Overview
The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek is one of Nepal’s most iconic and rewarding trekking experiences, combining rich culture, breathtaking mountain views, and diverse landscapes. Perfect for both seasoned trekkers and adventurous beginners, this journey leads you deep into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary, offering stunning views of Annapurna I (8,091m), Machapuchare (Fishtail), Hiunchuli, and other majestic peaks.
Starting from Kathmandu, your journey begins with a scenic flight to Pokhara, followed by a short drive to Ulleri and a trek to Ghorepani, a vibrant mountain village. One of the trek’s early highlights is the sunrise hike to Poon Hill (3,210m), where you'll witness a jaw-dropping panorama of snow-capped giants glowing in the early light — an unforgettable Himalayan moment.
From there, the trail winds through lush rhododendron forests, terraced farmlands, and charming Gurung and Magar villages. You'll trek through Tadapani, Chhomrong, and Sinuwa, gradually ascending into higher altitudes with ever-changing scenery. As you gain elevation, the forests give way to alpine terrain, and the dramatic beauty of the Annapurna Sanctuary unfolds around you.
Reaching Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m) is the ultimate reward — a serene amphitheater surrounded by towering peaks that rise in all directions. Spending the night at base camp gives you the chance to enjoy a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayan giants, a truly humbling experience.
The descent retraces your steps, with a relaxing stop at Jhinu Danda, where you can enjoy a soak in the natural hot springs. The trek ends with a drive back to Pokhara and a flight to Kathmandu, offering time to reflect on this life-changing Himalayan adventure.
This 9-day itinerary is carefully designed for optimal altitude acclimatization, comfort, and cultural immersion. Whether you're in search of dramatic landscapes, a physical challenge, or spiritual inspiration, the Annapurna Base Camp trek delivers on every level.
With professional guides, comfortable teahouse accommodations, and jaw-dropping vistas every day, this trek offers the perfect mix of adventure and natural beauty.
Altitude Chart
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you’ll be greeted by a representative and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, you can relax or explore the vibrant streets of Thamel. A short briefing about the trek will be provided in the evening.
After an early morning flight to Pokhara, enjoy views of the Himalayas from the air. From Pokhara, drive to Ulleri, the starting point of your trek. Begin hiking through terraced fields, rhododendron forests, and charming Gurung villages, reaching Ghorepani by late afternoon. Ghorepani offers beautiful views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges.
Wake up early to hike to Poon Hill for a breathtaking sunrise over the Himalayas, including views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machapuchare, and more. After enjoying the panorama, return to Ghorepani for breakfast and then continue your trek to Tadapani through dense forests and scenic trails.
Trek downhill through lush rhododendron forests to the village of Chhomrong. From there, descend to the river and then climb up to Upper Sinuwa. Along the way, enjoy views of the Annapurna South and Machapuchare peaks.
The trail continues through bamboo forests and passes several small settlements. Trek through lush vegetation and ascend gradually to reach Deurali. The landscape starts to change, with more alpine terrain and stunning mountain vistas.
Today’s trail takes you through the Annapurna Sanctuary. Pass Machapuchare Base Camp and continue to Annapurna Base Camp, surrounded by majestic peaks. Reaching the base camp is a rewarding experience, offering a 360-degree panorama of the Annapurna range.
After witnessing a glorious sunrise over Annapurna, begin your descent. Retrace your steps past Deurali and Bamboo to reach Sinuwa. The downhill walk offers a different perspective of the terrain.
Trek to Jhinu Danda, where you can soak your muscles in natural hot springs. After a relaxing break, continue to the trailhead and drive back to Pokhara. From there, take a short flight to Kathmandu.
Today is the day to wave goodbye to the beautiful Himalayas and Nepal. A representative from Sherpa Team will take you to the airport with plenty of time prior to your departure. On your way home you will maybe start thinking about your next adventure within the beautiful Himalayan Mountains of Nepal.
Services
Cost Included in Your Package
- International & Domestic Airport Transfers: Convenient pick-up and drop-off services by car for both international and domestic airports.
- Meals During the Trek: Enjoy three daily meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—during your trek in the mountains.
- Accommodation in Kathmandu: Two nights of standard accommodation at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu, on a twin-sharing basis, including breakfast.
- Experienced Trekking Guide: An English-speaking, government-registered trekking guide with extensive knowledge and experience.
- Sherpa Porters: Strong and supportive Sherpa porters equipped with proper safety and walking gear. Includes their salary, food, accommodation, and insurance (one porter per two trekkers).
- Flights: Return flights between Pokhara and Kathmandu.
- Local Transportation: Transportation by car or jeep from Pokhara to Nayapul and from Jhinu Danda to Pokhara.
- Porter and Guide Expenses: All food, accommodation, insurance, and transportation costs for the porter and guide.
- Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) card.
- Gear Rental: Use of sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag, and walking poles (if needed), to be returned after the trip.
- Trekking Lodge (Tea House) Stays: Comfortable lodging throughout your trek. Accommodation Notice During busy trekking times (mid-March to the end of May and mid-September to the end of November), teahouses in places like the Himalayas, Deurali, MBC, Annapurna Base Camp, and Bamboo usually have shared rooms with 4 to 5 beds. Private rooms are usually not available because many people visit at these times. Please be ready to share a room, as this is normal in these popular trekking areas.
- Assistant Guide: An additional assistant guide for groups larger than 8 people.
- Fresh Fruits: Seasonal fresh fruits are provided daily.
- Completion Certificate: An appreciation certificate awarded after a successful trek.
- Sherpa Teams T-shirt: A complimentary Sherpa Teams company T-shirt.
- Emergency Assistance: Support for arranging emergency rescue operations in complex health conditions (funded by travel insurance).
- Oximeter to check your pulse and oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily (Very useful to check Altitude Mountain Sickness(AMS) symptoms) Which will ensure you trek is in the safest hands possible for all levels of trekker.
Costs Excluded
- Meals in Kathmandu & Pokhara: Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Nepal Entry Visa Fee: Visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport costs $30 USD for 15 days, $50 USD for 30 days, and $125 USD for 90 days.
- Travel and Medical Insurance: Personal travel and medical insurance.
- International Airfare: Flights to and from Nepal.
- Personal Expenses: Any personal expenditures, including shopping and souvenirs.
- Beverages and Extra Food: Costs for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, soups, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cocoa, mineral water, and any additional food or drinks purchased along the trek or in tea houses.
- Desserts and Sweets: All desserts and sweet items such as chocolate, cake, pie, and pudding.
- Hot Showers and Battery Charging: Charges for hot showers and battery charging at tea houses.
- Tips: Tips for your guide, porter, and driver.
ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK ROUTE MAP
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Equipments
The following information will give you some idea about what you need to bring for the trek. It is important you do not forget the essential items, as this will determine your comfort and safety on the trek. Equally important is that you do not burden yourself with unnecessary equipment on the trek.
- Sleeping Bag (Sherpa Teams will provide but need to return after completing the trip)
- Duffel Bag (Sherpa Teams will provide but need to return after completing the trip)
- Fleece jacket or pullover
- Waterproof windbreaker or windcheater
- Thermal underclothes
- Rain poncho
- Down jacket (Sherpa Teams will provide but need to return after completing the trip)
- Fleece or wool trousers
- Sun hat or scarf
- Trekking pants (two pairs)
- Mittens or woolen gloves
- Hiking socks (several pairs)
- Moisture-wicking shirts, including t-shirts
- Trekking shoes or boots with spare laces
- Flip-flops or sandals for relaxing in the evenings
- Underwear (several pairs)
- Swimsuit or swimming costume
- Sunglasses
- Headlamp or flashlight/torch
- Sleeping bag (Sherpa Teams can provide this for you)
- Trekking poles (if desired)
- Hiking backpack with a capacity of at least 40 liters
- Small lock for your backpack
- Reusable water bottles (at least two liters)
- Water purification tablets or filtration device
- Wash towel
- Basic first aid kit
Toiletries (tissues, toilet paper, moisturizer, lip balm, sunscreen, sanitary pads, hand sanitizer, nail clippers, a small mirror, toothbrush, toothpaste, glasses, contacts, etc.)
Good to Know
Accommodation
You will be accommodated in 3-star hotels in Kathmandu. During the trek, we will be staying at lodges/ teahouses. You may find comfort and better quality teahouses - having attached bathroom at lower levels- until you reach higher elevations, where the accommodation is more basic with bare necessities.
Meals during the trek
In Kathmandu, your hotel includes breakfast, whereas all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be provided during the trek. A staple food of these regions is potatoes, oats, buckwheat, Sherpa stew and Tibetan bread. Sherpa’s’ started farming potatoes when the first seeds were introduced to the region in the early 90s. There is a limited choice of food at higher elevations and except many potato dishes. Potatoes are high in carbohydrates – an excellent source of energy needed at high altitudes.
Transportation
We use a private car for sightseeing and for the airport to hotel pick and drop off. We use public transportation or local buses during the trek.
Physical fitness
This can be a challenging trek where you often have to walk 6-7 hours a day. You don’t need past experience of hiking or trekking but if you have done any kind of trekking activities then it is always a plus! We have met people from all walks of life, shapes and sizes who have completed the trek. The only difficult part is when altitude sickness strikes and the effect that it can have on your body. Before leaving for Nepal it is good if you can prepare yourself physically by increasing your stamina and oxygen intake.
Remember – The better prepared – the more enjoyable your trek!
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Tour Dates
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FAQS
Others
Yes, you can. No matter who you are, as long as you are reasonably fit, can walk for 5-6 hours a day and trek/hike a few uphill, Sherpa Expedition and Trekking team will support you to the fullest to transform your dream of standing at Annapurna Base Camp into reality.
The pre-monsoon (February, March, April and May) and post monsoon (late September, October, November and December) are considered the best for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek as the weather conditions become favorable during this time, providing you with good visibility and a suitable atmosphere for Annapurna Base Camp trekking.
No, there is no age limit for the trek to Annapurna Base Camp but, you need to be in good physical shape and have a positive attitude. We also suggest you to prior to the excursion though we suggest you to please see your doctor and obtain necessary permission and advice, as well as medications for traveling in extreme altitude prior to the excursion.
During trekking, you will be served meals in the teahouses. Typical meals are noodles, rice, pasta or potato dishes along with vegetables and egg/chicken/meat dishes. Other items mostly served as breakfasts include egg, pancake, bread, porridge, muesli, and toasts with peanut butter and honey.
A teahouse trekking accommodation will be made for you for the Annapurna Base Camp trekking whereby you will be able to stay at tea house (Local lodge) and have wholesome food and neat and clean comfortable bed throughout your trekking journey. This form of arrangement also allows you to carry less baggage; you can trek at your own pace and enjoy the Annapurna panorama on your own schedule. It is also an eco-friendly way of trekking whereby trekkers can have more contact with the local people.
Most of the teahouses on the Annapurna Base camp trail have squat toilet facilities but recently built lodges have western-style toilets as well. Nowadays, flush toilets are also being introduced with number of increasing foreign mountaineers each year. It is highly recommended to carry your own toilet paper and other required toiletries. Hot shower facilities are available. The most common type is a bucket shower, usual buckets with tap filled with hot water and placed in a shower room. Hot shower costs from US$ 2 to 5 per use and the price increases along with the elevation. Attached bathrooms and toilets are not available unless you book for a luxury lodge during the ABC trek.
What you want to wear depends on you but we suggest you wear warm clothes during the Annapurna Base Camp trekking. A down jacket, thermal longs and top, comfortable trekking trousers, t-shirts, fleece, windproof jacket, hat, scarf, and gloves might be useful. There are numerous trekking shops in the Thamel area of Kathmandu where you can get all of these items in both local and branded stores alike. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking may also accompany and assist you if required.
During the Annapurna Base Camp trekking, you will be on a long journey for which you will need two bags to keep your belongings. A rucksack/duffle bag and a day bag for personal items. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking will provide you with a duffle bag (which is need to refund after the trek) that you can use throughout your entire journey and even afterward. These bags are durable and hence perfect for any kind of trekking journey. While the duffle bag will be carried by the potters, you will have to carry a day bag on your own. A day bag is a small backpack that has enough room for everything you will need on a day hike such as lunch, water, extra clothing and perhaps a few personnel items like camera, battery chargers, etc.
If possible, we suggest you bring your own equipment. However, sleeping bags and down jackets will be provided to you by Sherpa Expedition and Trekking. With regards to trekking poles, if you are used to walking with it then take them with you, as you will probably find them useful especially on the way down. They are not essential though and the walk is manageable without them. It is mostly a personal preference. If you prefer to take the trekking poles with you on the trekking then you can either bring your own pole or buy it from numerous options available in Kathmandu itself.
Yes, if you have a bag of extra clothing for when you return from the trekking, you will be able to store it safely in Kathmandu Sherpa Expedition and Trekking office. The storage facility is provided by most hotels and lodges in Kathmandu or you can also store it in our office for the duration of the trekking.
Our itinerary has been specially tailored to prevent any kind of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) while moving up to higher altitudes. Normally, altitude sickness starts from 3,600 meters and above. You will be trekking at a relatively slow and gradual pace as part of the acclimatization process. Cut off caffeinated, alcoholic and smoking items. Drink at least 4 liters of water a day. Trek slow. Don't skip the acclimatization days. Better to continue with Diamox (if any symptoms show up). Drink Garlic Soup. In the higher elevation, there is less oxygen in the air and this is more so while crossing high passes. Our expert guides will advise you on how to avoid AMS and treat it when/ if required.
Make sure to have both medical and evacuation insurance before coming to Nepal for Annapurna Base Camp trekking. You should be careful in choosing a policy while traveling to a Himalayan country like Nepal as some insurance companies may make special exceptions for adventure travel. If you are confused about the insurance, please inform us and we will help you. It is usually better to arrange your insurance in your country before travel.
The trekking will be 5-7 hours a day depending upon the landscape and destination.
It takes 4 to 11 days to reach Base Camp depending upon the mode of transportation and packages of Sherpa Expedition and Trekking offers.
We at Sherpa Expedition and Trekking Team always have the safety, comfort, and satisfaction of our valued customers as our foremost priority at all times, and we assure you a wonderful and unforgettable time with us in our beautiful country. Sherpa team members of Sherpa Expedition and Trekking will be carrying all the necessary gear, equipment, and first aid kits and they have extensive first aid training. If a trekker falls sick on high altitude, the leader will decide whether to continue the trek. In case of emergency, Sherpa Expedition and Trekking have a rescue helicopter to bring you back from the higher elevation. Moreover, Sherpa Expedition and Trekking also provides oximeter to monitor the oxygen level at high altitude and offers regular health check-up facilities.
You can either trek on foot or by a helicopter. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking offer exciting and reasonable Helicopter trek to Annapurna Base Camp for 5 days and 10 days. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking can also customize your tour as per your necessity.
The flights are usually regular between September and May. But due to high altitude, bad weather and unforeseen technical issues, you may experience a delay or cancellation of the flight. On the occurrence of such events, Sherpa Expedition and Trekking tourist bus will be arranged.
Sherpa Expedition and Trekking will provide one porter for two trekkers to carry 20 kgs of luggage (maximum 10 kg for each trekker). Please be sure your porters are not overloaded because they do not carry only your equipment but also lift your spirit to reach new heights, and your love, affection, and generosity can be the reason for them to work hard to take you to your destination. However, the weight limit on flights to the Annapurna region, basically to Pokhara is a total of 20 kgs including hand bag and you need to pay an extra amount per kg for the excess baggage. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking pays up to 5 kgs of extra baggage making your total to 20 kgs with your hand bag.
Garlic soup is a must while trekking. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking recommend trekkers to drink green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon ginger tea and drink at least 2-4 liters of water a day. However, it is better to avoid alcohol and alcoholic beverages, caffeinated items, and hot-chocolates at high altitude.
Sherpa Expedition and Trekking won’t recommend non-veg items because the meat in such places may not hygienic and healthy. Sherpa Expedition and Trekking also encourage to avoid dairy and cheesy items and strongly suggest not to consume them during the trek. So, our packages are suitable for both vegan and vegetarians.
Your guide and porters are a big reason why you got a chance to feel something very few can have. Apart from guiding and carrying your necessities and being mindful of your safety, they want to see you happily succeeded more than anyone like family and help you successfully complete the trek safely. So, your tips reflect gratitude towards them. So, tipping is a recommended culture for porters and guide in Nepal as a gesture of thankfulness.
Sherpa Expedition and Trekking will introduce dozens of shops selling knock-off gear in Kathmandu. You can also barter those gears at the knock-off places but be sure you keep the receipt safely. Moreover, you can rent the needed gears if you do not want to buy them.
Yes, most guesthouses offer Wi-Fi, for a small charge. it cost USD$5 per day.
