Overview
Annapurna Base Camp (4130m) is an outstanding trekking destination loved by trekkers worldwide. This spectacular journey combines hardcore trekking with luxury travel on a helicopter. Trekkers will get the best trekking experience with the benefits of luxury travel.
This incredible Annapurna region is located in the Kaski district in the Gandaki Province in western Nepal. The beautiful cultural region is where people from different religions and ethnicities live harmoniously. There are significant cultural landmarks in the area with an incredible heritage.
Moreover, the pristine natural landscapes of the Annapurna Conservation Area. The region’s numerous wildlife, flora, and fauna are another highlight of the trek. You will get to observe the rare and endangered wildlife of the area.
The course also passes through the cultural settlements of the region. Hence, trekkers will also have an opportunity for cultural exploration in the region. You can experience the culture, heritage, and landmarks of the area. Your guide will help you interact with the locals and translate the local language.
Furthermore, you will get sweeping views of the snow-clad mountains along the route from various viewpoints. Since you will be traveling on a helicopter on your return trip, you will get to observe the scenic vistas. This reduces the difficulty of the trip significantly. Besides that, you can explore other natural vistas in the region.
Read more about the Annapurna Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return in detail. Contact us for bookings about the trip and additional information. Happy Traveling!
Highlights of the Trip
- Luxurious Helicopter ride while returning from the trip
- Spectacular views of the silver Himalayan mountains of the Annapurna region
- Exploring the cultural settlements of the region
- Traversing through the diverse natural landscapes of the area
- Exploring glaciers, rivers, waterfalls, lakes, etc
- Religious heritage exploration along the trail includes Buddhist monasteries, prayer flags, chortens, stone inscriptions, etc
- Trekking through the rugged and remote terrains
- A warm welcome in the tea houses and hospitality
Itinerary
The Annapurna Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return starts as you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Our staff will remain at the Kathmandu airport and then transfer you to the hotel. You can rest at the hotel. In the evening, you can stroll around the streets of Kathmandu.
On this day, you can make arrangements for the trek. You can prepare for the tour in various ways and get all the stuff you require during your trekking journey. You can pack appropriately with all the required trekking gear and equipment.
Moreover, you should also get the various trekking permits and national park area permits required for the trek. You can also explore the streets of Kathmandu and then return to your hotel in the evening.
Pokhara Altitude: 822 m
Travel duration: 5-6 hours
On this day of the Annapurna Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return, you will travel to the lake city of Pokhara from Kathmandu. The beautiful journey passes through the scenic landscapes alongside the Prithivi Highway.
The beautiful trail provides a captivating journey through narrow cliffs, waterfalls, rivers, and others during the trip. The whole journey takes around 6-7 hours to complete. After arriving at the lake city of Pokhara, you can rest overnight at the hotel. You can also explore the lakeside area in the evening and experience the vibrant nightlife.
Tikhe Dhunga altitude: 1480 m
Travel duration: 1-1.5 hrs
Trek duration: 4-5 hrs
The trail of this stunning Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return will take you through the beautiful settlements of Tikhe Dhunga from Pokhara. You can take a scenic drive from Pokhara to Nayapul. You can continue your trek to Tikhe Dhunga.
The beautiful trail starts from the lake city of Pokhara as you drive to Nayapul, which takes around 1-1.5 hrs. After arriving at this settlement, you can travel to your destination in Tikhe Dhunga, which requires approximately 3 hours. The beautiful trek to this village settlement of the region makes the walk quite enchanting for all travelers.
You can find local accommodations in the ethnic area. The beautiful trek provides you with an excellent walk in the region. Trekkers can observe the snow-clad Himalayan mountain peaks in the region, including Annapurna South, Fishtail, and others. You can spend the night at the teahouses in the area.
Tikhe Dhunga altitude: 2874 m
Trek duration: 5-6 hrs
The trek trail from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani is another incredible trek section. In this trial, you will trek through the beautiful destinations from Tikhe Dhunga. You can continue along the trail through beautiful terrains. There are natural diversities along the route.
On this day of the trek, you will reach the Ghorepani. There you will get sweeping views of the Himalayan. You can observe the snow-clad mountains of the Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri range. It takes around 6 to 7 hours to complete the journey. You will pass through the region's settlements, including Ulleri, Banthanti, etc. Trekkers will rest overnight at the Ghorepani teahouses after exploring the area.
Tadapani altitude: 2610 m
Trek duration: 5-6 hrs
After waking up early in the morning, you will continue your journey along the trail. There are various challenging terrains along the path to reach Tadapani. You will get to observe the sweeping views of the snow-clad mountains of the region.
Firstly you will hike to the viewpoint, from where you can observe the Himalayan sunrise along with the entire landscape of the area. You will then start your trek along the trail to Tadapani. The route to Tadapani will pass through the beautiful settlements of Deurali Danda,
Thulo Odar, Ban Thanthi, and Liu Kahrka are the few settlements. It covers around 9.6 km and takes approximately 5 to 6 hours. There you can observe various natural terrains, including serene waterfalls. The trail also passes through the densely forested trails of the region. You can watch beautiful landscapes in clear blue skies. After arriving at Tadapani, you will rest overnight at a teahouse.
