Annapurna Base Camp or Annapurna sanctuary or short form ABC treks probably the best renowned and classic treks in the world offers breath stopping Mountain Views, given the opportunity to experience the typical Nepali village, culture, local people and their lifestyle.
Annapurna Base Camp trek also starts and ends in Pokhara. Pokhara is the second-biggest city and naturally blessed place to relax after the big hike in Annapurna areas. It is 200km to the west from Kathmandu. All domestic airlines run several flights daily from Kathmandu to Pokhara. An about 6–7 hours’ drive by tourist bus from Kathmandu. Local buses and micro buses leave every one hour from Kathmandu till 2-3pm. All tourist buses leave every morning.
Annapurna Base Camp trek is very moderate and doesn’t require advanced physical fitness levels so anyone can enjoy and take pleasure in nature walking during this trekking. Also, those who are traveling with kids can also get pleasure from this trek. Mostly there are Gurung and Magar people in the area, famous for the Gurkha regiment.
Trekking itinerary will be 8 to 12 days, including 2 days travel to/from Kathmandu. It depends on your time and level of your physical fitness. Most of the people trek to Annapurna Base Camp via Ghorepani Poon Hill, which is relaxing and allows you to get acclimatized, and the itinerary will be 10–12 days. The itinerary can be even more 1 day's longer if we trek back to Pokhara through villages of Landruk, Pothana Dhampus and end the tour at Phedi. Starting from Nayapul – JhinuDanda – Chhumrung and straight up to Base Camp and back to the Nayapul same way along the Modi khola River is one of the shortest itinerary.
Asian Hiking Teams' recommended itinerary brings you through the Ghorepani. In the Ghorepani we leave our luggage in the hotel and one hour climb to Poon Hill for spectacular sunrises. On the way, trekking into base camp allows your body to get adapted and acclimatized to high altitude. A one night stay at base camp, then we will come down until Chhumrung in the same way. We turn left down into Jinu Danda where you can cleanse yourself spiritually in natural hot springs with bathing areas in the lap of the mountains. The last day trekking follows the Modi Khola Valley to Birethanti continues walk to Nayapul and catches our vehicle to return Pokhara.
Recommend Itinerary
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Day 1: Kathmandu 1340m
Arrive in Kathmandu, meet our staff and transfer to a hotel in Kathmandu, at 7-8 pm group meeting and tour briefing at hotel, overnight in Kathmandu.
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Day 2: Kathmandu to Pokhara (900m), 5/6 hours driving by tourist bus at 7 am, overnight Hotel (BB/L).
At 7am Kathmandu is approx 5-7 hours’ drive by tourist bus to the Pokhara (Prithivi Highway). . About 5-7 PM reach Pokhara, transfer to hotel, dinner, overnight in Pokhara.
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Day 3: Pokhara drive to Nayapul 1.30 hours and trek to Tikhedhunga (1575m), 3/4 hours trekking, overnight Lodge (B/L/D).
6.30 wake up call, 7.00 breakfast 8.30 drive 1.30 hours to Nayapool by private vehicle from Pokhara. After a short 15-20 minute walk along the banks of the Modi Khola, we reach Birethanti (1,015m) a large village with many shops and hotels. From there, the trail continues through the village and follows the north bank of the Burundi Khola valley. The trail climbs steadily up the side of the valley to Hille at 1,495m and after a short climb, we reach Tikhedhunga at 1,570m. Today’s walk is relatively short and easy, a preface to the trekking experience in the Annapurna. Overnight at a guesthouse/lodge.
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Day 4: Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2850m), 5 hours trekking, overnight Lodge (B/L/D).
We move on towards the steep climb to Ulleri, a large Magar and Poon village at an altitude of 2,070m. The trail ascends more gently from this point, through fine forests of oak and rhododendrons towards Banthanti at 2,250m. Then we trek towards Nangethanti at 2,460m. After one and half an hour walk we arrived at Ghorepani (2,850m). Overnight at a guesthouse/Lodge.
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Day 5: Ghorepani visits sunrise view from Poon Hill and trek to Tadapani (2680m), 5 hours trekking, overnight Lodge (B/L/D).
Today, very early in the morning, we start an hour climbing to Poon Hill at an elevation of 3,210m, a brilliant mountain range spectacle; this vantage point provides an unobstructed view of the sunrise over the high Himalayas. There we spend about 1 hour, then returning to Ghorepani we take a hot breakfast at a hotel. Then we make a climb along ridges and through pine and rhododendron forests to Deurali (2,960m). After that we descend to the Banthanti, then turn off to Tadapani (2680m) 5 hours. Overnight at a guesthouse/Lodge.
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Day 6: Tadapani to Chhomrong (1950m), 4.30 hours trekking, overnight Lodge (B/L/D).
Leaving Tadapani, we descend steep downhill through the rhododendron forests and then the trail eases as we reach Gurjung which is the village of Gurung people, with an easy walk to Chomrong at an elevation of 1950m. Overnight at a guesthouse/Lodge.
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Day 7: Chhomrong to Himalaya (2920m), 6/7 hours trekking, overnight Lodge (B/L/D).
Today the trail drops down to the Chhomrong Khola and again we continue climbing to Sinuwa where few lodges and enter the beautiful forest to reach Khuldighar at 2,380m where it was ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area) check post before but now just old hut only. You can see the eye charting view of Fishtail. From here very steeply down a rock bank then levels out, running through thickets of bamboo at the bottom of the gorge, always on the west side of the river. We walk through bamboo, then rhododendron, bamboo forests continue following the Modi Khola Gorge to cross the Dovan then to the Himalayan Hotel, 2920m, there are few lodges only. Overnight at a guesthouse/ Lodge.
