The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a 10-day guided trek from Kathmandu to the Annapurna Sanctuary (4,130m). A larger group brings the per-person price down to $597; a solo booking runs $899. No technical climbing is required — no ropes, no crampons. Just steady daily walking and gradual altitude gain get you there.
The Sanctuary itself is a glacial amphitheatre ringed by peaks above 6,000 metres. Annapurna I (8,091m), Machapuchare (6,993m), Hiunchuli, and Gangapurna close in on every side. Most Himalayan treks leave you looking up at the mountains from below; this one puts you inside them.
Four days of road travel connect Kathmandu, Pokhara, Ghandruk, and Jhinu Danda. The remaining six days cover the trekking on foot through the Modi Khola gorge. No domestic flight or technical skill is needed for this route. The real preparation is steady daily walking and following your guide’s pace — most days run 5 to 6 hours. Want the sunrise viewpoint added? Customise your itinerary to route via Ghorepani and Poon Hill.
We’re a Kathmandu-based trekking company, and a licensed guide is legally required on this route. Every departure includes one, along with porter support and all permits arranged before you land. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates and group size.
| Trip Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Trek Name | Annapurna Base Camp Trek |
| Total Duration | 10 Days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu) |
| Road Travel Days | 4 days — Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara ↔ Ghandruk ↔ Jhinu Danda |
| Trekking Days | 6 days |
| Maximum Altitude | 4,130m — Annapurna Base Camp |
| Major Highlights | Annapurna Sanctuary, Machapuchare Base Camp, Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Jhinu Hot Springs |
| Trek Difficulty | Moderate |
| Trek Start / End | Ghandruk (from Pokhara) / Jhinu Danda (to Pokhara) |
| Best Season | Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) |
| Good Off-Season | Winter — cold nights, clear views, very few trekkers |
| Avoid | Monsoon — June, July, August |
| Accommodation | Hotel in Pokhara / Teahouse on trail |
| Meals Included | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (trekking days) |
| Permits | ACAP (required) and TIMS card, both included |
| Region | Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal |
Kathmandu → Pokhara → Ghandruk → Chhomrong → Bamboo → Deurali → Machapuchare Base Camp → Annapurna Base Camp → Bamboo → Jhinu Danda → Pokhara → Kathmandu
Most base camp treks put you at the foot of one mountain, looking up. Annapurna Base Camp puts you inside a ring of them. Annapurna I, Machapuchare, Hiunchuli and Gangapurna surround the Sanctuary, all above 6,000 metres. Ten days is enough to get there and back, with no Lukla-style flight risk.
The route stays moderate compared with Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit. You never go above 4,130 metres, so the altitude is easier to manage, without losing the big mountain views. On the way down, the natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda are a real treat after six days on the trail.
Weighing ABC against the Annapurna Circuit or Poon Hill? ABC sits between them: higher and more remote than Poon Hill, shorter and easier than the full Circuit. Customise your itinerary to add the Poon Hill sunrise if you want both in one trip.
The route is moderate, not easy. Days run 5 to 6 hours, and the stone steps around Chhomrong are steeper than the rating suggests. There’s no technical climbing and no altitude above 4,130 metres. Even so, it rewards preparation. A few weeks of regular hill walking makes a real difference to how the daily climbs feel.
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Altitude: 822m | Drive: 6–7 hrs (or 25 min flight) | Meals: Not included | Stay: Hotel, Pokhara
The road west follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers through terraced hills and small towns. It’s a long day in the vehicle, so we keep it as a travel day. On a clear evening, you can see Machapuchare’s fishtail summit from Pokhara.
Altitude: 2,012m | Drive: 3–4 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Ghandruk
A scenic drive takes you up from Pokhara to Ghandruk, one of the best-kept Gurung villages in Nepal. Arriving by road gives you the afternoon to settle in. Walk the stone lanes, see Annapurna South and Hiunchuli above the village, and visit the small Gurung museum.
Altitude: 2,170m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Chhomrong
The trail drops out of Ghandruk into a forested valley, then climbs back up to Chhomrong. This is the last proper village before the Sanctuary. Annapurna South rises right across the gorge, so it’s worth a slow afternoon here.
Altitude: 2,310m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Bamboo
A steep drop down stone steps out of Chhomrong leads to the river. Then the trail climbs through Sinuwa into bamboo and rhododendron forest. The gorge closes in, with waterfalls on both sides and the Modi Khola below. It’s a quieter, cooler day than the open ridges before it.
