Nature · Annapurna Base Camp
Sunrise inside the Annapurna Sanctuary
Step out of your lodge at 4,130 m before dawn and watch the sun light the summit of Annapurna I, then the full ring of peaks around the sanctuary, from Hiunchuli and Annapurna South to Gangapurna and Machhapuchhre.
The cold at base camp before sunrise is serious: well below freezing from November, with frost on the lodge windows. Wrap up, take a hot drink and walk a few minutes up the moraine behind the lodges, where prayer flags and memorial stones overlook the glacier. The sky turns from black to deep blue.
The sun hits Annapurna I first, its summit 8,091 m high and almost 4,000 m above you. The light spreads along the ridge to Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, then across to Gangapurna and Annapurna III, and finally to Machhapuchhre, which from here shows a different face from the fishtail seen in Pokhara. The whole bowl fills with light while the glacier below stays blue.
Below you, the Annapurna South Glacier groans and occasionally avalanches roar on the faces. Many visitors find it the most powerful mountain place they have stood. After an hour, breakfast is ready. Most trekkers start down the same morning, as the sanctuary clouds over by midday.
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Questions
How cold is Annapurna Base Camp at night?
At 4,130 m, night temperatures at ABC are around 0 °C in October, falling to -10 °C or lower in late November, December and January. Spring nights are cold too. Lodges are not heated except for dining rooms. Bring a four-season sleeping bag, down jacket, warm hat, gloves and thermal layers, and a hot water bottle helps.
Which mountains are visible from Annapurna Base Camp?
From ABC you see Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), Baraha Shikhar (Fang), Gangapurna (7,455 m), Annapurna III, Gandharvachuli and Machhapuchhre (6,993 m). The view is a full circle of peaks around the sanctuary. Annapurna I's south face dominates.
Can I see Annapurna I from Annapurna Base Camp?
Yes. Base camp sits below the south face of Annapurna I, and the summit is clearly visible on fine days, especially at sunrise. It is about 4,000 m above you. Cloud usually builds by late morning, so the best views are at dawn and in the early morning, or at sunset on clear evenings.
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