Compare Annapurna Base Camp Trek – 14 Days by Ace the Himalaya

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)

Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu and s/he will be displaying an Ace the Himalaya signboard outside the airport terminal. You will be then transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle.

Note: If you happen to arrive after 4 pm you would be briefed about the trip by our guide, this will be the pre-trip meeting for you, so please make sure that you ask all the questions. But if you arrive earlier than 4 pm, your pre-trip meeting would be on that very day at our office. During the meeting, we will introduce your trek leader/guide. For the meeting, please make sure you bring the passport, three copies of passport-size photos and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer.

Overnight at a hotel.

Day 2: Guided Sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley

Meals: Breakfast

After a hearty breakfast, at 8.30 am your sightseeing trip will start. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide at your disposal. Today we will visit some heritages listed below:

Pashupatinath Temple:

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Though you are not allowed to go inside the temple as it is strictly for Hindus only, you can clearly see the temple and the activities from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. It is a square two-tiered pagoda temple built on a single-tier plinth which is famous all over the world.

Boudhanath Stupa:

Boudhananath is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. It was built in the 5th century with four pairs of eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings. You will find Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet going round the stupa spinning the prayer wheels.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square:

Visit the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Royal Residential Quarter of Bhupatindra Malla, famous five-storied temple of Nyatapola in Pagoda style Batsala temple, Bhairavnath temple, Duttatraya temple, Pujari Muth and Palace of 55 windows.

The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area for trekking essentials.

Overnight at a hotel.

Day 3: Drive to Pokhara (900 m) in a Tourist Bus - 7 hours

Meals: Breakfast

Our trekking staff will pick you up from the hotel at 6:30 am and escort you to the tourist bus station. The bus to Pokhara leaves at around 7:30 am. A beautiful valley set on the banks of the Phewa Lake, Pokhara is also known for its panoramic views of Annapurna and Machapuchare (shape of fish tail) in the north, Dhaulagiri in the west and Lamjung Himal and Manaslu in the east. It is smaller and much less hectic than Kathmandu, hence providing the perfect starting point for our trek.

Overnight at a hotel.

Day 4: Drive to Nayapul (1,010 m) and Trek to Tikhedunga (1,570 m) - 4 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We begin our trek at Nayapul after an hours drive on a private vehicle from Pokhara. After a short 15-minute walk along the banks of the Modi Khola, we reach Birethanti (1,015 m), a large village with many shops and teahouses. From there, the trail continues through the village and follows the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola. The trail climbs steadily up the side of the valley to Hille at 1,495 m. After a short climb, we reach Tikhedhunga at 1,570 m. Today’s walk is relatively short and easy, a prelude to the trekking experience in the Annapurna region.

Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 5: Trek to Ghorepani (2,840 m) - 5 hours)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We move on towards the steep climb to Ulleri, a large Magar village at an altitude of 2,070 m. The trail ascends more gently from this point, through fine forests of oak and rhododendrons, towards Banthanti at 2,250 m. Then we trek towards Nangethanti at 2,460 m. After an hour walk we arrive at Ghorepani (2,840 m).

Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 6: Hike up to Poon Hill (3,210 m) and Trek to Tadapani (2,610 m) - 7 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, very early in the morning, we start an hour hike to Poon Hill at an elevation of 3,210 m, a brilliant mountain range spectacle; this vantage point provides an unobstructed view of the sunrise over the high Himalayas. There we spend about 1 hour and returning to Ghorepani, we take a hot breakfast. Then we make a climb along ridges, and through pine and rhododendron forests, towards Deurali (2,960 m). After that, we descend to the Banthanti, then turn off to Tadapani.

Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 7: Trek to Chomrong (2,140 m) - 5 hours)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The day starts with a steep downhill through rhododendron forests. Leaving Tadapani, we descend through the forests and then the trail eases as we reach Gurjung which is the village of Gurung people. From here it is an easy walk to Chomrong at an elevation of 2,140 m.

Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 8: Trek to Himalaya Hotel (2,950 m) - 6 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today the trail drops down to the Chomrong Khola and again we continue climbing to Khuldighar at 2,380 m where there used to be an ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area) check post. There is a clearing in the forest a little further on, from which, the route travels very steeply down a rock bank, then levels out, running through thickets of bamboo at the bottom of the gorge, keeping always on the west side of the river. We walk through bamboo and rhododendron forests to the Himalayan Hotel.

Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 9: Trek to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m) - 7 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today the trail climbs on past the Hinko Cave, Deurali and then Machapuchare Base Camp, which isn’t really a base camp since climbing Mt Machapuchare is not permitted. Since it is totally surrounded by mountains, this area is known as the Annapurna Sanctuary. Two hours trek from Machapuchare Base Camp takes us to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) at elevation of 4,130 m. There, we will view unobstructed views of mountain scenery, which is very spectacular.

Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 10: Trek to Bamboo (2345 m) - 6 hours

We follow the same trail down today. The trail drops by 1,700 m to the bank of Modi Khola to Bamboo at 2,345 m where there are a few teahouse/lodges available to stay at.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 11: Trek to Jhinu (1,780 m) - 5 hours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We follow the same trail until Chomrong. Once we have passed Khuldighar, there is an experimental sheep farm. The trail continues through rhododendron and bamboo fields. From Chomrong, the trail descends very steeply to the Jhinu, where we can bath in natural hot springs.

Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 12: Trek to Nayapul (1,010 m), Drive to Pokhara - 5.5 hours and Guided Tour of Barahi Temple and Fewa Lake

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

From Jhinu we walk at the right side of Modi Khola for 4.5 hrs to Birethanti which can be considered one of the best and the most relaxing walks of the entire trek. We reach Nayapul. Then an hour drive will take us back to Pokhara.

After we check into the hotel, we will then walk to the Fewa Lake for our boating trip to Barahi Temple.

Overnight at a hotel.

Day 13: Drive Back to Kathmandu (1,400 m) in a Tourist Bus - 7 hours

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

We will be driving back to Kathmandu in the morning.

If you are interested in extending the trip, there are many options such as Chitwan jungle safari, river rafting adventure, Kathmandu shopping tour, mountain biking and other activities.

In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.

Overnight at a hotel.

Day 14: Transfer to the International Airport for Your Final Departure

Meals: Breakfast

The trip concludes today. Our airport representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu for your flight departure from Nepal.