Annapurna Base Camp Trek – Self-Launched

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Take a pre-paid taxi from the airport to Thamel, Kathmandu's backpacker hub (~£5–8). Check into a budget guesthouse in Thamel and rest up. Sort any last-minute gear (merino base layers, trekking poles, sleeping bag liner) from Thamel's many gear shops or rental stalls. Obtain your TIMS card and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Thamel — budget around £25 total for both permits.

🚌Pre-paid airport taxi to Thamel (~£6)

🛏Thamel Eco Resort, Holy Himalayan Hotel, or similar budget guesthouse in Thamel (~£10–14/night for a private room)

• →Arrive at KTM, take pre-paid taxi to Thamel (~£6)
• →Check into budget guesthouse in Thamel
• →Obtain TIMS card and ACAP permit from Nepal Tourism Board (~£25 combined)
• →Gear check and last-minute shopping in Thamel

Take the tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara — departs from Kantipath or Thamel around 7am, takes 6–7 hours along the Prithvi Highway and costs around £5–8. Book in advance from any Thamel travel agent or online. Arrive in Pokhara by early afternoon. Check into a lakeside guesthouse and explore the Fewa Lake area. Optional: hire a rowing boat on Fewa Lake for a couple of hours (~£3–5). The budget airline option (Yeti Air / Tara Air) takes 25 mins but costs ~£80–100 each way — only worth it if you're pressed for time.

🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu–Pokhara (~£7). Book from Thamel travel agents or via Greenline/Tourist Bus operators.

🛏Zostel Pokhara, Hotel Middle Path, or similar lakeside guesthouse (~£10–15/night)

• →Tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara (~£7, 6–7 hrs)
• →Check into lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara
• →Explore the Lakeside (Baidam) area on foot
• →Optional: rowing boat on Fewa Lake (~£4)

Early start — take a local jeep or shared taxi from Pokhara's Baglung Bus Park to Nayapul (~1 hour, ~£3). This is the official trailhead. Trek from Nayapul through Birethanti (ACAP checkpoint — have your permit ready), then up through Hille and the legendary stone staircases to Ulleri (2,073m). The ascent to Ulleri is steep and relentless — around 3,500 stone steps — but the views open up dramatically. Trekking time ~5–6 hours. Stay in a teahouse in Ulleri.

🚌Shared jeep/taxi from Pokhara Baglung Bus Park to Nayapul (~£3)

🛏Teahouse in Ulleri — basic but clean rooms, shared bathrooms (~£4–6/night, meals bought separately)

• →Shared jeep/taxi Pokhara to Nayapul (~£3, ~1 hr)
• →Trek Nayapul → Birethanti → Hille → Ulleri (~5–6 hrs, ~11km)
• →ACAP permit check at Birethanti checkpoint
• →Overnight in Ulleri teahouse (dinner included in teahouse meal plan)

A beautiful day's trekking through dense oak and rhododendron forest, climbing steadily through Banthanti and Nangeythanti to reach Ghorepani. Trekking time approximately 4–5 hours. Ghorepani is a lively teahouse village and a major junction on the trail — plenty of accommodation options at all budgets. Arrive by early afternoon, leaving time to rest before tomorrow's early Poon Hill sunrise. All meals eaten at teahouses along the trail or in Ghorepani.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Ghorepani — Dhaulagiri Lodge, Sunny Teahouse, or similar (~£4–6/night)

• →Trek Ulleri → Banthanti → Nangeythanti → Ghorepani (~4–5 hrs, ~10km)
• →Walk through oak and rhododendron forest
• →Arrive in Ghorepani and rest up for early morning Poon Hill start

Wake at 4:30am and hike 45 minutes up to Poon Hill (3,195m) for one of the most spectacular sunrises in the Himalayas — views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and dozens of other peaks turning gold at dawn. There's a small entry fee at the tower (~£1). Return to Ghorepani for breakfast, then trek onwards via Deurali and Banthanti to Tadapani (~6 hours total). The trail passes through beautiful pine and rhododendron forest.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Tadapani — Rhododendron Lodge or similar (~£4–6/night)

• →Pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill (3,195m) for sunrise (~45 min each way)
• →Poon Hill viewpoint entry fee (~£1)
• →Trek Ghorepani → Deurali → Banthanti → Tadapani (~5–6 hrs)
• →Views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre

Trek down through dense rhododendron jungle, crossing the Kimrong River before climbing up through Gurjung village to reach Chhomrong. The Gurung village of Chhomrong is perched on a hillside with stunning views of Annapurna South, Himchuli, and the iconic fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre. Trekking time approximately 5–6 hours. Chhomrong is the last major village before the inner sanctuary — stock up on snacks and check your gear. There's a ACAP checkpoint here.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Chhomrong — Himalaya Lodge, Chhomrong Cottage, or similar (~£4–6/night)

• →Trek Tadapani → Kimrong River → Gurjung → Chhomrong (~5–6 hrs)
• →Views of Annapurna South, Himchuli, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail)
• →ACAP checkpoint at Chhomrong
• →Stock up on supplies for the inner sanctuary section

Descend the famous Chhomrong stone staircase, cross the Chhomrong Khola stream and enter the Annapurna Sanctuary. The trail passes through increasingly dense rhododendron and bamboo forest. Trek through Sinuwa and Kuldihar to reach Dovan. Trekking time approximately 5–6 hours. Note: the trail through the sanctuary can be closed in winter due to avalanche risk — check with your guide or the ACAP office in Chhomrong before proceeding.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Dovan — basic mountain teahouse (~£4–6/night)

