Several trekking routes lead to Annapurna Base Camp, and the best option depends on your available time and preferred experience. The five-day Short ABC Trek follows the direct route from Pokhara. The nine-day option adds Ghorepani and Poon Hill, the 14-day package follows the same Poon Hill route with complete Kathmandu arrangements, and the 17-day journey combines Poon Hill, ABC, and Mardi Himal.
We will discuss the available routes in this guide.
Annapurna Base Camp is one destination, but there is more than one way to experience the journey. Some trekkers want the shortest possible path into the Annapurna Sanctuary. Others prefer to approach slowly through the stone staircases, rhododendron forests, and sunrise viewpoint of Poon Hill. Travelers with more time can go beyond the standard ABC experience and follow the quieter ridges of Mardi Himal.
These options should not be understood as four completely separate trails. The Short ABC Trek is a fast five-day itinerary using the direct route. At the same time, Outfitter Himalaya’s nine-day and 14-day packages follow essentially the same Poon Hill-ABC trekking trail with different starting points and travel arrangements.
The routes eventually come together at Chhomrong, the gateway to the Annapurna Sanctuary. From there, trekkers follow the Modi Khola valley through Sinuwa, Bamboo, Dovan, Himalaya and Machhapuchhre Base Camp before reaching Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 meters. What changes is the journey before Chhomrong, the itinerary's pace, and whether the adventure ends at ABC or continues to Mardi Himal.
This guide compares each Annapurna Base Camp route honestly, including duration, landscapes, walking demands, advantages, and compromises, so you can choose the itinerary that fits your time, fitness, and expectations.
The main differences between ABC Routes are the approach trail, the daily walking schedule, and the return journey, and these choices shape what you see, how quickly you travel, and how much walking your route involves.
The approach changes the scenery, as the direct ABC route begins with a drive to Siwai, then continues on foot to Chhomrong. The ABC via Poon Hill route approach first explores Ghorepani, Poon Hill and Tadapani, adding forest trails and a sunrise panorama across the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
The schedule changes the effort, as fitting the trek into fewer days means longer walking hours and less recovery time in between. So we advise careful comparison of daily walking hours and overnight stops, and distinguishing trekking days from total holiday duration: the 14-day classic package includes city stays, a Kathmandu exploration day, and travel between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
The return journey from ABC comes next, as the ABC with Heli return route includes a helicopter flight from ABC to Pokhara, and the classic route ends in Jhinu and drives to Kathmandu, since the Mardi Himal combination continues from Jhinu Danda through Landruk toward Forest Camp and the Mardi ridge.
Comparing total trip duration with actual trekking days makes the options easier to understand. Some packages begin in Pokhara, while others include Kathmandu stays and travel before and after the mountain journey.
| ABC Route or Package | Total duration | Trekking days | Starts and ends | Main difference |
| Short ABC Trek | 5 days | 5 | Pokhara | Direct approach through Siwai and Chhomrong, without Poon Hill |
| ABC Trek via Poon Hill | 9 days | 9 | Pokhara | Adds Ghorepani, Poon Hill sunrise and Tadapani before the sanctuary |
| Classic Annapurna Base Camp Trek | 14 days | 9 | Kathmandu | Poon Hill–ABC trekking route with Kathmandu Stay, Kathmnadu sightseeing and travel between Kathmnadu -Pokhara -Kathmandu |
| ABC with Poon Hill and Mardi Himal | 17 days | 13 | Kathmandu | Continues towards Mardi Himal after descending from ABC |
| Comfort ABC Trek with Helicopter Return | 12 days | 6 | Kathmandu | Poon Hill approach with upgraded arrangements and a helicopter return from ABC to Pokhara |
The 9-day and 14-day packages offer the same number of trekking days and the same route; the main difference is the arrangements outside the mountains. The five-day direct itinerary compresses the journey, while the Mardi Himal combination adds another trekking section, and the helicopter option shortens the return walk while keeping the approach through Poon Hill.
The direct Annapurna Base Camp route suits travelers whose main priority is reaching the Annapurna Sanctuary within a shorter holiday. It approaches through Siwai and Chhomrong, leaving out the additional journey through Ghorepani and Poon Hill.
Main approach: Drive from Pokhara to Siwai, then walk through Chhomrong, Sinuwa, Bamboo, Dovan, Himalaya, Deurali, and Machhapuchhre Base Camp to Annapurna Base Camp. The return hike retraces the upper sanctuary trail before continuing back to Siwai.
