Annapurna Base Camp Trek - 8 Days

After a short morning drive to the trailhead at Nayapul, it’s time to start hiking! On this first real day of trekking in Nepal, we’ll venture across relatively easy terrain to reach the village of Ghandruk. We’ll climb stone staircases past terraced fields, share the path with donkeys and horses laden with goods and supplies, and trek through lush forests to reach waterfalls of stunning beauty. All told, we’ll be on the trail for about four or five hours before reaching Ghandruk. The village itself is one of the largest Gurung settlements in the entire Annapurna mountains. After checking in at our guesthouse and dropping off our bags, we’ll have plenty of time to explore the town. Ghandruk is home to an especially beautiful monastery, as well as an interesting cultural museum—and you won’t want to miss the village’s splendid views of Machapuchare, Gangapurna, and the Annapurna massif.

Our second full day of trekking in Nepal will bring us from Ghandruk to the village of Chhomrong, for a total distance of approximately 10 kilometers. We’ll spend about five or six hours trekking through verdant rhododendron forests, crossing gravity-defying suspension bridges, and climbing to the high ridge at Jhinu Danda. The trekking will be more challenging today, but the rewards will be worth our efforts: as we draw closer to Chhomrong, we’ll encounter extraordinary views of the western Himalayas, including Annapurna South, Machapuchare, and Dhaulagiri. Chhomrong itself is a hilltop village populated by people of Gurung ethnicity. When we arrive, we’ll get checked in at the best available teahouse before taking some time to explore the town, visit its local markets, and meet the friendly folks who live here. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to attend a cultural performance or listen to local music this evening.

One thing you’ll notice when trekking in Nepal is that a single village or point of interest might have several different names. So it goes with today’s destination: the small group of lodges known collectively as Himalayan Hotel, or Himalaya. To get there, we’ll set off from Chhomrong in the morning, crossing a suspension bridge spanning the Chhomrong Khola river before climbing a series of stone steps and rising through a green world of bamboo and rhododendron. We’ll pass several well-known waypoints on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, including the villages of Bamboo and Dovan, and we’ll stop for lunch in a scenic spot along the way. The views of the western Himalayas today are genuinely jaw-dropping; we’ll emerge suddenly onto an unexpected ridge where you can see straight to Machapuchare. When we arrive at Chhomrong, we’ll have reached an elevation of nearly 3,000 meters, and you’ll want to bundle up in your down jacket and sleeping bag to keep warm tonight.

Are you ready to take your shot at two remarkable trekking accomplishments? After breakfast at our teahouse, we’ll strike out for the first of two base camps on today’s agenda: Machapuchare Base Camp. To get there, we’ll follow the line of glacial moraines near the bowl of mountains known as the Annapurna Sanctuary. After checking with locals to make sure there’s no risk of avalanches, we’ll proceed to Machapuchare Base Camp to gain splendid views of Hiunchuli and the Annapurnas. Despite its name, Machapuchare Base Camp doesn’t actually represent a base camp for mountaineers; the mountain is considered sacred, and attempts at its summit are specifically prohibited.

After having lunch and taking in the view, we’ll shoulder our bags and trek for another few hours to reach the ultimate destination of our hike: Annapurna Base Camp itself. Sheltered within the walls of the Annapurna Sanctuary, the base camp is the best place in the world to enjoy unobstructed panoramas of Hiunchuli, Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Annapurna III. At 8,091 meters in elevation, Annapurna I is the tallest of the bunch, and spending the rest of the evening in the shadow of this magnificent Himalayan peak is sure to be the highlight of your Annapurna Base Camp Trek. As dusk settles over the mountains, we’ll retire to our guesthouse here at base camp for the night.

We’ll rise this morning with a newfound sense of accomplishment after successfully reaching the apex of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek. And while we still have the return journey to complete, you’ll quickly discover that descending from the Annapurnas is a much easier task. But first, we’ll linger at Annapurna Base Camp to watch the sun rise over the mountains and turn the peaks of the Himalayas to gold while we enjoy a steaming mug of tea at more than 4,000 meters in elevation. When we’re ready to move on, we’ll retrace our steps past Himalayan Hotel and Dovan to arrive at Bamboo. While today’s trek should be relatively gentle, we’ll still be hiking for five or six hours, and we’ll go slowly to spare our knees on the steepest descents. When we reach Bamboo, we’ll settle in at a local guesthouse and spend the evening getting to know this charming mountain town.

On the seventh day of our Annapurna Base Camp Trek, we’ll enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Bamboo before setting off for Jhinu Danda. We’ll be traveling across familiar terrain for about four or five hours, following our trail as it cuts once again through woodlands of bamboo and rhododendron. After passing through Chhomrong, we’ll come across the Gurung village of Sinuwa. From here, we’ll tread the wooden boards of a suspension bridge to reach our destination: Jhinu Danda. After checking in at our teahouse and unloading our bags, we can take advantage of the area’s natural hot springs. We’ll make a short hike to the nearby riverbank to relax in the springs, reinvigorating our tired muscles while luxuriating in yet another splendid view of Annapurna South and Machapuchare. Later, we’ll return to our teahouse in Jhinu Danda to enjoy one last night in the mountains.

On the penultimate day of our Annapurna Base Camp Trek, our path leads through terraced fields of rice and millet as we descend back into the foothills of the Annapurnas. After about four hours of trekking, we’ll find ourselves back in Nayapul, where our trek first began. It’s here that we’ll meet our ride to Pokhara; the drive should take less than two hours, leaving us plenty of time to enjoy dinner and sample some nightlife in Nepal’s adventure capital. After getting checked into your hotel in the city, you’ll have the rest of the evening at your leisure. We recommend checking out some of Pokhara’s fascinating temples, monasteries, restaurants, and other points of cultural and natural interest. This is also a great opportunity to purchase any last-minute souvenirs before we set out for Kathmandu in the morning.

Today or tomorrow: We Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu (7 hours)

It’s time to return to Kathmandu, bringing our adventure full circle at last. Depending on what you’ve arranged, we’ll board a flight back to the capital or take the scenic route to travel by road for about seven hours. Either way, this leg of the journey concludes our nine-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek. If you’re leaving Nepal, we’ll bring you back to the Tribhuvan International Airport for your outgoing flight. If you’d like to consider another trek, jungle safari, or sightseeing tour, we’d be happy to help you make any necessary arrangements. But wherever you go from here, we’re thrilled that you’ve chosen Alpine Ramble Treks to lead your Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Thank you for visiting us—we hope to welcome you back to Nepal soon.

Please note: The trekking times indicated below are approximate and are best used as general guidelines. During the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you’ll be able to travel freely at your own pace.