Annapurna Base Camp Trek (ABC): The Complete Guide

If there is one trek in the Himalayas that combines a genuinely big mountain with reasonable difficulty and an affordable price, it is the Annapurna Base Camp Trek — also known as ABC or the Annapurna Sanctuary. In just 7 to 11 days, starting from Pokhara, you climb to 4,130 metres and find yourself literally inside a natural amphitheatre ringed by peaks over 7,000 and 8,000 metres: Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and the iconic Machapuchare (Fishtail, 6,993m). No wonder Nepalis call it the "sanctuary of the gods".

Together with Poon Hill, it is the most popular choice for travellers doing their first big trek — lower altitude and a smaller risk of altitude sickness than the Everest Base Camp trek, with none of the expensive, nerve-wracking flight into Lukla. In this guide you will find everything: a day-by-day itinerary, the real difficulty, the 2026 permit rules, cost in euros, the best seasons, how to combine it with Poon Hill and what life in the teahouses is actually like.

At a glance

What the Annapurna Sanctuary is and why to choose it

The "Sanctuary" is a high, enclosed glacial basin that opens only through a narrow gorge between Hiunchuli and Machapuchare. As you climb, the landscape changes dramatically: subtropical forests of bamboo and rhododendron, then alpine meadows and finally moraine and ice. Unlike the Annapurna Circuit (12–18 days, looping around the whole massif), ABC takes you straight into the heart of the mountains and brings you back quickly.

Why it suits first-timers to big treks:

• Lower altitude: 4,130m instead of EBC's 5,364m — a much smaller altitude-sickness risk.
• Good ascent profile: you sleep relatively low until late in the route, so your body acclimatises naturally.
• Dense teahouses: a hot meal and a bed every 1–2 hours — no tent or food to carry.
• Easy access: you start from Pokhara, with no dangerous mountain flights.

Difficulty: how demanding it really is

It is rated moderate. You need no mountaineering experience, ropes or crampons in a normal season. You do need leg endurance: the trail has endless stone staircases — the climb to and from Chomrong is thousands of steps. An average hiker walks 5–7 hours a day.

The two real challenges are: (1) the altitude on the final two days up to MBC/ABC, where the air thins and your pace drops, and (2) the relentless up-and-down that wears out knees and thighs. With 6–8 weeks of preparation (walking with a pack, stairs, cycling), ABC is entirely achievable for any healthy adult. Be sure to read the section on altitude acclimatisation below.

Day-by-day itinerary (classic 7-day)

With modern jeep access up to Siwai/Kimche, the "classic" ABC has been condensed into a comfortable, well-acclimatised 7 days. Here is the safest, most realistic plan:

The highlight: you wake at ABC before dawn, when the first light paints the peaks of Annapurna I and Machapuchare golden all around you. It is one of the most powerful mountain sights you will ever see. You start descending the same day, since a second night at 4,130m is not recommended.

10–12 day variant (with Poon Hill): instead of the jeep, you start from Nayapul, climb to Ghorepani, catch sunrise from Poon Hill (3,210m), pass through Tadapani and join the ABC trail at Chomrong. This combination gives better acclimatisation, two separate sunrise spectacles and the most complete experience of the region.

Permits (2026 status)

For ABC you need:

• ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): ~NPR 3,000 (~€22) for foreigners. Issued at the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara, or through your agency. Bring 2 passport photos.
• Licensed guide (mandatory): since 2023 Nepal requires a licensed guide for teahouse treks inside protected areas such as Annapurna. Independent, guide-free trekking is effectively no longer permitted. Your guide also arranges the TIMS card through an agency.
• TIMS card: historically compulsory; today it is issued together with the guide/agency. Confirm the current status when you book.

Good news: there is no extra "restricted-area" fee for ABC (unlike, e.g., Upper Mustang at $500/10 days). Trekking permits in Nepal are generally simple for the Annapurna region.

Cost in euros

ABC is one of the best value-for-money treks in the Himalayas. Indicative costs (excluding the international flight):

Total on-the-ground budget: a budget independent ABC comes to ~€350–500, an organised trek with guide and porter ~€600–900, and a comfort/premium package with better lodges and transfers €900+. Add the Athens–Kathmandu flight (~€430–800 return) with one stop (Turkish via Istanbul, Qatar via Doha, Etihad/Emirates via Abu Dhabi/Dubai). There is no direct flight.

