Annapurna Base Camp – Wednesday, 22 April 2026

After the flight, arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu is a travel back in time as you hustle through its chaos of immigration, security check, baggage, etc. The transfer to the domestic airport is just an extension of the experience, a bit more intense and unnerving.

Board the ATR to Pokhara. If you are lucky to be on the right-hand side of the aircraft, the weather crisp and good daylight, you will witness three of the world’s highest peaks (Manaslu, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri) along with other smaller peaks of Ganesh Himal, Himalchuli, Machchapuchare.

Landing in Pokhara brings a sense of relief as the airport is a reflection of what the second largest city of Nepal has to offer; relaxation!

It is only a 15-minute drive to the hotel. Check-in and unwind. Time permitting, visit the market which is about 500 meters from the hotel and offers a wide variety of options for food.

(If you are departing for the trek the next day, there will be a detailed briefing with the ground handling partners, introduction to the guide/s, departure details, what to carry / gear check etc.)

After dinner, retire to your rooms and pack your bags and be trek ready. A good night’s sleep is much needed for the action to follow over the next few days.

Stay Details

An early morning today, as you scramble for last-minute packing, items to be left behind, water, snacks, etc. Rush for a sumptuous breakfast after checking out, dropping extra luggage at the cloak room and leaving your overnight bags at the reception to be transported to the trail head.

After breakfast, you will be greeted by the guides and staff who load your bags. The team then heads to the trail head – Ulleri.

15 minutes of drive takes you on the outskirts of Pokhara, upstream of the Seti Gandaki River into the foothills of the Annapurna Range. Vivid views of Machchapuchare begin teasing you even as you take a quick ‘chiya’ break. Near Nayapul (the original end of the ABC, Round Annapurna and Poon Hill Treks), you drive to Birethanti to have your permits checked, from where you further drive on unpaved roads to Ulleri.

Bags unloaded, one quick short break to reorient your bearings, a quick affirmative briefing is just enough time for the porters to pack your overnight bags and disappear into the wilderness. (Yes, each day, your porters will disappear with your bags in the morning until you see them at your destination tea-house).

It's about time for lunch as you reach Banthanti, which is a short steep climb from Ulleri. Lunch is also a great breather allowing a regroup and reflect on the morning half of the trek.

After Banthanti the trail enters a thick rhododendron forest over small bridges across gurgling streams. Between Banthanti and Nangethanti, one can steal glimpses of Machchapuchare from small openings on the trail as it offers a clear line of sight to the near 7000m iconic and holy summit. The tea house at Nangethanti is nestled in the thicket and offers a great forest respite for a tea / coffee before taking the steep steps towards Ghorepani.

Ghorepani can be approached from Tatopani too, and arriving here can be confusing with its wide expanse across the main trail.

Ghorepani is perched in a gap between the Poon Hill ridge and Deurali (meaning pass). The dining rooms of some Ghorepani tea houses offer great views of the mountains and spectacular sunrises.

Stay Details

The Typical Tea-House

1. A tea house is a small local family-run lodging & boarding with bare minimum facilities offering comfort and protection to trekkers from elements.

2. Each destination has between 2 to ~15 tea houses, each with 8-10 rooms.

3. Tea-house rooms provide beds, mattresses and blankets / duvets.

   • Recommended: get a sleeping liner for personal comfort and hygiene.

4. All tea-houses have common toilets (Western & Indian), wash basins.

   • Carry toilet paper, wet wipes, hand wash / soap, hand sanitizer, portable bidets etc.

5. Tea-houses may have attached toilets at lower altitudes but availability is not guaranteed.

   • Even when available, limited number of rooms have attached toilets.

   • Large groups are requested to adjust.

   • Single supplements are possible only in Low Season.

6. At higher altitudes, rooms may have multiple beds to maximize accommodating trekkers during high season (Early April – Mid May, October – November). In ABC, beyond Sinuwa, rooms do not have attached toilets as per park rules.

   • Trekkers are requested to accommodate within the number of rooms provided.

   • Objective: No trekker is left without a bed and blanket.

7. There is only enough space in tea house rooms to keep your bags and sleep.

   • Provides privacy to change and security to keep belongings safe.

   • Tea houses provide lock and key for security.

8. There is a switch for a light.

   • Carry a headtorch for venturing out in the dark / night.

9. The walls of tea houses are made of plywood and noise / voice travels easily across rooms.

10. No heaters, fans, or plugs for charging devices.

11. No laundry facility.

12. Firewood and campfires are prohibited.

13. Tea-house economy is dynamic; room type may not be guaranteed.

14. Tea-houses sustain mostly on charges for meals and discourage ‘bed-only’ bookings.

    • Huge charge for ‘room-only’ booking.

    • Groups across more than one tea house in the same location end up eating in their own tea-houses.

