Trek Guide

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Guide 2026: Cost, Itinerary & Difficulty

The complete Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek guide for 2026 — itinerary, cost, difficulty, permits, and best season. The most rewarding Himalayan trek…

By Travel Himalaya Nepal · May 12, 2026

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ABC ends directly beneath Annapurna I (8,091m) at 4,130m — a glacial amphitheatre and the most rewarding trek accessible to fit beginners. A budget trek costs roughly $600–850 per person (2-person group); comfort-level $1,000–1,500 . No flight needed — you…

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The sanctuary trek

The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek climbs into a glacial amphitheatre ringed by peaks over 7,000m, ending directly beneath Annapurna I (8,091m) at 4,130m. It blends rhododendron forest, Gurung villages, and high-mountain grandeur — and it's the most rewarding…

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ABC at a glance

Duration: 7–11 days · Max altitude: 4,130m · Difficulty: Moderate · Start: Pokhara (drive to Nayapul/Phedi) · Best seasons: Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr · Permits: ACAP + TIMS · Accommodation: Teahouses.

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The classic 9-day itinerary

Drive Pokhara → Nayapul; trek via Ulleri to Ghorepani (2,870m); dawn at Poon Hill (3,210m); on to Chhomrong, Dovan, Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700m), and Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m) for an unforgettable sunrise; descend via Jhinu Danda's hot springs back to…

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How much does it cost?

Per person, guided, all permits and teahouses included. The price falls as the group grows because the guide and porter are shared: That covers your licensed guide, a porter between every two trekkers, both permits, every teahouse night, three meals a day on…

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How hard is it, honestly?

Graded moderate, and that grade is fair. There is no technical ground, no ropes, no glacier travel — it is walking, on a path, the whole way. What makes it hard is the amount of ascent and descent packed into consecutive days. The three sections that hurt…

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Who this trek is not for

We would rather tell you now than at Chhomrong. If you have a knee problem that flares on long descents, this route will find it — the descent is relentless and there is no way to shorten it once you are in. If you need a guaranteed private room every night…

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What the sanctuary is actually like

The last two hours into Annapurna Base Camp are the quietest of the trek. The valley closes to a narrow throat above Deurali and then opens without warning into the amphitheatre — a ring of 7,000m peaks with Annapurna I standing at the back of it at 8,091m…

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Permits

The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and a TIMS card — both arranged by your agency. See the Nepal permits hub for current fees.

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Best time to trek

October–November for the clearest views and stable weather; March–April for warmth and blooming rhododendrons. Winter is doable but cold and occasionally snowy near the sanctuary; monsoon brings cloud and leeches. Aim for October–November for the clearest…

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Why choose ABC

It delivers the up-close grandeur of an 8,000m massif, teahouse comfort, beautiful villages, and manageable altitude — all from Pokhara with no flight. For many, it's the perfect first Himalayan trek. Read our deeper Annapurna Base Camp hub , or compare it…

Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

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