Compared with the more well-known trek to Everest’s Base Camp, the hike to Annapurna’s staging area offers lower elevations and fewer fellow trekkers. And unlike the popular Annapurna Circuit, it allows hikers to head deep into the Annapurna range, rather than going around its perimeter.
With some of the world’s tallest summits, Nepal is a top trekking destination. A devastating 2015 earthquake and the pandemic have kept travelers away for the past few years, but now adventurers are coming back. “It feels intimate because the mountains feel really close,” says photographer Emily Polar about the Annapurna Base Camp trek, which provides epic views of legendary peaks Dhaulagiri and Machapuchare.
The Annapurna Base Camp hike is a multiday, customizable loop best undertaken in spring or autumn, to avoid the monsoon rains. Hikers can fly into Kathmandu and make their way to Pokhara to start the trek either solo or with a guide. Local teahouses serve as the backbone of the trail experience and provide rustic accommodations, cultural connections, and food. All-you-can-eat dal bhat, Nepal’s traditional savory lentil-and-rice dish, is especially popular with hungry trekkers.
