Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Satisfied Client
- Personalised Guide
- Instant Response
| Starts at: Naya Pool | Ends at: Naya Pool |
| Trek Region: Annapurna | Transport: Tourist Bus |
| Duration: 10 Days | Trip Grade: Moderate |
| Max Altitude: 4130 m / 13549 ft (Annapurna Base Camp) | Accommodation: Teahouse |
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Highlights
- No. 1 has to be the 3600 views at Annapurna Base Camp.
- You get to cover two base camps in one trek.
- See the amazingly shaped Machhapucchre mountain, aptly named fish tail, dominate your skyline.
- Watch the sunrise over the Annapurna mountains from the base camp.
- See spectacular waterfalls and glacier-fed rivers.
- Learn about the traditions and culture of the Gurung people in Ghandruk village.
- Experience hiking through forests ablaze with red rhododendrons in the spring.
- Enjoy the relaxing hot water pool at Jhinu Danda.
Trekking in the Annapurnas is the one thing everyone aspires to when they visit Nepal.
For those who may feel some of the other regions are too strenuous a trek, the Annapurnas have everything from the mountains to forests and culture. If you are traveling with children, are a bit on the older side yourself, are an experienced trekker, or are a newbie, the Annapurna region has something for you. Ranging from a 3 or 4 days trek to around two weeks, you can choose which trek suits you best.
Also, with the Annapurnas, you don’t need to trek for days until you feel like you are in the mountains. Even while sitting in Pokhara preparing for your trek, you get close-up views of the mountains, particularly Fishtail (Machhapuchhare). From day one, you are there, in the mountains.
One of the most popular treks is to Annapurna Base Camp. Here you get to explore not just one but two base camps: Annapurna and Machhapucchre base camp. Like all the Annapurna treks, you pass through villages inhabited by Gurung people. Those are the people whose tough abilities see them recruited into the Indian and British armies and as private security guards around the world. And they are very friendly and personable too.
The landscape is varied – from the hot water pools at Jhinu Danda, the mighty Modi Khola river, pine and rhododendron forests to the high mountains. At both base camps, the views of Machhapucchre with its unique fishtail shape, Mt Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, and Annapurna III are astounding. There are other mountains on display as well, too many to mention! Just a 360-degree panorama of the wonderful mountains – who could ask for more?
With the trek’s highest point being at Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130 m / 13,549 ft, there is only one night at high altitude, so there is relatively less chance of altitude-related illnesses on this all-seasons, eight-day trek.
Starting and ending at Pokhara (we provide transport from/ to Kathmandu in our itinerary), this is an enviable trek full of fabulous flora and fauna, majestic mountains, friendly people, and fun and relaxation by the lake in Pokhara.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Outline Itinerary
Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara (Drive)
Pokhara – 830 m / 2723 ft – 7 hrs
Day 2: Pokhara to Naya Pool (Drive) to Ghandruk
Ghandruk – 1940 m / 6364 ft – 6 hrs
Day 3: Ghandruk to Chomrong
Chomrong – 2170 m / 7119 ft – 6 hrs
Day 4: Chomrong to Bamboo
Bamboo – 2310 m / 7578 ft – 5 hrs
Day 5: Bamboo to Deurali
Deurali – 3230 m / 10597 ft – 5 hrs
Day 6: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp
Annapurna Base Camp – 4130 m / 13549 ft – 6 hrs
Day 7: Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo
Bamboo – 2310 m / 7578 ft – 8 hrs
Day 8: Bamboo to Jhinu Danda
Jhinu Danda – 1760 m / 5774 ft – 6 hrs
Day 9: Jhinu Danda to Naya Pool to Pokhara (Drive)
Pokhara – 830 m / 2723 ft – 7 hrs
Day 10: Pokhara to Kathmandu (Drive)
Kathmandu – 1300 m / 4265 ft – 8 hrs
Not satisfied with this Itinerary?
Are you interested on planning custom trip? It only takes 2 minutes.
Includes
- 7 nights accommodation in mountain teahouses
- 2 nights accommodation in Pokhara (Kuti Resort or similar)
- Guide for 10 days
- Kathmandu Pokhara Kathmandu Tourist Bus
- Pokhara Naya Pool Pokhara Private Car
- Annapurna conservation area permit
- Trekkers information management system card
- 8 x breakfast, 8 x lunch and 7 x dinner while on the trek
- One Porter for 10 days USD 220 (Optional)
- Lunch and Dinner in Pokhara
Day 1 Kathmandu to Pokhara (Drive) Pokhara – 830 m / 2,723 ft – 7 hrs
We will collect you from your hotel and take you to the bus departure stop. If you are traveling by air or private jeep, we will organize this for you. Overnight in Pokhara at a hotel is included in the cost. Dinner, however, is not included in the package price.
