Complete Nepal Trip – Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the Sanctuary Route

Once your trip is confirmed, you’ll receive all the practical information you need to leave well prepared. This includes visa information, recommended vaccinations and a detailed packing list.

After arriving in Kathmandu, there’s a pre-trip meeting with your guide. We go through the route, the latest weather forecasts and there’s plenty of room for any final questions. We also do a gear check, to make sure you have everything you need for the trip.

Missing something, or not sure about your gear? We’ll head out together to sort it. Kathmandu has plenty of good outdoor shops. 😉

The best preparation is simply walking. Preferably several days in a row, with a backpack and elevation gain. In the months before departure, build up to walking days of 4 to 6 hours. Work on your overall fitness with cardio training (running, cycling, swimming) and don’t neglect your legs: squats, lunges and stair training work wonders.

Just as important: break in your hiking boots in time. New boots in Nepal are a guaranteed recipe for blisters. Ideally, start your training at least 3 months before departure.

During the trek you sleep in teahouses: simple mountain lodges with firm mattresses, pillows and blankets against the cold, and freshly cooked dal bhat in the shared dining room. Dal bhat is the classic Nepali dish of rice, lentils and vegetables. Simple, warm and surprisingly good after a long day on the trail.

Expect a twin room, a shared bathroom and cold water. A hot shower or wifi is sometimes possible, usually for a small extra fee. Charging your electronics is always possible, sometimes for a small fee. And then there is the warm fire in the dining room, friendly hospitality and views no hotel can match. This is the Himalaya.

PS: even though pillows and blankets are provided, we recommend bringing your own warm sleeping bag. The nights at altitude get cold, and your own bag makes a real difference. After booking, you’ll receive a detailed packing list that helps you prepare for both the trek and the nights in the lodges.

Yes, always.

The teahouse menu is plant-based by nature and offers plenty of choice. Three warm meals a day are freshly cooked in the teahouse kitchen. Breakfast options include porridge, pancakes, omelette and local bread. For lunch and dinner, expect dal bhat, curry, lentil soup, noodles, dumplings, spring rolls and pasta.

We strongly advise against eating meat on the trail. Ingredients are often carried in on foot and cannot always be kept properly refrigerated. Vegetarian and vegan options are the safer and more reliable choice.

Yes. Our individual trips are custom trips, and hiring a porter is optional and can be added to your booking. Most people travelling as a pair share one porter. The porter carries a maximum of 15 kg (33 lbs) in a duffel bag, which we provide on loan for the duration of the trek.

Hiring a porter is more than a practical choice. It is one of the most direct ways to contribute to the local economy. Portering is an important source of income and often the first step into the tourism sector for young people from mountain communities. It is how most of the guides started out. They learn the trekking routes, work with international travellers, pick up English and other languages, and build the experience needed to become a guide themselves.

If you feel uncertain about hiring a porter, there is no need to. At By Mountain People their work is valued, the pay is fair and the opportunity matters. If you would like to add a porter to your trip or have questions, get in touch and we will put together a proposal.