Scenic Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Shorter itineraries often push trekkers quickly through the sanctuary approach, which can make the climb feel rushed and increase altitude fatigue. This 12-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek gives you a steadier pace by starting through Ghandruk, where you can enjoy stone paths, local houses, Gurung culture, and mountain views.

The route then continues through Chhomrong, Bamboo, Dovan, Deurali, and Machhapuchhre Base Camp before reaching Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130m / 13,550ft. On the return, you descend through Bamboo and stop at Jhinu Danda, where the natural hot springs give your legs a relaxing break before the drive back to Pokhara.

Tour Plan

1. Day 01Arrive in Kathmandu

   As soon as you land at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative team meets you at the arrival terminal. They assist with your bags and drive you straight to the hotel via a private vehicle. After checking in, take some well-deserved time to freshen up, rest, and shake off your international flight.

   In the evening, head out to the Thamel area for a short walk. Our team also runs a quick trip briefing and gear check to make sure everything is ready before the drive to Pokhara the next morning.

   • Trip duration: 25 to 30 minutes taxi ride from the airport to your hotel

   Note: Do not miss the trek briefing and gear check with the guide.

2. Day 02Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (822m / 2,696ft) | 6 to 7 hrs

   After a hot breakfast, you leave Kathmandu and drive west toward Pokhara along the Prithvi Highway. The road follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi river valleys through terraced hills and small towns, with short stops along the way for tea and stretching.

   By late afternoon, you arrive in Pokhara and check into a hotel. The evening is free for rest, a walk along the Lakeside strip, sunset views over Phewa Lake, and final preparation before the first trekking day.

   • Drive duration: 6 to 7 hours
   • Drive distance: 200 km / 124 miles
   • Maximum altitude: 1,350m / 4,429ft
   • Elevation loss: -528m / -1,732ft

   Note: The drive can take longer due to traffic, roadwork, or weather, so keep water and light essentials in your day bag.

3. Day 03Drive from Pokhara to Syauli Bazar (1,220m / 4,003ft); Trek to Ghandruk (1,940m / 6,365ft) | 5 to 7 hrs

   The day starts early from Pokhara with a drive through rolling hills and rural valley settlements to Syauli Bazar. This is where the vehicle transfer ends, and the walking journey officially begins.

   From Syauli Bazar, the path climbs through forest sections, stone steps, and small settlements before reaching Ghandruk. This Gurung village sits at 1,940 meters (6,365 feet), with wide views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre on a clear day.

   • Drive duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
   • Drive distance: Approx. 45 km / 28 miles
   • Trek duration: 4 to 5 hours
   • Trek distance: Approx. 8 km / 5 miles
   • Maximum altitude: 1,940m / 6,365ft
   • Elevation gain: +1,118m / +3,668ft
4. Day 04Trek from Ghandruk to Chhomrong (2,170m / 7,119ft) | 4 to 5 hrs

   After breakfast in Ghandruk, you leave the village and start walking toward Chhomrong. This day’s route offers a classic Himalayan ridge walk, weaving through quiet forest paths, small farming patches, and mountain cuts.

   The walk has both uphill and downhill parts, so your pace stays steady throughout the day. After reaching Chhomrong, you settle into a local teahouse and rest before continuing deeper into the Annapurna Base Camp route the next morning.

   • Trek duration: 4 to 5 hours
   • Trek distance: Approx. 6 km / 3.7 miles
   • Maximum altitude: 2,170m / 7,119ft
   • Elevation gain: +230m / +755ft

   Note: Permits are checked at Chhomrong. Keep your ACAP permit and TIMS ready.

5. Day 05Trek from Chhomrong to Dovan (2,600m / 8,530ft) | 5 to 6 hrs

   From Chhomrong, the trail drops steeply on stone steps to the Chhomrong Khola river. After crossing the bridge, you climb toward Sinuwa, a small teahouse settlement with open valley views and a quieter mountain setting.

   From Sinuwa, the route enters thick bamboo and rhododendron forest along the Modi Khola valley. The path passes through Bamboo, a peaceful riverside stop, before continuing to Dovan, where the cool forest, shaded trail, and sound of the river make the walk feel calm and refreshing.