Day 2: Pokhara to Naya Pool (Drive) to Ghandruk Ghandruk – 1940 m / 6364 ft – 6 hrs
Today we leave after breakfast to drive from Pokhara to Naya Pool, which takes around an hour. From Naya Pool, we start trekking, passing through lovely villages such as Birethanti. These villages are inhabited by Gurungs, Magars, and Tamangs, who are local to this area. We pass the hot springs at Jhinu Danda on the way. Whether you wish to enjoy the hot springs is up to you! It takes around 5 hours of hiking to reach our first overnight stop at Ghandruk. There is time to explore the Gurung Museum at Ghandruk to get a glimpse into the everyday lives of the Gurung people. Their working tools, household items, and details of their past and present lives are on display. Dinner is taken in the teahouse, giving you a chance to get to know your trekking companions and guide.
Day 3: Ghandruk to Chomrong Chomrong – 2,170 m / 7,119 ft – 6 hrs
Leaving the teahouse, stunning scenery greets us as we head up the trail from Ghandruk, following the Modi River. After ascending, you come to another river, the Kimrong, which is crossed by a suspension bridge before the trail turns steep for a couple of hours of uphill hiking. Chomrong itself is a small settlement which we are told is an old off-shoot of Ghandruk and is also inhabited by Gurung people. There is a Buddhist stupa at the bottom of the village.
Day 4: Chomrong to Bamboo Bamboo – 2,310 m / 7,578 ft – 5 hrs
The scenery around Bamboo has wonderful views of all the best mountains on offer in the Annapurnas, including Annapurna South, Annapurna I, II, and III, and Machhapucchre. There is also the possibility of seeing some wildlife, such as deer and Himalayan goats.
Day 5: Bamboo to Deurali Deurali – 3,230 m / 10,597 ft – 5 hrs
Setting off after breakfast, we pass through bamboo forests. This creates a cool atmosphere, which is great on hot summer days, perhaps a little chilly in the early morning. The trail ascends green hills and opens up. Below us lies a glacial river. The trail becomes a little more rugged, and there is a steep climb to Hinku cave and more bamboo forest. Vegetation has fallen away as we approach Deurali, but there are waterfalls and a suspension bridge to cross, which makes the trail interesting.
Day 6: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp Annapurna Base Camp – 4,130 m / 13,549 ft – 6 hrs
Have a good breakfast today, as the journey starts with an uphill climb over rocky terrain. Since today we reach the highest altitude on the trek, we should pay attention to our bodies and not walk too fast. Instead, take a steady pace and enjoy the wonderful surrounding mountains. We first reach Machhapucchre Base Camp and enjoy some time there, taking photographs of the snow-capped mountains before walking on for approximately another two hours to reach Annapurna Base Camp. From Annapurna Base Camp, some of the mountains we can enjoy include Annapurna South, Annapurna I and III, Hiunchuli, and of course, Machhapuchhre, which has been with us all along the trek. Overnight at Annapurna Base Camp and celebrate your achievement with a great dinner.
Day 7: Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo Bamboo – 2,310 m / 7,578 ft – 8 hrs
While there are beautiful sunrises every day on this trek, you might want to wake up extra early today to catch the sun rising over the Annapurna range. This is something really special and well worth getting up early for! Then it’s time for breakfast and back on the trail to hike back to Bamboo. Following the Modi Khola and rhododendron forests, it takes around 7 hours to reach Bamboo. A long but not too hard trail.
Day 8: Bamboo to Jhinu Danda Jhinu Danda – 1,760 m / 5,774 ft – 6 hrs
Retracing our route through the rhododendron and bamboo forests, there is a steep descent from Chhomrung to Jhinu. Since it takes around 5 hours and since we have learned from experience the hot springs at Jhinu Danda seem much more appealing than they were at the start of this trek, we suggest leaving Bamboo early. By leaving early, having lunch at Jhinu Danda and spending the afternoon in the hot springs is possible. Time to relax and enjoy the natural hot water!
Day 9: Jhinu Danda to Naya Pool to Pokhara (Drive) Pokhara – 830 m / 2,723 ft – 7 hrs
This is the final day of the trek, so take in as much of the mountains as you can as you hike for around 5 hours to reach Naya Pool, where transport is waiting to take us back to Pokhara. Since it is a long day, we will take lunch on route or in Naya Pool. After checking into your comfortable Pokhara hotel, there is time for some shopping before relaxing at the lakeside with a long cool drink before dinner. Dinner is not included in the package, but we are sure your guide would be delighted to recommend an excellent restaurant and join you, on your invitation, on your final night.
