Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Annapurna Base Camp lies inside a natural high mountain amphitheatre ringed by the peaks of the massif. The route lets you see Annapurna I, 8091 m, without technical climbing or heavy expedition logistics. The highest overnight stop is at roughly 4100 m, which makes the trip more accessible than many Himalayan treks, but acclimatisation and preparation are still required.

This version of the route begins with a flight to Pokhara and adds a loop through Ulleri, Ghorepani and Poon Hill. After sunrise the group passes Tadapani and Sinuwa, enters the Annapurna Sanctuary gorge and climbs through Deurali and Machapuchare Base Camp to the main objective.

Poon Hill adds a viewpoint in the first half of the journey, and the night at Annapurna Base Camp lets the group meet the sunrise from inside the mountain cirque. On the way back the trip does not repeat the route in full: after Bamboo and Chhomrong the group descends to Jhinu, where time is allowed for the hot springs.

No technical mountaineering equipment is needed. The main load comes from the many stone steps, damp forest sections, daily stages and long descents. The trek suits an active beginner after preparation, but it is not a walking holiday.

Annapurna Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake are different routes on different sides of the massif. The first is shorter and lower; the second includes the Thorong La pass and a longer high-altitude section. Comparing them helps you choose a trip by time and experience.

Even at around 4100 m symptoms of altitude sickness are possible, so the pace is set by the guide and participants report how they feel without trying to conceal a deterioration. A Mountain Guide team leader accompanies groups of four or more; a Nepali guide also works on the route.

Before a first trek in the Annapurna region, study the practical advice for travelling in Nepal and the guidance on choosing trekking poles. That will help you prepare for conditions and the long descents, but it does not replace a check of your personal kit by the guide.

Day 1. Arrival in Kathmandu.

Participants fly into Kathmandu independently, where a team representative meets them and takes them to the hotel. In the evening there is an introduction to the guide and the group, an equipment check and a short briefing. The day is set aside for recovery and for preparing for the domestic flight. Night at the hotel.

Day 2. Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara.

In the morning the group travels to the airport and flies to Pokhara. After the transfer and check-in participants rest, pack their packs and get to know the city at the foot of the Annapurna massif. This overnight stop separates the flight from the first long stage and lets the trek begin without haste. Night at a hotel.

Day 3. Transfer to Birethanti and trek to Ulleri.

Early in the morning the group leaves Pokhara for the start of the trek. Permits are checked at Birethanti, after which the walking route begins through settlements and stone houses to Ulleri. The stage takes about five to six hours and introduces participants to the daily rhythm of effort. Night at a lodge.

Day 4. Trek from Ulleri to Ghorepani.

One of the harder stages of the first part follows a long stone staircase and takes about four hours. On arrival at roughly 2850 m the group rests and prepares for the early start to Poon Hill. Night at a lodge.

Day 5. Sunrise at Poon Hill and trek to Tadapani.

Before dawn participants make the out-and-back walk to Poon Hill and return for breakfast. The group then continues to Tadapani. The main stage takes about six to seven hours in total. The day combines an early climb with a long forest route, so conserving strength matters. Night at a lodge.

Day 6. Trek from Tadapani to Sinuwa.

The trail passes through rhododendron and coniferous forest, alternating climbs and descents, and crosses small settlements. The stage takes about six to seven hours and brings the group to the entrance of a narrower high valley. Night at a lodge.

Day 7. Trek from Sinuwa to Deurali.

The group continues towards the Annapurna Sanctuary. As altitude increases the forest thins and recovery slows. The stage takes about six to seven hours. After check-in participants prepare warm clothing for the main high-altitude day. Night at a lodge.

Day 8. Machapuchare Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp.

The route follows a mountain river and first passes Machapuchare Base Camp, where the group stops to rest and eat. Participants then climb over moraine terrain to Annapurna Base Camp. The stage takes about five to six hours. On arrival the guide assesses how everyone feels at the highest overnight stop of the trip. Night at a lodge.

Day 9. Sunrise at Annapurna Base Camp and descent to Bamboo.

Before breakfast the group walks to the nearest viewpoint to see the first light on the massif. A long descent along the familiar route to Bamboo then begins. The stage takes about four to five hours; losing altitude aids recovery but the steps demand attention. Night at a lodge.

Day 10. Descent from Bamboo to Jhinu.

The group passes Sinuwa and Chhomrong, then continues down to Jhinu. The stage takes about six to seven hours and is hard on the knees after the high-altitude section. On arrival participants check in and rest. Night at the confirmed accommodation.

Day 11. The Jhinu hot springs and transfer to Pokhara.

Time is allowed in the morning to visit the hot springs if they are accessible. The group then returns for its baggage, crosses the suspension bridge and travels by jeep to Pokhara. In the evening you can walk along the shore of Phewa Lake. Night at a hotel.

Day 12. Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

The group transfers to the airport and flies to Kathmandu. On arrival participants check into a hotel and rest. An international departure on this day is possible only with a sufficient margin after the domestic flight; using the scheduled overnight stop is safer. Night at a hotel.

Day 13. End of the trip.

At the agreed time there is a transfer to Kathmandu international airport. Participants check in on their own. The departure time is set by the flight schedule and the margin needed for the journey.

