North Annapurna Base Camp is a remote, mostly camping trek to the foot of the north face of Annapurna I (8,091 m). It starts from the Myagdi side, west of the main Annapurna trails, reaches about 4,100 to 4,200 m, and is usually done in five days from Pokhara.
A different valley from the famous ones
Most people picture Annapurna from the south, at Annapurna Base Camp in the Sanctuary, or from the Manang side on the Annapurna Circuit. North Annapurna Base Camp is neither. It sits in the Myagdi district, reached by a long jeep road towards Narchyang and Humkhola, and the trail climbs the other side of the great range to the north face of Annapurna I. Do not confuse it with Annapurna Base Camp, which is a separate trek on the south side.
How high it goes
Operators quote a height for the base camp between about 4,070 m and 4,190 m, because the exact spot depends on the moraine and the season. We plan on roughly 4,100 to 4,200 m. The campsite where most people sleep, beside the lake the locals call Panchakunda or the Narchyang lake, is lower at about 4,050 m. Camp altitudes in the lower valley run from about 2,900 m at Humkhola to about 3,650 m at Busket Mela.
What the trek is like
Expect a short but steep walk. The trail climbs through forest, crosses streams and rises onto open slopes and moraine. It is not technical, but it is stony, muddy in places and remote. There are almost no lodges above the lower villages, so teams carry tents, food and fuel and a cook crew follows.
What you see
The north face of Annapurna I is the main prize. On clear days you also see the Nilgiri peaks, Tilicho Peak, Khangsar Kang and Bharha Chuli, and Machhapuchhre far to the east. Reflections in the lake at the campsite are a favourite photograph at dawn.
Who it suits
Fit walkers who like camping and quiet places, and who have already walked a few days above 3,000 m. It is a good second trek, not a gentle first one. If you want lodges, hot showers and company on the trail, Annapurna Base Camp or Mardi Himal will suit you better.
A young route, so check details
This route has only recently become popular, and operators describe it a little differently: some use a homestay at the start, some camp from the first night, and campsite names vary. We describe the common pattern. Ask us for the exact plan and camps for your dates before you commit.
Why trekkers are choosing the north side
Annapurna Base Camp and the Circuit have long been crowded in the main seasons, and many travellers now look for a shorter route with fewer people. The north face trek answers that: five days, a real mountain wall at the end, and campsites where you hear the river and the wind instead of generators. The trade-off is comfort. There is no bakery, no hot shower and no Wi-Fi at the top, and the days are long.
How it fits into a longer trip
Because it is short and starts from Pokhara, it slots into a wider Nepal journey. Some travellers walk it first as a warm-up for a bigger route, others finish a lodge trek like Poon Hill and then add the north face for contrast. Keep a rest day in Pokhara between two treks, and do not put a high camping trek straight after a long flight.
What a good day on this trek looks like
You wake at first light in a cold tent, drink tea handed to you by the crew, eat porridge and set off before the sun reaches the slope. The morning walk is the best part, with clear air and crisp views. By early afternoon you are in camp, resting, drinking and reading the sky. Evenings are short and cold, and most people are asleep by eight.
What it is not
It is not a technical climb, not a restricted-area trek with a minimum group size, and not a teahouse trek. It also does not connect to the Annapurna Circuit or the Sanctuary. You walk up and come back down the same valley.
Plan it
See the day-by-day itinerary, how hard it is and how it compares with Annapurna Base Camp.
