Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) sits at 4,130m inside a glacial amphitheatre ringed by peaks over 6,000m, and the itinerary to reach it runs 7 to 12 days depending on your pace, fitness, and whether you include the Poon Hill sunrise diversion at the start. Every version follows the same core route: a walk up the Modi Khola gorge from Nayapul through Ghorepani or Chhomrong, into the Annapurna Sanctuary itself, and back down the same valley.
Unlike the Annapurna Circuit, ABC has no high pass and no restricted-area permit complications, which is why it's a common first Himalayan trek. The itinerary length mainly reflects how you pace the approach, not different technical difficulty.
What does the standard 10-day itinerary look like?
Our standard ABC itinerary runs 10 days including arrival and departure in Pokhara, and it includes the Poon Hill sunrise diversion because the extra day is genuinely worth it for most first-time trekkers.
| Day | Route | Altitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Pokhara | 820m |
| 2 | Drive to Nayapul, trek to Tikhedhunga | 1,540m |
| 3 | Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (3,200-step climb) | 2,874m |
| 4 | Poon Hill sunrise, trek to Tadapani | 3,210m to 2,630m |
| 5 | Tadapani to Chhomrong | 2,170m |
| 6 | Chhomrong to Bamboo | 2,310m |
| 7 | Bamboo to Deurali | 3,230m |
| 8 | Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp | 4,130m |
| 9 | ABC to Bamboo (long descent day) | 2,310m |
| 10 | Descend to Nayapul, drive to Pokhara | 820m |
What does each stage of the route actually demand physically?
Day 3's climb from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani, roughly 3,200 stone steps through rhododendron forest, is widely considered the hardest single stretch of the entire itinerary, harder in the moment than the approach to base camp itself, since it's a sustained staircase rather than a gradual grade. Day 8, entering the Sanctuary and reaching ABC, gains around 900m over the day but on a much gentler gradient, with the psychological weight of the surrounding peaks (Annapurna I at 8,091m, Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit) doing more to slow trekkers down than the terrain itself.
Days 6 and 7, through Bamboo and up to Deurali, mark the point where the Modi Khola gorge narrows and the forest changes character, from oak and rhododendron to increasingly alpine scrub, and this is also where the daily altitude gain needs the most careful pacing to stay within the standard 500-600m sleeping-altitude guideline. Walking hours across the whole itinerary run 4 to 6 hours most days, rising to 6 to 7 hours on the push into ABC itself.
What does a 7-day itinerary cut?
A 7-day version is possible for fit, experienced trekkers by combining some of the shorter walking days, most commonly Bamboo-to-Deurali-to-ABC into fewer stops and skipping Poon Hill entirely to enter via Ghandruk instead of Ghorepani. This route trades the sunrise panorama and rhododendron forest for a faster, more direct approach, and it works well for trekkers who've already done Poon Hill on a previous trip or who genuinely prioritise reaching the Sanctuary over the scenic build-up.
When does a 12-day version make sense?
A 12-day itinerary adds one or two buffer days, either as a contingency for weather or fatigue, or as a deliberate extra night at Chhomrong or Deurali to acclimatise more gradually. Because ABC's altitude profile is already well-designed, with no single day gaining more than 500-600m of sleeping altitude, most trekkers don't need this extra buffer for safety. It's worth choosing if you'd simply rather not rush, want more flexibility for weather, or are travelling with a mixed-fitness group.
How does the season you choose affect the itinerary?
October and November give the most reliable weather for every stage of this route, with clear morning views into the Sanctuary that can cloud over by early afternoon most days regardless of season, so the itinerary is built to have you walking the exposed high sections in the morning wherever possible. March and April bring the rhododendron bloom directly onto the Tikhedhunga-to-Ghorepani stretch, the same physically hardest day, which is some consolation for the climb. Monsoon months (June to August) are walkable but muddy and leech-prone below Chhomrong, with base camp itself often shrouded in cloud by mid-morning; winter (December to February) is cold but generally clear, since ABC's 4,130m summit altitude rarely closes the route the way Thorong La does on the Circuit.
Which itinerary should you pick?
- First-timer, want the complete Sanctuary experience: the 10-day standard route with Poon Hill.
- Already seen Poon Hill, tight on time, good fitness: the 7-day direct route via Ghandruk.
- Mixed-fitness group or want maximum flexibility: the 12-day version with buffer days.
For the full 2026 cost breakdown across all three lengths, see our Annapurna Base Camp cost guide, or check current departure dates on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek page.
What's a typical day actually like on this itinerary?
Mornings start early, usually breakfast by 6:30am to 7am and walking by 7:30am to 8am, since most of the day's physical demand is best covered before the afternoon cloud builds over the Sanctuary. Walking blocks run 3 to 4 hours in the morning with a lunch stop at a tea house along the way, followed by a shorter 2 to 3 hour afternoon push to that night's stop. Evenings settle into a predictable, welcome rhythm: dal bhat, tea, and an early night, since most trekkers are genuinely tired by 8pm even on the itinerary's easier days.
Common questions about this itinerary
Which day is the coldest?
The ABC night itself, given the 4,130m altitude and the amphitheatre's exposure to wind off the surrounding glaciers. Temperatures commonly drop below freezing even in peak season (October-November), so a sleeping bag rated to at least -10°C matters here specifically, even though the rest of the trek rarely gets that cold.
Is the itinerary the same in every season?
The route itself doesn't change, but winter (December-February) sometimes requires an extra contingency day if snow makes the final approach to base camp slower than usual, and monsoon (June-August) can add short delays around Bamboo and Deurali where the trail gets genuinely muddy.
Can porters carry your full luggage on every version of this itinerary?
Yes, on all three lengths. A porter typically carries up to 15kg between two trekkers, so a daypack for water, camera, and layers is all you need to manage yourself on the trail.
How does this itinerary compare to the Annapurna Circuit's?
ABC's itinerary is shorter and technically gentler than the Circuit's, with no high pass and a maximum altitude of 4,130m against the Circuit's 5,416m Thorong La, which is why ABC is the more common first-time choice between the two. What ABC doesn't offer is the Circuit's dramatic geographic variety, the shift from subtropical lowland to arid trans-Himalayan plateau that defines the longer trek. Trekkers choosing between the two on itinerary length alone should weigh that trade-off directly: ABC gives you the Sanctuary experience in under two weeks, while the Circuit asks for two to three weeks in exchange for a genuinely different, more varied landscape. Our full Circuit vs Base Camp comparison covers the difficulty and scenery differences in more depth.
Both itineraries share the same Nayapul-to-Ghorepani opening stretch, so trekkers who've done ABC and want to try the Circuit next already know exactly what the first two days will demand.
