North Annapurna Base Camp Trek – 6 Days
72 reviews in Tripadvisor
Trip Duration
6 Days/5 Nights
Max. Altitude
4,310 m. / 14,140 ft.
Trip Difficulty
Moderate
Group Size
10
Transportation
Bus and Jeep
Accommodation
Teahouse Tents
Activity
Trekking and Hiking
Meals
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Trip Overview
North Annapurna Base Camp Trek Overview
The North Annapurna Base Camp Trek is a short and adventurous journey into the remote northern side of Annapurna I. The trekking section begins at Humkhola, at around 2,880 m, and follows the historic Maurice Herzog Trail through waterfalls, forests, alpine meadows, and rugged mountain terrain.
The trail passes through Humkhola, Phutphute Waterfall, Sandhikharka, Guphaphant, Bhusket Mela, Dharamshala, Sunkhola and Panchakunda Lake before reaching the Old Annapurna I Base Camp at 4,310 m and the New Annapurna I Base Camp at 4,150 m. Trekkers can visit both base camp points when time, weather, and trail conditions permit.
Route at a Glance
Kathmandu → Beni → Humkhola → Phutphute Waterfall → Sandhikharka → Guphaphant → Bhusket Mela → Dharamshala → Sunkhola → Panchakunda Lake → Old Annapurna I Base Camp (4,310 m) → New Annapurna I Base Camp (4,150 m) → Panchakunda → Guphaphant → Humkhola → Tatopani → Beni → Pokhara/Kathmandu
Elevation Profile
| Destination | Approx. Elevation |
| Kathmandu | 1,400 m |
| Beni | ~830 m |
| Humkhola | ~2,880 m |
| Phutphute Waterfall | Route point |
| Sandhikharka | Route point |
| Guphaphant | ~3,320 m |
| Bhusket Mela | ~3,550 m |
| Dharamshala | Route point |
| Sunkhola | Route point |
| Panchakunda Lake | ~4,050 m |
| Old Annapurna I Base Camp | 4,310 m |
| New Annapurna I Base Camp | 4,150 m |
Highlights of North Annapurna Base Camp Trek – 6 Days
- Start trekking from Humkhola.
- Follow the historic Maurice Herzog Trail.
- See Phutphute Waterfall and Sandhikharka.
- Pass through Guphaphant and Bhusket Mela.
- Visit Dharamshala and Sunkhola.
- Explore Panchakunda Lake.
- Visit the Old Annapurna I Base Camp at 4,310 m.
- Continue to the New Annapurna I Base Camp at 4,150 m.
- Enjoy close Himalayan views from the northern side of Annapurna I.
- Experience a quieter alternative to the classic Annapurna Base Camp South route.
Itinerary of North Annapurna Base Camp Trek – 6 Days
Day Day 1: Kathmandu to Beni
Driving: Approximately 8–10 hours | Elevation: Kathmandu 1,350 m → Beni ~830 m
Drive from Kathmandu to Beni through Nepal’s scenic hill highways and river valleys. Beni is the gateway toward the Myagdi side of the Annapurna region.
Overnight: Hotel in Beni
Activity: Driving approx. 8-10 hours
Max. Altitude: 803m./2,635ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Beni
Day Day 2: Beni to Humkhola; Trek to Phutphute, Sandhikharka and Guphaphant
Route: Beni → Tatopani → Humkhola → Phutphute Waterfall → Sandhikharka → Guphaphant
After reaching Humkhola, the actual trekking adventure begins. The trail climbs through forest and mountain terrain, passing Phutphute Waterfall and Sandhikharka before reaching Guphaphant.
Overnight: Guphaphant
Activity: Driving approx, 4 hours and trekking approx, 4 hours.
Max. Altitude: 3320m./10,892ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day Day 3: Guphaphant to Bhusket Mela, Dharamshala, Sunkhola and Panchakunda Lake
Route: Guphaphant → Bhusket Mela → Dharamshala → Sunkhola → Panchakunda Lake
Continue deeper into the alpine landscape. After leaving Guphaphant, the trail passes through Bhusket Mela, Dharamshala, and Sunkhola before reaching Panchakunda Lake.
