Annapurna Base Camp Trekking-12 Days

Annapurna Base Camp Trek is considered one of the world’s great treks. The walk-in to the Sanctuary provides an experience of the great variety of landscape types which serve to make Nepal such a special trekking destination. You will pass through a diverse geographical and cultural variation with an amazing range of flora and fauna in between.

Trip Highlights of Annapurna Base Camp Trekking

• One of the world’s great treks
• This is the classic trek to the Annapurna Base Camp the world’s tenth highest mountain
• Enjoy meeting some of Nepal’s remarkable ethnic clans in hillside villages and along the trail
• Taste of Nepali cuisine with a local cultural show at Kathmandu

Trip Facts of Annapurna Base Camp Trekking

Trip Duration: 12 Days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu)
Trekking destination: Annapurna Base Camp (4130m)
Trip Grade: Moderate to Strenuous
Activities: Trekking including cultural sightseeing tours in Kathmandu
Best Seasons: Autumn (mid Sept to mid Dec) and Spring (March to May)
Meals: 11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches & 09 Dinners
Trip Starts/Ends: Kathmandu (Capital of Nepal)
Transportation: Private Vehicle/Aeroplane/Tourist Deluxe Bus
Accommodations: 2 nights at Kathmandu, 1 night Pokhara & 8 nights in lodge/teahouse during trek

OUTLINE ITINERARY (Kathmandu to Kathmandu)

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel
Day 2: Fly to Pokhara (25 min) and trek from Phedi to Dhampus
Day 3: Trek from Dhampus to Landruk
Day 4: Trek from Landruk to Chhomrong
Day 5: Trek from Chhomrong to Dovan
Day 6: Trek from Dovan to Macchappuchare Base Camp
Day 7: Trek from MBC to Annapurna Base Camp
Day 8: Trek from Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo
Day 9: Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu Danda
Day 10: Trek from Jhinu Danda to Naya Pul & drive to Pokhara
Day 11: Pokhara to Kathmandu by drive
Day 12: Depart Kathmandu

DAY 01 Arrive Kathmandu
Arrive Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be met and welcomed by our representative. Please look for signage of Natraj Trekking with your name once you come out of Arrival Terminal Hall after collecting your luggage. You will be escorted by our representative to the hotelWelcome to Kathmandu, capital of the ancient Mountain Kingdom of Nepal, has the air of a medieval city with a maze of narrow streets, wooden temples and beautifully decorated palaces.Upon arrival at the hotel, you will be provided welcome drinks along with the room key. Before you check in at your room, there will be a short trek briefing by our trek guide as you fly to Pokhara tomorrow in the morning so that our guide make sure that you will be well equipped for trekking ahead.

In the evening we will organize a Welcome Dinner at a traditional Nepalese Restaurant where you will enjoy a Nepalese cultural program along with the Nepali fine meal.
Overnight at the hotel
Meals included: Dinner

DAY 02 Fly to Pokhara and trek to Dhampus (1650m)
Fly to Pokhara and drive to Phedi (approx 1 hr drive). Trek to Dhampus (1650m)- About 3 hrs walking

After breakfast, you will be driven in a private vehicle to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for flight to Pokhara (25 minutes flight). During the flight, we get to savor the most mesmerizing views of the magnificent 8000 meter Mount Manaslu and the snow-capped Annapurna mountain range. Soon after touch down in Pokhara, you will be met by our trekking crew and we take a leisurely approx 1 hour drive to Phedi (1130m) along the graceful Modi Khola Valley. On reaching our destination, we begin our highly panoramic Annapurna trek. The route skirts through lush forest and countryside to the hill top village of Dhampus. The mountains we see from Dhampus include Annapurna South, the Fishtail, Hiunchuli and Lamjung. We spend our first night in Dhampus

Dinner and overnight at the local lodge (Teahouse)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 03 Dhampus to Landruk (1620m)
Trek from Dhampus to Landruk (1620m) -About 5-6 hrs walking
Beyond Dhampus we get our first clear views of the mountains ahead, as we ascend through forest on a trail which is often made up of stone steps on the steeper sections. Passing through Pothana, we reach a clearing on a pass, at a place called Deurali (pass). At this point we are high up on the east side of the Modi Khola, the river which flows out of the Annapurna Sanctuary. From Deurali we descend steeply down through forest then contour around through villages and terraced fields to camp in the picturesque Gurung settlement of Landruk, which affords spectacular views of Annapurna South and Hiunchuli.

