Why Annapurna Base Camp is among the most popular treks in the world
The Annapurna base camp trek is one of the most popular treks in the world. It literally brings you face to face with an eight thousander – for a moderate-difficult trek, this is incredible! The fascinating Annapurna massif includes the world’s tenth highest peak. Annapurna I (8,091 m) holds an almost fatal attraction for mountaineers. It has the highest fatality ratio among the eight thousanders. This formidable aura apart, the ABC trek holds several treasures for the mountain lover.Mountain views that leave you spellbound
The Annapurna range whets your appetite for mountain views right from Pokhara. This is even before you start the trek. At Ghandruk, you get distinct views of Machapuchare, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. Views of different peaks of the Annapurna massif and Machapuchare stay with you all the way till Sinuwa. The tip of Machapuchare teases you at Dovan. As you burst out of the forest past Himalaya and Deurali, Machapuchare appears before you in its full glory.

Trekking inside the forests of the Annapurna Conservation Area
The trail takes you through a variety of vegetation. While trekking from Ghandruk to Chomrung you are surrounded by rhododendron, fern and bamboo. Once you cross Sinuwa to enter the Annapurna sanctuary, the forest becomes dense. Tall oak trees become prominent here. As you move higher up towards Deurali, the thick forests give way to tall grass. Around this area, you will find trees with thick bark called Daphne. This is used by locals to make paper. These trees are commonly found around Sandakphu as well. Closer to Machapuchare base camp, the terrain turns Alpine. You see patches of grass amidst boulders. There are also flowering plants lining the trail at this section.
The trek is nestled in the 7,629 sq km Annapurna Conservation Area. This is home to 1,226 species of flowering plants, 102 mammals, 474 birds, 33 reptiles and 22 amphibians. If you’re lucky you might spot an exotic bird or even a marmut.
A peek into Nepali culture
This trek is a classic tea house trek. You stay in small lodges which typically accommodate 20-25 people. These are run by locals. People also migrate from different parts of Nepal to work here in the tourist season. Interacting with the staff at tea houses, guides and porters on the trail will give you a glimpse into their way of life. Most people speak English so communication is not a problem. The food served at tea houses is prepared in the Nepalese style. You will notice that a lot of it is quite similar to Indian food.
Melting pot of adventurous souls
The ABC trek attracts mountain lovers from all over the world. In October, when the views are known to be outstanding, expect to hear a variety of languages on the trail. Tea houses become convenient forums to discuss and exchange notes with strangers who could be from anywhere. You experience this kind of diversity on very few treks.
The Trek
Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Lower Ghandruk. Trek to Komrong.
Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna region. You drive from Pokhara to lower Ghandruk and trek for about an hour to reach Lower Ghandruk. Ghandruk is the biggest village you will find on the trek. You will see old stone and slate roofed houses lining the slope. You will also find a lot of tea houses spread through the entire village. This is your first introduction to the tea house culture of trekking. You will experience this throughout the trek.Reach Pokhara on your own. We will pick you up from near the lake at 7.00 am. The exact location will be communicated to you prior to the trek.
- Altitude: 7,380 ft (2,249 m)
- Time taken: 2-3 hours drive to lower Ghandruk; 3 hours trek to Komrong (5 km)
- Trek gradient: Moderate
- Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at tea houses on the way.

Day 2: Komrong to Chomrung
- Altitude: 7,380 ft (2,249 m) to 7,120 ft (2,170 m)
- Time taken: 5-6 hours, 7 km approx.
- Trek gradient: Starts with a short gradual descent for about an hour. This is followed by an ascent all the way to Chomrung.
- Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at tea houses on the way.
- Vegetation: Sub-tropical forest. You will predominantly find Rhododendron, fern and bamboo. Villages are lined with Banana and paddy plantations.

Once you cross Kimrong Khola, keep to your right. You will be following Kimrong Khola along the mountainside. The muddy trail ascends gradually. You will see Komrong on the other side now. Snow capped mountains such as Machapuchare, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and the tip of Gangapurna gradually begin to appear. After about an hour, you will reach the first few lodges of Chomrung, at the edge of the mountain. The trail splits here – take the ascending stone steps to reach Chomrung at the top.

