Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek — often called the Annapurna Sanctuary — climbs from the lakeside city of Pokhara through rhododendron forests, terraced farmland, and stone-built Gurung villages into a natural amphitheater walled by 7,000- and 8,000-meter peaks.

It packs a remarkable variety of scenery into a shorter, lower-altitude trip than Everest Base Camp, and it ends with a soak in the natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda. Like all our treks, it is teahouse-based: you sleep and eat in family-run lodges while your guide handles permits, transport, and pacing.

Few treks change character this quickly: subtropical forest one day, glacial basin the next, with Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit in view for much of the route.

The maximum altitude of 4,130 m is meaningfully lower than Everest Base Camp, so the trek suits fit first-timers while still delivering a genuine Himalayan base camp.

Starting and ending in Pokhara makes the logistics easy and the trip flexible — it shortens to a week or stretches to twelve days with side trips like Poon Hill.

• ✓Pokhara, Nepal's relaxed lakeside basecamp
• ✓Ghandruk, a classic Gurung hill village
• ✓Rhododendron forests in bloom each spring
• ✓Close-up views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail)
• ✓Sunrise inside the Annapurna Sanctuary at base camp
• ✓Natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda

1. Day 1

   Arrive in Kathmandu

   Airport pickup, trek briefing, and gear check with your guide.

2. Day 2

   Travel to Pokhara

   Scenic drive or short flight, then a free lakeside evening on Phewa Lake.

3. Day 3

   Drive to the trailhead, trek to Ghandruk

   Stone staircases and terraced fields lead into the hills.

4. Day 4

   Trek to Chhomrong

   Cross the Kimrong Khola with Annapurna South filling the skyline.

5. Day 5

   Trek to Dovan

   Descend into the Modi Khola gorge and enter bamboo forest.

6. Day 6

   Trek to Deurali

   The valley narrows and the treeline thins as you climb.

7. Day 7

   Machhapuchhre Base Camp & Annapurna Base Camp

   Enter the Sanctuary and sleep at 4,130 m, ringed by giant peaks.

8. Day 8

   Sunrise at base camp, descend to Bamboo

   Watch first light on Annapurna I, then retrace the gorge.

9. Day 9

   Trek to Jhinu Danda hot springs

   An easier day ending with a soak in the riverside pools.

10. Day 10

    Trek out and drive to Pokhara

    Celebrate by the lake, or extend your stay in Pokhara.

• ✓First-time Nepal trekkers
• ✓Moderate adventure groups
• ✓Photography lovers
• ✓Travelers wanting a shorter Himalayan trek than EBC

Expect 4–6 hours of walking on most days, with long stone staircases that reward steady pacing.

The trek tops out at 4,130 m at base camp. Altitude is taken seriously but is less demanding than the Everest route; your guide monitors how everyone is adjusting.

If you can comfortably hike for several hours on back-to-back days, you can train into this trek with two to three months of regular walking and stair work.

Broken-in boots, warm layers for the Sanctuary nights, and rain protection are essential. We send a full packing list and can arrange gear rental.

• ✓Spring (March–May): warm lower trails and rhododendron forests in full bloom.
• ✓Autumn (September–November): the clearest skies and the most settled weather.
• ✓Winter (December–February): possible with proper gear; the Sanctuary is cold and occasionally closed by snowfall.
• ✓Monsoon (June–August): not recommended — leeches, clouds, and slippery trails.

• ✓Private trip or join a group departure
• ✓Shorter 7-day itinerary for tight schedules
• ✓Add Poon Hill for a famous sunrise panorama
• ✓Extra Pokhara days for boating, caves, or paragliding
• ✓Luxury lodge upgrades on the lower sections
• ✓Combine with Chitwan safari or a Kathmandu heritage tour

• ✓Airport transfers in Kathmandu
• ✓Kathmandu–Pokhara round-trip transport
• ✓All trekking permits and TIMS card
• ✓Licensed, English-speaking local guide
• ✓Porter support
• ✓Teahouse accommodation on the trek
• ✓All meals during the trek
• ✓24/7 local support throughout the journey

• ✕International flights to and from Nepal
• ✕Nepal entry visa
• ✕Travel insurance
• ✕Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels before/after the trek
• ✕Personal expenses, drinks, and tips