Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a 13-day route from Kathmandu to the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 meters. The trail starts from Nayapul near Pokhara and climbs through terraced farmland, Gurung villages, and bamboo forests before entering the glacial amphitheatre surrounded by Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South (7,219m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), Hiunchuli (6,441m), and Gangapurna (7,455m).

The route follows the Modi Khola valley through Ghandruk (1,940m), Chhomrong (2,170m), and Sinuwa before climbing through dense bamboo forest to Deurali (3,230m). Above the treeline, the valley opens into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a glacial basin ringed by 8,000-meter peaks. Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700m) sits in the middle of this amphitheatre with the twin-finned peak of Machhapuchhre directly above.

Sunrise at Annapurna Base Camp is the payoff. The first light hits Annapurna South, then sweeps across the entire sanctuary wall: Hiunchuli, Annapurna I, Gangapurna, and the Annapurna III ridge. The base camp sits on a flat moraine shelf with the south face of Annapurna I towering 4,000 meters directly above. Walking days average 5 to 6 hours on well-maintained trails.

Permits required: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP, NPR 3,000) and TIMS card, both included in your trek cost. A licensed guide is mandatory in the Annapurna region for all foreign trekkers as of 2023.

For a shorter version of this trek, the Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek reaches the sanctuary in 10 days. For an easier, lower-altitude option with similar scenery, the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek reaches 3,210m in 8 days with Dhaulagiri and Annapurna sunrise views. The Mardi Himal Trek offers a quieter route to Mardi Himal Base Camp (3,900m) in 11 days with Machhapuchhre views.

The Annapurna Sanctuary is a natural amphitheatre formed by a ring of peaks above 6,000 meters with a single narrow entrance at the Modi Khola gorge. Once inside, you are surrounded by ice and rock on every side. The base camp sits on a flat moraine shelf at 4,130 meters, the southernmost point from which Annapurna I's 8,091-meter summit is visible.

The trail through Ghandruk and Chhomrong passes through working Gurung villages with stone-paved paths, slate-roofed houses, and community lodges. Chhomrong is perched on a ridge with Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South filling the northern skyline. The descent to the Modi Khola and the climb through bamboo forest to Sinuwa is one of the most dramatic trail transitions in Nepal.

On the return trail, a detour to the Jhinu hot springs offers a natural mineral soak beside the Modi Khola river. The hot pools sit on the riverbank at 1,780m, a welcome contrast after days above 3,000 meters.

The Annapurna Sanctuary amphitheatre is one of the most dramatic mountain settings on any trekking trail. You stand inside a ring of peaks above 6,000 meters with Annapurna I's south face directly above.

Gurung villages along the trail serve dal bhat, momos, and fresh tea on slate terraces with mountain views. Chhomrong has some of the best village lodges in Nepal.

Rhododendron and bamboo forests below Deurali bloom pink and red from March to May. The trail passes through dense canopy before opening into the glacial sanctuary.

The Jhinu hot springs on the return trail are a natural reward after days at altitude. Few treks in Nepal offer a hot spring soak on the way back.

At USD 1,075 for 13 days, the ABC trek delivers an 8,000-meter peak experience at a lower price and shorter duration than the Everest Base Camp Trek.