Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary

Overview

The short Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary you can manage for your Annapurna Base Camp Trek is five days. If you have yet to make plans to hike to other locations like Ghandruk and Ghorepani, upon starting from Pokhara, you’ll be in Pokhara on the 5th day of your Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

Many trekkers need an idea of the short itinerary of ABC Trek. As of this, they end up hiking to other locations first. Suppose you have plans of walking to Ghandruk or Poon Hill, your itinerary changes to 7 to 8 days.

Because of accessibility to moderate-grade trekking routes with ample tea houses and modern amenities, Annapurna Base Camp Trek has often been considered the beginner trekking route. Hiking to the base camp of Annapurna for five days prepares novice trekkers for difficult trekking like Everest Base Camp Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, and Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Here in this five days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary Blog, we’ll guide you through five days on the trek route and what to expect at each overnight stopping place.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary- Detailed Breakdown

Day 1: Drive from Pokhara to Jhinu and trek to Upper Sinuwa

Drive time: 2-3 hours
Trek Time: 4 hours
Lunch at: Chhomrong, 2,140 meters
Overnight in: Upper Sinuwa
Altitude: 2,340 meters

The first day of five days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary starts with a drive from Pokhara to Jhinu via Nayapul.

After you finish breakfast at the hotel in Pokhara, you can take a jeep or bus ride from Pokhara to Nayapul. But, it’s better to reserve a jeep from Pokhara-Jhinu that costs around USD 700. You can share the jeep with four to five other passengers.

You’ll reach Nayapul within one hour of driving from Pokhara. From Nayapul, it’ll take you one and a half hours to go to Jhinu.

After you reach Jhinu, you’ll start the hike. And first, you’ll cross the second longest bridge in Nepal, which is in Jhinu.

You’ll hike for one hour from Jhinu to Chhomrong and stop for lunch. You can also have lunch at tea houses in Jhinu, but lunch at Chhomrong is best.

After lunch, you’ll hike for three comfortable hours with a slow-paced hike to Upper Sinuwa.

The route past Chhomrong consists of descending to a river, crossing the suspension bridge. From the bridge, you’ll gradually ascend to Lower Sinuwa and then to Upper Sinuwa. There are adequate tea houses in Upper Sinuwa that offer the best meals and overnight accommodation.

Day 2: Trek from Upper Sinuwa to Deurali

Trek Time: 6 hours
Lunch at: Himalaya, 2,900 meters
Overnight in: Deurali
Altitude: 3,230 meters

It’s better to start the hike after an adequate breakfast at the tea house.

You may feel cold for the first half hour because you have to hike through some dense vegetation that blocks the sunlight. But as you start walking through the bamboo forest, you’ll get a beautiful glimpse of Machhapuchhre mountain. 

You’ll reach Bamboo at 2,310 meters after a one hour hike from Sinuwa. You can stop at tea houses in Bamboo, rehydrate, or even catch a tea break instead of hiking continuously. Or you can even stop at Dovan at 2,600 meters for a rehydration break.

Two hours of a hike from Bamboo takes you to the Himalayas, where you’ll stop for lunch. There are a handful of tea houses in the Himalayas where you can enjoy fantastic meals. 

You can also read our Meals in Annapurna Base Camp Trek Blog to know more about what meals you can expect in the Himalayas and throughout this trek.

Slow-paced two-hour hike from the Himalayas takes you to Deurali. But we recommend you hike with some pace as it’ll get colder with clouds coming in after 2 pm. There are many tea houses in Deurali that you can accommodate overnight.

Day 3: Trek from Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp

Trek Time: 4 hours
Lunch at: Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130  meters
Overnight in: ABC

On the fourth day of five days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary, you’ll hike from Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp via Machhapuchhre Base Camp for four hours.

Every trekker leaves Deurali around 8 am after breakfast at a tea house in Deurali. The towering hills obstruct the sunlight from Deurali almost to Machhapuchhre Base Camp. Hence, the 1-hour hike in the morning can be chillier.

The trail from Deurali to Machhapuchhre Base Camp is comfortable. You won’t gain much altitude till Machhapuchhre Base Camp as trails progress through the shore of a small stream.

Annapurna Base Camp from Machhapuchhre Base Camp is a two-hour hike. Here too, the trail is relatively steeper, and you’ll have a comfortable hike time.

The actual mountains of the Annapurna range, including Annapurna I, Annapurna South, and Machhapuchhre, appear very close to you.

You can take photographs at the base camp with a hoarding board saying, “Welcome to ABC.” The tea houses in the base camp are 5 minutes away from the photograph board.

You’ll have lunch at the tea house in base camp. Recently, more tea houses have been opened to accommodate many trekkers. And you will be able to find one quickly.

After lunch, you can stroll around the base camp area, capture some timelapse videos, and watch the sunset over Machhapuchhre.

Overnight accommodation and meals at the tea house in the base camp.

Day 4: Trek from Annapurna Base Camp to Bamboo

Trek Time: 6 hours
Lunch at: Dovan, 2,600 meters
Overnight in: Bamboo
Altitude: 2,310 meters

Annapurna Base Camp is ideal for sunrise views over the Annapurna range. You have to wake up at 5:30 am and hike to the viewpoint in the cold, but it is worth it.

And after breakfast at a tea house in the base camp, you can prepare the backpack for the return hike.

Within one hour of the return hike from the base camo, you’ll reach Deurali via Machhapuchhre Base Camp. And from Deurali, you’ll hike to the Himalayas for one and a half hours. From the Himalayas, you’ll walk for one hour to Dovan, where you’ll stop for lunch.

Deurali is the best place on Annapurna Base Camp Trek for lunch, especially Nepali Dal Bhat. Even if you haven’t tried Dal Bhat, try it on lunch at Dovan. It’s the best of all.

From Deurali, another half-hour hike takes you to Bamboo. Bamboo is where you’ll stop for overnight accommodation and dinner.

Day 5: Trek from Bamboo to Jhinu and drive to Pokhara

Trek Time: 4 hours
Drive time: Two and half hours
Lunch at: Chhomrong, 2,140 meters
Overnight in: Pokhara

On the fifth day of your short Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary, you’ll start the hike from Bamboo to Jhinu via Sinuwa and Chhomrong.

For the first hour from Bamboo, you’ll ascend to Upper Sinuwa. From Upper Sinuwa, for one hour, you’ll hike down to a river and cross a bridge. It takes you one hour to reach the top of Chhomrong from the bridge. This ascending section can be tiring and require multiple rests stops for rehydration.

You’ll have lunch at Chhomrong. There are plenty of tea houses in Chhomrong where you can enjoy the best meals and drinks, like coffee and tea.

From Chhomrong, you’ll hike down to Jhinu for half an hour, cross the suspension bridge, get in a jeep, and drive to Pokhara. You’ll reach Pokhara after two and half hour’s drive from Jhinu.

What’s next?

Did you find our Five Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary useful? If yes, read our other Annapurna Region Trek Blog to learn more about other travel guides in the Annapurna region. Furthermore, if you’re looking for some longer ABC Trek Itinerary, you can read our 11 days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary Blog.

If you’re looking for a short Annapurna Base Camp Trek in March 2023 or Spring 2023, feel free to reach us at mailtoneptrek@gmail.com . Our representatives will find and recommend you the best trekking agency in Nepal for this trek.