The Annapurna Base Camp trek is safe for most prepared trekkers in spring and autumn, but it is not risk-free. The two biggest dangers are altitude sickness and avalanches after heavy snow on the stretch around Hinku Cave and Deurali. Official figures for 2025/26 list one altitude death at Annapurna Base Camp, against 15 in Mustang and 8 in Manang. Choose March, April, October or November, walk with a licensed guide, and turn back when snow or symptoms say so.
How dangerous is the trek, according to official figures?
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) recorded 25 altitude sickness deaths across the whole conservation area in the 2025/26 fiscal year. Five more people died in falls, bad weather and other accidents.
| Place | Altitude sickness deaths, 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| Mustang | 15 |
| Manang | 8 |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 1 |
| Mardi Himal route | 1 |
| Total | 25 |
Read these numbers with care. They cover one year, and we found no visitor count for each route, so they do not give a true death rate. They also do not include every avalanche or accident on this trail. Even so, they show that altitude deserves respect here. ACAP's chief linked many cases to people who travel by road straight to high places such as Muktinath without time to adjust.
What are the main risks?
Each risk has its own place and season, so most of them can be planned for.
| Risk | Where | When | How to lower it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altitude sickness | Mainly Deurali to base camp | All year | Go slowly, and go down if symptoms get worse |
| Avalanche | Hinku Cave, Deurali, toward Machhapuchhre Base Camp | After heavy snow, mostly winter and early spring | Wait or turn back, and follow closures |
| Snowstorms and getting lost | Upper valley | Winter, and storms in other months | Stay with your guide and check forecasts |
| Landslides and mud | Modi Khola valley | June to September | Avoid the monsoon |
| Falls and knee injuries | Stone steps, especially on the way down | All year, worse when wet or icy | Use poles and take your time |
| Stomach illness | Anywhere | All year | Treat your water and wash your hands |
Where do avalanches happen on the Annapurna Base Camp trek?
The danger zone is the narrow upper Modi Khola valley, around Hinku Cave and Deurali and on toward Machhapuchhre Base Camp. Steep slopes rise above the trail there, so snow from high above can reach it. This part of the walk is short, but it is the part to take most seriously.
Avalanches have killed people here more than once:
- January 2020. An avalanche at about 3,200 metres left seven people missing, four Korean trekkers and three Nepali workers, on the stretch between Himalaya and Deurali. Three months later, some of the bodies had still not been found.
- March 2025. A 28-year-old Chinese trekker returning from base camp went missing after an avalanche and lost contact with his group. His body was found near the Modi Khola on 5 April.
Late-season storms can also close the trail. In October 2025, the trail was temporarily closed because of continuous snow and poor visibility. So snow risk is not only a winter issue.
What should you do after heavy snow?
- Stop and ask. Talk to your guide, lodge owners and other groups coming down before you continue above Dovan or Himalaya.
- Follow every closure. A closed trail is closed even if the morning looks clear and other people are walking.
- Accept a change of plan. Guides sometimes hold groups at Deurali until the snow settles. Others turn back. Either choice is better than taking the risk.
- Do not stop under the slopes. When the way is open, take your breaks in safer places, and stay with your group.
Which months are safest?
October, April, November and March are the safest months for most people. These are our own ratings for this trek, out of 10. They combine weather, trail conditions and views, so they are a planning guide and not a guarantee.
| Month | Our rating | Main safety concern |
|---|---|---|
| October | 10 | Occasional late storms |
| April | 10 | Old snow above Deurali |
| November | 9 | Colder nights and early snow |
| March | 9 | Snow and avalanche risk still possible |
| May | 7 | Afternoon storms as the monsoon nears |
| September | 5 | Late monsoon rain and slides |
| February | 5 | Snow and avalanche risk |
| December | 4 | Cold and ice |
| January | 3 | Deep cold, snow and avalanche risk |
| June | 2 | Rain and landslides |
| July, August | 1 | Heavy rain, landslides and leeches |
See our month-by-month guide for all of Nepal, or our winter treks guide if you can only travel between December and February.
How serious is altitude sickness here?
