Annapurna Base Camp Trek 2026 — 7-12 Day Itinerary, Cost & Permits
From Pokhara to ABC at 4,130 m through Gurung villages, rhododendron forest and the Modi Khola valley. Concierge-confirmed bookings in NPR.
- Duration
- 7-12 days
- Max altitude
- 4,130 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Cost from
- NPR 60,000
Quick answer
The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek is a 7–12 day loop from Pokhara to a glacial amphitheatre at 4,130 m, lapped by Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machapuchare. Yatra For Fun books the trek with ACAP + TIMS permits, a licensed English-speaking trekking guide, porter, full teahouse accommodation, and three meals daily, for NPR 60,000–150,000 per person depending on the spring/autumn season, group size, and route variant.
Why this trek
ABC packs the biggest 'Himalayan amphitheatre' moment of any sub-4,500 m trek in Nepal. You stand inside a ring of 7,000-8,000 m peaks — Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machapuchare (Fishtail), Gangapurna — and the route climbs gradually over several days — though altitude sickness can still affect anyone above about 2,500 m. Compared with Everest Base Camp, ABC is half the budget, half the days, and arguably more visually rewarding because the camp itself sits at glacier level, not on a moraine ledge. The path also passes through more populated Gurung villages (Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Bamboo), so the cultural side is richer and lodge food is reliably good. Yatra For Fun's concierge books the route in two common variants: the 7-day Nayapul → Ghorepani → Poon Hill → ABC → Pokhara loop for fit trekkers on a budget, or the 11-12 day version that adds Mardi Himal as an acclimatisation lobe. Both finish in Pokhara so a Phewa Lake recovery day is built in.
About the route
The Annapurna Base Camp trek begins at Nayapul (1,070 m), a 1.5-hour drive from Pokhara, and follows the Modi Khola valley north through rhododendron forest, stone-stepped Gurung villages, and the bamboo grove just before MBC (Machapuchare Base Camp, 3,700 m). The final 2-hour climb from MBC to ABC at sunrise is the iconic photo — a ring of 7,000-8,000 m peaks reflected in the morning gold light. The descent retraces to Bamboo, then drops into the Jhinu Danda hot springs (2,540 m → 1,780 m) for a hot-spring soak before the final road head at Siwai or Matque. Total walking distance is approximately 110 km over 7-12 days, with daily walking time of 5-7 hours. Maximum altitude is reached on the final morning at the base camp itself; the highest sleeping altitude on the standard itinerary is MBC (3,700 m).
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Pokhara → Nayapul → Tikhedhunga
- Altitude
- 1,540 m
- Walking
- 5h
Drive 1.5h to Nayapul, trek 4-5h on the Bhurungdi Khola trail to Tikhedhunga via Birethanti.
Day 2
Tikhedhunga → Ghorepani
- Altitude
- 2,860 m
- Walking
- 7h
Long climb up the 3,300 'Ulleri stone steps' to Ghorepani via Banthanti and Nangethanti.
Day 3
Poon Hill sunrise → Tadapani
- Altitude
- 2,630 m
- Walking
- 6h
Pre-dawn 1h climb to Poon Hill (3,210 m) for the Dhaulagiri-Annapurna sunrise, then descend to Tadapani.
Day 4
Tadapani → Chhomrong
- Altitude
- 2,170 m
- Walking
- 5h
Rhododendron forest descent to Chhomrong, the largest Gurung village on the route.
Day 5
Chhomrong → Dovan
- Altitude
- 2,600 m
- Walking
- 6h
Drop to the Chhomrong Khola, then climb through Sinuwa and Bamboo into the bamboo grove.
Day 6
Dovan → MBC (Machapuchare Base Camp)
- Altitude
- 3,700 m
- Walking
- 6h
Gradual climb through Himalaya, Deurali and onto the sanctuary floor at Machapuchare Base Camp.
Day 7
MBC → ABC sunrise → Bamboo
- Altitude
- 4,130 m
- Walking
- 8h
Pre-dawn 2h to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m) for the sunrise amphitheatre, then descend to Bamboo.
