Annapurna Base Camp

Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) is one of Nepal’s most iconic trekking destinations in the Annapurna region.

Set beneath Annapurna I, it serves as the main base camp for the final destination of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. The camp lies within the Annapurna Sanctuary, a glacial valley enclosed on nearly every side by steep mountain walls.

Where Is Annapurna Base Camp Located?

Annapurna Base Camp sits in Kaski District, Gandaki Province, within the Annapurna Conservation Area at an altitude of 4,130 metres (13,550 feet).

It is roughly 40 kilometres north of Pokhara and about 200 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu. Geographically, ABC sits at the head of the Modi Khola valley, inside the Annapurna Sanctuary.

Province	Gandaki Province
District	Kaski District
Elevation	4,130 m / 13,550 ft
Protected Area	Annapurna Conservation Area
Mountain	At the foot of Annapurna I (8,091 m / 26,545 ft)
Latitude	28.5308° N
Longitude	83.8768° E

How to Reach Annapurna Base Camp?

Getting to ABC starts in Pokhara, reached from Kathmandu by a 25 to 30 minute flight or a 6 to 8 hour drive. From Pokhara, trekkers drive to the trailhead before beginning the trek on foot.

One shorter and popular route follows:

Ghandruk → Chhomrong → Bamboo → Deurali → Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) → Annapurna Base Camp.

The final part of the trek is the steepest. From MBC, it is a short but demanding climb to ABC, with the mountains becoming closer and more dramatic as you approach the Sanctuary. From Bamboo, the walk is longer and passes through rhododendron forest and open meadows before reaching the Sanctuary.

Approach	Distance	Trek Time
From Deurali	12.5 km	5 hours
From Bamboo	14 km	6 hours
From MBC	Short final section	Varies with pace and altitude

Most trekkers descend by the same general route, often passing through Jhinu Danda, where natural hot springs provide a popular stop after several days on the trail.

Mountains Visible from Annapurna Base Camp

ABC is surrounded by mountains, giving trekkers views in almost every direction. The following are the major mountains visible from Annapurna Base Camp:

Mountain	Elevation	Notes
Annapurna I	8,091 m (26,545 ft)	The world's tenth-highest mountain, and one of the most dangerous 8,000-metre peaks to climb, with a historically high fatality rate among summit attempts. ABC is its main base camp today.
Annapurna South	7,219 m (23,684 ft)	Together with Hiunchuli, it forms the southern gateway trekkers pass through on the way into the Sanctuary.
Annapurna III	7,555 m (24,787 ft)	Sits between Annapurna II and Gangapurna. Its technical southeast ridge remained unclimbed until 2021, decades after the mountain was first summited.
Gangapurna	7,455 m (24,459 ft)	Rises directly behind ABC. Its glacier feeds Gangapurna Lake, a turquoise lake visible from Manang on the Annapurna Circuit.
Machhapuchhre (Fishtail)	6,993 m (22,943 ft)	Sacred to local Gurung communities and never officially climbed. Nepal has banned climbing permits for it since the early 1960s.
Hiunchuli	6,441 m (21,132 ft)	An extension of Annapurna South, forming the Sanctuary's southeastern rim alongside it.

Popular Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Routes

You can reach Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m) by more than one trail through the Annapurna Sanctuary. Each route enters the valley from a different direction before joining the same final stretch through Machhapuchhre Base Camp. 

Classic Route via Ghorepani and Poon Hill

This is the traditional, most complete way into the Sanctuary, usually walked over 11 days.

Tikhedhunga → Ulleri → Ghorepani → Poon Hill → Tadapani → Chhomrong → Sinuwa → Bamboo → Himalaya → Deurali → Machhapuchhre Base Camp → Annapurna Base Camp

The trail climbs a stone staircase from Tikhedhunga to Ulleri, then through forest to Ghorepani. A pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill (3,210 m) offers sunrise views over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges before the trail descends to Chhomrong and follows the Modi Khola valley up through Bamboo and Himalaya to Machhapuchhre Base Camp and ABC.

Ghandruk Route (Shorter Approach)

A more direct way in, typically covered in 7 days, that trades the Ghorepani/Poon Hill loop for an earlier entry via Ghandruk.

