Annapurna Base Camp Trek 9 Days: Itinerary, Cost, Map & Guide

The route runs up the Modi Khola valley into the Annapurna Sanctuary and back along the same river. You approach from the south, climbing through Chhomrong, Sinuwa and the valley villages to Deurali before entering the sanctuary beyond Machhapuchhre Base Camp. On the return, you follow the same valley downhill.

Five days are spent on foot (Days 3 to 7), with the drive to Jhinu Danda on Day 3 and the drive back on Day 7. On the map below, the solid line shows the trekking route, while the dashed line shows the road transfers.

The table below combines the nine-day itinerary with daily walking or travel times and overnight sleeping altitudes. It helps you track the route from Kathmandu to Annapurna Base Camp and back, including the ascent to 4,130 m and the descent to Bamboo.

Annapurna Base Camp is the highest point reached and the highest overnight stop on this itinerary, at 4,130 m. After the overnight stay, the route descends to Bamboo before continuing to Jhinu Danda and Pokhara.

Yes, for the standard route. Nine days gives you 5 days on foot, a night in Pokhara at each end, and a night at Annapurna Base Camp. The itinerary has no rest day, though, and the sleeping altitude rises steeply on Days 4 and 5. If you want more time to acclimatize or a buffer for weather and snow, ask us about adding a day.

Annapurna Base Camp vs Mardi Himal Trek

Both treks are in the Annapurna region and reach about 4,100-4,200 m, but they feel different:

The 9-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek costs from US$475 per person for groups of six or more. Guide, porter and transport costs are shared, so the more people who travel together, the less each person pays. The route, the permits and the lodges stay the same for everyone.

Price by Group Size

Prices are per person, and Trip Highland can set up private departures on dates that suit you. Ask us for a quote if your group is bigger or you want upgrades like better hotels in the cities.

These are small costs you'll pay on the way, usually in cash. Prices are typical and rise with altitude.

Plan on roughly US$120-250 per person for the whole trek, including tips, depending on your group size and how often you treat yourself.

This trek is moderate. You don't need climbing skills, but you do need to be comfortable walking uphill for hours, several days in a row. Most days are five to eight hours on the trail, and the longest is the descent from Base Camp to Bamboo, which is rough on the knees.

The difficulty comes from the altitude and the stairs. The route has long stretches of stone steps, especially around Chhomrong, and the nights at the top are cold. Because the itinerary has no rest day, the climb from Sinuwa to Deurali and then to Base Camp gains height steadily, so a slow, steady pace is more important than being fast.

If you can climb stairs or hills for a few hours with a daypack and recover well the next morning, you're in good shape. The training plan below shows you how to get there.

This itinerary gains close to 900 m of sleeping altitude on Day 4 (Sinuwa 2,340 m to Deurali 3,230 m) and again on Day 5 (Deurali to Base Camp at 4,130 m). That is more than the usual advice of 300 to 500 m per night above 3,000 m, and there is no dedicated rest day.

Our guides manage this with a slow pace, regular rest stops, daily symptom checks with an oximeter, and a willingness to hold the group at Deurali or turn back if someone is unwell. If you want a gentler profile, ask us about adding an acclimatization day on the way up.

The main trekking seasons are spring and autumn. Conditions still vary with altitude, snow, and rainfall, so no month guarantees clear skies at Base Camp.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is the colorful season. Rhododendron forests bloom along the lower valley, days are warm at lower altitudes, and mornings are usually clear. Snow can remain near the top early in the season, and clouds tend to build later in the day.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn offers some of the steadiest weather and clearest views of the year, which makes it the most popular season. October is especially busy, so book teahouses and transport early.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is cold, and heavy snow on the upper trail raises the risk of avalanches between Himalaya and Machhapuchhre Base Camp. Some teahouses near the top may close, and Base Camp can be very cold. Trek in winter only with up-to-date local information and a guide who can judge conditions.

Monsoon (June to August)

The monsoon brings heavy rain, leeches in the forest, slippery trails, landslides, and cloudy views. If you're traveling in the monsoon, ask us about alternatives.

