Annapurna Base Camp
Also known as: ABC / Sanctuary
The Annapurna Sanctuary - a ring of 7,000-8,000 m peaks with Annapurna I (8,091 m) and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail)
The route
The line through Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Waypoints
- 1Nayapul / Jhinu roadhead (start)Trailhead
Jeep from Pokhara
- 2ChhomrongJunction
Gateway village; ACAP checkpoint
- 3Bamboo / DovanJunction
In the Modi Khola gorge
- 4Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC)Junction
Last stop before the sanctuary
- 5Annapurna Base CampSummit
The sanctuary amphitheatre; turn-around
Season & conditions
Oct-Nov and Mar-Apr
Clear cold mornings clouding by afternoon; heavy monsoon rain and leeches Jun-Aug; winter snow blocks the high passes; avalanche in the gorge is the notable local hazard
Spring rhododendron forests; the amphitheatre sunrise on Annapurna I and Machhapuchhre
Best Oct-Apr; avalanche risk in the gorge after heavy winter/spring snow - heed local closures. Confirm.
On the trail
Endless stone staircases, terraced villages, bamboo/rhododendron forest, then the glacial sanctuary
Non-technical; the enclosed Modi Khola gorge has avalanche-path crossings in winter/spring
Clear, well-lodged trail; guide required
Reasonably fit trekkers; a good first Himalayan multi-day with real high-mountain payoff
Langur monkey, Himalayan tahr, danphe (Impeyan pheasant), musk deer; snow leopard/blue sheep in the high remote zones (rarely seen)
Rhododendron and oak/pine forest lower, then juniper scrub and alpine meadow, then rock and snow
Popular; busy lodges in peak but the sanctuary setting is unmatched
Combine with Poon Hill; detour to Jhinu Danda hot springs; turn around at Machhapuchhre Base Camp
Getting there & staying
Drive Pokhara to Nayapul/Kimche/Jhinu roadheads (~2 h), then walk
Jeep/taxi from Pokhara to the roadhead and back
Teahouse lodges (private rooms lower down, dorms higher); book ahead in peak season; hot showers/wifi for a fee lower down, basic higher
Layered trekking kit, down jacket and warm bag for the highs, boots, water purification, cash in NPR (few ATMs on trail); patchy mobile data (Ncell/NTC), some lodges sell wifi
Lodges and shops throughout; no ATMs high up - carry cash; health post at Chhomrong area
Licensed guide required for foreign trekkers (national rule since 2023); porters optional; teahouse trek so no camping crew needed
Permits & safety
ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) mandatory, NPR 3,000 (~US$25) for foreigners; a licensed guide is required for foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region (rule since 2023); TIMS largely superseded - confirm current requirement with a registered agency.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Altitude illness (AMS) is the main danger above ~3,000 m - ascend gradually, hydrate, know the descent rule (base camp 4,130 m); winter/spring avalanche in the Modi Khola gorge; slippery steps
Helicopter evacuation is the norm for serious cases (ensure travel insurance covers heli rescue); health posts at larger villages; descend for altitude illness
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.