Chomrong altitude: 2150 m
Trek duration: 5-6 hrs
The trail on this trek section then takes you through the challenging terrains. The trek distance from Tadapani to Chhomrong is 7.6 kilometers/4.7 miles. It requires approximately 5 to 6 hours to arrive at the destination of Chomrong, passing through the settlements of Chile, Kimrong Khola, Ghurjung, and Taulung.
There are many diverse trails that you can observe along the route. You can get sweeping views of the snow-clad mountains of the region. The spectacular Himalayan vista and the sweeping views of the snow-clad mountains will enchant you. These include Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, and Hiunchuli.
The trail leads you through the cultural settlements of the Magar and Gurung communities. You will spend the night at the tea houses at Chomrong.
Himalaya hotel altitude: 2500m
Trek duration: 4-5 hrs
On this trail, you will trek to Dovan from Chhomrong. You will walk for around 5-6 hours, covering approximately 8.6 km. There are various steep ascents after you arrive at Chhomrong Khola. You will then climb uphill where there is lush vegetation.
You can find beautiful trails that pass through Annapurna Conservation Area. There are many rhododendrons, oak, and bamboo trees along the route. In the forested trail, you can find a wide variety of trees as it becomes denser till you arrive at the Himalayan hotel.
The trail then moves along the path passing through the settlements of Deurali. The area has incredible barren landscapes from where you can observe the Annapurna glacier. Finally, arriving at Dovan, you can rest overnight at the teahouse.
Annapurna Base Camp altitude: 4130m
Trek duration: 7-8 hrs
The trek trail on this day takes you from Dovan to Annapurna Base Camp. You will trek through the beautiful path of the region to arrive at the ultimate destination. You will pass through the challenging terrains to arrive at the Machhapuchhre Base Camp.
The trail will stay at Deurali (3,230m) for lunch and continue along the forested path to arrive at Hinku cave. The trail then leads you to the beautiful destination, which takes around 2-3 hours. From the Machhapuchhre Base Camp, you will continue your path in these terrains of the Annapurna Sanctuary.
Annapurna Base Camp altitude: 4130m
Flight duration: 15-20 minutes
After 10 days of the journey in the Annapurna region, you will take a helicopter flight from where you will travel back to the lake city of Pokhara. You can observe the snow-clad mountains for the last time. After watching the beautiful trails, you will arrive at Pokhara. There the Annapurna Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return comes to an end.
When is the Ideal Time for the Annapurna Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return?
The Annapurna Base Camp trek is perfect in stable weather. Hence, the Spring and Autumn season is ideal for these treks.
Autumn (September – November)
Autumn is the perfect time for any sort of activity outdoors. Hence, you can take this beautiful Annapurna Base Camp trek with helicopter return this season. The stable weather and moderate temperatures in the region make the trek ideal.
There is less precipitation, making it ideal for these trekking adventures. There are clear skies during the Autumn season, the trekking season. Therefore, you can observe the snow-clad Himalayan vista of the region. You can observe various snow-clad mountains from the multiple viewpoints along the trail.
There are ideal temperatures around 20-25 degrees, which makes the trek even more comfortable for trekkers. You can trek at a relaxed pace in a serene environment. There you can explore the various cultural aspects as it is a festive time in the region; with the help of your guide, you can learn more about the beautiful heritage and traditions of the locals.
Spring (March-May)
Spring in the Annapurna region is beautiful for trekking and peak climbing adventures. The beautiful season provides travelers with incredible trekking adventures. There is serene green vegetation, with wildflowers blooming along the trails.
Moderate temperatures range around 20-25 degrees in the daytime and can drop a few degrees in the nighttime. The blue skies allow you to observe the region’s snow-clad mountains.
These include the Annapurna range of mountains. There is stable weather to trek in the Annapurna region. There are no weather-related challenges and difficulties on the terrains during these months.
Off-season treks
The off seasons of the trek include winters and monsoons. The summer-monsoon season is hot and humid with heavy rainfall. There are slippery, leech-infested trails in the region due to the precipitation. You will also experience weather-related challenges, including landslides, erosion, and avalanches.
In the winter season, you can experience heavy snowfall. You can observe extreme cold weather conditions, which require you to wear warm clothing and carry proper trekking gear. Overall, you will have quite a trekking adventure in these off-seasons. But there are also many weather challenges that you need to tackle along the trail.
Difficulty Level of Annapurna Base camp Trek with Helicopter Return
The ABC trek in the high altitude region is of moderate difficulty. Since you will return from the trek in a helicopter, the trip’s difficulty gets significantly reduced. The difficulty factors for the tour include altitude sickness, rugged terrains, accommodations, etc.
