Annapurna Base Camp Trek

16 days trip | price enquiry
(full inclusive package, see price includes and excludes for details)
Annapurna Base Camp Trek

This is a classic trek, visiting the site of the base camp used by expeditions attempting to climb the massive south face of Annapurna I. The Annapurna Sanctuary (a term coined by outsiders) was explored as a trekking area by Col. Jimmy Roberts in 1956, and brought to the attention of the Western world by the British expedition to Machhapuchhre in 1957. It is a huge cirque of some of the world’s highest mountains, culminating in the awesome South Face of Annapurna. The area encloses the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre Base Camps and is itself a hidden pocket of meadow moraine and glacier, ringed by magnificent sheer-walled peaks: the ‘Fishtail’ Machhapuchhre (6992m), Annapurna I (8091m), South Annapurna (7273m), Gangapurna (7454m), and many more.  Traditionally, no women or low-caste people were allowed into the sanctuary, impure foods like meat, eggs and garlic were forbidden, and hunting and butchering were prohibited. The Sanctuary is still an idyllic place, a haven for wildlife and flowers, visited by shepherds who bring their flocks up to graze summer meadows, and believed to be the sacred abode of the gods of the native Gurung people.
 
The trekking trail begins at Nayapul, after a short drive from the beautiful lakeside town of Pokhara, taking you through many Gurung and Magar villages and along ridges where stunning panoramic views disclose spectacular mountainscapes. Passing through picturesque rhododendron, daphne and bamboo forests, over grassy meadows, between incredibly narrow gorges, and up very steep and rocky steps, the path follows the Modi Khola river valley and on to a single track corridor as far as the ‘gate’ to the Sanctuary itself, which is flanked by the twin peaks of Machhapuchhare and Himchuli. On entering the Sanctuary, trekkers are often filled with emotion by the impact of the sheer beauty and magnificence of this natural amphitheatre of ice-bound peaks.
 
After exploring this magical place the trail retraces its path down the Modi Khola valley before taking a different route back to Pokhara, through Kande, for some relaxation and a night’s rest, prior to your return to the heaving metropolis of Kathmandu.

Itinerary at a glance

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu and transport to Hotel. Overnight at hotel                             
Day 02: Kathmandu world heritage sightseeing (Monkey temple and Patan/Bhaketpur), and preparing for trek. Overnight at hotel
Day 03: Morning drive or fly to Pokhara (820m). About 30 minutes’ flight or 6 hours drive; Overnight at hotel
Day 04: Drive to Nayapul (1070m) and trek to Ghandruk (1940m). 1½ hours’ drive and 4 to 5 hours’ walk; 870m altitude gain; Overnight at lodge
Day 05: Trek to Chhomrong (2170m). About 5 hours walk; 230m altitude gain; Overnight at lodge
Day 06: Trek to Bamboo (2235m). About 5 hours walk; 65m altitude gain; Overnight at lodge
Day 07: Trek to Deurali (3210m).  About 6 to 7 hours walk; 975m altitude gain; Overnight at lodge
Day 08: Trek to Machhapuchhare Base Camp (MBC) (3700m). About 3½ hours walk; 490m altitude gain; Overnight at lodge
Day 09: Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (4130m.) or trek to ABC and return to MBC. About 3 hours walk; 430m altitude gain; Overnight at lodge
Day 10: Trek back to Doban (2505m) or Bamboo (2335m). About 6 to 7 hours walk; 1625m altitude lost; Overnight at lodge
Day 11: Trek to Jhinu Danda (1780m). About 5 to 6 hours walk; 725m altitude lost; Overnight at lodge
Day 12: Trek to Pothana (1900m). About 6 to 7 hours walk; 120m altitude gain; Overnight at lodge
Day 13: Trek to Kande (1130m.) and drive back to Pokhara. About 1½ hour walk; 1 hour drive; 770m altitude lost; Overnight at hotel
Day 14: Drive back to Kathmandu. About 6 hours drive; Overnight hotel
Day 15: Kathmandu; leisure time or optional visit to Jamarko Projects, our project in support of disadvantaged children and community. Overnight at hotel
Day 16: Transfer to airport for international departure

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Date & Price

All ACCESS-HIMALAYA adventure travel trips are small group departures and therefore places can fill quickly. To avoid disappointment, we suggest you book your trip as soon as possible.