Overnight: Panchakunda Lake
Activity: Trekking 6 hours
Max. Altitude: 4050m./13,287ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Teahouse/Tent
Day Day 4: Panchakunda Lake to Old and New Annapurna I Base Camps
Route: Panchakunda Lake → Old Annapurna I Base Camp → New Annapurna I Base Camp → Panchakunda Lake
This is the highlight of the trek. From Panchakunda Lake, climb toward the Annapurna I Base Camp area. The Old Base Camp is at approximately 4,150 m, while the New Base Camp is at 4,310 m. Trekkers with sufficient time and energy can visit both points. Return to the Panchakunda area after exploration.
Overnight: Panchakunda Lake
Activity: Hiking 1hours 25 minute
Max. Altitude: 4310m./14,140ft.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Teahouse/Tent
Day Day 5: : Panchakunda Lake to Guphaphant and Humkhola; Drive to Beni
Route: Panchakunda → Sunkhola → Dharamshala → Bhusket Mela → Guphaphant → Sandhikharka → Phutphute → Humkhola → Tatopani
Retrace the scenic trail toward Humkhola. After reaching Humkhola, continue by road toward Tatopani and relax at Tatopani’s natural hot springs.
Overnight: Tatopani
Activity: Trekking and driving back to tatopani, 8-9 hours approx.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Tatopani
Day Day 6: Tatopani to Pokhara / Kathmandu
Route: Tatopani → Pokhara → Kathmandu
After breakfast, drive toward Pokhara. Travelers ending the package in Kathmandu can continue from Pokhara to Kathmandu, while guests extending their stay in Pokhara can finish the trip there.
Meals:
Meal: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel
Includes/Excludes
What is included?
- Kathmandu–Beni–Kathmandu/Pokhara transportation according to the itinerary.
- Beni/Tatopani–Humkhola transportation.
- Licensed English-speaking trekking guide.
- Porter service.
- Accommodation during the trek.
- Camping equipment where required.
- Three meals per day during the trek.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP).
- Required trekking permits/registration.
- Guide and porter expenses.
- First-aid kit.
- Government taxes and agency service charges.
What is not included?
- International airfare.
- Nepal visa fee.
- Travel insurance.
- Emergency helicopter evacuation.
- Personal expenses.
- Bottled drinks.
- Hot showers and charging fees where applicable.
- Personal trekking equipment.
- Tips for guide, porter and driver.
- Expenses caused by landslides, road closures, weather or other unforeseen events.
- Services not specifically listed under inclusions.
Trip Information
Trek Difficulty
Moderate to Challenging. The trek is relatively short, but the altitude gain is significant. The final section toward the two base camps reaches 4,310 m, so trekkers should be prepared for steep, rocky, and high-altitude terrain.
Accommodation
Accommodation is more basic than on established routes such as the South ABC or Mardi Himal Trek. The package may use hotels in Beni, basic local lodges or shelters where available, and tented camping at higher elevations.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Meals generally consist of practical trekking food such as dal bhat, rice, noodles, soup, vegetables and eggs.
Best Time to Trek
Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are the primary trekking seasons. Winter can be cold and snowy at higher elevations. Monsoon rain can affect roads, streams, and trails, so local conditions should be checked before departure.
Permits
The route crosses through the Annapurna Conservation Area; hence, the necessary Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) should be included. The agency should verify current trekking registration and TIMS requirements before each departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
The trekking section starts at Humkhola, at approximately 2,880 m. The road journey reaches Humkhola before the walking section begins.
The New Annapurna I Base Camp is 4,310 m according to the recent field information supplied for this package.
Yes. The updated route has an Old Base Camp at approximately 4,150 m and a New Base Camp at approximately 4,310 m. Trekkers can visit both when conditions and time permit.
The major route points are Humkhola, Phutphute Waterfall, Sandhikharka, Guphaphant, Bhusket Mela, Dharamshala, Sunkhola, Panchakunda Lake, Old Base Camp and New Base Camp.
No. North ABC uses the Myagdi/Humkhola approach, while the classic South ABC route enters from the Modi Khola side.