Paid Services at Tea-Houses

1. Bathing: ~300 – 400 INR / bath for limited water in common bathroom.

2. WiFi: ~500 – 1,000 INR depending on location/network.

3. Charging: ~500 INR per device; ~1,000 INR for full recharge of power banks. All at reception.

4. Drinking Water:

   • Bottled water sale prohibited beyond Chhomrong / Sinuwa.

   • Hot water: ~250 – 1,000 INR depending on tea-house and pot size.

5. Hot water for hot water bags can be purchased at counter if needed.

6. Prices increase as you go higher on the trek.

Daily Trek Routine

Once you reach the tea-house, porters sort your luggage and hand you the keys to your rooms. Check in, freshen up, and head to the dining room at the agreed time to place your order for dinner.

The dining room is the heart of a Tea-house, Trek, Group, and Fun where you meet other trekkers and exchange notes and experiences.

• Order dinner from an à-la-carte menu and decide a common time for all to eat.

• Hang out until dinner and, with a full stomach, order your breakfast (the toughest part of the trek) with a time.

Kept warm by a central bukhari (cowdung-fired, smokeless heater!), this is a place to eat, read, play, chat, sing, and stay warm until the tea-house owners refuse to feed the bukhari.

One of the biggest excitements of any big mountain trek is to wake up in the morning and reach the vantage point to watch the sun cast its rays and brighten up the highest peaks, warming your hearts.

Poon Hill is a short climb from Ghorepani, made challenging by the biting morning cold. All covered, one has to leave at least an hour before sunrise to experience the magic of Poon Hill. As you arrive at the summit, there will already be a crowd collecting.

The morning economy is so thriving that even at that hour in the cold, one can find vendors selling hot Chiya and coffee – a quintessential experience of holding a hot cup of freshly brewed tea in sub-zero temperatures while waiting for the sun to cast its rays on some of the world’s highest peaks.

All eyes on Dhaulagiri (8,167M) which lies to the NNW, as this is the summit that receives the first light, illuminating it into a golden hue. There is a collective sigh among the crowds who watch this spectacle unfold.

Quickly, the rays touch the summit of Annapurna (8,091M), which is left as a silhouette since it is to the NNE of Poon Hill. The most dramatic of the sights is when the sun casts its rays from behind Machchapuchare, cutting the morning sky like a knife. Soon, peaks like Gurjung Himal, Tukuche, Dhampus, Nilgiri, Tilicho, Roc Noir, Baraha Shikhar, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Lamjung Himal appear.

You will spend quite some time revelling in the sights and waiting for the rays of the sun to warm you.

Head down to Ghorepani to pack, enjoy a sumptuous breakfast, and pack your bags. Freshen up and head to Tadapani.

The air is still crisp as you emerge out of the thick rhododendron forest to climb the upper slopes of Deurali. Rhododendrons come in full bloom in spring (late March-April), and some forests have different varieties and colors of the flowers.

The peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Machchapuchare come into view and seem like an extension of the Poon Hill experience. Re-enter the forest and enjoy a shaded walk to the tea houses at Deurali for lunch.

Continue walking in the thick forest over small trails; some very steep uphills and downhills as you reach Tadapani.

Overall, this is a tough day with the early morning rising, long walks, and many climbs and descents. Tadapani, perched on the eastern slopes, offers wonderful views of Machchapuchare washed with the setting sun rays, bringing a satisfying end to the day.

Stay Details

The trek from Tadapani to Chhomrong continues in the forest with a steep descent on the eastern slopes to Chuile.

The forest is still thick and at some places mushy; one must be a bit careful hiking these sections. At Chuile, after a flight of steps, the trail branches; the right trail goes to Ghandruk and the left one to Chhomrong. We keep left and continue to a large tea house above the bank of Kimrong Nala. Give your knees a well-deserved rest with a ‘chiya’ before descending further to the suspension bridge.

Across the bridge, the trail climbs to Ghurjung. Traverse along this undulating trail until you reach a fork that joins another trail coming from Jhinu Danda. (For time constraint, many trekkers choose to miss Poon Hill and take this trail for the ABC).

This fork is Taulung. The ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) boundaries towards ABC begin from Chhomrong, where many activities are regulated/prohibited. Plastic is prohibited, and so is bottled drinking water.

Taulung is a small tea-house settlement where you already begin to feel the vibes of Chhomrong and Annapurna Base Camp; well-laid out courtyards, quaint tea-houses overlooking the Jhinu Danda valley below, views of the Mardi Himal ridge, etc.

Despite all the signals, Chhomrong makes a dramatic appearance out of the thicket, and soon enough you are in the courtyard of your tea-house. Imagine getting drawn to the aromas of fresh bake in the midst of a gruelling trek! Once considered a top mountain location for bakeries, Chhomrong now has only a couple left offering your favourite pies, pastries, and savouries to be enjoyed with freshly ground coffee or hot chocolate.

