Annapurna Region
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Guide
A classic tea-house trek from the Pokhara side into the Annapurna Sanctuary, with Gurung villages, forests, river valleys, and a close Himalayan amphitheater finish.
Region
Annapurna Region
Duration
7-11 days
Difficulty
Moderate to hard
Best season
Mar-May and Oct-Nov
Max altitude
4,130 m
Route overview
How the Annapurna Base Camp route usually flows.
Most travelers begin in Pokhara, drive toward the lower trailheads, and walk through villages such as Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Bamboo, Deurali, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, and Annapurna Base Camp.
The route climbs gradually but includes many stone steps and repeated ascents and descents, so pacing matters as much as raw fitness.
ABC works well as a first serious Nepal trek when you allow enough days, avoid rushing altitude gain, and keep a weather buffer.
Day-by-day itinerary
A practical starting itinerary.
Treat this as a planning frame, then adjust for weather, fitness, guide advice, and available lodges.
Day 1
1,780-2,012 m
Pokhara to Ghandruk or Jhinu area
Road transfer and first village walk
Start from Pokhara and enter the Annapurna foothills through a road-and-trail day.
Day 2
2,170 m
Trek to Chhomrong
Village paths and stone steps
Move through Gurung settlements and prepare for the deeper sanctuary route.
Day 3
2,310-2,600 m
Chhomrong to Bamboo or Dovan
Forest and river valley
Descend and climb through forested terrain where wet steps need care.
Day 4
3,200 m
Bamboo or Dovan to Deurali
Narrow valley ascent
Gain altitude steadily and watch weather, trail conditions, and energy.
Day 5
4,130 m
Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp
MBC and ABC
Enter the high sanctuary landscape and sleep at the base camp area if conditions are suitable.
Day 6
2,310 m
ABC to Bamboo
Return descent
Descend carefully; tired legs make stone steps slower than expected.
Day 7
1,780 m
Bamboo to Jhinu or roadhead
Hot spring side option
Return through villages with an optional Jhinu rest stop depending on route choice.
Day 8
822 m
Return to Pokhara
Walk and road transfer
Finish the trail and return to Pokhara for rest, laundry, and onward planning.
Permit Information
ACAP permit
Required for the Annapurna Conservation Area; carry printed copies and passport details.
TIMS or local trek registration
Confirm the latest trekking registration rule in Pokhara or Kathmandu before starting.
Cost Expectation
Budget independent style: USD 30-45 per day
Simple lodges, local meals, permits, and shared/local transport where possible.
Guided comfort style: USD 55-95 per day
Licensed guide or porter support, arranged rooms, transfers, and smoother logistics.
Permit and transfer buffer: USD 60-140+
Varies by routehead, season, group size, and current local transport.
Difficulty And Fitness
You need steady uphill stamina, comfort with long stair sections, and enough patience to keep a moderate pace. Prior multi-day hiking helps, but ABC is achievable for fit first-timers who do not rush.
Best Time To Go
October-November usually gives clear mountain views and busy lodges. March-April brings warmer days and rhododendron color. Monsoon can mean leeches, slippery trails, and clouded views.
Transport Access
Pokhara is the practical base. Travelers usually take a jeep, taxi, or bus toward Nayapul, Ghandruk, Kimche, Jhinu, or another current trailhead depending on road conditions.
Travel utility checklist
Annapurna Base Camp trekking essentials
Use this as the reusable trek checklist for permits, transport, cost ranges, altitude, emergency planning, and official references.
Last verified: 2026-07-09
Permit Information
ACAP permit
Required for the Annapurna Conservation Area; carry printed copies and passport details.
Confirm current requirements with official sources or a licensed trekking agency before departure.
TIMS or local trek registration
Confirm the latest trekking registration rule in Pokhara or Kathmandu before starting.
Confirm current requirements with official sources or a licensed trekking agency before departure.
Transport Options
Access
Pokhara is the practical base. Travelers usually take a jeep, taxi, or bus toward Nayapul, Ghandruk, Kimche, Jhinu, or another current trailhead depending on road conditions.
Estimated Costs
Budget independent style
USD 30-45 per day
Simple lodges, local meals, permits, and shared/local transport where possible.
Guided comfort style
USD 55-95 per day
Licensed guide or porter support, arranged rooms, transfers, and smoother logistics.
Permit and transfer buffer
USD 60-140+
Varies by routehead, season, group size, and current local transport.
Emergency, Hospital And Altitude
Max altitude
4,130 m
Fitness
You need steady uphill stamina, comfort with long stair sections, and enough patience to keep a moderate pace. Prior multi-day hiking helps, but ABC is achievable for fit first-timers who do not rush.
Hospital information
Identify the nearest health post, HRA aid post, or evacuation plan before starting high-altitude sections
ATM, Internet And SIM
Cash planning
Carry enough cash after leaving the gateway town; ATM reliability is not guaranteed on trail
Internet and SIM
Expect mobile data and lodge Wi-Fi to vary by valley, altitude, weather, and power availability
Weather And Seasonal Notes
Best season
Mar-May and Oct-Nov
Best time detail
October-November usually gives clear mountain views and busy lodges. March-April brings warmer days and rhododendron color. Monsoon can mean leeches, slippery trails, and clouded views.
Packing Tips
Core trek packing
Warm layers, rain shell, broken-in boots, sun protection, water treatment, headlamp, power bank, and offline permit copies
Safety notes
Do not treat 4,130 m as harmless; watch headache, nausea, dizziness, and unusual fatigue. Carry rain protection because the sanctuary can change weather quickly. Start early on longer days so you are not on stone steps after dark. Book or call ahead in peak season when lodge rooms can fill.
Nearby Places
Pokhara
Main arrival, gear, rest, and transport base for ABC.
Annapurna Region
Wider trekking region around ABC, Ghandruk, Mardi, and Poon Hill.
Ghandruk
Gurung village often used as an ABC entry or exit stop.
Mardi Region
Nearby ridge trek that pairs naturally with Annapurna planning.
Begnas Lake
Quiet Pokhara-side lake for rest days before or after trekking.
Travel warnings and verification notes
- Permit, guide, and route rules can change; confirm before paying for a fixed plan.
- Altitude illness can become serious. Do not ascend if symptoms worsen.
Official government and tourism references
Discover Nepal Hub explains the planning context and links out to official sources. It does not replace government or permit services.
Safety notes
Build safety into the plan before the trail starts.
Do not treat 4,130 m as harmless; watch headache, nausea, dizziness, and unusual fatigue.
Carry rain protection because the sanctuary can change weather quickly.
Start early on longer days so you are not on stone steps after dark.
Book or call ahead in peak season when lodge rooms can fill.
Related places
Destination pages connected to this trek.
Place guide
Pokhara
Main arrival, gear, rest, and transport base for ABC.
Place guide
Annapurna Region
Wider trekking region around ABC, Ghandruk, Mardi, and Poon Hill.
Place guide
Ghandruk
Gurung village often used as an ABC entry or exit stop.
Place guide
Mardi Region
Nearby ridge trek that pairs naturally with Annapurna planning.
Place guide
Begnas Lake
Quiet Pokhara-side lake for rest days before or after trekking.
Route planner
Connect Annapurna Base Camp with the rest of your Nepal route.
Use the planner to compare arrival bases, recovery days, and nearby destination pages before fixing your schedule.