Plan my trek
Plan my trek
4,130 m (13,550 ft)
5–12 days from Pokhara
Moderate
Ghandruk / Jhinu Danda
ACAP NPR 3,000 (~£15)
Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr
The Annapurna Base Camp trek, usually shortened to the ABC trek, is a teahouse trek of five to twelve days from Pokhara into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a glacier-carved bowl in the heart of the Annapurna region. You walk up through Gurung villages and terraced hills, into the narrow Modi Khola gorge, and out onto the moraine at Annapurna Base Camp. The camp is at 4,130 m (13,550 ft), directly below the south face of Annapurna I (8,091 m), the tenth-highest mountain in the world.
What makes it special is the finish. Most treks show you the big peaks from a distance; ABC puts you inside a ring of them. From the lodges at the base camp you look up at Annapurna I, Annapurna South (7,219 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), Gangapurna (7,455 m), Annapurna III and the fishtail of Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), a mountain sacred to the Gurung and officially closed to climbing. Sunrise, when the first light turns the top of Annapurna I gold while the camp is still in shadow, is the moment people travel for.
The trek has three distinct parts. The lower hills between Pokhara and Chhomrong (about 2,170 m) are farmed, populated and busy, with stone villages, stone steps and views of Annapurna South. Above Chhomrong you enter the Sanctuary proper: there are no permanent villages, only small clusters of seasonal lodges at Sinuwa, Bamboo, Dovan, Himalaya and Deurali, set in bamboo and rhododendron forest along the roaring Modi Khola. Finally the valley opens at Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC, about 3,700 m) into grassy moraine, and an hour or two of gentle climbing brings you to ABC.
You come back the same way as far as Chhomrong, then choose an exit: down to the hot springs at Jhinu Danda and a jeep, or across to Landruk, Ghandruk or Pothana. Many start with the Ghorepani and Poon Hill loop, which adds two or three days and a second famous sunrise.
It suits people less well if they dislike steps (there are thousands, especially around Chhomrong), want solitude in October, or are looking for the remote cultural experience of the Manaslu or Mustang regions.
Against Everest Base Camp, ABC is shorter (typically 7 to 10 walking days rather than 12), about 1,200 m lower at its highest point, cheaper, and easier to reach because it starts by road from Pokhara rather than by flight to Lukla. EBC has the higher-altitude drama and the Sherpa culture; ABC has the enclosed amphitheatre and more forest. We compare them in detail in Annapurna Base Camp vs Everest Base Camp.
Poon Hill is half the length and about 900 m lower: it looks at the mountains from the foothills, while ABC takes you among them. The Annapurna Circuit is a longer, higher journey around the whole massif over the Thorong La (5,416 m). Mardi Himal, on the ridge east of the Sanctuary, is a quieter, shorter alternative with closer views of Machhapuchhre but fewer lodges. For more options see our list of the best treks from Pokhara.
The table shows a standard eight-day itinerary from Pokhara back to Pokhara, starting by jeep at Ghandruk and finishing at Jhinu Danda. It is the version we recommend for most people with limited time: it uses the roads to skip dusty walking, but keeps a sensible pace through the Sanctuary. Altitudes differ by 20 to 80 m between maps and lodge signs, so treat them as approximate. Walking times are for an average group with short stops.
| Day | Route | Altitude (sleeping) | Walking time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeep Pokhara to Ghandruk (or Kimche, then walk up); afternoon in the old village | Ghandruk, about 1,940 m | 0–2 h (2.5–4 h drive) |
| 2 | Ghandruk over Komrong Danda, down to the Kimrong Khola and up to Chhomrong | Chhomrong, about 2,170 m | 5–6 h |
| 3 | Chhomrong down the staircase to the Chhomrong Khola, up to Sinuwa, on through forest to Bamboo | Bamboo, about 2,310 m | 4–5 h |
| 4 | Bamboo via Dovan and Himalaya to Deurali | Deurali, about 3,230 m | 5–6 h |
| 5 | Deurali to Machhapuchhre Base Camp and on to Annapurna Base Camp | ABC, 4,130 m | 4–5 h |
| 6 | Sunrise at ABC, then descend via MBC and Deurali to Bamboo | Bamboo, about 2,310 m | 6–7 h |
| 7 | Bamboo to Sinuwa, climb back to Chhomrong, then down to Jhinu Danda; hot springs | Jhinu Danda, about 1,780 m | 5–6 h |
| 8 | Walk down to the road head near Siwai or New Bridge, jeep to Pokhara | Pokhara, about 820 m | 0.5–1.5 h (3–4 h drive) |
Add a day in Kathmandu at each end, plus the transfer to Pokhara, and the full trip from arrival to departure is usually 11 to 13 days. Our full Annapurna Base Camp itinerary guide lays out 5, 7, 10 and 12-day versions with stage-by-stage notes. The cards below cover the main variations.
