Trekking Partners NepalAnnapurna Base Camp Trek
Walk through Gurung villages and bamboo forest into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a natural amphitheatre ringed by Annapurna I, Machapuchare and Hiunchuli.
- Duration7–12 days
- Highest point4,130 m
- DifficultyModerate
- Best seasonMar–May, Oct–Nov
Prefer to go with a local guide? The full Annapurna Base Camp Trek itinerary, cost and dates are on Discover Parbat, the Parbat-based company that runs our fixed departures.
Trekkers looking for partners
No open partner posts for Annapurna Base Camp yet. Be the first – post your dates and others heading this way will find you.
Post a tripWho the Annapurna Base Camp trek suits
ABC is one of the best first "big" treks in Nepal. You walk up through Gurung villages like Ghandruk and Chhomrong, then into the bamboo and rhododendron forest of the Modi Khola gorge, and finally out into the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 m with Annapurna I, Machapuchare and Hiunchuli all around you.
It's rated moderate, and that's fair, but don't underestimate the stairs. The days around Chhomrong and Sinuwa are thousands of stone steps up and down, which is harder on the knees than the altitude. If you're reasonably fit, walk regularly and are happy with five to seven hours on your feet, you'll be fine. You don't need any previous high-altitude experience.
Do you need a guide or permit?
No guide is required for ABC, and you don't need a TIMS card. You do need the ACAP permit (Annapurna Conservation Area), which you can get yourself at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Pokhara or Kathmandu. Full details in Do You Need a Guide to Trek in Nepal?
The trail is well marked and busy in season, so it isn't hard to follow. We still recommend a local guide, especially on your first trek or in winter, when snow can build up above Deurali.
Best months, and when it's easiest to find a partner
October–November gives the clearest views and the most trekkers on the trail, so it's the easiest time to find a partner. March–April is the other peak, with rhododendrons in bloom and slightly hazier mountains. December to February is quieter and cold at the top but still very doable with warm gear. In the monsoon (June–August) expect rain, leeches and cloud, and far fewer people.
In peak season you'll find people heading to ABC almost every day. In winter and monsoon, post your dates a few weeks ahead.
Doing ABC with a partner
- Where to meet: Pokhara Lakeside is the natural meeting point. Meet there the day before, pick up your ACAP permits together and share a jeep to the trailhead.
- What to share: the jeep or taxi to and from the trailhead, twin rooms in the teahouses, and a guide or porter if you hire one.
- Where you can split up: Chhomrong is the natural junction. One of you can add Poon Hill on the way in, or the Jhinu hot springs on the way out, and you can still share the main stretch to base camp.
- Stay together between Deurali and Machapuchare Base Camp, especially after snowfall. This is the avalanche-prone part of the gorge.
Trek Annapurna Base Camp with a local guide
A licensed guide isn't mandatory on Annapurna Base Camp, and the rule isn't enforced on most of Nepal's trails, but we still recommend trekking with a local guide.
An experienced guide isn't only there to show you the way. They know the families who run the teahouses and homestays, explain the villages, monasteries, festivals and food you'd otherwise walk straight past, help you talk with local people, watch for altitude sickness and changing weather, and handle rooms, permits and transport so you can simply enjoy the walk. Many trekkers say their guide was the best part of the trip.
Discover Parbat is a licensed local trekking company from Parbat, near Pokhara, with experienced guides who know these trails and the people along them. Trekking with a partner? Share one guide and split the cost.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Discover Parbat →Contact Discover Parbat
Annapurna Base Camp: frequently asked questions
Can I trek to Annapurna Base Camp without a guide?
Yes. A guide is not required on the ABC trail in 2026. You only need the ACAP permit, which you can get yourself in Pokhara or Kathmandu. TIMS is not required.
Is Annapurna Base Camp hard for beginners?
It is moderate. The altitude is manageable at 4,130 m, but the many stone staircases make it tiring. Reasonably fit beginners do it every season.
Is ABC good to trek solo?
In peak season the trail is busy and well marked, so solo trekkers are rarely alone for long. A partner helps with costs and safety, especially in winter.
Can I combine Poon Hill and ABC?
Yes. Many trekkers start via Ghorepani and Poon Hill, then cross to Tadapani and Chhomrong to join the ABC trail.
Heading to Annapurna Base Camp? Post your dates and find someone to trek with. It's free.
Questions about Annapurna Base Camp
Trail conditions, permits and gear, answered by trekkers who were just there and our local team.
No questions about Annapurna Base Camp yet. Wondering about snow, permits or teahouses? Ask – we’ll answer.
All Annapurna Base Camp questions →More treks in Annapurna
All Annapurna treks →
Annapurna Circuit
The classic loop around the Annapurna massif, from subtropical valleys through Manang to the Thorong La pass and down to Muktinath.
Ghorepani Poon Hill
A short trek through rhododendron forest to the famous Poon Hill sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Great for first-timers.
Mardi Himal
A ridge trail climbing above the forest to close-up views of Machapuchare (Fishtail) and Mardi Himal.