Your ABC Solo Trek Questions Answered

Between 22 to 29 October 2022, nobody in the world was as happy as I was. I was ticking off my bucket list trek to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). This journey is the one I have cherished the most in life - waking up betwixt the insanely mesmeric mountains, sensing myself fall in love with them over and over again, the thrill of hiking through the stretches of dense forests all alone, the nightmarish moments I have spent praying to spot human shoe prints and litters only to be sure I was taking the correct trails, the moments I was unable to hold tears trying to process the incomprehensible beauty the trails would lead to, the tiresome moments my body would plead for a break - yet a sudden glance of the mountains could still fix it all, moments I have seen myself happiest in life, moments I have joyfully blushed seeing the mountains I had loved from a distance all my life suddenly so close.

I had zero idea that sharing the recorded fragments of my journey could have some sort of impact. Upon returning home and sharing my travel content from the trek, the number of responses I was continuously receiving was unreal. At least to me, truly unreal! After many comments and DMs full of questions about the solo trek, I finally decided to address them all through a video. I have made many of you wait for the same, I remember. Resuming the 9-5 work life, however, got me occupied and the video was eventually not made. One sad thing I learned through the online interaction was, many girls wish to travel but somehow they either are not allowed to, or circumstances discourage them to do so. Some girls implied that my posts were 'inspiring'. 'Inspire' is a big word; reading these has actually gotten me emotional a number of times. Truth is, I would truly not have the time and energy to keep the motivation to share stories online alive if not for the enthusiasm of those who responded. This reciprocity was particularly coming from people I did not know.

This post is for all of you who sent me messages and posted comments filled with questions. This post is also for anyone considering a solo trek to ABC and has confusion. Particularly, I hope this post can address queries of girls and women who aspire to do the ABC trek alone.

The beautiful sunrise from the base camp on 27 Oct 022. Annapurna South, Baraha Shikhar, and Annapurna I. (L to R)

Here we go, ABC solo trek - the most asked questions:

Did you travel alone?

For some reason, I get this question even today. I certainly did. :D

In how many days did you complete the trek?

Having started from Kathmandu, I was back home on the 8th day of the trek. I had chosen to travel Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu by bus, if you choose the airway the number of days will be lesser.

I comfortably completed the trek in 8 days.

Did you face any challenges?

At the end of the trek, while crossing the Jhinu Danda bridge, I randomly filmed myself out of the joy of accomplishment. In the video, I happily said that I had faced no challenges at all during the entire trek. The varying nature of trails, the unpredictable weather, the wide stretches of dense jungles, and the many hours of trekking with literally nobody around were undoubtedly not easy and smooth. But all of these were expected for the journey I was undertaking, what was unexpected instead was the level of comfort I completed the journey with. I thank God for keeping me safe from altitude sickness, and I truly can not think of any challenge faced.

Day 2 of the trek. In between Bamboo and Dovan.

If the trek was solo, who captured your pictures and videos?

This is an art I feel I am gradually mastering. I have lost count of the number of times I have faced this exact question both online and offline. It's God. There's God beside me no matter where I go, and I make God handle my social media content. This was my answer to one of the similar questions I faced online (because some questions are thrown with such judgmental intentions, ugh). Some even go to the extent where they boldly claim that I conceal the fact that I am traveling with my boyfriend. (oh, I wish I had one!)

If you want to travel solo but are wondering how to get your pictures/videos clicked, please go get yourself a tripod. Making strangers click pictures is honestly no fun. Besides trekking poles, my tripod is my travel bestie.

Tripod photos>>human photography. Thank me later.

How much did it cost?

I completed the ABC trek in around NPR 20,000. The expenses could be slightly less for you as I spent an extended night at Machhapuuchhre Base Camp (MBC), and have paid thrice the amount for the Jeep fare to Jhinu Danda for which I had valid reasons and no regret.

Why did you trek alone?

