Annapurna Base Camp Trek: 8-Day Himalayan Walk & Local Lodges

Summary

Himalayan mornings, village warmth, and the Annapurna Sanctuary

You’ll start your Annapurna Base Camp trek with a private drive from Pokhara before hiking through Gurung villages and bamboo forests alongside an English-speaking guide. Nights are spent in cozy local lodges with mountain views; you’ll reach both Machhapuchare and Annapurna Base Camps before relaxing in natural hot springs at Jhinu. Expect moments of quiet awe — and probably sore legs too.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Drive and trek to Ghandruk village

• Drive from Pokhara to Nayapul
• Start trekking to Bhirethati village
• Walk along Modi River through farm areas
• Climb stone steps to Ghandruk village
• Overnight stay in Ghandruk lodge

Day 2 — Trek from Ghandruk to Chomrong

• Walk uphill to Kimrong Danda ridge
• Descend to Kimrong River valley
• Climb to hilltop above Chomrong
• Descend to Chomrong village
• Overnight stay in Chomrong village

Day 3 — Trek from Chomrong to Dovan

• Descend to bridge over Chomrong River
• Climb to Sinuwa Danda ridge
• Walk through forest to Bamboo settlement
• Gradual walk to Dovan
• Overnight stay in Dovan lodges

Day 4 — Trek to Machhapuchare Base Camp

• Walk past Himalaya Hotel and Hinko cave
• Descend near Modi River
• Climb to Deurali alpine bushes
• Continue uphill to Machhapuchare Base Camp
• Overnight stay at base camp lodge

Day 5 — Trek to Annapurna Base Camp

• Short walk from base camp to sanctuary plateau
• Reach Annapurna Base Camp welcome sign
• Enjoy views of Annapurna peaks
• Overnight stay at Fish-Tail guest house

Day 6 — Trek from Base Camp to Bamboo

• Descend from Annapurna Base Camp
• Walk through alpine and forest zones
• Reach Bamboo settlement
• Overnight stay in Bamboo lodges

Day 7 — Trek to Jhinu Village with hot springs

• Return trek to Chomrong
• Divert to Jhinu village ridge
• Visit natural hot springs pools
• Overnight stay in Jhinu area

Day 8 — Trek to Siwai and drive to Pokhara

• Trek downhill through farm and paddy fields
• Drive to scenic Pokhara
• Overnight stay near Lake Phewa

Top questions

How long does the Annapurna Base Camp trek take?

The trek takes 8 days starting and ending in Pokhara.

Is hotel pickup included from Pokhara?

Yes, private transport from Pokhara to Nayapul is included at the start and end.

Are guides provided during the trek?

Yes, an experienced English-speaking guide is included throughout.

What kind of accommodation is available on this trek?

You stay in local lodges or guesthouses along the route each night.

Are meals included during the trek?

Standard accommodation includes meals at each overnight stop.

Do I need special permits for this trek?

Yes, all required permits (TIMS card and park entry) are arranged for you.

Is there a hot spring visit on this route?

Yes, you can visit natural hot springs at Jhinu village near Modi River.

How difficult is this Annapurna Base Camp trek?

You should have moderate fitness; there are daily climbs and descents.

What’s included

Your journey includes private vehicle pickup from Pokhara to Nayapul (and back), all national park entry fees plus TIMS trekking permits handled ahead of time, an experienced English-speaking guide who walks with you each day, nights spent in local lodges with meals provided along the way, access to natural hot springs at Jhinu if you want to soak tired muscles afterward — plus little extras like maps and support if anything goes sideways out there.

What’s the experience like?

“You’ll feel it in your legs tomorrow,” our guide Hari grinned as we reached Ghandruk just before dusk. He wasn’t wrong — those stone steps out of Nayapul are no joke. But honestly, I was too distracted by the smell of wood smoke and the way the last light hit Machhapuchare’s peak to care much about my calves. We’d started in Pokhara that morning, windows down, passing rice paddies and honking jeeps until suddenly the road just... stopped, and it was boots-on for the Annapurna Base Camp trek. The first night in Ghandruk felt like stepping into someone else’s story — old men playing cards outside a tea house, kids darting between chickens, mountain air sharper than I expected.

The second day was a blur of ridges and rivers — Kimrong Danda for sweet tea (I tried to order in Nepali; Hari laughed), then down into mossy forest where everything smelled green and wet. Chomrong showed up after what felt like hours of switchbacks. It’s the last big village before you really head into the wild bits. The lodges here are simple but warm; I remember sitting with a bowl of dal bhat watching clouds snag on Annapurna South. That night, someone’s radio played an old Hindi song through thin walls — kind of comforting actually.

After Chomrong things get quieter, more remote. You walk through bamboo groves so dense it feels like dusk even at noon, with only bird calls and your own breath for company. Bamboo itself is just a few lodges huddled by the river — nothing fancy but enough after a long day’s walk. Climbing higher towards Machhapuchare Base Camp is where it got real for me: thinner air, less chatter among trekkers, snow crunching underfoot even in April. The morning we left for Annapurna Base Camp proper was so clear you could see every icy wrinkle on those peaks — I still think about that view when city life gets loud.

The return felt different somehow — lighter maybe? We stopped at Jhinu for a soak in the hot springs by Modi River (worth every step). My legs were jelly but floating there with steam rising and mountains overhead… well, I didn’t expect to feel so small and lucky at the same time. Last stretch back to Pokhara went fast; muddy boots off, dust in my hair, but heart full.