Day 10: Pokhara to Kathmandu (Drive) Kathmandu – 1,300 m / 4,265 ft – 8 hrs
Today drive (or fly) back to Kathmandu. Wave goodbye to the massive, majestic, and magical Machhapucchre mountain as you leave this special area of Nepal.
Permits for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
It is impossible to trek in Nepal without a guide (as of 1 April 2023). The exception to this is (currently) the Everest Region. In other regions, including the Annapurnas, you must trek with a registered guide from a trekking company. And you need to pay permit fees.
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit – Nrs 3,000 per person
Why do we need to pay for a permit? The Government of Nepal imposes a charge for visitors who wish to enter a conservation area. These fees are used for the area’s upkeep, much as in other countries.
Magical Nepal issues the required permits for its clients, so you don’t have to worry about obtaining them.
A Typical Day on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
While no two days are the same when we factor in weather (are the mountains clearer today than yesterday?), your mood (‘day five and my calves are feeling stronger’), and the surroundings, whether it be forest, rivers, pastureland or rocky trails, there is a basic pattern to the daily trek.
Breakfast is taken around 7 am in the lodge/teahouse you spend the night in. That most likely will consists of porridge, eggs, bread, tea, or coffee. Then you give your bags to the porters who head off ahead of the main group (being these ‘supermen’ are so much faster). On the trail, we take lunch at a teashop along the way, usually noodles or rice and curry. If that doesn’t suit your taste, you can bring along some protein or chocolate bars or some Tibetan bread purchased from the lodge the night before. But eating and staying hydrated is important.
Each day we walk 5 to 7 hours on this trek. It is not too difficult or technical, but you should have a good general fitness level to make things easier. Your guide will point out things of interest and ensure you are having a good day. Remember to let him/ her know if you feel unwell. Do remember to look up at the majestic mountains surrounding you.
Finally, we will reach the next lodge, where we can relax with a hot or cold drink before dinner. Bedtime is generally early on the trek, and we do not recommend drinking much alcohol. Save that celebration for the last night or when you are back in Pokhara.
Important Notes for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- It takes around 7 hours to drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. If you would like to fly, it costs approximately USD 90 and takes 20 to 30 minutes.
- Included in this itinerary is transport by local bus to Pokhara. Should you wish to travel by private jeep, please ask us about the additional cost.
- While this is a moderate trek, you should have a good fitness level to complete the trek. However, we have had children and senior people who have successfully completed the Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
- Porters are available to carry up to 20kg. As we normally provide one porter for two trekkers, please pack lightly and under 10kg. Magical Nepal will provide you with a duffle bag for your gear, one designed so it’s easy for porters to carry.
- Please carry water, sunscreen, and snacks, as well as your camera, in your day pack.
- Meals are included on the trek, but extra charges are payable to the teahouse/ lodge for things like hot showers and charging your phone/ camera.
- Meals are not provided in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
- Hotel accommodation (2 nights) in Pokhara is included in the cost.
- Drones are not allowed without prior permission. As this is hard to obtain, unless you are a professional and have time to spare on paperwork, please do not attempt to bring a drone.
- Although this is not classed (in Nepal) as a high-altitude trek, please ensure your insurance covers you for trekking up to 5,000m.
Best Season to do the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
This trek is open all year round. However, some months are better than others in terms of weather.
Like the major parts of Nepal, the best months to visit the Annapurnas are in the spring – late February, March, April, and May, and in the autumn – late September, October, November, and early December. These times of the year also see the most visitors to Nepal and the highest number of trekkers on this route, so you need to consider that as well.
If you want the great weather but don’t want to see too many other trekkers on the trails, the best times to come would probably be February, September, and December.
Temperatures: in the spring, at Annapurna Base Camp, the temperatures vary from 19oC to minus 9oC, with an average daytime temperature of around 10 degrees. Similar temperatures can be found in the early autumn. It is good to remember that at the lower altitudes, it will be very warm and sunny during the day, so sunscreen and a sunhat are recommended. Temperatures may dip to around zero centigrade at night times.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Map
Related Trips in Annapurna Region
Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek | Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek | Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek | Nar Phu Valley Trek | Upper Mustang Trek | Tiji Festival Trek | Annapurna Circuit Trek | Nar Phu Teri La Upper Mustang Trek | Khopra Ridge Trek | Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour | Saribung Peak With Upper Mustang | Himlung Expedition With Nar Phu Valley