Self-Launched Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek – 12 Days

Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Take a prepaid taxi from the airport to Thamel, Kathmandu's backpacker hub (~£5–8). Check into a guesthouse and pick up your TIMS card and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Thamel — bring passport photos and cash. Spend the evening exploring Thamel's lively streets, grab a cheap meal, and prep your gear.

🚌Prepaid taxi from airport to Thamel ~£5

🛏Thamel guesthouse or hostel dorm (e.g. Hotel Encounter Nepal or similar) — ~£8–12/night

• →Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport — take a prepaid taxi to Thamel (~£5)
• →Purchase TIMS card (~£10) and ACAP permit (~£25) from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Thamel
• →Stock up on snacks and any last-minute trekking gear in Thamel markets
• →Evening stroll around Thamel — try a local dal bhat dinner for ~£3

Take the tourist/public bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara (roughly 7–8 hours). Tourist buses depart from Kantipath or Thamel area from around 7am and cost ~£6–10; the public Prithvi Highway bus is even cheaper at ~£3–4. Arrive in Pokhara by mid-afternoon. Check into a lakeside guesthouse near Phewa Lake and take an evening stroll along the waterfront.

🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu → Pokhara ~£7

🛏Budget guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside (e.g. Hotel Snowland or similar) — ~£8–12/night

• →Board the morning tourist bus from Thamel to Pokhara (~£7, departs ~7am, ~7–8 hours)
• →Check into a lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara's Lake Side district
• →Evening walk along Phewa Lake — watch the sunset over the Annapurna range
• →Hire a licensed local trekking guide in Pokhara for the trek (~£20–25/day) — ask at your guesthouse or visit a local trekking agency

Take an early local jeep or shared taxi from Pokhara to Nayapul (the trailhead, ~1.5 hours, ~£3–5). Begin trekking from Nayapul through Birethanti — get your ACAP permit checked here — then continue through lush forest, past waterfalls and the village of Sudami, through Hille and on to Tikhedunga. Today is a gentle warm-up day of roughly 13km. All meals available at teahouses along the trail.

🚌Shared jeep Pokhara → Nayapul ~£4

🛏Teahouse/lodge in Tikhedunga (basic twin or dorm room included in half-board teahouse rate) — ~£5–8/night

• →Shared jeep/taxi from Pokhara to Nayapul trailhead (~£4, ~1.5 hours)
• →Trek Nayapul → Birethanti (permit check) → Sudami → Hille → Tikhedunga (~13km, ~4–5 hours)
• →Lunch at a teahouse in Sudami village (~£3–5)
• →Optional: swim in waterfall plunge pools along the trail

A longer and more demanding day of around 16–18km with significant elevation gain as you climb through Gurung villages. Trek from Tikhedunga up the famous stone staircase to Ulleri, then continue through Banthanti, Nangethanti, and Ghorepani, before descending to Chhomrong. Experience local Gurung culture, traditional stone houses, and increasingly spectacular mountain views. Teahouses at every village serve simple but hearty meals.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Teahouse in Chhomrong — ~£5–8/night (half-board rates standard on trail)

• →Trek Tikhedunga → Ulleri (steep stone staircase) → Banthanti → Ghorepani → Chhomrong (~16km, ~6–7 hours)
• →Pass through traditional Gurung villages — chat to locals and learn about the culture
• →Meals at teahouses along the route (breakfast and dinner included in teahouse half-board)

Today you descend the famous 2,500 stone steps from Chhomrong down to the Chhomrong Khola river, cross the suspension bridge, and then re-ascend through Sinuwa and Kuldihar into the dense bamboo and rhododendron forest. The trail becomes increasingly remote. Arrive at the small settlement of Bamboo for the night. Teahouses here are basic but cosy.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Teahouse in Bamboo (very basic, no electricity at some) — ~£4–7/night

• →Trek Chhomrong → 2,500 stone steps descent → Chhomrong Khola suspension bridge → Sinuwa → Kuldihar → Bamboo (~10km, ~5–6 hours)
• →Photography along the forest trail — bamboo groves and hanging bridges are a highlight
• →Meals at teahouses in Sinuwa or Bamboo

Trek deeper into the Annapurna Sanctuary through thick bamboo forest, passing Dobhan, Ramgha, and the famous Hinku Cave — a large overhanging rock used as emergency shelter. You'll follow the glacial Modi Khola river with views of rushing waterfalls. Arrive at Deurali, the last settlement before Machhapuchhre Base Camp. Altitude here is around 3,200m — drink plenty of water and move slowly.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Teahouse in Deurali (~3,200m) — ~£4–7/night