Chomrung is known as the gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary. From here, you get a grandstand view of the peaks that were visible on the trail. Do not miss the sunset view on Annapurna South from here
Chomrung, like Ghandruk, is lined with tea houses. There are also several shops that sell essentials like batteries, memory cards and toilet paper. Rest here for the day. There is a checkpost here where you need to register yourself again. Visit the office and show your TIMS card.
Day 3: Chomrung to Dovan
- Altitude: 7,120 ft (2,170 m) to 8,460 ft (2,579 m)
- Time taken: 6-7 hours, 10.5 km approx.
- Trek gradient: Moderate-difficult. Initial descent for 20 minutes followed by a steep ascent for about an hour. Gradual ascent for half an hour followed by a steep 30 minute descent. Finish with a 2 hour ascent to Dovan.
- Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at tea houses on the way.
- Vegetation: Rhododendron, Oak, Bamboo and Fern

The trek today begins with a descent on the stone steps towards Chomrung village. Along Chomrung, for about 500 metres, you will find tea houses on either side. In 20 minutes you will reach Chomrung Khola. The last guest house before the bridge on Chomrung Khola is place-marked as Sinuwa – ignore this since Sinuwa is at least an hour away.

The trail to Sinuwa is lined with fields and thin forests. Beyond Upper Sinuwa (7,675 ft), you will be entering the Annapurna Sanctuary area. This is marked by dense forests and clustered tea houses. Cutting trees for firewood is prohibited. The tea houses are all powered by hydroelectric power plants. You can spot some of the small scale power plants along the trail.
Sinuwa (7,675 ft/2,339 m) to Bamboo (7,675 ft/2,339 m)
The mud trail from Sinuwa to Bamboo climbs up gradually for the first 30 minutes, till you reach a clearing. You will see an abandoned ACAP checkpost here (8,100 ft). From here, it’s a steep descent to Bamboo on stone steps for about 30 minutes.

Bamboo (7,675 ft/2,339 m) to Dovan (8,460 ft/2,579 m)
The ascent to Dovan begins immediately where the lodges of Bamboo end. Cross the wooden bridge that you will reach in 10 minutes. Climb further up for about 40 minutes till you get another wooden bridge. Dovan is 10 minutes from here, up the same trail.
This stretch is one of the most beautiful walks of the trek. The forest is dense and the climb is not too strenuous. You can stay in any of the 5 lodges in Dovan – they’re all in a single lane. Only the tip of Machapuchare is visible from Dovan.
Day 4: Dovan to Machapuchare Base Camp
- Altitude: 8,460 ft (2,579 m) to 12,135 ft (3,699 m)
- Time taken: 6-7 hours, 10 km approx.
- Trek gradient: Moderate-difficult. Begins with a gradual ascent. Proceeds in a series of gradual and steep ascents.
- Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at tea houses on the way.
- Vegetation: The terrain switches from sub tropical forest to alpine. Rhododendron, Oak, Bamboo and Fern until Himalaya. Fern, Daphne and tall grass beyond Deurali.

The trail winds slowly up from Dovan towards Himalaya. In about 10 minutes, you’ll reach a fork in the trail – take the one to the left. Cross the wooden bridge that you get in about 15 minutes and continue ascending. The path is a mix of short stretches of steep and gradual ascents. Walk past the shrine that you get on your left till you reach another fork in the trail (about an hour from Dovan).
Both routes lead to Himalaya but the mud route to the right is shorter and steeper and joins the other one 5-10 minutes later. Another 10 minutes of climbing brings you to a point where the trail opens up to the Modi Khola. Machapuchare becomes visible again here. You will also see Himalaya from here. Fifteen minutes on an undulating trail brings you to Himalaya. There are a few lodges in Himalaya in case you wish to take a break.

Himalaya (9,510 ft/2,899 m) to Deurali (10,595 ft/3,229 m) (about 6 km from Dovan)
Climb up steadily from Himalaya for about an hour to reach an overhanging rock called Hinku cave. The entrance to the cave is blocked. From here, the trail slowly descends for 10-15 minutes till you reach two big snow patches. Cross the snow patches and one stream. Climb up for for about 20 minutes to reach Deurali. Have lunch at Deurali.

