Api Base Camp Trek

Weather and Season for the Trek

The most suitable season to carry out the Api Base Camp Trek is spring and autumn, which have stable weather, and the views are clear. It is between March and May, and the spring is characterized with cool weather and forests in blossom. The hills’ greenery, the flowers that grow along the path, and the mountain visions are good, particularly in early spring. Trekking remains pleasant with some haze that can be witnessed by the end of May.

Autumn is the best time to be at Api Base Camp Trek because it is the most popular season between September and November. The sky is clear, the rain is small, and the mountain is visible well, particularly in October.

In the lower regions1000-2000m (3281-6562ft),the temperatures remain between 20-25 °C during the day. In higher camps, the temperature is lower, 10-15 °C in the daytime. At 3,861m (12,668ft) at night, which is near Api Base Camp, temperatures may drop to near freezing.

Heavy rainfall, slippery tracks, leeches, and the threat of landslides are experienced during the monsoon season between June and August; thus, trekking is not encouraged.

The period of winter, between December and February, is very cold, and snow blocks high passes. Spring and autumn are the most suitable seasons in terms of safety and comfort.

Trip Difficulty

The Api Base Camp Trek is regarded as a moderate to difficult trek, and it is suitable for those trekkers who are well fit. The trail goes through very isolated regions with steep ascents and lengthy descents. The majority of the trekking days include 6-8 hours of walking on the steep and rough paths. There is no requirement for climbing or mountaineering, but a good set of legs and stamina.

The Api Base Camp Trek is difficult due to the altitude. It begins in the low valleys and then slowly ascends to an approximate altitude of 4,000m (13,123ft). Our movement is slow to aid in acclimatisation, although trekkers should attend to their bodies and report any form of discomfort to the guide.

The distance to the location is another obstacle. The conditions are primitive, and lots of nights are spent in camp. Get ready to have cold nights, plain food and no hot showers. This journey needs psychological preparedness and bodily power.

The Api Base Camp Trek can be accomplished provided you are fairly fit, like adventure and ready to live in a simple way. Our highly qualified guides will assist you on a day-to-day basis and take care of the safety, the speed, and the logistics of the trip on a global scale.

Altitude Sickness & Suggestions

Altitude awareness plays a very crucial role in the Api Base Camp Trek. Dhuli Odar, at approximately 3 550m (11 646ft), is the place of maximum overnight stay. It is also comprised of a trek to Api Base Camp, approximately 3,861m (12,668ft). Trekking at this altitude is lower than certain well-known Nepal treks, but the trekkers may experience altitude sickness.

In order to minimise the risk, we take our time and give ample time to acclimatisation. One should walk slowly, take a lot of water, eat in good health, and not take alcohol. Always inform your guide in case you experience a headache, nausea, dizziness, and unwonted fatigue. Problems can be avoided through early reporting.

Our guide has a first aid kit and basic altitude medicine and has a clear safety plan. When the symptoms are greater, the most effective medication is to go down to a lower altitude. Helicopter evacuation can be organised in case of necessity in serious cases, and therefore it is important to have good travel insurance.

With due careful planning, proper communication and professional advice, the majority of trekkers complete the Api Base Camp Trek without the challenges of altitude and can enjoy the journey with most healthy trekkers on this route.

Food & Drink During the Trip

The food on the Api Base Camp Trek is very basic, fresh and nutritious, and is likely to provide you with the energy needed to walk long days. Our trekking cook does most of the meal preparation, and it is served in the homestays on the way. Your primary meal will be dal bhat, consisting of rice, lentil soup, and a curry of vegetables in season. This meal is very nutritious and is mostly taken as lunch and dinner. The other options offered as meals can be noodles, potatoes, soup or plain vegetable meals made of local products.

