A 7-day Annapurna Base Camp trek goes straight in and out from Pokhara, using a jeep to start high near Jhinu or Ghandruk. A 10-day trek starts lower, adds Ghorepani and Poon Hill, and spreads the climb over shorter days. Choose 7 days if you are fit and short of time; choose 10 for an easier pace and a bigger trip.
7 days and 10 days at a glance
- Trekking days. 7 days: 5 to 6. 10 days: 8 to 9.
- Poon Hill included. 7 days: no. 10 days: yes.
- Longest day. 7 days: 7 to 8 hours. 10 days: 5 to 6 hours.
- Height gain per day near the top. 7 days: up to 900 m. 10 days: 500 to 700 m.
- Start point. 7 days: jeep to Jhinu, Kimche or Siwai. 10 days: Nayapul or Ulleri.
- Best for. 7 days: fit trekkers with a week. 10 days: first-timers and those who want Poon Hill.
What the 7-day plan looks like
Drive from Pokhara to the road end, walk to Chhomrong or beyond on day one, then Bamboo or Dovan, Deurali, and base camp via Machapuchare Base Camp. The return takes two to three days, often with a stop at the hot springs of Jhinu Danda. It works, but the days are long, and the climb from Deurali at about 3,200 m to base camp at 4,130 m in a single day is quick for some people. See the short Annapurna Base Camp trek guides.
What the 10-day plan adds
The longer plan begins with the Ghorepani and Poon Hill loop: two days up through rhododendron forest, sunrise from 3,210 m, then across to Tadapani and Chhomrong to join the base camp trail. Those extra days at 2,500 to 3,200 m are useful preparation, and you get two of Nepal's best-known viewpoints in one trip.
Altitude
Base camp is not extreme, but mild altitude sickness is common there, mostly headaches and poor sleep. A slower approach helps. On the shorter plan, a night at Machapuchare Base Camp (3,700 m) before going up to base camp for sunrise is a sensible adjustment if anyone feels the height.
Stairs and knees
Whichever plan you choose, the trail is built largely of stone steps, with a deep descent to the river and climb out again at Chhomrong. The shorter plan packs these into fewer days. Trekking poles make a real difference, particularly on the way down.
Season
October to November and March to May suit both. In winter the shorter plan is the more practical, since days are short and cold and Poon Hill's steps can be icy. After heavy snowfall, guides may hold groups at Deurali until the avalanche-prone section above is safe.
Cost difference
The longer plan costs more in proportion to its extra days of food, rooms, guide and porter. Against that, the shorter plan needs a private jeep to the road end at both ends of the trek. Permits are the same. If budget is the deciding factor, the gap between the two is smaller than the number of days suggests.
A middle option: 8 or 9 days
You do not have to choose between extremes. An eight or nine day plan walks in from Ghandruk without Poon Hill, breaks the climb at Chhomrong, Dovan, Deurali and Machapuchare Base Camp, and keeps the hot springs on the way out. It is the pace most first-time trekkers find comfortable.
Choose 7 days if
- You have exactly a week from Pokhara.
- You walk or run regularly.
- You have been to altitude before without trouble.
- You are happy with long days.
Choose 10 days if
- This is your first trek.
- You want Poon Hill as well.
- You prefer five to six hour days.
- You want time for the hot springs and the villages.
Plan it
See how many days the trek needs, or ask us for both day-by-day plans.
Common questions
Can Annapurna Base Camp be done in 7 days?
Yes, by fit trekkers using a jeep to the road end. It leaves no spare day.
What is the ideal number of days?
Eight to ten from Pokhara for most people.
Can it be done in 5 days?
Only by very fit, acclimatised walkers, and it is not a plan we suggest.
Does the 10-day trek cost much more?
Somewhat, in proportion to the extra days of food, lodging and staff.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
Planning to go? See our 15-day Annapurna Base Camp trek.
