I did with G Adventures right here.

Discover more of my guides on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek and Nepal below.