Base camp sits at 4,130 metres, where the air holds about 61 percent of the oxygen available at sea level. Many itineraries, including our standard one, sleep at Deurali (3,200 metres) and then at base camp the next night. That is a 930-metre gain in sleeping altitude, more than the 500 metres a day that tourism experts advise.
If you tend to feel altitude, ask for an extra night at Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700 metres). It splits the climb into two shorter days. Lodges there can fill up in peak season, so ask early.
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Headache, nausea, poor appetite, tiredness | Stop climbing and rest. If it gets worse, go down. |
| Confusion, odd behaviour, cannot walk in a straight line | Emergency. Go down now, or fly if you cannot. |
| Short of breath at rest, tight chest, wet cough | Emergency. Go down now, or fly if you cannot. |
This follows Wilderness Medical Society guidance, which treats descent as the main treatment for severe illness. Our altitude sickness prevention guide covers Diamox and the warning signs in full. Talk to your doctor before the trek if you have a heart or lung condition.
What happens in an emergency?
A true emergency usually means walking down, flying out, or both. In good weather, helicopters can land at places such as Chomrong, Sinuwa and base camp. In a storm they often cannot fly, so a guide may have to help you down on foot. From base camp, the walk to the road can take about a day and a half.
Lower villages have basic facilities, but serious care means going to Pokhara or Kathmandu. Do not count on phone signal or wifi in the upper valley. Before you start, make sure you have these three things:
- Insurance that covers your altitude and helicopter evacuation. Our trekking insurance guide lists what to check.
- Your insurer's emergency number, saved on your phone and written on paper.
- A clear plan with your agency about who decides on a rescue and who calls the insurer.
A real emergency comes first. If someone pushes you to fly when your symptoms are mild, read our guide to helicopter rescue fraud.
Is it safe to trek alone or as a solo woman?
Do not trek alone. Nepal's rules require foreign trekkers to use a licensed guide in this area, as our guide rule explainer sets out, and the upper valley is a poor place to get into trouble by yourself. In October 2025 a 34-year-old Nepali man trekking alone fell ill on his way down from base camp and died at Deurali, after porters helped him to a lodge.
Solo women trek this route every season, usually with a guide. Choose an agency with clear reviews, ask whether a female guide is available, and share your plan with someone at home. Before you pay, ask how the agency would handle a safety complaint on the trail.
What is your safety checklist?
- Pick March, April, October or November if you can.
- Book a licensed agency, and see our guide on choosing a trekking agency.
- Train for steps and long days, using our difficulty and training guide.
- Do not rush. Allow a spare day in Pokhara in case bad weather holds you up.
- Check the latest forecast and any trail closures before you leave Chomrong.
- Carry trekking poles, warm layers, a head torch and a way to treat water.
- Pack microspikes if you are going in winter or early spring. Our packing list covers the rest.
- Agree that anyone in your group can ask to stop or turn back.
Our guides carry pulse oximeters and check oxygen levels every day from Dovan. If you want to know how we would handle snow or illness on your dates, ask us before you book. Our Annapurna Base Camp Trek page has the full route, and our itinerary guide covers each day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Annapurna Base Camp trek safe for beginners?
Yes, for fit beginners who train and walk with a licensed guide in spring or autumn. No climbing skills are needed. The main risks are altitude and tired legs on the steps, so a slower itinerary helps.
Has anyone died on the Annapurna Base Camp trek?
Yes. ACAP recorded one altitude sickness death at Annapurna Base Camp in 2025/26, and avalanches near Deurali killed trekkers and workers in 2020 and 2025. The numbers are small next to Mustang and Manang, but the risks are real, so follow local advice.
Is there an avalanche risk in October or April?
It is usually lower than in winter, but it can still happen after heavy snow. A snowstorm closed this trail in late October 2025, and an avalanche was reported in March 2025. Always check conditions before leaving Chomrong.
Do I need a helicopter rescue on this trek?
Most trekkers never do. Mild altitude symptoms usually improve with rest or a walk down. A helicopter is for true emergencies, such as confusion, severe breathlessness or a serious injury when going down on foot is not possible.
Was the Annapurna Base Camp trail affected by the 2026 floods?
The 2026 floods we track did not hit the Annapurna Base Camp route, though landslides can still close mountain roads. Our flood update has the latest status. Check it before you book.
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