Poon Hill with Annapurna Base Camp Trekking

Overview

The Annapurna Base Camp Trek (ABC) starts from the tourist town of Pokhara. You need to drive for about an hour to get to the starting point. If you don’t have much time, then you can take a walk through the Ghandruk village and embark to the ABC. However, we recommend the trek via Ghorepani where you’ll follow the trail to Chhomrong to gradually reach the ABC. Mostly, the trek goes through the rhododendron forest. The breath-taking views of the white peaks act as the backdrop.

The ABC trek is also a culturally significant trek. The Annapurna region is dominated by ethnic groups like Gurung, Magar, Thakali, Brahmins, Chhetriyas and others. The ethnic groups are involved in the cultural preservation and unique social structure. They are also involved in offering you hospitality. As you pass their communities, you can feel the hardship of the people in the Himalayan region. You also get an opportunity to feel their cultural grandeur.

The natural wonders are abundant. The Annapurna base camp is surrounded by the white peaks, so it is known as the natural amphitheatre. During the trek to ABC, you can explore the panoramas of Fishtail, Annapurna I-IV, Lamjung Himal, Manaslu, Himchuli and dozens of other peaks. Of course, the pine and rhododendron forest also interest you. If you want to take some beautiful photographs and see spectacular views then this trek is perfect for you.

For more details about the trek to Annapurna Base Camp, feel free to contact us. We will provide you with Annapurna trekking guides, the required arrangements and your itinerary.

Day to day itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

After landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu from your designated destination, you will be greeted by a representative of the travel company at the arrival gate who will then take you to your hotel. If you have any spare time, you can either visit the city or relax at the hotel to overcome your jet lag. O/N at Hotel.

Day 2: Familiarisation walk & trek preparation day

Today after breakfast, you will meet with the guide and walk around Thamel to familiarise yourself with it. Today, we will also examine your trekking gear and help you pack for the trek. In the evening, there will be a group discussion for you to attend to discuss the upcoming trekking plans. O/N at Hotel.

Day 3: Kathmandu to Pokhara [6-7 hrs drive]

After exploring the historic Kathmandu valley, you will board a tourist bus which will take you to Pokhara, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. During this bus ride, you can look at Trishuli River, green hills and local villages along the way. You will reach Pokhara in the early afternoon. After lunch, you can wander around the beautiful lake city that is known for enthralling tourists with its superb mountain views. O/N at Hotel.

Day 4: Pokhara to Tikhedhunga (1540m) [4-5 hrs]

This is the day that you will start your trek towards the magnificent Ghoreani Poon Hill.  You will be dropped off at Nayapul, which is an hour and half drive away from Pokhara. Then you will slowly but steadily start climbing towards Birethanti, a cultural town beside the Modi River. During the mid-day, you will reach Sudami, followed by Hile and then you’ll make the final stop of the day at Tikhedunga. O/N at Lodge.

Day 5: Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2870m) [5-6 hrs]

This is where the fun begins. After a long previous day, you will still have to wake up early. You’ll start by walking towards Ulleri village.  You will enjoy walking on today’s trails as they offer scenic, amazing views of Himalayan ranges to the north. After a few hours, the trails will lead you towards rhododendron and oak forests before reaching Ghorepani. O/N at Lodge.

Day 6: Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3210m) to Tadapani (2710m) [6-7 hrs]

This is the most interesting day of the trip, because you’ll be hiking towards Poon Hill in the early morning. The trail will lead you towards aromatic pine and rhododendron forests. You will have to be quick so that you can reach Poon Hill in time to watch the most stunning sunrise view. After hiking for an hour you will reach the first destination of the day.  You can wander around the place and stretch your limbs while you look at the magnificent sunrise view. Also, if you look to the north you will see the terrific views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Himchuli and Machhapuchchhre. After spending some time at the magnificent hill, the trek heads towards Tadapani. O/N at Lodge.

Day 7: Tadapani to Chhomrong (2170m) [4-5 hrs]

We will enjoy the early morning sunrise in Tadapani and get ready to continue our trek. Leaving Tadapani behind, we will trek down for an hour until we reach Kimron Khola. We will then ascend until we reach Chhomrong. We will be bestowed with rewarding views of Annapurna and Fishtail Mountain while going to Chhomrong. Chhomrong is a small but beautiful village located by Annapurna Massif. O/N at Lodge.

Day 8: Chhomrong to Himalaya (2920m) [6-7 hrs]

We will have our breakfast and head towards Himalaya. The trail passes through Modi Khola and enters the wooden slopes of the Himalayas. We will cross the suspension bridge and ascend to Sinuwa Danda. The trail then goes through the dense rhododendron forest and reaches Khuldighar. We will later descend along the stony slopes into the deep bamboo and rhododendron forest to reach Himalaya. O/N at Lodge.

Day 9: Himalaya to Annapurna Base Camp (4130m) [6-7 hrs]

Our day starts with a gradual ascent following the trail above the river through the dense forest. We then cross two streams and pass through solitary places. The beautiful scenery will make our adventure even more vibrant and exotic. We may spot a variety of wildlife like wild pigs, deer and snow leopards during the trek. We will later climb to Hinko Cave and ascend further until we reach Deurali. From Deurali, we will climb through the river bank and then we’ll climb to the mountain side. We need to be careful as there are avalanche prone areas at some points in the trail. Later, we will reach Bagar and MBC. The MBC offers superb views of Machhapuchhre, Mt. Hiunchuli, Mt Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Annapurna II and Gangapurna. After having lunch at MBC we will continue our trek to Annapurna Base Camp. O/N at Lodge.

Day 10: Explore Annapurna Base Camp, trek back to Bamboo (2335m) [6-7 hrs]

Today we will explore around the Annapurna Base Camp, enjoy the sunrise with the beautiful scenery, and we will also watch snow boulders melting to form small streams. We will enjoy the breath-taking views of the south face of Annapurna towering above the sanctuary. The ABC offers a wonderful view of the Himalayas including Machhapuchhere, Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Hiunchuli and other majestic peaks. Later, after breakfast, we will trek down to Bamboo. O/N at Lodge.

Day 11: Bamboo to Jhinu (1760) [5-6 hrs]

We will have an early breakfast and continue our trek to reach Jhinu. The trail leads us uphill to the ridge before reaching Sinuwa. The trail then drops down to a hill from where we’ll ascend to reach Chhomrong. Further on, we will reach Jhinu. In Jhinu, we can enjoy bathing in a natural hot spring. O/N at Lodge.

Day 12: Jhinu to Nayapul to Pokhara [5-6 Hours trek, 1 hour drive]

We will start by crossing the bridge to reach Kyumi Village. From Kyumi Village, we will trek to Syauli Bazaar and then descend down to Birethanti. We will reach Nayapul about 1 hour after reaching Birethanti. We will stop our trek after reaching Nayapul. We will get into a vehicle that will drive us to Pokhara. Upon reaching Pokhara, we will check in to the hotel and rest for the night.

Day 13: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu [6-7 hrs]

We will drive back to Kathmandu in a tourist bus today. Driving back to Kathmandu is fun as it offers wonderful views of beautiful rivers, landscapes and traditional villages on our way back. When we reach Kathmandu, we will organize a farewell dinner at an authentic Nepali restaurant. The traditional dances and cultural shows at the restaurants are a great opportunity to learn more about the Nepali culture and tradition. After the dinner, we will go back to the hotel.

Day 14: Transfer to the Airport

Today, we will drive you to the Tribhuvan International Airport about 3 hours before your flight.