The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a 10-day guided trek from Kathmandu to the Annapurna Sanctuary (4,130m), priced from $597 to $899 per person, no technical climbing required. Thousands travel to Nepal for this trail every year, and almost all finish saying the same thing: it was better than they expected.
The destination is a glacial amphitheatre enclosed by seven Himalayan peaks above 6,000m — Annapurna I (8,091m), Machapuchare (6,993m), Hiunchuli, and Gangapurna surround you on arrival. So instead of looking up at the peaks from below, you stand between them.
The itinerary runs four days of road travel between Kathmandu, Pokhara, Ghandruk, and Jhinu Danda, followed by six days trekking through the Modi Khola gorge to the Sanctuary and back. Because no domestic flight is needed and no technical experience is required, what matters most is preparation and a steady pace.
This route can also extend via Ghorepani and Poon Hill for the famous sunrise viewpoint and extra ridge walking. Customise your itinerary here.
| Item | 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 Required | ACAP + TIMS |
| Region | Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal |
Kathmandu → Pokhara → Ghandruk → Chhomrong → Bamboo → Deurali → Machapuchare Base Camp → Annapurna Base Camp → Bamboo → Jhinu Danda → Pokhara → Kathmandu
Most Nepal treks give you views of the mountains. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek puts you inside them.
The Annapurna Sanctuary is a closed glacial basin. When you arrive at base camp, the peaks are not in front of you — they surround you on all sides. Annapurna I’s south face rises nearly three kilometres directly above the valley floor. That sense of complete enclosure is what separates this trek from Everest Base Camp, from Manaslu, from everything else in Nepal.
The route to reach it earns its place too. Ghandruk is one of the finest traditional Gurung villages on any Nepal trekking route — stone houses, mountain views, and a community that has welcomed trekkers for decades without losing its character. Chhomrong sits above the gorge with views that most trekking routes cannot match. The bamboo and rhododendron forest of the Modi Khola gorge is extraordinary — cathedral trees, waterfalls, birdsong, and the constant river below. And the Jhinu Danda hot springs on the descent are one of the most genuinely satisfying trail rewards in all of Nepal.
This trek is moderate — not casual. The gorge sections above Chhomrong and the altitude above 3,500m demand genuine preparation. Trekkers who arrive fit and ready finish this route saying it was the best thing they have ever done. That difference comes entirely from preparation.
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✅ All ground transportation as per the itinerary: Kathmandu–Pokhara–Kathmandu by comfortable tourist bus
✅ Local vehicle transfer between Pokhara and Ghandruk, and between Jhinu Danda and Pokhara
✅ Accommodation in Pokhara as per itinerary (twin-sharing deluxe air-conditioned room with breakfast)
✅ All trekking accommodation in local teahouse lodges (shared basis)
✅ All meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner), including tea or coffee in the early morning
✅ Licensed, experienced English-speaking trekking guide
✅ One strong, experienced local porter (1 porter for 2 trekkers, maximum load 15 kg)
✅ Required trekking permits for the Annapurna region (ACAP and TIMS)
✅ Guide and porter wages, meals, accommodation, insurance, local transport, and necessary equipment
✅ All applicable government taxes and service charges
❌ International airfare to and from Nepal
❌ Nepal entry visa fee
❌ Travel and medical insurance (must cover high-altitude trekking and emergency evacuation)
❌ Personal trekking gear and equipment, including personal medications
❌ Meals and accommodation in Kathmandu
❌ Lunch and dinner in Pokhara
❌ Hot showers, Wi-Fi, and charging of electronic devices during the trek
❌ Alcoholic beverages, bottled drinks, snacks, and other personal expenses
❌ Tips for guide and porter
❌ Additional accommodation or meals due to early arrival, late departure, or itinerary changes
❌ Costs arising from delays, weather conditions, road conditions, or natural
Drive: 6–7 hrs (or 25 min flight) | Meals: Dinner | Stay: Pokhara
The drive out of Kathmandu follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers west, through terraced hillsides and small roadside towns, before Pokhara opens up on the shore of Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range filling the horizon behind it. It’s a long day in the vehicle, but it’s also the first real look at where you’re headed — Machapuchare’s fishtail summit is visible from Pokhara on a clear evening, and it doesn’t leave your sightline again until you’re standing underneath it a week later. We keep this a travel day on purpose, so you land at the trailhead tomorrow rested, not road-worn.
