Destination
The Annapurna Conservation Area north of Pokhara — Nepal's most popular trekking region, home to Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, and the Annapurna Sanctuary. Pokhara is the gateway.
The Annapurna region is Nepal's most-walked trekking landscape, protected within the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) — the country's largest protected area. It rises from the subtropical valleys and Gurung and Magar villages around Pokhara to the glaciated amphitheatre of the Annapurna Sanctuary, ringed by Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Gangapurna, and the unclimbed fishtail peak of Machhapuchhre.
It offers the widest range of well-supported teahouse treks in Nepal, from the gentle two-night Poon Hill loop to the moderate Mardi Himal ridge and the classic Annapurna Base Camp sanctuary walk. Trails are well-marked, lodges are frequent, and Pokhara — just a few hours away by bus or a short flight from Kathmandu — makes a comfortable base before and after.
All treks here require an ACAP permit (NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals; NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals), arranged in Kathmandu or Pokhara. A TIMS card has historically also been required, though its enforcement on Annapurna routes has become inconsistent — confirm current rules with the Nepal Tourism Board or a registered agency before you set out.
The reliable trekking seasons are autumn (Sep–Nov) and spring (Mar–May), when skies are clearest and the rhododendron forests bloom. Winter is walkable at lower elevations but cold and snowy high up; monsoon (Jun–Aug) brings rain, leeches, and cloud-hidden peaks.
Field guide
Start here
A short, scenic ridge trek east of the Annapurna Sanctuary, climbing through moss-draped forest to High Camp and a 4,200 m viewpoint almost beneath Machhapuchhre. The best "quiet, high, and quick" option in the Annapurnas — 4–5 days, moderate effort, dramatic payoff.
Best for
high-himalaya, sanctuary, sunrise
Good in
4–5 days: A short, scenic ridge trek east of the Annapurna Sanctuary, climbing through moss-draped forest to High Camp and a 4,200 m viewpoint almost beneath Machhapuchhre. The best "quiet, high, and quick" option in the Annapurnas — 4–5 days, moderate effort, dramatic payoff.
On the map
A 4,130 m glacial amphitheatre ringed by Himalayan giants — the heart of the Sanctuary.
“It is the single most rewarding place to stand inside the high Himalaya that ordinary trekkers can reach on foot.”
Basic, cold, unforgettable lodges at 4,130 m inside the Sanctuary.
“It is the only way to wake up at sunrise inside the Annapurna Sanctuary — the defining experience of the trek.”
The permits every Annapurna trek needs — what they cost and where to get them.
“It is the single most important piece of trip admin for any Annapurna trek, and the area where stale information trips travelers up most.”
The steep Gurung gateway village every Base Camp trek passes through.
“It is the unavoidable gateway to the Sanctuary and the best place on the trail to confirm conditions before going high.”
Some of the trail's best lodges and bakeries at the Sanctuary's gateway.
“It combines the best teahouse comfort and food on the Sanctuary route with a spectacular setting at the trek's key gateway.”
A handsome stone Gurung village with grandstand Annapurna views.
“It is the most rewarding and accessible traditional Gurung village in the region, and it anchors the lower Annapurna trails.”
Simple ridge-top lodges with warm dining halls, a short climb below Poon Hill.
“It is the obligatory and most comfortable overnight base for the Poon Hill sunrise, with a genuine teahouse-village atmosphere.”
Ridge-edge lodges below the fishtail, base for the Upper Viewpoint climb.
“It is the only sensible base for a clear-morning climb to the Mardi Upper Viewpoint, in a genuinely spectacular ridge setting.”
A 4,200 m ridge climb to a face-to-face view of the fishtail peak.
“It is the most dramatic short-trek viewpoint in the Annapurnas, putting you almost under Machhapuchhre for a fraction of the time the Sanctuary demands.”
Nepal's most accessible big-mountain sunrise, a pre-dawn climb above Ghorepani.
“It delivers the region's signature Himalayan sunrise with the least effort and risk of any high viewpoint in Nepal.”
A short, scenic ridge trek east of the Annapurna Sanctuary, climbing through moss-draped forest to High Camp and a 4,200 m viewpoint almost beneath Machhapuchhre. The best "quiet, high, and quick" option in the Annapurnas — 4–5 days, moderate effort, dramatic payoff.
“It delivers near-Sanctuary altitude and the best close-up fishtail views in the region on a short, quieter trek.”
The gentlest of the classic Annapurna treks: a 4–5 day teahouse loop through rhododendron forest and Gurung villages to the famous Poon Hill sunrise at 3,210 m. The best first Himalayan trek in Nepal — no serious altitude, real mountain payoff.
“It is the highest reward-to-effort ratio of any trek in Nepal: a real Himalayan sunrise on a short, low-altitude, beginner-friendly loop.”
The classic Annapurna Sanctuary trek: roughly a week of teahouse walking up the Modi Khola gorge into a glacial amphitheatre at 4,130 m, ringed by Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre, and a wall of Himalayan giants. The region's signature multi-day trek.
“It is the region's definitive trek — the most complete way to walk into the heart of the high Himalaya without technical climbing.”
An easy one- to two-night escape over the southern rim of the valley: a Newar village homestay in Chitlang, boating on the Kulekhani reservoir, and an optional sunrise detour to Daman's Himalayan view tower.
“It is the most accessible "real getaway" from Kathmandu — village, lake, and big mountains in one short, flexible loop.”
