Self-Launched Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill
13 days · Nepal (Annapurna Region)
Peregrine Treks and Expedition charges £1,310
No-markup version: ~£780 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 13-day Annapurna Base Camp trek via Poon Hill. You'll handle your own permits and bus tickets, sleep in teahouses along the trail, and walk the same route independently (solo or with a hired guide/porter if you want one). Costs are estimates in GBP and assume budget teahouse rates, dal bhat meals on the trail and public transport — significantly less than the packaged version.
Day-by-day
Arrive Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport and take a prepaid airport taxi or shuttle to a Thamel guesthouse (about 400-700 NPR). Settle in, sort a Nepali SIM (Ncell or NTC) if you want data, and pick up your TIMS card and ACAP permit yourself at the Nepal Tourism Board office (Bhrikutimandu) — bring passport photos and passport copies. Cash is king on the trail, so withdraw enough NPR here.
🚌Airport taxi ~£3-5
🛏Thamel guesthouse dorm/private room
- →Permit pickup at Nepal Tourism Board
- →Wander Thamel bazaar
Kathmandu to Pokhara
Pokhara
Catch a tourist bus from Thamel (about 8-9 hours, ~1,800-2,500 NPR) or book a shared micro-bus. On arrival find a guesthouse at Lakeside and watch the sunset over Phewa Lake with Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and the Annapurnas on the horizon. Good spot to stock trail snacks and rent a sleeping bag or trekking poles if you need them.
🚌Tourist bus ~£12-18
🛏Lakeside guesthouse
- →Tourist bus Kathmandu-Pokhara
- →Phewa Lake sunset walk
Pokhara to Ghorepani
Ghorepani
Take a shared jeep or local bus to Hile/Nayapul (about 1.5 hours), then trek on to Tikhe Dhunga and climb the famous stone steps of Ulleri up through oak and rhododendron forest. Continue via Nangethanti to Ghorepani (~2,870m). Check in at a teahouse and get an early night for tomorrow's sunrise.
🚌Shared jeep/bus ~£5-8
🛏Teahouse, Ghorepani
- →Shared jeep Pokhara-Hile/Nayapul
- →Trek to Ghorepani via Ulleri
- →Teahouse dinner
Poon Hill sunrise and trek to Tadapani
Tadapani
Head up in the dark for a 45-minute climb to Poon Hill (3,210m) for sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre. Back to the teahouse for breakfast, then trek through rhododendron forest toward Tadapani (about 6-7 hours). This is the highest-profile viewpoint of the route short of base camp.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Tadapani
- →Poon Hill sunrise hike
- →Forest trek to Tadapani
Tadapani to Chhomrong
Chhomrong
Trek down to the river and up to the ridge past Kimrong Khola village, then a steady climb to Chhomrong (~2,170m), the gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary. Check in at the ACAP checkpoint and enjoy views down into the Modi Khola valley.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Chhomrong
- →Trek Tadapani-Chhomrong
- →ACAP checkpoint check-in
Chhomrong to Himalaya Hotel
Himalaya Hotel
Descend steep stone steps to the Chhomrong Khola suspension bridge, then climb through Sinuwa and Bamboo (2,310m) into dense bamboo and rhododendron forest, past a small shrine, on to Himalaya Hotel. Shorter, forested day before the high sections.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Himalaya Hotel
- →Suspension bridge crossing
- →Trek through bamboo forest
Himalaya Hotel to Machhapuchhre Base Camp
Machhapuchhre Base Camp
Climb past Deurali into the open moraine and the Annapurna Sanctuary, reaching Machhapuchhre Base Camp (~3,700m) via Bagar. Views open up to Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Gangapurna and Annapurna South. Above the treeline the cold bites — layer up and pace slowly for altitude.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, MBC
- →Annapurna Sanctuary entry
- →Trek to MBC
Machhapuchhre Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp
Annapurna Base Camp
A short 2-hour trek up to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130m) with the full amphitheatre of peaks — Annapurna I, Hiunchuli, South, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhre — surrounding you. Afternoon free for a short walk up the moraine for glacier views. Watch for altitude symptoms; descend if needed.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, ABC
- →ABC arrival
- →Moraine viewpoint walk
- →Glacier views
Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo
Bamboo
Sunrise on the peaks from ABC is the highlight — get a photo before breakfast, then a long descent back down through MBC, Deurali, Himalaya Hotel and on to Bamboo to give your body more oxygen. Gentle knees-and-quads day.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Bamboo
- →ABC sunrise
- →Long descent to Bamboo
Bamboo to Jhinu Danda
Jhinu Danda
Climb back up to Sinuwa and Chhomrong, then walk down via Kuldighar to Jhinu Danda. In the afternoon take the 15-20 minute downhill path to the riverside natural hot springs — a perfect reward for the trek. Entry fee is a few hundred rupees.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse/guesthouse, Jhinu Danda
- →Trek to Jhinu Danda
- →Jhinu Danda hot springs
Jhinu Danda to Pokhara
Pokhara
Walk out to Naya Pul (about 2-3 hours), then catch a local bus or shared jeep to Pokhara — around 1.5 hours. Back at Lakeside, find a guesthouse and eat well. You'll have done the trail independently without any group logistics.
🚌Local bus/shared jeep ~£3-5
🛏Lakeside guesthouse
- →Trek Jhinu Danda-Naya Pul
- →Local bus to Pokhara
Pokhara to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Tourist bus back to Kathmandu (8-9 hours, ~£12-18) or, for a splurge, a Pokhara-Kathmandu flight (~£70-100 if available). Evening in Thamel: a farewell momo and dal bhat dinner, and a browse of the trekking gear shops.
🚌Tourist bus or optional flight
🛏Thamel guesthouse
- →Kathmandu bus return
- →Thamel evening
Kathmandu departure
Kathmandu
Breakfast, last-minute souvenir shopping, and a prepaid taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight home.
🚌Airport taxi ~£3-5
🛏None (departure day)
- →Souvenir shopping
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Peregrine Treks and Expedition
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Peregrine Treks and Expedition | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£780 | £1,310 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £530 per person (40%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Peregrine Treks and Expedition-style trips? Check them out here.~£780
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 Self-Launched Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poon Hill cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £780 per person for 13 days in Nepal (Annapurna Region). 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 Peregrine Treks and Expedition?+
Yes — Peregrine Treks and Expedition charges around £1,310 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £780 — a saving of roughly £530 (40%) per person.
How long is the Nepal (Annapurna Region) trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Nepal (Annapurna Region).
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, backpacker trip through Nepal (Annapurna Region), 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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