Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Mountain views start early here. This 15-day Annapurna Base Camp trek combines Kathmandu’s major sights, Pokhara, Poon Hill sunrise, and a demanding walk into the Annapurna Sanctuary. I like the private format, which lets your group choose its suitable date, and I like that permits, meals, accommodation, transport, and a local English-speaking guide are included. The main caution is physical: several walking days run five to six and a half hours, with the highest night at 4,090 meters.

The route also earns praise for personal service, especially from guide Krishna Pokhrel, who took care of a group from the first day. Ravi, the trip agent, is also described as flexible and helpful. At $850 per person, the package offers good value if you want a managed trek, but you should confirm exactly what is covered before departure, especially drinks, emergency rescue, and gratuities.

Key points before you book

• Poon Hill adds a famous sunrise viewpoint between Tikhe Dhunga and Tadapani, giving you a major Himalayan view before the higher part of the trek.
• The Annapurna Sanctuary is the main prize, a glacier-ringed basin surrounded by peaks including Annapurna South, Fang, Annapurna, Gangapurna, Annapurna III, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhare.
• You spend nights in simple guest houses, with meals included on the trekking portion and breakfast included in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
• The route reaches 4,090 meters, so the walking schedule demands a moderate level of fitness and careful attention to how you feel.
• Private travel gives your group more control, though the stated daily schedule remains fairly fixed.
• The package includes ACAP and TIMS permits, airport and hotel transfers, local transport, guide service, and taxes.

What the $850 package really covers

The price is $850 per person for about 15 days. That is a strong package price for a private Nepal trek because it covers far more than the walking itself.

Your cost includes hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, guest house accommodation along the trail, trekking permits, meals according to the schedule, tourist bus transport, airport transfers, local taxes, and an English-speaking trekking guide. The trip also includes a driver or guide as required by the program.

The private setup matters. You are not simply joining a large fixed group with strangers and a rigid meeting routine. Only your group participates, and the operator says the trek can be arranged around your suitable time and date. That makes this a good choice if you are traveling with friends or family.

There are limits. Drinks are not included, and you pay for them yourself. Emergency rescue costs are also excluded, which is important on a high-altitude trek. Gratitude, meaning tips, is optional. I would ask about the exact tipping practice before you leave so you can budget without guesswork.

The price includes breakfast throughout the hotel stays, while lunch and dinner are included during the trekking days as specified. Vegetarian food is available if you request it when booking. You need to provide each participant’s passport name, passport number, expiry date, country, and a digital photograph before the trip.

Kathmandu gives you two useful opening days

Your first day begins at Kathmandu airport, at about 1,345 meters. An airport representative meets you and transfers you by private tourist vehicle to your hotel. The evening is free according to the schedule, which gives you time to rest after your flight.

Day two is a guided city tour. You visit Pashupatinath, one of South Asia’s major Hindu temples; Boudhanath, described as the world’s biggest Buddhist stupa; Patan, with its 16th-century royal palace; and Swayambhunath, the Buddhist hilltop temple often called the Monkey Temple.

This is a sensible start rather than a rushed one. You get a first look at Nepal’s religious traditions and historic cities before heading into the mountains. It also gives you a little breathing room before the walking begins.

The downside is that Kathmandu sightseeing may feel packed into one long day. The schedule names several major places, plus Kathmandu City, so you should expect an active sightseeing program rather than a slow afternoon in one neighborhood.

The bus to Pokhara is part of the experience

On day three, you travel by tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The drive is listed at about six hours, and you spend the night at a Pokhara hotel with breakfast included.

Pokhara, at approximately 910 meters, is the staging point for the trek. This transfer is practical and keeps the overall price down compared with arranging private vehicles throughout. It also puts you in the right place for the next morning’s road transfer to Naya Pul.

The drawback is simple: bus travel in Nepal can take energy. The stated time is about six hours, but road conditions can affect the pace. You should view this day as a transport day, not as a relaxed sightseeing day.

Naya Pul to Tikhe Dhunga starts gently enough

Day four begins with about an hour’s drive from Pokhara to Naya Pul, also called New Bridge. From there, you walk for about three and a half hours to Tikhe Dhunga at 1,495 meters.