Which Season Should You Choose?

Spring and autumn are generally the most practical choices for this itinerary. Your final decision should account for your available dates, tolerance for cold, expected crowds, and the latest trail and weather reports.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is required for foreign trekkers entering the Annapurna Conservation Area, which includes the whole Annapurna Base Camp route. The permit supports conservation efforts and is checked at checkpoints along the trail.

Is a TIMS Card Required for Annapurna Base Camp?

Requirements for the TIMS card in the Annapurna region have changed in recent years. We confirm the current requirement before your departure and arrange any card or permit your route needs, so you don't have to register yourself.

Do You Need a Guide for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

Every Trip Highland departure includes a licensed, English-speaking guide, and we confirm the current rules for your dates when you book. Beyond the paperwork, a guide makes a real difference on this trek. Your guide handles permit checkpoints and lodge bookings, tracks trail conditions, makes the call on the avalanche-prone stretch, and sets the pace on the climb.

Nepal Visa

A tourist visa costs US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days. You can get it on arrival at the airport or pre-apply online up to 15 days before you travel. Visa rules and fees can change, so check with the Department of Immigration before you fly.

Documents to Prepare Before Your Trek

• Passport: Valid for at least six months beyond your trip, with blank pages for the visa

• Passport-size photos: Two to four copies, for the visa and permits

• Travel insurance: A policy that covers trekking at your intended altitude, emergency medical treatment, and helicopter evacuation

• Emergency information: Contact details for Trip Highland, your family and your insurer's 24-hour assistance number

• Copies: Digital and paper copies of important documents, stored separately from the originals

Travel Insurance and Emergency Evacuation

Travel insurance is not included, and you should buy it before you fly. Your policy must cover trekking up to at least 4,200 m and emergency helicopter evacuation. Check the policy wording for altitude limits, because some standard policies stop at 3,000 m or 4,000 m.

Your guide carries a first-aid kit and an oximeter and monitors symptoms every day. If anyone needs evacuation or urgent medical care, your guide contacts our Pokhara office, and you contact your insurer's emergency line. Keep a printed copy of your policy number and the insurer's 24-hour number with you.

During the trekking section, you stay in local teahouses in Sinuwa, Deurali, Annapurna Base Camp, and Bamboo. Rooms are simple, with twin beds, foam mattresses, and shared bathrooms. Facilities vary by village and season, and availability can be limited during busy trekking periods.

The higher you go, the more basic it gets. Deurali and Annapurna Base Camp have thin walls, no heating in the rooms and very cold nights. Hot showers, Wi-Fi, and device charging cost extra. Dining rooms are the warm spot, so most trekkers spend the evenings there. Don't expect private bathrooms or heated rooms.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you stay in hotels with breakfast included, on a twin-sharing basis.

Teahouses offer dal bhat, noodles, rice, soups, momos, potatoes, eggs and porridge. The menu gets shorter, and the prices go up as you climb, because everything is carried in by porters and mules.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trek are included. In Kathmandu and Pokhara, only breakfast and the Day 1 welcome dinner are included. Eat regular meals, drink enough safe water, and tell your guide about any dietary needs on day one so they can pass them on to each teahouse.

Altitude sickness can affect anyone, however fit or experienced. On this trek, the highest point is Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m, so a slow pace and honest reporting of symptoms matter.

Early Signs of Altitude Sickness (AMS)

Acute Mountain Sickness is common above 3,000 m, and there's nothing embarrassing about it. The first signs are headache, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite and poor sleep. Tell your guide at the first hint. Mild AMS usually settles with rest and a night at the same altitude.

Serious Altitude Sickness (HACE and HAPE): When to Descend

If symptoms get worse instead of better, it can become high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) or pulmonary oedema (HAPE). Warning signs include confusion, stumbling, extreme drowsiness, breathlessness at rest and a persistent cough. Both are emergencies, and the only reliable treatment is to go down immediately, day or night.

