Pokhara: 5-Day Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) Trek via Jhinu
About This Experience
The trek opens with a private drive from Pokhara to Siwai — the last point the road reaches — and about five hours of walking to Lower Sinuwa at 2,300 m, passing through Jhinu Danda, the village known for the natural hot spring pools cut into the bank of the Modi Khola.
Day two climbs roughly six hours to Deurali (3,200 m) as the forest thins and the valley walls steepen. Day three is the short, decisive one: about four hours past Machhapuchhre Base Camp and into the Sanctuary, arriving at Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m) with the afternoon free to walk the moraine.
You spend the following morning at base camp for the sunrise before descending to Bamboo at 2,400 m, and finish on day five with a scenic walk out and the drive back to Pokhara — with a hot spring stop if the timing works.
Pickup covers any hotel in the Lakeside area of Pokhara or the international airport. Choosing the full-board option folds every breakfast, lunch and dinner into the price; the base option leaves you paying at the lodges.
Highlights
- Reach Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m beneath the world's tenth-highest peak
- Route in via Jhinu Danda and its riverside natural hot springs
- Private transport all the way to Siwai, the highest road head on this side
- Government-registered guides and a full-board meal option
- Culture and everyday life in the Gurung villages of the Modi Khola valley
What's Included
- ✓ Professional government-registered trekking guide
- ✓ Tea-house accommodation for the whole route
- ✓ Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off in Lakeside Pokhara
- ✓ Private transport Pokhara–Siwai and back
- ✓ Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) permit, TIMS and government taxes
- ✓ First-aid kit carried by the guide
- ✓ Luggage storage in Pokhara during the trek
- ✓ All meals on the full-board option
Not Included
- Meals on the base option — choose full board to include them
- Porter service, charged at about $20 per day
- Hot showers, Wi-Fi, laundry, bottled water and charging at lodges
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Tips for guide and porter
What to Bring
- Comfortable, broken-in trekking shoes
- A change of warm clothes for the base camp night
- Waterproof jacket and pack cover
- Cash in Nepali rupees for drinks, charging and hot showers
- Passport or ID card — a copy is accepted at checkpoints
- Long trousers and insect repellent if trekking in monsoon (see below)
Good to Know & Caveats
- Annapurna Base Camp sits at 4,130 m, so altitude sickness is possible although the operator reports it is rare on this route
- During monsoon (June–August) the weather is erratic with heavy rain — bring proper gear and follow your guide's calls on timing
- Leeches are common on the lower forest trails in monsoon; long trousers tucked into gaiters and repellent keep them off
- The road to Siwai is unsealed and can be slow or blocked after heavy rain
Not Suitable For
- Pregnant women
- People with mobility impairments
- Wheelchair users
- Visually impaired travellers
- Anyone with a history of altitude sickness
- Travellers over 70 years of age
Meeting Point
Pickup from any hotel in the Lakeside area of Pokhara, or from Pokhara International Airport if you are flying in on the morning of day one.
What Travelers Say
Rated 5.0/5 by 11 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
From the start the owner, Vijay, was exceptionally helpful in addressing all our doubts and providing useful advice. The whole ABC trek was well organised from beginning to end.
— Arjun, 2026-03
Five exceptional days. An original itinerary full of adventure, beautiful discoveries and wonderful encounters. We recommend it to anyone who wants to discover the culture of Nepal.
— Jonathan, 2025-03
A wonderful trek to Annapurna Base Camp. The organisation was perfect and our guide Ramit was very good and super helpful — a really special and caring person.
— Michele, 2025-04
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this five-day route different from the other short ABC treks?
It routes through Jhinu Danda on the way in rather than only on the way out, so the hot springs are available at both ends, and private transport runs all the way to Siwai — the highest road head on this side of the valley.
Should I choose the full-board option?
It is worth it if you would rather not carry and count cash on the trail. Lodge meals above Chhomrong get progressively more expensive with altitude, so full board also removes the surprise on the base camp night.
Are there really leeches on the trail?
In monsoon, yes — on the lower, wetter forest sections below Bamboo. They are harmless but unpleasant. Long trousers tucked into gaiters plus insect repellent deals with them, and they disappear entirely in the dry autumn and spring seasons.
How much does a porter cost?
About $20 per day on this operator's package. One porter typically carries for two trekkers.
Can you pick me up from Pokhara airport?
Yes. Pickup covers any hotel in Lakeside as well as Pokhara International Airport, so you can fly in on the morning of day one and start walking the same day.
