Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The journey of the Short trek to Annapurna Base Camp starts with a scenic tourist bus ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which takes about 8-9 hours. The bus offers comfortable seating and air conditioning and is tourist-friendly, as suggested by its name. It also stops along the way for tea and lunch breaks. The route passes through winding hills and terraced fields, offering stunning views of the riverside.

From Pokhara, you must take a private jeep onwards, as the road conditions are not good. The drive moves towards Samrung, the official starting point of the Short ABC trek. The drive takes approximately 3 hours and passes through beautiful countryside, traditional villages, and green valleys. The private jeep makes your ride more flexible, faster, and more comfortable on rough and bumpy mountain roads. From Samrung, you’ll start your trek.

After completing the trek, you’ll step back to Samrung. From there, a private jeep will pick you up and drive you back to Pokhara. Once in Pokhara, you’ll continue your drive towards Kathmandu in a tourist bus on the same road you’ve driven through while going to Pokhara from Kathmandu.

Even if you do the ABC Trek in shorter days, it is still as popular as any other Himalayan trek in Nepal. It offers an accessible route to reach the base of Annapurna, the 10th-highest mountain in the world. That said, doing it in shorter days has both advantages and disadvantages. Let us explore each of them separately:

Advantages of Short ABC Trek

• Short ABC Trek is ideal for those with limited time. If you are tight on time but still want to experience the beauty of the Annapurna region, the short trek is a great option.
• Since the trek is shorter, the overall cost of the trip is generally lower. You’ll spend less on accommodations, food, and other trekking-related expenses.
• Even in a shorter duration, you still get incredible views of the Annapurna Mountain Range, Machapuchare, and surrounding peaks, along with lush rhododendron forests and terraced fields.
• Despite being short and reaching an elevation of 4,130 meters, it is a moderate trek in terms of difficulty, especially for physically active people.
• You will still pass through several villages like Chhomrong and Jhinu Danda. It will give you the chance to experience the local culture and lifestyle of the Gurung and Magar communities.

Disadvantages of Short ABC Trek

• A short trek might feel rushed. You may not have the time to properly acclimate. This can increase the risk of altitude sickness, especially if you’re pushing for the summit in just a few days.
• A shorter trek means less possibilities to explore the area or take side trips to nearby viewpoints like Poon Hill. You might miss out on the full experience.
• Because of the trek’s popularity and shorter duration, you may encounter larger groups of trekkers, particularly during the peak seasons. So the trails and accommodations can be crowded.
• Short treks typically involve faster ascents. It means you will have fewer opportunities for proper rest and adaptation at higher altitudes. This may lead to physical strain.

Since you will be covering the Annapurna Base Camp Trek in fewer days, you will walk for a longer duration, and hence, the elevation gain or loss will be greater. The trek starts at Samrung (1,570 meters) and reaches the base camp at 4,130 meters. So, the total elevation gain is 2,560 meters, which you have to cover in three days, which is not easy. On the first day of the eight-day ABC Trek, you will gain an elevation of 770 meters.

The highest elevation gain, which is 1,210 meters, happens on the 5th day of trekking when you reach ABC from the Himalaya. The highest elevation loss, which is 1,780 meters, happens on the 6th day when you reach Bamboo from the base camp. That said, here is the table for the elevation profile of the short ABC Trek:

As mentioned above, the elevation gain happens rapidly in the Short ABC Trek, when you cover an elevation gain of 2,560 meters in just three days. In such a case, the risk of altitude sickness is high. Moreover, the risk is higher as you cross an elevation of 3,000 meters. It is not just beginners who are at risk; even experienced trekkers can suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The symptoms include dizziness, headache, fatigue, and nausea.

If there is a risk of altitude sickness and there aren’t even acclimatization days, how can we deal with it? Here is how:

• Walk slowly and don’t rush, especially when you exceed 2,500 meters.
• Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, about 3 to 4 liters daily.
• Avoid alcohol and too much tea or coffee while going up.
• Take short breaks often, even if your schedule is tight.
• You can take Diamox to help prevent altitude sickness. However, you should ask a doctor about it before going on the trek.
• Learn the signs of altitude sickness: headache, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, or loss of appetite. If the symptoms worsen or don’t improve, go down to a lower place immediately.
• Eat food with more carbohydrates like rice, potatoes, and bread.
• Keep yourself warm, especially at night.
• Add a rest day in Chhomrong or Dovan to help your body adjust if you can.

Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek package at USD 556 per person for a single-person trek. However, if you are a group, there are discounts on the package. For example, if you are a group of 6 people, the Short ABC Trek package that costs you USD 556 would only cost you USD 445, saving a total of USD 111, which you can use to enhance your trekking experience. It means that the larger your group, the greater the discount.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of Nepal’s most popular trekking destinations. It is flexible, and you can even do it in about six to eight days. But, it is not the only short trek in Nepal. There are other treks like Manaslu Short Trek and Everest View Trek. All of these treks are equally thrilling and take you to the Himalayas of Nepal. So, why would anyone opt for the Short ABC Trek? Here is the difference between these three treks:

As you can see, you can do the Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek for just USD 556, while the other two are above USD 900, which can be expensive. Besides, the Manaslu Short Trek takes you to Larkye La Pass (5,416 m), which can be extremely challenging. In the Everest View Trek, you will have to get a flight and reach Everest, but you will still not go to Everest Base Camp, which can not be worth it if you are an intermediate trekker. On the other hand, the short ABC Trek, which takes you through the Annapurna Base Camp, the foot of Annapurna Mountain, the 10th highest mountain in the world, in just 6 to 8 days.

So, a short Annapurna Base Camp Trek is ideal for you if you are tight on time and seeking a moderately challenging trek.