Sorry, there are no fixed departure dates available for this holiday at the moment. Please click here for date & price enquiry

Price Includes

... in Lodge Trek

Accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara, bed & breakfast basis, (accommodation in twin room unless otherwise arranged) – see itinerary above for dates - accommodation facilities/details outlined below
All three meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the trek
All internal transportation as stated in itinerary (see itinerary above)
All lodge accommodation on trek – twin room with clean beds and mattresses, toilet facilities may be outside – no attached bathroom, unless specifically arranged, and where available.
Annapurna Conservation Area entrance permit
Trekking Permits (TIMS) for Annapurna area  
Experienced English speaking government licensed guide/s
The required number of local porters to carry your luggage during the trek (We assign one porter for every two guests on lodge treks)
Staff and porter insurance
Guided world heritage sightseeing tour in Kathmandu with private tourist vehicle (2 or 3 sites - Durbar Square/s and Swayambunath (Monkey temple)) (English speaking licensed guide & private transport only)
Lunch on the overland travel (see itinerary)
Welcome dinner in Kathmandu
Free gift of Access-Himalaya trekking kit bag for each member of group (to be distributed on arrival in Kathmandu)
Free hire of four seasons Sleeping Bag and fleece liner for trek (should be returned after the trek).
Free airport pick and drop

 

Price Excludes

... in Lodge Trek

Your personal equipment
International flights
Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond our control
Your travel insurance, (Make sure the policy covers helicopter rescue and evacuation service)
Medical examination and vaccination costs
Personal expenditure, including bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, tips, shower/bathroom facilities on the trek etc.
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and elsewhere-apart from trek (see itinerary)
Heritage sights/Monastery/Temple entrance fees
Trek and Tour crew and driver gratuity/tips at end of tour/trek
Any others expenses which are not mentioned in 'Price Includes' section

Availability Explained

  • A AVAILABLE - Trip date is available and open for bookings. Go for it!
  • G GUARANTEED - Trip is reached minimum numbers and this is 'Guaranteed to Run'
  • L LIMITED - Trip is 'Guaranteed to Run' and there are a very limited number of available places remaining. Immediate booking is recommended.
  • C CLOSED - Trip has reached maximum numbers and it is unavailable. Please Contact Us to enquire about other trip departure dates or booking this trip as a private departure