Altitude sickness
Trekkers need to tackle altitude sickness along the trail as you will traverse through high altitudes. Arriving at 4000m and above from lower 1000m is quite a challenge as you will need to adjust to the environmental conditions.
In these high-altitude trails, the oxygen levels and air pressure is low. Therefore, you must acclimate well along the route to adapt to these changing environments. Another thing you can do is drink water at regular intervals. However, you should avoid alcohol and caffeine products as they can cause dehydration.
Rugged terrains
The rugged terrain of the region is another difficulty factor along the trail. There are various challenging terrains that you need to traverse along the trails. These trails are challenging, especially for amateur trekkers, as they pass through some of the most remote landscapes.
The beautiful terrain is quite an adventure and requires you to be in your best condition. Therefore, training before the trek is also an essential part of the journey. The trail also required you to trek for 5 – 6 hours and cover huge distances.
Unpredictable weather
You will have to cover incredible terrains in extreme weather conditions. There are various weather-related challenges, especially in the high-altitude region. Since the weather in the high-altitude region is unpredictable, you will have to face weather-related challenges like heavy rainfall, heavy snow, landslides, etc. Hence, these challenges you might face during the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
Why Take this Annapurna Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return?
The Annapurna Base Camp trek is ideal due to various reasons. Some of these reasons are as follows:
Outstanding adventure
The Annapurna Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return is a short duration adventure in the beautiful landscapes of the Annapurna region. The trails of the expedition are through the Himalayan foothills.
The beautiful terrains require you to traverse through the uphill and downhill landscapes. The trek will also pass through the hills, meadows, valleys, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, etc. You will have an absolute adventure in this Annapurna region.
Luxurious helicopter return
The Annapurna Base Camp trek with helicopter return will take you on a luxurious helicopter ride while returning from the trip. The beautiful journey on a helicopter trip is quite exciting for trekkers.
It also shortens the trekking journey and reduces the itinerary significantly. You can observe the unique views of the Himalayas and the entire Annapurna region from the helicopter trip.
Himalayan vista
The trekking journeys in the Annapurna region are known for their incredible Himalayan vista. Trekkers can observe many snow-clad mountains during the trek. These include the Annapurna massif and other peaks of the area.
Therefore, you should travel in the peak season of Spring and Autumn, where you can observe these unobstructed views in a clear blue sky. The region is also famous for viewpoints where you can watch sunrise and sunset along the trail.
Diverse flora and fauna
The Annapurna region has diverse flora and fauna that makes the area stand apart from others. The beautiful part allows you to explore the region’s wildlife, which is rare and endangered. The vegetation of the region is quite diverse, with lush green hills. Trekkers can see animals like Himalayan Tahr, red panda, dance, black bears, etc.
Exploration of cultural landscapes
The Annapurna Base Camp trek with Helicopter Return provides you with the opportunity for the cultural landscapes. Beautiful terrains pass through the region’s cultural settlements, including monasteries, gompas, and others.
Trekkers of the trail will include many teahouses and lodges run by the locals who belong to the local ethnic community. Therefore, cultural exploration is the ideal reason for taking this trek in the Annapurna region.
Things to Consider for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Acclimatization
There are various things to consider before you make the trek. These include acclimatization, an essential part of the trekking adventure. The beautiful high-altitude trek requires you to be physically and mentally in complete shape.
Hence, acclimatization is necessary for these high-altitude ABC treks. Since there is unpredictable weather in the high altitude region with challenging conditions. In high altitude conditions, there is less oxygen and air pressure. Therefore, acclimatization is essential.
Trekking gears
The trekkers should also get the proper gear and equipment along the trail. There are various challenging landscapes along the route. Hence, these trails require proper trekking gear.
Besides that, you will need to get multiple trekking clothes. You can get these trekking gears in various shops in Kathmandu. You can also hire them if you do not plan to use them further.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is another essential aspect of the trek. The beautiful terrains of the region require you to have proper trekking and travel insurance. The beautiful trail leads you through the various landscapes that need you to traverse challenging terrains. The travel insurance will cover different aspects along the route, including altitude sickness, medical injuries, property loss, evacuation, theft, and others.
Accommodations
The trek trail has many tea houses and lodges where you will stay for the night. In these teahouses, you will get basic facilities of meals and accommodations. Nepalese Dal Bhat and other meals provide you with enough nutrients required for the trek. You will stay in the tea houses with beds, mattresses, pillows, and blankets.
Trekking guide
Trekking guides in the high-altitude region is quite challenging. Hence, you will require a professional guide along the trail. There are various reasons why you should get an experienced trekking guide along the path. They will keep you safe along the route and protect you from external factors. You can hire porters to help you carry your luggage along the trail.
Physical fitness
The trekkers’ physical fitness is essential for the trek. There are various challenges that you need to traverse along the route. These challenging terrains required you to have incredible strength and endurance along the trail.
Hence, training regimes are essential for the trek. Trekkers should perform various physical, cardiovascular, and mental exercises along the route. Hence, these are multiple things you need to consider for the Annapurna Base Camp trek.