The scenery changes steadily as you climb: village terraces give way to shaded forest, the Modi Khola runs through the valley below, and the mountains gradually draw closer. Beyond Deurali, the landscape opens towards Machhapuchhre Base Camp before the final approach into Annapurna’s mountain amphitheater.
This short route is worth considering if you have limited time, are it, and are already in Pokhara, and prefer to focus your walking on the sanctuary. Outfitter Himalaya follows this approach in its five-day Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek from Pokhara.
The short ABC Trek follows the direct route. “Direct” describes the approach through Siwai and Chhomrong, while “short” describes how the journey is arranged into five days.
The ABC via Poon Hill route adds a scenic viewpoint and a longer forest approach before entering the Annapurna Sanctuary. Outfitter Himalaya’s classic 14-day Itinerary and nine-day ABC Trek via Poon Hill follow this route.
Approach to Chhomrong: Nayapul – Tikhedhunga – Ulleri – Ghorepani – Poon Hill sunrise excursion – Tasapani – Chhomrong; from here, the route joins the shared trail toward Annapurna Base Camp.
At Poon Hill, 3,210 meters above sea level, a clear morning can reveal the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges catching the first light, and this broad panorama offers a different perspective.
The walk through Ghorepani and Tadapani also brings rhododendron forests and wooded ridges into the experience. For travelers who enjoy the changing landscape as much as reaching base camp, this approach adds variety to the journey.
The extra scenery comes with additional walking and climbing. The staircase above Ulleri is demanding, and the onward trek to Tadapani follows the Poon Hill sunrise excursion.
Both packages follow the same nine-day trekking sequence through Ghorepani, Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp. The difference lies in the arrangements before and after the mountain journey.
| Detail | 9-Day ABC Trek via Poon Hill | 14-Day Classic ABC Trek |
| Starts and finishes | Pokhara | Kathmandu |
| Trekking days within the itinerary | Days 1–9 | Days 4–12 |
| Additional program days | Focuses on the trek and trailhead transfers | Includes arrival, Kathmandu sightseeing, intercity travel and departure |
| City arrangements | Plan your wider city stays and onward travel separately | Includes scheduled Kathmandu and Pokhara hotel stays |
The extra five calendar days cover these wider holiday arrangements. The trekking stages and overnight stops on the trail remain the same, so choose between these packages according to the travel support you need.
Outfitter Himalaya’s 17-day ABC Trek with Poon Hill and Mardi Himal combines Poon Hill’s sunrise panorama, the Annapurna Sanctuary, and the Mardi ridge, and the program starts and ends in Kathmandu and includes 13 trekking days.
After ABC, the trail descends through Dovan and Jhinu Danda, then continues via Landruk to Forest Camp. From there, you climb through Low Camp to High Camp for the Mardi Himal excursion. The return descends through Low Camp to Siding, then continues by road to Pokhara.
As the forest thins, the trail opens onto a ridge with views towards Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli. This brings a fresh perspective after walking deep inside the ABC valley.
The extra trekking days make this a good fit for travelers who enjoy longer mountain journeys and can manage another sustained climb after ABC. The upper Mardi trail also includes steep, rocky sections, so confidence on uneven ground matters as much as endurance.
We also offer a separate short Mardi Himal Trek from Pokhara, suitable if you have only 5 days and want to do the Mardi Trek, or a 12-Day Mardi Himal Base Camp Trek that starts and ends in Kathmandu and includes airport transfers, a Kathmandu tour, and Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu travel arrangements.
Outfitter Himalaya’s 12-day Comfort Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return follows the Poon Hill approach and includes six scheduled trekking days. After an overnight stay at ABC, the planned return is a helicopter flight to Pokhara. The complete program begins and ends in Kathmandu.
You still experience the forest approach through Ghorepani, the Poon Hill sunrise excursion, and the walk into the Annapurna Sanctuary. The main change comes after base camp, when an aerial journey over the valley replaces the descent on foot.
The package also includes four-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, domestic flights between the cities and the best available trekking lodges. Attached bathrooms on the trail are subject to availability.
This package suits travelers who value upgraded city accommodation and want to avoid the long return walk. You still need the fitness for consecutive trekking days, steep staircases, and the ascent into the sanctuary.
Helicopter departures depend on suitable flying conditions, so keep some flexibility in your onward travel and confirm backup arrangements when booking.
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