Annapurna Base Camp Trek: Self-Launched 10-Day Nepal Adventure
10 days · Nepal
Alpine Club of Himalaya charges £665
No-markup version: ~£435 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 10-day Annapurna Base Camp trek, run independently with your own permits, local buses, shared jeeps, and teahouse bookings along the trail. You'll start and end in Kathmandu with a night in Thamel, then travel overland to Pokhara, trek from Siwai up through Chomrong, Dovan, Machhapuchhre Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp for sunrise among the Annapurna giants, and return via Pokhara. Costs are based on typical backpacker/teahouse rates — own arrangements mean you book your guide (optional), permits and rooms yourself, saving on the packaged group price. All figures are approximate estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Kathmandu — Thamel base
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport and take a prepaid airport taxi or local taxi (~£4-6) to Thamel. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse in the Thamel/Paknajol area. In the afternoon, pick up or sort your ACAP permit and TIMS card at the Nepal Tourism Board office (Exhibition Road) if open, or plan to do it next morning — bring passport photos and cash. Get a Nepali SIM (Ncell or NTC, ~£2-3 incl. data) and withdraw rupees. Evening: wander Thamel, eat dal bhat or momos, and sort trekking gear rental (down jacket, sleeping bag, poles ~£1-2/day each).
🚌Airport taxi ~£4-6
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Thamel (dorm/private ~£10-15)
- →Thamel orientation walk
- →Sort ACAP permit & TIMS card
- →Nepali SIM card
- →Trekking gear rental
Kathmandu to Pokhara by tourist bus
Pokhara
Take a tourist coach from Kathmandu to Pokhara (departs ~7am, ~7-8 hours, ~£8-10 booked through any Thamel agency or online). Alternatively, a flight is ~£70-90 for 25 minutes if short on time. Arrive Pokhara, walk or take a local taxi to Lakeside. Afternoon: stroll Phewa Lake, hire a boat, or visit the World Peace Pagoda. Confirm your jeep/bus onward to Siwai for tomorrow and pick up any last supplies. Dinner at a Lakeside restaurant with lake views.
🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu–Pokhara ~£8-10
🛏Budget guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside (~£10-15)
- →Phewa Lake stroll and boat hire
- →World Peace Pagoda
- →Confirm jeep to Siwai
- →Lakeside dinner
Pokhara to Siwai by jeep, trek to Chomrong
Chomrong
Early shared/local jeep from Pokhara to Siwai (Nayapul/Siwai road head, ~2-2.5 hours, ~£5-8 shared or ~£25-30 private split). Start trekking on the classic ABC route: Siwai → Kimrong Khola → Chomrong, climbing through terraced hillsides and wet hill forest, roughly 6-7 hours. Enter the Annapurna Conservation Area at the checkpoint (show ACAP permit). Overnight in a Chomrong teahouse — Chomrong is the last village with proper hot showers and good menu choice before the high trail.
🚌Shared jeep Pokhara–Siwai ~£5-8
🛏Teahouse in Chomrong (~£7-10, twin room)
- →Trek Siwai to Chomrong (~6-7 hrs)
- →ACAP checkpoint entry
- →Teahouse evening
Chomrong to Dovan
Dovan
Trek from Chomrong down to the Chomrong Khola suspension bridge, then climb to Bamboo and on to Dovan through bamboo and rhododendron forest, ~4-5 hours. It's a shorter day so take it steady and hydrate — you're gaining altitude. Dovan has a cluster of basic teahouses right on the trail. Chat with fellow trekkers and tea-house owners in the evening; meals are ordered off the menu (dal bhat, noodle soup, eggs) and prices rise the higher you go.