This first walking day gives you a gradual introduction to the route. You stay in a guest house and have breakfast, lunch, and dinner included under the AP meal plan. Because the starting altitude is moderate, the day should feel more like a trail introduction than a high-altitude test.

Still, you should not treat it as effortless. You are beginning a multi-day route, and the early miles matter. Keep your pack light and settle into a walking pace you can maintain.

Ghorepani and Poon Hill bring the first big payoff

Day five takes you from Tikhe Dhunga to Ghorepani, at about 2,850 meters. The walk is listed at five and a half hours, and you spend the night at another guest house with meals included.

This is one of the more demanding early days because you gain a substantial amount of height. Ghorepani is important not only as a stop but also as the base for the next morning’s visit to Poon Hill.

Day six combines Poon Hill and Tadapani. The walking time is about six and a half hours, and Tadapani sits at approximately 2,520 meters. Poon Hill is the route’s classic sunrise viewpoint, so you should expect an early start. The reward is a broad mountain panorama before breakfast and before the route turns deeper into the Annapurna region.

I like this part of the schedule because Poon Hill adds a clear highlight without requiring a separate trek. The cost is time and effort. The day is long, and the early climb can be tiring after the previous day’s ascent.

Tadapani to Sinuwa changes the feel of the trek

From Tadapani, day seven leads to Sinuwa at about 2,310 meters. The walk takes around six hours, with another guest house night and all meals included.

This section moves you away from the first viewpoint-focused part of the trip and toward the Modi Khola valley. The route is heading into the area that leads to the Annapurna Sanctuary, where the mountain walls gradually become the main feature.

Sinuwa is also a useful transition point. You have already handled several days on foot, but the highest part of the trek is still ahead. I would use this night to check your clothing, water, documents, and any personal medication. The schedule does not list an acclimatization day, so you need to pay attention to your own pace.

Sinuwa to Deurali takes you toward high country

Day eight runs from Sinuwa to Deurali, at approximately 3,150 meters. The listed walking time is six hours.

This is a full day, and the increase in altitude is noticeable. Deurali sets you up for the final push to Annapurna Base Camp. Accommodation remains in a guest house, with meals included.

The value of having a private local guide becomes clearer here. A guide can help keep the group moving at a sensible pace and explain what comes next. Krishna Pokhrel receives particularly warm praise for making sure his group felt comfortable and cared for, a useful quality on a route where the highest days can feel physically serious.

The program does not specify detailed altitude-safety procedures, so ask the operator how the guide handles illness or a change in conditions. Emergency rescue is not part of the package price.

Annapurna Base Camp is the high point of the route

Day nine is the central day: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp, at roughly 4,090 meters. The walk takes about four and a half hours.

The destination is the Annapurna Sanctuary, a glacier-covered basin surrounded by the western portion of the Annapurna range. Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Fang, Annapurna, Gangapurna, Annapurna III, and Machhapuchhare form a dramatic ring around the basin.

The Modi Khola cuts south from this area through a narrow gorge described as about 12,000 feet deep before the valley opens toward the Gurung communities farther south. That setting explains why this trek is so popular. You are not walking to a single viewpoint, but into a mountain amphitheater.

At 4,090 meters, this is also where the trek demands the most from you. The stated walking time is shorter than some other days, but altitude changes the equation. Move slowly, follow your guide’s advice, and tell the guide promptly if you feel unwell.

You spend the night at a guest house near base camp. Meals are included, but drinks are not.

The return route is not simply an easy walk back

Day ten takes you from Annapurna Base Camp to Dovan, at about 2,600 meters. The walking time is five and a half hours.

The route now loses height, but the descent can still be hard on your legs. You return to a lower elevation and another guest house night. Day eleven continues from Dovan to Chhomrong, listed at about 2,310 meters, with roughly five and a half hours of walking.

Chhomrong is one of the important village stops on the route. It brings you back toward the settled valley and the communities connected with the Annapurna trekking network. You still have a long walking day ahead, so do not assume the hard work ended at base camp.

