ABC Trek 5 Days – Sarah Mitchell – Canada

I’ll be honest, when I first booked the Annapurna Base Camp Trek 5 Days with High Route Adventure back in March this year, I was a little worried. Five days felt short for reaching 4,130 meters, and I wondered if I’d even get to enjoy the journey or just rush through it. Looking back now, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

From the moment I landed in Pokhara, everything felt organized and stress-free. Prakash Kapri and his team handled all the logistics, permits, and transport without me having to worry about a single detail. My guide, Ganesh Regmi, turned out to be the highlight of the entire trip. With over a decade of experience on these trails, he knew exactly when to push us a little and when to slow down and let us breathe in the views. His patience, especially on the steep staircase climb to Chhomrong, genuinely made the difference between struggling and enjoying the hike.

Each day brought something new — dense rhododendron forests, the sound of the Modi Khola river beside the trail, and small teahouses where we warmed up with hot tea and simple, delicious meals. Sleeping in Deurali, surrounded by towering cliffs, felt like stepping into another world entirely.

But nothing prepared me for the morning at Annapurna Base Camp. Waking up before sunrise, wrapped in every layer I owned, and watching golden light slowly spread across Annapurna I and Machhapuchhre was a moment I’ll carry with me forever. It wasn’t just about the mountains — it was about how small and grateful I felt standing there.

The descent was tough on the knees, but soaking in the natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda made it all worthwhile. I left Nepal not just with photos, but with a genuine appreciation for the Himalayas and the incredible people who call it home.