Annapurna Base Camp via Poonhill
Description
Trek Highlights
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Poon Hill Sunrise
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Annapurna Base Camp
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Authentic Gurung and Magar Villages
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Natural Hot Springs
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Rhododendron Forests
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Himalayan Panoramas
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Cultural Encounters
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Alpine Landscapes
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Stunning Sunsets
Each day brings new adventures and unforgettable memories in the heart of the Annapurna region.
Included/Exclude
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
- Day 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (800 m)
On the first day of our trek, we will drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara which is approximately 200 km but due to the ongoing highway construction it might take around 8-10 hours depending on the traffic and road condition. Most of the roads are bumpy and dusty but offering beautiful greenery view of the surrounding hills from the window. We will have our lunch on the way. Pokhara is one of the most beautiful cities of Nepal, also known as the lake city and tourism capital of Nepal. This city offers magnificent mountain view and chilled time at the lakeside. There are plenty of places to explore around for day tour and side hikes as well as lots of bar, pub and club for night life. If you want to save time and have a half day exploration around Pokhara, you can take a Kathmandu-Pokhara flight. (200 km, 8-10 hr)
- Day 2: Drive to Banthati, then trek to Ghorepani (2860 m)
This day will be our first walking day of the trek. We will skip most of the motor roads as they are not best for walking because of excessive dust and smoke by the jeeps on the trail. We will take a jeep drive from Pokhara to Banthanti of around 3 hours. Banthanti (2200 m) is a small settlement in the middle of the forest, our starting point of the hike. Entering through the beautiful lush forest of rhododendron, we will reach Nangethati, where we will have our lunch. The trail is full of beautiful red, pink and while rhododendron blooming all over the forest during March-April. After lunch, continue through the lush rhododendron forest and climb some stone steps to reach Ghorepani. Ghorepani is a small town situated on a hill station which is very popular due to the famous view point, Poonhill. There are numerous teahouses and hotel offering magnificent view of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Ghorepani is the ending point of the popular classic Annapurna Circuit Trek. Most of the local people are Gurung and Magar. (5.5 km, 3-4 hr, altitude gain - approx. 2000 m)
- Day 3: Early morning hike to Poonhill (3210 m); trek to Tadapani (2680 m)
Early morning hike to Poonhill (3210 m) for the sunrise view at 4.30 am (depending on the sunrise time). Lots of stairs all the way up to the view point. After reaching there, spend some quality time enjoying the amazing sunrise and mountain view with a cup of tea/coffee. Descend down to Ghorepani, pack our stuffs and eat breakfast. Then, we descend down towards Tadapani via Deurali. This trail includes lots of stone stairs and hills going up and down throughout the day. Once we reach Banthanti, we will stop for lunch and again continue some ups and downs toward Tadapani. Tadapani is a beautiful village settlement offering magnificent view of Mt. Fishtail, Mt. Annapurna South and Hiuchuli. Some people descend down to Ghandruk, a big Gurung tribe village and some descend down to Chuile for ABC trek. Other beautiful treks like Muldai and Khopra, are also accessible from here. (12 km, 7 hr, altitude loss - 200 m)
- Day 4: Trek from Tadapani to Upper Sinuwa (2340 m)
After breakfast, descend down to Chuile through the uneven stone stairs and then some Nepali flat. Cross numerous suspension bridge to reach Chomrong, a large settlement of the Gurung tribe people. We will have our lunch here. Its a quite big settlement with ACAP check post, souvenir shop, bakery, school and government offices. After lunch, descend down to cross the suspension bridge and ascend steep uphill all the way upto Upper Sinuwa via Tilje and Bhanuwa. (12 km, 7 hr, altitude loss - 300 m)
- Day 5: Trek from Upper Sinuwa to Deurali (3200 m)
The trail this day is mostly up and down deep through the lush green forest following the Modi River. There are lots of stone stairs to climb up and down with some wooden and metal bridges over the streams and river. Chances of seeing some deer, monkey and beautiful birds. Dense forest of bamboo, oak and rhododendron up to the Himalaya and then tree line slowly getting thin as the altitude goes high. Amazing waterfall named 108 chahara flowing from a huge cliff. Risky landslide area between Himalaya and Deurali, need to be very careful mostly when its snowy or rainy. Deurali is situated in between big walls of the rocky hill of Annapurna ranges. The weather there changes drastically with loads of fog and rain and then again back to normal. Mainly, starts getting cold and temperature might drop to negative during night. (11 km, 7 hr, altitude gain - 900 m)
- Day 6: Trek from Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp via MBC (7 km, 5 hrs)
After Deurali, most of the trails are nepali flat with astonishing views of Mt. Fishtail and surrounding mountains along with the river view. The trails are uneven stone piled up until we reach Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC), which is the base of Mt. Fistail (6993 m). It will take around 2 hours to reach ABC from MBC. Annapurna Base Camp is surrounded by mountains from each side. Generally, it starts getting windy from the afternoon and temperature may decrease to negative during night. If the weather is clear then glamorous sunset view in the evening followed by good night sky. (7 km, 5 hr, altitude gain - 900 m)
- Day 7: Trek back to Bamboo (2500 m)
Early morning, wake up to enjoy an amazing sunrise view. This will be one of your best sunrise view in your lifetime as the whole mountain turns red and golden during the sunrise. Breakfast at the hotel and then descend down all the way upto Bamboo retracing the trail. Passing MBC, Deurali, Himalaya and Dovan. (14 km, 7 hr)
- Day 8: Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu Hot Spring (9 km, 4.5 hrs)
Retrace the trail all the way upto Chomrong. Enjoy a cup of coffee and bakery items at the German Bakery with the view of Mt. Annapurna South, Hiuchuli and Fishtail. Then, descend towards Jhinu Danda via stone steps. Jhinu Danda is a small village with number of hotel and teahouses. The main attraction of this place is the natural hot spring which lies on the bank of Modi River. This hot spring is perfect for trekkers as it relaxes all the body muscles after the long hectic trek. (9 km, 4-5 hr)
- Day 9: Drive back to Pokhara
The last day of our trek. We will walk up to the other side of the river from where we will drive to Pokhara lakeside for successful completion of ABC trek.
