Summary of Annapurna Base Camp Trekking
Annapurna Base Camp trekking takes you through subtropical forests, terraced farmlands, and high-altitude glacial basins to reach Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130m (13,550ft). Your journey begins in Pokhara with a drive to Nayapul (1,070m / 3,510ft).
The trek is classified as moderate to moderately difficult, with daily walking times ranging from 5 to 7 hours. Accommodation throughout the trek consists of teahouses operated by local families, providing twin-sharing rooms with basic bedding and communal dining areas. ABC offers closer proximity to the surrounding peaks, including Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545ft), Annapurna South (7,219m / 23,684ft), Hiunchuli (6,441m / 21,132ft), and Machhapuchhre (6,993m / 22,943ft).
Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Highlights
- Stand at Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130m / 13,550ft. by a 360-degree amphitheater of peaks including Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre
- Experience the landscape transition from subtropical rhododendron forests to alpine meadows and glacial moraines
- Cross the Modi Khola gorge.
- Walk through traditional Gurung villages like Chhomrong and Ghandruk.
- Witness sunrise from Poon Hill (3,210m / 10,531ft).
- Follow ancient salt trading routes that connected the Annapurna region with Tibet.
- Pass many walls and prayer flags.
How Your Day Will Look at Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Your typical trekking day begins between 6:30 and 7:00 AM with breakfast in the teahouse dining hall. After packing your daypack with water bottles, snacks, and extra layers, you start walking between 7:30 and 8:00 AM when temperatures are cooler, and trail traffic is lighter. The morning session covers 2.5 to 3.5 hours of trekking with a mid-morning break around 10:00 AM at a teahouse along the route for lemon tea, biscuits, or a quick snack while your guide confirms the day’s destination and checks weather conditions.
Lunch happens between 12:00 and 1:00 PM at a designated teahouse village where most trekking groups converge, and the meal typically consists of dal bhat, fried rice, noodle soup, or momos with hot drinks. The afternoon trekking session starts around 2:00 PM and continues for another 2 to 3 hours until you reach your overnight stop between 3:30 and 5:00 PM. Upon arrival at the teahouse, you’ll select your room, arrange your sleeping bag, and use your time to explore the village area.
Dinner is served between 6:30 and 7:30 PM. After that, you’ll spend your time from 8:00 to 9:30 PM reviewing the next day’s route with your guide, writing in journals, playing cards with fellow trekkers, or charging camera batteries. On the base camp day itself, you’ll likely start earlier around 5:30 or 6:00 AM, to reach ABC by mid-morning, and after spending 1 to 2 hours at the base camp, you’ll descend back.
Environmental Responsibility as a Trekker
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) enforces strict waste management protocols requiring trekkers to carry out all non-biodegradable items in designated trash bags. Teahouses provide separate bins for organic waste, while plastic bottles and packaging must be deposited at collection points or brought back to Pokhara for proper disposal.
Firewood consumption has depleted forests throughout the Annapurna region over the past decades, making it essential to avoid over-ordering hot showers at teahouses that rely on wood-burning systems. Most lodges above Chhomrong depend on kerosene or yak dung for cooking fuel, and requesting multiple hot water buckets for washing increases the environmental load unnecessarily. Staying on established trails protects vegetation root systems, and respecting wildlife is essential. This environmental awareness applies equally to other treks like the Manaslu Circuit Trek as well.
Local Cultural Practices You Need to Be Aware of While on the Trek
Buddhist stupas, chortens, and mani walls should always be passed following the clockwise circumambulation tradition, and prayer flags and wheels require gentle handling if you choose to spin them. Stepping over or sitting on religious structures shows disrespect to local beliefs. Removing shoes before entering temples, monasteries, and some teahouse dining areas maintains cleanliness standards that locals value strictly.
The traditional Namaste is an appropriate greeting when meeting locals on trails or entering villages, and addressing older residents and guides with “Dai” (older brother) or “Didi” (older sister) shows respect. Dressing modestly in villages can help you make your interaction with locals easy.