Think of the route as a capital Y lying on its side. Pokhara is at the base; the road runs north-west along the Baglung highway to Nayapul (about 1,070 m), then up the Modi Khola valley past Birethanti and Syauli Bazaar. Here the lower trail splits: one branch climbs west to Ghorepani and Poon Hill, the other heads north via Ghandruk or Jhinu Danda. Both branches meet at Chhomrong, and from there a single trail runs due north up the gorge.
Total distance: roughly 70 km return from Jhinu Danda, 80 to 85 km starting at Ghandruk, and 90 to 115 km if you start at Nayapul and include Poon Hill. Distances on the trail are rarely signed and vary by source, so think in hours rather than kilometres. Offline map apps show the trail well; download the area before you leave Pokhara.
A popular search is the “ABC trek itinerary 5 days”. It is possible: jeep to the Jhinu Danda road head and walk to Chhomrong or Sinuwa on day 1, Deurali on day 2, ABC on day 3, back to Bamboo or Sinuwa on day 4, and Jhinu and Pokhara on day 5.
The catch is altitude. It gains about 900 m of sleeping height on each of days 2 and 3, well over the standard guidance of around 500 m a night above 3,000 m. Fit, well-acclimatised walkers often manage it, but headaches at ABC are common and a bad night can mean turning back. If you only have five or six days, we suggest sleeping at MBC rather than ABC and walking up for sunrise, or adding one more night on the way up.
Start at Nayapul or drive to Ulleri, climb to Ghorepani for the Poon Hill sunrise (3,210 m), then follow the forest ridge to Tadapani and drop to the Kimrong Khola and Chhomrong to join the main route. This adds two to three days, but gives you a gentler build-up of altitude, a second big view (Dhaulagiri as well as the Annapurnas) and the best rhododendron forest in the region.
It is the route our own Annapurna Base Camp trek follows. If you have the time, it is the best all-round version.
Ghandruk is one of the largest Gurung villages in Nepal, with slate-roofed stone houses, a small museum and a direct view of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. A road now reaches the village, so many itineraries start here by jeep and skip the old walk up from Nayapul and Birethanti.
Arrive by lunchtime and you have an afternoon to explore the old lanes. Monsoon floods in 2026 damaged the Kimrong Khola bridge between Ghandruk and Chhomrong; a temporary crossing has been reported, but ask your guide about the latest situation.
Most itineraries sleep at ABC so you are there for sunset and sunrise, and that is the experience we recommend if you are feeling well. ABC has only a handful of lodges, so in October and November they fill up and rooms are often shared.
Sleeping at Machhapuchhre Base Camp (about 3,700 m) instead means a lower, often warmer night, then a pre-dawn walk of 1.5 to 2 hours to ABC for sunrise. It is a good choice if you are feeling the altitude, or in peak season if ABC is full.
Below Chhomrong, Jhinu Danda (about 1,780 m) has natural hot pools by the Modi Khola, 15 to 20 minutes’ walk below the lodges. After six days on the trail they are hard to beat. A small community fee is charged, around NPR 150 to 300 (about £1 to £1.50), and they usually close in the early evening. Most people visit on the way down. Bring swimwear: nudity is not acceptable.
Instead of jeeping out from Jhinu, you can cross the Modi Khola to Landruk and walk the ridge through Tolka, Deurali (Pothana area) and Australian Camp to Phedi, which is only 30 to 45 minutes by road from Pokhara. It adds one or two days of quiet, easy forest walking with views back to Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range. You can also walk out via Ghandruk and Kimche, or link to the Mardi Himal ridge from Landruk.
Search for an “Annapurna Base Camp helicopter tour” and you will find morning flights from Pokhara that land at ABC for 15 to 30 minutes and return. At the time of writing, shared seats cost roughly US$450 to US$750 per person (about £340 to £560) and a private charter for up to five passengers roughly US$2,200 to US$2,500 (about £1,650 to £1,900). Flights depend on weather, and flying straight from 820 m to 4,130 m can leave you breathless and light-headed, so keep exertion to a minimum on the ground.