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Day 8: Himalaya to Annapurna Base Camp (4130m), 5 hours trekking, overnight Lodge (B/L/D).
Today the trail climbs past the Hinko Cave, Deurali there are some tea houses / hotels and then Machhapuchhre Base Camp, which isn’t really a base camp since climbing the mountain is not permitted. Since it is totally surrounded by mountains, this area is known as the Annapurna Sanctuary. Two hours trek from Machhapuchhre Base Camp takes you to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) at elevation of 4,130m. There, you will view unobstructed views of mountain scenery, which is very spectacular, total 5/6 hours trekking, overnight at a guesthouse.
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Day 9: Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo (2310m), 6 hours, trekking, overnight Lodge (B/L/D).
Walk up very early to explore the sunrise view and have hot breakfast then we follow the same trail down today the trail drops by 1,700m to the bank of Modi Khola to Bamboo at 2,345m where there are a few teahouse/lodges available to stay at Overnight at a Lodge.
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Day 10: Bamboo to Jinu Danda (1730m), 4/5 hours trekking, visit a natural hot spring and take a hot bath overnight Lodge (B/L/D).
We follow the same trail until Chommrong. From Chomrong the trail descends very steeply to the Jhinu hot spring, where you can bathe in natural hot springs, 4/5 hours trekking, check hotel and go to hot spring it takes 20 minute to Modi Khola river bank, return to hotel, dinner. Overnight at a guesthouse/hotel.
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Day 11: Jinu Danda to Nayapul (1180m) 5/6 hours trekking and drive to Pokhara 1.30 hours, overnight at hotel in Pokhara (BB/L).
From Jhinu hot springs we walk at the right side of Modi Khola for 5/6 hours to Birethanti which can be considered one of the best and the most relaxing walks of the entire trek. We reach Nayapul then one and half an hour drive will take us back to Pokhara, transfer to hotel, visit in Fewa Lake side, dinner, and overnight at Hotel.
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Day 12: Pokhara to Kathmandu by Tourist bus, 5-6 hours, or by flight transfer to hotel (B/L).
Early morning take a tourist bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu, 5-6 hours, or by 30 minutes flight than transfer to hotel (B/L).
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Day 13: Departure from Nepal or next trip:
The trip concludes today. Our Airport Representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu for your flight departure from Nepal or next trip.
Cost Includes
- Airport /Hotel/Airport pick up and drop.
- Accommodation in Kathmandu as itinerary (2-3 star hotel) with breakfast.
- All land transportation (Trekking starting and ending point) as per itinerary.
- Accommodation during the trekking as best available Hotel/Lodge as per itinerary (for camping trekking we provide tented camp and camping meals).
- Major Meals during the trekking; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (B/L/D) by Lodge/Hotel menu.
- Domestic air ticket and Cargos fees to/from (if there is mentioned on itinerary).
- Trekkers’ Information Management System “TIMS Card” (Trekking permit) and Special trekking permit for Upper Mustang, Dolpa, Manaslu Tsum valley, Kanchenjunga, Simikot, Nar and Fu valley, etc.
- National Park fees/ Conservation permit.
- Monasteries and Temple entrance fees during the trekking.
- A First Aid and Eco trained & Government licensed holder professional equipped English Speaking guide.
- One Porter between each 2 members while on trek (Maximum weight for a porter is 25 Kg).
- Accommodation, meals, salary, equipment, transportation & Insurance of Asian Hiking Team staff.
- First Aid Kit.
- Travel & Rescue arrangement.
- All government taxes/ service charges.
- Farewell dinner in Kathmandu (with culture show).
Cost Excludes
- International Airfare.
- Nepal Visa fee.
- Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu as per itinerary.
- Entrance fees in Durbar Square or Temple in Kathmandu.
- Soft/hard drinks, Drinking water, Tea/ coffee during trekking.
- Hot shower, internet & electricity bills during trekking.
- Extra porter (on request).
- Personal trekking gears & clothing (some of equipment is possible to rent in Kathmandu).
- Medical evacuation in case of emergency, Expenses incurred due to mishaps, landslides, strikes, political unrest etc. in such cases extra will be charged as per actual.
- Tips or Donation (as you want).
Suman was especially helpful.
Sub: Annapurna Trekking
I'm so very sorry for the delay in sending this email. We have arrived home from Nepal already two month ago. Let me just tell you how very much me and my friend enjoyed the trip with Asian Hiking Team. The panorama we saw was breathtaking, and in spite of the tiredness we sometimes felt the whole trips made it easy and enjoyable for us. Our porters, unwanted to say, were amazing, and, above all, our guides, Suman was especially helpful. Whenever we go back to Nepal we hope to be able to go on a trek with Suman. I especially hope to see Suman in the position as a team leader next time, he would have earned it! I really enjoyed learning about the Nepalese culture and other things from him; it was great to have someone around that could express these things so as that we could understand them. All in all, I felt very well taken care of and motivated throughout the whole trek in Annapurna circuit, Ghorepani Ghandruk and base camp ! Next time I think we could do higher elevation. Take Care, and let's keep talking!
Thanks,
Ying Tao / Peng Yang
22-06A, Singapore Land Tower, Singapore