Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return — 8 Days
About This Experience
The package starts in Kathmandu with an airport transfer, a night in a three-star hotel in Thamel and a trek briefing. Day two moves you to Pokhara — either the scenic seven-hour tourist bus along the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers, or an optional flight.
The walking begins on day three with a jeep from Pokhara to Siwai and a five- to six-hour trek to Chhomrong via Jhinu Danda. From there the route follows the standard Sanctuary approach — Dovan through bamboo and rhododendron forest, then Deurali, then the crossing at Machhapuchhre Base Camp into the Sanctuary itself.
You reach Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m with Annapurna I, II, III and IV, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli standing around the rim. Rather than spending the next three days walking back down, the helicopter lifts you straight out over the gorge you climbed — an aerial view of the whole route in about twenty minutes.
Everything on the trek is covered: accommodation, three meals a day with tea and coffee, the guide's own food, lodging, salary and insurance, all permits and taxes, and the domestic flights. It is by far the most expensive option on this page, and the difference buys support and time rather than a different summit.
Highlights
- Fly out of the Sanctuary by helicopter instead of a three-day walk back down the valley
- Reach Annapurna Base Camp with Annapurna I, II, III, IV, South, Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli around you
- Three-star Kathmandu and Pokhara hotels at either end of the trek
- All meals, permits, guide costs and domestic flights included
- Trek through rhododendron forest, river gorges and Gurung settlements on the way in
What's Included
- ✓ Airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu
- ✓ Two nights in a three-star Kathmandu hotel with breakfast
- ✓ All permits and government taxes
- ✓ Domestic flights
- ✓ Tea-house or lodge accommodation throughout the trek
- ✓ Breakfast, lunch, dinner plus tea and coffee on the trek
- ✓ Guide's food, accommodation, salary and insurance
- ✓ First-aid kit and public transportation
- ✓ Helicopter return from Annapurna Base Camp
Not Included
- Personal expenses
- Trekking gear and equipment hire
- Beverages and mineral water
- Travel insurance covering trekking and helicopter evacuation
- Porter hire — the operator suggests one porter per two trekkers
- Tips for guide and staff, expected at the end of the trip
What to Bring
- Travel insurance documents covering trekking and helicopter evacuation
- Full trekking gear — boots, layers, waterproofs and a warm jacket
- Passport and passport-sized photos for permits
- Cash for drinks, personal expenses and tips
- Any personal medication, plus altitude medication if your doctor advises it
Good to Know & Caveats
- Helicopter departures depend entirely on weather in the Sanctuary; a flight can be delayed or replaced by walking out, so keep a buffer day before any onward flight
- Altitude sickness can occur above 3,000 m — headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and breathlessness are the warning signs; acclimatise gradually and stay hydrated
- Your insurance policy must explicitly cover trekking and helicopter evacuation, not just standard medical cover
- This listing has no verified GetYourGuide reviews yet — check the operator's terms and current itinerary carefully before booking
- A porter can carry up to about 25 kg; the operator recommends at least one for every two trekkers
Not Suitable For
- Babies under 1 year
- Travellers over 70 years of age
Meeting Point
Airport pickup at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on day one, with transfer to your hotel in Thamel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the helicopter cannot fly?
Helicopter operations in the Sanctuary are weather-dependent and flights are regularly delayed or cancelled. If conditions do not clear you walk out on the standard descent route instead. Leave at least one buffer day before any international flight.
Why is this so much more expensive than the other Annapurna Base Camp treks?
The price covers the helicopter charter, domestic flights, three-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and every meal on the trek. The trek itself reaches the same base camp as the $91 route — you are paying for support, comfort and three saved days, not a different destination.
Does this listing have reviews?
Not yet on GetYourGuide. Every other trek on this site has verified traveller reviews; this one does not, so read the operator's current itinerary and cancellation terms carefully before you commit.
Do I need a porter?
It is not included but the operator recommends at least one porter for every two trekkers. A porter carries up to roughly 25 kg and makes a real difference on the Chhomrong staircases.
What insurance do I need?
A policy that explicitly covers trekking at altitude and helicopter evacuation. Standard travel medical cover usually excludes both.
