Annapurna Base Camp
Text and Photographs by Mr. Sachin Vaidya
I visited Annapurna Base Camp and Machhapuchere Base Camp [both in Nepal] during November 2023. The trek was organised by Countryside Adventure Holidays [Mumbai] in association with Asiatic Roads [Nepal]. In the past, I had visited Nepal a number of times as a part of fixed departures by various tour companies. However for the first time, I visited Nepal solo by making arrangements through a tour company. The tour company staff accompanied me from Kathmandu international airport on first day to Kathmandu international airport on the last day.
I hereby share day-to-day account of the trek.
Day 1: 6th November 2023
The first day was aeroplane journey from Mumbai to Kathmandu [4,387 feet]. My guide - Mr. Dawa - came to receive me at Tribhuvan Airport [Kathmandu] and he took me from international to domestic airport for a connecting flight to Pokhara [4,436 feet]. I could see a few mountain peaks at the sunset.
I stayed at Hotel White Pearl in Pokhara.
Day 2: 7th November 2023
I left hotel at 8 am with Mr. Dawa and Mr. Dipesh [porter] and travelled to Kande by vehicle. On the roadside, a few memorials were found.
Food and accommodation was available at Kande.
Dawa and Dipesh were visible in the following photograph:
Dawa and I had a photograph.
Merigold flower trees were planted by villagers.
Sufficient signage was was availabe on the trek route.
Vegetables were also cultivated by the villagers on the roadside.
Nearly an hour after beginning of the trek, we reached Goldanda.
The trek was lined with signage depicting place and time required for the next destination.
Bright coloured flowers were soothing to the eyes.
We marched towards the Australian Camp.
We reached Pothana [6,200 feet] around 10-30 am.
After lunch, we continued our trek around 11-45 am.
We could view traditional Nepali house in route.
We proceeded towards Tolka.
We reached Tolka around 1-45 pm.
We continued our trek towards Landruk.
Suspension bridges were a highlight of the trek.
We reached Landruk [5,135 feet] around 3-30 pm.
Our night halt was at Landruk.
Day 3: 8th November 2023
Tea / guest houses had planted decorative plants.
We did not use the bridge; it might be of use to the villagers.
We crossed a suspension bridge.
Snowy mountain peaks were visible.
The trek route was simple without any ups and downs.
Within less than half an hour, we crossed another suspension bridge.
A rivulet made the surrounding scenic.
Fern leaves looked nice.
Tiny waterfalls added to the natural beauty.
Nepal had developed its tourism so that even crossing small rivulets was easy.
We reached New Bridge [Naya Pul] before 9 am.
Distant view of the suspension bridge was amazing.
It was the fourth suspension bridge of the day.
Villagers had cultivated terraced fields.
We reached Jhinu Danda [5,741 feet] around 09-45 am.
We did not visit hot spring.
Before going ashead, we enquired at a guest house for accommodation as we had scheduled a night halt at Jhinu Danda while returning.
We reached Chhomrong [7,020 feet] around 12 noon.
Due to winter, sunset was early. Around quarter to five, I could shoot mountains and mist.
The night halt was at Chhomrong.
Day 4: 9th November 2023
I could shoot early morning vista from the lodge at Chhomrong.
Local villagers wanted to build a stupa [Buddhist religious structure] and were raising funds for the same.
Memorials dedicated to deceased Gurung [community] men / women were found on the way.
Terraced fields were a common sight at Nepali countryside.
We crossed [relatively] short suspension bridge.
Sinuwa [7,743 ft.] is a large village with two sections: Upper Sinuwa and Lower Sinuwa.
We passed by Sinuwa from 08-20 am to 09-28 am.
We walked towards Bamboo.
After Sinuwa, the journey was through forest.
A small bridge saved efforts of trekkers.
A bamboo grove heralded arrival of village 'Bamboo'.
We reached Bamboo [7,037 feet] around 11-15 am and had lunch there.
The distance from Bamboo to Dovan was covered within an hour.
Bamboo groves were aplenty.
Nepal had developed tourism by providing facilities for trekking; we never crossed any river / stream without bridge.
The journey was through dense forest.
We reached Dovan [8,460 feet] around 2 pm and stayed there.
Day 5: 10th November 2023
We left Dovan around 7 am.
We walked through dense forest.
There was a temple nearby whose access was closed.
We reached Himalaya [9,514 feet] around 07-45 am.
After booking accommodation for the night at Himalaya, we walked towards Deurali.
We reached Deurali [10,499 feet] around 09-10 am.
Our next destination was Machhapuchhre Base Camp.
Due to the high altitude, vegetation was sparse and of low height.
We reached Machhapuchhre Base Camp [12,135 feet] around 11-16 am.
We had lunch at Machhapuchhre Base Camp.
After lunch, we proceeded towards Annapurna Base Camp.
For the first time, we could see snow from close quarters.
The surface of the pond was frozen.
Around 01-30 pm, we could view lodges at Annapurna Base Camp [13,550 feet].
Annapurna Base Camp was visible!
Annapurna Base Camp greeted us with 'Namaste'!
We could view Mount Annapurna!
As we had cancelled night halt at Annapurna Base Camp, we did not visit the lodges and embarked upon the return journey.
At dusk, we had tea at Deurali and reached Himalaya at night. We used torchlight for nearly an hour to see the path at night. The night halt was at Himalaya Hotel.
Day 6: 11th November 2023
We left Himalaya Hotel around 07-30 am.
We revisited magnificent waterfall of yesterday.
We reached Dovan around 09-06 am.
We reached Bamboo around 10-12 am.
We reached Sinuwa around 12-31 pm.
As we were returning by the same route, not many photographs were taken.
We reached Chhomrong around 03-21 pm.
Our destination was Jhinu Danda.
We reached Jhinu Danda around 6 pm.
The night halt was at Jhinu Danda.
Day 7: 12th November 2023
We left Jhinu Danda around 07-30 am.
We walked over a long suspension bridge.
That was the last suspension bridge on the trek!
After a brief walk, we reached shared jeep stand for travel to Pokhara.
It took nearly an hour and a half to reach Hotel White Pearl at Pokhara.
After early lunch, we proceeded towards Pokhara International Airport to catch a flight to Kathmandu.
During the flight, a lake at Pokhara was visible.
The surrounding mountains were visible.
The night halt was at Kathmandu.
Day 8: 13th November 2023
The day was spent in shopping in Thamel area of Kathmandu. My stay at Kathmandu was at Maya Manor Hotel which was a [part] heritage boutique hotel.
The photographs of Maya Manor Hotel are available on the following link:
The night halt was at Kathmandu.
Day 9: 14th November 2023
The bird's eye view of Kathmandu city was panaromic.
I had a last view of Nepalese Himalayas.
The trek was memorable for many reasons. Even though I had visited Nepal a number of times, those visits / treks were fixed departures of tour companies. Annapurna Base Camp was organised only for me as per my convenient dates by Countryside Adventure Holidays. I felt very cold at high altitude and therefore avoided night halt at high altitude places.
Nepal is a tourist-friendly country and I look forward more visits to Nepal.
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