The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek is one of Nepal's most popular routes, leading into a ring of giant peaks in the Annapurna Sanctuary. But how hard is it?
Quick answer: the ABC trek is moderate. It takes 7–12 days, reaches about 4,130 m, and involves 5–7 hours of walking a day on steep stone stairs. Fit beginners can do it with preparation. Altitude is lower than Everest Base Camp, but there are avalanche-prone sections after heavy snow.
What makes it challenging
- Stairs: thousands of stone steps, especially around Chhomrong and Ulleri, are tough on knees.
- Altitude: you reach about 4,130 m; mild symptoms are possible above 3,000 m.
- Weather: cold at ABC, and snow in winter and spring.
- Avalanche risk: the trail between Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp can be closed after heavy snowfall; follow your guide.
How fit do I need to be?
You should be able to walk 5–7 hours a day for over a week, with plenty of ascent and descent. Train with hill walks, stairs and cardio for two to three months. Trekking poles help.
ABC vs other treks
- Easier than Everest Base Camp for altitude.
- Harder than Poon Hill.
- Shorter options: our 7-day ABC trek.
See our ABC guide and ABC vs EBC.
The ABC trek in numbers
| Figure | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130 m |
| Starting point | Nayapul, Siwai or Jhinu (by road from Pokhara) |
| Total days | 7–12 days of walking, depending on route |
| Daily walking | 5–7 hours on most days |
| Total distance | About 70–115 km return, depending on start and side trips |
| Grade | Moderate |
| Permits | ACAP permit; licensed guide required |
A typical itinerary and its hardest days
| Day | Route | Altitude | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive Pokhara to Siwai/Jhinu, walk to Jhinu Danda | About 1,780 m | Easy to moderate |
| 2 | Jhinu to Chhomrong and down to Sinuwa | About 2,340 m | Hard: the long Chhomrong staircase |
| 3 | Sinuwa to Bamboo and Dovan | About 2,600 m | Moderate |
| 4 | Dovan to Deurali | About 3,230 m | Moderate |
| 5 | Deurali to Machhapuchhre Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp | 4,130 m | Hard: altitude and avalanche zone |
| 6 | Sunrise at ABC, descend to Bamboo | About 2,310 m | Long, hard on knees |
| 7 | Bamboo to Jhinu, hot springs | About 1,780 m | Moderate, many stairs |
| 8 | Walk out and drive to Pokhara | About 820 m | Easy |
The stairs
Ask anyone who has done the ABC trek about its hardest part and most will say the stairs. Between Jhinu, Chhomrong and Sinuwa, the trail drops to the Chhomrong Khola and climbs back up on thousands of stone steps, and you walk them in both directions. On the classic Poon Hill–ABC combination, the stairs at Ulleri add to the total. Strong legs, trekking poles and a slow, steady rhythm are the key. Take small steps, keep your weight over your feet, and rest briefly rather than stopping for long. On descents, use your poles and go slowly to protect your knees.
Altitude on the ABC trek
ABC is lower than Everest Base Camp, but you still sleep at about 3,700 m at Machhapuchhre Base Camp or 4,130 m at ABC. The ascent from Deurali to ABC gains about 900 m in a day, which is more than the usually recommended daily gain above 3,000 m. Many itineraries stop at MBC for a night to make it easier. Mild headaches and poor sleep are common; serious altitude sickness is rare but possible. Walk slowly, drink plenty, and tell your guide about symptoms. See altitude sickness.
Avalanche risk in detail
The section of trail from Deurali through Hinku Cave to Machhapuchhre Base Camp runs along the bottom of the narrow Modi Khola gorge, beneath steep slopes that can release avalanches after heavy snowfall, particularly in late winter and spring. Several fatal avalanches have occurred here, and the trail is closed by local authorities when the risk is high. Follow your guide's advice and local notices, start early in the morning when snow is firmer, and don't linger in the avalanche zone. In autumn the risk is usually low.
Season and difficulty
| Season | How it affects difficulty |
|---|---|
| Autumn (Oct–Nov) | Ideal: dry trails, clear views, moderate cold at ABC |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Cold, snow likely above Deurali, possible avalanche closures |
| Spring (Mar–May) | Warm lower down, rhododendrons; snow and avalanche risk early in the season |
| Monsoon (Jun–Sep) | Rain, slippery stairs, leeches, cloud; harder and less rewarding |
See ABC in winter.
Training plan
- Eight to twelve weeks before: walk or run three to four times a week, building to 60–90 minutes.
- Six weeks before: add weekly hill walks of four to six hours with a daypack, and stair sessions.
- Four weeks before: do two long walks on consecutive weekend days, including steep descents.
- Throughout: strengthen legs and core with squats, lunges, step-ups and calf raises.
- Final week: rest and stay healthy.
See how fit do you need to be?
Making the trek easier
- Choose a longer itinerary with a night at MBC.
- Hire a porter so you carry only a light daypack.
- Start early to avoid afternoon cloud and rain.
- Use trekking poles, especially on descents.
- Eat well and drink plenty of water.
- Soak tired legs in the hot springs at Jhinu on the way down.
ABC compared with other popular treks
| Trek | Max altitude | Days | Main challenge | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghorepani–Poon Hill | 3,210 m | 4–5 | Stairs at Ulleri | Easier than ABC |
| Mardi Himal | About 4,500 m | 5–6 | Steep ridge, quick height gain | Similar, shorter |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 4,130 m | 7–11 | Stairs, altitude at the top, avalanche zone | Moderate |
| Langtang Valley | About 4,770 m | 7–10 | Altitude at Kyanjin Ri | Similar |
| Everest Base Camp | About 5,545 m | 12–14 | Several nights above 4,400 m | Harder than ABC |
| Annapurna Circuit | 5,416 m | 12–16 | Thorong La pass day | Harder than ABC |
See ABC vs EBC and ABC vs Poon Hill.
Who finds ABC hard?
Trekkers with knee problems often find the descents and stairs the hardest part, more than the altitude. People who haven't trained on hills may struggle on the long climbs out of the river valleys. Those who are sensitive to altitude may feel the last day's climb to ABC. And trekkers who come in late winter or early spring may face snow and cold above Deurali. With good preparation, a sensible pace and the support of a guide and porter, most reasonably fit people complete the trek and love it.
Children and older trekkers
Older children who are used to hiking, typically from about ten years and up, can manage ABC with a slow itinerary and extra rest days; watch them carefully for altitude symptoms, as they may not describe them clearly. Trekkers in their sixties and seventies regularly complete the trek with a slower pace, a porter and good preparation. See trekking over 60 and family travel.
Lodges and comfort
Lodges on the ABC trail are simple but comfortable, with twin rooms, shared bathrooms in most places, dining rooms and hearty food. In the upper sanctuary, the number of lodges is limited by the conservation area, and in peak season rooms can be full, so trekkers sometimes share rooms or sleep in dining halls. Booking through a company with good local connections helps. Food choices narrow as you go higher, and prices rise because everything is carried up. See Annapurna region lodges.
What a day on the trail feels like
A typical day starts with breakfast at about 7 am and walking by 7.30 or 8. The morning is usually clear, and you walk for two to three hours before a tea break, often in a village with views up the valley. Lunch is at a lodge around midday, and the afternoon's walking brings you to your overnight stop by 2 or 3 pm, before afternoon cloud and occasional rain. The evening is spent around the dining-room stove, eating dal bhat, playing cards and talking to other trekkers. Days are tiring, but rarely exhausting if you go at a steady pace. The final morning at ABC, watching the sunrise light up Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, makes every step worthwhile.