Breakfast at the Api Base Camp Trek is simple yet adequate. Depending on supplies and location, there may be porridge, pancakes, Tibetan bread, chapati or eggs. The food options are scarce since this is a highly secluded area, and the western-style food is not offered. It is not difficult to feed vegans, as several of the local dishes are vegetarian in nature. In case you need special diets, then you need to advise us prior to the trek.

During the trek, there is the provision of clean drinking water. During camps, water is boiled or filtered. You are supposed to have a refillable bottle. The dinners are accompanied by tea and coffee. Alcohol should not be used at high altitudes.

Visa and Permits

In the case of the ApI Base Camp Trek, you will require an entry visa to Nepal and trekking permits. The majority of the travellers, except the Indian citizens, need to be issued a tourist visa to enter Nepal. This visa can be readily obtained once one arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu or at land borders. You just complete the form, pay the visa fee and get the stamp on the visa. Your passport should be valid for no less than six months before your arrival date.

Two trekking permits are also necessary in the Api Base Camp Trek besides the visa. The former is the TIMS Card that enrols the trekkers in terms of safety and record-keeping. The second is the Api Nampa Conservation Area Permit that gives one the right to the consecrated area where the trek is done.

All the trekking permits in Kathmandu will be organised by Morning Star Treks for you before the trek. The charges on the permits are includedin your package. In order to process the permits, we require two passport-sized photographs and a copy of your passport.

On the trek, all the permits are carried by your guide, who presents them to checkpoints. Once you set off on the trek, you can afford not to bother about paperwork.

Transportation

The Api Base Camp Trek includes a combination of air travel, road transport, and trekking and provides you with a real adventure in far-west Nepal. The trip starts with a domestic flight between Kathmandu and Dhangadhi, and the time taken is approximately one hour. This flight will save a lot more time than long overland travel, and it provides a comfortable beginning to the trip. At the end of the trek, we take the same route of flight.

The road includes a trip from Dhangadhi to the trailhead. We normally drive in a privatejeep, but local jeeps or buses could be utilised when it is required. The route traverses plains, rivers and hilly areas, and it may take 8-10 hours.

Since the road trip is exhausting and very long, it is traditionally divided into two days, where an overnight stay is offered at some of the stops, such as Attariya or Ganna, according to the itinerary.

Every movement in Kathmandu, such as the airport transfers as well as sightseeing, is organised in private vehicles to be comfortable and safe. The road conditions in far-west Nepal may be poor and erratic, still, our professional team takes care of all arrangements and makes alterations when it is required. It is only when at the trailhead that the experience starts on foot.

Travel Insurance

To be able to join the Api Base Camp Trek, comprehensive travel insurance is required. Since this expedition will be undertaken in an isolated part of the Himalaya, your insurance policy will have to cover trekking activities to a minimum of 4,000 meters. Most significantly, it should comprise emergency medical care and helicopter evacuation.

Helicopter rescue is commonly the quickest and most secure method to the hospital in the instance of severe altitude illness, injury or disease. Nonetheless, it is very costly to evacuate Nepal through helicopters without insurance. This is the reason why you must have in your policy that you should cover high-altitude trekking and emergency rescue in Nepal.

Another highly suggested is that your insurance should cover trip cancellations, delays or interruptions. Travel plans are sometimes affected by weather, flight delays or other health-related problems in remote locations.

The right insurance will give you peace of mind because you are free to enjoy the Api Base Camp Trek without the fear of incurring some unforeseen expenses. Do not look at the lowest price; be sure you select a good policy that will really meet your security needs on the trip.

Language & Communication

Communication and language along the Api Base Camp Trek are basic yet minimal because of the remoteness of the area. Your trekking guide will be able to communicate in English and will help us out at any point in time.

There are predominantly Nepali and local dialects spoken by local people in far-west Nepal. You would be welcome to know a few simplified Nepali words, including “Namaste”, which is a good greeting, and it is always welcomed by people in the village. Your guide will also translate the conversation and will assist you in communicating with local communities at ease.

