Annapurna Base Camp
Nepal's most complete alpine experience
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About this trek
- A licensed guide has been legally required for foreign trekkers here since April 2023 — enforcement varies by checkpoint, but we'd rather tell you the rule exists than have you find out at Birethanti.
- Solo-friendly teahouses at every overnight stop — no group-booking required, guide or not.
- ACAP permit (~₨3,000) and TIMS card (~₨2,000) — TIMS is now issued through your guide or their agency, not arranged independently.
- Helicopter rescue is registered and affordable (~USD 4,500 insured) — buy travel insurance that explicitly covers it.
- Macchapuchhare base camp at 4,130m is the visual reward — mornings are clearer than afternoons.
Nepal's most complete alpine experience
Nearest city: Pokhara
7–10 days · Challenging
Itinerary
Day-by-day route. Tap a day to expand.
Take an early taxi to Nayapul (30 min from Pokhara). Collect TIMS stamp at Birethanti checkpoint. Gentle walk along the Modi Khola river through Gurung villages to Tikhedhunga. The famous Ulleri stone staircase starts here — rest tonight.
The Ulleri staircase is 3,000+ stone steps. Start at 6am, take it slow, take breaks at every teahouse. The reward is Ghorepani: Dhaulagiri views, good food, and your first taste of high altitude. Hydrate constantly — you gain 1,400m today.
Wake at 4:30am for the 45-min climb to Poon Hill (3,210m). On clear days: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, and Annapurna I all visible at once. After breakfast, descend through dense rhododendron forest (spectacular March–April) to Tadapani.
Descend through forest to the Modi Khola valley, then a sharp climb to Chhomrong — the last major village before the sanctuary. Chhomrong is your last resupply point: buy snacks, top up cash, charge everything. Signal exists here (Ncell, weak). No signal after this.
Steep descent from Chhomrong, then climb through increasingly dense bamboo and rhododendron forest. The gorge narrows and the trail becomes quieter. No signal from here. The Sinuwa junction has a fork — follow the GPX waypoint to stay on trail.
The gorge becomes spectacular: waterfalls, towering cliffs, and increasingly high peaks visible above. Himalaya Hotel area has 3 teahouses and is the last comfortable acclimatisation stop before the altitude zone starts at 3,000m+.
IMPORTANT: The Himalaya Hotel–Deurali section passes through an active avalanche corridor. Leave by 6:30am, move quickly, do not linger. After Deurali (3,230m) the landscape opens to glacial moraine. MBC at 3,700m — you're in the high-altitude zone now. Drink constantly.
Leave MBC by 6am. The approach reveals the full amphitheatre: Annapurna I (8,091m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), Hiunchuli (6,441m) encircling you. Spend 2–3 hours at ABC — morning is clearest before clouds build. Descend to MBC for the night.
Most trekkers return in 2 days. Day 9: descend to Chhomrong. Day 10: push through to Nayapul and taxi to Pokhara (arrive by 4pm). Trekking poles are essential on the Ulleri descent — the stone steps are harder going down on tired knees.
How to reach Nayapul
Every route into this trek funnels through the same two gateways, wherever you're starting from: Kathmandu, then Pokhara. From Pokhara it's a 30-minute drive to the trailhead.
What it costs
Safety
ABC is well-trodden and generally safe. But altitude, weather, and solo logistics carry real risks. Know these before you go.
- Arrange a licensed guide through a TAAN-registered agency — legally required since April 2023, and worth it even where enforcement is loose
- Buy travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover
- Share your full itinerary with someone at home
- Register at each ACAP checkpoint (they track you)
- Download offline maps (OsmAnd or Gaia GPS)
- Start trekking by 7am — afternoons cloud over
- Never skip meals or water above 3,000m
- Tell your teahouse your next day's plan
- Carry a basic first aid kit and blister supplies
- Buddy up informally with other trekkers for the Deurali stretch
- Leave a note at each teahouse with your departure time
- Carry a local SIM (Ncell/NTC) — some signal to Chhomrong
- No signal above Chhomrong — plan accordingly
- Severe headache that won't respond to ibuprofen
- Loss of coordination or balance
- Confusion or disorientation
- Persistent vomiting at altitude
Emergency contacts
Packing list
ABC — common questions
Is Annapurna Base Camp safe to trek solo?
ABC is well-trodden and generally safe. But altitude, weather, and solo logistics carry real risks. Know these before you go. The specific thing to know: avalanche corridor: himalaya hotel → deurali. This section passes through an active avalanche zone. Move through early (before 9am), quickly, and do not linger. An April 2025 avalanche near Deurali killed a trekker. Do not take this lightly.
Do I need a guide for Annapurna Base Camp?
Yes. Nepal has required foreign trekkers to hire a licensed guide in conservation areas — including the Annapurna Conservation Area — since April 2023, checked via TIMS registration and enforced at checkpoints along this route. In practice, enforcement is inconsistent: some checkpoints check closely, others barely glance at paperwork, and solo trekkers still complete this route without incident. We'd rather be straight about that than pretend the rule doesn't exist — it's real, it's unevenly enforced, and we recommend going with a licensed guide regardless: for the compliance question, and because a good guide genuinely helps with acclimatisation pacing and the avalanche-corridor timing flagged below, the trek's one real objective hazard. Get ACAP + TIMS sorted through your guide/agency in Pokhara (Damside area) on arrival day — bring passport, 2 photos, and USD/NPR cash.
Do I need a permit for Annapurna Base Camp?
Yes: ACAP (obtained at Pokhara (Damside) or ACAP office, Kathmandu); TIMS (obtained at Issued through your guide or their TAAN-registered agency, not independently). Bring passport + 2 passport photos. SAARC nationals pay $8. Pay in USD or NPR equivalent. SAARC nationals pay $9. Cash only. Since April 2023, TIMS for foreign trekkers is processed alongside mandatory guide registration — your guide/agency will handle this, not a solo counter visit.
When is the best time to trek Annapurna Base Camp?
Best in Oct – Nov (5°C to 15°C) and Mar – May (8°C to 18°C). Avoid Jun – Sep — 10°c to 22°c.
How do I reach Nayapul without a car?
Every route into this trek funnels through the same two gateways, wherever you're starting from: Kathmandu, then Pokhara. From Pokhara it's a 30-minute drive to the trailhead. Reach Kathmandu: Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is Nepal's only real point of entry, so this is step one regardless of where you fly from. It has direct flights from major hubs across South Asia, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia; from Europe or the Americas, the usual routing is one stop via Delhi, Doha, Istanbul, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur. Book 3–4 weeks ahead in peak season (Mar–May, Sep–Nov) — fares climb fast closer to the date.
How many days does Annapurna Base Camp take?
7–10 days, covering roughly 110 km and topping out at 4,130m. Most trekkers start from Pokhara.
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