Nepal · Trekking

15-Day Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Nepal with Poon Hill

15 Days Round trip from Kathmandu Hard pace

The Scenic View of Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the major historical, cultural, and religious centres of the Kathmandu Valley
02 Enjoy breathtaking views of Machhapuchhare, Hiunchuli, and Annapurna
03 Trek through Chhomrong village and dense rhododendron forests
04 Relax in the natural hot springs at Jhinu
05 Choose to extend your trip with a Chitwan jungle safari, Kathmandu Valley shopping tour, or scenic Everest flight

Visit the major historical, cultural, and religious centres of the Kathmandu Valley before heading into the Annapurna region for a remarkable base camp trek. Descend through rhododendron forests, pass spectacular waterfalls, and enjoy breathtaking mountain scenery along the trail. This trek offers an in-depth insight into life in the mountains of Nepal and is one of the unique trekking experiences the country has to offer.

Witness the majestic Himalayan views from Poon Hill, including Mt. Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Varaha Shikhar, Mt. Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Annapurna III, Machhapuchhare, Annapurna IV, Annapurna II, and Lamjung Himal, before returning to Ghorepani.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 15 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Hard

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Pokhara, Kathmandu, Annapurna, Chitwan, Ghorepani, Ghandruk, Chomrong

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Kathmandu

Arrive at Kathmandu airport.
Meet the airport representative and transfer to the hotel by private tourist vehicle.

Day 02

Pre-Trip Meeting and Kathmandu Sightseeing

Bring 3 copies of passport-size photos, a copy of your passport, and your travel insurance policy. Please feel free to ask any questions to our leaders related to your trekking region.
After the orientation meeting, go to the Kathmandu Valley for sightseeing in a private tourist vehicle.
During the tour, visit the major historical, cultural, and religious centres of the Kathmandu Valley, including Syambhunath Stupa (the Monkey Temple), Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple.
Learn about the cultural, historical, and religious importance of these places during the tour.
Transfer to the hotel after your tour.

Day 03

Drive to Pokhara

Drive to Pokhara by tourist bus at 6:30 am with the trekking staff.
Look out at the beautiful Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers, which are also very popular for rafting.
Arrive in Pokhara, the beautiful city of lakes, caves, Buddhist temples, and Hindu temples.
Enjoy your evening wandering by the lakeside.

Day 04

Drive to Nayapul and Trek to Tikhedhunga

Go on a one-hour drive to Nayapul and trek to Tikhedhunga.
Our trek starts at Nayapul after a 1-hour drive by private vehicle from Pokhara.
After a short 15-minute walk along the banks of the Modi Khola, reach Birethanti, a large village with many shops and teahouses.
From there, follow the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola. After a short climb, reach Tikhedhunga.

Day 05

Trek from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani

Ascend steeply for the first 2 hours and then continue with a gentler ascent, passing through Ulleri and Banthanti.
Enjoy the breathtaking views of Machhapuchhare, or Fish Tail, Hiunchuli, and the grand Annapurna South along the way.
Pass through rhododendron and shadowy forests amid the cackling of birds, and ascend gently up to the final camp.

Day 06

Poon Hill Hike and Trek to Tadapani

Early in the morning, hike up to Poon Hill and then trek to Tadapani.
Climb the steep trail to the viewpoint of Poon Hill.
Witness the majestic Himalayan views from Poon Hill, including Mt. Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Varaha Shikhar, Mt. Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Annapurna III, Machhapuchhare, Annapurna IV, Annapurna II, and Lamjung Himal, before returning to Ghorepani.
After breakfast, trek to Deurali via Banthali and finally reach Tadapani.
Descend through rhododendron forest, pass spectacular waterfalls along the way, and reach Tadapani.

Day 07

Trek from Tadapani to Chommrong

Descend to Kimrong Khola from Tadapani through the dense and dark rhododendron forest.
Cross to Chhomrong, a Gurung village, and have lunch there.

Day 08

Trek from Chommrong to Dovan

Descend along the trail after leaving Chommrong via a stone stairway, cross the Chhomrong Khola on a suspension bridge, and then trek up to Sinuwa Danda.
Reach Dovan through thick, dark, and silent rhododendron, bamboo, and oak forest up to Khuldighar.

Day 09

Trek from Dovan to Deurali

Cross bamboo forests with varieties of rhododendron and oak trees.
Climb up to Hinko Cave, a huge overhanging rock that provides some protection against rain and avalanches.
Continue on the ascending path to reach Deurali.