Altitude: 3,230m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +920m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Deurali
The forest thins through Dovan and Himalaya as the valley narrows. You’ll see avalanche chutes on the peaks above, and it gets colder as you climb. Deurali sits near the treeline, the last stop before open alpine ground.
Altitude: 4,130m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +900m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Annapurna Base Camp
Today the trail leaves the forest for open alpine ground. You pass Machapuchare Base Camp (3,700m), with the fishtail peak rising right above you. From there, the last climb brings you into the Sanctuary at 4,130m. Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Gangapurna surround you on every side.
Altitude: 2,310m | Trek: 6–7 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Bamboo
Start early for sunrise at Base Camp, as the first light reaches Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, then Machapuchare. After breakfast, the long descent begins, back through Deurali and Himalaya to Bamboo. Today your knees do the work your lungs did on the way up.
Altitude: 1,780m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Jhinu Danda
The trail continues down through Sinuwa and Chhomrong, then turns off to Jhinu Danda. Natural hot springs sit by the river, a short walk below the village. After a week of cold mornings, most trekkers spend the evening soaking here.
Altitude: 822m | Drive: 2.5–3 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Stay: Hotel, Pokhara
No trekking today. You drive from Jhinu Danda back to Pokhara, about 2.5 to 3 hours. Hot showers, real beds and Lakeside restaurants make this a welcome rest after the trail.
Drive: 6–7 hrs (or 25 min flight) | Meals: Breakfast
The drive back to Kathmandu follows the Day 1 route in reverse. If you prefer, we can book a 25-minute flight instead, at extra cost.
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a 10-day guided trek from Kathmandu to the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130m. It includes four days of road travel and six days of trekking. The Sanctuary is a glacial basin ringed by peaks above 6,000m, including Annapurna I (8,091m). No technical climbing is needed, just steady walking and gradual altitude gain.
Six. Day 1 is the drive to Pokhara and Day 2 is the drive to Ghandruk. Days 3 to 8 are trekking days, up to the Sanctuary and back down to Jhinu Danda. Day 9 is the drive to Pokhara, and Day 10 is the drive back to Kathmandu. The Ghorepani and Poon Hill route adds 2 to 3 days, making it 12 to 13 days in total.
It is a moderate trek: not casual, but well within reach if you prepare. The hardest parts are the steep gorge between Chhomrong and Deurali and the long 1,820m descent on Day 7. The altitude above 3,200m from Day 5 also adds effort. Six to eight weeks of regular walking beforehand makes a real difference. For a section-by-section breakdown, see the ABC Trek Difficulty Guide →
You need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), which costs NPR 3,000 per person. We also include the TIMS card, which costs NPR 1,000 through a registered agency like ours. Both are in every package price. Your guide carries the paperwork and shows it at each checkpoint. For full details, see the ABC Permits Guide →
Yes. Since April 2023, foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region must trek with a licensed guide from a registered agency. Trekking without a guide is no longer allowed, whatever your experience. A licensed English-speaking guide is included on every Mountain Hike Nepal departure, so there is nothing extra to arrange.
October and November give the clearest views and the most stable weather. April is the best spring month, with rhododendrons in bloom between Ghandruk and Chhomrong. December and early March are quieter, with cold nights. Avoid June to August, when monsoon rain makes the trail slippery and cloud hides the peaks. For the month-by-month detail, see Best Time for ABC Trek →
Yes, and it is worth it if you have the time. This route goes via Tikhedhunga, Ghorepani (2,874m) and Poon Hill (3,210m), then down through Tadapani to Chhomrong. It adds 2 to 3 days and one of the best-known sunrise viewpoints in the Annapurna region. Both routes meet at Chhomrong and reach the same Sanctuary. Talk to us about the Poon Hill route →
The 10-day package costs from USD 597 per person for groups of 8 to 12, up to USD 899 for a solo trekker. The price includes the guide, porter, permits, meals on the trek, teahouses and all road transport. There is no domestic flight. The Poon Hill extension is priced separately. For the full budget, see the ABC Trek Cost Guide →
Yes, though the standard package travels by road. Several airlines fly between Kathmandu and Pokhara every day, in about 25 to 30 minutes. By road it takes 6 to 7 hours. Message us on WhatsApp and we will add the flight to your quote. If you have an international flight the same evening, keep a buffer day for delays.
Yes, we can arrange a helicopter return on request. The price depends on group size, pickup point and availability, so message us for a quote. Emergency helicopter evacuation is possible from anywhere on the route. Your travel insurance must cover trekking above 4,000m and helicopter evacuation.
These guides cover each part of planning the ABC trek, from cost and permits to packing and altitude. Each one sticks to one topic, so you can read only what you need.