Deurali (10,595 ft/3,229 m) to Machapuchare Base Camp (12,135 ft/3,704 m) (about 4 km)
It’ll take you 10 minutes of climbing through boulders to cross the last lodge at Deurali. From here, the trail opens up to the valley with Modi Khola thundering past next to you. You will see Machapuchare and Gangapurna in the distance.

The terrain on this stretch is marked with small snow bridges that need to be crossed. You are also entering grasslands, marked with few Daphne trees. Small flowering plants adorn the trail with their colours. The mountains on either side are rocky. Small waterfalls flow from either side into Modi Khola. This is also marked as an avalanche prone area.
You will be ascending close to 4,000 ft. Watch out for signs of AMS. Make sure you don’t rush through the trail – walk slowly to help your body acclimatise.
Day 5: Machapuchare Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp
- Altitude: 12,135 ft (3,704 m) to 13,550 ft (4,130 m)
- Time taken: 2 hours, 3.5 km approx.
- Trek gradient: Moderate. Steep ascent in the beginning for about 1 km after which the trail ascends gradually to reach ABC.
- Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at tea houses on the way.
- Vegetation: Alpine terrain with grasslands on rocky mountains.

The initial 1 km is a steep ascent. Then the trail ascends gradually. As you walk, you will see sunrise hit Annapurna I and slowly extend towards Annapurna South. The last stretch to ABC is a walk on moraines. If you are lucky, you can spot some Marmut on the way to ABC.
You gare surrounded by mountains at ABC. Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Gandharvachuli and Machapuchare are right there in front of you. Pick a spot at the edge of the Annapurna glacier and soak in the views.
Day 6: ABC to Bamboo
- Altitude: 13,550 ft (4,130 m) to 7,675 ft (2,339 m)
- Time taken: 8-9 hours, 15.5 km approx.
- Trek gradient: Moderate-difficult. Mix of steep and gradual descent, tracing the same route back.
- Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at tea houses on the way.


Day 7: Bamboo to Jhinu
- Altitude: 7,675 ft (2,339 m) to 5,770 ft (1,759 m)
- Time taken: 6-7 hours, 10 km approx.
- Trek gradient: Moderate-difficult. Steep ascent for about 45 minutes followed by steep descent for about 2 hours. Another steep descent for about 45 minutes followed by a steeply descending trail all the way.
- Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at tea houses on the way.

Checkout from the ACAP office at Chomrung before you leave.
Take the ascending trail from Chomrung up to the fork with the signpost for Juini. This should take you about 5 minutes. Descend on the steep steps to reach Jhinu in 1.5-2 hours.
The view of the sub tropical forests from Jhinu is one of the best. Jhinu faces Modi Khola and is famous for hot springs. Enjoy a nice bath here.
Day 8: Jhinu to Syauli Bazaar; leave for Pokhara
- Altitude: 5,770 ft (1,759 m) to 3,740 ft (1,140 m)
- Time taken: 4 hours trek, 6 km approx. + 2-3 hours drive to Pokhara, 45 km approx.
- Trek gradient: Easy-moderate. Steep descent for about 30 minutes followed by gradual ascent.
- Water sources: You can refill your water bottles at tea houses on the way.
- Vegetation: Mix of terraced farms along villages to dense forest along the way.

Continue on the trail from New bridge. Within 5 minutes you see a fork to Landruk on the left and to Kyumi on the right. Take the trail to Kyumi. After about 20 minutes on this undulating trail, you will reach a small village, Uppu Dandu. Take the descending stone steps from here to reach Kalchane in another 20 minutes. You will find a couple of tea houses here.
The trail from Kalchane forks again in about 10 minutes. Take the route to Kyumi – to the left and descending. Keep to the right on this trail. You will reach Kyumi in about 20 minutes. Kyumi is a small, quaint village with 5 tea houses. Have lunch here.
From Kyumi, take the ascending trail towards Ghandruk. You will hit a fork within 5 minutes – take the trail to Birethanti and reach the roadhead in about 45 minutes. This is Syauli Bazaar. This is where the trek ends. If you’re traveling on your own, regular buses and jeeps to Pokhara can be boarded here.

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