• →Trek Bamboo → Dobhan → Ramgha → Hinku Cave (optional short detour) → Deurali (~10km, ~5 hours)
• →Visit Hinku Cave — a huge overhanging rock formation used as natural shelter
• →Watch for waterfalls and views of the Modi Khola glacial river
• →Altitude awareness: drink 3–4 litres of water, eat light, sleep well

The big day. Trek from Deurali up through Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) at ~3,700m and on to Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130m. The final approach enters the Annapurna Sanctuary — a natural glacial amphitheatre surrounded by Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and Gandharvachuli. This is one of the most dramatic mountain panoramas on Earth. Altitude sickness is possible — if symptoms are severe, descend immediately.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Teahouse at ABC (~4,130m — basic, cold, bring warm sleeping bag liner) — ~£5–8/night

• →Trek Deurali → Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC, ~3,700m) → Annapurna Base Camp (ABC, ~4,130m) (~7km, ~4–5 hours)
• →360° views of Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, Gangdarvachuli, and Annapurna III
• →Evening mountain photography from ABC as alpenglow colours the peaks
• →Altitude warning: symptoms of AMS include headache, nausea, dizziness — descend if serious

Wake early for sunrise photography at ABC — the pink alpenglow on the surrounding 7,000–8,000m peaks is unforgettable. After breakfast, begin the long descent back through MBC, Deurali, Himalaya, and down to Bamboo. The descent is faster but hard on the knees — trekking poles strongly recommended. The lower altitude is a relief after the thin air of ABC.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Teahouse in Bamboo — ~£4–7/night

• →Early morning sunrise photography at Annapurna Base Camp — set an alarm for 5:30am
• →Trek ABC → Machhapuchhre Base Camp → Deurali → Himalaya → Bamboo (~15km, ~5–6 hours)
• →Meals at teahouses in Deurali or Himalaya on the way down

A relatively short trekking day as you descend from Bamboo back through Sinuwa and Chhomrong, then take the side trail down to Jhinu Danda. The highlight here is the natural hot spring (Jhinu Hot Spring) by the Modi Khola river — the perfect reward after days of hard trekking. Soak your aching muscles in the warm mineral pools. Basic teahouses are available in Jhinu Danda.

🚌Trekking on foot

🛏Teahouse in Jhinu Danda — ~£5–7/night

• →Trek Bamboo → Sinuwa → Chhomrong → Jhinu Danda (~10km, ~4–5 hours)
• →Soak in Jhinu Danda natural hot springs by the Modi Khola river (~£1–2 entry fee)
• →Rest, relax, and recover — your knees deserve it

Final trekking day: descend from Jhinu Danda to Siwai on the road, then catch a local bus or shared jeep back to Pokhara (~1.5 hours, ~£3–5). Arrive back in Pokhara by afternoon with the evening free to celebrate. Head to the Lakeside strip for a lakeside restaurant dinner, cold beer, and a hot shower — you've earned it.

🚌Shared jeep Siwai → Pokhara ~£4

🛏Budget guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside — ~£8–12/night

• →Trek Jhinu Danda → Siwai (~3km, ~1 hour to road)
• →Shared jeep/bus Siwai → Pokhara (~£4, ~1.5 hours)
• →Check in to a Lakeside guesthouse, have a hot shower, do laundry
• →Optional: celebratory dinner at a lakeside restaurant in Pokhara (~£6–10)
• →Evening stroll along Phewa Lake waterfront

Take the morning tourist bus or public bus back from Pokhara to Kathmandu (~7–8 hours, ~£6–10). Alternatively, the Pokhara–Kathmandu domestic flight takes 25 minutes and costs ~£50–70 — worth considering if you're short on time or tired. Arrive in Kathmandu by late afternoon. Check back into a Thamel guesthouse and explore the neighbourhood for a final evening dinner.

🚌Tourist bus Pokhara → Kathmandu ~£7 (or domestic flight ~£55)

🛏Thamel guesthouse (e.g. Hotel Encounter Nepal or similar) — ~£8–12/night

• →Tourist bus Pokhara → Kathmandu (~£7, departs ~7am, ~7–8 hours) OR domestic flight ~50 minutes (~£55)
• →Check into Thamel guesthouse for final night
• →Final evening in Thamel — souvenir shopping, rooftop dinner, live music

Final breakfast in Thamel. Head to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure flight. Taxi from Thamel to airport costs ~£5. Allow 3 hours before departure for international flights. If you have time before your flight, grab a last cup of Nepali milk tea (chiya) and reflect on an incredible Himalayan adventure.

🚌Taxi Thamel → Tribhuvan Airport ~£5

• →Final breakfast in Thamel (Nepali chiya and egg paratha ~£2)
• →Taxi from Thamel to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£5)
• →Check in for departure flight — allow 3 hours