Annapurna Base Camp itinerary, day by day
The 7-day Annapurna Base Camp itinerary from Pokhara, with sleeping altitudes, stone-step counts to expect, the avalanche-season caution and how to add a day or shorten the walk.
The standard Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) itinerary takes seven days from Pokhara: a morning drive to Siwai, four days of walking up the Modi Khola valley to the base camp at 4,130 m, then three days back. You sleep at Jhinu Danda, Bamboo, Deurali and Annapurna Base Camp on the way up, which makes it one of the shorter treks to a real high-mountain amphitheatre. The catch is that you gain height quickly and the stone staircases are relentless.
Below is the day-by-day plan with altitudes and hours, the points where plans go wrong and ways to stretch it. The full details are on the Annapurna Base Camp route page and the Annapurna region guide.
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The 7 days at a glance
| Day | From - to | Walking | Sleep | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pokhara - Jhinu Danda | 3-4 h plus 3 h drive | 1,780 m | Terraces, first stone steps, hot springs below the village |
| 2 | Jhinu - Bamboo | 6 h | 2,310 m | Chhomrong, the largest Gurung village on the route |
| 3 | Bamboo - Deurali | 5 h | 3,230 m | Bamboo and rhododendron forest, above the treeline |
| 4 | Deurali - ABC | 4-5 h | 4,130 m | Machhapuchhre Base Camp, the amphitheatre |
| 5 | ABC - Bamboo | 6-7 h | 2,310 m | Sunrise, then a fast descent |
| 6 | Bamboo - Jhinu Danda | 5 h | 1,780 m | Chhomrong again, hot springs soak |
| 7 | Jhinu - Pokhara | 2 h plus drive | 820 m | Walk to Siwai, jeep to Pokhara |
Day 1: Pokhara to Jhinu Danda (1,780 m)
Drive to Siwai, about three hours on a winding road, then walk through terraced fields and forest. The route follows the east-bank footpath through Kyumi and New Bridge rather than the jeep track on the west side, with the Modi Khola roaring below. The first miles are warm and steep, and the stone staircases begin early. Jhinu Danda is a small village of lodges with views of Annapurna South, and natural hot springs a short walk below in the valley. Save the soak for the way back.
Day 2: Jhinu Danda to Bamboo (2,310 m)
Climb the long staircase to Chhomrong for views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, have tea, then descend to the Chhomrong Khola and climb again through bamboo forest to Sinuwa and Bamboo. It is up and down, with a lot of steps, and the forest is damp. This is a six-hour day, so start early and eat a proper lunch. Chhomrong is a large village by the standards of this valley, so it is a sensible place to top up snacks and batteries before the higher, smaller lodges.
Day 3: Bamboo to Deurali (3,230 m)
Keep climbing through bamboo and rhododendron past Dovan and the Himalaya Hotel, where the trail steepens and the valley narrows. In spring the forest is full of flowers; in winter the gorge has avalanche chutes crossing the path. Deurali sits above the treeline with big views of Machhapuchhre. The sleeping altitude rises about 920 m, more than the roughly 500 m per night the CDC suggests above 3,000 m, so treat Deurali as the point where you slow down and watch for headache, poor sleep and loss of appetite.
Day 4: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m)
Climb past the avalanche-prone slopes above Deurali, taking care in cold months, and follow the moraine to Machhapuchhre Base Camp at about 3,700 m. A final climb along the Modi Khola moraine takes you into the amphitheatre of ABC. Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna and Machhapuchhre surround the lodges. It is a cold night, and sunrise lights the wall of peaks in the morning. If you feel unwell on arrival, descend rather than sleeping there.
Day 5: ABC to Bamboo (2,310 m)
Get up for sunrise, breakfast and start down. The descent to Deurali is fast, and thicker air helps you sleep. Your knees take the strain on the long staircases, so use poles. Take care on avalanche slopes after snow. You retrace your steps through Dovan and Sinuwa to Bamboo.
Day 6: Bamboo to Jhinu Danda (1,780 m)
Continue through forest to Sinuwa and climb the staircase back up to Chhomrong for a last view of Annapurna South, then descend the steep steps to Jhinu Danda. In the afternoon walk down to the hot springs by the river. The path is steep and slippery when wet.
Day 7: Jhinu Danda to Pokhara
A gentle two to three hour walk down the east bank through Kyumi and New Bridge to Siwai, then a three-hour jeep ride back to Pokhara. If you have energy left, Lakeside has a meal waiting.
A realistic packing and pacing note
The walk is short, but the profile is steep. Daily hours in the table are walking time and do not include tea stops, so plan on seven to nine hours from lodge to lodge on days 2 and 5. Carry a light pack, because the stairs make every extra kilogram count, and keep warm layers and a headlamp in your daypack for the cold mornings at Deurali and ABC. Dry your clothes at Jhinu rather than at high altitude, where nothing dries overnight.
Who this itinerary suits
It suits fit walkers who can climb stairs for five to six hours, have a week and want a high-mountain view without crossing a pass. It is less suitable if you have never been above 3,000 m, if you have knee problems that stairs aggravate, or if you cannot afford to lose a day to weather. In those cases the slower profile of the Everest region treks, or a shorter Annapurna route, may be better.
What breaks the plan
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Heavy snow or avalanche warning above Deurali | Wait a day at Deurali or Bamboo, and turn back if lodge owners advise it |
| Altitude symptoms at Deurali | Rest, do not go up with symptoms, descend if they worsen |
| Landslide or blocked road at Siwai | Keep one spare day at the end of the trip |
| Knee pain on the stairs | Poles, shorter days, and consider a porter for your pack |
Lengthening and shortening
To lengthen it, add a night at Chhomrong on day 2 (it splits the long climbing day in two) and a night at Deurali or Machhapuchhre Base Camp to split day 4. Together that makes nine days and gives your body more time. You cannot realistically shorten the trek below seven days without rushing the altitude. For a shorter alternative with fewer risks, consider Poon Hill or Mardi Himal.
Costs and sharing
The costs that fall with group size are the guide, porter and the private jeep to Siwai; permits, food and rooms do not. Our sample ABC cost split shows how the shared lines work, and finding a partner is the easiest way to lower your share. Browse the other treks in this series to compare.
