Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek
An Iconic Himalayan Trek Through Sacred Sanctuaries & Sacred Peaks
Route
Kathmandu – Pokhara – Phedi – Tolka – Chhomrong – Bamboo – Himalaya Hotel – Machhapuchhre Base Camp – Annapurna Base Camp – Himalaya Hotel – Chhomrong – Ghandruk – Pokhara
Duration
12 Nights - 13 Days
Tour Type
Private Guided Trekking Tour
Complete Tour Itinerary
Day 01 : Kathmandu / Arrival
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Later, visit Patan Durbar Square.
Patan Durbar Square: The patan city is believed to have been founded by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C. The most of the monuments were built between 12th to 18th centuries by Malla Kings. It is known as the center of fine arts and superb craftsmanship of its artisans. The main attractions are old Royal Palace, Krishna Temple, Taleju Temple, Bhimsen Temple, Golden Temple (Hiranyavarna Mahabihar) etc.
Overnight at the hotel on Bed & Breakfast basis
Day 02 : KATHMANDU / POKHARA / PHEDI / TOLKA (1720 M / APPROX. 6.5 HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Pokhara at 8:30 AM (30-minute flight). Upon arrival at the airport, our trek guide will meet, assist and drive to Phedi. From Phedi, we stark hiking towards Dhampus. Starting at an elevation of 1080 meters, in a forest that is so overgrazed that it looks like a manicured municipal park, the trail climbs steeply past some scattered houses to the ridge a Dhampus, at 1850 meters. At Dhampus, you are rewarded with great views of the mountains that continue to improve as you ascend along the ridge.
The trail climbs through forests to a clearing on top of the hill at 2010 meters, where there are views of Annapurna South and Himchuli. From there make a steep descent through forests alive with birds, ferns and orchids, into a huge side canyon of the Modi Khola. The trail descends past several houses at Bichok (also known as Bheri Kharka), and then descends further to the head of the canyon. After crossing a stream on a suspension bridge at 1690 meters, the trail climbs gently out of the side canyon. There are frequent shops as the trail emerges into the main Modi Khola Valley and descends to Tolka, a small settlement at 1720 meters, with several scattered along the trail. Overnight at Tolka. From Here one can have a beautiful view of Mt. Himchuli and South Annapurna.
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 03 : TOLKA / CHHOMRONG (2040 M / APPROX. 6 HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, we trek to Chhomrong. The trail descends to a stream at 1620 meters, and then climbs through forests to a teashop on a ridge. It is an easy walk, past fields, a school and some unusual oval shaped houses, before the trail drops a bit to the flagstone streets of Landrung, a Gurung village at 1550 meters. The village itself are in old houses. So they are small and a bit crummy.
Descends through the paved country yards of Landrung to the small Himalayan Hotel, below the village at 1480 meters. The trail to the Sanctuary leads to the right, just behind the hotel. There are an orange sign pointing the way. The downhill trail leads to the river and then climbs to hill. You can see Ghandruk Village high above you on the opposite side of the river.
The trail to the Sanctuary turns up the Modi Khola Valley on a narrow trail, alongside rice terraces then through forests, to the rustic hillside. A short walk up the riverbed leads to Shiuli, better known as New Bridge of NayaPool in Nepali, at 1,240 meters’ elevation. The trail climbs steeply to Samrong the crosses a stream at 1430 meters. This is the lower part of Khummu Khola, but here it is known as the Kladi Khola.
A steep climb leads to Jhinu Danda, There is a hot spring with cement bathing pools about 25 minutes up the valley from here. You can see houses on the top of the ridge far above this are you next destination. It is a long, steep climb along a treeless ridge to a few teashops at Taglung at 2050 meters. The route now joints the Ghandruk the Chhomorong route so the trail is wider and better from here to Chhomrong.
A short distance from Taglung then the trail rounds a bend and enters the upper part of Chhomrong. The Gurung village has involved into two separate parts. New Chhomrong is the upper part at an elevation of 2040 meters, old Chhomrong, at 1950 meters, is the main part of the village.
This is the highest permanent settlement in the valley, but herders take sheep and goats to upper pastures in the Sanctuary during the summer. There is a tremendous view of Annapurna South, which seems to tower above the village, and there are good views of Machhappuchhare (machha, fish and puchhre, tail) across the valley. It is from this point onwards that the reason the name of this peak becomes apparent.
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 04 : CHHOMRONG / BAMBOO (2100 M / APPROX. 6 ½ HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, we trek to Bamboo. The trail descends on a stone staircase and crosses the Chhomorong Khola on a swaying suspension bridge, then climbs out of the side valley. Climbing high above the Modi Khola on its west bank, the trail passes through the tiny settlement of Tilche in forests of bamboo, rhododendron and oak. Climbing further on a rocky trail you reach at Sinuwa, 2250 meters.
The trail continues in rhododendron forests, climbing to Kuldi, 2350 meters. This was once a British sheep-breeding project. In winter, it is common to find snow where from this point on. From Kuldi, the trail descends along, steep stone staircase into deep bamboo and rhododendron forest. It is then a short distance on a muddy trail to Bamboo Lodge (2100 meters). In early autumn and late spring, this part of the trail is crawling with leeches.
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 05 : BAMBOO / HIMALAYA HOTEL (2680 M / APPROX. 6 HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, we trek to Himalaya Hotel. The trail climbs steeply through stands of bamboo, through rhododendron forests up the side of the canyon, occasionally dropping slightly to cross tributary streams, but ascending continuously. When there is snow this stretch of trail is particularly difficult because the bamboo lying on the trail, hidden beneath the snow, provides an excellent start to a slide downhill. Local people hack down the dense bamboo forests beyond kuldi to make mats for flors and roofs and for dokos, (the basket that porters carry).
