Protected by the Api Nampa Conservation Area, Api Base Camp trek takes you to the northwest region of Nepal and all the way to the base of the highest peak in the far-western region of Nepal. Trekking through the subtropical to alpine forests, steep gorges, grasslands, pastures, the Mahakali Valley, lakes, waterfalls, and streams. Although it is a relatively remote trek, you can visit various rural settlements that are still in its original, and still a traditional form of lifestyle. This makes the Api Base Camp trek the best option for cultural exploration. Together with this, you also get the opportunity to explore the Botanical Garden, the Aircraft museum, and Jokhar Lake at Dhangadhi.
The trek doesn’t begin until you reach Latinath. After your arrival in Kathmandu, we fly to Dhangadhi, and then drive to Gokuleshwor, and to Latinath thereafter. This is a moderate level of the trek; thus, you aren’t required to possess much athletic body fitness. A physically fit body that can tolerate walking for 6-7 hours for some days in the high-altitude areas is sufficient to do this trek successfully. March to May and September to November are considered the best time to do the Api Base Camp trek. Further, we can tailor this trek as per your preferences and needs; do inform us about it during the booking the trek.
Short Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02: Kathmandu sightseeing and trek Preparations
Day 03: Flight to Dhangadhi
Day 04: Drive to Gokuleshwor
Day 05: Drive to Latinath/Trek to Paribagar
Day 06: Trek to Makarigadi
Day 07: Trek to Siti
Day 08: Trek to Domal
Day 09: Trek to Dhaulo Odar
Day 10: Trek to APi Base Camp/ Pinkandaha-Daulo Odar
Day 11: Trek to Siti
Day 12: Trek to Makrigadi
Day 13: Trek to Latinath/Drive to Gokuleshwor
Day 14: Drive to Dhangadhi
Day 15: Flight to Kathmandu
Day 16: At Kathmandu
Day 17: Departure
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,345 m)
Welcome to Nepal. Our representative shall receive you from the airport and take you to your hotel, where you might take a rest and relax after your hotel checkout. In the evening you can enjoy welcome dinner and stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing and trek Preparations
Next day, after having breakfast, we will go exploring the sightseeing of Kathmandu Valley. Visit Pashupatinath temple, Swyambhunath Temple and Buddhanath Stupa. Or You can do some shopping for your trek. In the evening you will get a brief class about the further trek. Stay overnight at Kathmandu.
Day 03: Flight to Dhangadhi (109 m)
After breakfast in the morning, you shall fly to Dhangadhi, which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach. After you reach there, you shall be taken to your hotel. After you rest for a while, you shall explore the Dhangadhi Town. The Aircraft Museum, Botanical Garden, and Jokhar Lake are some of the most important attractions of Dhangadhi. Stay overnight at Dhangadhi.
Day 04: Drive to Gokuleshwor
Via the plain land of Dhangadhi, you shall ride towards the hilly areas. Riding on the Mahakali Highway, you shall reach Dadeldhura after the uphill drive of 4 hours. Leaving the beautiful hills of Dadeldhura, passing several rivers, Chamelyia Valley, and other settlement scattered over hills, tea houses, you shall make all the way to Gokuleshwar in another 4 hours. Stay overnight at Gokuleshwor.
Day 05: Drive to Latinath/Trek to Paribagar (1,004m)
After the breakfast in the morning, you shall drive to Latinath, reaching where takes about 2 hours, witnessing the largest hydropower of the Far Western region of Nepal. After your arrival at Latinath, you shall walk for an hour to reach at the Paribagar Village. You can explore the village, the lifestyle of people, and the way they live. Stay overnight at Paribagar.
Day 06: Trek to Makarigadi (1,470m)
Walking through the terraced fields, traditional villages, you shall alongside the Chameliya River. Then, you shall be walking through the sub-tropical forest into the sub-alpine, for about a couple of hours, and arrive at today’s destination, the Makarigadi Village. You can also explore the village and learn more about the people living in this village. Stay overnight at Makarigadi.
Day 07: Trek to Siti (2,254m)
Making a steeply climb, crossing the Chameliya River, you shall ascend again to the gorge. Further trekking takes you to Pato, where you shall have your lunch. Walking comfortably, you shall walk through another ridge, descend down to Siti Village. It takes about 8 hours to arrive at Siti. Stay overnight at Siti.
Day 08: Trek to Domal (2,950m)
Descending down to Khayekot, which is situated near to the Chameliya River, you shall make to Domal. As you reach Khayekot, you shall be pleased with the beauty and settlement here. People also respect this place with sacred holiness. This is also a junction of the Rokap River and Chameliya River. You shall to camp here. Stay overnight at Domal.
Day 09: Trek to Dhaulo Odar(3,548m)
After your breakfast in the morning, you shall make uphill, and then continue walking through alpine forest and pastures. As you continue trekking for some hours, you shall come to an open grassland, which is surrounded by rhododendron forest, which is Dhaulo Odar. You shall also see snow-capped mountains and few caves. Stay overnight at Dhaulo Odar.