Drive: 3–4 hrs | Meals: B, L, D | Stay: Ghandruk
A scenic drive from Pokhara up to Ghandruk, following the road as it climbs through terraced hillsides and small villages before ending right at the doorstep of one of the best-preserved Gurung villages in Nepal. Arriving by road means more time to actually settle into Ghandruk on Day 2 rather than rushing in tired — stone houses, slate roofs, and Annapurna South and Hiunchuli rising directly above the village. Take the afternoon to walk through the village itself and visit the small Gurung heritage museum before the trekking starts properly tomorrow.
Trek: 5–6 hrs | Meals: B, L, D | Stay: Chhomrong
The trail drops out of Ghandruk into a forested valley before climbing back up to Chhomrong — the last proper village before the Sanctuary itself. Chhomrong sits directly across the gorge from Annapurna South, close enough that the mountain feels like it’s leaning over the village. This is also the last stop with an ATM and a real choice of teahouse food, so it’s worth taking a slower afternoon here before the trail narrows into the gorge above.
Trek: 5–6 hrs | Meals: B, L, D | Stay: Bamboo
A steep drop down stone steps out of Chhomrong, across the river, then a long climb through Sinuwa before the trail levels into the bamboo and rhododendron forest that gives this stop its name. The gorge closes in properly here — dense forest canopy, waterfalls cutting through the rock on both sides, and the Modi Khola running constantly below. It’s a genuinely beautiful stretch of trail, and a noticeably quieter, cooler day than the exposed ridgelines before it.
Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +920m | Meals: B, L, D | Stay: Deurali
The forest thins out steadily through Dovan and Himalaya as the valley narrows and the walls close in on both sides. This is where the trek starts to feel like it’s entering the Sanctuary rather than just approaching it — avalanche chutes visible on the peaks above, the temperature dropping with every hour of elevation gained. Deurali sits right at the treeline, the last stop before the landscape turns to open alpine terrain.
Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +900m | Meals: B, L, D | Stay: Annapurna Base Camp
This is the day the whole trek has been building toward. The trail climbs out of the forest completely into open alpine ground, passing Machapuchare Base Camp (3,700m) — the sacred fishtail peak rising directly overhead, close enough that it no longer looks like a distant summit. From MBC the final push into the Sanctuary itself opens onto Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130m, completely enclosed by Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Gangapurna on every side. Nothing else in Nepal delivers this specific feeling of being surrounded rather than looking up from below.
Trek: 6–7 hrs | Meals: B, L, D | Stay: Bamboo
An early start for sunrise at Base Camp — Annapurna South and Hiunchuli catching the first light, then Machapuchare turning gold as the sun clears the ridgeline. After that, the long descent begins, retracing yesterday’s route back down through Deurali and Himalaya to Bamboo. The knees do the work today that the lungs did on the way up — the terrain is familiar, but going down through the gorge in daylight after climbing it feels like a completely different trail.
Trek: 5–6 hrs | Meals: B, L, D | Stay: Jhinu Danda
The trail continues down through Sinuwa and Chhomrong, then branches toward Jhinu Danda — home to a set of natural hot springs right on the riverbank. After a week of teahouse showers and cold mornings, the springs are one of the most genuinely earned rewards on any Nepal trekking route. Most trekkers spend the evening soaking with a view of the gorge they just walked out of.
Drive: 2.5–3 hrs | Meals: B, L | Stay: Pokhara
No trek today — the trip ends with a drive straight from Jhinu Danda back to Pokhara, with the road picking up close to the village. Hot showers, real beds, and lakeside restaurants after eight days on the trail — this arrival is usually the first proper rest of the whole trip, and it’s well earned.
Drive: 6–7 hrs (or 25 min flight) | Meals: Breakfast
The return drive to Kathmandu, retracing the route from Day 1 in reverse. Ten days, the full Annapurna Sanctuary, and a genuinely different mountain experience than anywhere else in Nepal. Done.
