Annapurna Base Camp Trek – 12 Days in the Heart of the Himalayas

Your Annapurna adventure begins with arrival in the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara. You can fly directly to Pokhara from Kathmandu (a 25-minute scenic flight) or take a tourist bus (a 6-7 hour journey with beautiful views). After checking into your hotel, you'll have free time to explore Pokhara's lakeside area, perhaps visiting Phewa Lake for boating or enjoying the mountain views. In the evening, we'll have a welcome dinner and trek briefing with our guide.

After breakfast, we'll drive to Nayapul (1-hour journey), the starting point of our trek. From here, we begin our hike through beautiful villages and terraced farmland. The trail follows the Modi Khola river valley before climbing to Tikhedunga, where we'll spend our first night in a tea house. This gentle start helps us acclimatize to the trekking routine.

Today involves a challenging ascent up the famous 'Ulleri steps' – over 3,000 stone steps leading to the village of Ulleri. After this steep climb, the trail continues more gently through oak and rhododendron forests to Ghorepani, a bustling mountain village. If the weather is clear, we'll be treated to our first views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.

We'll wake up early (around 4:30 AM) for a 45-minute hike to Poon Hill (3,210m) to witness a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayas. The panoramic views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchare, and other peaks are truly breathtaking. After returning to Ghorepani for breakfast, we'll continue our trek to Tadapani through beautiful rhododendron forests. In spring, these forests are ablaze with pink and red blossoms.

Today's trek begins with a descent through dense rhododendron forest to the Kimrong Khola, followed by a climb to the charming village of Chhomrong, which is the gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary. Chhomrong is a picturesque settlement of the Gurung people with traditional houses and terraced fields. From here, we'll have excellent views of Annapurna South and the distinctive fish-tail peak of Machapuchare.

From Chhomrong, we descend a stone staircase to cross the Chhomrong Khola, then climb again to Sinuwa. The trail then enters the Modi Khola Valley and passes through dense bamboo and rhododendron forests to reach the small settlement of Bamboo. This area is often home to wildlife including monkeys and various bird species.

Today we continue ascending through bamboo and rhododendron forests, passing the settlement of Himalaya and climbing to Hinku Cave. From here, the vegetation becomes sparser as we gain altitude. The trail follows the west bank of the Modi Khola and climbs steeply to Deurali. This is a significant gain in elevation, so we'll pace ourselves and stay well-hydrated.

This is the big day! We'll trek from Deurali to Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC), where the vegetation disappears and the landscape becomes rocky and glacial. After a brief rest, we'll continue for another 1.5-2 hours to finally reach Annapurna Base Camp. The panoramic mountain views from ABC are absolutely stunning – we're completely surrounded by the Annapurna range, with Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Machapuchare, and Hiunchuli looming overhead. We'll have time to explore the area and celebrate our achievement.

Wake up early to catch the spectacular sunrise over the Annapurna Sanctuary – the morning light painting the snow-capped peaks in gold and pink is an unforgettable sight. After breakfast and a final look at the magnificent mountain panorama, we'll begin our descent. We'll retrace our steps, passing through MBC and Deurali, and continue all the way down to Bamboo. The descent is easier on the lungs but can be demanding on the knees, so trekking poles are recommended.

Today we continue our descent, retracing our steps to Chhomrong and then descending further to Jhinu Danda. The highlight here is the natural hot springs just a 20-minute walk from the village. Soaking in these therapeutic waters is the perfect remedy for tired muscles after days of trekking. The pools are right next to the Modi Khola river, creating a beautiful setting for relaxation.

Our final day of trekking takes us from Jhinu Danda to Nayapul. The trail follows the Modi Khola downstream, passing through several small villages and terraced farmland. At Nayapul, our vehicle will be waiting to take us back to Pokhara. Upon returning to Pokhara, you'll check into your hotel and have the rest of the day free to relax, explore the lakeside area, or indulge in a post-trek massage.

Your Annapurna Base Camp Trek concludes today. Depending on your plans, you can fly or take a tourist bus back to Kathmandu, or extend your stay in Pokhara to enjoy more of what this beautiful lakeside city has to offer. We'll arrange your transport according to your preference and bid you farewell, hoping that the memories of the majestic Annapurnas will call you back to Nepal soon.