ATM services are available only in Pokhaa. However, the services might not work or run out of cash. Therefore, we suggest you carry a small amount of money to buy snacks, etc during the trekking.
Most of the tea houses/ lodges have electricity whereby you will be able to charge your iPod or camera batteries. Please note that lodges/tea houses will charge you some extra money for the services. The fee may vary from 1 USD to 5 USD per hour.
Reviews
5 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek
5 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a high-intensity Himalayan adventure experience tailored to experienced trekkers who have a quest of reaching the Annapurna Base Camp, the tenth-highest mountain in the world, in the shortest time possible with short ABC trek. The trek that we have devised for you is known as the 'fastest ABC challenge available', in which it takes only 5 days to cover a normal 10-day trekking course because of a compressed itinerary. Beginning with Pokhara start and finishing at Pokhara end, this accelerated time-efficient trek gives less importance to traditional trail as it includes no Poon Hill detour but only ABC.
This short-duration trekking can be perfect for high-fitness travelers and those with limited vacation time and the stamina to undertake aggressive and demanding walking days. This is a fast-paced trek with physical requirements that demands tough physically fit trekkers willing to accept the vertical gain within a short span of days. You do not traverse culturally driven circuits of Ghorepani with the intention of finding the straightest route to Annapurna Base Camp, which is truly a rewarding but challenging itinerary.
This rapid ABC trek will be ideal for hardcore experienced trekkers who do not fear steep climbing and long hours to walk.
For trekkers who want to have a mountain trekking Nepal as quickly as possible to the Annapurna Base Camp or well-prepared for high altitude and physically superior or healthy trekkers will opt for this trek. It is designed to focus directly on ABC Trek without having a need for lower altitude sightseeing for a couple of days.
For beginners or people new to this part of trekking, one should choose the extended Annapurna Base Camp trek in order not to take health risks from rapid ascent. If a more leisurely-paced trip, and plenty of photo opportunities or time at Poon Hill to catch the sunrise, is desired, this 5-day ABC trek probably would be too much for them. Similarly, if trekkers are not comfortable with high-altitude trekking or if private rooms are needed (not available in the ABC overnight stay), they should skip this Itinerary and choose the Itinerary with slow paced and acclimation days.
Trekking highlights
- Take a 5 Day high-speed journey to Annapurna Base Camp that shaves 10 days off the traditional route, offering a speed-demon itinerary of the famous Himalayan sanctuary for a busy traveler who simply cannot get away from work or home for long.
- Starting and ending in the lively city of Pokhara, the benefit of starting this Annapurna trekking route here is obvious – this will save as much time as possible since private ground transport directly gets you to and from the trek in minimal time, while dropping you back at Pokhara to rest and celebrate your accomplishment over drinks.
- Setting off straight from Jhinu Danda via the Matque trailhead, this trekking itinerary skips the lengthy Ghorepani loop. It gets you right to the most scenic parts of this tremendous Himalayan mountain range without losing a bit of time from the long walk and puts you immediately on your way.
- Go for ABC rapidly, pushing your physical limits on a climb through varying climatic zones, from moist bamboo forests to glacial moraines at high altitudes, very quickly (just three days and a large elevation gained).
- Stay in a huge open-air amphitheatre of colossal mountains for one magical night. Spending the afternoon watching as the most immense, icy south face of Annapurna I reflected on the stunning sunrise and sunset before an early morning rise and an early return. Annapurna Base Camp overnight is an experience unlike any other at 4,130m.
- This is the quickest "ABC" expedition variant offered and provides the perfect, definitive challenge for super-fit travellers aiming to test endurance and experience the challenge of reaching 8,000m peak's base and returning in 5 days.
Altitude Chart
Fast ABC Trek Itinerary
This fast start to your Himalayan adventure begins with an early, spectacular jeep ride through rural Nepal to Matque. You will journey along bumpy, winding roads lined by terraced fields and gurgling rivers before hitting the walking trail just after Matque. Next, you start going across wooden suspension bridges and steep stone stairs. Going upward first, it takes you to Chhomrong, and after that, going downward to Upper Sinuwa, then you stay on your first night in a basic teahouse located in the steep green valley. This punishing early day of walking has got your body adjusted and moving; high altitude comes fast.
On day two, test your stamina as you continue ascending on footpaths up the steep slopes along the Modi Khola River Gorge towards the upper reaches. Start at Upper Sinuwa and proceed descending stone steps surrounded by dense, humid bamboo and rhododendron forest, leading up to Bamboo.
From there onwards, enjoy breathtaking views of an entirely different world of cool, rocky Alpine terrain before proceeding further up the trails until you arrive at the village called Dovan.
After passing through Himalaya, you will soon find yourself on a very narrow path flanked by towering rock faces, amidst which lies Hinko Cave, full of life-giving mist rising from countless streams below. Continue climbing upwards through these lush surroundings while keeping watch for beautiful cascading waterfalls until eventually reaching Deurali – indicating entry into the high-altitude zone due to the thinner atmospheric pressure experienced here.
Above us lies the highlight of your trek, a climb from Deurali to the splendid glacial amphitheatre of Annapurna Base Camp. The path climbs up and over the tree line, offering spectacular views over great mountains as we go up, attaining Bagar and on to the Machhapuchhre Base Camp. From here, climbing up past the MBC reveals an open valley which is a sheer paradise encircled by colossal glaciers and towering peaks. You are at Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m), overlooking Annapurna I, Hiunchuli and Gangapurna; one of the most beautiful sites you have ever seen in the late afternoon as the sun sets behind these majestic peaks.
After viewing the beautiful dawn as the Annapurna ranges light up on the snow-covered hills, you do your first fast descent into the valley. Your steps to Annapurna Base Camp are reversed. Past Machhapuchhre Base Camp and Deurali, you drop rapidly in stages through different vegetation levels until you reach a lower-altitude subtropical forest consisting of bamboo and Dovan again. Although technically not requiring as much cardiovascular strength to descend as to climb, the downhill journey for long hours at a speed of sound can stress out knees and leg muscles; still, past Himalaya and Bamboo, the last stage of uphill work gets you to Sinuwa for the night.
The last day of your accelerated trek will bring you back to the roadhead along the remainder of the lowermost trails. There's a steep descent from Sinuwa towards Chhomrong, which you will then follow along the steps down to the cable bridge on the river canyon. From there on, you will gain only a moderate, steady climb to Matque, where the waiting jeep and final return drive back to Pokhara are at the ready, which will also prove to be the end of one of the most aggressive, shortest treks in the Annapurnas.
Annapurna Base Camp Cost and Inclusions
Inclusions
- Transportation from Pokhara to Matque and back by private jeep/car.
- Best possible teahouse and lodge accommodation (normal twin sharing). The Lodging Notice: All the teahouses at Himalaya, Deurali, MBC, Annapurna Base Camp and Bamboo consist of four to five beds per room, and there will be crowded days at all teahouses during the peak seasons from middle of March to the end of May and middle of September to the end of November. We would appreciate it if you would reserve the shared room rather than the single rooms, which are unlikely in the peak season.
- All the food during the trek (Breakfast, lunch, Dinner)
- Trekking guide: Govt. License holder English Speaking Sherpa Expedition and Trekking agency - professional and experienced leader.
- Assistant Trekking Guide: Assigned to groups over 8 pax.
- Porters: Helpful and strong Sherpa porter knowing safety trekking and proper walking tools, including their allowance of salary, food, accommodation, and insurance (1 porter for each 2 pax).
- Medical Support: Comprehensive first aid kit.
- Daily health monitoring, including oximeter checking on heart rate and oxygen rate 2 times daily to detect symptoms of AMS, assisting travelers to prevent symptoms.
- Emergency helicopter service with cost to be covered by the insurance company.
- Support service in case of accident or critical medical health problem to rescue at the nearest medical assistance center, for which the travel insurance company itself shall insure expenses.
- Walking gear provided (sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag, and walking poles) but to be returned to the trekking provider after finishing the trek.
- Permits: The entry fees for the ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) permit and TIMS card.
- A certificate of appreciation from Sherpa Expedition and Trekking upon completion of the trek.
- T-Shirt from Sherpa Expedition and Trekking.
- All applicable government, local taxes, and official charges.
Exclusions
- City Meals: You will not be provided lunch and dinner for your stay in Kathmandu and for your stay in Pokhara.
- Nepal Entry Visa: Your visa fee to enter Nepal is not included in the cost (It is easily available while you are in flight landing at Tribhuvan Int. Airport, Kathmandu; it is US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days).
- Personal Insurance: travel and medical personal insurance.
- City Accommodation: accommodation at a hotel in Kathmandu and at a hotel in Pokhara.
- Airfare: international air ticket
- Personal Expenses: all other personal expenses not listed as a part of the package.
- Drinks, Soup, Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cocoa, mineral water, extra food, cool and hot drinks (on trekking as beverages, while trekking on the way, during the night during accommodation, they have to bear on self-paid) you must purchase separately.
- All Desserts/Sweet-foods; i.e. Chocolate, Cake, Pie, pudding, as a supplement and additional item that you order on your personal request.
- Hot shower and battery charging fee in teahouses.
- Gratuity to guide, porter, and driver (tips expected)
Early Return: Early return of expedition due to illness or other problems – we are not able to provide you with any money for the flight, accommodation, mountain room and other expenses like that when you want to come back early from the expedition; you should bear expenses for the accommodation, food in the hotel and other necessary things.
Tour Dates
Every departure listed below is 100% Guaranteed — once you book, your trip will run as scheduled regardless of group size.
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6 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trip Overview
6-Day Annapurna Base Camp is a specifically constructed, highly potent trek, intended for experienced trekkers to experience the maximum possible benefits from their limited time spent exploring the majestic Himalayas. This Short Annapurna trek plan is custom-created as a quick ABC journey for limited vacation time, and that means it guarantees the most enthralling High-altitude adventure in the world, even with reduced time, avoiding those ten-day massive sanctuary treks in general. It's the direct trek into the heart of that amazing glacial basin, with 8,000m towering mountains surrounding it.
As an ultimate choice for Annapurna trekking Nepal, this trip can be chosen by fit trekkers in desire to experience a fast-paced itinerary within a relatively less harsh environment compared with the 5-day sprint at mountain. It is a perfect Short Himalayan trek balancing strenuous trekking with a comfortable Hot spring experience at the end of the descent. Those who are in search of a trekking recovery phase will greatly cherish its key part: staying at the well-known Jhinu Hot Spring, giving its trekkers a one-of-a-kind recovery experience process with ease for weary trekking bodies before flying back to Pokhara. In this sense, this 6-day ABC trek can also be termed a bridging plan in order to give fit trekkers the quickest and most efficient visit to the sanctuary.
However, because this tour follows a compressed trekking schedule, it is definitely not suitable for all demographics. Those of you who are beginners and want a slow-paced trekking rhythm, or those of you who want a more relaxing ABC journey with more rest days, should go for a longer variation. Furthermore, if your goal specifically was to include the Ghorepani–Poon Hill circuit to watch the sunrise views, then this tour should also be avoided, as it is made for a faster and straight-to-the-point journey, instead of taking a detour to include extra cultural highlights. Long-holiday travelers who like to take extra days to acclimatize at lower altitudes, or those of you who are not used to a large amount of walking per day, may not enjoy the rhythm. It is a mission-oriented trekking tour; if you are not used to the speed and power of a fast descent and ascent, then this tour can be seen as too intense. It caters for those of you who will not let a busy lifestyle prevent you from conquering the heart of the Annapurna range.
Trekking Highlights
- 6-day fast ABC trekking: A most economical option allowing a trekker to enjoy Annapurna Sanctuary in less than a week's holiday without any hassle, spending more time on sightseeing.
- Fast Annapurna Base Camp trekking: A quick approach to the highest 4,130 meters Annapurna Base Camp, where you will discover a marvelous mountain vista that is surrounded all over by Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, and Annapurna One.
- Jhinu hot spring visit: Rejuvenates trekkers with a visit to the natural riverside hot spring that can relieve the muscles after days of long trek in hot, bubbly water that comes from beneath the ground, with magnificent greenery surrounded by Modi Khola Valley.
- Recovery experience: Designed to have your downhill trip coupled with the hot spring in Jhinu for recovery after trekking, which would give a more relaxed and easy descent from a great high-altitude world.
- Concise and milder than the 5-day trip: With less impact than the rigorous 5-day trek, you will have a relaxed approach and feel the unique and spectacular environment during your visit, as well as, of course, benefit from the beauty of Annapurna Sanctuary.
- Fit and time-poor trekkers: It is the optimal one-week trekking tour for strong walkers wanting to get the most out of the outstanding and unforgettable treks.
Altitude Chart
6 Day ABC Trek Itinerary
An early morning drive will begin the expedition from Pokhara to Siwai, following the rivers along the terraced sides of the terrain. Upon arriving at Siwai, you would start your exciting trip by enjoying your day's exciting drive on roads over hills and rivers of Pokhara, reach Siwai and get out of the vehicle, where you would start your trek in trekking boots toward the small village of Chhomrong, which starts the tough trip toward Annapurna South. From Siwai, your walk goes upward continuously on the stone trails through many tiny settlements and subtropical forest, ending with stone steps up toward the wonderful Gurung village of Chhomrong below Annapurna South and Hiunchuli ranges. From Chhomrong, the trail is all out and around the spectacular Annapurnas, where there's a perfect opportunity to rest, while the cold mountain air bites at your skin as night draws in over sunset.
Start your morning with a nourishing breakfast with a view over the peaks surrounding the village of Chhomrong, then walk down the many thousands of stone steps crossing Chhomrong Khola. Follow a winding path through a forest of oak and rhododendron trees to Upper Sinuwa on your trek to a teahouse in lower Sinuwa. Continue to the small village of Bamboo, then through small settlements where you make a welcome stopping-off point and enjoy a well-earned local lunch, which should fuel you through the trail over a steep gorge, passing Kuldi Ghar and into the steep ravine leading to Himalaya to spend the night. Dine on Dal Bhat or noodle soup provided by the lodge so you will be fighting fit for tomorrow's leg.
Today starts well with an ample hot breakfast of porridge and tea at your Himalaya lodge. You start walking uphill through large boulders and past Hinko Cave, climbing slowly towards Deurali, where you rest a bit, then continue. You trudge uphill towards Machhapuchhre Base Camp, through the alpine valley which begins to get more constricted, to have a lunch break.
Glacial walls of amazing height and restricted access in parts necessitate weaving around as you ascend the valley floor.
Then, having had lunch, you continue and make your way over the flat, exposed moraine to Annapurna Base Camp, where a carb-loading supper and a warming cup of tea await to help overcome the altitude.
Your morning begins before sunrise when you get up out of the lodge to see golden morning light on the huge surrounding peaks.
After an early breakfast, you start a long but continuous descent along the same trail you took coming up. That means retracing your steps from Machhapuchhre Base Camp and Deurali all the way down through the rocky terrain.
You’ll have lunch in the delightful setting of a teahouse in either Himalaya or Deurali where the air gets more pleasantly warm and thick. From there, you walk over to Dovan and continue hiking further in towards a lush, humid bamboo forest until you finally arrive in Bamboo for some well-deserved rest.
Dinner tonight will consist of some hearty comfort foods back at the lodge to allow your poor knees to rest.
After your substantial meal in the lodge, we venture off into an area of bamboo and ferns. You then trace back through the original route from Kuldi Ghar and Sinuwa. You start descending towards crossing the bridge of Chhomrong Khola once again and climb the steep stone staircase up through Chhomrong Village, where you rest and have lunch by early afternoon.
From Chhomrong, you can take a different alternative steep path which goes straight down towards the valley of the Modi Khola river.
By late afternoon, you reach Jhinu Danda; check in to the lodge and then make it straight away to the riverside hot spring for a nice and warm bath. You then return to the lodge for dinner.
You’ll enjoy an early breakfast at your Jhinu Danda Teahouse while looking at the surrounding green hills. Then you will set off on a trek along this lovely little winding downhill trail alongside the Modi Khola River. It passes through some hillside farming hamlets and local villages. It takes about 3-4 hours. Once here in the “road head” of Nayapul, there’s a vehicle waiting to take you for lunch on this route or back into town. So after about a 5-6 hour journey, partly walking and partly driving, you’ll finally be back in Pokhara. Finally, you can celebrate by Phewa Lake to toast your successful Himalayan trekking adventure.
Cost and Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions
- Transport from Pokhara to Siwai and from Nayapul to Pokhara, via private car/jeep.
- Accommodation: Best possible teahouse, lodge accommodation (generally twin-sharing room).
- Accommodation notice: Teahouses in high-altitude areas of the Himalayas, Deurali, MBC, Annapurna Base Camp, and Bamboo will usually provide 4-5 shared bedrooms to the hikers as mid-March to the end of May and mid-Sept to the end of Nov are the high tourist seasons where the teahouses can't fulfill the visitor demand; hence, private rooms are rarely found. The room will be very standard with sharing.
