Conquer Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal – A Practical Guide!

If the thought of “trekking in Nepal once in a lifetime” has ever crossed your mind, go for it. Don’t be afraid. Reaching the peak at 4,130 meters is no easy feat, but the Nepalese people accompanying you will never let you give up, and the incredible experiences along the way will keep pushing you toward the finish line.

My decision to visit Nepal was completely spontaneous and made on a whim, which meant I did not prepare as thoroughly as I should have and faced quite a few challenges along the trail. Looking back, I have gathered all my hard-earned lessons to write this detailed review and preparation guide, hoping to make your upcoming trip much smoother.

1. Why I Chose Good Vibe Adventure:

After booking my flight overnight, I spent the following days researching popular trekking tours and trustworthy tour agencies in Nepal. My search finally ended when I found Good Vibe Adventure. Here is why they won me over:

• Lightning-Fast Responses:

Whether via email or instant messaging, you’ll receive a reply almost immediately. They are always warm and patient in answering any question, no matter how silly or amateurish it might sound from first-time trekkers like us. 

• Competitive Pricing:

Good Vibe Adventure offers fixed, upfront pricing, so there’s no need to hassle over bargaining. On the trail to ABC, I met fellow trekkers and discovered that our tour was actually cheaper than theirs. I booked a private tour for two people, which included 1 tour guide and 1 porter, for a comprehensive package price of $990 USD.

• VIP-Level Service:

Despite the competitive price, the service felt truly VIP. Kisan, the company director, personally welcomed us and dropped us off at Kathmandu Airport in a private company car. The moment we stepped foot in Kathmandu, we were greeted with traditional Nepalese flower garlands for safety and good luck. On our last night before flying back to Vietnam, Kisan even came by our hotel to take us out for a farewell dinner.

Nepalese culture deeply respects travelers. Every request you make along the trail is met with genuine warmth and sincerity. Even during lunch or dinner, your tour guide will serve you food and drinks first, only eating their own meal after you’re full and resting comfortably in your room. Taking care of guests always comes before themselves. At first, I felt guilty and uncomfortable with this, but our guide reassured us that hospitality is their tradition, and bringing comfort to guests brings them true joy.

• Flexible itineraries tailored to your needs

Trekking tours in Nepal are incredibly flexible. Even if you’re midway through the mountain after booking, they can adapt the schedule on the fly. For instance, if you booked a 7-day, 6-night ABC trek but feel too exhausted to continue, they can easily add an extra day so you can rest at a guesthouse and regain your strength. Alternatively, if you trek faster or want to tweak your itinerary or mode of transport, they will do everything possible to accommodate you.

So rest assured they will support you in every way possible to help you achieve your dream. Don’t worry too much; just stay persistent, keep moving forward, and you will get there.

2. How to Apply for a Visa

For Vietnamese citizens, you can apply for a Visa on Arrival at the airport in Nepal. However, to avoid long queues that might cause you to miss a connecting flight or mess up your schedule, you can pre-apply online.

If you choose to apply at the airport, it takes about 10 minutes to fill out the form provided on-site. Once completed, print out the application form and bring the following:

• 2 passport-sized photos (4×6 cm)
• At least $25 USD (or equivalent in major currencies / Nepalese Rupees) for stays under 15 days (fees vary based on length of stay)
• Tour booking confirmation
• Hotel booking confirmation
• Return flight ticket
• Travel insurance policy

3. What to Pack Before You Go

• Travel Insurance: Make sure to double-check that your policy covers medical expenses and emergency evacuation specifically for high-altitude trekking/mountaineering accidents.
• Layered Clothing: A windproof jacket for sunny days, and a heavy down jacket for higher altitudes where temperatures plummet.
• Sleeping Bag: Trust me, this is essential. On our coldest night at a guesthouse without blankets, even with a sleeping bag rated for 10°C and multiple layers of clothes, the bone-chilling cold gave me a headache and kept me awake all night.
• Essential Accessories: A warm beanie, thermal gloves, and sunglasses.
• Trekking Shoes: Choose sturdy shoes with excellent grip, as some narrow cliffside trails can be extremely slippery.
• Crampons: Essential for navigating icy, slippery snow paths (if trekking during snowy seasons).
• Face Masks: I’m not exaggerating. Nepal’s dusty dirt roads and even the streets of Kathmandu can get overwhelmingly dusty. I didn’t pack enough masks and ended up with nosebleeds from the dust.
• Cold Medicine & Effervescent Tablets: Sudden altitude changes paired with hot sunny mornings and rainy afternoons make it very easy to catch a fever or cold.
• Comfort Food from Home: Pack a few instant noodle packs and pork floss. You do not need much, just enough for when you’re exhausted or craving a familiar taste to boost your energy when Nepalese food gets repetitive.

Tip: If you have extra time in Kathmandu, you can buy affordable trekking gear right there instead of lugging everything from home. Other items like trekking poles and sleeping bags can also be provided directly by your tour operator.

4. My 9-Day, 8-Night Itinerary (April 26 – May 5)

• Night of April 26: Flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur; overnight layover at the airport.
• April 27: Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu, followed by a car ride to Pokhara. The airport in Kathmandu was extremely crowded that day, making the visa process take much longer than expected. Missing my connecting flight to Pokhara, I opted to travel by car instead. While much cheaper, the drive took about 6 to 7 hours. Spent the night in Pokhara.
• April 28 – May 3: The ABC Trek. I’ll skip detailing every single day on the trail so you can experience the surprises for yourself! However, I strongly recommend doing some endurance training beforehand. Some days require climbing up and down two entire mountains. Above all, cultivate a resilient mindset and never give up.

The tour I booked was scheduled for 7 days and 6 nights. According to the original plan, you reach ABC early on the morning of Day 4 and head back to the starting point by May 4. However, after reaching ABC, I decided to alter my return route since going back the same way felt repetitive. On May 3, we diverted toward a mid-mountain jeep station and took a jeep back instead. This saved us an entire day, giving us extra time to relax and explore Pokhara and Kathmandu.

• Night of May 3: Arrived in central Pokhara by jeep and caught an overnight bus back to Kathmandu.
• May 4 – May 5: Explored Kathmandu city before flying back to Vietnam.

5. Total Trip Cost

The total damage for the entire trip came out to approximately $1,200 USD (~28 million VND) per person. The bulk of the expense came from flight tickets; once in Nepal, overall living and travel costs were very reasonable. We stayed in great accommodations, ate generously, bought souvenirs, and still stayed well within budget.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop them below, and I’ll be happy to answer and update the post!

Check out more photos from the trip HERE.