Some trekkers walk up and fly out from ABC or MBC to save two days. Remember that ACAP and the guide rules still apply, and that helicopter noise is unpopular in the sacred Sanctuary.
ABC is a moderate trek. You need no technical skills, the trail is clear, and there is a lodge every hour or two. What makes it hard is the cumulative effort: several days of steep stone steps, an up-and-down valley profile, and the last day’s climb to over 4,000 m. Fit, prepared walkers enjoy it; unprepared ones find it a long week. Our detailed guide to Annapurna Base Camp trek difficulty goes deeper into each stage.
For most people the hardest day is Deurali to ABC: only 4 to 5 hours, but climbing about 900 m at altitude, where every step feels heavier. The day after can be just as tiring in a different way: from ABC down to Bamboo is about 1,800 m of descent, which punishes knees and thighs. The climb back up the Chhomrong steps on day 7 is a sting in the tail. Poles help on all three.
If you can walk 6 hours over hilly ground with a light pack, then do it again the next day without feeling wrecked, you have the base fitness. In the 8 to 12 weeks before you go:
Our guide on how to get in shape for trekking has a week-by-week plan that works well for ABC, and trekking for beginners explains what to expect on your first trek.
The profile is simple: you spend three or four nights between 1,900 and 2,400 m, one night at about 3,200 m (Deurali), then sleep at 4,130 m (ABC) or about 3,700 m (MBC). You are only above 3,000 m for one or two nights, which is why the trek is popular for a first time at altitude. It is also why people underestimate it: the standard itinerary climbs faster than the usual guideline of no more than 300 to 500 m of extra sleeping height a night above 3,000 m.
Mild headache, poor sleep and breathlessness at ABC are normal. Worsening headache, vomiting, confusion, loss of coordination or breathlessness at rest are not, and the answer is to descend at once. In the Sanctuary, descent is quick: dropping from ABC to Deurali loses 900 m in two or three hours. If you are worried, sleep at MBC, or add a night at Deurali or Himalaya. Discuss acetazolamide (Diamox) with your GP or a travel clinic before you go. Read our guide to altitude sickness for the warning signs.
Yes, with preparation. First-time trekkers, teenagers and walkers in their sixties and seventies reach ABC every season. The keys are a realistic pace, an extra day in the plan, a porter to carry your bag, and honest communication with your guide about how you feel.
The whole trek lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). The rules have changed several times since 2023, and some sources contradict each other, so here is what we know at the time of writing (October 2026).
Approximate costs per person, for a trek of 7 to 10 days from Pokhara. Prices in the Sanctuary are set each season by local tourism management committees and rise the higher you go.
| Item | Approximate cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACAP permit | NPR 3,000 (about £15) | SAARC NPR 1,000; under-10s free |
| TIMS card (if required) | NPR 2,000 (about £10) | Issued through an agency |
| Licensed guide | US$25–35 a day (about £19–26) | Per group; plus tips |
| Porter | US$18–25 a day (about £14–19) | Usually carries for two trekkers |
| Teahouse room | NPR 500–700 a night (about £2.50–3.50) above Chhomrong; up to NPR 1,500 in Ghandruk | Cheaper if you eat where you sleep |
| Food and hot drinks | NPR 3,000–5,500 a day (about £15–27) | Rises sharply above Deurali |
| Jeeps, Pokhara to trailhead and back | NPR 1,000–2,000 by bus or shared jeep; NPR 6,000–10,000 per private jeep each way (about £30–50) | Depends on start and finish |
| Extras (showers, charging, wifi, snacks) | NPR 800–2,000 a day (about £4–10) | Cash only |
Rough totals: a trekker sharing a guide and porter with one other person and paying their own lodges and food typically spends about £450 to £650 for eight days from Pokhara, before tips. Local agency packages from Pokhara usually cost US$500 to US$900 (about £375 to £675) for 5 to 8 days. Full packages from Kathmandu of 10 to 14 days, with hotels, transfers and a Poon Hill extension, run from about US$800 to US$1,300 (£600 to £975) and up. Our own 15-day Annapurna Base Camp trek starts from Kathmandu and is priced from £795 per person at the time of writing. See our full breakdown of Annapurna Base Camp trek cost for line-by-line budgets.
