The usual North Annapurna Base Camp plan takes five days from Pokhara, with four nights in camp or simple shelters, and about 23 km of walking in total. Longer versions add a day at the start or the end for rest and spare time.
Day 1: Pokhara to Humkhola
Drive from Pokhara through Baglung and Beni towards Narchyang and on to Humkhola, the last place a jeep can reach. The road is long, about six to seven hours in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and rough in its last section. Humkhola is at about 2,890 m. Camp here, or sleep in a basic shelter if one is open.
Day 2: Humkhola to Busket Mela
A steady climb through forest and past a waterfall on the way up, reaching Busket Mela at about 3,650 m in five to six hours. Some itineraries break the day at Sandhikharka, around 3,160 m, and camp there instead. Busket Mela has no electricity and no signal, so settle in early and drink well.
Day 3: to the lake campsite
The trail rises onto open slopes and then to the campsite beside the lake at about 4,050 m. The walk takes five to six hours. In the afternoon you rest, eat and look at the peaks. This night is your highest sleep and the one that matters most for acclimatisation.
Day 4: base camp and the descent
Start early for the north face of Annapurna I, about 4,100 to 4,200 m, and spend time at the glacier edge before walking back to the campsite. Many teams then continue down the same day to Busket Mela or even Humkhola. This is a long day of six to eight hours.
Day 5: Humkhola to Pokhara
Finish the walk to Humkhola, then drive to Tatopani in Myagdi for the hot springs if your plan includes them, and on to Pokhara. Expect four to five hours of driving.
Longer versions
Add a day in Pokhara before you start, a spare day at the campsite for weather, or a night at Narchyang village for a homestay and local meal. A seven to ten day plan from Kathmandu includes the drive from the capital and a margin for delays.
A note on the exact route
Names, camps and altitudes vary between operators and years, so treat this as the typical pattern. We confirm the final plan with you in writing.
How the pace is set
A steady pace matters more than speed. The first day is mostly driving, so you start the walk the next morning with a rested body. The climb from Humkhola to Busket Mela is the longest uphill of the trip, and many teams stop often to drink and take photographs. A slower first day makes the high camp easier.
What to do if weather turns
Rain and cloud can hide the north face and make the stones slippery. Guides may hold the team at camp for a day or walk the base camp section earlier in the morning, when skies are clearer. This is why a spare day is valuable, and why we suggest keeping one even on a five-day plan.
Variations operators offer
Some operators sleep in a homestay at Narchyang village before the walk, some break the second day at Sandhikharka, and some return to Humkhola in one very long day instead of camping again at Busket Mela. Ask which pattern your quote follows, because it changes how tired you will be.
Sample day lengths
Expect about five to six hours on the climbing days, up to eight hours on the base camp and descent day, and a half day to finish. Total walking is roughly 23 km, but the steepness makes it feel longer.
Plan it
See getting there and camping, food and gear.