• →Trek Chhomrong → Chhomrong stream → Sinuwa → Kuldihar → Dovan (~5–6 hrs)
• →Enter the Annapurna Sanctuary conservation area
• →Trek through rhododendron and bamboo forest

The trail climbs steeply through bamboo and rhododendron forest, passing the dramatic Hinko Cave (a natural rock overhang used as emergency shelter) before reaching Deurali on a ridge. Continue up to Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) at approximately 3,700m, set in an open alpine bowl with towering views of the sacred Fishtail peak. Altitude begins to bite here — take it slow, drink plenty of water, and watch for headaches or nausea. Trekking time approximately 5–6 hours.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse at Machhapuchhre Base Camp — very basic, cold nights (~£4–6/night, bring a sleeping bag liner)

• →Trek Dovan → Bamboo → Deurali → Hinko Cave → Machhapuchhre Base Camp (~5–6 hrs)
• →Pass Hinko Cave and enter open alpine terrain
• →Views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) up close
• →Altitude awareness: watch for AMS symptoms above 3,000m

The final push to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) at 4,130m — the highlight of the entire trek. The trail climbs gradually across open glacial terrain with increasingly jaw-dropping 360° views. Arrive at ABC to a natural amphitheatre ringed by Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South, Barah Shikhar, Gangapurna, and Machhapuchhre. Spend the afternoon soaking it in, exploring the glacier edge, and photographing the peaks. Acclimatise carefully — this is a significant altitude gain. Trekking time approximately 3–4 hours from MBC.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse at Annapurna Base Camp — very basic, cold and expensive due to altitude, meals cost more up here (~£6–8/night)

• →Trek Machhapuchhre Base Camp → Annapurna Base Camp (~3–4 hrs, ~4km)
• →Arrive at ABC (4,130m) — 360° Himalayan panorama
• →Views of Annapurna I, Barah Shikhar, Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Machhapuchhre
• →Explore glacier edge and Annapurna Sanctuary
• →Rest and acclimatise at camp

Early morning at ABC for sunrise on the peaks — a genuinely magical experience. Then begin the long descent back down through MBC and back to Dovan. The descent is tough on the knees — trekking poles are invaluable. You cover the same ground as days 7–9 in reverse. Trekking time approximately 6–7 hours. The drop in altitude means you'll feel noticeably better by the time you reach Dovan — celebrate with a hearty teahouse meal.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Dovan (~£4–6/night)

• →Early morning sunrise views at ABC
• →Trek ABC → Machhapuchhre Base Camp → Dovan (~6–7 hrs descent)
• →Trekking poles essential for knee protection on descent

Trek back through Bamboo, Sinuwa, and up and over Chhomrong before descending to Jhinu Danda. The main reward here: natural hot springs! After 9+ days of hard trekking, a soak in the geothermal hot spring pools by the river is absolutely blissful. The springs are a 15-minute walk below Jhinu Danda village and cost a small entry fee (~£1–2). Trekking time approximately 6–7 hours.

🚌On foot

🛏Teahouse in Jhinu Danda — New Hot Spring Lodge or similar (~£4–6/night)

• →Trek Dovan → Bamboo → Sinuwa → Chhomrong → Jhinu Danda (~6–7 hrs)
• →Soak in the natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda (~£1–2 entry)

Final day of trekking. Follow the trail from Jhinu Danda down to New Bridge, through Kyumi village, Syauli Bazaar, and Birethanti to reach Naya Pul. Total trekking time approximately 4–5 hours. At Naya Pul, catch a local jeep or shared taxi back to Pokhara (~£3). Arrive in Pokhara by early afternoon — treat yourself to a lakeside restaurant meal, a hot shower, and the best beer you've ever tasted. Return to a lakeside guesthouse.

🚌Local jeep/shared taxi Naya Pul → Pokhara (~£3)

🛏Zostel Pokhara, Hotel Middle Path, or similar lakeside guesthouse (~£10–15/night)

• →Trek Jhinu Danda → New Bridge → Kyumi → Syauli Bazaar → Birethanti → Naya Pul (~4–5 hrs)
• →Local jeep/shared taxi from Naya Pul back to Pokhara (~£3)
• →Celebratory lakeside meal and rest in Pokhara

Take the tourist bus from Pokhara back to Kathmandu — departs around 7–8am from Lakeside, takes 6–7 hours along the scenic Prithvi Highway (~£7). Budget airlines (Yeti Air / Buddha Air) take 25 minutes if you prefer (~£80–100). Arrive in Kathmandu by early afternoon. Check back into Thamel and use the evening to explore, shop for souvenirs, and celebrate the trek at one of Thamel's excellent rooftop bars or restaurants.

🚌Tourist bus Pokhara to Kathmandu (~£7). Book via Greenline or local travel agents.

🛏Thamel budget guesthouse (~£10–14/night)

• →Tourist bus Pokhara → Kathmandu (~£7, 6–7 hrs) — book from lakeside travel agents
• →Optional: domestic flight Pokhara → Kathmandu (~£85 one-way, 25 min)
• →Return to Thamel guesthouse
• →Souvenir shopping and celebratory dinner in Thamel

Final morning in Kathmandu before your onward or return flight from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Take a pre-paid taxi from Thamel to the airport (~£6). Allow extra time — Kathmandu traffic can be unpredictable. If your flight is in the evening, use the morning for any final sightseeing: Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple are both close to the airport and well worth a visit.

🚌Pre-paid taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£6)

• →Optional morning visit to Boudhanath Stupa or Pashupatinath Temple
• →Pre-paid taxi Thamel to KTM airport (~£6)
• →Depart from Tribhuvan International Airport