The Sanctuary is open all year, but views and safety vary hugely with the season. The two main seasons are autumn (October to November) and spring (March to April). Winter is clear but cold and carries avalanche risk; the monsoon is wet and cloudy. Our guide to the best time to trek Annapurna Base Camp goes month by month, and the best season to travel in Nepal covers the rest of the country.
| Months | Weather at ABC | Views | Crowds and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| October–November | Dry and settled; days around 5–15°C, nights about -5 to -10°C | The clearest of the year | Busiest; ABC lodges full in October, rooms shared |
| December–February | Cold, mostly clear; nights well below -10°C; snow likely above Deurali | Often superb in the mornings | Quiet; highest avalanche risk between Himalaya and MBC after snowfall; some lodges close |
| March–April | Warming; afternoon cloud and showers; late snow possible | Good early, hazier later | Busy; rhododendrons in bloom lower down; avalanche risk persists in March and early April |
| May | Warm and humid, pre-monsoon storms | Variable, often hazy | Moderate; fewer people |
| June–September | Monsoon: daily rain, leeches, landslides on roads | Mostly cloud, occasional clear dawns | Very quiet; lush flowers; expect road and trail disruption |
The best light is at dawn. In autumn, alpenglow touches the summit of Annapurna I shortly after 6 am and works its way down the face while the camp is still freezing in shadow; the sun reaches the lodges later. Machhapuchhre is often best seen from MBC at sunset. Cloud tends to build up the gorge by late morning in spring and in the monsoon, so plan to be at ABC for an evening and a morning, not a midday visit. Walk five to ten minutes beyond the lodges onto the moraine crest for the view down onto the South Annapurna Glacier. The prayer flags here include memorials to climbers who died on Annapurna, among them the mountaineer Anatoli Boukreev, killed in an avalanche on the south face in December 1997.
Dashain and Tihar, Nepal’s biggest festivals, usually fall in October or early November. Many Nepalis trek during the holidays, so lodges are even busier, buses out of Pokhara are packed and some lodge staff go home. Gurung villages such as Ghandruk and Chhomrong celebrate Tamu Lhosar, the Gurung new year, around late December. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so check them for your year.
Monsoon floods regularly damage bridges and cut the road in the lower Modi Khola valley, and 2026 was no exception. If you trek in the monsoon or early October, allow a spare day.
Every night on the ABC trek is spent in a teahouse: a family-run lodge with a dining room heated by a stove in the evening and simple unheated bedrooms. Standards drop as you climb. Ghandruk and Chhomrong have comfortable lodges, some with attached bathrooms; above Chhomrong the lodges are smaller, more basic and often run by Chhomrong families who move up for the season.
Expect twin rooms with foam mattresses, a pillow and a blanket, and thin walls. Bathrooms are shared above Chhomrong, with squat or sit-down toilets. At Deurali, MBC and ABC, rooms in peak season are often shared between three to six trekkers, or you may sleep in the dining room. Rooms cost roughly NPR 500 to 700 (about £2.50 to £3.50) a night above Chhomrong and up to NPR 1,500 in Ghandruk. Lodges expect you to eat dinner and breakfast where you sleep; that is how they make their living. Your guide will phone ahead to book.
Menus are long and similar from lodge to lodge: dal bhat (rice, lentil soup, vegetable curry and pickle, usually with free refills), noodle soups, fried rice and noodles, momos, pasta, pizza of a sort, porridge, Tibetan bread, pancakes and eggs. Chhomrong is known for its bakeries, with apple pie and chocolate cake.
| Section | Dal bhat (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Jhinu (below 2,500 m) | NPR 450–600 (about £2.25–3) |
| Sinuwa, Bamboo, Dovan, Himalaya, Deurali | NPR 600–800 (about £3–4) |
| MBC and ABC | NPR 800–1,000 or more (about £4–5) |
A full day of meals and hot drinks usually costs NPR 3,000 to 5,500 (about £15 to £27). By local custom the Sanctuary above Chhomrong is meat-free: lodges do not sell meat, and you should not carry it in. Eggs and dairy are widely available. Dal bhat is the best value and the safest choice, because it is freshly cooked in quantity.
Do not drink untreated tap or stream water. Plastic bottles are discouraged in the conservation area and add to waste in a valley with nowhere to dispose of it. Carry a filter bottle, a UV purifier or purification tablets and refill from lodge taps, or buy boiled water (around NPR 100 to 250 a litre) from lodges. Some villages have filtered water stations.
