Annapurna Sanctuary Base Camp

Set below the Annapurna massif, the trail begins in Pokhara and climbs through terraced rice fields, oak and rhododendron forest, and Gurung villages before reaching the base camp itself at 4,130 metres. The route covers roughly 110 kilometres over seven to fourteen days, starting with a drive to Nayapul and a first stage to Tirkhedhunga. From there, trekkers pass through Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Chomrong, and Dovan, gaining altitude in stages. Days run five to seven hours on foot. Teahouses and lodges line the route, offering dal bhat, momos, and a bed each night, so no tent is required. Ghandruk and Chomrong keep stone houses and working farms, and the trail passes an organic farm at Chomrong along with temples used by local priests. Machhapuchhre's fishtail peak dominates the skyline for much of the climb, alongside Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. Near Jhinu Danda, hot springs sit beside the river, useful after the steeper stretches through the Modi Khola gorge. At the base camp, cliffs close in on either side of a narrow ridge, and the amphitheatre of peaks opens out above the glacial basin. Autumn and spring bring the clearest skies; winter nights fall well below freezing. The trail is well marked throughout, needing no technical climbing, though the last approach to base camp is steep and exposed.