It may be early evening when you reach Chhomrong. Yes, another long day.

Time, energy, and motivation permitting, hike down to middle Chhomrong to visit the bakery for a hot chocolate or pastry to further lift your mood.

Stay Details

Chhomrong makes you feel at home with its warmth, location, and facilities. You wish you had more time to soak in the quiet vibe here. But alas, today is another long walk and you have to leave.

A long flight of steps goes past some tea-houses, local homes, and small fields. This descent is marked with interesting experiences like the ACAP Check-post, terrace farms, shops, cafes, but most importantly the Chhomrong Gompa and the views of Hiunchuli. Every trekker takes a short breather at the stone Stupas before crossing the bridge over the Chhomrong Khola.

Cross over the bridge to climb past small settlements of Tilche and Bhanuwa, which serve mostly as refreshment stops until you pass between a set of quaint tea-houses. Mark Sinuwa for its cute location, fresh environs, and well-placed tea-houses as you may stay here on your way back.

The walk to Upper Sinuwa is through rhododendron trees, which make a reappearance since Tadapani. As you climb a ridge, more tea-houses appear with grand views of Machchapuchare in the background. This calls for a lunch break, giving respite to tired legs and a deserving time with the mountains.

Continue the trek through the forest. The ABC trek is a haven for birdwatchers with many species to discover – Vultures, Griffons, Serpent Eagle, Mynas, Redstarts, Flycatchers, Thrushes, Cuckoos, Sunbirds, Shrikes, Bulbuls, Barbets, Orioles, Finches, Tits, etc. Hours can be spent in forests like these, nearly forgetting that you have to reach your destination.

You will cross some rock surfaces and wooden bridges and arrive at a small opening with a broken hut. From here, begin a long flight of steps downhill – about 500 – towards the end of it you are back in the cover but now very close to the Modi Khola.

Just when the walk begins bearing you down, you spot signs of human inhabitation – the tea-houses of Bamboo!

Bamboo is literally set amidst a bamboo forest and hence the name. The valley floor is narrow, offering fewer views of mountains. The beauty and calm of the forest compensate for the views.

Stay Details

The path stays well covered in the thick forest as you trek up and down ‘real’ trails with little human intervention to regularize them. It’s always easier to walk these as they keep your mind engaged with each step being different. Focus on each step rather than overcoming a long flight, which is more a challenge. It keeps you in the moment – the true joy of trekking.

Thick forests continue, walking over roots, river banks, rocks, watching the changing nature of the flora, rhododendron now mix with oak, birch, pine, maple. Bamboo gives way to fern, hemlock and daphne (used by locals to make paper). There are two tea-house places along the trail today – Dovan and Upper Dovan for breaks to have some tea / coffee.

Midway through the trek, there is a small temple constructed recently, the courtyard of which offers great views of the Modi Khola below. It’s worth a short break here as you enjoy watching the waterfalls behind. Another short steep climb follows and the trail undulates to land you in the well-paved courtyards of some tea-houses. This is Himalaya – named after a tea-house; another quaint location on the trek.

Himalaya is close to the valley floor with the river flowing nearby. There is an outdoor café at one of the tea-houses that makes an ideal location to chill in the early evening hours.

Stay Details

Today, you continue walking along the riverbed and at a point the trail has been re-routed to cross the river. This has been done to avoid a landslide / avalanche section up ahead on the old trail. After crossing the river, the trail keeps to the left bank until it crosses again to rejoin the old trail just below the landslide region. Walk along the bank of the Modi Khola for a short while through some mushy ground, which during rains / heavy moisture may have leeches.

You are now above the tree line. The hanging glaciers of Hiunchuli and Mardi Himal form magnificent waterfalls. This is also a great place to spot Musk Deer, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Brown Bear, Blue Sheep, etc. Further ahead, a flight of steps takes you to a large overhanging rock forming a large cave called Hinku Cave. This was earlier used by campers to take shelter. From Hinku Cave it’s a traverse crossing a few bridges up to Deurali.

The peaks of Machchapuchare and Mardi Himal come into view to the left and Gangapurna ahead as you climb to MBC. Excitement mounts as some of the summits seem within touching distance.

As you check into the tea house at MBC, anticipation mounts for clear views of the main attraction of the trek. You are now in the company of great mountains – Hiunchuli, Annapurna, Tharpa Chuli, Gangapurna, Machchapuchare, and Mardi Himal. On a clear evening, you will witness the magic of Annapurna South and the colourful hues of the setting sun on the summit of Machchapuchare.

The evening is filled with excitement, planning and preparing for the next day’s trek to Annapurna BC. An early morning departure and long day demands sufficient rest and you retire early.

