Annapurna Base Camp Heli Trek

Your day begins with an early morning scenic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, the vibrant lakeside adventure hub of Nepal. Framed by magnificent views of peaks like Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, and Annapurna, Pokhara is famous for its pristine Fewa Lake, where the iconic reflection of Machhapuchhre Himal mirrors on clear days. After enjoying the lake surroundings—popular for boating and fishing—you will take a private vehicle drive of approximately 42 km to Nayapul, passing through the scenic village of Lumle.

From Nayapul, begin your trek with a brief 20-minute walk to reach Birethanti. Following the main street, the trail leads you through dense bamboo forests, past a large waterfall, a natural swimming hole, and pasturelands traditionally used by pony caravans. Stop for lunch at the charming village of Ramghai before continuing onward to reach your final destination for the day, Tikhedhunga.

• Location: Kathmandu to Pokhara, then Nayapul to Tikhedhunga

• Elevation: 1,480 meters (4,856 feet) at Tikhedhunga

• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge in Tikhedhunga

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Daily Drive Hour: Approximately 1.5 hours (Pokhara to Nayapul) plus a ~25-minute domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara

• Daily Trek Distance or Hours: Approximately 8 km / 3 to 4 hours of trekking

The trail continues across a stream via a suspension bridge from Tikhedhunga near the campsite and ascends the steep stone staircase to the Magar village of Ulleri. The stone staircase features approximately 3,300 steps, and the tracks through it are quite beautiful. Ulleri lies at an elevation of 2,080 meters. Above the village, the path continues smoothly across pasturelands and beautiful cultivated fields of mustard and rice. Reach a rest and water stop after an hour’s walk from Ulleri, then proceed across two small rivers before finally climbing to Nangethanti. From Nangethanti, climb to Ghorepani at an elevation of 2,850 meters, where you can observe the spectacular panorama of Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Tukuche Nilgiri (6,940 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), and Tarke Kang (7,193 m).

• Location: Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (via Ulleri and Nangethanti)

• Elevation: 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) at Ghorepani

• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge in Ghorepani

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Daily Drive Hour: None (Full day trekking)

• Daily Trek Distance or Hours: Approximately 4 to 5 hours of trekking

The day’s trekking provides one of the journey’s major highlights, a visit to Poon Hill to take in one of the most panoramic vistas in the Himalayas, with matchless views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna massif at sunrise. After a suitable pause to savor the awe-inspiring scenery, the trek continues towards Tadapani along one of the most superb trails filled with the immediacy of lush forests and abundant wildlife on either side of the soaring peaks in the background serving as an impossibly picturesque backdrop.

• Location: Ghorepani to Poon Hill to Tadapani

• Elevation: 3,210 meters (10,531 feet) at Poon Hill, dropping to 2,630 meters (8,628 feet) at Tadapani

• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge in Tadapani

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Daily Drive Hour: None (Full day trekking)

• Daily Trek Distance or Hours: Approximately 10 to 11 km / 5 to 6 hours of trekking (including the sunrise hike)

From scenic Tadapani, descend and cross through the Kyumrung Khola river, continuing to Gurjung (2,040 m), Talung (2,155 m), and Chhomrong (2,220 m) before reaching Sinuwa (2,335 m). The path begins a long climb high above the west bank of the Modi Khola. You pass through Chhomrong, a scenically captivating Gurung village tucked at the very base of Himalchuli. From Chhomrong, the trail descends to Chhomrong Khola before beginning a steady climb to head up to your final destination for the day, Sinuwa.

• Location: Tadapani to Sinuwa (via Gurjung and Chhomrong)

• Elevation: 2,335 meters (7,660 feet) at Sinuwa

• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge in Sinuwa

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Daily Drive Hour: None (Full day trekking)

• Daily Trek Distance or Hours: Approximately 5 to 6 hours of trekking

We proceed toward Kuldi Ghar, passing through a clearing in the jungle a little further on from where the route goes very steeply down a bank of rock and then levels out, running through brambles of bamboo at the bottom of the gorge, keeping always on the west side of the river. We pass by the meadow of Tomo, and then the very end of the gorge at Pantheon Barah, where there are a small path and a shrine. The path ascends to the Himalaya hotel and continues onward to Deurali for your overnight stay.

• Location: Bamboo/Himalaya to Deurali (via Kuldi Ghar)

• Elevation: 3,230 meters (10,598 feet) at Deurali

• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge in Deurali

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Daily Drive Hour: None (Full day trekking)

• Daily Trek Distance or Hours: Approximately 5 to 6 hours of trekking

The trail mounts steadily through to the legendary base camp made popular by the likes of Herzog, Bonnington, and Messner. The glorious panoramas and close-up of the Annapurna massif and the nearby glacier are ample rewards for the long journey. Annapurna Base Camp offers spectacular views of the mountain peaks and lets you experience the wide vastness of snowy terrain and close views of huge Himal. The panorama at the Annapurna Base Camp is thrilling and charming, and the overall scene of the whole mountain peaks is pretty amazing.

• Location: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (via Machapuchare Base Camp)

• Elevation: 4,130 meters (13,550 feet) at Annapurna Base Camp

• Accommodation: Teahouse / Lodge in Annapurna Base Camp

• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Daily Drive Hour: None (Full day trekking)

• Daily Trek Distance or Hours: Approximately 6 to 7 hours of trekking

This is another most anticipated day of the trek as today you will be experiencing one of the most amazing helicopter rides from the base camp of Annapurna back to Pokhara early in the morning. The aerial panorama of the mountain peaks from the helicopter stimulates both thrill and excitement. Glancing below, you will observe the dramatic change in the landscape as the snowy lands of the high mountains are replaced with lush hills, terrace farmlands, and forests, sometimes catching glimpses of wild goats running below. The beautiful landscape of the Annapurna region manifests itself like a beguiling portrait from a bird’s-eye perspective. After landing in Pokhara, you will take an afternoon domestic flight back to Kathmandu, concluding your remarkable mountain adventure.

• Location: Annapurna Base Camp to Pokhara (Helicopter) & Pokhara to Kathmandu (Domestic Flight)

• Elevation: 4,130 meters (13,550 feet) at ABC descending to ~1,400 meters (4,600 feet) in Pokhara and Kathmandu

• Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu

• Meal Plan: Breakfast

• Daily Drive / Flight Hour: Helicopter flight from ABC to Pokhara (~30–40 minutes) plus afternoon domestic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu (~25 minutes)

• Daily Trek Distance or Hours: None (Helicopter flight and domestic air transfer)

We thank you for being a part of our tour and travel. We bid you farewell and drop-off at the airport, or the opportunity to join another of our programs.

• Location: Hotel in Kathmandu to Tribhuvan International Airport

• Elevation: Approximately 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) in Kathmandu

• Accommodation: None (Departure Day)

• Meal Plan: Breakfast

• Daily Drive Hour: Approximately 30 to 45 minutes for airport transfer

• Daily Trek Distance or Hours: None (Airport Drop-off)