Annapurna Base Camp trek: routes, permits, costs and what to expect
The sanctuary trek: from Pokhara by jeep and on foot up the Modi Khola valley, through the village of Chhomrong and past Machhapuchhre Base Camp, to a bowl of ice and rock at 4,130 m below the south face of Annapurna I (8,091 m). No climbing skills are needed and the high point is lower than on the Everest treks, but the last climb is fast and the upper valley is avalanche-prone after heavy snow. Here is what to expect, from the stone steps of Chhomrong to the cold dawn at base camp.
- High point
- 4,130 m · Annapurna Base Camp
- Duration
- 6–11 days
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Difficulty
- Moderate, non-technical
- Guide
- Required by park rules
- Typical cost
- $500–1,500estimate per person
For guidance only. Check details with your operator and the official sources listed at the end before you book.
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On this page
Which route should you choose?
Every route ends the same way: up the Modi Khola gorge from Chhomrong, through bamboo and rhododendron forest, into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a high basin ringed by Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. The variants change only the approach: a jeep to Jhinu Danda or Siwai for the shortest trip, a walk from Nayapul through Ghandruk, or a longer loop over Poon Hill for the sunrise view.
Above Chhomrong there is a single trail with teahouses every few hours, so the upper valley gets busy in October and April and rooms fill early. Expect thousands of stone steps: Chhomrong alone has about 2,500.
| Route | Days | Scenery | Crowds | Acclimatisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct, by jeep to Jhinu Danda or Siwai itinerary belowThe shortest version, about 70 km there and back. A jeep from Pokhara cuts out the lower hill villages, so you gain height quickly. Days counted from Pokhara; add a day or two for the transfer from Kathmandu. | 6–8 | Excellent | High | Good |
| Via Ghorepani and Poon HillStarts near Nayapul and climbs through Ghorepani (about 2,860 m) for the sunrise viewpoint of Poon Hill, then crosses to Tadapani and Chhomrong to join the main trail. About 90 km to 95 km, with a gentler build-up of altitude. | 10–11 | Excellent | High | Very good |
| Classic from Nayapul via GhandrukThe older approach on foot from the road at Nayapul to the Gurung village of Ghandruk (about 1,990 m), then Chhomrong and the sanctuary. About 80 km to 90 km, usually ending at the Jhinu hot springs. | 8–9 | Excellent | Medium | Very good |
7-day Direct, by jeep to Jhinu Danda or Siwai itinerary at a glance
The itinerary below is the common 7 days from Pokhara to Pokhara on the direct route, with a jeep at both ends. Most stages cover 7 km to 9 km. Day 4 is the big one: from Deurali at about 3,200 m past Machhapuchhre Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m. Some itineraries sleep at Machhapuchhre Base Camp to split that climb. Day 5 starts with sunrise at base camp, then a long descent of about 17 km to Bamboo.
The stretch between Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp, around Hinku Cave, is avalanche-prone. On 17 January 2020 an avalanche there killed seven people, four South Korean trekkers and three Nepali guides and workers, and the trail stayed closed for about a month. Local authorities close the route after heavy snow, as they did in October 2025; cross it early in the day and follow your guide and any closure notices.
Short on time? From Pokhara, local operators sell short walks to the hill villages of Dhampus and Australian Camp, reached by road towards Kande or Phedi, with views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range on a clear morning. Ask your operator about current road access and walking times.
- Day 1 Pokhara (jeep to Jhinu Danda) Chhomrong night at 2,170 m
- Day 2 Bamboo night at 2,335 m
- Day 3 Deurali night at 3,200 m
- Day 4 Annapurna Base Camp via Machhapuchhre Base Camp 3,700 mnight at 4,130 m
- Day 5 Bamboo via Annapurna Base Camp sunrise 4,130 mnight at 2,335 m
- Day 6 Jhinu Danda (hot springs) night at 1,780 m
- Day 7 Pokhara (jeep) night at 820 m
What it really costs
Package prices depend on group size, lodge level, transport and how many days you take, so compare them on the booking sites. These are the costs to plan around if you build the trek yourself or check what a package includes.
Insurance that covers Annapurna Base Camp
You will sleep at 4,130 m, so check that your policy covers trekking to at least that height; many standard travel policies stop at 3,000 m or 4,000 m, and cover to 4,500 m or more leaves a margin. It must include helicopter evacuation: guide services ask for it, and the upper valley has no road.
Keep your policy number and the insurer's emergency line on paper as well as on your phone, and give a copy to your guide.
Staying connected in Nepal
An eSIM installed before you fly works on landing in Kathmandu or Pokhara; local SIM cards are sold with your passport and a photo.
On the trail, mobile signal is patchy in the gorge and higher up. Lodges sell wifi by the session, usually NPR 200–400, mostly below Deurali. Download offline maps before you leave Pokhara.
Getting there and where to stay
Pokhara (about 800 m) is the base for this trek. Fly into Pokhara International Airport (PHH), or into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu and continue to Pokhara by a 25–30-minute flight or by road on the Prithvi Highway, about 200 km. The highway was damaged in the 2026 floods and some sections remain landslide-prone: check conditions before you travel.
Getting there by air
A night in Pokhara
Pokhara to the trailhead
Gear: rent or buy
Nothing technical, but cold at the top: nights at base camp drop to about −12 °C in January and March and to −4 °C in October, and bedrooms are not heated. Lower down it is warm and often wet. A warm sleeping bag and a down jacket matter most, and both can be rented before the trek.