Day 10

Trek to Annapurna Base Camp via Machhapuchhare Base Camp

Trek via Machhapuchhare Base Camp, which is totally surrounded by mountains.
Trek for two hours from Machhapuchhare Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC).
Spend the remaining time seeing, exploring, and relaxing at the base camp.

Day 11

Trek Back to Bamboo

Follow the same trail back down to the bank of the Modi Khola and continue to Bamboo, where there are a few teahouses and lodges available for your stay.

Day 12

Trek to Jhinu Hot Spring

Go to Jhinu Danda, a small hilltop in the area.
Travel from Khuldi Ghar to Sinuwa Hill, and trek up to Chhomrong village.
After a meal, descend to Jhinu.
Enjoy a bath in the hot pool and visit the natural hot spring as well.

Day 13

Trek to Nayapul and Drive to Pokhara

After departing from Jhinu, trek back to Nayapul.
Drive from Nayapul to Pokhara.

Day 14

Drive Back to Kathmandu

Drive back to Kathmandu and stay overnight at a hotel.
There is an option to extend the trip to continue on to a Chitwan jungle safari, rafting adventure, Kathmandu Valley shopping tour, scenic Everest flight, mountain biking, and other activities.

Day 15

Final Departure

Transfer to the international airport for your final departure with the airport representative.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Kathmandu 7 cities · 15 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Airport/hotel/airport pick-up and drop-off by private car, van, or bus.
Standard hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast included.
Standard hotel accommodation in Pokhara.
Guided city tour in Kathmandu and Pokhara by private car, van, or bus.
All standard meals during the trek.
Best available lodge and guesthouse accommodation during the trek.
Local licensed English-speaking and other native language-speaking guide.
The required number of local staff and porters to carry your luggage during the trek.
Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment, and medicine for all trekking staff.
Annapurna Conservation Park permits.
Down jacket, duffel/kit bag, and sleeping bag.
Surface transfer from and to Kathmandu.
All government taxes.

What's Not Included

Lunch and dinner while in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Your travel insurance.
Alcoholic drinks, hot and cold drinks, and laundry.
Personal trekking equipment.
Tips for trekking staff - tipping is expected.
Any other expenses not mentioned in the What's Included section.

Know before you go

Along steep hills and over snow-capped mountains, this trip takes you through ridges, passes, and jungles where you can witness the diverse floral and faunal species of Nepali wildlife. This trek offers all that a trekker would want to experience.
With Machhapuchhre on the right and Hiunchuli on the left, the trek allows you to pass through steep snow-clad ridges right into the entrance of the Annapurna Sanctuary.
Gliding through some of the most beautiful peaks of Nepal, including the giants - Annapurna 1, Glacier Dome, Gangapurna, Fang, and, last but not least, Machhapuchhre - this trip offers some of the best panoramic views for a great snap.
There is, in fact, only one entrance to the sanctuary, but the trail spreads into many different routes. We follow the lesser-used but exciting routes so that you can experience what very few have experienced. Forming a spectacular barrier, the glaciated and snow-covered peaks of the sanctuary also showcase amazing views, coupled with a chance to feel the Himalayan lifestyle as we take you through permanent settlements of the snowy plains.
As we approach Machhapuchhre Base Camp at an altitude of nearly 3729 meters, you can glance upon the superb views of the legendary fishtail mountain. We also take you through Annapurna South Base Camp, which is filled with even more exciting views.
The trip starts with a drive from Pokhara to Nayapul, which is a shorter drive. As we reach the destination, we go for a walk to a village by the Khudi River and Birethanti, which lies at an altitude of 1000 meters.
The trails take you through jungles where we come across several side valleys that run into the Khudi Khola, and then we climb up to Hile village, which is at almost 1560 meters, for an overnight stay.
The next day, we make our way to Ghorepani, where you can see spectacular views of the mountain villages. This trek route is also famous among short trekkers.
Next, we follow our path after sunrise to capture the view from Poon Hill and then head towards Annapurna Base Camp. We pass through Tadapani, where we are greeted by the traditional Gurung people of Chomrong, reflecting the rich culture of Nepal. Finally, we reach the gate of the sanctuary, which is a pass between the spectacular peaks of Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre.
We then follow the same way back to Chomrong and Jhinu, which is also known as the hot spring.
After relaxing for a day in the hot springs, we head down to Nayapul and return to Pokhara. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is best at certain times of the year: March to the end of May and the beginning of September to the end of December. The details of the itinerary can be chosen as per your desire and holidays.