• A Nepali guide on the route
• A Mountain Guide team leader with groups of four participants or more
• Meeting and seeing off at Kathmandu international airport
• Accommodation in a four-star hotel in Kathmandu – two nights
• Accommodation in lodges and confirmed places to stay along the route
• Group equipment – first aid kit and satellite navigator
• A duffel bag for personal belongings – provided on site
• The permits, authorisations and entry fees required for the confirmed route
• Transfers to the start of the trek and after it ends
• The domestic flight Pokhara – Kathmandu

The Kathmandu – Pokhara flight is part of the itinerary but is not named in the published list of included services. Its cost and ticket must be confirmed before booking.

• International flights
• Nepal visa – $30 for a 15-day visa, which matches the length of the trip
• Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
• Meals on the trek – approximately $30–50 a day in the lodges
• A personal porter for participant baggage – $30 a day including transport. In a trekking group one porter may carry the belongings of two participants
• Tips for the local team
• Medical insurance covering trekking to at least 4100 m, search and rescue and helicopter evacuation
• Single occupancy
• A boat trip on Phewa Lake
• Early check-in, late check-out and additional nights
• Costs arising if you leave the trip early
• Additional costs caused by flight delays, weather or a forced change to the itinerary

The route can be arranged for a family, a closed group of friends, a club or a corporate team. The dates, a Russian-speaking leader, personal porters, the standard of accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara and any additional reserve are agreed individually. The itinerary can be adapted to the group’s pace, but the night at Deurali before base camp and the sequence in which height is gained are kept. Leaving out Poon Hill or changing the city days is discussed separately and must not increase the load at altitude.

Check your documents before you buy non-refundable tickets. The details on the domestic flights, the permits and the insurance policy must match the spelling in your passport exactly. The current visa requirements are published on the website of the Nepal Department of Immigration. Mountain Guide does not arrange visas and does not sell international air tickets.

Documents

• A passport that meets Nepal’s current requirements
• A tourist visa or another valid entry permit
• International and domestic air tickets
• An insurance policy covering altitudes to at least 4100 m, rescue and helicopter evacuation
• Your policy number and the insurer’s 24-hour emergency contact details
• Your booking confirmation and the organisers’ contact details
• Documents for a participant under 18, where these apply
• Digital copies of your passport, visa, tickets and insurance
• Waterproof document wallet

The permits and conservation-area entry fees are arranged by the local team. You supply copies of your documents and photographs in the format and by the deadline requested.

The main seasons for this route are spring and autumn. In spring the rhododendrons are in flower in the forest, and in autumn the visibility is more often settled. Particular dates are checked against the departure calendar and the state of the trail. Lower down you can meet rain, humidity and slippery stone steps. At Deurali, Machapuchare Base Camp and ABC there may be snow, wind and sub-zero temperatures. The weather inside the mountain amphitheatre changes quickly. In winter the route may call for warmer equipment and a change of tactics, and in the season of heavy rain the risk of landslides increases. Domestic flights depend on the weather, so plan international tickets with time in hand.

Two nights in a 4-star hotel in Kathmandu are included. In Pokhara and along the route the group stays in the confirmed hotels and lodges set out in the itinerary. The particular properties and room types depend on the date. Conditions become more basic on the high-altitude section. A hot shower, a private bathroom, heating and reliable electricity are not available at every lodge and are not guaranteed. You need your own sleeping bag for the nights. Meals on the trek, and lunches and dinners in Kathmandu, are not included. Dishes are ordered from the lodge menu. Drinks, your own snacks and meals in Pokhara are paid for at the confirmed rate or at your own expense.

Showers and water. A hot shower may be available for a charge at some lodges. An en-suite shower is not guaranteed. You either buy drinking water or treat it by a method agreed with your guide.

Toilets. Conditions depend on the lodge and on the altitude. Higher up, simple shared washrooms are more common. You need a head torch for moving about at night.

Power and charging. Charging in the lodges may cost extra and may be limited. You need a power bank, cables and spare batteries.

Internet and phone signal. Wi-Fi and mobile signal are not available everywhere and depend on the weather and the equipment. On some stages there may be no coverage at all.

Laundry and drying. Do not plan on doing proper laundry during the high-altitude section. In humid forest, clothing dries slowly, so bring spare socks and underwear and use dry bags.

You bring all of your own personal equipment. It is worth agreeing your choice of boots, sleeping bag and outer clothing with your guide in advance. No technical climbing equipment is required for the confirmed route.

Documents

• Passport
• Air tickets or e-ticket receipts
• Medical insurance including helicopter evacuation
• Digital copies of your documents
• Waterproof cover

Personal equipment

• Rucksack of 30-50 litres
• Soft duffel bag, provided locally
• Sleeping bag with a comfort rating no higher than -5 °C
• Folding trekking poles with baskets – 2
• Waterproof rucksack cover
• Dry bags for clothing and electronics
• Vacuum flask or water bottle, 1 litre

Clothing and footwear

• Broken-in waterproof trekking boots
• Light footwear for towns and lodges
• Waterproof shell jacket and waterproof trousers
• Fleece jacket or fleece set
• Base layer, top and bottoms
• Down jacket with a hood
• Thick and thin gloves
• Buff or bandana
• Warm hat
• Warm trekking socks
• Gaiters

Useful extras

• Head torch with at least 12 hours of battery life
• Power bank
• Sunglasses
• Rain jacket
• SPF 50 sun cream
• Lip balm with sun protection
• Personal first-aid kit
• Elastic bandage or a personal support brace
• Personal toiletries and a quick-drying towel
• Swimwear and light footwear for the hot springs
• Toilet paper