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a 10-day Himalayan journey from Kathmandu — four days of road travel and six days trekking through the Annapurna Conservation Area to the sanctuary at 4,130m. The sanctuary itself is a glacial amphitheatre completely enclosed by seven peaks above 6,000m, including Annapurna I — the tenth-highest mountain on earth. No technical climbing exists anywhere on the route. Just preparation, a steady pace, and one of the most extraordinary mountain environments on the planet.
The standard Mountain Hike Nepal itinerary is 10 days total from Kathmandu — Day 1 is the drive to Pokhara, Day 2 is a scenic drive directly to Ghandruk, Days 3 through 8 cover the trekking circuit from Ghandruk to the Sanctuary and back down to Jhinu Danda (6 full trekking days), Day 9 is the drive from Jhinu Danda back to Pokhara, and Day 10 is the return drive to Kathmandu. The Ghorepani and Poon Hill variation adds 2–3 extra trekking days for a total of 12–13 days. Contact us to build the extended itinerary into your booking from the start.
The trek is rated moderate — not casual, but absolutely achievable for well-prepared trekkers. The most demanding sections are the steep gorge terrain between Chhomrong and Deurali, the long 1,820m descent on Day 7, and the altitude above 3,500m from Day 5 onward. Six to eight weeks of consistent outdoor preparation before departure makes a real difference. The Poon Hill extension adds one extra demanding day but does not change the overall moderate rating significantly. For a full section-by-section breakdown: ABC Trek Difficulty Guide →
Two permits cover the full route — the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) at NPR 3,000 per person, and the TIMS card at NPR 2,000 per person. Unlike the Everest region, where TIMS was replaced by a local permit in 2018, TIMS remains required for Annapurna region treks including ABC. Mountain Hike Nepal includes both permits in every package price. Your guide handles all permit documentation and presents it at every checkpoint — no separate application or permit office visit from you at any point. For full details: ABC Permits Guide 2026 →
Yes — Nepal’s 2023 trekking regulations require all foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region to use a licensed guide from a registered agency. Independent trekking without a guide is no longer legally permitted regardless of experience level or nationality. Mountain Hike Nepal includes licensed English-speaking guides with specific Annapurna region knowledge on every departure — this is a standard package inclusion, not an optional extra.
October and November are the finest months — post-monsoon clarity, stable weather, and the clearest mountain views of the year. April is the best spring option — rhododendron forests in full bloom between Ghandruk and Chhomrong, and the Annapurna range fully visible from base camp. December and early March are solid off-season choices for trekkers who want quieter trails. Avoid June, July, and August entirely — monsoon rain makes the gorge trail slippery and the mountains disappear under cloud for weeks. For the full month-by-month breakdown: Best Time for ABC Trek →
Yes — and if your schedule allows, take it. The classic Ghorepani–Poon Hill variation replaces the Ghandruk approach with a ridge route via Tikhedhunga, Ghorepani (2,860m), and Poon Hill (3,210m) before descending through Tadapani to Chhomrong. This adds 2–3 days and the finest sunrise panorama in the Annapurna region — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and Machapuchare all visible simultaneously from the viewpoint tower at dawn. Both routes join at Chhomrong and reach the same Annapurna Sanctuary. Talk to us about the Poon Hill route →
The standard 10-day Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu package starts from USD 597 per person for groups of 8–12 and USD 899 for solo trekkers — guide, porter, all permits, all trek meals, teahouse accommodation, and all transport included. No domestic flight needed — every transfer runs by road between Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Ghandruk. The Poon Hill extension is priced separately by group size and additional days. For the full budget breakdown: ABC Trek Cost Guide → | Contact us for Poon Hill pricing →
Yes — and it is one of the most memorable ways to end this trek. A helicopter pickup from Jhinu Danda, Chhomrong, or elsewhere in the Annapurna region flies you directly back to Pokhara or Kathmandu, cutting the return road journey entirely. It is a popular choice for trekkers with limited time, those who want a spectacular aerial finish over the Annapurna massif, or anyone who simply prefers to fly rather than walk the gorge back. Emergency medical evacuation by helicopter is also available from any point on the route — your travel insurance covers the cost when the policy explicitly includes trekking above 4,000m and helicopter evacuation. Contact us before booking to add a helicopter return to your itinerary. Chat with us on WhatsApp for helicopter options →
Everything you need to plan the ABC trek in one place. Each guide covers a specific part of the journey in honest detail:
