The Singaporean Annapurna Base Camp Trek is among the most popular treks in Nepal. Despite being a challenging trek it is easily achievable as well. Unlike Singapore, Nepal doesn’t have oceans and seas as they are landlocked. However, they are rich in stunning mountain ranges including the tallest mountain in the world Mt Everest.
For people from Singapore, the Annapurna region is an adventure to see some of the tallest mountains in Nepal. This adventure will take you to the beautiful Annapurna region through rhododendrons and pine forest trails. You will see beautiful mountains like Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and Annapurna mountains.
Along the way, you will get to experience some of the stunning mountain views and barren landscapes. Similarly, you will also, pass through the unique settlements of Gurungs and Magars and learn more about their cultures.
ABC trek is located at the highly preserved Annapurna Conservation Area and meets endangered flora and fauna.
if you are planning to trek ABC from Singapore then this guide is for you. So let’s get into more details.
To experience the Annapurna Base Camp Trek you have to first reach the majestic country Nepal. There are some options or modes of transportation for you to travel from Singapore. Since Nepal is a landlocked country the options of boats or ships are not available.
So it remains two methods of transport, they are flight and bus. Among them, flight is the only wise choice because of distance and cost. If you take a flight from Singapore, you can reach Nepal within 12 hours.
However, if you decide to take a bus then can travel to Malaysia and then have to take a plain anyway. The bus takes up to 15 hours and the cost is double.
In terms of flights from Singapore, there are options as well. You can take a flight from Sangi Airport to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You can also fly from Sangi Airport to Bhairawa or even Jomsom. However, if you are planning for Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you must fly to Kathmandu from where your trek starts. Some plains you can use for flights are Malaysian Airlines, Airasia, Jet Star Asia, etc. You must also keep in mind you must make a stopover in either Malaysia or India which is why it takes more than 10 hours to reach Nepal.
Singapore flight cost to Nepal differs according to flights, stopovers, and classes. The cheapest price ranges from $125 to $200 to the expensive price from $3000 to $4000.
So based on your income, and preference you can book a flight from Singapore to Nepal for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
Any Singaporean traveling to Nepal for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek must be wary of some documents and paperwork. Let’s get to know about some important documents you need to be eligible for trekking.
Visa is the main document that makes you eligible to land in Nepal. You can get a Nepal visa upon arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport or via the Nepal Embassy website. You need some other documents to issue your Nepal visa such as:
Hence if you have these documents, you can issue your Nepalese visa within a few hours. So before heading out to enjoy your Annapurna Base Camp as a Singaporean make sure to get your visa upon arriving in Nepal.
Any Singaporean traveling to Nepal for the ABC trek must ensure you have reliable travel insurance. Travel insurance is mandatory for any Singaporean traveling to Nepal. However, only a few foreign trekkers know your travel must cover emergency and medical evacuation costs.
Your travel insurance minimum amount must be at least $100,000. During your Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you will experience once-in-a-lifetime moments. Your adventure takes place above 4000m where you will enjoy your surroundings. However, there are always unforeseen circumstances that can arise when traveling to the Himalayas. When it comes to the ABC trek in Nepal, you must consider minor injuries, altitude sickness, and the chance of getting helicopter rescue.
Many insurance companies in Singapore can cover your travel insurance. Some of the popular Singaporean Travel insurance companies are Tokiop Morine, Global Underwriters, and Axa (WN)
If you plan to go to the mountains, you should choose an insurance policy that covers the cost of a helicopter rescue in case of major accidents or acute mountain sickness (AMS).
A helicopter service is the only way to evacuate someone in these extreme situations. It’s important to ensure you have the right insurance to cover these costs.
We want to make sure Singaporeans are safe while traveling in the Himalayas. That’s why we recommend that your travel insurance cover the cost of helicopter services and evacuation up to 6000m. Every travel agency has a rescue team available for both ground evacuation and rescue.
Hence, Travel Insurance is another important document needed for your ABC trek from Singapore.
To trek the Annapurna region, you will need to get some permits for trekking. Two permits are required to trek in the Annapurna region. They are a TIMS card and an ACAP ticket.
Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) card and Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) are the two permits needed. Trekkers need to acquire these permits before they explore the Annapurna region.
They cannot be obtained through an online portal and you must obtain them in either Pokhara or Kathmandu. You are also obliged to show the permit at different entry points in the Annapurna Region.
The cost of a TIMS card for SAARC nation trekkers is $7.50 pp and for non-SAARC nations is $17. Annapurna Conservation area permit fee is $22 or Rs 3000 for everyone. It is a once-off entrance fee and is highly cheaper than other national parks around the world.
For any Singaporean planning to visit Annapurna Base Camp, it is important to know the best time for trekking. Trekking ABC is possible any time of the year however certain months are best and others are not. The best time or months to visit ABC trek is based on the seasons in Nepal so let’s get into more details.
