10 Days Private Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The best part of this 10-day Annapurna Base Camp trek is the steady change in scenery. You begin with river valleys, farm villages, and Gurung communities, then follow the Modi River through rhododendron and bamboo forest before arriving in a high mountain bowl ringed by Annapurna peaks and Machhapuchare.

I like the mix of local village life and big Himalayan views, and I like that the route includes Jhinu Danda’s hot springs on the way back. The main caution is fitness: the walking days run up to seven hours, and the steep stone steps, long descents, and high altitude can be demanding for anyone unused to mountain trekking.

Key points to know before booking

• A private trek for your group: You walk with a licensed guide and a porter arranged at a ratio of one porter for two clients.
• The route reaches Annapurna Base Camp: Expect views of Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchare.
• Village and forest walking comes first: Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Landruk, and Dhampus add culture and variety to the mountain scenery.
• Meals and permits are included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, trekking accommodation, the trekking permit, and TIMS card are covered.
• The return includes hot springs: Jhinu Danda gives you a useful rest point after the high-altitude section.
• The price is $1,100 per person: Transport, Pokhara lodging, guide costs, porter costs, food, insurance, and permits are included, but drinks, tips, and Kathmandu lodging are extra.

What the 10 days really involve

This is not a sightseeing trip with a few easy walks added. It is a proper Himalayan trek with several consecutive days on foot. You will spend much of the route on stone steps, narrow mountain paths, forest tracks, and uneven ground beside the Modi River.

The itinerary is private, so your group does not have to move at the pace of a large party. That matters on a route where one person may want a slower morning, a longer lunch, or more time for photographs. The company has used guides named Kumar and Sukman on past trips, and the strongest praise has focused on guides who were attentive, helpful, cheerful, and able to adjust the pace to the group.

The schedule also gives you time to see more than a single mountain viewpoint. You pass through Gurung villages, stay in simple trekking lodges, walk through several forest zones, and finish with a broad view from Dhampus. That variety is a major reason to choose the Annapurna Base Camp route over a shorter out-and-back hike.

Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara by road

The trip opens with a roughly six-hour drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. This is not merely a transfer. The road follows river valleys, with views of local villages, hills, and the Trisuli and Marsyangdi rivers.

You should expect a full travel day rather than a trekking day. The benefit is that you reach Pokhara without needing to arrange the transfer yourself, and the following morning begins closer to the trail. Two nights of Pokhara accommodation are included in the package, which helps keep the logistics simple.

Pokhara is also the natural staging point for the trek. The town provides a calmer setting before the walking begins, with views toward Annapurna and Machhapuchare. The plan lists private transport for the Pokhara, Nayapul, and Phedi sections.

Day 2: Ghandruk and the first village walk

After breakfast in Pokhara, you drive beyond the Pokhara Valley toward Bhirethati. The route passes farm villages and towns before reaching the Modi River. From Bhirethati, the trek begins with a flatter section toward Syauli Bazaar.

The walking then changes character. Stone-paved steps lead upward to Kimche, followed by a gentler climb to Ghandruk. The day takes about six hours, combining road travel and walking, so it is a substantial first day.

Ghandruk is one of the most appealing stops on the route. It is a Gurung village with views toward Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchare. You can visit the local museum and the Annapurna Conservation Area Project headquarters, and you have a chance to see daily village life before the trail moves into more remote country.

The practical point is simple: the first day is not hard because of altitude, but the steps can still surprise you. Take the morning slowly and avoid treating the approach to Ghandruk as a race.

Day 3: Ghandruk to Chhomrong

The walk to Chhomrong takes about five hours. The route rises and falls through the foothills, passing Kyomrong and Chomro before dropping toward the river and climbing again toward Gurjung.

Chhomrong is an important point on the trek. It is described as the last permanent Gurung village and the gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary and Base Camp route. From here onward, the settlement pattern becomes more tied to trekking lodges, forest sections, and the river gorge.

This day is shorter than several others, but it is not flat. You will gain and lose height more than once. That repeated up-and-down rhythm is common on the Annapurna trails, and it is worth saving energy for the following day.