Photographing cremation sites, funeral processions, or religious ceremonies without explicit permission violates sacred moments that families and communities prefer to keep private. So it’s always better to ask. Public displays of affection between couples are uncommon in rural Nepali society and can make locals uncomfortable.
About Altitude Sickness and Prevention
Altitude sickness occurs when the body cannot adjust to reduced oxygen levels at high elevation, typically affecting trekkers above 2,500m (8,202ft). The condition manifests in three forms: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) with headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and loss of appetite; High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), where fluid accumulates in the lungs, causing breathlessness and chest tightness; and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), involving brain swelling that produces confusion and loss of coordination. Gradual ascent remains the most effective prevention, limiting the daily elevation gain to 300–500m (984–1,640ft) per day above 3,000m (9,843ft).
Hydration is equally important, and trekkers need 3–4 liters of water daily and should avoid alcohol. Taking Acetazolamide (Diamox) can also be helpful, but always consult your doctor before the trek for proper dosage. The “climb high, sleep low” strategy involves hiking to higher elevations during the day before descending to sleep at lower camps, giving your body altitude exposure without overnight stress.
Recognizing early symptoms and communicating them to your guide allows intervention before mild AMS progresses to HAPE or HACE. This prevention approach applies across all high-altitude treks, including the Manaslu Circuit trek and the Everest Base Camp trek.
If you want to explore the 10-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek package here.
| Day |
Destination |
Sleep altitude |
Duration |
Distance |
Activities |
| 01 |
Kathmandu |
1,345m |
30 min drive |
drive 7 km |
Airport transfer, hotel check-in |
| 02 |
Pokhara |
820 m |
6-8 hrs |
200 km |
Scenic drive to Pokhara |
| 03 |
Ulleri |
1740 m |
6- 7 hrs |
55 Km |
hiking in the village |
| 04 |
Ghorepani |
2845 m |
6-7 hrs |
11 km |
pun hill View point |
| 05 |
Tadapani |
2680 m |
6-7 hrs |
15 km |
Scenic Rhododendron forest view |
| 06 |
Sinuwa |
2340m |
7-8 hrs |
19 km |
Jika jak walking |
| 07 |
Deurali |
3200m |
5-6 hrs |
12 km |
Bamboo Forest |
| 08 |
ABC |
4130 m |
5 -6 hrs |
11 km |
Scenic Mountain view |
| 09 |
Bamboo |
2340 m |
6-8 hrs |
19 km |
Return back trek |
| 10 |
Jhinu |
1780 m |
4-5 hrs |
11km |
Hot Spring |
| 11 |
Pokhara |
830m |
6-7 hrs |
45 km |
Return back pokhara |
| 12 |
Kathamndu |
1345m |
6-8 hrs |
200 km |
Drive back to Kathmandu |
| 13 |
Departure |
- |
30 min |
7 km |
Back to home |
Trip Details Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu airport then transfer to respective Hotels
- Distance : 7 Km
- Duration : 30 Minutes drive
- Max. Altitude :1345 m.
On reaching Kathmandu via respective airlines well received by company guides and staff for a short drive in the hub of Kathmandu city where your hotels are located. After checking into your lovely rooms and getting refreshed join in at the Hotel lobby for a group briefing regarding treks and other useful information to make your stay in Nepal enjoyable.
- Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
- Meals Include:
Day 02: Drive to Pokhara
- Distance : 200 km
- Duration : 6 to 8 hours
- Max. Altitude :810m.
Annapurna Base Camp trekking begins with the overland drive to Nepal Mid West taking a comfortable coach or Tourist Bus to reach scenic Pokhara, a beautiful and leading tourist place in all Himalayas range, with warm sub-tropical temperatures and close views of Annapurna Himalaya with Mt. Machhapuchare ‘Fish Tail’.On reaching Pokhara transfer to respective hotels by the Phewa Lake with views of Annapurna and Machhapuchare peak, afternoon at leisure for short walks around the lakeside.
- Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
- Meals Include: Breakfast
Day 03: Drive beyond Nayapul and trek to Ulleri village
- Distance : 40 Km
- Duration : 6 to 8 hours
- Max. Altitude :1,740 m
Morning departs from the hotel taking a short drive where the journey takes you beyond Pokhara, a valley facing views of Manaslu and Annapurna Himalaya. On reaching Nayapul follow the Modi River to Bhirethati village from here drive leads further past farm villages and terraced fields to reach Hille on the foothills of Annapurna, where our first-day walk begins heading for high hills on stone steps to reach the nice and lovely village at Ulleri with views of Annapurna peaks. From this small farm village, our first-day walk starts heading north with the steep climb on the stone-paved steps to Jhinu village located on a high scenic ridge, from this village a short walk downhill leads you to a natural hot spring by the Modi River.
- Accommodation: Tea House
- Meals Include: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 04: Trek to Ghorepani village
- Distance : 11 Km
- Duration : 4 to 5 hours
- Max. Altitude :2,845 m.
The morning begins heading uphill to reach a ridge above Ulleri and Bhanthati villages, as the walk continues on the gradual winding path into the deep forest covered with tall rhododendron-magnolia pine-oak and fir trees. Slowly walk and climb the higher side of the mid-hills to reach charming Ghorepani village with blue-painted houses serving as lodges for trekkers offering marvelous views of the Dhaulagiri range of peaks with Annapurna Mountain. Ghorepani is situated on the old Trans-Himalayan Salt Trade Route of Nepal and Tibet where the route leads past Upper Mustang to the Tibet Border called Karo-la. A wonderful spot amid tall rhododendron trees, in spring the whole hill turns magic when rhododendron flowers are in full blooms of different colors.
- Accommodation: Tea House
- Meals Include: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 05: Hike Pun Hill and continue walking to Tadapani
- Distance : 11 Km
- Duration : 5 to 6 Hours
- Max. Altitude :2,680 m.
Early morning hike for an hour or more uphill to Pun Hill on the highest spot of the adventure at above 3,210 m high offering striking sunrise views over a panorama of peaks that includes the Dhaulagiri-Tukuche-Nilgiris-Annapurna and Manaslu range of mountains with majestic Machhapuchare Himal ‘Fish Tail peak’.Enjoying breathtaking super views of mountains with sunrise head back to Ghorepani for breakfast and continue the trek heading uphill into rhododendron forest with fantastic views of peaks and then downhill with the last climb to reach Tadapani, located amid a forest with superb views.
- Accommodation: Tea House
- Meals Include: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 06: Trek to sinuwa
- Distance : 13 Km
- Duration : 6 to 7 hours
- Max. Altitude :2,320 m.
Leaving Tadapani, our trail descends to the Kimrong River through the jungle of rhododendron. We then hike to Chhomrong going across the Gurung village. Chhomrong will bestow you with close scenery of Mt. Annapurna South, Himchuli, and Fishtail (Machhapuchhre). Tonight at Chhomrung.
- Accommodation: Tea House
- Meals Include: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 07: Trek to Deurali
- Distance : 15 Km
- Duration : 6 to 7 hours
- Max. Altitude :3200 m
Deurali is the destination set for today. We start with an easy walk from Sinuwa that continues till bamboo passes Kuldhigar. Then a steep stone staircase will take us to Dobhan, crossing a suspension bridge. The trail is accompanied by bamboo, rhododendron, and Oak forest. Then a steep climb continues through the valley towards Himalaya and Hinku Cave. Then we finally reached Deurali. The night will be spent at a lodge in Deurali.
- Accommodation: Tea House
- Meals Include: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 08: Trek to Annapurna base camp
- Distance : 12 Km
- Duration : 4 to 5 hours
- Max. Altitude :4,130 m
We begin trekking up to Machhapuchhre base camp (3900m.) and then proceed to Annapurna base camp. The area is encircled by the peaks and is recognized as Annapurna Sanctuary. This set gives you an impressive view of huge peaks including Annapurna I, Barah Shikhar, Annapurna South, and many other giant peaks.