Dinner and overnight at the local lodge (Teahouse)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 04 Landruk to Chhomrong (2210m)
Trek from Landruk to Chhomrong(2210m)-About 6 hrs walking)
We descend all the way down to the river, to cross at New Bridge. Our route now climbs quite steeply, high above the river, through bamboo forest and isolated farmsteads. Lunch is served at the tea-houses at Jhinu Danda. Those who are energetic can take the path 20 mins down to bath in the hot springs here next to the river after lunch. From Jhinu Danda it’s a hot climb to reach the crest of the ridge and then around to Chhomrong, our overnight place for tonight. Chhomrong is built on the steep hillside and has a few shops and several tea-houses, wooden lodges and the whole village has stunning, prominent views towards Macchappuchare (Fish-Tail Peak)

Dinner and overnight at the local lodge (Teahouse)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 05 Chhomrong to Dovan (2600m)
Trek from Chhomrong to Dovan(2600m)-About 7 hours walking
We leave Chhomrong along the Modi Khola leaving behind inhabited foothills into the high step and wooded slopes of Himalayas. We cross the suspension bridge then trek up to Sinuwa Danda. The ascent from Sinuwa becomes somewhat flatter. The trail passes through thick and dark rhododendron forest up to Khuldighar. Then, we descend a long and steep stone steps into deep bamboo and rhododendron forests through which we reach Bamboo. After gentle climb of 1 ½ hrs walking, finally we reach our destination at Dovan for overnight

Dinner and overnight at the local lodge (Teahouse)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 06 Dovan to Macchappuchare Base Camp (3700m)
Trek from Dovan to Macchappuchare Base Camp (3700m)-About 7 hrs walking

Climbing steeply we reach a fire-blackened overhang of Hinko Cave. From here we will reach at Deurali. Leaving Deurali the valley narrows even more as we enter the gateway to the Sanctuary. We climb up to the area which is called Macchappuchare Base camp, a level and grassy moraine platform with several lodges. In the afternoon we can go up to the ridge behind camp to look down onto the glacier and absorb the distant view of Annapurna 1 & 3, Gangapurna and by straining your neck upwards…the now nearby Fishtail.

Dinner and overnight at the local lodge (Teahouse)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 07 MBC to Annapurna Base Camp (4130m)
Trek to Annapurna Base Camp, Sanctuary ( 4130m)-About 2 ½ hrs walking
Another short day today, as it is a fairly gentle ascent from our camp to Annapurna South Base Camp, and a distance of only about 4 kilometers or 2½ miles. Increasingly impressive views reward us for our efforts as we climb the last steep section before reaching the basecamp area. The afternoon is free to relax and admire one of the most stunning mountain amphitheatres in the Himalaya. Optionally, if conditions and route permit there’s a chance to walk out towards the Annapurna Base Camp. (4130m).

Dinner and overnight at the local lodge (Teahouse)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 08 Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo (2400m)
Trek from ABC to Bamboo (2400m) -About 6 hrs walking
Get up in the early morning and savor the magnificent sunrise over the Himalayas from ABC. After taking breakfast, we start descending from ABC to Bamboo back through MBC, Deurali, Dovan and finally reach Bamboo. Heading back down to the valley is much easier than climbing up. You will see the waterfalls that drop down from a high point to the rocks below. We pass through the forests with great views of Fishtail and Hiunchuli mountains. Overnight in Bamboo

Dinner and overnight at the local lodge (Teahouse)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 09 Bamboo to Jhinu Danda (1760m)
Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu Danda (1760m) –About 6 hrs walking
From Bamboo we make a steep ascent to the Kuldi Ghar and then to Sinuwa following the stone steps that leads to Lower Chhomrong. Then we ascend on the thousand stony steps taking us to Upper Chhomrong. From Chhomrong we descend to Jhinu Danda. We today get opportunity to enjoy hot springs lying just a 20-min walk from Jhinu Danda.

Dinner and overnight at the local lodge (Teahouse)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 10 Jhinu Danda to Naya Pul (1070m) & drive to Pokhara
Trek from Jhinu Danda to Naya Pul (1070m) –About 6hrs walking
Trek from Jhinu Danda to New bridge and then to Kyumi village. After lunch, we trek to Syauli bazaar and then down to Birethanti. After about an hour trek from Birethanti, and we arrive at Naya Pul. The trek ends at Naya Pul.

You will be picked you up at Nayapul and approx one hour drive takes you to Pokhara. We check in to our hotel late afternoon. Rest of the day free to wonder around.

Overnight at the hotel in Pokhara
Meals included: Breakfast & lunch

DAY 11 Pokhara/Kathmandu by drive
Drive back to Kathmandu (approx 7 hrs drive) by Deluxe Tourist Bus including lunch
Leaving Pokhara we take the Prithvi Highway originally constructed by the Chinese in 1975. We drive initially through mostly Brahmin and Chhetri villages, distinguished by their ochre coloured houses. We soon leave the flat Seti Valley behind though and then cross the Madi Khola near Damauli, where there may be good views of the Annapurnas, Manaslu to the north up the valley. We’ll pass the Marsyangdi hydroelectric project and soon afterwards the town of Mugling, at the confluence of the Marsyangdi and Trisuli rivers. The road starts to climb once we reach Naubise, and reaches a pass on the Kathmandu Valley rim via a series of breathtaking zigzags, from where we complete the journey back to the Nepalese capital.

Alternatively you may choose to take the half hour flight between Pokhara and Kathmandu (The cost of flight will be USD 102 per person (this cost includes airfare and transportation in Pokhara and Kathmandu)

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. You can spend the evening leisurely, perhaps catch up on some last minute shopping or if you prefer you may celebrate dinner together with our trekking guide.

Overnight at the hotel
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 12 Depart Kathmandu
You are saying good bye to the mountains as your journey in Nepal comes to an end today! We hope you enjoyed the tour with us and we expect that you plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal again.

Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight time, a representative from Natraj Trekking will transfer you to the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast