Explore Annapurna Base Camp in 17 Days

Upon arrival in Kathmandu our representative meets you at the airport and drives you to your hotel in the city centre. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore vibrant streets, winding alleys, restaurants, cafés, and shops before settling in after your journey.

Kathmandu Durbar Square was once a royal palace and is now home to the living goddess Kumari. Among the valley’s three durbar squares, this one is a UNESCO-listed site where palaces and pagodas showcase 14th-century woodcraft. Afterwards you visit Swayambhunath—the Monkey Temple—a landmark of harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism.

Today highlights Nepal’s spiritual diversity: Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River is among the world’s most revered Hindu temples, where cremation rites offer a profound view of life’s cycle. You then continue to Boudhanath, the tallest Buddhist stupa in Nepal, with time for lunch on a rooftop terrace overlooking the mandala.

A scenic drive of roughly six hours (about 200 km) brings you west to Pokhara, Nepal’s third-largest city and a hub for trekking and adventure. The Pokhara Valley frames the Himalayan range and Phewa Lake; boating, rafting, and paragliding are popular add-ons for anyone extending their stay.

You drive to Nayapul, the traditional trailhead for Annapurna Base Camp, and begin trekking at an easy pace as a warm-up. After about four hours on the trail you reach Ghandruk, a beautiful Gurung village and one of the best introductions to hill culture on the route.

Life is demanding in these hills—supplies and building materials are often carried by mule. Walk carefully over stone stairs and rocky tread; what looks level ahead can still be a long climb. After roughly six hours you reach the Chomrong valley for a well-earned rest.

A nine-kilometre stage of about five hours descends and climbs along the Modi Khola corridor toward Dovan, where the forest thickens and the Annapurna massif begins to dominate the skyline.

Steep ups and downs test stamina, but Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) appears through the trees. The path winds through rhododendron and bamboo—a sensory contrast of green gorge and white peaks above.

A demanding but rewarding day opens views of Machhapuchhre, Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Gandharvachuli, Gangapurna, and countless streams tumbling from the walls of the amphitheatre.

This is the goal: a two-hour ascent to Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m, surrounded by a ring of giants. Celebrate your arrival—you have earned one of Nepal’s most celebrated viewpoints.

After time at base camp the trail drops steeply through bamboo and rhododendron. Weather can turn windy and cold with occasional snow higher up; descending keeps you ahead of sudden changes while you retrace the Modi valley.

Thousands of paved stone steps lead up and down; you cross the Chhomrung Khola on a bridge, pass Sinuwa, and walk orchid- and fern-lined forest before more stair sections through bamboo—eventually climbing back toward Chomrong.

Returning to Ghandruk you revisit neat stone alleys and wide views toward Dhaulagiri. Many men from the village serve in Gurkha regiments; the hospitality and craftsmanship of Gurung homes make this one of the most photogenic stops on the circuit.

The final walk heads toward Birethanti and Nayapul. A vehicle transfer of about two hours returns you to Pokhara, where the rest of the day is free to enjoy the lakeside.

Home to seven lakes, Pokhara balances leisure and adventure. Boating on Phewa, paragliding from Sarangkot, café time on the waterfront—one day is rarely enough, so choose what suits your energy.

After trekking and lakeside rest, a full breakfast precedes the drive back to Kathmandu. The evening is open in Thamel for favourite foods, souvenirs, or a quiet last night in the valley.

We transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Carry memories of forests, peaks, Gurung villages, and the warmth of Nepal’s people until you return.