Trek Guide

The Ultimate Guide to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek ABC

<p>Embark on a journey through the heart of the Himalayas with our comprehensive guide to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek. This guide is…

By Travel Himalaya Nepal · May 31, 2026

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The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek is the Himalaya distilled into one unforgettable walk: rhododendron forest, terraced Gurung villages and, at the end, a glacial amphitheatre ringed by 7,000- and 8,000-metre giants. After guiding this trail since 1998, we…

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Overview: what makes ABC special

Unlike treks that simply approach the mountains, ABC takes you inside them. The trail funnels through the Modi Khola gorge and opens into the Annapurna Sanctuary — a high glacial basin where you are surrounded on all sides by Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna…

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Route and itinerary

Most ABC treks begin with a short drive from Pokhara to the trailhead at Nayapul or Siwai/Jhinu, then follow the Modi Khola upstream through Chhomrong, Bamboo, Dovan and Deurali before the final climb past Machhapuchhare Base Camp (MBC) to ABC itself. A…

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Difficulty: how hard is ABC?

ABC is graded moderate . There is no technical climbing, scrambling or glacier travel — but do not underestimate it. The trail's signature challenge is relentless stone staircases (the Chhomrong descent alone drops and re-climbs over 2,000 steps), and you…

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Cost: what you'll actually spend in 2026

A guided ABC package from a local Nepali operator typically runs USD 650–1,200 per person , depending on group size, trek length and comfort level. International operators charge considerably more for the same trail. If you organise the logistics yourself…

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Permits: ACAP, TIMS and the guide rule

Two permits are required to enter the Annapurna Conservation Area: the ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, NPR 3,000 for foreigners / NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals) and the TIMS card (NPR 2,000 / NPR 1,000 for SAARC). Children under 10 are exempt from…

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Best time to trek

The two prime windows are spring (March–May) — when the rhododendron forests below Chhomrong erupt in red and pink — and autumn (September–November) , which delivers the clearest, most stable skies of the year. Winter (Dec–Feb) is quiet and beautiful but…

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What to pack

Pack in layers and pack light. The trail spans sub-tropical heat at the trailhead and sub-zero dawns at ABC, so a layering system beats a single heavy coat. Essentials: broken-in trekking boots, a warm down jacket, thermal base layers, a waterproof shell, a…

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Accommodation along the way

You sleep in teahouses — family-run lodges offering a simple bed, a warm dining room and home-cooked meals (the dal bhat is endless). Lower-altitude lodges in Chhomrong and Jhinu are increasingly comfortable, some with attached bathrooms and hot showers…

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Extending your trek

If you have extra days, the Ghorepani–Poon Hill sunrise loop folds neatly onto the front of an ABC trek, and the gentler Mardi Himal trek shares the same Pokhara gateway. Trekkers wanting a bigger challenge often look next to the Annapurna Circuit or, further…

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