Tour Location
Calendar & Price
Frequently ask Question
Accommodation during the trek?
This trek includes multiple nights at the mountain/lodges, where we will be selecting the best available lodge and hotels during the whole trip. Most of the rooms in the mountains will be provided with attached bathrooms but places where it is not available, we need to share common bathrooms. You can find some teahouses and lodges with good services on the trekking routes during your trekking days. But as you ascend higher they become more basic. Rooms are basic, almost every room consists of a twin beds with a mattress, pillow and blankets. You can share a room with a fellow trekker with whom you feel at ease. Although, each lodge has its own set of standards, please do not anticipate luxurious accommodations, particularly in the mountains. Most teahouses offer hot showers, boiled drinking water, extra blankets, charging stations, and WIFI for an additional fee. The price of teahouses is determined by the location and facilities/services they offer.
Food/Meals during the trek?
For trekking in the Himalayas, our body requires enough starch, protein and nutrition as food is the main source of energy for hiking on such vast Himalayan trails. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included in your trek package during the whole trek. Usually, lunch is served on the way to our destination and breakfast and dinner will be offered at the same hotel where we spend our night. The services are basic, with some popular western, Asian or local Nepalese menu which is the most popular and consumed. The most popular and common menu includes Dal-Bhat set, consisting of rice, lentils and vegetables, also, noodle items, spaghetti, pasta, momo (dumpling), Tibetan bread, chapatti, Local Tsampa Porridge, potatoes, sandwiches, macaroni, pizza, vegetable curry and many more. The desert items like Rice pudding, apple pie and chocolate pudding are available on the menu during the trek. Although there are lots of varieties of food, you cannot compare them with the choices available in large cities as local agricultural products are used to prepare meals on the trek. Some other ingredients which cannot be grown at the particular elevation are purchases from the market. Advance order of breakfast and dinner will be taken to save time on the trek; breakfast orders are usually taken after dinner and dinner orders are taken as soon as you arrive at the teahouse. Depending on the schedule of the day, our day will begin. Breakfast will be served in your lodge each morning, after which you will leave the hotel for next destination. An evening briefing will be given each day to let you know the plans for the next day. During noon, you will stop for lunch on the trail at any nearby lodge. At high-altitudes, it is strongly advised to drink hot liquid drinks with fresh vegetable and fruits. Drink plenty of water, not all at once but regularly on time intervals to keep you hydrated. It is always the best choice to avoid smoking cigarette, consuming too much alcohol, non-vegetarian foods like meat, caffeine containing drinks, hot chocolate, dairy and cheese products on high altitude treks as these things can increase the chance of getting altitude sickness and diarrhea.
Safe Drinking Water?
There is no problem with drinking water availability. The majority of locations sell bottled mineral water, yet there is rarely a place to discard disposable bottles. We urge visitors to take whatever action they can to preserve the environment. Purchasing single-use plastic bottles is not something we advise. The trail is clear of bottles and trash when you purchase or bring your own Nalgene bottles for the hike. Another way to obtain drinking water is to fill up your water bottle at tea shops. The water in a number of guesthouses is filtered by Euro-guard. Tea establishments also sell boiled filter water, which is perfectly safe to drink but might not be very cheap for the duration of the hike. Avoid drinking river water as it is typically contaminated with sand and ice, and it might also contain animal feces and toilet runoff. Although the tap water in the lodges is better since it comes from high up, far from rivers and pure glaciers, it still needs to be treated. Use Lugols solution, often known locally as iodine drops (3 per liter), which are sold at Kathmandu's Thamel supermarkets. Another option are the tablets with a chlorine base, however the water does taste like them. As an alternative, you could get a Steripen, which is a little fragile to carry on the hike but uses UV to kill the bacteria. Modern technology makes the Aquaprove water purification tablet the finest choice. Above all, it is effective against every germ found in contaminated water. It is all-natural, tasteless, lightweight, and easy to use.