Day 8
Bamboo → Jhinu Danda hot springs
- Altitude
- 1,780 m
- Walking
- 6h
Descend through Sinuwa to the Jhinu Danda hot-spring camp; soak before the final road head.
Day 9
Jhinu Danda → Siwai → Pokhara
- Altitude
- 822 m
- Walking
- 2h
Trek 2h to Siwai road head, drive 2-3h back to Pokhara. Trek complete; Phewa Lake recovery night.
Cost breakdown (NPR)
Per person in a 2-pax group, mid-tier teahouse accommodation, spring/autumn season. The total's lower end is the sum of the minimum line items; the Yatra For Fun concierge confirms the exact NPR price before booking.
| Category | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACAP + TIMS permits | NPR 5,000 | Two permits, group rate |
| Guide (licensed, English-speaking) | NPR 25,000-35,000 | USD 25-30 per day × 9-12 days |
| Porter (1 porter per 2 trekkers) | NPR 18,000-25,000 | USD 18-22 per day, 25 kg max |
| Teahouse accommodation (twin-share) | NPR 9,000-15,000 | NPR 800-1,500 per night × 9 nights |
| Three meals per day (dal bhat + tea) | NPR 22,500-35,000 | NPR 2,500-3,800 per day × 9 days |
| Domestic transport (Pokhara round-trip jeep) | NPR 5,000-8,000 | Shared private jeep both directions |
| Yatra For Fun concierge + insurance buffer | NPR 10,000 | Booking confirmation, emergency line, evac coordination |
| Total per person (2-pax group) | NPR 60,000-150,000 | Lower end = published starting price; upper = 12-day variant with extras |
Required permits
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000 - Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS)
NPR 2,000 group / NPR 1,000 free individual trekker
Best season
March-May and September-November. Spring offers blooming rhododendrons (especially Ghorepani-Tadapani section) and stable weather. Autumn offers the clearest mountain views after the monsoon settles the dust, with cooler nights at altitude. Avoid June-August (monsoon, leech-heavy lower section) and December-February (snow above MBC, some teahouses closed).
Recommended months: Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov
Fitness & difficulty
Moderate. If you can walk 5-7 hours per day with a daypack for 7+ consecutive days, you can complete ABC. The longest single day is Tikhedhunga → Ghorepani (~3,300 vertical steps, 7 hours). No technical climbing; no ropes or crampons. We recommend 4-6 weeks of hill cardio + step climbing before departure.
Difficulty rating: Moderate
What's included
- ✓ACAP + TIMS permits
- ✓Licensed, English-speaking trekking guide
- ✓Porter (1 per 2 trekkers, 25 kg max)
- ✓9 nights teahouse accommodation (twin-share)
- ✓All meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner (vegetarian + meat options)
- ✓Tea / coffee with every meal
- ✓Pokhara round-trip ground transport to Nayapul + Siwai
- ✓Yatra For Fun 24/7 emergency line + evac coordination
- ✓Welcome briefing + farewell dinner in Pokhara
What's not included
- ·International flights to Kathmandu / Pokhara
- ·Nepal visa fee (NPR 4,000 for 30 days / USD 50)
- ·Travel insurance with high-altitude trek + helicopter evacuation cover (mandatory)
- ·Tips for guide + porter (recommended: USD 8-12 per day per trekker)
- ·Charging + Wi-Fi at teahouses (typically NPR 200-400 per device per night)
- ·Hot showers (NPR 300-500 per shower above Chhomrong)
- ·Soft drinks, alcohol, additional snacks (Mars bars, Snickers)
- ·Personal trekking gear (boots, poles, sleeping bag) — Yatra For Fun can rent on request
Bookable trips on this route
Annapurna Base Camp Trek packages from partner operators, confirmed by the Yatra For Fun concierge before you pay. Itineraries and prices vary by operator — check each trip's page.
