Day-by-day notes from a working guide — what's worth carrying, where to sleep, and why most groups underestimate Day 6.
Why ABC, and why now
The Annapurna Sanctuary is the most accessible 4,000m+ camp in Nepal, and the only one where you can stand at the foot of an 8,000m peak (Annapurna I, 8,091m) on a 7-9 day round trip from Pokhara.
The route, day by day
Days 1-3 are warm-up days through Gurung villages. Day 4 is the climb to Chomrong. Day 5 enters the sanctuary. Day 6 is the long final push to base camp at 4,130m — that's where most groups underestimate altitude. Day 7-8 is the descent.
What to actually carry
Most lists are too long. The honest minimum: a 65L pack, down jacket, four-season sleeping bag (-10°C comfort), headlamp, broken-in boots, a litre of water and electrolytes. Buy duct tape and Snickers in Chomrong, not Kathmandu.