Trip Info (Tour/Trek Styles) Explained

  • PG Private Group: This style of trip is organized for specific groups of people (families, friends,school and college students, colleagues, business associates etc.), and is closed to outsiders. If you are interested in this particular trip departure date then please get in touch with us.
  • OA Open to All: This trip departure is open to all. However, if you are interested in this particular trip departure date but want your own private group, then please get in touch with us. 
  • LT Lodge Based Trip/Trek: This trip/trek is lodge (teahouse) based. All accommodation, including food, is provided in local lodges. Occasionally however, where a large group is concerned we may choose to send our own cook along, as well, to take care of your food hygiene and to cook some special additional items.We provide all necessary documentation, including permits, and arrange all internal transport. We provide trekking guide, assistant guide(s) and porters/animals for transport of your gear. You merely carry a daysack with essentials, including water.
  • CT Camping Based Trip/Trek: This trip/trek is camping (tent) based. We will provide one 3-man tent for every two people, also single tents, where requested, on payment of supplementary costs. All food and drinks are provided by our experienced cook and his kitchen team. We provide all necessary documentation, including permits, and arrange all internal transport. We provide trekking guide, assistant guide(s), cook, kitchen crew, food and drink, and porters/animals for transport of your gear. You merely carry a daysack with essentials, including water.
  • GAP Guide, Accommodation & Porter only: In this trip neither food nor transportation is included. Clients are responsible for food and local transportation, and our responsibility is to provide insured guide, insured porter, and all necessary permits. All additional costs are the responsibility of the clients, including charges incurred as a result of delays or cancellation of services beyond our control.  Clients pay for their own accommodation. Any additional costs are the responsibility of the clients, We can arrange hotels and international airport transfer, on request.
  • SG Self Guided/Budget Trip: This trip is specially designed for low-budget travellers who prefer fairly basic facilities with reduced services. It is a pre-requisite that a porter is hired for any self-guided trip, which is an ideal set-up for those who enjoy independent travel with minimum cost.  We have added support to minimise the hard work of planning and costing, and we will be available to help in the unlikely event of an emergency. We will arrange all documentation (including permits), before you arrive in Nepal, so that you are free to get on with your adventure, relying only on your porter to help you on your way. All additional costs are the responsibility of the clients, including charges incurred as a result of delays or cancellation of services beyond our control. Hotel accommodation, local transportation and international airport transfers may be arranged, on request.
  • Accommodation in Kathmandu
    It is our policy to use Nepali-owned accommodation, always, as we feel this is an aspect of fair trade, and the hotels we use in Kathmandu are comfortable, clean, efficient and friendly.  Most hotels are also family-run; we visit, and stay in the hotels ourselves, to ensure that facilities are ... read more..
  • Food on LodgeTrek
    On lodge treks clients are provided with three meals a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Menus will be fairly standard, according to the region visited, but will vary in style from place to place, according to availability of ingredients, and in more remote areas choice will be relatively restricted ... read more..
  • Travel Insurance
    It is a strict condition of joining an Access-Himalaya adventure holiday that you must be insured against all medical and personal accident risks, including repatriation if necessary. Helicopter evacuation, in the unlikely event of your being injured or taken seriously ill on trek, is very costly - an average rescue ... read more..
  • Nepal Visa and Passport
    All visitors to Nepal require a passport (valid for at least 6 months after your return to your home country) and an entry visa. A visa application should be obtained from the Nepalese Embassy, in London (click here to download Nepal visa application form ), or in your own country ... read more..
  • Travel Money
    Travellers' cheques are no longer accepted in Nepal, so please do not bring these as your currency. However, ATM facilities are widely available in Kathmandu, Pokhara and other large towns, so a Visa, or other internationally-recognized credit/debit card, would be useful. Larger shops accept payment by credit/debit card, although they ... read more..
  • Tipping and Service Charges
    Tipping is an entirely personal and optional matter and at the discretion of the individual. Should you wish to give a tip in a restaurant, if there is not already a service charge included you may consider a tip of 10%. Recently there has been a recommendation for 10% charge ... read more..
  • Trekking Clothing & Equipment Guideline
     The following is a guideline, not a prescription: we hope it will help you find your way through the minefield of items of clothing and equipment which fill the catalogues of outdoor adventure outfitters! Jacket x 1This should be breathable, wind-proof and waterproof (not showerproof), with attached hood. Suitable fabrics to ... read more..
  • Accommodation on lodge treks
    Accommodation will be in simple lodges offering twin-bedded rooms with standard foam mattresses (if you require additional comfort you might consider taking along Thermarest or similar self-inflating mattresses). Toilets are mostly of the squat type, situated outside the main building. Toilet paper is not provided, so you should bring this ... read more..
  • Accommodation in Pokhara
    It is our policy to use Nepali-owned accommodation, always, as we feel this is an aspect of fair trade, and most of the hotels are also family-run.. The hotels we use in Pokhara are no more than 20 minutes away from the airport and are very close to the beautiful ... read more..

If our fixed departure dates are not convenient for you or your group, we can also arrange private departures on all of our small group tours. Private group departures will follow the same itineraries as our usual small group tours, or itineraries may be tailormade to suit your own convenient tour date/budgets.

Itineraries may be tailor-made to suit your dates. So if you can’t find a date to suit you or if you want to have your very own tour just with your friends or family then we can help you.

Customised Private Groups:

For most of our usual tours, or itineraries, where there is a group numbering 2 or more, we can customise and organise private group trip(s) where we design the itinerary and activities exclusively for you, according to your requirements and budgets, such as Honeymoon, Anniversary, Family, Scouts, School, College, Fundraising or Charity trips. Find out more about our private group tours.

To enquire about booking a private departure of this tour or about organising your own private group tour, please fill in the form below and we will get back to you shortly with details.

Private departure form

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