- Meal: all standard meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the trekking.
- Trek Leader: Government-licensed Sherpa Expedition and Trekking service holder, qualified and experienced trekking guide (over 8 trekkers, 1 assisting guide).
- Staff support: Coverage of guides' and porters' expenses, including their meals, insurance, accommodation, flights, expenses, and necessary equipment.
- Porters: Strong, helpful Sherpa porters with adequate safety equipment and walking facilities, porter’s salary, food, lodge accommodation, and insurance. (1 porter for every 2 trekkers).
- Permits required: ACAP and TIMS card.
- Gear: Use of sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag and trekking pole (needs to be returned at the end of the tour).
- Taxes: Government taxes, local taxes, and service charges.
- Safety: Assist to arrange rescue operations in case you encounter a complicated health condition (to be covered by insurance).
- Certification: Sherpa Expedition and Trekking's certificate of appreciation for successfully trekking.
- Health check-up: An oxygen meter, which will measure your pulse rate, oxygen saturation, and heart rate twice a day (it is very good to know your altitude mountain sickness status) to ensure health during treks.
Exclusions
- International airfare.
- Nepal visa fees (US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, US$125 for 90 days)
- Accommodation and meals during your stay in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Meals and accommodations before/after our trek starts
- Lunch and dinner in Pokhara.
- Any extra hotel accommodation in Kathmandu due to arriving early/departing late from Kathmandu/returning early from the trek.
- Personal expenses (shopping, snacks, boiling water, drinks, tea, coffee, hot/cold shower, alcohol, Wi-Fi internet connection, telephone call, battery charging facility, etc.), extra porter, and any additional items as well, like a private room during a trek if requested.
- Your own trekking clothing and equipment.
- Your own travel insurance covering emergency high-altitude rescue and evacuation. (Mandatory).
- Tips for the trekking crew: guide and porter, etc. (suggested by local culture)
- Extra expenses such as landslides, strikes and riots-caused delays, altered itineraries, illness, changes in government policies, etc. are beyond our management control; hence, the expenses due to them are your responsibility.
- Anything other than specified in "Cost includes."
Tour Dates
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7 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trip Overview
7-Day ABC Trek is ideal for fitness travelers. The package provides an optimum mixture of alpine majesty as well as cultural integrity for fit travelers taking on a short Himalayan journey within the limited vacation. This active holiday in the Annapurna region is a short ABC trek, especially for short-trek travelers or active travelers, to encounter mountains without undertaking the whole 2 week trip.
The cultural route starts with a lovely drive from Pokhara to Nayapul to plunge directly into the real village offering local village experience. The trekkers will hike through the picturesque Ghandruk village. The trekkers experience a real Gurung village experience with full mountain culture along stunning Himalayan views, and this cultural trek is much better than the speed-trekking route as it offers trekking at altitude combined with an unforgettable and highly cultural trekking experience. From waterfalls to dense rhododendron forests, trekkers advance to the vast panorama of Annapurna Base Camp, giving this ABC with Ghandruk route significant value.
At snow-capped high-land; trekkers descend back and reach Jhinu Hot Spring for a relaxing shower in the hot stream, making it a complete ABC with Jhinu trip. Perfect for someone who wants to combine a village trekking holiday and, at the same time, reach high altitude, and this short cultural ABC trek without Poon Hill helps to finish the entire trip within a short time duration. It is suitable for fit and physically stable trekkers that want to utilize the holidays without wasting extra days travelling and, at the same time, explore culture as well as the grand mountain landscapes.
Trekking Highlights
- The short, compact 7-day ABC Trek is the most cost-effective way to use your one week of available time: a relatively fast, no-fuss route into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary for all physically fit trekking enthusiasts ready to see the magnificent 8,000-meter giants in just one week.
- Visit the beautiful stone village of Ghandruk – visit the stone mountain village and the very traditional museums it contains to study the traditional life of the Gurungs and view spectacular vistas of Annapurna South, to experience one part of everyday mountain life in the Himalayas today.
- Wiggle your tired feet in the natural thermal spring at the Jhinu Hot Spring - a perfectly restorative warm-water thermal river bath which gives you total relaxation in the jungle after a thrilling expedition to the ice basin at the heart of the Himalayas, where the trekking ends successfully.
- Experience cultural trek immersion by passing through and experiencing the terraces and villages, engaging with the locals along the trekking path and understanding the complex cultural traditions prevalent within high mountains today.
- Short Himal trip - a whistle-stop tour - Take a complete and brief tour through the magnificent geography of Nepal and discover rapidly changing subtropical forests and agricultural lands before the awesome desolation of the snow-shrouded high altitude glacial Annapurna Sanctuary.
- Ultimate ABC experience in one week - stand at the base of the 10th-highest mountain in the world in a 360-degree view over ice-encrusted, rocky Himalayan peaks, and accomplish what used to be a long-range trekking expedition in just one week.
Altitude Chart
7 Day ABC Trek Itinerary
Drive off from Pokhara and then start trekking. Get your permit and enjoy the scenic walk beside the Modi Khola River, with superb subtropical forests and terraces, so it's the first taste of rural life in Nepal. Hike the steep paths with a lot of streams over the stone bridges and arrive in the beautiful Gurung heaven, Ghandruk, where you will have a fantastic Annapurna view including the superb Machhapuchhre, upon your arrival. Relax for a while, take some refreshments, and stroll around the Gurung Museum or just enjoy the hospitality in the village in the afternoon, thus getting the body used to the altitude and getting good sleep for a week of trekking.
Leaving the vibrant culture of Ghandruk, you steep descend through rhododendron & Oak forests to the Kimrong Khola, and after the suspension bridge, you slowly climb through peaceful woodland and tiny settlements towards the massive ridge at the top, where Chhomrong lies, the last permanent settlement in the sanctuary, which serves a vital role for the trekkers. A stunning view of the great peaks with excellent bakery products could be a memorable experience before moving towards a more remote trek further. You will find that with some elevation gain and loss, you have another good day for acclimatisation before going higher up. Gurung culture is ever-present and welcomed here to give you rest for the night.
You begin the day with a steep downhill section from the iconic stone steps in Chhomrong and will descend to the Chhomrong Khola River. Once across the river, you then undertake a stiff up climb to Sinuwa, and the vegetation abruptly changes from tropical to a cool and serene forest of Bamboo and Rhododendron. You are to walk along the narrow gully of the Modi Khola, climbing consistently along narrow trails hemmed in by high valley walls. Passing through Bamboo and Dovan settlements, you climb ever higher through a steadily cooler mountain environment until arriving at Himalayan Hotel, a small place on which to stay and lodge for the night.
Today is the best trekking day as you head to your sanctuary. Beyond Deurali, your journey continues over a rocky and unorganized surface into a widening valley, toward your destination. From your base at Machhapuchhre Base Camp at 3,720m, there is a 360-degree view of the surroundings, including Machhapuchhre or the "Fishtail Peak."
Then from there, another 2-3 hours of gradual trek leads you to your base at the top, Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m). It is a spiritual walk, sitting in the natural amphitheater dominated by snow-clad giant mountains, including the immense southern face of Annapurna I. The sunset that sets the peak at its full glory, all in gold and orange, is the biggest reward for all your hard walking. Staying the night at this high altitude is a very cool experience.
After waking up at the base camp, we get to see the magical views of the Himalayas at a beautiful sunrise, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Photography in the mountains, over nature, while we sit back on the rocks; then we move further down for the extremely long descent back through the valley since we are losing altitude. Walking feels easier on the lungs, with the impact that it puts on the knees while coming down stone by stone. We walk past Machhapuchhre Base Camp again, towards Deurali again and also back down to Dovan through the same rocky glacial landscape until greenery and forests reclaim their territory. The walk ends at Bamboo, where we reach and relax with the increasing level of oxygen as well as the temperature. Long walking day, as it will be all downhill except for a little hike upward to Machhapuchhre Base Camp, and upon reaching Bamboo, after all the long hiking, we rest.
Leaving the Bamboo, a long series of undulations are climbed in relatively short bursts and then descend for longer stretches until a short but steep climb on steps to Sinuwa and then descent to cross the Chhomrong Khola. Climb up the last flight of steps to rejoin the main ridge of Chhomrong village, and then the trail breaks away downhill towards the valley river; the next stopping place is Jhinu Danda, where there are natural hot springs near the Modi Khola River. Upon arriving and checking into the lodge, the short walk to the river springs is downstream to relax and bathe. This water flows out from the side of the river, and whilst taking in the roar of the river, your sore muscles benefit from a much-earned rest.
The trekking day concludes with a pleasurable walk along the Modi Khola through a charming subtropical landscape and village farms. This final trekking trail is less undulating and easier compared to prior trekking days, and an easy walk on which to soak up the last magnificent glimpses of the Annapurna range. You proceed through Syauli Bazaar before finishing the trekking tour at Nayapul.
There will be a private vehicle waiting to pick you up for a scenic drive to Pokhara, where you will check into a hotel where you can get a hot shower and the rest you deserve for your heroic seven-day trek. The end of your adventure signifies entering the liveliness of civilization from the high mountains, from the wild into the urban environment.
ABC Trek for 7 Days Cost and Inclusions
Inclusions
- Transportation: Transportation from Pokhara to Nayapul and back to Pokhara by private cars/Jeep.
- Accommodation: Best possible teahouse/lodge accommodation with double room sharing on a twin basis is included for 6 nights.
- Accommodation note: During trekking days, you will probably stay overnight in a trekking lodge, most likely sharing the room with another trekker. During the trekking peak season (mid-March to end of May & September to end of Nov), as there are quite a number of tourist visitors, you may be assigned a bed in a room for 4 to 5 people. Single rooms will be less available during trekking peak seasons.
- Meals: All 3 meals per day are included during the trekking days.
- Trekking Leader: Government-licensed, English-speaking, experienced and trained guides plus 1 assistant guide if the group consists of more than 8 people.
- Staff Support: Free coverage for Guides and Porters' insurance, salary, transportation, lodging & meals.
- Porters: Physically fit, friendly and very helpful Sherpa porters with required safety equipment are provided at your service with their salary, meals, insurance & lodging (one porter per two trekkers).
- Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) & TIMS Card included.
- Gear: Trekking sleeping bag, duffel bag, down jacket and walking pole provided, which should be returned after the completion of the trek.
- Nutrition: Daily fruits shall be given after dinner during the trek.
- Taxes: All government/local taxes/and expenditures.
- Safety: Backup support arranged for rescue in case of complex health problems (the trekkers' travel insurance shall cover the expenses). And to check pulse and oxygen saturation using an oximeter twice daily; the meter will also be available.
- Accolades: Sherpa Expedition Teams Company certificates after your successful trek.
Exclusions
- Flight ticket fare of international flight and visa fee for Nepal.
- Surcharge for overweight baggage, as there is only a weight limit of 9kg for each traveler.
- Accommodations in Kathmandu and Pokhara meals in Kathmandu.
- Lunches/dinners in Pokhara and kathmandu
- An extra night in Pokhara and Kathmandu, as we are returning home late/leaving home early.
- Drinks: alcoholic drinks/non-alcoholic drinks, soup, tea, coffee, boiled water and snacks.
- Personal clothing and equipment.
- Travel insurance should include emergency medical helicopter evacuation and altitude-related rescue service.
- Tipping the guide and porters (it is a custom to do so)
- Any expense due to natural calamities, landslides, illness, and striking and other forces beyond our control.
Tour Dates
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8 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trip Overview
The 8 Day Annapurna Base Camp trek is an excellently paced trekking holiday, aimed at reasonably fit and adventurous trekkers interested in completing a relatively quick trek to Annapurna Base Camp on a standard path but not at the expense of an unnecessary trip to Ghorepani-Poon Hill. The trek is geared for trekkers whose sole interest lies in reaching Annapurna Base Camp, not a sunrise vista from Poon Hill, and therefore makes an exceptionally economical approach for those concerned solely on Base camp focused trek, not the roundabout route over ridges. Participants traveling with the use of the direct ABC route avoid the lower hills and get straight to the high mountain haven.
This is an ideal Annapurna trekking package for anyone focusing strictly on a direct visit to the glacial arena. The use of the Direct Annapurna route enables hikers to finish off a well-balanced Short Annapurna Sanctuary Trek without extra loops. The trail is developed for trekkers needing a Shorter ABC itinerary experience that has an equally deep journey into the mountains. The trail moves directly from the low country upwards towards Machhapuchhre Base Camp, which is the famous fishtail peak which guards the door of the inner sanctuaries.
Physical fitness should be prioritized; this is indeed an Moderate fitness trek Nepal, so one needs to have sufficient strength and endurance to cope with successive days of incline and staircase ascents and descents. Tracing the pathway from Chhomrong to Annapurna Base Camp we journey from paddy terraces to verdant forest to gigantic snowy peaks. This particular trekking to ABC Trek without Poon Hill has been devised with the prime motive to eliminate the iconic viewpoint ridge of Sunrise Point and instead focus on a rapid-style expedition to the towering peaks.
However, this trek is not recommended for those wanting to see Poon Hill, nor do Ghorepani trekkers and individuals seeking a relaxed-paced journey and cultural trekking packages need to take other routes to the top; this is an expedition made for only those seeking the ultimate fast journey to Everest, and also for those unable to provide a greater time commitment for additional trekking and rest days. Others can happily count on the fact that this configuration guarantees an extreme quantity of dramatic Himalayan scenery in a hyper-efficient 8 Day Annapurna Base Camp Trek.
Trekking Highlights
- Direct trek into Annapurna Sanctuary: Benefit from a condensed and streamlined mountain experience taking you directly into the glacial circus with a high-alpine experience centered on the most sacred slopes, free from the diversionary route along lower ridges.
- Eliminate Ghorepani-Poon Hill: Skip the crowded and heavily trekked staircase along western ridges, thus saving your limited vacation time and precious energy for a trip devoted solely to the sanctuary slopes.
- Beats Poon Hill combination trek- Benefit from a streamlined and shortened point-to-point trek plan made with mountaineers at heart, taking pleasure in a high-altitude trek experience in the fewest days.
- Basecamp Annapurna overnight stay- Experience a magical night resting at the foot of magnificent titans, illuminated by the earliest hues of the rising sun on a sea of glaciers, with an unparalleled Annapurna I sun dawn.
- Machhapuchhre Base Camp: hike to the amazing alpine theater beneath the holy Fishtail Mountain, providing excellent photo opportunities and a necessary step in the way of acclimatization process.
- Chhomrong and Sanctuary corridor: pass through the elegant stone paving Guring village and the steep river gully, and feel the local generosity with its extraordinary views from the traditional valley trail.
- Organized trek logistics: it enables careful trekking path selection, an experienced climbing guide and reliable trekking lodging such as tea houses for safe, comfortable and supported trekking in the mountains.
- Feasible for moderately fit, time-limited adventure lovers: paced correctly for active hikers with some cardio fitness who would like to finish a rewarding high-Himalayas expedition within a limited time frame.
Altitude Chart
Itinerary
You will have your timely arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, where our representative will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. That will be your arrival day, and you can have excellent leisure time exploring Kathmandu in preparation for your trek and, at the same time, make arrangements for your gear with a guide who comes there for briefing your trek on the evening before. And the rest of the night you will stay at a hotel, getting sound rest to have an admirable mountain trek toward the Annapurna region, and tomorrow at 6 AM fly to Pokhara and start the trek.
You will catch a very thrilling early morning short mountain flight from Kathmandu toward Pokhara that offers a very clear view from the flight toward steep hills and distant mountain ranges. Your transportation is waiting for your arrival at Pokhara airport, near a lake. It will drive you from Pokhara to Siwai, a town. From the road point, the Siwai trek to Chomrong. That walk is a bit of an ascent up to a village through paddy-terraced farming, green hill ranges, and local hamlets. You will find some bridges that must be crossed in a walk and a number of small stone staircases before your departure to Chomrong village, the largest settlement in the Annapurna area, which is situated on the slope of the ridge, and from there, Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South mountain peaks look wonderful and magnificent.
Enjoy the mountain views from the early morning after breakfast. Descend via steep stone steps toward Chomrong Khola, then walk on a suspension bridge crossing the Chomrong Khola over burbling water. Thereafter you will be on the trek toward Sinuwa, trekking amidst with dense Bamboo, rhododendron and oak forest on winding traces through the Modi Khola, following a deep valley toward the steep uphill trek through Bamboo, Dovan then higher on, temperature would start to decrease on our gradual ascent. And by the afternoon, we could reach Himalaya, a group of lodges nestled within steep, towering cliffs.