Stay Details

It’s the morning everyone waits for. Breakfast will be at ABC and so you leave with a hot cup of Chai / Coffee after one last check of gear: Windproof Pant, Jacket, Thermals, Monkey Cap, Rain Poncho, Head Lamp, Gloves, Lip Salve, Sun Glasses, Ice Crunchers (YakTrax), Wollen Socks, Shoes, etc.

It’s biting cold (definitely below freezing) when you leave for the trek; may be in the dark, if you wish to experience the sunrise while on trail.

The initial climb is through short vegetation and large rocks. The various trails headed towards ABC join ahead. Depending on the season and weather, the ground may be covered with frost, snow and sometimes ice, which makes it tricky to walk. You crunch through the ground, always being mindful of your steps.

The faint light of dawn brings hope as the heart warms up first. Expectations rise as you climb higher in the valley, a stream (frozen or gurgling) to your left and a ridge to your right keeping you guided. Soon, you are level with the ridge, come in the open grounds and the dark silhouette of the Annapurna Massif comes in sight.

The first light of sun illuminates the highest summit of Annapurna 1 (8091Mtrs) and slowly spreads its brilliance across all the high peaks. The joy of this sight makes you forget the cold as you trudge along. The sight of the board that reads “NAMASTE Annapurna Base Camp” brings a smile as you can now seek the cover of a tea house and eat a hearty breakfast.

After breakfast, it’s time to explore the base camp area. Annapurna Base Camp is the South Base Camp for approaches to the south summit of Annapurna, as well as the main summit from the south side – one of the most treacherous routes known in mountaineering. The memorials of some of the greatest mountaineers bear testimony to the challenges of this face.

Walk to look over the edge of the ground. Below is a ferocious-looking moraine and glacier from the huge massif of Annapurna. It reminds one of measuring up yourself with the vastness and rawness of nature and remembering some brave hearts who are up for a challenge that big!

From the ABC, you can see other peaks of the Annapurna Massif – Tharpa Chuli and Singu Chuli (Tent Peak), Khangsar Kang, Hiunchuli, Annapurna 3, and of course Machchapuchare.

After a couple of hours at ABC, head back to MBC, always keeping Machchapuchare in view. Once at MBC, freshen up, pack, have an early lunch and leave for Himalaya / Deurali down in the valley.

Stay Details

With the main experiences bagged, everyone looks forward to their favourite flavours and a long relaxing bath. So you double back at a faster pace as now you are acclimatised, going downhill, know your path and eager to party!

You will go past Himalaya, Bamboo, and Upper Sinuwa to reach Sinuwa, which is warmer, offering great views of Modi Khola. However, it’s worth looking back for the view because now you are familiar with them and somehow, they look so much different.

Enjoy your last night in a tea-house at Sinuwa. After a tiring day’s walk, a good bath works magic to relax you to a good night’s sleep.

Stay Details

Stop on your way for last views of the mountains, some pastry and hot chocolate on the rooftop of the bakery before descending to Jhinu Danda. Time permitting, many take a dip at the hot springs. One last swing on the 300 Mts long cable bridge before you board the waiting car to return back to Pokhara.

Check in and head to the market. All fatigue vanishes with the access to worldly comforts.

CONGRATULATIONS! You have done it!

Stay Details

Since you have a day in Pokhara, make the most of it. A lazy breakfast.

The main street in Pokhara is along the Phewa Lake offering glimpses of the calm water. The lake itself is between two mountains: Anadu Mountain, home to the World Peace Pagoda, and Sarangkot, famous for adventure activities and the cable car. Spend the evening time in Pokhara market.

One can visit the Peace Pagoda for some views of Machchapuchare (literally meaning “Fish Tale”) and Annapurna. Machchapuchare, a holy peak in Nepal, is one of the most beautiful and recognisable summits in the world and cannot be missed from any direction.

You may book a cable car ride to Sarangkot for grand views of the Annapurna Range or experience the Zipline (~1,850 Mtrs long, one of the longest ziplines in the world – 12 Kms) or Paragliding (13 Kms). There are short hikes to Raniban, World Peace Pagoda, or MTB rides around the lake and Anadu Hill. You may also just amble along the lake, chill in your hotel, or take a relaxing boat ride if you want to stay cool before the storm!

Other attractions in Pokhara include:

• Boating on Lake Phewa

• Visit International Mountain Museum (4.2 Kms)

• Mountain Biking around Pokhara

• World Stupa above Phewa Lake (7 Kms)

• Old Pokhara Town (4.2 Kms)

Stay Details

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a return flight to Kathmandu. You may stay a few extra hours in Pokhara as per your evening onward flight from Kathmandu to your city of origin, or transfer to a hotel in Kathmandu as per your other plans, if any.

– End Of Tour –