Rules to Follow Above 3,000 m

• Don't climb higher if you have symptoms

• Walk slowly, even when you feel strong

• Drink 3-4 litres of water daily

• Skip alcohol and cigarettes

• Tell your guide how you really feel, every day

Diamox and Pulse Oximeter Checks

Diamox (acetazolamide) is a prescription medicine some trekkers use to help acclimatize. It's not a replacement for going slowly, so talk to your doctor before you travel. Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and can check your readings, but it can't rule out altitude sickness on its own.

Pack for changing conditions, from warm temperatures in the lower valley to freezing nights at Base Camp. Keep your main bag within the 15 kg limit, since the porter carries it, and carry essentials in your daypack.

Clothing

• Moisture-wicking base layers

• Warm fleece or insulating mid-layer

• Down or synthetic insulated jacket

• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers

• Trekking trousers and comfortable walking shirts

• Thermal layers for cold mornings and nights

• Warm hat, sun hat, and gloves

• Trekking socks and spare underwear

Footwear and Equipment

• Broken-in trekking boots with good grip

• Comfortable camp shoes or sandals

• Trekking poles, which help on the stone steps

• Backpack and rain cover

• Headlamp with spare batteries

• Water bottles or a hydration system

• Sunglasses with suitable UV protection

Health and Personal Items

• Personal medication and a small first-aid kit

• Blister plasters

• Toiletries and hand sanitizer

• Water purification tablets or a filter

• High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm

• Leech socks or repellent if traveling in wet conditions

• Power bank and charging cable

Luggage and Sleeping Bag

Pack your main gear in a waterproof duffel, which the porter carries. The limit is 15 kg per trekker, and your daypack stays with you. Bring a sleeping bag rated to -10°C or lower, or rent one in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Kathmandu and Pokhara can be warm, but Base Camp is freezing at night, so pack for the cold.

Start about eight weeks before departure. The aim is to build the endurance for consecutive days of walking, long climbs on stone steps, and a descent of about 1,800 m on Day 6.

• Weeks 1-3: Walk briskly 3 to 4 times a week for 45 to 60 minutes. Add stairs or hills, plus step-ups, squats, lunges and calf raises twice a week.

• Weeks 4-6: Make the weekend hike 3 to 5 hours with a loaded daypack. Include long runs of stairs, since this trail has stone steps all the way up to Chhomrong.

• Weeks 7-8: Do back-to-back long hikes on hilly ground in your trekking boots. Practice walking downhill with a loaded daypack, since most knee strain happens on Day 6.

Check the expected weather for your dates and make sure you have suitable layers and rain protection. If you have health concerns or take regular medication, consult a qualified healthcare professional before traveling at altitude.

Fitness alone does not prevent altitude sickness, and good preparation cannot guarantee a smooth ascent. Weather, altitude response and trail conditions must still guide the final decisions.

Want to experience more than the standard route? You can add an extra night on the trail, spend more time in Pokhara, or combine your journey with another region of Nepal.

Let Trip Highland know how many extra days you have and what you want to experience. We can help you choose a suitable extension and adjust your Annapurna Base Camp itinerary accordingly.

For more than 16 years, Trip Highland has been guiding trekkers through Nepal's mountains. We're based in Pokhara, right next to the Annapurna region, so the people who plan your trek know this valley, its teahouses and its weather first-hand.

• 16+ years of experience: Benefit from our knowledge of Nepal's trekking routes, mountain conditions, and local communities.

• Local Annapurna expertise: Walk the Modi Khola valley with guides who know the trail, the lodges and the villages.

• Safety-first guiding: Your guide checks for altitude symptoms every day and assesses avalanche risk before the upper section.

• Personalized trekking: Discuss your travel dates, interests, fitness level, and budget to find an itinerary that suits you.

• Authentic Nepali hospitality: Stay in family-run teahouses and experience the warmth of Gurung villages.

• Responsible mountain travel: We respect local communities and the mountain environment, which is part of a protected conservation area.

Whether you're planning your first Himalayan trek or returning for another, Trip Highland can help you decide whether this itinerary fits your dates and fitness.