Poon Hill Annapurna Base Camp Trek - 12 days

Your adventure begins the moment you land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Our team will be right there to greet you and take you to your hotel. Take the rest of the day easy - you have a big journey ahead. In the evening, we will sit together for a friendly briefing to walk you through everything you need to know about the trek, your gear, permits, and what to expect on the trail.

This morning you head to Pokhara, the adventure capital of Nepal and your launching point for the Annapurna region. You can choose a relaxed scenic drive through winding hills and river valleys or hop on a quick domestic flight if you prefer. Either way, once you arrive and check in near the shores of Phewa Lake, you will want to take a slow walk along the lakeside, grab a coffee, and soak in those first views of the Annapurna range on the horizon.

After an early breakfast, you hit the road toward Nayapul where your feet take over. The trail winds uphill through villages and terraced fields before diving into beautiful rhododendron and pine forests. It is a steady climb, but every step brings you closer to Ghorepani and those first jaw-dropping views of Machhapuchare, Annapurna South, and Huinchuli. Tonight you rest in a cozy hillside lodge - your first real taste of Himalayan teahouse life.

Set your alarm early - this is the moment most people come here for. The 2 km hike up to Poon Hill in the dark is absolutely worth it when the sky turns golden and the full wall of the Himalayas lights up before you. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Nilgiri, Machhapuchare - all of them right there in front of you. After breakfast back in Ghorepani, you continue through stunning rhododendron forests to the quiet village of Tadapani, where you spend a peaceful night surrounded by the mountains.

Today takes you down into the lush Kimrong Valley and through the small village of Gurjung before climbing up to Chomrong. This is a real Gurung village - the last permanent settlement before the Annapurna Sanctuary - and the people and culture here are wonderfully warm. From the village you get clear views straight up toward Annapurna South and Machhapuchare. A great place to recharge before heading deeper into the mountains.

You drop down to the river this morning, cross a small bridge, and begin climbing again through some of the most beautiful forest on the entire route - thick oak, rhododendron, and pine all around you. After passing through the small settlement of Bamboo, you arrive at Dovan sitting quietly above the Modi River Gorge. The sound of the river at night makes for excellent sleeping.

The trail today feels like it is pulling you into another world. You pass through Himalaya Hotel, walk by the mysterious Hinku Cave, and climb up through Deurali before the forest gives way to wide open alpine terrain. And then suddenly there it is - Machhapuchare Base Camp at 3,700 m, with the iconic fishtail peak towering above you in all its unclimbed glory. The air is crisp, the views are enormous, and the sense of being deep inside the Himalayas is very real.

Just 3 km today, but what a 3 km it is. You walk into the Annapurna Sanctuary - a natural glacial amphitheatre ringed by some of the highest mountains on earth. When you reach Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m, you are completely surrounded by Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Gangapurna (7,455 m), and Machhapuchare (6,993 m). Spend the afternoon taking it all in, taking photos, and feeling genuinely proud of how far you have come.

After one last long look at the peaks from base camp, you begin the journey back down. The descending trail feels familiar now but no less beautiful. You pass through Machhapuchare Base Camp and Dovan, with a few short climbs along the way, before settling in for the night back at Bamboo. Your legs are tired but your heart is full.

Today ends with one of the best rewards in all of Nepal trekking. You climb up through Khuldighar and Sinuwa Danda, then drop down to the Chomrong River and continue to Jhinu Danda. Here, natural hot springs sit right beside the river, and after days of trekking there is nothing better than lowering yourself into that warm water and watching the mountains fade into the evening sky.

Your last day on the trail leads you through the villages of Landruk, Tolka, and Deurali, with Annapurna South, Huinchuli, and Machhapuchare keeping you company one final time. You reach Dhampus and jump in a vehicle for the short drive back to Pokhara. Tonight, treat yourself to a good dinner by the lake - you have earned it.

Time to head home. Whether you choose the scenic road through the hills or a quick flight back, Kathmandu welcomes you with its usual energy and colour. Check in to your hotel and spend the evening browsing the streets of Thamel, picking up last-minute souvenirs, or simply sitting back and letting the memories of the past 12 days sink in.