Best time for ABC

For Annapurna, October–November is the top choice. More in our guide to the best time to visit Nepal.

Combining it with Poon Hill

If you have the time, the Poon Hill + ABC combination is the ideal first Himalayan experience. Ghorepani–Poon Hill adds 3–4 days, gives you a second magical sunrise over the Dhaulagiri range, and significantly improves your acclimatisation before you climb to 4,130m. It is also a gentler introduction: the rhododendron forests between Ghorepani and Tadapani are among the most beautiful in Nepal in spring.

Teahouses: accommodation and food

All along the route you sleep in teahouses — simple family-run lodges. What to know:

• Rooms: basic, with two beds and a blanket; your own sleeping bag (comfort ~ -10°C) is a must higher up.
• Food: dal bhat (rice, lentils, vegetables) is king — it comes with free refills and gives you the energy to climb. You will also find momo, noodles, pancakes and tea.
• Hot shower / charging / Wi-Fi: available for a fee (€1–4); the higher you go, the pricier and rarer they get.
• Water: never from the tap — buy bottled, or (better, cheaper, greener) treat it with tablets or a filter.
• Signal: NTC has better coverage than Ncell in Annapurna — there is 4G in several spots, even near ABC.

Altitude sickness & safety

Even though ABC is "mild", 4,130m is still serious altitude. Rules that save lives:

• Ascend slowly: do not gain more than 300–500m of sleeping altitude per day above 3,000m. The ABC schedule respects this naturally.
• Drink plenty of water (3–4 litres/day) and avoid alcohol at altitude.
• Listen to your body: a persistent headache, nausea, dizziness = signs of AMS. If they persist, descend — it is the only sure cure.
• Diamox (acetazolamide) 125mg ×2/day as prophylaxis, starting 1–2 days before altitude (always on a doctor's advice).
• Insurance: travel insurance covering trekking up to 4,500m and helicopter evacuation — non-negotiable.

What to pack (the essentials)

• Broken-in hiking boots + trekking socks.
• A layering system: base layer, fleece, down jacket, waterproof-windproof shell.
• Sleeping bag comfort ~ -10°C, trekking poles, head torch.
• UV sunglasses, sunscreen, hat/buff, gloves.
• First-aid kit: painkillers, Diamox, anti-diarrhoea meds, blister plasters, water tablets.
• Cash in NPR (ATMs stop in Pokhara) and a power bank.

Cheaply rent whatever you are missing in Thamel (Kathmandu) or Lakeside (Pokhara).

ABC or Everest Base Camp? The comparison

The most common question before you book your first big trek. Both routes are iconic, but they suit different profiles:

In short: if this is your first big trek, you have 1–2 weeks and you want the best chance of finishing it comfortably, ABC is the wiser choice. Save EBC as the bigger next step.

Preparation & fitness

You do not need to be an athlete, but a focused 6–8 week preparation makes the difference between "I loved it" and "I suffered". Focus on: (a) endurance — 2–3 long walks/hikes a week, ideally on hills and with a 5–7 kg pack; (b) legs & knees — stairs, squats, lunges, because the endless descents tire you out as much as the climbs; (c) cardio — cycling, swimming or running. Test your boots and pack on a real hike beforehand, so nothing surprises you on the mountain.

How to get there from Greece

You fly Athens → Kathmandu (one stop, ~12–18 hours total). From Kathmandu you reach Pokhara by tourist bus (~6–7 hours, €8–12) or flight (~25 minutes, €50–100). ABC starts from Pokhara by jeep. For the overall plan see our Nepal travel guide, and if you want company, our group trip.

ABC with Dimitris

Annapurna Base Camp is arguably the ideal "first big trek" for a traveller from Greece: high enough to feel the real Himalayas, accessible enough not to intimidate. If you would rather not deal with permits, guides and logistics at all, Elysian Himalaya runs ABC as a premium private experience — experienced licensed guides, hand-picked lodges, first-class safety and Greek-language support from start to finish. You just walk and soak in the amphitheatre of the gods.