Pokhara – Ghandruk – Annapurna Base Camp

Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

Walk through Gurung villages and rhododendron forest into the Annapurna Sanctuary, wake up at 4,130 m beneath Annapurna I, then fly out to Pokhara instead of walking four days back. 10 days from Kathmandu.

4,130 mhighest point, Annapurna Base Camp

Duration: 10 days
Trekking: 4 days, 5–6 hours a day
Highest point: Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130 m
Grade: Moderate, with long stone staircases
Sleeping: Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, lodges on the trek
Best months: October–December and March–May

The trek to Annapurna Base Camp climbs from the rice terraces around Pokhara to a glacier basin surrounded by 7,000 and 8,000 m peaks, in about four days of walking. It's one of the most varied short treks in Nepal: Gurung villages with slate roofs, bamboo and rhododendron forest along the Modi Khola, and finally the narrow gateway below Machhapuchhre into the Sanctuary.

You drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and walk up to Ghandruk, then on through Chhomrong and Sinuwa to Deurali, and finally to Annapurna Base Camp. Sunrise there, as the first light creeps down the face of Annapurna I, is the moment the whole trip has been building to. After breakfast, the helicopter lands at base camp and flies you to Pokhara in about twenty minutes, saving three or four days of steep descent on tired knees.

The price per person depends on the size of your group and includes the bus to Pokhara and back, all lodges and meals on the trek, a guide, porters and the helicopter flight out.

Highlights

Sunrise on Annapurna I from base camp (4,130 m)
Gurung villages of Ghandruk and Chhomrong
Into the Sanctuary below Machhapuchhre
Helicopter from base camp to Pokhara

Price per person by group size

You hire the whole helicopter, and its cost is shared between everyone on board. Travelling solo or as a couple? Ask about a shared seat, which costs the lowest price.

Passengers	Price per person
1 person	US$2,387each
2 people	US$1,540each
3–5 people	US$1,324each
6+ people	US$1,248each

Day by day

1
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu
- Airport pickup and hotel.
2
Day 2: Kathmandu sightseeing
- Pashupatinath and Boudhanath in the morning; kit check in the afternoon.
3
Day 3: Bus to Pokhara (820 m)
- Six to seven hours along the Trishuli and Marsyangdi valleys. Evening by Phewa Lake.
4
Day 4: Drive to Nayapul, walk to Ghandruk (1,940 m)
- An hour's drive, then up through Birethanti to the Gurung village of Ghandruk.
5
Day 5: Ghandruk to Sinuwa (2,360 m)
- Over the Kimrong Khola and through Chhomrong, then down and up again to Sinuwa.
6
Day 6: Sinuwa to Deurali (3,230 m)
- Bamboo and rhododendron forest along the Modi Khola, past Dovan and Himalaya.
7
Day 7: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m)
- Through Machhapuchhre Base Camp and into the Sanctuary. Sunset on Annapurna South.
8
Day 8: Sunrise, then helicopter to Pokhara
- Sunrise on Annapurna I, breakfast, and the 20-minute helicopter flight to Pokhara.
9
Day 9: Bus to Kathmandu
- Back to Kathmandu; farewell dinner in the evening.
10
Day 10: Departure
- Transfer to the airport.

What's included

Airport and hotel transfers by private car
Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
Lodge rooms and three meals a day on the trek
A licensed English-speaking trekking guide, plus one porter for every two trekkers
Down jacket and sleeping bag to borrow
Guide's and porter's wages, food, insurance and gear
Hotel in Pokhara with breakfast
Tourist bus Kathmandu–Pokhara–Kathmandu
Helicopter Annapurna Base Camp–Pokhara (shared seats)
Annapurna Conservation Area permit and trekkers' registration

Not included

International flights and Nepal visa
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover (required)
Drinks, hot showers, battery charging and wifi in the lodges
Tips for the guide, porter and driver

Good to know

Where we meet you: Kathmandu airport, on arrival
Cancellation: If the weather grounds your flight, you can move it to the next clear day or have a full refund. If you cancel more than 10 days before the flight, we refund half of what you've paid; within 10 days, the deposit isn't refundable. Booking terms
Notes: After heavy snow, usually in February and March, the stretch between Deurali and base camp can be closed for a day or two. Don't worry: your guide will adjust the plan.

Questions

Can we fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu instead of the bus?

Yes. The flight takes 25 minutes and costs extra per person. Ask us for the current fare.

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