The Annapurna Base Camp trek is the answer we give most often when trekkers ask where to go after a Himalayan trek or two in India. In just nine days from Pokhara, the ABC trek walks you into the Annapurna Sanctuary — a natural amphitheatre completely ringed by giants — to sleep at 13,550 ft (4,130 m) with Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and the forbidden fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre standing over your teahouse. Big Himalaya, sensible altitude, unforgettable payoff.
What is the ABC trek route?
The trek starts gently: a drive up the Modi Khola valley from Pokhara to Kimche, then stone staircases to Ghandruk, one of Nepal's prettiest Gurung villages. The classic sanctuary rhythm begins at Chhomrong — down 2,500 stone steps, across the river, and up into a narrowing gorge where bamboo and rhododendron close overhead at Bamboo and Deurali.
Day six is the reveal. Past Machhapuchhre Base Camp the gorge suddenly opens into a colossal cirque of ice, and you sleep at Annapurna Base Camp surrounded by 7,000 m walls on every side. Dawn the next morning turns the whole amphitheatre gold — the reason this trek exists. The descent has its own reward: the natural hot spring pools at Jhinu Danda, where the Modi Khola steams away every step, before an easy walk to Siwai and the drive back to Pokhara.
When is the best time for the Annapurna Base Camp trek?
March to May and September to November. Spring lines the middle sections with blooming rhododendron; autumn gives the sharpest mountain views inside the Sanctuary. Both windows are serviced by our fixed departures.
How difficult is the ABC trek for beginners?
The trek tops out at 13,550 ft — high enough to feel the thin air, low enough that altitude problems are rare on a nine-day itinerary that gains height steadily. The real work is in the legs: the trail is a festival of stone staircases, with several days of six hours' walking. Fit beginners are genuinely welcome here; it's one of the best first Himalayan treks abroad you can pick, and our leaders run twice-daily oximeter checks throughout.
What does the Annapurna Base Camp trek package cost?
The TrekNova price is ₹60,000 per person, and it includes two hotel nights in Pokhara with breakfast, private transfers between Pokhara and the trailhead, teahouse stays on twin sharing, all meals on the trek, the ACAP permit and TIMS card, and an experienced trek leader with local guide and porter support. Travel to Pokhara and travel insurance (recommended) are the main extras to budget.
How do you reach Pokhara from India?
Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal — a valid passport or government photo ID does the job. Fly into Kathmandu from Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata and connect to Pokhara by a short flight or a scenic highway drive; Pokhara's lakeside, with Machhapuchhre floating above Phewa Lake, is a destination in itself and your trek starts right there.
Stand inside the ring of giants
Nine days, one amphitheatre, a lifetime of bragging rights. Head to the Annapurna Base Camp trek page on TrekNova to see the 2026 departures and book your batch.
