Annapurna region
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Eleven days into the mountain amphitheatre of the Annapurna Sanctuary
The trek
Overview
The Annapurna Sanctuary is a natural amphitheatre at 4,130 m, entered through a single gorge between Hiunchuli and Machapuchare and ringed by a near-complete circle of peaks — Annapurna I (8,091 m) chief among them. Few walks anywhere put you so completely inside the mountains in so few days.
From the Gurung villages of Ghandruk and Chhomrong the trail climbs the Modi Khola valley through bamboo and rhododendron forest, gaining height on the stone staircases this region is famous for. You spend one carefully placed night at Machapuchare Base Camp's neighbour, Annapurna Base Camp itself, then drop back to thicker air within a day.
The walk out has its own reward: the hot spring pools at Jhinu Danda, twenty minutes below the village on the riverbank. You finish in Pokhara with a free afternoon by Phewa Lake before the return to Kathmandu.
Highlights
- Stand inside the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 m, ringed by peaks on every side
- Sunrise on the south face of Annapurna I from Base Camp
- Machapuchare Base Camp beneath the unclimbed fishtail peak
- The stone villages of Ghandruk and Chhomrong, heartland of the Gurung
- Bamboo and rhododendron forest along the Modi Khola gorge
- A soak in the Jhinu Danda hot springs on the walk out
Trip facts
- Group size
- 2–12 trekkers
- Meals
- All meals on trek; breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Accommodation
- Teahouse lodges on trail; 3-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Transport
- Tourist coach Kathmandu–Pokhara both ways and trailhead jeeps
Itinerary
Day by day
Meet your trek leader at Tribhuvan airport and transfer to your hotel in Thamel. Evening trip briefing and gear check; anything missing is a five-minute walk from the hotel.
1,400 m
Cost
What it costs
Group prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 trekker | US$ 1,090 |
| 2–4 trekkers | US$ 960 |
| 5–8 trekkers | US$ 920 |
| 9+ trekkers | US$ 890 |
What's included
- Airport transfers by private vehicle
- 2 nights' 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and 2 nights in Pokhara with breakfast
- Kathmandu–Pokhara tourist coach both ways
- Private jeep Pokhara–Siwai and return
- Teahouse accommodation for all nights on trek
- All meals on trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with tea or coffee
- Licensed, English-speaking trek guide, insured and equipped
- One porter between two trekkers (max 18 kg shared load)
- ACAP and TIMS permits
- First-aid kit, pulse oximeter checks above 3,000 m
- NTP duffel bag, route map and trek completion certificate
Not included
- International flights and Nepal entry visa
- Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover (mandatory)
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Drinks, snacks, hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging on trek
- Personal trekking gear and sleeping bag (rentable in Kathmandu)
- Tips for guide and porters
Optional add-ons
Private porter
Your own porter for the full trek (max 18 kg)
US$ 220
per person
Poon Hill extension
Two extra days adding Ghorepani and the Poon Hill sunrise before joining the main trail at Chhomrong
US$ 160
per person
Single room supplement
Private rooms in Kathmandu, Pokhara and on trek where available
US$ 180
per person
Sleeping bag & down jacket rental
Four-season bag and 800-fill jacket for the full trip
US$ 35
per person
Extra night in Pokhara
3-star lakeside hotel with breakfast, before or after the trek
US$ 40
per room per night
Route map
The route
Detailed route map in production — every itinerary stage above is GPS-logged.
Dates & availability
Departures
| Start | End | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Sep 2026 | 6 Oct 2026 | US$ 960 | Open |
| 10 Oct 2026 | 20 Oct 2026 | US$ 960 | Guaranteed |
| 24 Oct 2026 | 3 Nov 2026 | US$ 960 | 2 spots left |
| 7 Nov 2026 | 17 Nov 2026 | US$ 960 | Open |
| 21 Nov 2026 | 1 Dec 2026 | US$ 960 | Open |
| 13 Mar 2027 | 23 Mar 2027 | US$ 960 | Open |
| 27 Mar 2027 | 6 Apr 2027 | US$ 960 | Guaranteed |
| 10 Apr 2027 | 20 Apr 2027 | US$ 960 | Open |
| 24 Apr 2027 | 4 May 2027 | US$ 960 | Open |
- Open
26 Sep 2026 – 6 Oct 2026
US$ 960
- Guaranteed
10 Oct 2026 – 20 Oct 2026
US$ 960
- 2 spots left
24 Oct 2026 – 3 Nov 2026
US$ 960
- Open
7 Nov 2026 – 17 Nov 2026
US$ 960
- Open
21 Nov 2026 – 1 Dec 2026
US$ 960
- Open
13 Mar 2027 – 23 Mar 2027
US$ 960
- Guaranteed
27 Mar 2027 – 6 Apr 2027
US$ 960
- Open
10 Apr 2027 – 20 Apr 2027
US$ 960
- Open
24 Apr 2027 – 4 May 2027
US$ 960
Every departure runs with a minimum of 2 trekkers — or book it as a private trip.
Before you go
Essential information
Permits
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000, checked at Birethanti and Chhomrong — included in the trip price
US$ 23
TIMS card
NPR 2,000, arranged by us before departure — included
US$ 15
Permits are included in the trip price.
Best seasons
Departure dates above keep to these windows.
FAQs
Questions, answered
Trusted by trekkers
Walked with us
4.9
out of 5, average rating
111
traveler reviews
15
years in the Himalaya
“Mardi Himal packs a lot into five days: rhododendron forest in full April bloom, then a narrowing ridge where Machapuchare fills the sky ahead of you. Sunrise above High Camp, with a cloud sea flooding the valleys below, justified every early start. The guide's pacing and teahouse choices were spot on. Four stars only because spring is popular and High Camp's lodges are basic and full — go expecting a bunkhouse atmosphere and you will love all of it.”
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