A higher start early in order to attain the final great climb, trekking further into that austere high mountain amphitheatre, which is the glacial basin. Following the trail past Hinku Cave, one can observe, wonder at, and admire the magnificent, imposing Fishtail at Macchapucchre Base Camp. Following the views from a high amphitheatre, you descend further down the valley towards Annapurna Base Camp. Entering the Annapurna glacial sanctuary, one is met with a phenomenal surrounding 360-degree theatre made up of glacial walls and colossal Himalayan mountains. Retire to your high-altitude establishment to sit beside this glorious world and observe it reflect the setting sun's fiery gold off its glacial mass.
Rise up early to see the beautiful sunrise that paints the bluish whites of the mountaintops in reds. This changing scenery is accompanied by breakfast, and then you walk downhill towards the base of the mountain. You'll be walking downhill most of the way – which is ideal, as you'll be losing altitude rapidly. Be cautious of the stone steps in sections of steep downhill. Walk back through Machhapuchhre Base Camp and back down the valley past Himalaya and Dovan. The view will change from bare rocky alpine to lush green forests and sparkling rivers. Walk as far as bamboo and then you'll relax in the woods.
You walk down the valley from your hotel towards the stone stairs and forest into the area again towards the Modi Khola river gorge. You walk back up towards Sinuwa and through Chomrong on a trail that skirts to the right and descends steeply to Jhinu Danda. This makes a lovely side-trip, and it's a very popular place to visit as there is the option of warm natural springs by the river. Once at the teahouse, you can descend to the river, which has several pools of water to relax in. After days of slogging up and down mountains, the springs are a perfect way to keep your weary body healthy for the last day of hiking.
This morning, the finale of your trekking comes to a gently closing finish. Trekking from Jhinu Danda, you will walk along the bed of the Modi Khola River on an undemanding trekking route. The last few days have brought you to lowland communities, terraced fields and beside the roadside, where your transportation will wait at Nayapul, followed by a speedy journey back to Lakeside, Pokhara and a refreshing lakeside lunch prior to a domestic flight to Kathmandu. You will be dropped at your hotel and receive an evening of pleasant rest, the concluding point to your impressive Himalaya trek.
It is finally time to rest and have breakfast at the hotel, now that you've been through all the trekking. It is the appropriate time to reflect on the experience you had at altitude. There might be more time to visit the markets in order to find some souvenirs or local handicraft items if your flight is scheduled for the afternoon or late evening. You are picked up from the hotel by a company representative, who will escort you to the airport, ready to leave Nepal behind, full of memories of the incredible mountains and the friendly nature throughout the trip, which may be the most rewarding part of the entire adventure to bring back home.
Services
ABC Trekking Cost and Inclusions
- Airport transfer in a private car upon arrival and upon departure.
- We'll provide you with 2 nights' hotel accommodations in a 3-star hotel on double sharing with breakfast.
- All meals during the trek (i.e. 3 full meals).
- Guide: Expert English-speaking trekking guides, fully licensed and registered by the government.
- We provide one porter for every two trekkers, and our porter will be well paid with a salary, benefits, wear, drink and eat well.
- Flight: Round trip to and from Kathmandu by airplane included.
- Car for transfer between Pokhara and Siwai, and Siwai to Jhinu Danda, and from Jhinu Danda to Nayapul and then drive back to Pokhara, all by private.
- ACAP & TIMS card for Annapurna Conservation Area permit and Trekking Information Management System registration information card.
- Equipment like a sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag, walking sticks (all are to be returned after the trekking).
- Lodge accommodations for teahouses during trekking. However, room sharing might be with 4 to 5 people from March to May and from September to November on peak days during the trek.
- An assistant guide during the trekking trip had more than 8 people.
- Daily fruit during all days of your trek.
- An appreciation certificate awarded upon completion of the trek.
- A complimentary trekking T-shirt.
- Emergency services coordination aided by your insurance policy.
- Twice daily, use a pulse oximeter in order to measure your blood saturation and pulse rate to help prevent altitude sickness.
Exclusions
- Kathmandu & Pokhara: lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara, respectively.
- Visa fees on entry to Nepal: "Visa on Arrival" would be applicable on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal. Visa fees would be: $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days & $125 for 90 days Nepal entry visa.
- Travel and Medical Insurance: Personal travel and medical insurance required
- International airfare: international airfare to and from Nepal.
- Personal expenses: all your personal expenses like shopping, souvenirs, etc.
- Beverages and extra food: charges for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, soups, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cocoa, mineral water, etc.; all additional food and drinks ordered along the trail or within tea houses.
- Desserts and sweets: all kinds of desserts and sweets are included, like chocolate, cake, pie, pudding, etc.
- Hot showers and battery charging: all hot showers and battery recharging costs while at tea houses.
- Tips: all kinds of tips for your guide, porter and driver.
Tour Dates
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14 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trip Overview
The 14-day trek to Annapurna Base Camp is a carefully planned and detailed Himalayan expedition, which is tailor-made and offers a manageable ABC itinerary for beginner Himalayan trekkers, fit beginners, older people, couples, and people who prefer comfort over anything else. This itinerary has a comfortable pace and provides a perfect chance to get acquainted with Himalayan trekking or for first-time Himalayan trek because of the absence of a heavy distance covered every day. This itinerary breaks the overall vertical ascent into several small parts over shorter walking stages.
The journey begins with a transport arrangement that will transfer participants from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and then there will be an ascent of the trail that leads to the Gurung village known for its dynamism. In the first leg, participants will trek through a rhododendron forest where there is seasonal change in the color of its leaves, and the destination will be the famous Ghorepani and Poon Hill. The trail passes through familiar places in Tadapani, Chhomrong & steep valley trails before entering MBC (Machhapuchhre Base Camp). The relaxed schedule will ensure ample leisure time for our trekkers to acclimatize to the higher altitudes and to indulge in the local way of life before proceeding towards the discovery of the Annapurna Sanctuary and ABC.
Booking this package, whether for a guaranteed relaxing holiday experience or an extensive daily schedule, will give you unparalleled peace of mind. This particular trekking package is specifically designed for novice Himalayan trekkers waiting a first major Himalayan trek who can be described as relatively fit beginners, older visitors, couples and comfort-oriented people with extra time to spare for their first-ever Himalayan trek covering both the Poon Hill and ABC treks. On the other hand, this trekking program will not work out for highly experienced and fast trekkers, tourists with less vacation time at hand, people who are trying to keep down the costs of the package through fewer days, as well as those opting for ABC only and Poon Hill optional routes.
Trekking Highlights
- Ghorepani Village Trek: Wander through exceptionally beautiful, idyllic villages set amid the highland plateau beneath the crags and spires, with virgin wild mountain woods and alpine woodland.
- Poon Hill Sunrise: Wake up to the magnificent sunrise breaking through the clouds and warming the amber glow over the stunning Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountain ranges – the highlight of this trip from the best mountain viewpoint.
- Rhododendron Forest Walks: Walk through the beautiful remote villages and winding forest trails with these amazing mossy tall trees and native wildflowers bursting with colour during the fine Spring weather.
- Tadapani Ridge Rest: Rest comfortably in a lovely high ridge-line hamlet, with panoramic views of the deep valleys and extremely quiet and peaceful alpine forests.
- Indigenous Mountain Life: Experience authentic indigenous life and mountain hospitality while discovering historic ethnic villages along the ancient trekking trail.
- Chhomrong Village Life: Cross a lively stepped Gurung settlement which is quite spectacularly perched on the edge of huge ridges sloping right down at the foot of Annapurna South.
- Machhapuchhre Base Camp Halt: Take a quick pause amidst the awe-inspiring foot of the holy, tailed-shaped Fishtail pinnacle that is surrounded by great alpine rocky walls and whirling glacial river waters.
- Annapurna Base Camp: Arrive in the grand arena. Some trekking routes can be done, but others require professional expertise and special planning.
- Properly spaced acclimatization: We scheduled our tour at a pace that allows good rest periods for hiking, but that is not too exhausting and that further allows for proper eating habits and optimal acclimatization.
Altitude Chart
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International, we have someone here who’ll meet you with a private vehicle all ready for you. Depending on your landing times you might need some settling-in time, but Kathmandu is always worth a wander as long as you’re not too jet-lagged. On the first day of the tour, plenty is going on, which means that you don’t really get a chance to do anything other than rest up.
On your second day, you will have breakfast at your hotel early and then board your tourist bus for the overland drive to Pokhara. The overland drive today will be among the best of the trip as we snake up and down the curving highway following the raging river valley, terraced green hillsides, and tiny village communities down below, stopping for lunch at a roadside restaurant along the way. We get some excellent views of the valley as we make our way and arrive at our lakeside hotel in the late afternoon. After checking into our lakeside hotel, we take a walk along the lakeside in the evening.
After a lakeside breakfast in Pokhara, Today, we drive westward to Nayapul for our trek to begin. The trail drops along racing rivers amidst numerous suspension bridges and hamlets of subtropical farmland. Our Guide and porters will continue walking on trails to reach a beautiful traditional Himalayan mountain tea house and enjoy our delicious lunch. We will trek along the valley trails upstream to check in at the cozy mountain tea house at Tikhedhunga and relax our carves by hot tea in the evening.
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before embarking on the centuries-old stone staircases of Tikhedhunga to Ulleri that require a fair bit of effort to conquer. Scenery and vistas are well worth the effort, though, as you contour through some interesting oak and rhododendron forests as you ascend to a 'better' climate and some additional fresh air in the higher reaches. Lunch will be en route as you traverse a ridge path before a 'climb', through the canopy of the forest to arrive at Ghorepani (2874m) in the mid-afternoon. Overnight will be spent in one of the hospitable teahouses.
You will wake early and leave the warmth of your room in the darkness while it's still early, walk to the mountain viewpoint at Poon Hill at 3,210 meters to get a panoramic view of the mountains as well as the fascinating sunrise. After you get down to the busy teahouse from Poon Hill, you will eat breakfast and continue going along the upper route to Chisapani by trekking on the mountain trail through the forest to Tadapani 2710m while you are having your lunch on the way as well as sightseeing the mountain scenery. And you will then spend the night at a cozy teahouse in Tadapani.
We start our journey with an all-day excursion (6 to 7 hrs) for our descent and ascent from Tadapani to Chomrong – situated at an altitude of 2170m. During our walk, you can traverse pristine rhododendron and oak forests, cross exciting suspension bridges across mountain streams and experience tiny pastoral settlements such as Chuile. Our lunch break will take place at a lovely terrace restaurant in Gurjung.
Also, keep an eye out for some beautiful animals, including colorful pheasants, mountain goats and barking dogs guarding their hillside farmhouse! Lastly, we drop to 2170m, which makes us feel super blessed, as there’s plenty of oxygen here to enjoy our view without worrying about any altitude effects.
The day starts at 5-6 hours from Chomrong to the Kimrong River, and gradually ascends to Dovan (2,600 m). Travel through the thick jungle and bamboo, and descend into gorges where the giant river roars through, slithering in Dovan can be quite challenging to get as high as 2,600 m (8,530 ft). See the wild mountain goats, langur monkeys and on a clear weather day can also be seen the legendary snow leopards go up the high circling along the above atop above the mountain's chilled canyon air keep refreshed to you to continue up hill hike of 2,600 meters for enhance of your to get your acclimatized.
We start the day with an exciting, albeit short 3–4–hour trek through this majestic valley as we move deep inside the gorge towards Deurali (3200 m). As we travel along glacial rivers amidst towering cliffs and avalanche-prone gullies, you’ll have opportunities for animal sightings, including Himalayas Village and Hinku Cave. Lunch will be served on reaching our lodge in Deurali. As we’ve now crossed over 3200m elevation, you may notice that the air becomes significantly thinner and crisper, which could leave you with a brief shortness of breath should you try to go anywhere quickly. Please take things slow and enjoy what nature has offered!
We begin our day early, and today we have the most epic 5-6 hour hike from Deurali all the way up to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC); 4130m. On our way, we cross Machhapuchhre Basecamp for some of the most breathtaking scenery: the most impressive glacial amphitheatre dominated by towering icy giants. We also pass through some moraines and snowy alpine fields on our way. Once again, lunch here is at the sanctuary lodge at ABC, but since it’s extremely cold and high altitude, there aren’t many animal species seen. As we reach 4130 meters, you can see the effect of altitude because it's going to be much colder, and we’re gonna get fatigued easily, with slight headache issues too. So better keep hydrated and move slowly.
This day begins even before dawn because you will be out to see the wonderful Annapurna Sanctuary peaks that have been painted in gold by the morning sun. You can now have breakfast at the base camp before descending from the mountain to the valley. The descent will make you breathe easily, as well as have enough oxygen. Your lunch will be taken in the afternoon at a very comfortable tea house on your way back. Feel the forest environment and feel completely relaxed after having gone through fatigue. End the day in Bamboo at 2,400m above sea level.
Your day begins with a 6-to-7-hour trek from Bamboo back up to Chomrong, then down to Jhinu Danda at an altitude of just 1,760 meters, where you’ll enjoy some fun in one of this area’s most iconic attractions – its natural hot springs. Along the way, walk through terraced fields and past forested hillsides. You'll also spot animals including village dogs, butterflies, and farm animals as we head down towards that magical drop in altitude to zero altitude effects. You could spend your afternoon here relaxing your trekking muscles by taking a dip into these soothing hot spring pools on the banks of the Modi River. And lunch is included, too – you’ll have plenty of time for refreshments during our stopover at the restaurant in Chomrong Village.
The day starts off with a 6- to 7-hour combination of both downhill trek and then taking your private vehicle from Nayapul back to Pokhara (820m). Along the way, we’ll pass through various rural farming villages, rolling green hills and busy roadside bazaars. Our lunch will be at a local eatery in Birethanti, after which our transport meets us. Water buffaloes, goats and street dogs are some of the animal sightings during today’s journey. We return to the comfort of our low altitude (820m), which completely erases all signs of mountain fatigue, giving us ample opportunity for celebration of completing our trek with a relaxed evening spent around Phewa Lake in Pokhara.
You will then return to Kathmandu on the same road for the 6-7-hour scenic drive. We take a beautiful, winding river valley and terraces on hillsides through many busy towns alongside the highway. We have lunch at one of the restaurants among tourists along the highway. You might see various animals such as roadside cows, monkeys near temple stopovers and working goats during this trip. During the whole journey, you would be really comfortable since it’s very low elevation, and therefore you don’t get any sort of altitude effect. Your afternoon can be spent shopping for souvenir items at the famous local Thamel market, packing up your bags and having dinner to celebrate your successful Himalayan Adventure.
You can spend another morning having breakfast. After that, we’ll provide you with an airport transfer to the Kathmandu International Airport to catch an international departure flight. The good news is that the altitude of 1,350m will mean nothing anymore. In fact, you’ll feel absolutely normal, healthy, and even more energized when you step onto your airplane, with all those wonderful, unforgettable experiences from the Annapurna sanctuary, amazing mountain peaks, and the incredible warmth of the Nepali people forever etched into your memory.
14 ABC Trek Package and Inclusions
Inclusions
- International airport pick up/drop off by private car.
- Accommodation for two nights in 3 star hotels with twin sharing basis and two breakfasts (Kathmandu).
- Two nights’ standard accommodation in a 3 Star Hotel in Pokhara on a twin-sharing basis, with two breakfasts.
- Round-trip ground and domestic transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then Nayapul by bus.
- Comfortable tea house accommodations throughout the whole trek.
- Three meals a day during the mountain journey (breakfast, lunch and main course dinner).
- Staff Support travel: Staff Support: We sort all the food, accommodation, insurance and transport for your guides and porters.
- Park Permits and Fees: Covered, including the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) card.
- Gear Up for Free: Use of a sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag and walking poles - just bring them back at the end of the trip.
- Fruits: Fresh fruits will be provided everyday when travelling on the trail.
- Guides: Expert English speaking government licensed professional trekking guide + if you have more than 8 people, we can provide an “assistant guide”
- Porter: Friendly Sherpa porters 1 per 2 people ); they are well equipped with all safety equipment, plus full wages, food, and insurance.
- Gifts and Appreciation: Sherpa team T-shirt and trekking appreciation certificate. High Altitude
- Emergency Rescue: Organization of high-altitude emergency rescue (with the help of your travel insurance).
- Tax: Government taxes and VAT, etc.
What's Not Included
- Nepal Entry Visa: You'll need to pay for on-arrival visa fees at Tribhuvan International Airport - currently, it costs $30 USD for a 15-day visa, $50 USD for 30 days or $125 USD for 90 days.
- Meals out in Town: We don't cover lunch and dinner at the local restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Drinks: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks like tea, coffee, bottled water and beer are also not included in the package.
- Your Personal Spend: Any money you pay at the local teahouses on snacks, laundry, phone calls or a hot shower will be down to you.
- Gear: Any specialized trekking kit or clothes you need to buy before you go will be your responsibility.
- Travel Insurance: You'll need to have your own emergency travel insurance that covers rescue and evacuation at high altitude - this really is a must.