   • Trek duration: 5 to 6 hours
   • Trek distance: Approx. 6 km / 3.7 miles
   • Maximum altitude: 2,600m / 8,530ft
   • Elevation gain: +430m / +1,411ft

   Note: Trail sections are damp and slippery. Watch your footing on the stone steps and river crossings.

6. Day 06Trek from Dovan to Deurali (3,200m / 10,499ft) | 5 to 6 hrs

   You leave Dovan and follow the Modi Khola valley through a dense bamboo and rhododendron forest. As you move higher, the route becomes quieter and cooler, with shaded paths, small streams, and narrow forest sections along the way.

   On the way, you reach Himalaya, a small teahouse stop where you take a short rest before continuing toward Deurali. From there, the trail moves into a more rugged mountain setting with rocky paths, steep cliffs, and colder air before reaching Deurali.

   • Trek duration: 5 to 6 hours
   • Trek distance: Approx. 8 km / 5 miles
   • Maximum altitude: 3,200m / 10,499ft
   • Elevation gain: +600m / +1,969ft

   Note: Permits are checked at Chhomrong. Keep your ACAP permit and TIMS ready.

7. Day 07Trek from Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m / 13,550ft) | 5 to 6 hrs

   Today is the main day of the trek. Leaving Deurali, you enter the higher and more open part of the Annapurna Sanctuary. The route follows the Modi Khola valley through rocky ground, colder air, and glacier-fed streams as you move closer to Machhapuchhre Base Camp.

   You first reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp, a scenic stop below the Fishtail peak. From MBC, the final section to Annapurna Base Camp feels wide and dramatic, with Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchhre, Gangapurna, and nearby peaks rising around the valley.

   At Annapurna Base Camp, you reach the highest point of the trek at 4,130m / 13,550ft. The base camp sits inside a natural mountain bowl, surrounded by a full circle of Himalayan peaks, making this the most rewarding day of the journey.

   • Trek duration: 5 to 6 hours
   • Trek distance: 8 to 10 km / 5 to 6.2 miles
   • Maximum altitude: 4,130m / 13,550ft
   • Net Elevation gain: +930m / +3,050ft

   Note: Walk slowly after Deurali, drink enough water, and keep your warm layers ready for the cold evening at base camp.

8. Day 08Trek from Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo (2,345m / 7,694ft) | 7 to 8 hrs

   You start early from ABC to catch the morning mountain views before heading down. The route drops back through MBC and continues toward Deurali, retracing the open sanctuary section before the valley narrows again.

   As you drop quickly in altitude, the landscape changes within a few hours. Trees return, the air grows warmer, and the steep alpine terrain turns into shaded forest paths. You pass familiar stops and continue through bamboo sections until you reach Bamboo, a quiet riverside settlement.

   • Trek duration: 7 to 8 hours
   • Trek distance: 14 to 15 km / 8.6 to 9.3 miles
   • Maximum altitude: 4,130m / 13,550ft
   • Net Elevation loss: -1,785m / -5,856ft

   Note: Use trekking poles during the descent, as the long downhill walk puts pressure on your knees.

9. Day 09Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu Danda (1,700m / 5,577ft) | 5 to 6 hrs

   After a long descent from Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo, the journey continues toward Jhinu Danda. The route leaves the quiet forest around Bamboo and moves through familiar sections of the Annapurna Base Camp route, with stone steps, village paths, and shaded forest along the way.

   This day feels gentler than the long descent from ABC, with warmer air, greener hillsides, and more signs of village life along the route. By the time you reach Jhinu Danda, the natural hot springs beside the Modi Khola river are only a short walk away. Here, you can also enjoy warm water and give your tired legs a relaxing break after several days of trekking.

   • Trek duration: 5 to 6 hours
   • Trek distance: 11 to 12 km / 6.8 to 7.4 miles
   • Maximum altitude: 2,345m / 7,694ft
   • Elevation loss: -645m / -2,116ft

   Note: Carry sandals and a small towel for the hot springs at Jhinu Danda.