Pokhara: 9- Day Annapurna Base Camp Guided Trek Via PoonHill
9 days · from USD 585.69
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
15 days · from USD 1,350.54
Kathmandu: 8-Day Annapurna Base Camp Trek
8 days · from USD 1,369
Kathmandu: 14-Day Annapurna Base Camp Trek
14 days · from USD 1,300
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
11 days · from USD 50.00
Pokhara : 7 - Day Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Hot Spring
7 days · from USD 551.23
Book the Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Yatra For Fun
We confirm availability with the operator, usually within 2 business hours, and only charge your card once your group is secured. The exact NPR price is confirmed before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
How fit do I need to be for the Annapurna Base Camp trek?
Moderately fit. If you can sustain 5-7 hours of walking per day with a 6 kg daypack for 7-9 consecutive days, you can complete ABC. The longest single day is the climb from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (~3,300 stone steps in ~7 hours). No technical climbing or ropes — it's a tea-house trek the whole way. Most clients prepare with 4-6 weeks of hill cardio (stairs, incline treadmill, weekend hikes with a daypack).
What's the maximum altitude on ABC and is altitude sickness common?
Maximum elevation is 4,130 m at the base camp itself — reached on the morning of day 7 of the standard itinerary — and the highest sleeping altitude is MBC (3,700 m). Acute mountain sickness (AMS) can affect anyone above about 2,500 m, regardless of fitness, so it is a real possibility on this route. Ascend gradually, drink enough water, tell your guide about headache, nausea, dizziness or unusual tiredness, and descend if symptoms get worse. Ask your doctor before the trip about altitude sickness prevention and whether medication is right for you.
How much does the Annapurna Base Camp trek cost in NPR?
NPR 60,000-150,000 per person (2-pax group, mid-tier teahouse). The lower end is the published starting price; the upper end is the 12-day variant with Mardi Himal extension and peak-season pricing. The breakdown is published transparently above — permits NPR 5,000, guide NPR 25-35K, porter NPR 18-25K, meals NPR 22-35K, lodging NPR 9-15K, transport NPR 5-8K, Yatra For Fun concierge fee NPR 10K.
When is the best time to trek to Annapurna Base Camp?
March-May (spring) and September-November (autumn). Spring is iconic for the rhododendron forest in full bloom on the Ghorepani-Tadapani section. Autumn offers the clearest mountain panoramas after the monsoon. June-August is monsoon (heavy rain, leeches in lower forest, cloud-covered views) and December-February has snow above MBC plus some teahouses closed. Yatra For Fun books year-round but recommends the two main windows for first-time trekkers.
What permits do I need and can Yatra For Fun arrange them?
Two permits are required: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP, NPR 3,000) and the Trekkers' Information Management System card (TIMS, NPR 2,000 group rate or NPR 1,000 for FIT). Both are arranged in Kathmandu or Pokhara before the trek starts — Yatra For Fun's concierge handles the paperwork during the welcome briefing. Bring 2 passport photos and a copy of your visa.
Can I do ABC solo or do I need a guide?
Since April 2023, all foreign trekkers in Annapurna Conservation Area are legally required to hire a licensed guide. Solo / unguided trekking is no longer permitted. Yatra For Fun arranges a licensed, English-speaking trekking guide; we can add a porter at +NPR 18-25K for the trek if you'd rather carry only a daypack.
What gear do I need and can I rent it in Kathmandu or Pokhara?
Boots, sleeping bag (rated to -10°C), down jacket, trekking poles, hat, gloves, layered clothing, daypack (30-35 L), water bottles + treatment. Yatra For Fun can arrange rental of the bulky items (sleeping bag, down jacket, poles) in Pokhara or Kathmandu. We recommend bringing your own boots already broken in.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
Yes — high-altitude trekking insurance with helicopter evacuation cover up to 5,000 m is mandatory and we won't confirm the booking without proof. Most major UK / EU / AU travellers' insurers offer the cover (World Nomads, True Traveller, Allianz). Cost is typically GBP 60-120 / USD 80-160 for the trip duration. Yatra For Fun concierge coordinates evac if it's ever needed.