ABC is a well-travelled, well-served trek, and most problems are minor: stomach bugs, blisters, sore knees and mild altitude symptoms. But it has two serious risks that you should take seriously: altitude and, in winter and spring, avalanches. Read our safety tips for trekking in Nepal before you go.
Most people feel the altitude at ABC, and a minority develop acute mountain sickness. Walk slowly, drink 3 to 4 litres a day, avoid alcohol at height and tell your guide early about symptoms. Severe symptoms mean descending immediately, at night if necessary. Chhomrong has a small health post. Helicopters can reach ABC and MBC in good weather, usually within hours, but cloud can delay them for a day or more, which is why going down on foot is always the first plan.
The narrow section of the Modi Khola gorge between Hinku Cave (about 3,100 m), Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp lies below steep slopes that unload snow into the valley. The risk is highest from December to April, especially after heavy snowfall. In January 2020 an avalanche near Deurali buried a group of South Korean trekkers and their Nepali guides.
Wet stone steps are slippery, and ice forms in shaded sections from December to February. Landslides affect roads and lower trails in the monsoon. Mules and porters have priority on the steps: always step to the uphill side to let them pass. Do not walk the gorge alone or after dark.
Your travel insurance must cover trekking to at least 4,500 m and helicopter rescue and medical evacuation. The FCDO specifically advises checking for mountain rescue and helicopter cover. Read our guide: do I need travel insurance for trekking?
At the time of writing, the UK FCDO does not advise against travel to Nepal; its advice was last updated on 1 October 2026. It warns that monsoon flooding and landslides can make roads impassable, and that protests, demonstrations and strikes are fairly common and can start at short notice. On trekking, the FCDO says you need a valid permit and a TIMS card, that foreign independent trekkers must use a local guide or porter in national parks and protected areas, and that you should not trek alone. Check the latest FCDO advice before you travel.
ABC is cold at night, and porters on cheap trips are sometimes underequipped. A fair load is about 20 to 25 kg, usually two trekkers’ bags. Porters should have proper footwear, warm clothing and sunglasses, insurance and a bed indoors. Ask your operator how they look after their team, and tip fairly at the end. The FCDO also warns about cheap deals and guides who push clients up too fast: a registered operator with licensed guides costs a little more for good reason.
Every route to Annapurna Base Camp starts in Pokhara. There is no road in the Sanctuary, but roads now reach far up the lower valleys, so the trek usually starts with a jeep ride of two to four hours.
| Route | Option | Time | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokhara to Ghandruk | Private jeep | 2.5–4 h | NPR 6,000–10,000 per vehicle (about £30–50) |
| Pokhara to Ghandruk | Shared jeep or local bus | 3–5 h | NPR 450–1,000 per seat (about £2.25–5) |
| Pokhara to Jhinu Danda road head (Siwai, New Bridge or the jeep stand below Jhinu) | Private jeep | 3–4 h | Around NPR 7,000–7,500 per vehicle (about £35–38) |
| Pokhara to Nayapul | Bus, shared or private jeep | 1.5–2 h | NPR 200–400 by bus; NPR 2,000–3,000 private (about £10–15) |
| Phedi to Pokhara (Landruk–Pothana ending) | Taxi or bus | 30–45 min | A few hundred to NPR 1,500 (under £8) |
The road is paved to Nayapul and rough beyond, with single-track sections and landslide-prone slopes. Jeeps reach Ghandruk and Kimche on one side, and Siwai and New Bridge towards Jhinu Danda on the other; how far they get depends on the season and road damage. Shared jeeps and buses leave from Pokhara’s Baglung bus park area. Most agencies arrange private transfers, which is worth it for groups.
Walking, you can reach ABC in three days from the Jhinu Danda road head (fast), four days from Ghandruk (standard) or six to seven via Poon Hill. By helicopter it is about 25 to 30 minutes each way.
Pack light: porters usually carry a maximum of 10 to 12 kg per trekker, and you carry a daypack of 20 to 30 litres. Our free trek packing checklist has the full list, and essential items for trekking covers the basics. The points below are specific to ABC.
ABC is at the centre of a network of trails in the Annapurna region, so it is easy to extend or combine. It also pairs well with the classic Nepal circuit of Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan.
The most popular combination in Nepal. Starting with Poon Hill adds two to three days, a sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, and a gentler build-up of altitude. The two halves link at Tadapani and Chhomrong.