Day 10: Trek to Api Base Camp/ Pinkandaha-Daulo Odar(3,816m)
After the 2 hours walk from the Daulo Odar, you shall reach to the Api Base Camp. The base camp offers you the spectacular views of Mt. Bobaye (6,808m), Mt. Nampa (6,929m), and Mt. Api (7,132m). You might fancy some phenomenal photos of the mountains and landscape. Then, you shall make to the lake, and return back to Daulo Odar. Stay overnight at Daulo Odar.
Day 11: Trek to Siti (2,258m)
At first, you shall descend down and arrive at Khayekot, and visit the pastures, alpine forest, grassland, and streams. Then, you shall ascend via the terraced fields, finally arriving at Siti Village. From Daulo Odar, you shall arrive at Siti in 6 hours. If you arrive early, you get plenty of time to explore the village. Stay overnight at Siti.
Day 12: Trek to Makrigadi (1,470m)
A steep climb through the ridge, you shall make through terraced fields, forest, and traditional villages, you shall reach to the Pato Village. Witnessing the views of mountains, you shall descend down from Pato to Makrigadi. From Siti, it shall take you about 6 hours to reach Makrigadi. Once you reach Makrigadi, you shall get the best opportunity to enjoy the local delicacies. There is a homestay at Makrigadi for stay. Stay overnight at Makrigadi.
Day 13: Trek to Latinath/Drive to Gokuleshwor (1,004m)
Descending for about 4 hours takes you to Latinath. Passing through Paribagar, a popular temple of Hindus, you shall arrive at Latinath. From there, catching a bus, you shall arrive at Gokuleshwor, which takes about 2 hours. Once you reach Gokuleshowr, technically, your trekking in over, except the drives and flight journeys. Stay overnight at Gokuleshowr.
Day 14: Drive to Dhangadhi
It is a 9-hour drive from Gokuleshwor to Dhangadhi. Again, you shall halt at Dadeldhura to enjoy the beautiful hills and lunch. Devouring the beauty of terraced fields, lush green hills, rivers, you shall make to Dhangadhi by the evening. Once you reach there, you might fancy to ponder and lament onto your journey. Stay overnight at Dhangadhi.
Day 15: Flight to Kathmandu (1,345m)
It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Kathmandu. Enjoying the beauty of the landscape down below, you shall arrive at Kathmandu. Our representative shall take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours. Though, you might love to give your body some rest. Stay overnight at Kathmandu.
Day 16: At Kathmandu (1,345m)
Kathmandu is popular for some of the world heritage sites enlisted by UNESCO, such as, the Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhhanath, Swoyambhunath, Basantapur Durbar Square, etc. You can do some shopping for your return. We shall be sharing our experiences over Farewell Dinner in the evening. Stay overnight at Kathmandu.
Day 17: Departure
Our representative shall take you to the airport within sufficient time before your departure flight. Then, they will bid farewell and part away from there. Have a safe journey to your home country.
Included in the Cost
- Airport pickups and drops in a private vehicle
- 2-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
- camping gares and kitchen crew
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek from our own kitchen
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
- Kathmandu to Dhangadi and Dhangadi to kathmandu by flight
- Dhangadi to gokuleshor by bus
- Guided city tour in Kathmandu by private vehicle, professional english speaking tour guide
- Entrance fees for sightseeing/monument visits as per the itinerary
- An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed treking guide
- Necessary supporting poters and sherpa
- Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food and accommodation
- Mountain king treks and expedition trekking bag/duffel bag, t-shirt and trekking map are yours to take
- All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (National Park Permit, TIMS)
- First aid medical kit
- All government and local taxes
- salary for guide and porter and their guide and accomondation
- Insurance for guide and proters
Not Included in the Cost
- International flight ticket and Nepal entry visa
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
- lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Personal traveling Insurance
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
- Toiletries bag
- Tips for guide(s), porter(s) and driver(s)
Trekking equipments
The main essentials to bring are:
- Sturdy and comfortable hiking boots, flip-flops
- Sleeping bag (depending on your accommodation) and -20 degree Celsius for colder regions
- Daypack, trekking bag pack, dry sack and camera bag
- Few changes of clothes for the varying temperatures
- For cold weather, hiking pants, thermals, gloves, neck warmer/scarf, beanie, a warm inner jacket and a windproof / waterproof outer jacket and down jacket are essential.
- Water purification supplies, a reusable water bottle and a camelback water bladder
- Sunscreen, Hat, sunglasses, moisturizing skin cream and lip balm
- Few snacks, granola bars
- Hiking stick or two
- Waterproof case, fabric bandages such as moleskin, a headlamp, altitude sickness and other medication
- Camera and binoculars.
- Hand sanitizers, toilet paper, band-aids, wet wipes
- Extra batteries (solar chargers recommended)
On the popular trekking routes, everyday supplies, such as toilet paper, soap, chocolate bars, and even basic hiking supplies can be purchased along the way, though prices rise dramatically as you go higher in elevation. Try to stock up lower down and buy locally-produced products such as fruit, biscuits etc. Maps are easy to find in Nepal. For the more difficult treks involving mountaineering, crampons and ice axes may be required. Simpler types of crampons, which attach to the shoe using a rubber ring, are easily obtainable in the Thamel neighborhood. These are variously known as spikes, micro spikes and chains.