Day twelve leads from Chhomrong to Syauli, at approximately 1,040 meters. This is listed as a six-and-a-half-hour walk. The large drop in altitude should feel welcome, but the day is long enough to leave you ready for a proper rest.

Syauli to Pokhara closes the mountain section

On day thirteen, you trek to Naya Pul and then drive to Pokhara. The schedule gives you free, unguided time in Pokhara and a hotel night with breakfast included.

This is a welcome change of rhythm. After several nights in mountain guest houses, a hotel and free time let you rest without another guided sightseeing program. Since the schedule does not specify activities in Pokhara, you should treat this as personal time rather than a planned excursion.

The following morning, day fourteen, you take a tourist bus back to Kathmandu. The drive is listed at about seven hours, followed by a hotel night with breakfast.

Again, the bus keeps the cost reasonable, but it is not the fastest option. If you have an international flight immediately after day fifteen, check the timing carefully. The program includes an airport drop-off on the farewell day, but it does not state a specific departure time.

Guide service and private travel matter here

The most personal part of this experience is the local support. An English-speaking trekking guide is included, along with airport and hotel pickup and drop-off. The trip also identifies a driver or guide for the transport portions.

Krishna Pokhrel is specifically praised for looking after a group from the beginning of the trek. That kind of care matters more than polished words when you are tired, adjusting to altitude, or unsure about the next day.

Ravi is also described as flexible in arranging the experience. That suggests the private format may work well for groups with a preferred travel date or special requests. Still, ask for all agreed changes in writing before paying, especially if you want to alter the number of trekking days.

The experience has a maximum of your own group rather than a shared public group. Group discounts are listed as a feature, though no discount amount is provided.

Who should book this Annapurna trek?

I would recommend this trek to someone who wants a guided Himalayan route with the major logistics handled. It suits friends, families with fit adult members, and private groups that value flexibility more than luxury.

You need moderate physical fitness. Walking days range from about three and a half to six and a half hours, and the route reaches 4,090 meters. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the schedule is not designed as a casual sightseeing holiday.

You should think twice if you want private transport every day, high-end accommodation, or a slow schedule with built-in rest days. The program uses tourist buses, guest houses, and a fairly active series of walking days.

The cancellation terms are worth noting before you commit. You receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead allows a 50 percent refund. Less than two full days ahead brings no refund, and changes inside those cutoffs are not accepted.

Should you book the Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

Book it if your priority is reaching Annapurna Base Camp while also seeing Kathmandu, Poon Hill, Pokhara, and the Gurung valley on one organized trip. The combination is strong, the $850 price includes the main services, and private guiding gives the program a more personal feel.

Before booking, confirm the exact hotel names, guest house standards, emergency procedures, rescue arrangements, drink costs, and tipping expectations. If you are comfortable with long walking days, simple accommodation, tourist buses, and a high point above 4,000 meters, this is a well-priced way to experience one of Nepal’s best-known mountain routes.

FAQ

Where does the Annapurna Base Camp Trek start?

The experience starts in Kathmandu, Nepal. Airport pickup is included at Kathmandu airport.

How long does the trek last?

The full experience lasts approximately 15 days, including Kathmandu, Pokhara, the trek, the return to Kathmandu, and airport drop-off.

What is the highest point on the route?

Annapurna Base Camp is listed at approximately 4,090 meters, or 13,418 feet.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the trek can be organized around your suitable time and date.

Is a guide included?

Yes. An English-speaking local trekking guide is included, along with a driver or guide for the transport portions described in the schedule.

Are meals included?

Yes. Breakfast is included during the hotel stays, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included during the trekking portion according to the meal plan.

Is vegetarian food available?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you need to request it when booking.

Are trekking permits included?

Yes. The package includes the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, known as ACAP, and TIMS permits.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included, but they are available for purchase.

Are emergency rescue costs included?

No. Emergency rescue costs are excluded from the package price.

What happens if I cancel?

You receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the local start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead provides a 50 percent refund. Cancellation less than two full days ahead is nonrefundable.