What You'll Do
- Sightseeing around KathTypical Gurung village along the trekking routemandu and Pokhara
- Impressive Sunrise and mountain views from Ghorepani and Poon Hill
- Typical Gurung village along the trekking route
- Fishtail (Machhapuchhre) Base Camp
- Spectacular mountain and glacier views from Annapurna Base Camp
- Natural hot spring at Jhinu
Annapurna Base Camp Trek combines some of the most spectacular mountain scenery, providing a fascinating insight into the modern hill life of Nepal. This is a unique trek along local trails, through forests, villages and terraced farmlands.
What to Expect
Day 01 - Arrival at the Tribuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,345m)
Our airport representative will welcome you at the airport and transfer to your hotel on a private tourist vehicle. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 02 - Pre-trip meeting and sightseeing around the Kathmandu valley
At around 8am, we host a pre-trip meeting at your hotel in Kathmandu and introduce your trek leader/guide. Please seek this opportunity to ask questions about the trek. This includes a final briefing and preparations for the trip. For the meeting, please make sure you bring passport, three copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer. Please inform us in advance if you will be arriving late and therefore are unable to attend the pre-trip meeting.
After the meeting and a hearty breakfast, your sightseeing trip will start at around 9:45am. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide at your disposal. We visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world, where we observe Buddhist monks praying in the monasteries surrounding the stupa. After Boudhanath Stupa we visit Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating and pilgrims bathing. We will also visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is a collection of pagoda and shikhara – style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood. The attraction of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is The Lion gate, The Golden gate, The Palace of fifty five windows, Art Galleries, The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla.
The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area near by your hotel. Later, you will be supplied with our Trek Pack and departure information for the next day. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 03 - Drive to Pokhara (90 m) by tourist bus - 7 hrs
Our trekking staff will pick you up at the hotel at 6:30am and escort you to the bus station. The bus to Pokhara leaves at around 7:30am. A beautiful valley set on the banks of the Phewa Lake. Pokhara is also known for its panoramic views of Annapurna, Machapuchare (shape of fish tail) in the north, Dhaulagiri in the west, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu in the east. It is smaller and much less hectic than Kathmandu, hence providing the perfect starting point for our trek. Overnight at a hotel.
Day 04 - Drive to Nayapul (1,010m) - 1 hr. Trek to Tikhedunga (1,570m) - 3 hrs
We begin our trek at Nayapul after a 1-hour drive on a private vehicle from Pokhara. After a short 15-minute walk along the banks of the Modi Khola, we reach Birethanti (1,015m). From there, the trail continues through the village and follows the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola. 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 prelude to the trekking experience in the Annapurna region. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 05 - Trek to Ghorepani (2,840m) - 5 hrs
We move on towards the steep climb to Ulleri, a large Magar 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 an hour walk we arrive at Ghorepani (2,840m). Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 06 - Hike up to Poon Hill (3,210m); and trek to Tadapani (2,610m)
Today, very early in the morning, we start an hour hiking 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 an 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 turning off to Tadapani. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 07 - Trek to Chommrong (2,140m) - 5 hrs
The day starts with a steep downhill through rhododendron forests. Leaving Tadapani, we descend through the forests and then the trail eases as we reach Gurjung which is the village of Gurung people, with an easy walk to Chommrong at an elevation of 2,140 m. Overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 08 - Trek to Himalayan Hotel (2,950m) - 6 hrs
Today the trail drops down to the Chhomrong Khola and again we continue climbing to Khuldighar at 2,380m where there used to be an ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area) check post. There is a clearing in the forest a little further on, from which, the route travels very steeply down a rock bank then levels out, running through thickets of bamboo at the bottom of the gorge, keeping always on the west side of the river. We walk through bamboo, then rhododendron forests to the Himalayan Hotel. Overnight at a guesthouse.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Day 09 - Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m) - 7 hrs
Today the trail climbs on past the Hinko Cave, Deurali and then Machhapuchhare 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 Machhapuchhare 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. Overnight at a guesthouse.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Day 10 - Trek back to Bamboo (2345m) - 6 hrs
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 guesthouse.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Day 11 - Trek to Jhinu hot spring (1,780m) - 5 hrs
We follow the same trail until Chommrong. Once we have passed Khuldighar there is an experimental sheep farm, the trail continues through rhododendron and bamboo fields. From Chomrong the trail descends very steeply to the Jhinu hot spring, where you can bathe in natural hot springs. Overnight at a guesthouse.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Day 12 - Trek to Nayapul (1,010 m) - 4.5 hrs. Drive to Pokhara - 1 hr. Same day guided tour of Barahi Temple and Boating in Fewa Lake.
From Jhinu hot springs we walk at the right side of Modi Khola for 4.5 hrs to Birethanti which can be considered one of the best and the most relaxing walks of the entire trek. We reach Nayapul then an hour drive will take us back to Pokhara.
After we check in to hotel we will then walk to the Fewa Lake for our boating trip to Barahi Temple and than back to hotel. Overnight at a hotel.
(Breakfast and Lunch Included)
Day 13 - Drive back to Kathmandu (1,345m) and farewell dinner
You have the option to extend your trip to continue onto Chitwan jungle safari, rafting adventure, Kathmandu valley shopping tour, scenic Everest flight, mountain biking and other activities. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances. (Your guide(s) and an office staff will accompany you.) Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
(Breakfast and farewell dinner Included)
Day 14 - Transfer to international airport for your final departure
The trip concludes today. Our Airport Representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu for your flight departure from Nepal.
(Breakfast Included)
What's Included
- Pick up from and drop off at the hotel and the airport on a reserved tourist vehicle
- Twin sharing accommodation in a three- or four-star hotel and guesthouses in Kathmandu, Pokhara and the trek
- Meals during the trip (a total of 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 9 dinners)
- Ground transportation to and from Kathmandu on a reserved tourist vehicle
- Guided city tour in Kathmandu and Pokhara on a reserved tourist vehicle
- The required number of Ace the Himalaya’s English-speaking local guides. All our guides are licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, and have received high-altitude first-aid and eco-sustainability training
- The required number of local staff and porters to carry your luggage during the trek. We assign one porter for every two guests
- Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for our field staff
- Entry permits
- Ace the Himalaya's free kits
- Government taxes
- International airfare and airport tax
- Your travel insurance (mandatory for the trip; should cover helicopter rescue charges worth a minimum of USD 25,000 per person)
- Nepal entry visa – you can obtain easily upon your arrival at the Airport in Kathmandu. (A multiple-entry 30-day tourist visa can be obtained for USD 40 or equivalent. Similarly, a multiple-entry 90-day tourist visa costs USD 100. Please have 2 passport size photos and the amount in cash USD/Euro handy.
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara – about USD 15 to 25 per day per person
- Sightseeing/monument entrance fees in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Approximately USD 25 for all the monuments visited, payable at the entrance
- All drinks, including bottled/boiled water, along the trekking route - about USD 10 to 15 per day per person
- Personal trekking and/or climbing equipment
- Tips for trekking staff and driver. (Tipping is expected)
- Others expenses not mentioned in the Price Included section
Meeting Point
Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal.
What to Remember
Please note:
USD 236 extra per person if you wish to take a flight from Kathmandu - Pokhara - Kathmandu. (USD 118 one-way).
USD 80 per person per night for single room and USD 60 per person per night for double (twin sharing) room if you need extra accommodation in Kathmandu or Pokhara, including breakfast.
Weather, local politics, etc can affect such tour.
Please do not forget to bring:
- Passport
- 3 copies of passport-size photos
- A readable copy of your travel insurance policy