A ridge trek east of the Sanctuary, climbing through forest to open grassland below Machhapuchhre, with a viewpoint at about 4,200 to 4,500 m. It takes 4 to 6 days, and you can link it to ABC via Landruk and Jhinu for a 12 to 14-day trip with two very different views of the same mountains.
If ABC leaves you wanting more, the Annapurna Circuit is the bigger journey: 12 to 18 days around the whole massif, through Manang and over the Thorong La (5,416 m) to Muktinath and the Kali Gandaki. It can be finished via Tatopani and Ghorepani, though few people combine it with the full ABC trek in one trip.
Trekkers who enjoyed ABC often make Everest Base Camp their next goal. It is higher, longer and colder, and starts with a flight to Lukla. Our Everest Base Camp trek runs in the same seasons.
Give yourself a rest day in Pokhara on either side: paddle on Phewa Lake, paraglide from Sarangkot, or just eat well. Chitwan’s jungle and Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, are a day’s drive south. For an overview of every route, see our trekking in Nepal hub.
Annapurna Base Camp is the trek we recommend most often to people heading into the Himalaya for the first time: big enough to feel like an expedition, short enough to fit into a two-week holiday. Our 15-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek runs from Kathmandu via Poon Hill, with licensed guides, fairly treated porters and a sunrise at the base camp. Want different dates, a shorter version or a private group? Tell us how you like to travel on our plan your trip page and we will build an itinerary around you.
Annapurna Base Camp is at 4,130 m (13,550 ft) above sea level. Machhapuchhre Base Camp, the last stop before it, is at about 3,700 m (roughly 12,140 ft). The summit of Annapurna I above the camp is 8,091 m (26,545 ft).
Most itineraries take 7 to 12 days from Pokhara, or 10 to 15 days from Kathmandu. The round-trip distance is about 70 km from Jhinu Danda, 80 to 85 km from Ghandruk and 90 to 115 km via Poon Hill. You walk 4 to 7 hours a day.
Yes, from Pokhara with jeep transfers to and from the Jhinu Danda road head, but it climbs faster than altitude guidelines recommend. If you only have five days, consider sleeping at MBC rather than ABC, and only attempt it if you are fit and have no history of altitude problems.
Moderate. It is not technical, but it involves thousands of stone steps, 4 to 7 hours of walking a day and a final climb to over 4,000 m. Anyone in good health who trains with regular hill walks can do it.
Officially, yes. Since April 2023 Nepal has required foreign trekkers to use a licensed guide in conservation areas, and the FCDO repeats this. Enforcement on the ABC trail has been inconsistent. Plan on one.
You need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, NPR 3,000 (about £15) for foreign nationals. The TIMS card (about NPR 2,000) may also be required; sources disagree, so ask your agency. Buy permits in advance, as checkpoint permits are reported to cost double.
Expect about US$500 to US$900 (£375 to £675) for a guided package of 5 to 8 days from Pokhara, and US$800 to US$1,300 (£600 to £975) or more for 10 to 14 days from Kathmandu. Teahouse food and lodging cost roughly NPR 4,000 to 6,000 (£20 to £30) a day.
October and November for the clearest views, and March and April for rhododendrons and warmer days. Winter is clear but very cold, with avalanche risk above Himalaya. The June to September monsoon brings rain, cloud and leeches.
No. ABC is shorter, about 1,200 m lower and generally easier on the body, although it has more steps. Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and Kala Patthar are a bigger altitude challenge.
In a straight line, about 35 to 40 km north. By road and trail, it is a 2.5 to 4-hour jeep ride to Ghandruk or Jhinu Danda, then three to four days’ walking. A helicopter flight takes about 25 to 30 minutes.
Most lodges sell wifi for NPR 200 to 300, and 4G works in the lower villages. Above Deurali signal and wifi are slow and unreliable, so do not count on being reachable at ABC.
Yes. Morning helicopter tours from Pokhara land at ABC for 15 to 30 minutes, at roughly US$450 to US$750 a seat or US$2,200 to US$2,500 for a private charter at the time of writing. Flights depend on the weather.
Plan it with us
Tell us your dates and interests and our team will shape a the Annapurna Base Camp Trek trip around you: local guides, small groups and honest advice.
By Govind Rai · Updated 23 October 2026The tick-box kit list for Everest Base Camp, Annapurna and every teahouse trek in Nepal.
Enter your name and email and we'll send it straight to your inbox.
Thanks! Your checklist is ready to print or save as a PDF.
Open my checklistReady to talk dates? See our small-group trek