🚌On foot — no transport needed
🛏Teahouse in Dovan (~£5-7, twin room)
- →Trek Chomrong to Dovan (~4-5 hrs)
- →Bamboo village stop
- →Teahouse dinner
Dovan to Machhapuchhre Base Camp
Machhapuchhre Base Camp
The big day up into the sanctuary: Dovan → Himalayan Hotel → Deurali → Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC), ~5-6 hours and a real gain in altitude (MBC sits around 3,700m). Walk slowly, watch for AMS symptoms, and dress for cold. MBC has a few teahouses with dining halls warmed by stove. Optional: climb a short ridge above camp for sunset views of Machhapuchhre and the surrounding peaks. Sleep early — tomorrow's wake-up is early.
🚌On foot — no transport needed
🛏Teahouse at Machhapuchhre Base Camp (~£7-10)
- →Trek Dovan to MBC (~5-6 hrs)
- →Deurali lunch stop
- →Sunset ridge viewpoint
Annapurna Base Camp sunrise, then descend to Dovan
Annapurna Base Camp / Dovan
Leave MBC around 5am for the ~1.5-2 hour climb to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m) to catch sunrise on Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. There's a small tea house at ABC for hot tea. After soaking it in, descend to Dovan, a long ~6-7 hour day down the valley (much easier going). Take it carefully on the steep sections when tired.
🚌On foot — no transport needed
🛏Teahouse in Dovan (~£5-7)
- →Sunrise at Annapurna Base Camp
- →Annapurna I / Annapurna South views
- →Descend to Dovan (~6-7 hrs)
Dovan to Chomrong
Chomrong
Trek back down through Bamboo and up over the Chomrong hill via the long stone staircase into Chomrong, ~4-5 hours. Reward yourself with a hot shower, a proper slice of cake and a decent coffee at one of Chomrong's cafés that look out over the valley. Sort your jeep ride back to Pokhara for tomorrow through your teahouse owner.
🚌On foot — no transport needed
🛏Teahouse in Chomrong (~£7-10)
- →Trek Dovan to Chomrong (~4-5 hrs)
- →Stone staircase climb
- →Chomrong cafés and viewpoints
Chomrong to Siwai and jeep to Pokhara
Pokhara
Descend from Chomrong to Siwai (~3-4 hours), then catch a shared jeep or local bus back to Pokhara (~£5-8). Back in Pokhara by afternoon: rest, do laundry, and explore Lakeside — sunset boat on Phewa Lake, Paragliding if you're keen (book via a Lakeside agency, ~£70-90), or just recover with a massage and a good meal.
🚌Shared jeep Siwai–Pokhara ~£5-8
🛏Budget guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside (~£10-15)
- →Trek Chomrong to Siwai
- →Phewa Lake sunset
- →Optional paragliding
- →Lakeside restaurant dinner
Pokhara to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Morning tourist bus back to Kathmandu (~7-8 hours, ~£8-10), or a short flight (~£70-90) if you'd rather have the day free. Afternoon in Kathmandu: souvenir shopping in Thamel, visit Boudhanath Stupa or Swayambhunath, or a rooftop dinner. Farewell dinner in Kathmandu — a proper Nepali thali or a Newari feast in Patan if you have time.
🚌Tourist bus Pokhara–Kathmandu ~£8-10
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Thamel (~£10-15)
- →Bus back to Kathmandu
- →Boudhanath Stupa or Swayambhunath
- →Thamel souvenir shopping
- →Farewell dinner
Depart Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Breakfast, final souvenir run, and a local taxi or airport transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£4-6). If your flight is later, squeeze in a last walk through Asan Bazaar or a rooftop coffee in Thamel.
🚌Airport taxi ~£4-6
🛏—
- →Asan Bazaar or Thamel final wander
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Alpine Club of Himalaya
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Alpine Club of Himalaya | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£435 | £665 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £230 per person (35%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Alpine Club of Himalaya-style trips? Check them out here.~£435
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Annapurna Base Camp Trek: Self-Launched 10-Day Nepal Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £435 per person for 10 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Alpine Club of Himalaya?+
Yes — Alpine Club of Himalaya charges around £665 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £435 — a saving of roughly £230 (35%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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