There is extremely low access to mobile phones and the internet during the trek. In some villages at the lower end, or the environs of Dhangadhi, it will have intermittent mobile coverage, but further into the mountains, there is virtually no connectivity. The route does not have Wi-Fi or internet cafes.

This is a disconnection opportunity that leaves you with the uncommon opportunity to be disconnected from the virtual world and engage with nature to the full extent.

Our guide will have a mobile phone or a satellite communication gadget in case of an emergency. Inclusion of this digital break is one of the exclusive activities of trekking in the pristine Api Himal region.

Don’ts on This Trip

When you are participating in the Api Base Camp Trek, you should remember a few valuable don’ts, which will enable you to stay safe and deferential.

To begin with, do not disrespect local culture. Ask permission before photographing people, wear loose clothes in the villages, and the guide will tell you what to do. Good relations are formed with the local communities through a decent attitude.

Second, do not litter on the path. Take all the rubbish to the right disposal areas. It is necessary to avoid plastic bottles and use refillable ones in order to protect this undeveloped area.

Third, don’t walk alone. The Api Base Camp Trek path is isolated and occasionally indistinct; never lose sight of your guide or company.

Fourth, don’t ignore your body. In case you experience headache, dizziness, nausea and abnormal fatigue, report them to your guide as soon as possible. Spending time resting or descending is wiser than driving on.

Fifth, do not give sweets or money to children. This encourages begging. Instead, smile or ask your guide how to be a responsible citizen.

Lastly, don’t expect luxury. No hot showers and posh lodges. Nightly frosty, primitive toilets, plain food are commonplace. The Api Base Camp Trek will be a lot more enjoyable and valuable when one accepts it positively. Consideration, patience, and sensitivity will make the trip safe and fulfilling.

Photography & Drone Rules

Photography is a nice method of making memories in the Api Base Camp Trek, but it would have to be done respectfully. You can take pictures of scenery, hills, streams and everyday life on the trail. Nevertheless, one should seek permission before capturing photos of the locals, particularly the older generation, children and when they are in worship.

Coupled with respect for privacy, trust and goodwill are built. When visiting villages, take up what your guide informs you regarding the timing and place of the photography. Do not interrupt anyone when he or she is working or praying.

The use of drones in Nepal is not a free-to-use piece of equipment. Though in far-western Nepal, enforcement is weak, we highly recommend caution. In the case you carry a drone with you during the Api Base Camp Trek, fly it well outside the villages, livestock and campsites. Do not go flying around without permission. Flights early in the morning or evenings cannot be made in case the animals are sensitive to noise.

Do not take pictures of military, police, or security checkpoints in case you come across them. This is strictly prohibited. Always first ask your guide when you are in doubt. Photography cannot and must never meddle with safety, culture and nature. Taken sensibly, the photos of the Api Base Camp Trek will turn out to be an invaluable recollection of a rare and beautiful journey through the Himalayas.

Tips for First-Time Visitors

These suggestions will make the Api Base Camp Trek enjoyable, especially when it is the first Himalayan trek.

Begin by enhancing your fitness. The body will be ready to walk 6 to 8 hours a day by such simple exercises as walking, climbing stairs or light jogging during a few weeks.

Next, pack wisely. Carrybroken-in trekking shoes, layer-up clothes, a waterproof jacket, and a warm sleeping bag. You must not overpack, and you should have a light and practical bag.

Slow walking and water consumption should be included in the Api Base Camp Trek. Everyone has a different experience with altitude, so always listen to your body and walk at the pace of your guide.

Bring lots of cash, because there is no ATM after you move out of the cities. In villages, small notes are more convenient.

Be psychologically prepared for simple circumstances. You can count on plain food, no showers, and squat toilets. With an optimistic attitude, it is not difficult to adapt.

Enquire when you are interested. Guides enjoy telling you the local news. However, most importantly, savour each moment. The Api Base Camp Trek does not only focus on the destination but also on the journey to the destination and its interaction with nature, culture and the self.