The 7-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you through forests, villages, and glaciers. You will see Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, Annapurna I and Hiunchuli up close. This guide covers transport, trekking routes, and key highlights. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, this trek offers great views and cultural experiences.
Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) is a dream location for every trekker around the globe. Thousands of national and international trekkers arrive at this Himalayan haven each year. There are numerous routes to undertake the trek, and one can choose according to one's preference and availability of time.
Most trekkers opt for a shorter itinerary that takes them to Annapurna Base Camp and back, seven days starting in Kathmandu and five days beginning in Pokhara. Others with a little spare time opt for combining it with Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, and it takes ten days in duration. That longer itinerary is then considered to be the traditional Annapurna Base Camp Trek route. In this article, however, we utilize the shorter 7-day itinerary beginning in Kathmandu, the capital city.
The journey begins with a tiring and long bus ride between Kathmandu and Pokhara, for approximately 6–8 hours. Road runs parallel to the Prithvi Highway through river valleys, and rural Nepal can be spotted in between, in patches. In case, a 25-minutes plane ride is a perfect alternative, with a bird's eye view of Himalayan grandeur.
Once in Pokhara, sit and enjoy its calm lakes and panoramic view of surrounding hills. On a cloudless day, one can see the whole Annapurna Mountain Range, including Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna II, and several other grand Himalayan summits.
In the evening, enjoy a calm boat ride or a relaxed stroll at Lakeside Street. Have a sound sleep, for tomorrow begins your journey of a lifetime!
An early 7 AM breakfast, and a private jeep takes off for a three-hour journey to Jhinu Danda, your trekking starting point.
The permits will be checked at Birethanti, and then your trekking begins.
The trek begins with a crossing over a suspension bridge over Modi Khola, a heart-pounding beginning to your trek. In case of mule caravans, don't forget to move aside, off the edge of a cliff, for mule caravans enjoy a general right of way.
A 15-minute ascent brings one to a small village called Jhinu, and lunch is taken there. There is a variety of dishes, but a traditional "Dal Bhat" is a must for its energising value.
The trekking continues with a three-hour ascent to Chhomrong, a pretty Gurung village and your first glimpse of Machhapuchhre in all its glory.
A break, and a descending trek takes one down to a river, and then a crossing over a suspension bridge, and then an ascent to Lower Sinuwa. Some choose a climb to Upper Sinuwa in an attempt to make life easier for the morning after, but our schedule proposes a stop at Lower Sinuwa for overnight camping.
The morning is early with a breakfast and then a trek to Upper Sinuwa. There is an early ascent at a high elevation but then a slow ascent through thick forests of bamboos and rhododendrons. After a one-hour stretch, the path leveled out, and then a sharp descend towards Bamboo, a name well-deserved for its thick cover of trees of bamboo.
A break, and then a slow ascent begins towards Dovan, and one reaches noon. Lunch will then be taken, and then a recharging of your batteries.
A short ascent brings one to Baraha Temple, at a ledge near a thundering waterfall. After a quick prayer, an ascent for an hour through a series of rock steps brings one to Himalaya. Stop for a quick break and then head towards Hinku Cave, a rock overhang.
From Hinku Cave, Deurali comes in view, but a glacial river will have to be waded through with care, and then a 30-minutes' ascent brings one to Deurali. Deurali is in a valley, and therefore, no grandstand view of any kind can be seen, but a whiff of refreshing mountain air and anticipation for ABC keeps one in high spirits for an exciting evening.
The most pleasing part of your trekking trip comes today when, at long last, you arrive at Annapurna Base Camp. First, your journey takes you through Modi Khola, gently ascending through glacial moraines. With an elevation, flora lessens, and the region proves to be rough alpine country.
A two-hour trek takes you to Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700m). There, panoramic view of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and surrounding summits reveal in view. Most visitors make a quick tea break to enjoy panoramic view and then head towards concluding part.
The two-hour trek afterwards takes you to Annapurna Base Camp, where imposing Annapurna Massif stands in a 360-degree amphitheater view. Towering snowy summits, including Annapurna I (8,091m), surround with a view to cherish.
Use your post-morning tea break to move about base camp, and then enjoy a well-deserved break and meal at lunchtime. Enjoy your evening and overnight at ABC, with a magical view of sky full of a sea of stars, and summits in moonlight.
The reverse trekking journey begins following a glorious morning view over Annapurna Range. In Machhapuchhre Base Camp, Deurali, Himalaya, having lunch at Himalaya, descend towards Dovan, Bamboo, and then moving further towards Sinuwa.
The descending path is easier, but not easier, with careful walking still being required for its inclined sections. On your arrival at Lower Sinuwa, register in a teahouse and have a warm meal, recalling your trip to ABC.
The trekking journey ends with an early morning start descending towards Chhomrong, then down towards Jhinu Danda. Dependent upon your schedule, a rejuvenating dip in nearby Modi Khola's hot springs is a prudent must, before returning.
A jeep ride at Jhinu brings one to Pokhara, your unforgettable journey's endpoint. On your return, have a warm meal and a well-deserved break in Pokhara, a pretty city near a range of lakes.
From Pokhara either you can take a night bus to Kathmandu or fly the next day.
The 7-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a harmonious mix of nature, culture, and adventure. With its rural settlements and forests and high-alpine glacial regions and high mountains, every stage of this trek is a wonder in its own terms. Regardless of one being a seasoned trekker or an adventurer embarking on one's first trip, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek will leave an indelible mark in your heart.
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