Spring Season is the best season for Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Spring season lies in the months from March to May. The weather and temperature in the Spring season are perfect. The weather is sunny and moderate with no possibility of rainfall especially in April. Since ABC trek lies in the Mustang area which is a rain shadow area there is no chance of rainfall.
The temperature is perfect for any trekkers going to ABC camp. The mornings and nights are a bit colder but the days are warm and sunny. The route during the ABC trek is also beautiful with pine and rhododendron flowers blooming throughout your route.
Autumn is the second best time for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek from Singapore. The season falls in the month of mid-September to November. Just like the Spring season, the autumn season also doesn’t have any rainfall. The days are warmer and nights are colder but it is a little bit colder than the Spring season.
Some trekkers even consider October as the best month for Annapurna Base Camp Trek. The trail of the camp trek is very crowded during this time so if you like peaceful trek then you might want to go on trek in different months. Also if you are planning for the trek in these months then we recommend you book your hotels in advance.
Monsoon season starts from June to mid-September and they are one of the worst times for trek. There are constant mild and heavy rainfalls for several days making your route difficult to walk. The chances of floods, landslides, and soil erosion increase in the upper altitude area.
Similarly, the Winter season is also not the optimum time for the Annapurna Base Camp trek. The trails are covered in snow and are slippery. The winter season starts in December t and ends in February.
Despite some difficulty, many trekkers believe the winter season is still not as bad as the monsoon season. The views are clear during the day, and the trails are less crowded. You will even experience stunning mountain views during winter.
So for any Singaporean planning for the ABC trek, April or October could be the best time for the trek. Any month in the Spring or Autumn season is among the best times for an ABC trek.
For Singaporeans going to Annapurna Base Camp must be exciting but it still needs to be budgeted. There are several costs that you have to incur during the treks. These costs are extremely important and necessary during your trek. There are some optional costs as well so let’s delve into it.
Hence these are some of the important and optional costs that you must incur. So for any Singaporean your budget can be based on $400 to $850 per person. But if you are in a group then you can get hefty discounts. For example, if you have 11 to 15 people, your entire trek can be covered by $300 to $650 per person.
We offer fixed departure dates. If these dates are not suitable for you or if you prefer to schedule your own departure, please contact us.
| No of People | Cost |
| 1 | $1290 |
| 2-5 | $1190 |
| 5-10 | $1090 |
For any Singaporean, Annapurna Base Camp Trek will create a lot of memories. The unique Himalayan region is filled with stunning mountain views, rare flora and faunas, and a trek through amazing cultural settlements. Despite being achievable ABC trek is not a simple walk in the park.
Especially to those who are not as familiar with the Nepalese culture, lifestyles, terrains, and routes. If you plan to trek the Annapurna Base Camp alone then we hate to spill that it’s illegal. After April 1, 2023, the Nepal government issued a rule for all trekkers to take at least one authorized guide with them.
The rule was made official for the enhanced safety and security of the trekkers traveling to remote hilly areas. Hiring a guide is not a waste of time as well. Let’s discuss some of the importance of guides in your journey.
This is one of the most important importance of guides. The route in the hills is very unpredictable and challenging. Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances, your paths might get closed. So at that time if you are alone you can’t make adjustments due to a linguistic barrier or lack of knowledge about the place.
During that period, local guides played a crucial role by utilizing their extensive network. They can make your stay more comfortable, by adjusting your itinerary or extending the trek.
Nepal government announced a new rule for trekkers that they have to take at least one guide with them. It is mainly due to safety and security concerns for the lone trekkers who get into trouble or have to be rescued.
Guides are the person who will ensure your safety first. They are trained in first aid and are experts in recognizing any danger that can put your life or property in harm.
Generally, foreign trekkers are not well informed about the culture and traditions of the country. Hence when they visit some important place in Nepal they might not know its cultural importance.
Furthermore, they may not have explained properly the significance or origin of such cultures or the place of the sacred site. Guides play an important role in pointing out the historical, cultural, or territorial importance of the trek.
Just like guides, porters are also equally helpful in your trek. Although there is no rule of taking any porters in your trek, it is wise to hire at least one. Porters are hired for heavy lifting which means they will lift your heavy loads.
Furthermore, they also have an allocation of yaks or mules to carry a few more heavy loads. They are also a means of security as they will look after your bags while you enjoy your trekking.
Hiring porters will also benefit the local community and settlements. Your payment can help their day-to-day lives or their children’s education. The profit can also be used for the betterment of local tourist attractions during trekking.
Hence guides and porters are very important for Singaporean Annapurna Base Camp Trek. So make sure to get a recommendation for any qualified guides or porters from a travel agency in Nepal.
