By road
Jeeps from Pokhara reach Ghandruk, Nayapul or Jhinu in 2–4 hours, cutting a day or two off the walk.
Gandaki Province · Nepal
Annapurna Base Camp travel guide
A week-long teahouse trek from Pokhara into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a ring of 7,000–8,000 m peaks around a base camp at 4,130 m. Shorter and lower than Everest.
Photo: Alisha Limbu / Unsplash
Quick facts
- Best time
- October to November and March to April
- How long
- 7–10 days
- Daily budget
- ₹2,800–4,500 backpacking
- Getting in
- Pokhara, then a jeep to Ghandruk, Nayapul or Jhinu
- Altitude
- Up to 4,130 m
Costs are typical per-person ranges in Indian rupees, reviewed September 2026. Nepal prices are in Nepali rupees, fixed at NPR 1.60 to ₹1. Check current prices and conditions before you book.
The trail climbs from the terraced Gurung villages of Ghandruk and Chhomrong, through bamboo and rhododendron forest up the Modi Khola gorge, to Machhapuchhre Base Camp and finally Annapurna Base Camp, with Annapurna I (8,091 m) straight above.
It starts a short drive from Pokhara, needs no flights and stays below 4,200 m, so it's a good first Himalayan trek for fit walkers.
When to go
Best time to visit Annapurna Base Camp
- Oct–NovBest
Clear skies and the main trekking season. Book lodges ahead around Dashain and Tihar.
- Dec–FebMixed
Clear but cold; heavy snow can close the trail above Deurali, where avalanches are a risk.
- Mar–AprGood
Rhododendrons in bloom and warmer days; afternoons often cloud over.
- May–SepAvoid
Pre-monsoon haze, then monsoon rain, leeches, landslides and cloud from June.
Getting there
How to reach Annapurna Base Camp
By air
Fly to Pokhara from Kathmandu (about 25 minutes), or take a 6–8 hour tourist bus.
Budget
Annapurna Base Camp trip cost per day
| Per day | Backpacker | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|
| Teahouse room | ₹300–800 | ₹1,200–3,000 |
| Food (rises with altitude) | ₹1,200–2,000 | ₹2,000–3,000 |
| Guide (your share of the daily rate) | ₹1,000–2,000 | ₹2,000–3,000 |
| Charging, Wi-Fi and hot showers | ₹200–500 | ₹400–800 |
Indians pay the SAARC rate for the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, about NPR 1,000 (roughly ₹625), from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Pokhara or Kathmandu. Food prices are set by local lodge committees and rise the higher you go.
Itinerary
8-day Annapurna Base Camp route
- 1
Day 1: Pokhara to Ghandruk
Jeep to the Gurung village of Ghandruk (about 1,940 m) and its small museum.
- 2
Day 2: Chhomrong
Over Kimrong Danda to Chhomrong (2,170 m), with Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre ahead.
- 3
Day 3: Bamboo
Down Chhomrong's long stone stairs and into the forest of the Modi Khola gorge.
- 4
Day 4: Deurali
Climb past Dovan and Himalaya to Deurali (3,230 m), the last stop below the sanctuary.
- 5
Day 5: Annapurna Base Camp
Through Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700 m) to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m) for sunset.
- 6
Day 6: Sunrise, then down to Bamboo
Sunrise on the ring of peaks, then a long descent.
- 7
Day 7: Jhinu Danda
Back through Chhomrong to the riverside hot springs below Jhinu.
- 8
Day 8: Back to Pokhara
Walk to the roadhead and take a jeep back to Pokhara.
Don't miss
Top things to do in Annapurna Base Camp
Annapurna Sanctuary
A glacial basin ringed by Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre.
Machhapuchhre
The sacred, unclimbed 'fishtail' peak that watches over the whole trek.
Jhinu hot springs
Riverside pools for tired legs on the way down.
Ghandruk
A stone-built Gurung village with views of Annapurna South.
Kids and pets
Visiting Annapurna Base Camp with kids or pets
With kids
Better with older kids- Thousands of stone steps and 5–7 hour days suit fit teenagers better than young children.
- Families with younger children can do a shorter walk to Ghandruk or Poon Hill instead.
- The trail goes above 4,000 m. Watch children closely for headaches, tiredness or loss of appetite, and turn back if they get worse.
With pets
Not recommended- Lodges in the Annapurna Conservation Area rarely accept pets, and the steep stairs and cold nights are hard on dogs.
- Crossing into Nepal with a pet needs a vet health certificate and border quarantine clearance.
- If you're travelling with a dog, Pokhara's lakeside is a better base than the trek.
Pet and child policies vary by stay and operator and change often. Confirm before you book.
Local guides
Local guides in Annapurna Base Camp
Reviewed by WanderTrail. Message them on the site without sharing your number.
S
Sandesh bhandari
Pokhara, Lumbini, Chitwan +5 · Nepal
English, Nepali, Hindi
Licence provided
$25 / day
Before you go
Practical tips
- Avalanche zone
- The stretch between Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp is exposed to avalanches after heavy snow. Ask at Deurali before you go on, and don't linger there.
- Permits and guides
- You need an ACAP permit. Since 2023 Nepal has required foreign trekkers to hire a licensed guide in conservation areas, and how this applies to Indian citizens isn't clearly stated; check with the Nepal Tourism Board in Pokhara.
- Altitude
- It's lower than Everest, but 4,130 m can still cause altitude sickness. Don't rush from Deurali, and descend if symptoms get worse.
Questions
Annapurna Base Camp FAQs
How hard is the Annapurna Base Camp trek?
Moderate. Expect 5–7 hours of walking a day with thousands of stone steps, especially around Chhomrong. No technical skills are needed.
Annapurna Base Camp or Poon Hill?
Poon Hill is a 3–4 day trek to about 3,200 m with wide mountain views. Annapurna Base Camp takes 7–10 days and goes right into the ring of peaks.
Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp?
Annapurna is shorter, lower and needs no flights, which makes it a better first trek. Everest goes higher, takes about two weeks and depends on Lukla flights.
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