Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of the best trekking destinations in Nepal. Journey to the base of Mt. Annapurna (8091m) is an extraordinary experience like no other. It offers trekkers a chance to explore some of Nepal’s most stunning terrain and sights. We start our Annapurna Base Camp trekking journey from Pokhara. It is renowned for its awe-inspiring “Lake City” views. From there we’ll make your way through cascading waterfalls, beautiful villages, terraced farmlands and lush rhododendron forests as Mount Annapurna looms in the distance. You won’t want to miss out on this quintessential Nepalese adventure.
The peaks of the western part of the enormous Annapurna Himal, including Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Fang, Annapurna, Ganagapurna, Annapurna 3 and Machhapuchhare, are pre arranged almost specifically in a circle about 10 miles in distance with a deep glacier-covered arena at the centre.Â
Our trek begins from Nayapul, which is an hours picturesque drive from Pokhara with some wonderful views of Annapurna (South) and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) on route. From Nayapul, a half an hour walk brings us to Birethanti, to be found at the confluence of Modi and Bhurung rivers, here the route divided. We take the West trail towards Ghorepani, an operating village located at an elevation of 2750 m. There is a marvellous vantage point (Poon hill – 3210 m.) to view both the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himal.Â
The views at sunrise from Poon hill are simply surprising. From Ghorepani, the trail leads East to the settlement of Tadapani and on towards Chhomrong, from where we commence our journey into the Annapurna Sanctuary and onwards to Annapurna Base Camp. The trip to base camp follows the valley in between the huge battlements of Himchuli & Machhapuchhre, finally up-and- coming into an overwhelming auditorium, where a labyrinth of mountains and Annapurna.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Highlights:
Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)
Day 02 Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation
Day 03 Drive to Pokhara and evening Pokhara sightseeing
Day 04 Drive to Naya Pool (45 km – 1.5 hour’s drive) and start trek to Hile/Tilhekhunga
Day 05 Tikhedhunga trek Ghorepani (2,750 m/ 9,020 ft): via Ulleri 6-7 hours trek
Day 06 Ghorepani to Chhomrong (2170m/7120ft with a visit to Poon Hill Tadapani (2,700m/8,860ft
(lunch ) to Chhomrong (2170m/7120ft): 10 hours
Day 07 Chhomrong to Bamboo (2310m/7578ft): 4 – 5 hours
Day 08 Bamboo to Deurali (3230m/10,595ft): 3 – 4 hours
Day 09 Deurali to ABC(4,130m/13,545ft) via MBC (3700m/12135ft): 5- 6 hours
Day 10 Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo: 7 – 8 hours
Day 11 Bamboo to Jhinu Danda (1760m/5770 ft): 5 – 6 hours
Day 12 Trek to Naya Pul then drive to Pokhara: 6 hours trek, 1 hour drive
Day 13 Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu
Day 14 Final Departure
Find the detailed Itinerary below. You can also customize your own itinerary and our expert team will help you with it.Â
Tour Plan
DAY 3: TILCHE – TACHAI (2340 M) – 5 HRS
Immediately after leaving the village of Tilche the trail can be a little confusing as one has to walk through corn and potato fields. Further on there are some narrow bushy sections on steep slopes.
Less than an hour after leaving the village, there is a small cave, a few minutes below the trail. The cave has stalactites and used to host meditation in the past.
After the short detour, we continue walking through the pine forest and corn fields to arrive at a suspension bridge. A short walk of 10 minutes brings us to a resting spot. We continued to walk through the forest for another 1 hr to arrive at Tachai, a small Gurung village resting at the top of a hill. The village has around 28 homestays where we will enjoy Gurung hospitality. The village also has hot spring water flowing 20 minutes walk from the village.
Ascent: 2340 m Descent: 730 m
DAY 4: TA CHAI – SHINGLE (3360 M) (DURATION: 8 HOURS)
Leaving the serene little village of Tachai the trail immediately starts climbing up the slopes of the hills on the east where local goat and cattle herders take their animals to graze. A two and half hour’s walk brings us to the ridge of Chong Danda from where we can see the village of Ghalinchowk in the far south. It is also not uncommon to see Langoor monkeys jumping from branch to branch, magnificent mountain goats posing from behind the bush, and gangs of Yellow Billed Coughs chasing Flying Squirrels from tree to tree.
The trail then starts heading down to the Chong river before heading higher up the valley where the tall pine trees give way to smaller birch trees and white, blue, and purple rhododendron bushes.
After having lunch on the banks of the river we head towards the Shingle Kharka, our camping spot for the night, located in the valley between two large rocky ranges. This is also the grazing ground for yaks and we come across lonely herders who welcome you with curiosity and a big smile. The yak herders can be a great source of information on the condition of the trail further up.
Ascent: 1250 m Descent: 54 m
DAY 1: KATHMANDU – TAAL (DURATION: 12 HOURS)
Leave Kathmandu by 7 AM (early breakfast) for the 12-hour drive to Taal in Manang district, north central Nepal. We arrive in Besisahar roughly around noon for lunch. From here we take a local vehicle to go to Taal on a bumpy gravel road along the Marshyangdi river bank. After having our permits checked in Khudigoan, and crisscrossing across the river we arrive at Chyamje. There is a beautiful waterfall across the river here and serves as an ideal tea stop. The road to Taal is an experience in itself and offers scenic views of the green hills and terraces that are a permanent feature of the hill life.
Taal is a beautiful village situated on the eastern bank of the Marshyangdi River. The village has around 300 inhabitants, most of the Gurung community. As the village has long been a part of the Annapurna Circuit there are plenty of comfortable lodges with modest basic facilities to spend the night after the long drive from Kathmandu.
DAY 2: TAAL – TILCHE (DURATION: 5 HOURS)
Our first day of the trek begins from the sleepy village of Taal along the river bank. About an hour from Taal we come to the village of Khotro (2200m) from where the trail turns east and a steep 2.5-hour-long climb up the hill brings us to Naache, a small Gurung village with a few homestays. Although the village does not have restaurants offering western cuisine the local potatoes can be a hearty treat for a hungry trekker.
[Two days’ walk east from Naache can bring you to the glacial lake called Drona on the western base of Mt. Manaslu.]
From Naache the trail starts descending for about 30 min before reaching a very newly established 130 m long suspension bridge across a 200m deep gorge. This bridge is the highlight of the day with views of the villages of Bagarchaap, Dharapani, and Timing far off the western banks of the Marshyangdi below the Annapurna massif can be seen from here.
The trail continues along the pine forest from here. There is a very old small Bon/Buddhist monastery here for those interested in pre-Buddhist faiths of the region. A little further on the trail meets a gravel road until we come to a small suspension bridge across the Dudhkholariver to arrive at the village of Tilche, where one can meet trekkers arriving from the Manaslu trekking circuit.
Ascent: 1235 m Descent: 513 m