- Tipping your Guides and Porters: It's customary to give your trekking guide and support staff a bit of extra cash as a thank you for their hard work.
- Unexpected Costs: If we get hit with extra expenses due to things beyond our control, like landslides, bad weather, illness or government policy changes, then these will have to come out of your pocket.
- Any Other Extras: And finally, you'll be expected to cover any other expenses not specifically mentioned in the package description.
If you cut your trek short due to illness or some other personal reason, then all the money you paid for flights, hotels, mountain rooms and food will not be returned. And if you end up having to spend more money on hotels and food in Kathmandu while you're there, then you'll be liable for that too.
Tour Dates
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13 Days Annapurna Base camp Trek
13 day Annapurna Base Camp Trek offers an awesome alpine adventure that's tailor-made for anyone with a decent level of fitness - whether you're here as a photographer, a couple on your first trip, or just love taking in the views - because this less-rushed itinerary lets you really savor the experience and enjoy the real deal of an ultimate relaxed ABC trek. As we traverse glaciers and gaze out over incredible ridgeline vistas, this trek is sure to provide excellent acclimatisation and a fulfilling experience at a very comfortable trekking pace.
Logistically, we start by driving from the capital out to Pokhara and then head on over to the trailhead at Nayapul from there. Once we're on the path, it's a winding route upwards through old stone staircases, past Gurung villages that are still going strong today, and through some simply stunning rhododendron forest. One of the highlights of the early route has to be the trails near Poon Hill, Ghorepani, which are famous for their viewpoint - and then there's the traditional connection via Tadapani, which is always a real treat. As we make our way further into the mountains, we travel through cultural centers such as Chhomrong, and then enjoy a short stroll to Machhapuchare Base Camp Trek before you mosey into the breathtaking, high-altitude arena of the Annapurna Sanctuary. And that's when you'll reach ABC.
This well-paced itinerary provides frequent opportunities for Himalayan photography and promises scenic walking days with jaw-dropping mountain scenery. Whether marketed as a complete ridge-and-sanctuary trek or a well-paced alpine journey, this package offers excellent value for those looking for a mountains-and-mountains program.
This itinerary is ideal for the average fit individual, couples, and photographers who wish to experience the mountain world in a complete and peaceful way. This trek would not be suitable for short-term travelers, speed hikers or truly affordable seekers due to the number of days; people solely seeking an easy, low-level position without stairs; or those exclusively interested in a direct ABC route without the Poon Hill extension. For travelers who desire comfort, scenic diversity, and a really relaxed daily schedule, this comprehensive program is the most spectacular Himalayan experience.
Trekking Highlights
- Ghorepani Hike - Feel the wind blowing around through the picturesque traditional ridge villages and walk through old forest along the slopes of huge mountains.
- Poon Hill – When we reach to watch the famous Poon Hill sunrise trek, we can see the golden sun rays shining on the huge peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. You’ll have this opportunity to witness an incredible panorama view of the magnificent Himalayan range.
- Rhododendron trails: Traverse the Rhododendron trails while inhaling the mountain air; experience mossy trees and thick forests of blooming flora in our region.
- Tadapani: Lean back and relax in the peace of Tadapani, and peacefully lay your head; revel in the natural beauty of a scenic ridge hamlet, consisting of deep green valleys, extraordinary waterfalls and a 360-degree view of Himalayan Peaks.
- Chhomrong: Tour the lofty settlement built on a high ridge just beneath the tremendous mountains in the Gurung village that features stone stairs, traditional houses and awe-inspiring views of the valley.
- Machhapuchhre Base Camp: Visit the famous base camp of the Fishtail mountain in alpine ascents and glaciers and explore the inner core of the Annapurna Sanctuary while taking in increasingly magnificent scenery.
- Annapurna Base Camp: Take pride in being victorious on this extraordinary valley of glaciers in and around the towering Himalayan summits, with up-close views of the stunning Annapurna South and Annapurna I, Hiunchuli and Machchapuchhre peaks.
- Well-distributed daily progression: Undertake treks in steps on a daily basis in such a way that they are well distributed and comfortable, making sure that the body stays acclimatized comfortably.
Altitude Chart
Annapurna Base camp Trek 13 Days Itinerary
The trip starts as soon as you land at Tribhuvan International Airport. Then our guide drives you by vehicle to find yourself arriving at a three-star Holiday Inn. There is free time left in your entire day so that everyone can relax while also strolling through the vibrant places known as Thamel in Kathmandu, taking care of their own food arrangements at lunch and dinner times in the comfort of the accommodation centers before packing all the gear for the adventures ahead.
This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, drive west of Kathmandu city, out of Kathmandu Valley towards the entrance gate to Annapurna, Phewa lake City of Pokhara, overlooking the Himalayan range. The road journey is about 6-7 hrs. (subject to road and traffic. As you drive along the Prithvi Highway, you will be treated to grand vistas of Nepali country life and cascading waterfalls along with the lush green hills. Pokhara in the foreground and beautifully framed northwards by the still, glassy water of Phewa Lake snaking majestically at the foot of the snowy glorious Annapurna massif with the magical, fish-shaped peak of the world's most famous mountain, Machhpuchhre looming in the distance. Arriving in the late afternoon, check-in to the hotel and the rest of your day can be spent at your leisure time either sitting at the edge of the quiet lakeshore or wandering at the vibrant lakeside market.
Your trek officially starts after a quick drive to Nayapul amidst the gorgeous setting of Pokhara. Your trek begins as you get introduced to your guide and porter at Nayapul, followed by heading towards the banks of the Modi Khola River. You walk amidst stunning agricultural communities and subtropical forests and walk across the suspension bridges decorated with prayer flags. Your walk becomes increasingly steep as you finally embark on the challenging task of trekking up thousands of stone staircases. There are nearly three thousand stone staircases leading you to the traditional Gurung settlement of Ulleri, where you will spend the night.
Feeling refreshed with your breakfast before climbing up through a lovely rhododendron and oak forest filled with red and pink colors in spring to form a beautiful flowered canopy over the trail. The trail gently ascends, with many small water streams crossing and lots of wooden bridges. With little elevation gained, you would start feeling fresh with the cool mountain breeze, short rest here and there would be such a bliss to sit and view such high mountains as Hiunchuli and Annapurna South. You will arrive in the crowded hill-top village of Ghorepani on your way by late afternoon, which is the very same popular village located just below Poon Hill.
Start early from Ghorepani and head for an uphill journey towards Poon Hill (approx. 3210 meters). After your time to admire the beautiful panoramic views and click wonderful photographs, descend to Ghorepani for breakfast. From here onwards, our trekkers continue their trek towards Chuile, covering both descending and ascending parts, passing through many forests and mountain villages. In all, we will be on foot for approx. 6-7 hours today.
Mostly, you are going through rhododendron woodlands, getting different views of the hills and snow-covered peaks as you trek towards the Chuile village, which is at about 2710 meters above sea level. So today's trek has combined one of the most popular viewpoints with a longer trail through forests towards the Annapurna Base Camp route. Once we reach Chuile, we can enjoy dinner and rest our heads at a local teahouse.
The day starts with fresh mountain air and sun illuminating the valley around Chuile before dropping almost all the way down to a wild torrent, then scaling the next hill through forest. Have a delicious lunch at a teahouse in a very comfortable nearby valley near the junction with the lower river, then climb into the upper part of the valley to reach the peaceful settlement of Sinuwa on a ridge at 2360 metres. Here enjoy a filling dinner, then fantastic valley vistas, then a good sleep.
You will be spellbound by your morning breakfast overlooking the valleys of the Modi Khola. The trail descends more and more into the deep mountain valley as you walk; you'll creep through bamboo zones, Dobhan, and the Himalaya. Have lunch at the scenic teahouse on the way. During a walk down the mountain, the slowly rising terrain will turn into a rough alpine zone and thinned air. Your walk will be finished before the afternoon, with dinner and resting your body in warm sleeping bags.
A beautiful morning will start with breakfast in the Balcony of the mountain, Deurali. Now walk on the scenic way to the center of the sanctuary. You will find it far more inspirational passing Machhapuchere Base Camp for lunch and to rest for acclimatization. Once above the MBC, vegetation dissolves, while wide, glacial-moraine-covered icy walls will welcome you. A step over the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,120m will give you a 360 degree amphitheatre of inspiring sights and a chance to hang out with golden moments as the sunset dyes the mountain with gold, followed by dinner and sleep.
Take in the sunrise views highlighting the pinnacles of the Annapurna Sanctuary glowing a glorious gold as you step outside to begin your day before dawn. Following your footsteps, descend into the valley after a nourishing breakfast at base camp, with a long walk downhill to return. It's easier on the lungs to walk downhill in terms of energy as the oxygen levels become higher. Rest your steps in a lovely teahouse on the way back for midday lunch, then return to the luxuriant forest that provides instant relief from scorching sun. Conclude your day when you arrive at Bamboo 2400m for a serene evening.
Today's walk is a mixture of some good walking and total relaxation. Another upward walk to stone steps to the village of Chomrong, where it’s steep to descend down the forest to a village called Jinu Danda, where there is the welcoming lodge. From here, a short, sharp downhill walk takes place through the jungles down to the banks of the Modi Khola to have a relaxing soak in the thermal waters of the natural hot springs. Nothing beats relaxing those tired, aching bodies in the warming thermal waters.
Start your day with a healthy breakfast at Jhinu Danda and walk slowly on the last day of the trek. Take an easy walk along the deep valley of the lower Modi Khola, offering magnificent views of green hills and farmland, followed to reach the entry point of Nayapul, which is the final destination of your trek, and our private vehicle is ready to transfer you from there. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive back to Pokhara on the good tarred road with stunning mountain views of Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre and green rolling hills with farmland villages, upon arrival check-in to your lakeside hotel.
Begin your day peacefully with a relaxing breakfast by the banks of Phewa Lake in Pokhara, while the remaining expansive sights of mountains and crystal skies are encapsulated in your memory till the time you awaken the next day. That will be the moment when your tourist bus heads towards the best scenic route through the Prithvi Highway till you reach the ground of Kathmandu (driving through river gorges and picturesque rural settlements), with a break to have lunch at a highway restaurant en route. You will reach back to the ground in Kathmandu in the late afternoon to check in to your hotel room. The rest of the day is for relaxing and shopping around Thamel.
No rush this morning. Have breakfast watching Phewa Lake before you leave and take the last moment to absorb the mountains. Next is travelling via the Prithvi Highway for your drive to Kathmandu - one of the more scenic highway drives in the country, driving past meandering river gorges with tiny roadside villages every so often. You'll take a break for lunch en route. By late afternoon, you're back in Kathmandu and settled into your hotel. Whatever you want to do for the evening is up to you - you can check out Thamel for some shopping or just kick back in your hotel.
13 ABC Trek Package and Inclusions
Inclusions
- Airport Transfers: International and Domestic pick-up and drop-off services via private vehicle.
- Kathmandu - Pokhara transport: Round-trip transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara via tourist bus.
- Kathmandu hotel: 2 nights stay in a 3 star hotel with twin sharing basis, including breakfast in Kathmandu.
- 2 nights Pokhara hotel stay in a 3 star category hotel, including breakfast.
- Local ground transport: Private car/jeep transfer from Pokhara to Nyapul.
- Teahouse stays comfortable lodgings during your trekking stay on twin sharing basis (Note – During peak season of trekking that are usually around from Mid March to May and also from mid September to November there might be chance that rooms would have 4 to 5 beds for high altitude places like Himalaya, Deurali, MBC, ABC, Bamboo because of high demand.
- Meals on trek - 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the entire period of your trekking journey.
- Experienced Guides: Our English-speaking guides are pros, registered by the government, and our groups of 8 or more get an extra assistant guide to make sure everything runs smoothly.
- Hardworking Porters: Our porters, one for every 2 trekkers, are all Sherpas who are strong, helpful and look after themselves while on the job - we take care of their food, accommodation, safety gear and insurance.
- All the Necessary Permits and Fees: You don't have to worry about the ACAP permit or TIMS card fees - we've got them covered.
- Taxes taken care of: All government taxes, local taxes and other expenses are included in the package.
- Emergency Support: Coordination for high-altitude rescue operations funded by your personal travel insurance.
- Certificate: Trek completion appreciation certificate issued by the Sherpa Expedition Team.
Exclusions
- Not Included in the International Flight: International airfare to and from Nepal. We're not covering that cost.
- Visa Fee at the Airport: On-arrival visa fees at Tribhuvan International Airport. You will have to pay them yourself for a visa - it's $30 USD for 15 days, $50 USD for 30 days or $125 USD for 90 days.
- Baggage Charges: And of course, if you have excess luggage, we don't cover the extra charges (our standard baggage limit is 9 kg per person).
- Food and Accommodation in Kathmandu when you're not with the Group: Any meals and accommodation in Kathmandu outside the scheduled itinerary, and lunch or dinner in Pokhara.
- If you want to leave early or change your plans, any additional accommodation costs in Kathmandu caused by early arrival, late departure, or returning early from the trek are on you.
- Your personal purchases, including shopping, snacks, boiled water, drinks, and other things that aren't included in the trip.
- Your Own Gear: You're responsible for your own personal clothing, trekking boots, and any other specialized personal equipment.
- Travel Insurance: You'll also need compulsory travel insurance that covers emergency high-altitude rescue and medical evacuation.
- Tipping Your Guides and Porters: Gratuities for your trekking guides and porters are expected as part of the local culture.
- Stuff Outside of Our Control: Any other unforeseen costs caused by things we can't control, like landslides, bad weather, emergency itinerary changes, illness, government policy changes or strikes.
- Any Other Unlisted Cost: And of course, any other costs and expenses that aren't explicitly listed under the package inclusions.
Tour Dates
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12 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trip Overview
The 12-day Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek will take you through one of the most famous landmarks on the hillside of the Annapurna mountain range while giving you all the best experiences of the Ghorepani – Poon Hill trek. This unique combination makes this 12-day Annapurna Base Camp trek the ultimate Classic Annapurna experience for the professional photographer, first-time Nepal trekkers and those who want to have a more thorough experience of the Annapurnas. The mixture of exploring high-altitude glacial basins along with ridgeline hikes allows this 12-day trek to be considered an Extended ABC Trek, which covers lots of different aspects of the outdoors.
You’ll fly (or make your own overland connections) into Pokhara before hitting the trailhead on the beautiful journey from Nayapul. As you climb up the ancient Gurung villages and stone pavers, you will traverse famous towns such as Ulleri, that are the gateway for classic Ghorepani trekking experience. The most awaited moment comes when you witness the Poon Hill Sunrise. Then the trail moves forward to Tadapani and then towards dense forested areas where we reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp in the end to view the majestic Annapurna sanctuary. Through this itinerary we offer you the perfect blend of a balanced trek route and acclimatization profile to ensure you have one of the best ABC Poon Hill trek experiences ever. This traditional 12-Day Annapurna Base Camp trek/Annapurna Base Camp with Poon Hill Trek package, will take care of all your requirements. You will get to witness unparalleled scenic diversity while enjoying Ghorepani Annapurna Base Camp trek throughout the day.
Our ABC Poon Hill trek itinerary ensures you enjoy the most beautiful view from Poonhill which offers an excellent view of the mighty Himalayas. This package is built specifically with photographers, first-time hikers and anyone looking for a truly comprehensive mountain experience in mind. On the other hand, people who want to give Poon Hill a skip, those after a quicker ABC route, or anyone with a tight schedule and looking to get to base camp ASAP, should probably give this specific route a miss. It's also not exactly geared up for those looking for ultra-short treks without any ridge extensions. However, for those with the time to spare, this route offers the ultimate adventure in the Himalayas.
Trekking Highlights
- Ghorepani trekking route - Walk magnificent ridge-line trails through a series of successive blooming rhododendron forests and charming highland villages.
- Poon Hill sunrise - Be captivated by the glowing sunrise over the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountain ranges from the must-see vista of Poon Hill.
- Ulleri village route - Climb those famous stone-paved staircases that go up past the farming slopes and local communities - a real must-do.
- Tadapani forest trail - Walk through a dense canopy of moss-covered trees that'll transport you to a magical world - high-altitude ridges meet deep valley corridors in a pretty dramatic way.
- Traditional mountain villages - Spend time in authentic local culture and get a real taste of hospitality - you won't want to leave these historic Gurung and Magar settlements.
- Machhapuchhre Base Camp - Rest your weary bones at the foot of the sacred Fishtail peak, with towering walls, glacial streams and a sense of being at the end of the world.
- Annapurna Base Camp - Stand proudly inside the glacial amphitheater, surrounded by massive peaks - it's like nothing you've ever seen before
- Jhinu Hot Spring (included) - get those tired muscles relaxed in the geothermal pools along the returning trail, where warm waters meet the river and it's just the thing to round off a great trip.
