Mount Api base camp trek is one of the least trekked Himalayan regions of Nepal which is situated in the farthest-western part of Nepal bordering India on the west and Tibet to the north. Mount Api base camp trek lies in the upper region of the Darchula district which is remote so, it is pristine and untouched by many.
This trek lies in the Api Nampa conservation area which occupies an area of 1903km2 and is considered to be the home of endangered animals like snow leopards and musk deer and birds like Himalayan Monal. The area is also abundant with medicinal herbs like “Yarsagumba” (caterpillar-fungus) and different types of “rhododendrons” which is the national flower of Nepal.
The major features of a trek to Api base camp are beautiful wild rivers, gorges, pristine lakes, forests, amazing alpine meadows, and stunning snow-capped mountains such as mount Api, Nampa, and Saipal, etc. The trek also features the beautiful remote local villages, and the unique culture of different ethnic groups such as Khas, Chettri, Thakuri, Brahmin, and Vishwakarma.
The main interest of the trek is mount Api which is considered to be sacred by the locals as it is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva and the “Kali Dhunga Tal” (lake) where the hundreds of local people flock together during the special occasion.
Getting to the trailhead of mount Api base camp trek.
To get to the trailhead of mount Api base camp trek first you need to get to Dhangadhi for which you can either drive or take a flight. Although you can drive all the way to Dhangadhi from Kathmandu which takes about 13-14 hours, the best way to reach Dhangadhi is by taking a flight that takes about 65 minutes. Then after it’s another drive to Khalanga from where you begin your actual trek and it takes about 9 hours.
Mount Api base camp trek permits and fees.
To trek to mount Api base camp you are required to have two types of permits which the first one is “TIMS CARD” (trekking information management system) and which costs $20 USD per person for the independent trekkers and $10 USD per person for the organized trekkers.
Another permit is the “Api Nampa conservation area entrance fee” which costs 3000 Nepalese rupees per person and 500 Nepalese rupees for the citizens of SAARC (South Asian Association for regional cooperation) country.
What is the condition of accommodation availability and flooding?
The Mount Api base camp region is one of the remotest and least developed regions of Nepal. although the region is widely visited during the season of collecting the medicinal herbs called “Yarsagumba” (caterpillar fungus), some tiny huts are built for that purpose, besides that, there is not any such facility as a teahouse or guesthouses along the trail where you can find the lodging and food similar like you can find in other popular trekking regions of Nepal.
So, for this trekking, you need to be sufficient with tents and supplies. Moreover, there is not any electricity, Wi-Fi, banks, or hospital services nearby so I need to carry proper insurance for emergency evacuation.