- Broken-in trekking boots with ankle supportBuy
- Sleeping bag rated to about −10 °CRent
- Down jacketRent
- Fleece or synthetic mid-layers and thermal base layersRent or buy
- Waterproof jacket for rain and wet snowBuy
- Warm hat, gloves and liner glovesBuy
- Sunglasses with high UV protection and sunscreenBuy
- Trekking poles for the long stone staircasesRent or buy
- Refillable water bottles and purification tablets or a filter (plastic bottles are banned on the trek)Buy
- Headlamp for the sunrise at base campBuy
Add a few days in Nepal
Pokhara sits on the shore of Phewa Lake below the Annapurna range; a spare day before or after the trek is enough to see the town and its viewpoints.
Phewa Lake
World Peace Pagoda
Sarangkot
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Annapurna Base Camp trek?
It is a moderate trek at altitude, not a climb. Expect about 70 km to 95 km over 6–11 days depending on the route, with stages of 7 km to 9 km on most days and a single night at 4,130 m. The hardest parts are the stone staircases around Chhomrong and the climb of nearly 1,000 m from Deurali to base camp. There are no technical sections.
Do I need a guide?
Since April 2023, Nepal's rules say foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas must have a licensed guide. On 27 September 2026, after the floods, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project urged trekkers to travel with licensed guides except on short routes. Enforcement has varied over the years: check the current rule with the Nepal Tourism Board or your operator before you go.
Which permits do I need?
The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) entry permit: NPR 3,000 for foreigners, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, free for children under 10. Buy it online or in Kathmandu or Pokhara; issued at a check-post it costs double. It is checked at Birethanti and Chhomrong, sometimes higher up. Ask your operator whether a TIMS card is currently required; reports differ.
What about food, dietary needs and faith on the trek?
Above Chhomrong or Sinuwa (sources differ on the exact village), lodges serve no meat out of respect for local beliefs that the sanctuary is sacred, so everyone eats vegetarian on the upper trail: dal bhat (rice, lentils and vegetables), noodles, pasta, eggs and pancakes. Lower down, if you eat halal, ask your guide where meat comes from, or keep to vegetarian dishes. If you eat vegan or have an allergy, tell your operator when you book. Kosher food is not something to expect on the trail; bring your own if you need it. Kathmandu has halal restaurants; in Pokhara, ask your operator what is available.
If you pray, use your room or a quiet corner and agree times with your guide. There are no mosques on the route; Kathmandu has mosques. A light prayer mat and a qibla app help if you need them; water for wudu or washing is cold high up.
Which languages do guides speak?
Most guides speak English and Nepali. If you need another language, such as Arabic, French or Spanish, ask operators before booking whether they can assign a guide who speaks it. A private trek gives you the most say in who walks with you.
Should I tip the guide and porter?
Yes, tipping at the end of the trek is customary in Nepal and a real part of guides' and porters' income. One cost guide gives roughly $5–15 per trekker per day as a rule of thumb, paid in cash. Ask your operator what is usual for your group.
Which visa do I need?
It depends on your passport: check the current rules with Nepal's Department of Immigration before you fly. A tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport costs $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days or $125 for 90 days. Citizens of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, for example, can get one; holders of some other passports, such as Iraqi, Syrian or Afghan, must apply at an embassy first. If you fly straight to Pokhara, check before you travel that visa on arrival is offered there.
Is the trail safe from avalanches?
The section between Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp is avalanche-prone after heavy snow. Seven people died there on 17 January 2020, and the route was closed again after snowfall in October 2025. Outside those conditions the trail is a normal mountain path. Follow closure notices, cross that section early in the day and ask your guide about recent snow.
Can I get altitude sickness?
Yes. Altitude sickness can start above about 2,500 m, and the risk on this trek is the fast climb from Deurali to base camp. Climb steadily, drink enough and tell your guide about headaches, nausea or breathlessness; a night at Machhapuchhre Base Camp splits the climb. If symptoms get worse, go down. Read our altitude sickness guide before you go.
Is there wifi or phone signal?
Lodges sell wifi by the session, usually NPR 200–400, mostly below Deurali, and phone charging costs about the same. Mobile signal is patchy in the gorge, so a power bank and offline maps help.
When is the best time to go?
March to May and October to November. Autumn usually brings the clearest skies; spring is warmer, with rhododendrons in flower in the forest. The monsoon, from June to August, brings leeches, landslides and cloud. Winter is possible with good gear, but nights at base camp drop to about −12 °C and snow can close the upper trail.
Sources and last check
- NTNC ePermit: ACAP entry permit fees and rules
- Onlinekhabar: ACAP urges trekkers to hire licensed guides (September 2026)
- Onlinekhabar: the 2023 licensed-guide rule
- Ratopati: Pokhara–Dubai flights, bookings open (October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Pokhara International Airport
- Kathmandu Post: trekkers return to the Annapurna trail after the avalanche (February 2020)
- The Himalayan Times: heavy snowfall suspends trekking (October 2025)
- Kathmandu Post: roads reopen after the floods (October 2026)
- Embassy of Nepal in Riyadh: visa information and fees
- Wikipedia: Annapurna
- Wikipedia: Deurali, Kaski
- CDC Yellow Book: high-altitude travel and altitude illness