Kimche → Ghandruk → Chhomrong → Sinuwa → Himalaya/Deurali → Machhapuchhre Base Camp → Annapurna Base Camp

Trekkers drive to Kimche and walk almost immediately into Ghandruk, a large Gurung village known for its stone houses. The trail then joins the classic route at Chhomrong and follows the same Modi Khola corridor up to ABC, skipping Ghorepani and Poon Hill for a faster entry.

Mardi Himal Combined Route

A less-traveled way to reach ABC that links two separate ridgelines of the Annapurna region into one longer trek.

Dhampus → Deurali (Mardi trailhead) → Forest Camp → High Camp → Mardi Himal Base Camp → descent toward Landruk/Sinuwa → onward to Annapurna Base Camp

The trail follows the quieter Mardi Himal ridge from Dhampus through Forest Camp and High Camp to Mardi Himal Base Camp, offering close-up views of Machhapuchhre from a different angle. It then descends and rejoins the main Modi Khola corridor near Sinuwa before the final approach to ABC.

Samrung Route (Fastest Approach)

The most direct way in, typically done in 5 days, for trekkers with very limited time.

Samrung → Sinuwa → Deurali → Machhapuchhre Base Camp → Annapurna Base Camp

Trekkers drive directly to Samrung and join the Modi Khola corridor near Sinuwa within the first day, skipping Ghandruk, Chhomrong, and Poon Hill entirely. From there, the trail follows the same stretch through Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp to ABC, making it the quickest way into the Sanctuary.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Annapurna Base Camp?

ABC can technically be visited most of the year, but spring and autumn are generally the best seasons for both weather and trail conditions.

Spring (March to May)

Spring brings milder temperatures to the trail as it climbs out of the lower valleys. March can still feel cool, but April and May warm up steadily, making the daily walking more comfortable than the colder shoulder months.

Rhododendron forests bloom along the lower and middle sections of the trail, turning entire hillsides red and pink before the route climbs above the tree line into the Sanctuary itself. Mornings tend to offer the clearest mountain views, though haze can build up by afternoon as the season moves toward May.

Spring is one of the two most popular seasons for the ABC trek, alongside autumn, and also coincides with Holi in March, which adds a colourful, festive atmosphere to towns along the way in and out of the mountains.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn is widely considered the best season for the ABC trek. The monsoon clears out by mid-September, leaving the trail greener and the air noticeably cleaner heading into October.

By October and November, days are typically dry and stable, with some of the sharpest, most consistent mountain views of the year.

This is when Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre, and the rest of the Sanctuary's peaks are most likely to stay fully visible for days at a stretch, rather than clouding over by afternoon.

This is also peak trekking season, so expect more company on the trail and busier teahouses, especially around Chhomrong and MBC. Dashain and Tihar, Nepal's two biggest festivals, usually fall during this period too, adding a cultural layer to the trek for anyone passing through villages during the celebrations.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is quiet on the ABC trail, with far fewer trekkers and a noticeably calmer pace at the teahouses along the way. Mornings and nights turn seriously cold, especially once the trail climbs past Deurali, but clear winter days can deliver some of the sharpest mountain visibility of the year.

Snow builds up around the base camp itself during this season, adding real drama to the scenery, though a handful of teahouses reduce services or close for the season entirely.

Trekkers heading up in winter should expect much colder conditions than lower down in Pokhara, and should plan gear accordingly.

Monsoon (June to August)

Monsoon brings the heaviest rainfall of the year to the Annapurna region. Days are warm and humid, with spells of heavy rain broken up by occasional clear stretches, and cloud cover regularly hides the mountains for days at a time.

The trail itself changes character completely during these months. Lower valleys turn a deep, saturated green, and the rhododendron and forest sections along the route feel genuinely lush.

The trade-off is mud, leeches on the lower trail, and a higher chance of landslides blocking sections of the route, which is why most trekkers avoid ABC during monsoon despite the scenery.

Temperature at Annapurna Base Camp

Season	Daytime	Nighttime
Spring (Mar–May)	10°C to 18°C (50°F to 64°F)	-5°C to 2°C (23°F to 36°F)
Autumn (Sep–Nov)	10°C to 16°C (50°F to 61°F)	-8°C to 0°C (18°F to 32°F)
Winter (Dec–Feb)	-2°C to 8°C (28°F to 46°F)	-15°C to -8°C (5°F to 18°F)
Monsoon (Jun–Aug)	12°C to 18°C (54°F to 64°F)	3°C to 8°C (37°F to 46°F)

Where to stay in Annapurna Base Camp?