Physical Fitness for the trek?
Trekking in Nepal's high altitudes requires the highest physical condition. It can be challenging without some pre-trek training or a high degree of fundamental fitness. To get ready for the hike, we advise jogging, walking, hiking up the hill, and using stairs instead of elevators and also some exercises including biking, rowing, and swimming. Basic further experience and strength required for Trekking: 1. The ability to hike for 6-7 hours a day, 2. To make your ascent considerably easier, we recommend that you prepare by running 4–5 kilometers at home while carrying some weight on your back. Alternatively, go for regular walks and runs on the treadmill, 3. You should go hiking with a full backpack on your back once a week if you live near an uphill place or mountain. Instead of using an elevator to travel up or down, utilize the steps if there are no mountains or steep hills nearby. Frequent biking, rowing, and swimming are other effective means of preserving your physical strength. 4. Drink lots of water and provide your body with frequent, modest meals that are high in nutrients. 5. Use a trek grading system to determine the kind of trekking that is best for you. There are four categories for the treks: easy, moderate, hard, and demanding. This trek is considered moderate. 6. Strive for your goals and the limits of your physical abilities. Don't exert yourself too much. Hiking is not an athletic endeavor. It is gratifying and soothing. 7. Walk normally as you feel comfortable. You won't have to hurry to catch up to the speedier walkers in the front because an assistant guide will always be at the back of the group. 8. Walking becomes easier while using trekking poles since they lessen the weight of the body and bag on the legs. 9. To prevent blisters, get a full trekking boot that fits your foot type, is supportive around the ankle, and has a durable Vibram sole.
Difficulties during the trek?
Altitude sickness like nausea, breathing difficulties, and headache becomes common, but always let your guide know about your condition and situation High-tech facilities like Wi-fi and ATM get exorbitant at high lands like Manang, Peak season gives rise to the insufficiency of guest houses and lodges on Annapurna, so prior booking is a great option, Accommodations are economic with no luxurious items and extra facilities, There are some landslide risk areas on the trail which will be briefed by the guide everyday for possible risks.
AMS (Altitude Sickness)
Trekking's greatest risk is acute mountain sickness (AMS). When the body is exposed to a greater elevation in a little amount of time and is unable to adjust to the changing air pressures, anyone might become a victim of this illness. The oxygen content and air pressure drop as you fly higher. Although our bodies can withstand the shift, it will take some time for them to gradually adjust. It might be fatal if treatment is delayed and it becomes severe. To avoid it, you can take a few precautions. Avoid going too quickly or too high. Ascend steadily and reach the summit. Go slowly and as high as seems comfortable for you. Walk slowly and cut down on the amount of time you spend walking until you reach 2000 meters. Sip a lot of water. Get lots of sleep. Take extra time to relax if you feel that your body needs it. Give up smoking and alcohol consumption. Before beginning each day's hike, practice meditation and warm-up exercises. For every 1000 meters of height rise, allow one day for acclimatization. There are two more serious but less common severe forms of altitude sickness. Both have the potential to be fatal. You must descend immediately to receive medical care. High-altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) causes the lungs to swell with excess fluid, which makes breathing difficult even when at rest. You experience extreme exhaustion, weakness, and perhaps a sense of suffocation. A dry cough, nose breathing, shortness of breath, fever, chest tightness, rapid heart rates, congestion, swelling, and fainting are the symptoms of HAPE. If HAPE is not promptly treated by lowering the altitude or using oxygen, it can be fatal. The main characteristic of High altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is a buildup of fluid on the brain that causes swelling. There may be disarray, lack of cooperation, and even violent conduct. Additional symptoms of HACE include hallucinations, unconsciousness, fever, exhaustion, photophobia, hypertension, coma, dyspnea, and difficulty walking. If HACE is not treated right away, it may be fatal. By quickly descending, altitude sickness's early symptoms can be alleviated. You should consult a physician, nevertheless, if you are suffering from extremely severe acute symptoms of mountain sickness. Acetazolamide is a medication that helps relieve dyspnea and minimize the symptoms of altitude sickness. Additionally, you might receive the steroid Dexamethasone. However, it is never advised to use such medications until the situation is harsh.
Waste Management during the trek!
Leave No Traces, Only the Footprints! Remove your own trash. To promote sustainable tourism, we plan eco-friendly travel and engage in responsible ecotourism. The absence of a strong waste management program in Nepal has resulted in considerable harm to the trekking trail. Behave and travel responsibly. It is our preference that all of our customers bring their trash, keep it in a bag or container, and properly dispose of it in a dustbin or designated area.
Tipping
Your guides, porters, and staff do not receive pay for tips, although it is much appreciated. Tipping is generally recognized in Nepalese culture as a kind of gesture of gratitude ("Dhanyabaad") for excellent service. Usually, recommendations are given at the conclusion of the hike, and it's ideal to do this as a group. On the final day of the walk, most groups offer the tips.

