Annapurna Base Camp Trek - 12 Days

You arrive in Kathmandu, the cultural heart of Nepal and the gateway to the Himalayas. Our team welcomes you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel in Thamel.

The rest of the day is free to rest, adjust, or explore the lively streets of Thamel, filled with shops, cafes, and ancient temples. In the evening, your trek guide meets you for a detailed briefing covering the route, altitude considerations, safety measures, and the cultural background of the Annapurna region.

You travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara, a serene lakeside city nestled beneath the Annapurna range and the starting point of the trek. The journey by road follows rivers and rolling hills through terraced farmland and rural settlements. As you approach Pokhara, the mountains begin to dominate the horizon.

In the evening, the calm shores of Fewa Lake offer a perfect place to relax and prepare mentally for the days ahead. The glow of Machhapuchhre reflected on the water is a quiet first glimpse of what awaits on the trail.

After breakfast, a short drive takes you to Nayapul, the official starting point of the trek. Crossing a bridge over the Modi Khola, the trail passes through Birethanti - the ACAP permit checkpoint - and follows a gentle, well-worn path through cultivated fields and small settlements.

The walk today is ideal for finding your rhythm. The surroundings are green and warm, with stone walls, prayer flags, and the sound of the river providing a calm introduction to mountain trekking. By afternoon, you arrive in Hile, a quiet village with welcoming teahouses and the first real sense of being on the trail.

Today involves a sustained ascent, beginning with the long stone staircases of Ulleri - one of the most recognisable and physically engaging sections of the entire trek. The climb is gradual but steady, taking you through terraced fields that give way to dense forests of oak and rhododendron.

Past the midway stop at Banthanti, where teahouses offer a welcome rest, the trail continues through increasingly alpine terrain. As altitude rises, the air becomes cooler and the surroundings more open. You arrive at Ghorepani in the late afternoon, a ridge-top village with sweeping views toward the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The evening here is calm and scenic, with a genuine sense of being deep in the Himalayas.

Before dawn, you set out on the short climb to Poon Hill (3,210 meters), one of the most celebrated viewpoints in the Himalayas. As the sun rises, the snow-covered peaks of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Hiunchuli, and Nilgiri slowly emerge in shades of gold and amber - an unforgettable panorama that stretches across the entire range.

After returning to Ghorepani for breakfast, the trek continues through thick rhododendron and oak forests toward Tadapani. The trail alternates between gentle ascents and descents, with occasional glimpses of peaks through the canopy. Fishtail and Dhaulagiri are especially striking from the open sections of the path. Tadapani sits on a forested ridge and offers a peaceful overnight stop surrounded by nature.

The trail descends from Tadapani through lush forest, crossing streams and passing smaller villages before dropping into the Modi Khola valley. After crossing a suspension bridge, the path climbs steadily to Chhomrong - a large, well-established Gurung village and the traditional gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary.

From Chhomrong, you enjoy close views of Annapurna South and the distinctive profile of Machhapuchhre. The village atmosphere, combined with the dramatic mountain backdrop, makes this a memorable place to stop for lunch before continuing down a steep stone staircase, crossing another bridge, and making the final climb to Sinuwa. The stone-paved lanes, local homes, and panoramic views from Chhomrong reflect a way of life deeply woven into the mountains.

Leaving Sinuwa, the trail descends into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary, following the Modi Khola upstream through some of the most beautiful forest walking of the entire trek. Bamboo groves, fern-covered slopes, and towering rhododendrons line the path, and the constant sound of rushing water creates a peaceful rhythm for the day.

You pass through Bamboo and Dovan, where the vegetation becomes denser and the valley narrows noticeably. Waterfalls cascade down the cliffs on either side, and occasional clearings offer glimpses of the peaks above. The air grows cooler as altitude increases, and the landscape begins to feel distinctly alpine. By the time you reach Himalaya Hotel, a quiet settlement tucked beneath steep valley walls, the transition from mid-hill forest to high mountain terrain is unmistakable.

Today is the most anticipated day of the trek. Leaving Himalaya Hotel, the trail ascends steadily through increasingly open terrain as vegetation thins and the first glacial features come into view. The valley gradually widens, revealing dramatic views of the surrounding ridgelines and snow-covered peaks.

After passing through Deurali, you reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700 meters), situated directly beneath the striking south face of the sacred Fishtail Peak. The scenery here is vast and powerful. From MBC, the path continues gently across open alpine terrain toward Annapurna Base Camp.

Upon arrival at base camp, you find yourself standing in a magnificent natural amphitheater, encircled by Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and Machhapuchhre on all sides. The scale, silence, and closeness of these towering mountains create a deeply moving experience. You spend time exploring the area, taking photographs, and absorbing the full sense of achievement at reaching the heart of the Annapurna range.

Rising early, you make a short hike to the sunrise viewpoint above the teahouses for one final, unhurried look at the amphitheater in the morning light - Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Hiunchuli glowing against a clear sky. The moment is worth the early start.

After breakfast, the descent begins along the same route. Walking downhill offers a different perspective on everything you passed on the way up - details in the landscape that went unnoticed, the valley changing shape from above, the forest growing warmer and greener with every hundred meters of descent. You stop for lunch near Himalaya or Dovan, and by late afternoon you reach Bamboo, where lower altitude and warmer air bring welcome physical relief.

Leaving Bamboo, the trail retraces the route through Sinuwa and back up to Chhomrong, with one final opportunity to take in the mountain views from the village before the long descent. The stone staircases of Chhomrong feel more familiar now, and the surrounding scenery carries a different warmth on the return.

After crossing the river below Chhomrong, the path drops steadily toward Jhinu Danda - a small, peaceful village famous for its natural hot springs. In the evening, your guide leads you down to the riverside hot springs, where soaking in the warm mineral water eases tired muscles and provides a deeply satisfying close to the trekking days in the high sanctuary. It is a simple pleasure that feels extraordinary after what the past week has asked of your body.

The final morning on the trail follows a path from Jhinu Danda through the Gurung village of Landruk and up through forested ridges, with sweeping views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges marking a fitting close to the trekking portion of the journey.

From the trail end, a private jeep takes you back to Pokhara. The city, with its lakeside calm and warm evenings, feels like a gentle re-entry into the world below. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free to relax by Fewa Lake, explore the Lakeside area, or simply unwind after completing the trek. The mountains you have walked among are still visible on the horizon.

On the final day, you travel from Pokhara back to Kathmandu. Whether by road through the rolling hills and river valleys of the Gandaki, or by a short flight with one last aerial view of the Annapurna range, the journey back carries a quiet, reflective quality - a natural transition from the mountains back to the city.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you transfer to your hotel and have the rest of the day to rest, explore, or gather the souvenirs and stories that will travel home with you. As you leave Nepal, take a moment to look back on everything the journey held - the trails, the peaks, the villages, the warmth of the people. The Annapurna Sanctuary, once visited, does not leave you easily.