Beyond Doban the trail traverses several avalanche chutes, to upper Doban and the Annapurna Approach Lodge, at 2470 meters. The trail then crosses a landslides and another avalanche treak, to the Himalayan Hotel at 2680 meters.
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 06 : HIMALAYA HOTEL / MACHHAPUCHRE BASE CAMP (3700 M / APPROX. 6 HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, we trek to Macchapuchre Base Camp (MBC). From the Himalayan Hotel it is about an hour walk, first on 2960 meters. This is called Hinko Cave because a huge overhanging rock provides some protection against rain and avalanches. There is a funny hotel built into the cave that can accommodate few peoples.
The trail crosses a ravine and a major avalanche treak just beyond Hinko, and then climbs through large boulders. About a half hour beyond Hinko is (yet another) Deurali, at 3000 meters, Above Deurali, the valley widens and becomes less steep and you can see the gates to the Sanctuary. Avalanches from Himchuli Annapurna South, peaks that are above, but not visible from this point, come crashing into the valley with frightening speed and frequency.As the trail continues into the Sanctuary, it crosses two wide avalanche tracks on a narrow trail that huddles up against the cliff. The trail then descends to meet the Modi Khola and follows river to Bagar.
Here the mountain views are stupendous; the panorama includes Hiunchuli, Annapurna (8091 meters), Annapurna III (7555 meters), Gangapurna (7454 meters) and Machhapuchhre (6997 meters).
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 07 : MACHHAPUCHHRE BASE CAMP / ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP (3,900 M / APPROX. 3 HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, we trek to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). It’s about 3 hours climb to Annapurna base camp, elevation 3900 meters. The trail passes a few roofless herders huts alongside a moraine. There are tremendous views of the near-vertical South Face of Annapurna that towers above the Sanctuary to the northwest. Several peaks that are acesible from the Sanctuary are on the trekking peak list. Tent peaks (5000 meters) offers a commanding 360 view of the entire Sanctuary. Its higher neighbors, fluted peak (Singu chuli, 6390 meters), offer a mountaineering challenge. Hiunchuli (6441 meters) to the south is also open to trekking parties. All three of peaks are significant mountaineering challenges and requires skill equipment and planning. There are few birds in the Sanctuary along with Ghoral.
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 08 : ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP / HIMALAYA HOTEL ( APPROX. 7 HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, trek to the Himalaya Hotel (7 hours). Exploration of the surrounding area.
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 09 : HIMALAYA HOTEL / CHHOMRONG (2170 M / APPROX. 6 HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, we trek to Chhomrong (5-6 hours). Exploration of the surrounding area.
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 10 : CHHOMORONG / GHANDRUK (1940 M / APPROX. 7 HRS. WALK)
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, we trek to Ghandruk. Fallow the trail described above the to Khimnu, then cross the suspension bridge and stay on the main trail as it climbs at Uri situated on pass at 2220 meters. The trail descends through huge boulders to a small creek and descends gently into the maze of trails of Ghandruk at 1940 meters. Ghandrung is the most interesting tribal Gurung village in Nepal, which has provided by Gorkha solders. It has excellent close- up view of Annapurna south, Fishtail and Himchuli.
Overnight at Mountain Lodge (Tea House) on Full board basis
Day 11 : GHANDRUK / SYAULI BHATTI / NAYAPOOL (1030 M / APPROX. 6 HRS. WALK) / POKHARA
Breakfast at Lodge.
After breakfast, we trek to Nayapool (New Bridge). Follow the trail descends to the Syaulli Bhatti and gradually walk to Nayapool then drive beck to Pokhara (1 ½ hrs. drive)
Rest of the day at Leisure.
Overnight at Hotel on Bed & Breakfast basis
Day 12 : POKHARA / KATHMANDU
Breakfast at Hotel.
After breakfast, boating on Phewa Lake.
Later, transfer to airport to connect the flight to Kathmandu (approx. 25 minues). Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our representative will meet, assist and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon, visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swoyambhunath Stupa.
Kathmandu Durbar Square: It was founded between 1069 – 1083 AD. The complex of palaces, courtyards and temples were built between 1200 to 1768 A.D. and once used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. The main attractions are Royal Palace, Hanuman Dhoka, Taleju Temple, Kashtamandap Temple, Kumari Temple (Living Goddess) etc.
Swoyambhunath Stupa: It is a Buddhist stupa which stands at the top of green hillock west of Kathmandnu. It is believed to be over 2000 years old and was the point where Manjushree discovered the lotus of the ancient valley lake. The main attractions are big Stupa, 365 steps, Pratapur and Anantapur Temples, Manjushree Temple along with numerous small chhortens.
Overnight at Hotel on Bed & Breakfast basis
Day 13 : KATHMANDU / DEPARTURE
Breakfast at Hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to airport to connect the onward flight.
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What’s Covered
Inclusions & Exclusions
What's Taken Care Of
Tour Portion:-
- 2 nights’ accommodation on single occupancy at hotel in Kathmandu.
- 1 night’s accommodation on single occupancy at hotel in Pokhara.
- Transfers, visits/excursions as per the program by AC Sedan car with escort/guide.
- The service of local English speaking guide in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Monument entrance fees.
- Boating on Phewa Lake.
Trek Portion:-
- 9 nights’ accommodation on single occupancy at mountain lodges (Tea House) on full board basis.
- Service of English speaking trekking guide and porter.
- Transfers to/from trekking points by Non AC vehicle.
- Trekking permit and TIMS.
- ACAP Fee.
- Round-trip airfare Kathmandu/Pokhara/Kathmandu.
- Sleeping Bag.
- Government taxes.
What You’ll Need to Cover
- Any services not mentioned in the program.
- Personal expenses.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- International flight tickets.
- Additional meals and beverages.