Day 4: Chhomrong to the Himalayan Hotel

The route leaves Chhomrong by descending through terraced farm fields to Chhomrong River. After crossing a bridge, you climb toward Sinuwa Danda, a small settlement with lodges and views of green hills.

From Sinuwa, the trail enters thicker forest. Bamboo, rhododendron, and oak line the path, and the Modi River becomes a constant companion. Bamboo is a settlement with lodges beside the river, making it a natural rest point.

The final section continues gradually upward through the gorge to the Himalayan Hotel. The walking time is listed at about seven hours, making this one of the longer days. The forest gives welcome shade, but the damp, uneven trail and repeated climbs can be tiring.

This is a good day to use your porter arrangement sensibly. Carry only what you need for the day, keep water close, and make sure your footwear is comfortable on wet or uneven ground. The porter carries the main load, but you still need a small daypack.

Day 5: Himalayan Hotel to Annapurna Base Camp

This is the central day of the trek. The route follows the Modi River upstream, with trees giving way to alpine shrubs and open high-country terrain. The river narrows and the surrounding peaks begin to dominate the view.

You pass Machhapuchare Base Camp before continuing to Annapurna Base Camp. The final section includes a steep climb, and the six-hour estimate can feel longer because of the altitude. The pace should be controlled, especially for anyone who has limited high-altitude walking experience.

At Annapurna Base Camp, the setting changes completely. A broad mountain amphitheater surrounds the camp, with Annapurna I, Annapurna III, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchare among the major peaks in view. The Annapurna glacier and the white mountain walls are the visual reward for several days of steady walking.

Weather matters here. The clearest views are never guaranteed, and the experience provider states that poor weather can lead to cancellation or a change of date. If conditions are good, this is the day when the route earns its reputation. If clouds close in, the journey still offers forests and villages, but the high mountain payoff may be limited.

Day 6: Annapurna Base Camp to Sinuwa

The return begins with a long descent. You retrace the route past Machhapuchare Base Camp and Deurali, then continue through the forest toward Bamboo.

The day is listed at about six hours. Descending is often easier on the lungs than climbing, but it can be harder on knees and ankles. Trekking poles, if you use them, are especially useful here, though they are not listed as part of the package.

Bamboo is a practical overnight stop beside the Modi River. Its lodges sit among bamboo and rhododendron forest, and the setting offers a clear change from the open high country of Base Camp. You will likely appreciate the trees and river after the exposed, colder sections above.

Day 7: Bamboo to Jhinu Danda

The morning begins with a steep climb to Khuldi Ghar, followed by a winding descent through forest to Sinuwa Danda. You then drop to Chomrong Khola, cross a bridge, and climb back toward Chhomrong.

After a possible rest or lunch stop in Chhomrong, the path rises briefly to the top of the Chhomrong ridge before descending to Jhinu Danda. The walking time is about five hours, but the repeated climbs and descents make this more than a casual day.

Jhinu Danda is one of the route’s best recovery stops. A roughly 20-minute walk downhill leads to hot springs near the Modi River. They offer a welcome way to ease tired legs, though remember that the return from the springs is uphill. Save enough energy for it.

Day 8: Jhinu Danda to Landruk

This day begins with a long descent to the Modi River. You cross a long suspension bridge, walk through farm fields, and then climb to Landruk, a large village.

The route continues with gentler winding walking toward Tolka, with views toward Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. The listed stop is Landruk, but the following itinerary also refers to Tolka as the overnight area, so you should confirm the exact lodge location with the operator before departure.

The cultural value of this section is high. After the stark mountain bowl and forest gorge, farm fields and settled villages return. You see how the trail connects working communities, not just viewpoints.

Day 9: Tolka, Deurali, Dhampus, and Pokhara

The final walking day takes about six hours. From Tolka, you follow a gradual trail with short ups and downs, pass Bheda Kharka, and climb through cool forest to Deurali.

Deurali provides wide views toward Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Machhapuchare, and Ghandruk. The trail then descends through forest to Pothana and continues to Dhampus, a scenic ridge village with views toward the Annapurna, Manaslu, and Lamjung ranges.