Trekkers stay in teahouses along the route and at Annapurna Base Camp itself, with rooms available at every overnight stop from Ghandruk up to ABC.

Rooms are simple: twin-share, with a bed, blanket, and basic bedding. Private bathrooms are rare above Chhomrong, and hot showers are usually available for a small extra fee, heated by gas or solar power depending on the lodge.

Every teahouse has a dining hall that doubles as the main gathering space, serving meals and staying warm around a central stove in the evening.

Charging points and Wi-Fi exist at most lodges but become less reliable and more expensive the higher you climb. At ABC itself, expect basic charging for a fee and Wi-Fi that works intermittently at best.

During peak spring and autumn weeks, rooms at popular stops like Chhomrong and MBC can fill quickly, so booking through an agency that reserves rooms in advance is worth considering.

What Permits Are Required to Reach Annapurna Base Camp?

Two permits are required for the ABC trek.

Permit	Cost
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)	NPR 3,000
TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System)	NPR 2,000

Both permits are required for the ABC trekking routes and are checked at designated checkpoints along the trail. For the ABC trek, permits are typically arranged through a registered trekking agency when travelling with a guide.

What do you need to pack?

Packing for Annapurna Base Camp means preparing for temperatures that can range from a mild spring afternoon to well below freezing overnight, often on the same day.

• Layered clothing: A moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating fleece or down mid-layer, and a waterproof, windproof outer shell to handle sudden weather changes above 3,000 metres.
• Sleeping bag: Rated to at least -10°C, since teahouse rooms above Chhomrong are unheated overnight.
• Trekking boots: Broken-in, waterproof boots with ankle support for the rocky and sometimes wet trail sections near Bamboo and Deurali.
• Headlamp with spare batteries: Useful for early starts and for teahouses where lighting is limited after dark.
• Water purification tablets or a filter: Bottled water becomes expensive and generates plastic waste the higher you go.
• Trekking poles: Help with the steep stone staircases between Chhomrong and Bamboo, and again on the descent.
• Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat, since UV exposure increases significantly at altitude even on cloudy days.
• Basic first-aid kit: Including blister treatment, altitude sickness medication if prescribed, and any personal medication.
• Documents and money: Passport, passport photocopies, Nepal visa copy, travel insurance, trekking permits, passport-size photos, emergency contact details, flight details, hotel details, cash in Nepali rupees, credit card

Is Annapurna Base Camp Worth it?

Annapurna Base Camp is worth it for trekkers who want a genuine high-altitude Himalayan experience without committing to the length or difficulty of routes like Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit.

What sets ABC apart is the variety of scenery along the trek. The landscape changes from subtropical forests and rice terraces near Pokhara to rhododendron forests, alpine meadows, and finally a high mountain valley surrounded by peaks over 6,000 and 7,000 metres. Few treks in Nepal offer such a wide range of landscapes in so few days.

The main challenge is altitude. Reaching 4,130 metres in under a week means acclimatisation matters, and the final two days above Bamboo require steady pacing. With proper acclimatisation and a well-planned itinerary, most fit trekkers can complete the route comfortably.

FAQs

What is the altitude of Annapurna Base Camp?

Annapurna Base Camp sits at 4,130 metres (13,550 feet) above sea level.

Can beginners trek to Annapurna Base Camp?

Yes, beginners with a reasonable level of fitness can complete the trek. It doesn't require technical climbing experience, though regular walking or hiking beforehand makes the daily ascents more comfortable.

Do I need a guide to trek to Annapurna Base Camp?

Yes, a licensed guide is required for foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region under Nepal's 2023 trekking regulations.

Is there mobile network and Wi-Fi along the route?

Yes, mobile network coverage and Wi-Fi are available at most teahouses along the route, though both become less reliable above Chhomrong and often come with a small fee at higher elevations.

Is Annapurna Base Camp harder than Everest Base Camp?

No, Annapurna Base Camp is generally considered less demanding than Everest Base Camp. It reaches a lower maximum altitude and takes fewer days, though both treks require proper acclimatisation.