I only have one answer - because I wanted to. However, I did not have elaborate plans of doing the trek alone beforehand, and it happened within a brief snap of days. And with no deeper thinking, I wanted to go for it. I am really spontaneous and impulsive.

Are the trails confusing?

They mostly are not. There is a very low chance of getting lost along the route, and there are signs at each stop indicating the time it takes for the next one. Also, there is only one trekking route from Chhomrong that takes you to the base camp of Annapurna. This is why, ABC trek can be done without a guide or porter. (I am not sure if people are allowed to do it without a guide any longer though. FYI I have seen people do it.)

That said, if you are trekking alone, chances are you might be skeptical about the paths you take while you ascend (happened multiple times to me) and this is normal. But you will navigate the route and turn out confident during the descent.

Did you do the Annapurna circuit trek?

Might sound like a bad joke, but the Annapurna circuit does not entail the Annapurna Base Camp. This means I did not do the Annapurna circuit trek. Annapurna Circuit trek is a longer and more demanding trek where Thorang La pass, at 5,416 meters, is the highest point. The Annapurna Base Camp lies at a height of 4,130 meters, about 1,300 meters lower than the Annapurna Circuit.

Did you have fun?

A little more than too much. I will tell you, 'fun' does not sum up the rich experience I have had. I came out with newfound confidence, and with the courage to do more solo adventures without hesitation. Now, I take the alley on my way back home each evening which I deliberately used to avoid out of the unannounced fear of safety. The inner monologue on the first time was, "I have conquered my fear of walking through dense jungles in a high altitude alone, which does not compare to this city alley amidst houses in a place I am familiar with."

Believe them when they say 'enjoy the journey.' Rather than at the base camp itself, it was on the trails that I collected the most unforgettable memories. Forget about having fun, initially, I was afraid if I would even enjoy being on my own for a week long. More dramatically, I was in a post-break up phase still struggling to see through my ache and searching for distractions when caught alone. My most terrible fears during the trek were - number one, the fear of developing altitude sickness, and number two, the fear of losing control over my emotions if loneliness struck. The risk I took proved to be worthwhile. I found my most liberated, empowered, and happy self during the trek. Mountains helped me heal as well.

Have you done solo treks before?

No, ABC was the first one. I have done both group and solo treks after ABC, I do not mean I didn't any longer enjoy trekking with my friends; each experience has its own merits. However, nothing compares to the freedom of trekking solo. I am addicted for a lifetime.

Can you share some tips and itineraries?

I can. But please let me make a separate blog for this one. Will you?

MBC to ABC is heaven. Happiness knew no limit.

To my girlies with ABC on their bucket list

It makes me super sad to reiterate that safety concerns for men and women are different. I wish it was not the case. There is a lot of fearmongering out there designed to scare us away from traveling on our own. I am certainly not an expert to clear the myths, but I can speak from my tiny experience.

Most of the "it's not safe", and "you can't go there alone" advice comes from those who do not travel, yet it tends to drown out those who actually travel. With proper research and preparation, I believe treks including ABC are very doable. People out there are nice. The trekkers you meet on the way are usually helpful, be they Nepalese or foreigners. If you want to go ABC solo, be prepared to meet snoopy people. Be prepared also for way more people who will encourage and applaud you, and will lift your spirit at the most unexpected moments of the trek. I have had mostly Nepali aunties trekking with families glaring at me and daring to ask why I was trekking alone with no friends or guardians. An auntie did this when I reached Himalaya, and it affected me for a good number of minutes. I won't lie, a German man had asked me if I wanted to share a room with him. We initially were having a profound philosophical conversation, I was in disbelief for a moment when it had to end this way. But does not this happen almost on a daily basis even back home? We have learned to deal with them well.

I repeat people are generous and willing to offer help in case of need. There are plenty of well-facilitated tea houses at each stop, and the trails are not confusing. Please go experience your dream destination.