Altitude Chart
12 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary
Today you arrive in Nepal and as you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport you are welcomed by a company representative and transferred to your private vehicle. You spend the early part of the day exploring the bustling streets on the way to the ancient temples along the way to your hotel in Thamel. You wander the twisting streets and alleys, passing by markets, old courtyards and tea stalls.
After check-in to your 3-star hotel, you have the rest of the day to relax before tomorrow's active day. You may eat some momos – a type of dumpling – in a local cafe for an early lunch. Later, you meet your guide to review the permit, gear and trip itinerary before you go to bed early.
Today, you start the day with breakfast at the hotel and drive a private vehicle/tourist bus to the west highway via the major route of the Himalaya. We drive along a road through the terraced fields, scree slopes, bustling river, and smooth highways. On the highway, in the roadside villages and towns such as Mugling and Malekhu, you will see a similar route of the rounds, where most of the travelers stop for lunch by the Trisuli River during their visit.
Occasionally you may witness domesticated buffaloes wallowing in the mud holes on the riverbank. When the weather becomes cooler and the sunset, the trail opens, and the vehicle approaches Pokhara for the magnificent mountains of Machhapuchhre on the shiny surface of Phewa Lake. And stay overnight in the Lakeside hotel.
Have breakfast on the lakeside, then a 1-hour scenic drive takes us to our next destination – Nayapul. This will be the start point of our active treks. Walks through small farms, bridges and some nice tea shops. Lunch is served at this lovely hillside lodge, which serves local dal bhat. Our trek starts upwards towards a thousand stone steps. From time to time, there will be some forest clearings in front of us from where we can spot beautiful animals such as barking deer and colorful birds. At the end of the day, after conquering the steep stone stairs, we will arrive at the Ulleri or Tikhedunga (depending upon which route is taken) and can check into our homely teahouse to have dinner and relax.
After a refreshing morning walk in the mountain air of the lodge and a hearty breakfast, we set out on our strenuous trek uphill via the ancient rhododendron and oak forests that are profusely covered with pink flowering blooms in Spring.
We take our lunch break at ‘Banthanti’, where we have a delightful meal consisting of hot noodle soup, accompanied by amazing scenic beauty en route, while walking amidst the thick forest cover of oak and rhododendrons.
Things become increasingly more difficult when you begin to ascend higher up the slope. Once past 2,500 m, your ascent becomes more and more impaired by the reduced oxygen levels, though you will be able to see groups of amusing langurs jumping around in the uppermost trees of this majestic woodland. At last, you walk toward the lofty ridges of ‘Ghorepani’ to witness the breathtaking panoramic view of this magnificent mountain range before ending up with a nice dinner at a local teahouse.
Upon waking, you will begin a 1-hour early-morning walk up a stone staircase to Poon Hill's most notable ridge at (3,210m) where you will watch the most incredible sunrise over the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountain range. A full hot breakfast is had back in Ghorepani before the climb up and over various ridge lines through the woods, before heading down the steep, muddy trail to Deurali.
You will have lunch at a clearing filled with pine trees, and in the afternoon cross a few mountain streams and walk around some soggy trails in the woods where a huge variety of Himalayan birds flit about. You will reach Tadapani and witness the sunset over the Annapurna South ridge in the comfort of your lodge.
Morning arrives with a warm cup of tea and a breakfast taken in while looking out over the deep wooded valleys from Tadapani - the misty veil is still clinging to the lower slopes, making the whole scene feel very serene. The trail then suddenly drops sharply down through thickly forested landscapes that are full of moss clinging to the trees and the sound of waterfalls cascading their way down the hillsides. You get across the Kimrong Khola on a long, rickety suspension bridge, which can be a bit nerve-wracking before the real challenge starts - a gruelling uphill climb towards Gurjung. We stop for a break to eat at a local teahouse in Gurjung village where you can enjoy some ‘real’ local hospitality and take in the view from the big, sweeping terraces. As you keep going and trek along the open hillside ridge, the massive walls of Annapurna South start to loom up right in front of you. Eventually the day comes to an end with a final steady push up into Chhomrong, a really lively Gurung settlement. You can check into a comfy teahouse for the night.
We start our day with a hearty breakfast as we take in the incredible view of the valley below and begin our descent over 2,500 stairs down the stone path. Cross a river bridge, then ascend again through bamboo and oak forest to Sinuwa for lunch and then take a break in the Bamboo settlement to regroup our legs after the steep descent and ascent next to the mighty ford of the Modi River. The trail rises as you are led to a Dobhan – a tiny village, and the narrowing gorge causes the temperatures to dip more and more with each step into the mountains. This section will take you down a rocky, stony trail with very few trees along. You can spot the wild Himalayan tahr that usually graze around the rocky ridges in the background from time to time. At nightfall, check out our Himalaya lodge, where we have you covered for your water needs and some relaxation time to get acclimatized.
Have breakfast, followed by high-altitude hiking into the core of the region. The track feels intense as it rises over Hinko Cave and clears avalanche-prone walls of rock straight into Machhapuchhre Base Camp for your lunch break. A slight headache or breathlessness is experienced above 3,500 m, so take it slow and steady. After leaving MBC, the trail glides over wide and smooth glacial moraines to the scenic beauty of the Annapurna Sanctuary. Overnight at the Annapurna Base Camp amidst an amphitheatre of ice walls that extend a complete 360-degree view from the observation point at 4,130m.
Your day begins with the magical moment of the sunrise in the icy peaks of our sanctuary at the beginning of the fresh day. After a rich breakfast in the high-altitude basin, you will walk back down to the valley following the same paths in a long zigzag way. Descending from the hilly tracks is much more relaxed as the air and oxygen pressure become higher.
Passing by Deurali and Himalaya, you will reach Dobhan for lunch. Your afternoon walk through a beautiful green bamboo forest will bring you to the familiar Bamboo village where you will start rejoicing your descent into the tea house with a hot dinner and an overnight.
After having breakfast at Bamboo, we begin our morning by going for the last bit of the upstream/downstream portions of the trekking route.
Firstly, we climb back through the densest part of the forest towards Sinuwa. Then we’ll start descending through a colossal stone staircase all the way down to the river, where we climb again over a steeper ridge to come back to Chhomrong for lunch.
At this point, we get one more opportunity to gaze upon the lofty heights from Chhomrong village itself. The journey then continues to descend more gently along a relatively steep section of rocks, down to the base of the Jhinu Danda. When the sunset finally hits, we'll enjoy some tasty foods on the menu at our lodge, before taking a little tour to the hot spring waters along the side of the river.
Begin your day with a tasty local morning breakfast, and then continue your trek down the Modi Khola river valley. The trail meanders along the way through a number of subtropical farming villages and offers stunning views of terraces of rice fields and orange plantations.
After an excellent lunch in one of those lovely little villages near Syauli Bazaar, you will take a short walk up to Nayapul and then get driven back to Pokhara in comfort. It is going to be a nice end-of-day drive back to Pokhara, as you will see a very nice view of Phewa Lake in the evening and can have a good dinner in this lovely lakeside city.
Morning starts with the lovely sight of a lakeside breakfast in Pokhara, taking in those peaceful views of the water and distant hills one last time. First on the agenda is getting onto a bus or a private car to head back the way we came, on the return highway to the capital. The trip retraces the snaking Prithvi Highway past rivers racing along, hills with fields all the way up the sides, and those roadside towns - we'll even stop for lunch halfway. As the day drifts on into evening, the vehicle will be navigating through the city traffic to get you back to - eventually - your hotel in Thamel. And that is where the day ends - unpack your gear and catch up with your new mates for a really special farewell dinner - the grand finale of your adventure.
12 Days ABC Trek Cost and Inclusions
Included
- Getting to/from the airport – We'll arrange a private vehicle for you to travel from the airport to your hotel and back when it's time to leave.
- Traveling around the city – To travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara and from Pokhara back to Kathmandu, you will be taking a tourist bus.
- City stay: We've got two nights in Kathmandu and two nights in Pokhara all sorted, with breakfast included.
- Getting to and from the trailhead: We'll arrange for a private car or jeep to get you from Pokhara to Nayapul and back again - just let us know your preference.
- Accommodations: We've booked you into some of the best teahouses and lodges on the trail, so you can just focus on enjoying the view.
- Accommodation note: If we're going during peak season (that's mid-March to May, and mid-September to November), teahouses in places like Himalaya, Deurali, MBC, Annapurna Base Camp, and Bamboo are going to be pretty busy - be prepared for shared rooms with 4 or 5 beds; that's just the way it is.
- Food on the trail: We'll sort out all your meals for you - breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.
- Your guides and support staff: Our English-speaking Government-licensed trek leader, plus an assistant guide for groups of eight or more people and a handful of experienced Sherpa porters - one to two for every trekker - all covered for costs like salary, food, insurance and safety gear.
- Required permits: We take care of the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the TIMS card for you.
- Medical and safety: We regularly check in with you twice a day, using our oximeter to monitor for any symptoms of altitude sickness and our emergency contact for rescue coordination so that you're safe.
- Extras: You get an official company certificate, and we cover all taxes and local fees.
Excluded
- International flights: Airfare to and from Nepal.
- Visa costs: The on-arrival visa will set you back $30 for a 15-day stay, $50 for 30 days, or $125 for 90 days.
- City meals: We won't be including lunch and dinner in Pokhara and Kathmandu - sorry about that.
- Extra hotel stays: If for whatever reason you have to arrive early, leave late or end up heading home before the trek is all done, you'll have to bear the cost for any extra nights in a hotel.
- Personal expenses: Just to note, you'll need to cover shopping, the odd snack, bottled or boiled water, drinks, a hot shower, Wi-Fi, recharging your battery, making phone calls, getting your laundry done.
- Clothing and gear, and obligatory travel insurance (covering emergency rescue to/at altitude).
- Staff tips: Tips for your guides, porters and driver – customary in the industry.
- Additional costs: Expenses caused by events outside the control of management (e.g. adverse weather, landslides, strikes, changes in government policy).
Tour Dates
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16 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trip Overview
The 16-Day Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the well-known route of the original Himalayan trip that has been designed especially for foreign travelers to Nepal who have never been to the country before and are interested in mountain- and culture-based experiences, along with couples, solo travelers, and individuals taking over two weeks to do it. The long itinerary makes the perfect Himalayan holiday with challenging, high-altitude trails and engaging, high-mountain city excursions. When it comes to the itinerary itself, it is also a comprehensive Nepal trekking package in which mountains and culture simply go hand-in-hand, making it a best option for a comprehensive Nepal tour and trek.
Ideally, the trek combines a variety of culture and tradition, starting with a cultural introduction via the Kathmandu sightseeing tour through the old UNESCO Nepal culture & heritage sites that reveal centuries of history. We then follow the Kathmandu–Pokhara itinerary and move to the scenic lakeside for leisure Pokhara sightseeing, Phewa Lake exploration before heading onto the Annapurna alpine trail.
Although the main alpine trail includes elements of a classic Annapurna trek with a crossing into Annapurna Sanctuary up to ABC, this is a Himalayan holiday in every way. While hiking the trek route, trekkers pass through authentic Gurung villages too.
As a standalone trip to high altitudes with ABC as its main theme, or as part of your longer trek holidays and mountain voyage of your desire, a comprehensive trip like this will allow you variety. Recommended for anyone seeking his/hers first time in Nepal, combining trek with sightseeing; the culture of Kathmandu and tourism in Pokhara, and having ample holidays to invest in one complete Nepal package. But, this trip is not recommended for trekkers who would solely concentrate on trekking, budget travelers minimizing extra nights out of trek, travelers who have already visited Kathmandu and Pokhara are well familiar with the place, speed-minded trekkers to ABC, travelers wanting just mountain walking trails with no further city-side excursions.
Trekking Highlights
- Kathmandu arrival and cultural experience: Kathmandu is not only the capital but also the heart of Nepal's cultural traditions of Nepal which will treat you very well on your first arrival day
- Kathmandu sightseeing: in this part, you are going to see many historical sites that are World Heritage sites, the sacred temples, and also lively street markets with your friendly guide.
- Stay/sightseeing around Pokhara: there are some very scenic lakeside areas to tour around, and some nice dining places to taste local cuisines, along with some great mountain reflections that can be seen here in the valley.
- Machhapuchhre Base Camp Trek: One of the sacred peaks of the Himalayas can be found along the way. So we stop for some time at Machhapuchhre, also known as Fishtail Mountain’s base camp, to enjoy the magnificence that surrounds us, with beautiful mountain walls and running streams.
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek: After completing all the goals of this trekking trip, you will finally reach the ABC, which includes all the breathtaking high-altitude glacial amphitheater within 24 hrs, while sitting amidst the grand Himalayas' snow-white peaks.
- Annapurna region Trekking: Experience the natural adventure with classic ABC alpine trails, stone stairs, gorges, lush rivers, and wild mountain sceneries including the alpine terrain of the Annapurna zones.
- Mountain villagers: Get to know the indigenous culture and way of life of this traditional mountain enclave as you traverse the area.
- Culture plus city plus Himalayan: The cultural, urban, and Himalayan exploration all-in-one complete package that includes the city, nature, and mountain hiking.
- Nepal comprehensive holiday: Harmoniously covers all you need to know about the whole journey. City transfer, hotel, and trek support.
Altitude Chart
16 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary
Your adventure to the Himalayas kicks off today when you land at Kathmandu Airport (approx. 1,350m). After being welcomed warmly by our guide, we’ll start exploring the city’s hustle and bustle during this scenic trip, from the busy streets where you might get mesmerized by the vibrancy of colorful local markets, along with the charm of historic temples amidst chaos. As you reach your hotel, you can prepare all your stuff while taking some much-needed rest. During the time you’re staying in Kathmandu, you most likely won’t spot any animals other than stray dogs and sacred cows roaming around the city streets, but since it's not at very high altitudes, you still won’t feel any bad effects from the same.
Start your tour towards some of the places of cultural value located within the Kathmandu Valley, such as Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and the famous Durbar Square. It consists of some temples built in the past days, and also has courtyards and artisan shops. While we are out on this historical walk, we might even spot one of Nepal’s holy cows, a couple of roaming street dogs or a troop of mischievous rhesus macaque monkeys near one of the more famous temple sites. Our day ends with lunch at a charmingly located rooftop restaurant above a historic square. We remain at 1,350m all day, which means that our bodies feel completely comfortable throughout the day and don’t experience any symptoms of altitude – allowing us to really soak up the rich culture before embarking upon the exciting mountain trek ahead!
A long drive of 6-7 hours, this day trip to Pokhara takes us on a smooth road trip from the 1425 meters elevation in Kathmandu to 900 meters in elevation in Pokhara. We will take an interesting trip that winds its way down the mountain roads along foaming white-water rivers and terraced rice fields and rural villages. Lunch is included at a beautiful roadside lodge overlooking the Trishuli river where we can relax and perhaps see some water buffalo being chased out of the mud ponds, as well as some goats grazing the mountain ridges.
We’ll also enjoy animal sightings throughout the drive. Our long drive is very rewarding because when we reach the lovely lakeside town of Pokhara later on in the day, all wear out positive feelings.
The trek officially begins today with a short drive of a few hours from Pokhara to Nayapul (altitude: 1,010m), after which we are off on our way for another 5-to-6-hour walk towards Tikhedunga (altitude: 1,570m).
This day kicks off with crossing some nice suspension bridges above the rushing rivers and meandering around the lush green subtropical valley. Along the route, there are several villages to visit, such as Birethanti and Hile – these villages are full of cascading waterfalls around them.
We take our lunch in a cozy teahouse here at Hile itself and keep an eye out for colorful butterflies fluttering about while local mules carry their own supplies around, and some local folks even have their very own chicken roaming around freely! Since this isn’t too high up, we won’t really have any issues with altitude and should be feeling super energized throughout.
Start your day by conquering that difficult 5-6 hour trek starting from Tikhedungha to reach the destination, Ghorepani, which lies at an altitude of 2,840 meters. This trail also takes you across the famous steep stone staircase of over three thousand steps located at Ulleri, followed by some really cool dense forests full of rhododendrons. Also, you will be able to spot some rare species while traversing through Banthanti and dense mossy woodlands. Lunch break will happen after a while when we reach the beautiful teahouses found along Nangethanti. We will be lucky if during our walk we get to see some animals feeding, such as mountain horses grazing around. We are going to experience a huge difference in temperature once we climb up to an altitude of 2,840 meters, so one may find themselves a bit out of breath walking on those steep stairs, but don’t worry; just pace yourselves well so that you can avoid having some bad symptoms due to high altitude.
