Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Your Annapurna Base Camp adventure begins as you check in for your international flight from Zurich, bound for Kathmandu, the vibrant capital of Nepal, nestled in a valley ringed by hills at the edge of the Himalayas. Depending on your routing, the journey may include a layover, giving you time to relax before the trek ahead. As you begin your descent toward Kathmandu, keep an eye out the window for your first glimpses of terraced hills and, on a clear day, distant snow-capped peaks that hint at the adventure to come in the Annapurna region.

Touch down at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (1,400 m/4,593 ft), where a member of our team will meet you and transfer you to your hotel through the busy, colorful streets of the city. With the rest of the day free, take time to rest and recover from your flight, unpack, and get settled into your comfortable hotel. This is also a good opportunity to meet your trekking guide, review the days ahead, do any last-minute shopping for trekking gear in the Thamel district, and soak in your first impressions of Nepal's bustling, culturally rich capital, framed by distant mountain views.

Set off on a scenic 7 to 9-hour tourist bus journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara (900 m/2,953 ft), following the Prithvi Highway as it winds alongside the Trishuli River and through terraced hillsides, small roadside villages, and lush river valleys. As the drive progresses, the landscape opens up and the pace of life visibly slows, signaling your arrival into Pokhara, Nepal's laid-back lakeside gateway to the Annapurna region. Check in to your hotel in the Lakeside area, with views over Phewa Lake and, on clear days, the Annapurna and Machapuchare peaks rising dramatically behind the city.

After breakfast, drive around 1 hour from Pokhara to Birethanti (1,039 m/3,409 ft), a lively riverside village and the official starting point of the trek, where your ACAP permit is checked at the entry checkpoint. From here, begin trekking through farmland and forest, following the Bhurungdi Khola valley past waterfalls and small tea houses, before climbing the long stone staircase up to the Magar village of Ulleri (2,020 m/6,627 ft), a walk of around 4 to 5 hours that offers an early, honest introduction to the up-and-down nature of Himalayan trekking.

Continue trekking from Ulleri to Ghorepani (2,840 m/9,286 ft), a 5 to 6-hour walk through increasingly dense forests of rhododendron, oak, and magnolia, alive with birdsong and, in spring, vivid blooms along the trail. As the trail gains height, the surrounding views open up, with your first proper glimpses of the Annapurna range appearing above the tree line as you approach the ridge-top village of Ghorepani, a popular overnight stop known for its position beneath Poon Hill.

Rise well before dawn for the short, steep hike up to Poon Hill (3,210 m/10,531 ft), one of the finest viewpoints in the Annapurna region, where sunrise paints the peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Nilgiri, and Machapuchare in shades of gold and pink across the horizon. Return to Ghorepani for a well-earned breakfast, then continue trekking to Tadapani (2,610 m/8,563 ft) through rhododendron forest and along scenic ridgelines with continuing mountain views, a combined trekking day of around 6 to 7 hours that blends an unforgettable sunrise with a full day of walking.

Descend from Tadapani through lush, moss-covered forest into the Modi Khola valley, then climb again toward Sinuwa (2,360 m/7,740 ft), a 6 to 7-hour trekking day that alternates between steep descents and steady climbs. The trail passes through Chhomrong, the last major village before the Annapurna Sanctuary, where stone steps and terraced fields cling to the hillside, offering fine views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare along the way as the trail begins to feel noticeably wilder and more remote.

Trek from Sinuwa to Deurali (3,230 m/10,597 ft), a 6 to 7-hour walk as the trail follows the Modi Khola gorge deeper into the mountains, passing through Bamboo, Dovan, and Himalaya, small trailside settlements built specifically to serve trekkers on this route. The forest thins with altitude, the valley narrows dramatically between steep rock walls, and the towering cliffs and hanging glaciers of the Annapurna Sanctuary begin to close in around you, building real anticipation for what lies ahead.

The most anticipated day of the trek: trek from Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m/13,550 ft), a 5 to 6-hour walk passing through Machhapuchhre Base Camp before the final approach into the vast, natural amphitheater of the Annapurna Sanctuary. Arrive at Base Camp surrounded on all sides by an extraordinary panorama of Himalayan giants, including Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Gangapurna, and Machapuchare, with the evening and following morning offering some of the most spectacular, close-up mountain views of the entire trip, as alpenglow and sunrise light up the surrounding summits in turn.

After a memorable sunrise at Base Camp, begin the descent, retracing your steps back down through Deurali and Himalaya to Bamboo (2,345 m/7,694 ft), a 6 to 7-hour trekking day that feels noticeably easier on the lungs as you drop back to lower altitude. Watch as the barren, high-altitude terrain gradually gives way once again to lush bamboo groves and rhododendron forest, with the mountain views slowly fading behind you as the trail re-enters the greener lower valley.

Continue descending from Bamboo to Jhinu (1,780 m/5,839 ft), around 4 to 5 hours of trekking through forest and past small settlements and terraced farmland as the valley widens and the air grows noticeably warmer. Jhinu Danda is well known for its natural hot springs beside the Modi Khola river, and most trekkers make the short walk down to the riverside pools in the late afternoon, offering a truly welcome opportunity to relax tired muscles after several demanding days of trekking to and from Base Camp.
Accommodation: Guesthouse

Trek from Jhinu down to Syauli Bazaar (1,170 m/3,839 ft), a shorter 2 to 3-hour walk that marks the final stretch of trekking on this journey, passing through farmland and small villages as the trail gradually levels out. From here, transfer by private vehicle back to Pokhara, a drive of around 2 to 4 hours, and check back in to your hotel in the Lakeside area, where a hot shower, comfortable bed, and views over Phewa Lake await as a fitting reward for completing the trek.

Travel back to Kathmandu (1,400 m/4,593 ft) by tourist bus, a 7 to 9-hour journey retracing the route along the Prithvi Highway, past the same rivers, terraced hillsides, and roadside villages seen on the outward journey, now viewed with the satisfaction of a trek well completed. Arrive in the late afternoon or evening and check in to your hotel, with time to reflect on the trek over dinner in the city and perhaps share stories with fellow travelers about the highlight moments of the journey.

Spend your final full day in Nepal exploring Kathmandu's rich cultural heritage, with its ancient temples, historic squares, and bustling streets offering a fitting close to your Himalayan journey. Depending on your interests, this can include visits to notable landmarks such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, or Pashupatinath, or simply wandering the narrow lanes of Thamel. Use the day at your own pace to relax, shop for souvenirs, or simply enjoy the atmosphere of the city before departure.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport in good time for your international flight, ready to begin your journey home with unforgettable memories of the Annapurna Sanctuary, the villages along the trail, and the warmth of the local Gurung and Magar hospitality.

Arrive back in Zurich, bringing your Annapurna Base Camp Trek adventure to a close, with the peaks, villages, and hospitality of the Annapurna region left as lasting memories of a truly rewarding Himalayan journey.