From Dhampus, you descend to Phedi and take a short drive back to Pokhara. This is a satisfying finish because it combines a final mountain panorama with the return to road transport. It is also a tiring day, so do not expect to arrive in Pokhara ready for a late-night schedule.

Day 10: Pokhara to Kathmandu

The final day offers either a scenic flight or a tourist bus to Kathmandu. The schedule lists about six hours, with the bus arriving in the afternoon. The flight option should be confirmed when you book, since transport arrangements and weather can affect timing.

The package ends back at the Kathmandu meeting point, View Nepal Treks and Expedition on Thamel Marg. Kathmandu accommodation is not included. If you need a room there, the stated extra cost is $40 per night.

What is included for $1,100

At $1,100 per person, the price covers more than the basic guiding service. Included items are:

• Licensed guide and porter, with one porter for every two clients
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trek
• Trekking accommodation
• Two nights of accommodation in Pokhara
• Private transport for the stated road sections
• Guide and porter salary, food, transport, and insurance
• Trekking permit and TIMS card

The listed meal count is eight breakfasts, eight lunches, and seven dinners. That matches the main trekking portion but does not mean every meal during the full ten calendar days is covered.

Drinks, grocery items, tips, Kathmandu accommodation, and services not specifically listed are extra. You should also budget for personal purchases and any additional costs created by a change in transport.

The value is strongest if you want a private arrangement and prefer to have the main logistics handled in advance. It is less attractive if you already have transport, permits, and accommodation arranged independently. The porter ratio is also important: you are not receiving one personal porter per person.

Who will enjoy this trek most

This route suits you if you want a serious but organized mountain walk, enjoy village contact, and prefer a private group to a large departure. It works particularly well for people who want a clear route, included meals, and support from a guide and porter.

You need a moderate level of physical fitness. The program includes walking days of five to seven hours, steep uphill sections, long downhill stretches, stone steps, and a high-altitude night at Annapurna Base Camp.

It may not suit you if you want short walks, hotel-style comfort, or a flexible schedule with many rest days. The ten-day format is efficient, but it leaves little spare time if you need to slow down.

The guide makes a real difference. Past trips with Kumar received especially warm praise for his humor, care, and route knowledge. Sukman was also described as warm, helpful, and responsible. Ask who will lead your group, what language they speak, and how the company handles a slower walking pace before you pay.

Practical booking advice

The meeting point is View Nepal Treks and Expedition at Thamel Marg 24 in Kathmandu. Pickup is offered, and the activity ends back at that meeting point.

Confirmation is provided at booking. The tour is private, and only your group participates. Public transportation is nearby, but the stated trekking transfers are arranged through the package.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. A later cancellation or a last-minute change is not refundable. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

Ask about the likely weather for your dates, the exact Pokhara and trekking lodges, and whether the final return to Kathmandu will be by flight or bus. These small details matter on a trek with tight day-by-day timing.

Should you book this Annapurna Base Camp trek?

Book it if you want the classic Annapurna Base Camp setting with the added variety of Gurung villages, forest trails, river views, farm fields, and Jhinu hot springs. The private format, included permits, meals, guide, porter, and transport make the $1,100 price reasonable for a well-supported trip.

Think twice if you are an inexperienced walker who dislikes steep descents or wants more time for acclimatization. The route is beautiful, but it is not effortless. If you are moderately fit, pack lightly, keep your pace steady, and confirm the guide and transport details, this is a strong way to reach Annapurna Base Camp without managing every part of the trip yourself.

FAQ

How long is the Annapurna Base Camp trek?

The experience lasts approximately 10 days, including transport between Kathmandu and Pokhara and the trekking route to and from Annapurna Base Camp.

How much does the trek cost?

The listed price is $1,100 per person.

Is this a private trek?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private activity.

Is a guide included?

Yes. A licensed guide is included.

Is a porter included?

Yes. The arrangement provides one porter for every two clients.

Are meals included?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trekking portion are included. The listed allowance is eight breakfasts, eight lunches, and seven dinners.

Are permits included?

Yes. The trekking permit and TIMS card are included.

Is accommodation in Kathmandu included?

No. Kathmandu accommodation costs an additional $40 per night if required.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made later are not refunded.