Your day begins before the sun rises, with a short walk to the Poon Hill viewpoint, 3,210m, to watch the sun rise over jagged, snow-capped summits, before you set off on a 6–7-hour walk to Tadapani 2,610m, taking in ridge lines and dense pine forests. Lunch at a lodge in Deurali. There's not much wildlife around, with barking deer or mountain birds sometimes seen. Your highest point of today's journey – rising to 3,210m – will leave you slightly breathless as you scale the ascent, but once you descend back down to Tadapani again, it won't last long. You'll be invigorated once more as you look out over impressive mountain scenery.
Today we will trek for 5-6 hours today, descending and ascending as we make our way between the villages of Tadapani (2587m) and Chomrong (2140m). Today we pass through superb rhododendron and oak forests where we cross a few exciting suspension bridges above mountain streams. On our way, we’ll visit these tiny pastoral settlements such as Chuile and Gurjung. We will stop on the way at this time for lunch, which will be served at a lovely teahouse amidst the beautiful scenery along our path. We may also get lucky enough to catch a glimpse of many animals, including colorful pheasants, mountain goats and barking dogs that guard the farmhouses on the hillsides. Dropping back down into the lush lowlands to an elevation of 2140 meters brings us to an area full of life with lots of oxygen – no altitude issues today. With that, we can rest our tired leg muscles easily after our long hike and take in the amazing views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.
It's a trek of 5-6 hours in a single day, all the way from Chomrong down the slopes (river), and then climb ahead to Dovan, 2,600 m, along with adventuring between steep bamboo jungles and gorges shaped by rivers. Pass Sinuwa and Bamboo villages. Have lunch at a friendly lodge in Bamboo. You can capture wild mountain goats and langurs, and occasionally leave footprints of snow leopards resting high above. The 2,600 m elevation cools the canyon air, but the slow, steady incline does not let altitude effects interfere with your acclimatisation.
The morning starts off with a shorter trek (between 3 – 4 hours) from Dovan all the way down deep into the gorge where our destination today, Deurali, is situated. This little place sits rather high at an altitude of 3,200meters so be prepared for brisk winds. We follow one of many small streams feeding into the main glacier-fed river. We’re walking among steep, sheer drops surrounded by majestic snowy peaks covered with perpetual white caps. Due mainly to its location within these tough terrains, there aren’t many animals visible here except high-flying chough birds living out their lives gracefully amidst such harsh conditions. Today is a short walking day so take your time to relax, rehydrate and acclimatize to the increasing altitude. The day is finished with an early evening meal and early night to prepare you for the trek into base camp.
Today will be a very early start to take advantage of the 5- to 6-hour trek from Deurali to ABC. The trail visits Machhapuchhre Base Camp and a vast glacial amphitheatre where colossal ice giants reside, and traverses moraines, alpine snowfields, and the very occasionally seen mountain mouse, as you ascend towards ABC. You can have your lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge on ABC. The altitude can be felt in this area already, as you will be at an altitude of 4,130 meters above sea level; the cold air and moderate altitude sickness will make you tired, and you will have a headache as well, so you should drink lots of fluids and proceed slowly.
Early in the morning, you will get up to see the amazing sunrise over the Annapurna's' and looking down the valley, you will get to see the mountains as they turn into gold. You will then have a hot breakfast at the base camp and start your return journey. You will experience a significantly easier journey back to base camp as you will be descending; this will make it easier for your lungs as the air will get denser.
You will then have lunch in the middle of the day at a nice teahouse on your way back to base camp (Bamboo, Himalaya, or Deurali), and in the afternoon you will have a medium walk back down the valley to the forest. You will then arrive back in the bamboo teahouse (2345 m) for the night and a nice dinner.
We once again retrace our footsteps and head to Chomrong. Just past Khuldighar there is an experimental sheep farm. The trail then heads through rhododendron and bamboo fields and descends very steeply to the Jhinu where we can bath in the therapeutic natural hot springs and rest our weary muscles.
Enjoy a morning breakfast in the Bamboo Village, then head north again to Sinuwa along the trail and take the stone stairs. It is advisable to stay for a meal in Chomrong, and from there, the hiking path gets divided. Choose the path which goes down through the rugged trail on the steep drop to Jhinu Danda (1,780m) at about 3:00 p.m. After arriving and staying at a hotel/lodge for the night, a peaceful journey towards the natural hot springs on the riverbanks is highly recommended, where the mineral water soaking experience could be totally healing and a wonderful feeling that you get when everything is good. Finally, relax and have a good meal back at the place.
We’ll start our day with a lakeside breakfast and then do some sightseeing around the town. This would include a visit to famous places like Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Cave, International Mountain Museum, and World Peace Pagoda. Then we’ll have lunch at a lakeside restaurant where you may choose to relax and spend time shopping or go for a boat ride. Dinner is on us again tonight at this time, which will be served up in another nice lakeside restaurant. Finally, we'll go back to our accommodation for an overnight stay at our hotel.
Our last meal together will be a final breakfast while we sit in the calmness of Phewa Lake. Then, after this, you will fly back overland, through the gorge of the Trishuli River, into Pokhara. Your return from Pokhara to Kathmandu is also an exciting overnight tour to the most sacred places of Nepal. You will also see some villages on this journey as well as have two breaks to rest during our travels (wherever there are shopping stops). This tour comes to a close for us when we reach Kathmandu in the late afternoon and conclude with you having a delicious dinner, followed by reviewing your wonderful time spent traveling through the land of Nepal.
Your journey through the Himalayan Mountains comes to an end as you head homeward on a comfortable ride. You start the day with an easy breakfast at the hotel, where you can relish the last bit of cuisine that Nepal offers and do a bit of shopping at the nearby vendors for the last time during your tour. The time for departure finally arrives, and arrangements will have been made for a private ride from the hotel to the airport in the hotel lobby for your trip back home.
16 Days ABC Trek Package and Inclusions
Inclusions
- Airport transfers: We will take you to and from the airport with our private vehicle.
- Kathmandu- Pokhara transport: We have comfortable tourist buses that we use to get you there and back in Kathmandu and Pokhara (round trip).
- Kathmandu hotel stay: We’ll ensure you are accommodated in Kathmandu for 3 nights (twin sharing), breakfast included.
- Pokhara Hotel: Stay for another three nights in Pokhara including breakfast.
- Local ground transport: We've got you covered with private car or jeep transfers between Pokhara and Nayapul - so you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
- Lodge accommodation during the trek: best possible teahouse
- Accommodation notice: During the busy treks period (mid-March to end of May and mid-September to end of November), there will be shared rooms (4/5 beds) only. There won’t be private rooms in those areas due to the huge number of people visiting at that time. Please be ready to share a room, as this is normal in these popular trekking areas.
- Meals: Provide three meals per days (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Trek guide assistance: Government licensed English speaking knowledgeable, and trained trek leader from Sherpa expeditions and trekking
- Porter: Valiant, helpful, efficient Sherpa porters with safe walking gear and complete coverage of their salary, accommodation, food, transportation, insurance, and safety gear. (1 porter for 2 trekkers with a max baggage limit of 10kg each).
- Sightseeing: Providing guided sightseeing tours of Kathmandu and Pokhara by private car or jeep
- Staff cost: Complete coverage of guides' and porters' expenses, insurance, salary, accommodation, transportation, and equipment.
- Permits and charges: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) card fees.
- Altitude mountain sickness tracking: Provision of an oximeter to measure pulse and oxygen saturation levels of people to monitor changes in heart rate and signs of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) twice a day.
- Emergency assistance: Assistance with high-altitude rescue operations if needed.
- (Expenses met by an individual's travel insurance.)
- Trekking appreciation certificate: Sherpa Expedition and Trekking provides trekkers with a trekking appreciation certificate on successful completion of the trek.
- Taxes and fees: All government taxes, local levies and other official expenses.
Exclusions
- International Flights: You'll need to cover the costs of flights to and from Nepal.
- Entry Visa: ($30 USD for 15 days, $50 USD for 30 days, or $125 USD for 90 days).
- Lodging and Meals: All meals and lodgings in Kathmandu before and after the trek, as well as lunch and dinner during your time in Pokhara.
- Early Arrivals/ Late Departures: If you turn up too early, leave too late or have to cut your trek short, then there's an extra charge for any extra hotel nights.
- Miscellaneous Stuff: Personal outgoings such as shopping, snacks, water, drinks, extra showers, booze, Wi-Fi, phone calls and keeping your phone charged are all your responsibility. As are any extra porter requests you may need.
- Personal Gear: Boots, gear, and clothing - you'll be buying those yourself.
- Travel Insurance: We need you to have your own travel insurance with a bit of high-altitude rescue and evacuation cover - it's compulsory.
- Tipping Your Crew: We expect you to give a bit of extra cash to your guides and porters - it's standard practice in this part of the world.
- Anything Goes Wrong: If there are any extra costs or delays due to disasters like landslides, bad weather, safety issues or changes in government policy, then you'll need to cover those as well.
- Any Other Expenses: Anything we haven't explicitly listed as included will be down to you to pay for.
Tour Dates
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10 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trip Overview
The 10 days of this Annapurna Base Camp Trek provide the right mix of adventure for moderate trekkers that wished for expanded view in the ABC journey without the addition of Poon Hill to their Annapurna itinerary. It is perfect for trekkers who prefer visiting ABC, Ghandruk, Chhomrong and Jhinu instead of the Poon Hill view. You will be enjoying your trekking in 10 day Annapurna Base Camp Trek with a thorough experience of the traditional mountain villages and a gradual climb to higher alpine areas. The trek's steady pace gives an opportunity to enjoy the beauty rather than rushing to reach ABC in a shorter number of days; this trip can be categorized as an option for Moderate pace Annapurna Trek lovers.
This trek can be attributed to travelers who want a balance between the above-mentioned direct route. The trek follows the traditional Ghandruk Annapurna Base Camp route; you will discover the authentic trekking experience of Gurung village Trekking and you will move on a high alpine trek to Annapurna Base Camp. It offers an authentic Annapurna Base Camp without Poon Hill experience, so this trek will definitely let you spend more days close to the glacier as you ascend.
Hiker continues along the ABC via Chhomrong trail as they pass through a beautiful valley and enjoy genuine local welcomes. From Ghandruk to ABC trek, trekkers take adventurers through stunning bamboo forest and stone steps which will escort them from Chhomrong to ABC. Exiting the bamboo forest, the trail gets steeper as trekkers approach Machhapuchhre Base Camp, with very high mountains above their heads.
Some pleasant downhill travel marks the second half of this Annapurna Sanctuary trek, as we will have a nice day's rest at Jhinu Danda with its thermal pools, before it will eventually slowly trace back your trek towards Pokhara. It is a true direct ABC trek experience that favors real trekking through the Himalayas and stays without unnecessary ridges. Those people to avoid this trek are travelers that are specifically looking for Poon Hill sunrise only travelers that are aiming Ghorepani, travelers which are targeting shortest possible trip to ABC, travelers aiming the whole Kathmandu package, travelers which are sightseeing travelers as well and travelers aiming longest possible chill holiday.
Trekking Highlights
- Optimized ABC trail: Follow a tailored route directly to the glacial basin, saving you time by bypassing unnecessary days spent on scenic tourist ridges off to the sides of the direct line.
- Ghorepani - Poon Hill bypass: Skip the western ridge climb to experience sunrise on a western peak, in favor of an itinerary which devotes its entire essence and energy to reaching the central alpine wonderland.
- Ghandruk: Visit the stone-paved lanes and learn about the culture in this large Gurung village with a scenic view over a deep valley that has mountains on both sides of it.
- Chhomrong Path: Trail over this traditional mountain route featuring a mix of native stone stairs and deep river gorges on this famous classic trail.
- Annapurna Sanctuary: Explore astounding high-alpine stadium-a profound, concave amphitheater with colossal wall-like rocks which rise from the ground to reach the distant skies.
- Machhapuchhre Base Camp: Enter the uppermost region of the alpine world below Fishtail's holy peak. This is where you do your major altitude acclimatisation and picture-taking.
- Overnight at ABC: Sleep well among the titans, with a splendid morning light on vast walls of ice to start your day.
- Slower, not a rush: Enjoy an easier travel pace on a daily basis. This lets you recuperate better after tough sections.
Altitude Chart
ABC Trekking Itinerary for 10 Days
Starting at dawn, travelers leave the frantic pace of the capital on a sightseeing ride westward up and down mountainous country lanes lined with terraced fields, rumbling waterways, and small, colorful country towns on the roadside. Their stop for lunch on most days will be at one of many roadside cafés along the Prithvi Highway. Malekhu is one common lunch stop which serves fresh Trishuli River fish or plain Nepalese dhal bhat. In this part of the world, the air begins at about 1,400 m and decreases to Pokhara at 850 m. Among some of the more common sightings along the roadside are domesticated buffalo rolling in muddy, shallow ponds, stray dogs and occasional troops of rhesus macaque on tree shaded areas of the highway.
The day begins with a short drive from Pokhara to Naya Pul, and a short walk along the Modi Khola river followed by the long, winding, rocky stone steps up to Ghandruk. Trekkers usually have their first hot noodles, fried rice, or dal bhat at tea houses at lunch stops such as Birethanti or Syauli Bazaar with the purpose to proceed on their hike downstream. Though Ghandruk at 1,950 meters of elevation cannot really pose a challenge to suffer altitude sickness, the inexperienced climbers might suffer tired legs or breathlessness because of the endless, steep stone stairs on such a rocky hillside. The animals we might find in the surroundings are: mules and donkeys carry load up the hill, domestic goats browsing in the terrace above the valley, or the colorful chicken feathers that belong to escaped chickens away from a local Gurung stone house.
The day starts cold, but it's worthwhile for seeing tremendous views of neighboring peaks from Ghandruk, then a sharp decline down, threading between terrace fields toward the suspension bridge above the Kimrong Khola, followed by a long, difficult ascent. Lunch will usually be at either the Kimrong Khola or Jhinu Danda before reaching the last ascent up to Chhomrong, where the views are worth everything, despite your having reached an altitude of 2,210 m (7,251 ft). Most people won't have any trouble, especially due to the ups and downs that keep a heart condition at bay, and the temperature is still rather pleasant; look out for barking deer moving within the ferns of dense woods, mountain goats flitting about the rocks, flocks of birds filling the air, and eagles in a profusion of sizes.
Wake before dawn for descent into Chhomrong Khola via many thousands of stone steps, crossing a suspension bridge and re-ascending through a jungle of bamboo and rhododendron trees to Sinuwa, where lunch will probably be had, with soup, momos, or pasta dishes, the common fare to provide the energy for the ascent to 2510m to Dovan. It will become colder and damper and very moist, though AMS is rare; the enclosed deep gorge makes it feel quite dank. Wildlife includes the shy leaping of langurs between bamboo thickets and rhododendrons, or the colours of pheasants, with, as you pass, pack mules making the effort to higher camps.
From the start, this walk is along steep, shaded gorges and green, moss-laden bamboo forests of the noisy Modi Khola River. You'll most likely have lunch in one of the small mountain lodges in the Himalaya or Dobhan areas and enjoy the warm garlic soup and noodles in response to the cooler air moving over the mountains. As you gain altitude to reach 3,210 meters at Deurali, you might feel the initial symptoms of altitude sickness – possibly an intermittent slight headache, breathlessness while performing strenuous exercise and cool night air encouraging the use of an additional blanket. Fauna will be more sparse, but there may be glimpses of Himalayan pika darting between rocks or birds soaring high in the rugged cliff faces to catch a hiker's eye.
Mornings will be a very early start in sub-freezing temperatures as we ascend beyond Machhapuchhare Base Camp and into the expansive glacial arena of the Annapurna Sanctuary. Lunch will generally be when we reach Annapurna Base Camp, or sometimes even back at Machhapuchhare Base Camp and normally comprises warming soup, hot tea and substantial food for energy, such as carbohydrates. The air will begin to thin at the relatively high altitude of 4130 meters, evident as some breathlessness and mild headaches will begin to take their toll, along with increased fatigue requiring a steady, slow ascent. While sightings of large mammals would be highly unlikely at this level in the alpine snow region, one will occasionally see mountain birds such as snow pigeons and choughs wheeling in the air over the glacial landscape.
The start of the day is magnificent as the sun climbs and bathes the walls of the surrounding Himalayan peaks in a gorgeous light before the descent all the way back down the valley begins. Lunch is often eaten at the Deurali or Himalaya lodges where copious servings of noodles or rice refuel all the calories lost walking downhill. Descending to 2,345 meters at Bamboo, the thin atmosphere immediately allows normal breathing rates and removes all symptoms of altitude sickness. We pass groups of langur monkeys eating in the trees and also mules loaded with provisions heading back to lower villages on the route down.
