Trip to Annapurna Base Camp

We were a group of ten girls who set out on our own, and chose to take a slightly longer route, so we could experience the sunrise hike to the lookout point Poon Hill as well.

The day started at half past four in the morning, and we set out in the dark under the starry sky. Just hours before, there was a downpour and the most intense lightning I've ever seen – the sky was constantly lit up!

We were really lucky that the storm calmed down. The hike up to the top is about 400 vertical meters of stairs, and it was absolutely magical to reach the summit and watch the clouds pull away while the sun slowly lit up the 8000-meter peaks around us.

It was absolutely indescribable to see the mountains right in front of us! After a cup of tea and a lot of picture taking, we felt the hunger coming on, and quickly made our way back down to the tea house where steaming hot porridge was waiting for us.

Over the next few days, we trekked through the jungle, which reminded me of an enchanted forest.

I was not prepared for the fact that large parts of the journey consisted of this type of landscape, so it was exciting. We walked over hills, down valleys, and across deep rivers – the suspension bridges in the Himalayas are an experience in themselves!

The route goes up and down in altitude a lot, before it finally begins the "real" ascent from the village of Sinuwa. From there, the trail follows the valley inward, before one makes their way up to Annapurna Base Camp.

During the trip, we got to experience a lot of fun and unexpected things, and that's what makes the journey.

One day we slept in the small village of Tadapani, where there was a panoramic view of the Annapurna and Fishtail mountains.

Here we met an energetic and ambitious hostess who found traditional skirts for the whole group and danced with us outside the tea house.

Both her husband and colleagues stepped in as cameramen, and it was clear that they had done this before. We had it confirmed when she showed us her TikTok account – where she later posted us as 'Norwegian Gen Z'.

We might not have completely kept up with the steps – but we sure had fun! The stay peaked when they blasted techno music on the speakers and gave us a proper send-off as we wandered on to the next village.

Here we had a not so pleasant surprise. In the afternoon, it started pouring down, and we all put in an extra gear to get ahead.

We fought our way up the stairs for half an hour, it got dark and we got wet, and when we arrived, we were only to be told that the teahouse we had booked was in the previous village.

In half-comical desperation, we took our chances with the first (and worst) option available. The rooms smelled of a mix of mold and fresh paint, the bedding was damp, and I have never seen a toilet with so many insects and reptiles.

"It's just for one night," we thought and slept through it. When I woke up, my clothes were even more disgusting than the night before and my toiletry bag was wet from moisture. It had to hang on the outside of the backpack in a valiant attempt to dry, but it wouldn't be dry until we were back in Pokhara.

So there were a few days in damp and already smelly clothes, and the rain intensified as the trip went on.

When we first saw Annapurna Base Camp in front of us, I must honestly say that we found it anticlimactic. It just lay there, wrapped in fog.

But it was so worth it, because the climax came when we woke up the next day, and went out to the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen.

Snow-covered mountains on all sides, and again the sun shining over the peaks making them gleam like gold. We were all in ecstasy, the whole group.

Otherwise, the trip involved masala chai and ginger lemon honey tea, and quite a few "bounty" bars. Once back down and in the last village, we bathed in hot springs, and it was just the perfect way to end the trip! We brought beer and potato chips and enjoyed ourselves to the fullest.

It was really nice to go on such a trip with new study friends, and it brought us very close together.

Everything from the nature experiences to the evening conversations, to smelling of sweat and watching each other pee. Just getting away from Pokhara for a few days, and not thinking about the studies, did us good!

Some cool tips:

1. Bring one more roll of toilet paper than you think you need (it's expensive to buy).
2. Be prepared for leeches. Lots of leeches!
3. Bring your swimwear. There are so many beautiful waterfalls and rivers along the way, not to mention the hot springs in Jhinu Danda.
4. A guide can be a nice introduction to the culture and landscape, but is not necessary. We found it delightful to walk on our own and especially exciting to plan the trip ourselves.
5. Talk to the locals you meet on the road! They are generally very open and happy to share about their lives.
6. There are many stairs. At times, the journey felt like a several days long "leg day".
7. It might be wise to book accommodation in advance, so you have more control over where you sleep - but it's not necessary. We ended up changing our accommodations along the way (which mostly went fine).
8. Be honest with yourself about your own capacity. It's a demanding journey over several days, and altitude sickness can affect anyone. If something happens, it doesn't just affect the individual, but also the rest of the group.