10. Day 10Drive from Jhinu Danda to Pokhara (822m / 2,696ft) | 3 to 4 hrs

    After breakfast at Jhinu, your journey continues by road toward Pokhara. The drive leaves the Annapurna foothills and follows rural roads through river valleys, terraced hillsides, small villages, and green landscapes.

    As you get closer to Pokhara, the trekking route slowly gives way to rural roads, terraced fields, and lower hillside villages. After reaching the city, you check into your hotel and take the rest of the day to rest, walk around Phewa Lake, or enjoy a relaxed evening in Lakeside after completing the Annapurna Base Camp route.

    • Drive duration: 3 to 4 hours
    • Drive distance: Around 40 km / 25 miles
    • Maximum altitude: 1,700m / 5,577ft
    • Elevation loss: -878m / -2,881ft

    Note: Road conditions affect the drive time, especially during or after rainfall.

11. Day 11Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu (1,395m / 4,577ft) | 6 to 8 hrs

    You leave Pokhara after breakfast and drive back to Kathmandu. After several days in the Annapurna foothills, the return journey gives you time to rest, look back on the trek, and enjoy the changing scenery along the highway.

    After reaching Kathmandu, you check into your hotel and relax after the long drive. In the evening, our team hosts a farewell dinner to celebrate the completion of your 12-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek before your final departure the next day.

    • Drive duration: 6 to 8 hours
    • Drive distance: Around 200 km / 124 miles
    • Maximum altitude: 1,395m / 4,577ft
    • Elevation gain: +573m / +1,880ft

    Note: Keep your important documents, valuables, water, and light snacks in your day bag during the drive.

12. Day 12Final Departure from Kathmandu

    Your final morning in Kathmandu is kept easy and flexible. Depending on your flight schedule, you can rest at the hotel, pack your bags, or take a short walk around Thamel for last-minute shopping.

    Our team will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport by private vehicle. With the airport drop-off, your Annapurna Base Camp Trek officially comes to an end.

    • Drive duration: 25 to 30 minutes

    Note: Reach the airport at least 3 hours before your international flight.

What’s Included & Excluded

Packing List for Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you from warm lower villages to colder areas near Machhapuchhre Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp. Pack light, but carry the right layers and essentials for changing weather, long walking days, and basic teahouse stays.

Route Map & Seasonal Conditions

Seasons & weather

The best time for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is during spring and autumn. Spring, from March to May, brings mild daytime weather, blooming rhododendron forests, and comfortable walking conditions on the lower trails. Autumn, from September to November, comes after the monsoon, so the skies are often clearer, the trails are drier, and the views of mountains and nearby peaks are usually at their best.

Winter is also possible for trekkers who are ready for cold weather, but the upper sections near Deurali, MBC, and ABC have snow or icy trails. Monsoon is usually the least suitable time because heavy rain makes stone steps slippery, forest trails muddy, and road travel less reliable.

Teahouses & meals

Accommodation on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is comfortable in Kathmandu and Pokhara, while it is more basic during the trekking days. You stay in a local teahouse/guesthouse along the trail. Rooms usually contain basic single/sharing beds, blankets, and shared toilets.

Meals are simple but filling. Common food options include dal bhat, noodles, fried rice, soup, potatoes, pasta, eggs, tea, coffee, and seasonal local dishes. However, food choices become more limited in higher stops like Deurali, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, and Annapurna Base Camp.

Carry light snacks such as energy bars, nuts, chocolate, or electrolyte powder. They are useful on longer sections, especially between Deurali and ABC and on the descent toward Bamboo.

Fitness & altitude

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is moderate to strenuous. You do not need proper climbing skills. But you need good fitness, steady legs, and the ability to walk for several hours on uphill trails, downhill stone steps, and high mountain terrain.

The highest point is Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130m or 13,550ft. Cold weather, tired legs, and thinner air can make the upper section more demanding. Walking at a controlled pace, drinking enough water, and following your guide’s advice help make the trek safer and more comfortable.

This trek is a good match for prepared first-time trekkers and regular hikers who want a classic Himalayan trail with villages, forests, hot springs, and close mountain views.