The first part of the day involves steadily walking up through thick bamboo woods to head back towards Sinuwa, and down to the river prior to the final ascent up to Jhinu Danda. The trekkers usually have lunch at Chhomrong or Jhinu Danda, and the groups rest for a while here, enjoying the local food and taking time to venture down to the natural river thermal springs adjacent to Jhinu Danda. While the trekkers' descent to 1,760 meters altitude means any effects of altitude are gone. Other fauna at these lower altitudes included local domestic bovines, free-roaming sheep, and a multitude of butterflies, along with some species of birds which could be seen flitting amongst the forest in the thickening, warmer air of the valley.
Spent a relaxed last morning on the terraced hillside trails winding along the Modi Khola down to the road head at Siwai for our private vehicle. After a late brunch either at Siwai just before the vehicle or on arrival at Pokhara Lakeside restaurants with choice of menus, our warm climate at 850 metres and complete oxygen comfort returns for the final day. On this last low valley morning, wildlife included domestic village dogs, water buffaloes grazing on terraces, and farming animals grazing by the roadside in the field.
You'll drive back along the Prithvi Highway and witness gushing river flows, spectacular waterfalls, dramatic cliff-top terraces with rural villages hanging on-all the picturesque life on the roadside. Your drive will take approximately 6-7 hours as per traffic & road conditions, as you drive along these captivating stretches, which offer a colorful insight into roadside life in Nepal's countryside outside Kathmandu. A stop will be made for lunch along the way. You'll arrive back in Kathmandu by early afternoon, & check into your hotel to unpack & relax your muscles.
ABC Trekking 10 days Cost and Inclusions
Cost Inclusions
- Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmandu (tourist bus: comfortable)
- Pokhara 2-night hotel with breakfast.
- Pokhara transport to Nayapul and back to Pokhara (jeep/private car)
- Teahouse/Lodge accommodation (best available lodges generally for sharing basic. Except for places like the Himalayas, Deurali, MBC, Annapurna Base Camp, Bambbo, etc., all teahouses/lodges will have 4 to 5 beds each, which is common in busy trekking time in March mid till last May and Sept to Nov.
- Main meal during trek. (all three times a day as breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag & walking sticks in case you don't have them. (returned after completing the trek)
- Government-licensed, English-speaking guide from Sherpa Expedition and Trekking, including 1 assistant trek leader for a 8 plus trekker group.
- Sherpa Porters: strong, with a good and helpful manner, proper safety equipment (Covering staff salary, food, stay, and insurance, and one porter will cover two people.)
- Cover for guides/porters: All meals, insurance, salary, stay, accommodation and transport.
- The permit fee, Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) fee, and trekker's information management system (TIMS) card fee.
- A complimentary seasonal fresh fruit.
- All types of government local tax, official charges, etc.
- Assistance to help organize any complex health case scenario (funded by the travel insurance, but rescue operations in difficult health will be assisted)
- Completion certificate from the Sherpa expedition Teams.
Cost Exclusions
- International flight airfare traveling to and from Nepal.
- Nepal entry visa fees: visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (US$30 per person for 15 days, USD $50 per person for 30 days, USD $125 per person for 90 days).
- All lodging and meals before and after the trek in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Extra nights staying in Kathmandu (due to early arrival or late departures or return early from trek)
- Personal expenses: any shopping, snacks, boiling/bottled water/cold drinks, hot/cold beverages/coffee/tea and hot water/bath, alcohol, internet (WI-FI), telephone calls, charging fees of battery and charges for extra personal porters
- Personal clothing and gears
- Travel insurance- obligatory personal travel insurance, for any emergency high mountain rescue and evacuation.
- Tips for local guides, porters (this is based on the local tradition)
- Unforeseen expenses incurred or sustained for reasons outside of management's control; landslides, weather conditions, road and trail conditions, changed schedule of activities in accordance with security, sickness or sudden changes in the government's policies and/or general strikes.
- Items not included in the cost details: everything not explicitly mentioned.
Tour Dates
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11 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Trip Overview
11 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek offers a top mountain exploration that is styled to suit international travelers seeking a complete Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu trekking program. Annapurna Base Camp trek route is perhaps the finest choice of trek for first-time Nepal trekking enthusiasts on a Hassle-free ABC Trek guided trek program that includes all services and operational arrangements for a first Annapurna trek. An incredible Kathmandu to ABC Trek designed for first-time Nepal trekking travelers who want structural arrangements.
The package trek is meticulously designed to begin with airport pickup Nepal services after you arrive in the country. Secondly, we arrange the Kathmandu-Pokhara transfer via domestic flight and finally a fantastic Annapurna Base Camp package from Kathmandu that consists of organized Annapurna trek services like Annapurna trek permit, teahouse booking, transport connection, and others. Due to the complete trekking logistics this 11-day trip can also be called as a Full-service ABC package.
The trail climbs through terraced hill farms, thick rhododendron forest and Gurung villages until the trail opens up within the breathtaking glacial enclosure of the Annapurna range. With a professional guide and the Guided ABC Trek, you safely negotiate the ascents and descents and develop an understanding of mountain weather. As either a comprehensive Nepal trekking package or 11-Day Annapurna Base Camp Trek, this trip provides a dependable, richly supported Himalayan adventure.
This is an ideal package for those who visit Nepal for the first time and are happy to have the transfer, local transport, hotel night stays, and trail support combined in a plan. If you're in Pokhara already and self-sufficient in local logistics, or a budget backpacker who wants a minimalistic package, then this pattern can be a misfit. Travelers who don't want to spend the maximum number of days possible, travel to Annapurna just for the shorter section of Poon Hill, or expect extensive area tourism rather than mountain hiking, are also not the right fit for this trek. For travelers with a safe and guided mountain experience as the priority, this route is definitely the best and safest.
Trekking Highlights
- Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu: An easy trip that provides everything for clients to have a hassle-free trip with no additional burden.
- Kathmandu airport assistance: With airport assistance the clients can be sure of a hassle-free ride when they land in Kathmandu or leave the city. The company ensures that the clients arrive in style and are greeted by representatives at the airport who manage the entirety of their assistance.
- Kathmandu-Pokhara transfer management: The best method to travel from the capital of Nepal to Pokhara is by means of a domestic plane or private transportation organized by the travel company.
- Trekking transfer management: The travels to and from trekking regions and trailheads is managed by private transportation.
- Annapurna Base Camp: Embark upon this triumphal trek and reach the highest, forested, glacier-enshrouded valley flanked by tall Himalayan peaks.
- Machhapuchhre Base Camp: Proceed towards the famous fishtail sanctuary stage post of this mountain range, offering spectacular sunrise views to get the perfect acclimatization needed to arrive at the final destination.
- Proper Accommodation coordination: Relax in all teahouse rooms on the trek and hotel rooms in the city with proper reservations and bookings to enjoy comfortable evenings after an exhausting day of trek.
- Convenient international traveler package: International guests looking for total convenience can book in this synchronised package for utmost ease from anywhere around the world.
Altitude Chart
ABC Trek 11 Days Itinerary
Welcome to your Himalayan adventure! Your tour begins as soon as you step outside the gates of Tribhuvan International Airport – upon landing at your tourist destination, Kathmandu. Our friendly company representatives will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your destination using their private vehicles.
As you drive on the busy and lively streets of the capital city to your 3-star hotel, you get a read of the local life, the colorful markets and architectural wonders of the ancient era.
Once you reach your hotel, you will check in. You will have some time in the evening to relax and rest after your international flights. At night, we invite you to meet your guide for a pre-trek briefing before finishing the necessary preparations and gear check-up for trekking.
Start your day bright and early with an incredible breakfast served right in our Kathmandu hotel! Then take a scenic, short private transfer to the domestic airport as we fly away together on this 25-minute flight that will take us across beautiful hills and river valleys to the spectacular Lake City of Pokhara.
We’ll meet you at the airport and drive you straight to the starting point of today’s hike – either Nayapul or Kimche (depending on your preference). Here, you will begin your trek towards the quaint Gurung settlement town called Ghandruk. As we progress through the route, we’ll be traversing various cascading streams, crossing several suspension bridges, and finally reaching terraced farming slopes.
With some effort, you should find yourself at around 1,940m above sea level, where you can then enjoy your very first magnificent views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre towers soaring overhead. Afterward, you can relax in our cozy local teahouse restaurant and dine on delicious Nepali cuisine before spending the evening sleeping soundly after all these exciting events during the day.
After an early morning break, we will enjoy the amazing view of golden sunlight over the snow capped peak around Ghandruk. We are going to have our breakfast after that.
The trail starts with descending on stone paved staircases towards a roaring mountain stream. Afterward, trek upwards slowly on the opposite hillside, passing through thick forest cover with a wide variety of rhododendrons and oak trees.
On the way, we interact with friendly local villagers living in some tiny hamlet villages, as well as having lunch and tea in an open field with terraced fields. In the course of time, by early afternoon today, we will reach Chhomrong, one of the most vibrant and beautiful ridge-top villages located underneath Annapurna South. This village has got lots of fascinating bakeries for trekkers, great sunset views, and a busy atmosphere full of trekkers who just want to meet and share their experiences.
After enjoying your scenic breakfast viewing the valley below, you begin your journey towards the village. You then start your descent along this massive stone staircase with more than 2,500 steps, arriving at the Chhomrong Khola Suspension Bridge.
Crossing the rushing river you then walk upwards through thick bamboo, oak and rhododendron forest until reaching Sinuwa village. At times there may be a slight leveling effect on the trail as we continue deeper into this shaded, cooler gorge area. Strolling through the thick green canopy, you will join the sounds of the wildlife beneath the jungle cacophony of the water rushing alongside the trail. From your walk through this jungle paradise, you will arrive at the peaceful bamboo village at 2,310m. Surrounded by towering groves which provide a unique quality to this peaceful little settlement, we take our restful evening and enjoy some dinner.
The first step to begin this trekking journey would be the morning breakfast at Bamboo, followed by an onward journey to ascend further towards the narrow, dramatic Modi Khola River Gorge.
You would climb past Dobhan and Himalaya along the trails that cross multiple small wooden bridges across the glacial streams and rocky avalanche chutes. As the elevation increases, we’ll leave behind the subtropical forests. We are now entering the area covered with rare, sparse alpine vegetation and gigantic rock walls where freezing waterfalls create dramatic ice formations in colder months.
You’ll reach Deurali village situated at a lofty height of around 3,230 meters in one of the windiest gorges. The air becomes thinner and cooler as well. Since you’ve arrived in advance, there’s sufficient time left to rest, hydrate appropriately, acclimatise yourself to this higher altitude, have dinner and sleep earlier to be prepared for base camp.
Waking up to the sunrise is one of our most popular options when we stay overnight at Deurali since it offers some great views from that height. We recommend waking up earlier than usual if you want to get the best out of your trip because during dawn time the view gets really amazing due to the transformation.
As soon as we reach there, all these landscapes around us start transforming gradually, turning into an ultimate high-altitude alpine wonderland where even going through this beautiful historic Hinko Cave feels adventurous enough for me while continuing upwards towards Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) situated inside a breathtaking glacial bowl amidst colossal peaks!
After a short rest and lunch break here at MBC, we again begin trekking upwards, crossing over a wide glacial moraine till we arrive at Annapurna Sanctuary, the very heart of Nepal! The whole landscape suddenly turns magical with this stunning natural structure standing tall before our eyes, especially when we finally reach Annapurna Base Camp, located at 4,130m altitude, offering a magnificent 360-degree amphitheatre enclosed by towering giants like Annapurna I, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna etc.
You wake before the dawn breaks to get a glimpse of a breathtaking sunrise slowly painting the high Himalayan peaks in bright, warm shades of pink and golden light. After a warm morning breakfast, you start making your way down the Modi Khola valley, following the same trail that brought you up - it's a lot easier on your lungs to walk downhill now that the oxygen levels are going to be increasing as you lose altitude. Still, it's not as straightforward - you need to watch your footing on the steep stone steps through places like Deurali, Himalaya and Dobhan - the trail gets trickier in some of these tighter sections. As you drop back down from the high altitude into the warmer, lush forest environment, you can already feel your body starting to unwind a bit from the cold mountain air - you get a real sense of relief coming back into an area with more oxygen. By the time the afternoon starts to wind down, you finally find yourself back at the familiar little settlement of Bamboo, which is at a more comfortable 2,500 meters - from here, a hot meal at the local teahouse and a decent bed are just what you need to round off the day.
We’ll wake up early today in our Bamboo lodge, where breakfast will be served prior to setting out on today’s trek that begins with a climb back through the dense forests towards Sinuwa.
From there we will descend the huge stone staircase to the Chhomrong Khola river before beginning a challenging trek of the steep steps leading back up to Chhomrong village.
Once there, you can rest for some much-needed lunch or just enjoy a quick snack before branching off the main path onto a descending side route which leads us steeply down along the hillsides to the village of Jhinu Danda. By mid afternoon we should arrive at an elevation of 1,760 meters offering us the chance to take a lovely short stroll down to the naturally occurring hot springs by the riverside to give your weary muscles a nice soak. We then return to the lodge for dinner.
You will enjoy your last mountain breakfast in Jhinu Danda before walking back along the trail for the final stage of your trekking holiday adventure. You walk downhill along a wide trail into the valley of the Modi Khola River, following the green hills, small farms and terraced paddy fields until you reach the road head of Syauli Bazaar or Naya Pul. This marks the conclusion of your trekking experience, from where our representative will collect you by private vehicle on the return journey to Pokhara. Perhaps enjoy some time for a lakeside walk in and around beautiful Phewa Lake before enjoying a tasty evening meal at a good lakeside hotel, bringing your Himalayan trek adventure to an end at a lower altitude in style and comfort.
After breakfast, we will transfer you from the lakeside area of Pokhara to the local Airport where you'll enjoy an exhilarating yet very short scenic flight through beautiful terraced hills and winding rivers back to Kathmandu.
Alternatively, if booked via overland transport, you can take a touristic bus ride on a scenic route known as 'Prithvi Highway' through which you'll get panoramic views of the surrounding areas during the long journey.
You'll return to your hotel at the end of the day and then have time to unwind with a relaxing meal at your hotel before getting together as a group for your departure .
On the last day of your exciting 11-day Himalayan trip, today you will enjoy your last hours in Nepal before flying home. Depending on your international departure time, enjoy a delicious, healthy breakfast at the hotel and spend your last hours exploring local delights, buying souvenirs or aroma teas for your packing. Your company representatives and your private car will be waiting for you in the lobby of the hotel at a specific time, then escort you to the International Airport safely and comfortably.
ABC Trek Cost and Inclusion for 11 Days
Included
- Airport Transfers: Private car to pick you up and drop you off at airports, no matter where you're flying from.
- City Hotel Stays: 2 nights in Kathmandu and 2 nights in Pokhara in a shared twin room.
- All the Paperwork: Your ACAP and TIMS card are taken care of - no need to worry about trekking permits.
- Your Own Guide: A certified English-speaking guide who will cover all expenses for themselves while on the trip.
- Accommodation On Trek: Shared twin or double rooms on the mountain for you and your fellow trekkers.
- Accommodation Note: If you're heading out during peak season (mid March to May or Sept to Nov), some of the popular stops like Himalaya and MBC can get pretty busy, and you'll end up sharing a room with 4 or 5 other people. No way to get a private room in these places, unfortunately.
- Meals: We'll take care of your meals for you, 3 times a day, from breakfast to dinner.
- Gear Up: You can borrow a sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag and even walking poles from us for free; just be sure to return them after the trip.
- Local Transport: Private car for your return and departure to and from the trek starting/ending point.
- Flight Tickets: Kathmandu to Pokhara and Pokhara to Kathmandu - round trip flight tickets.
- Help In An Emergency: We have an emergency rescue plan in place, though you will need to sort your own travel insurance to cover any costs.
- Taxes and Fees: We've got all local taxes and official service charges covered.
- Checking In On You: Our guides will be keeping an eye on you twice a day, with pulse and oxygen checks to make sure you're not suffering from altitude sickness.
- Support Team: We'll have porters along the way to carry your gear on a one-porter-per-two-trekkers basis.
Excluded
- Pre-trek Arrangements: We will not be taking care of your meals/hotel during your stay in Kathmandu prior to and after your trek.
- City Meals: You will have to cover your own costs for city meals while in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Nepal Visa: You will get your Nepalese Visa on Arrival at Kathmandu Airport, but you will have to pay for your visa.
- International Airfare To/From Home: The cost of your International Airfares has not been included and remains your responsibility.
- Personal Expenses: Personal expenses like shopping, beverages, snacks, internet, phone calls, costs for use of hot shower, Wi-Fi, laundry, etc. will also be paid by you. Some of the teahouses charge for baths and charging batteries, etc. These expenses are an entirely personal choice.
- Charity and Tips: Tipping the team for a job well done is a tradition in Nepal. Therefore, you should be prepared to tip your guides and porters.
Tour Dates
Every departure listed below is 100% Guaranteed — once you book, your trip will run as scheduled regardless of group size.
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Want your own personalized tour?