Annapurna Base Camp Trek 10 Days

The journey to Pokhara in Tourist Bus can be an exciting trip as the winding highway, around the hills, will reward you with the best views of lush hills and the settlements around. The houses that are close to the highway are generally made up of modern concretes, while farther down the valley, you could see the traditional houses with the thatched roofs, and stones distributed on top of it in order to protect the roof from getting swiped away by the wind. It takes around 7 – 8 hours to arrive at Pokhara, without any stop. But, it is worth holding on at some viewpoints to catch the glimpse of the river valleys, hilly terraces, and even the mountain vistas. Once we arrive at Pokhara, we will check-in to our hotel.

The day begins in the beautiful lake city of Pokhara, from where we set off on a scenic drive by private Jeep towards Nayapul. The drive itself offers glimpses of rural Nepal, with terraced fields, distant hills, and small roadside settlements marking the journey. Upon reaching Nayapul, we enter the gateway to the Annapurna region.

A gentle 30-minute walk from Nayapul brings us to Birethanti, a vibrant and prosperous town that sits at the confluence of the Modi and Bhurungdi rivers. It’s here that we register our trekking permits at the checkpoint and officially begin our trek. Birethanti has an inviting charm, with its cobbled lanes, shops, and guesthouses surrounded by lush greenery.

From Birethanti, the trail leads through terraced farmland and quaint villages until we reach Hille. A steady uphill climb takes us through these small settlements, allowing a peek into the daily lives of the locals. Shortly after Hille, we reach Tikhedhunga, a peaceful spot with flowing rivers and hillside teahouses—a great place to catch your breath before the climb ahead.

This section is the most challenging part of the day, as the trail ascends steeply along hundreds of stone staircases. The climb is tougher than it looks, but every break along the way reveals expanding vistas of river valleys, rhododendron-covered slopes, and distant peaks. Eventually, the uphill struggle gives way to reward—Ulleri, a large Magar village, greets you with magnificent mountain views. The Annapurna South, Mardi Himal, and other snowy giants begin to show themselves—only a glimpse of the grandeur that lies ahead.

On the route to Ghorepani, there are no more steps to follow as that in Ulleri. The trail just takes a series of ups and downs, through the dense woods of rhododendron and alpine vegetations, until arriving at the Ghorepani. In terms of altitude, it is just 800m above the Ulleri. Most of the people, who go to Poon Hill, plan a night stay at Ghorepani just to witness the sunrise glimpse from the top of the Poon Hill. You may as well add a spare day, in your itinerary, at Ghorepani to enjoy the real beauty of what Poon Hill has to offer. Later, we will return to Ghorepani for the overnight stay.

Before the first light breaks the silence of the sky, we begin our early morning ascent to the famed viewpoint of Poon Hill. This short but rewarding hike takes us to one of the most photographed locations in the Annapurna region. As we reach the station, the Himalayan panorama unfolds in its full glory—Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and a cascade of other snow-capped ranges stand proudly beneath the glowing sky. The slow transition from darkness to golden light washing over the peaks creates a magical, unforgettable moment.

After soaking in the awe-inspiring sunrise, we descend back to Ghorepani and enjoy a light but refreshing breakfast to energize ourselves for the trek ahead. The trail to Tadapani continues along scenic ridges and forested slopes, offering nostalgic glimpses of the same peaks seen from Poon Hill, but now from new and intimate angles. Along the way, the calming presence of waterfalls and river streams adds a soothing soundtrack to the trail. At Tadapani, instead of following the popular route to Ghandruk, we divert toward Chuile. The path drops sharply for a few minutes, winding through dense forest and mossy terrain. Eventually, we arrive at Chuile, a small, peaceful village nestled in the hillside. Known for its chilly climate, Chuile feels remote and serene—an ideal resting point in the lap of nature.

For the sun to shine in Chuile, it takes a lot of time, sometimes it falls at 10 am. So, we will not have time to wait for it; therefore, once the darkness is over, we will join the trail to Sinuwa. As we proceed, the views start to grow better and smarter with the Machhapuchre peak, showing its distinct fish-tail many times on the way. We will pass through the forest that is dominated by the chirping sound of the birds. In the spring, many multi-colored butterflies spin around the lurching branches of rhododendron trees. It is so intoxicating glimpse of nature. Once we cross Chhomrong, the trail heads on steep way up to the Sinuwa, which is quite a village with a number of lodges distributed around it. The views of the deep river valleys of Modi Khola and Chhomrong could be seen from here.

For the first couple of hours, the trail wavers up and down through the dense forest of juniper and birch. Then, as we proceed to Bamboo (name of the place), we could see butterflies and birds enjoy the bright sunny day. It feels so good to see them frolic in the air. From Bamboo, we will be entering into the avalanche-prone region. Once we arrive at Dovan, we will continue towards the Deurali via the Hinku cave. There are treacherous snowfields on the way that will make you feel little intimidated as those are the remains of the older avalanches. Without any delay, we will continue on our journey to Deurali through the alpine terrain. There is a large overhanging rock, by the side of the trail, which used to shelter around 50 porters. This was the time when the teahouses and lodges were not invented. Until Deurali, we will walk along the snowy trail and spend a night there.

The path from Deurali winds along the off-the-beaten tracks of Annapurna for about 2 and a half hours until arriving at the base camp of the Machhapuchre. At a glance, this base camp doesn’t look like a base camp because of the lodges built around it. However, the intoxicating gusto of the Himalayas surrounds your soul here. In order to reduce the altitude effect at Annapurna Base Camp, a night stay at a lower elevation (Machhapuchre Base Camp) is a recommended option. So, we will spend our overnight at MBC.

From Machhapurchre Base Camp, it is just a couple of hour’s morning ascent to the Annapurna Base Camp. A narrow avalanche threatened trail will guide you to the base camp of the Annapurna, where there are five built-in lodges to stay. From the base camp, as you turn your head around, you will see the vast snowscape with mountains extruding out of the horizon. In the bright sunny day, these mountains sparkle unconditionally as if the sun woke up for them to shine. It is so majestic up there.

After spending quality time in the Annapurna Base Camp, we will descend back to a bubbly village of Bamboo through Machhapuchre Base Camp (MBC), and Deurali. The natural setting of the Bamboo is enhanced by the chirping sound of the birds and gushing sound of the rivers. It is so intoxicating.

Along the off-beaten-tracks of Annapurna, we will descend straight down to the Jhinu Danda, which is mainly famous for its natural Hot Spring. This hot spring is believed to have the natural healing capacity, so trekkers often plunge into this water spring after strenuous trekking in the Annapurnas. This natural hot spring has been well established by the community people; so they will charge you a few cash for a relaxing dive in the water. It is a surreal experience.

Right in the morning, we will leave Jhinu Danda towards Siwali, which is about 3 hours slog. The views and the climate, of Siwali, drastically contrast with where we came from. So, although there are not many Himalayan views, the warmth of the sun create an extremely welcoming setting. Once we arrive at Siwali, we will catch a local bus to Pokhara.