- Accommodation: Tea House
- Meals Include: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 09: From Annapurna Base Camp walk downhill to Bamboo
- Distance : 19 Km
- Duration : 7 to 8 hours
- Max. Altitude :4130 m
After a great fascinating time at Annapurna Base Camp and within a beautiful sanctuary, a long walk downhill to lower areas as the morning leads to descent to Deurali past Machhapuchare Base Camp, then with a few short ups and down following a gradual winding trail back into the green forested area to Bamboo for the overnight stay. A nice and pleasant spot a temporary settlement with lodges to cater to the needs of the trekkers located by the Modi River in a gorge within green bamboo and rhododendron forest.
- Accommodation: Tea House
- Meals Include: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Trek to Jhinu village
- Distance : 11 Km
- Duration : 4 to 5 hours
- Max. Altitude :1,780m
From Bamboo, a short steep climb up to Khuldi Ghar, then on a winding downhill path into the dense forest to Sinuwa-Danda, and then our walk descends to Chomrong Khola. After crossing the bridge an uphill walk for less than an hour to reach Chomrong village for a short rest or lunch stop, after Chomrong short up for half-hour reaching the top of Chomrong ridge, from here our route descends to Jhinu-Danda for an overnight stay, this place offers refreshing hot springs just 20 minutes walk downhill near Modi river.
- Accommodation: Tea House
- Meals Include: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Trek from Jhinu to Madkyu and drive to Pokhara
- Distance : 45 Km
- Duration : 6 to 8 hours
- Max. Altitude :820m
Today is your last day of Trekking and Pokhara is the destination set for the day. Crossing the bridge over the Modi River, the trail initially passes through the sporadic bamboo forest, which then crosses various small settlements up and downhill, decorated with terrace farms featuring seasonal crops till Syauli Bazaar. From Syauli Bazaar onwards, the trail is flat up till Nayapul. Following this flat trail, we walk up to Birethanti, where your guides will complete the necessary check-out formalities. Then crossing the bridge over the Bhurungdi River we walk up to Nayapul. We catch a bus or a private vehicle at Nayapul, which will take us to Pokhara after a 2-hour ride. The evening can be spent exploring the attractions of Pokhara City.
- Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
- Meals Include: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 12: From Pokhara drive to Kathmandu
- Distance : 200 Km
- Duration : 7 to 9 hours
- Max. Altitude :1,345 m
After a wonderful time in the high mountains and hills, take a morning driving journey back to Kathmandu, on reaching Kathmandu after 5-6 hours of nice interesting driving, transfer to respective hotels with the afternoon free at leisure or last day shopping souvenirs and handicrafts.
- Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
- Meals Include: Breakfast and Farewell Dinner
Day 13: International Departure for Homeward Bound.
- Distance : 7 Km
- Duration : 30 Minutes drive
- Max. Altitude :
Last day in Nepal in the country of high Himalayan mountains with fascinating culture, after a memorable time at Annapurna Base Camp Trekking with wonderful adventure and experience, as per your international flight time our staff will transfer you to the airport for the flight homeward bound or to your next port of call and respective countries.
- Accommodation:
- Meals Include: Breakfast
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Well Plan Trekking arranged an amazing trip to Annapurna Base Camp Trek. The trek itself was so beautiful and so challenging. Our guide Ram and assistant guide, Kamal was amazing. They worked tirelessly on the trail, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and after hours to make sure each of us had what we needed for a successful trek. Ram monitored our oxygen and heart rates as we climbed in elevation and he helped to manage other symptoms that travelers had including gastrointestinal issues, headaches from altitude, and cold symptoms. He made sure we stayed hydrated and ate appropriate meals for optimum energy. Ram is much more than a ‘guide.’ He and Kamal paced the group but were also willing to go at the pace needed by the slowest trekkers on any given day. I thank Well Plan Trekking and the whole team very much and can highly recommend Well Plan Trekking for all kinds of trekking in the amazing Himalayas. Source Tripadvisor