Annapurna Base Camp Yoga Trek
- Duration
- 7–11 days
- Max altitude
- 4,130 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate to challenging
- Best season
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- From
- $1,750
What is the Annapurna Base Camp Yoga Trek?
The Annapurna Base Camp yoga trek is a guided walk into the Annapurna Sanctuary that reaches 4,130 metres over seven to eleven days, with a yoga and meditation session built into most mornings and evenings. It follows the classic ABC route through Ghandruk, the Modi Khola valley, and Deurali, but at a steadier pace, so your body has time to adjust and your practice has time to land.
What makes it different from a standard base-camp trek is the rhythm: gentler daily distances, restorative movement to loosen tired legs, and quiet sitting at viewpoints rather than a race to the top. This is practice on the trail, not peak-bagging.
Day-by-day itinerary
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Pokhara to Nayapul, trek to Ulleri. Drive to the trailhead and begin walking, with an opening breathwork session at the teahouse in the evening. |
| Day 2 | Ulleri to Ghorepani. Climb through rhododendron forest to Ghorepani. Morning mobility yoga before setting off; restorative practice on arrival. |
| Day 3 | Poon Hill sunrise, on to Tadapani. Early climb to the Poon Hill viewpoint (3,210 m) for sunrise, then descend and traverse to Tadapani. |
| Day 4 | Tadapani to Chhomrong. A rolling day into the Modi Khola valley. Evening restorative yoga eases the legs after the descents and climbs. |
| Day 5 | Chhomrong to Bamboo. Descend and re-climb into the bamboo and forest zone. Gentle morning yoga to warm stiff muscles. |
| Day 6 | Bamboo to Deurali. Steady ascent following the river gorge, with a short acclimatization-minded pace and breathwork at the lodge. |
| Day 7 | Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m). The high day up to Base Camp at 4,130 metres, walked slowly for altitude. A quiet meditation among the peaks on arrival. |
| Day 8 | Sunrise at Base Camp, descend to Bamboo. Sunrise over the Annapurna Sanctuary and gentle stretching, then a long descent back to Bamboo. |
| Day 9 | Bamboo to Jhinu Danda hot springs. Descend to Jhinu Danda, with time to soak tired muscles in the natural hot springs by the river. |
| Day 10 | Jhinu Danda to Nayapul, drive to Pokhara. A final walk out to the road and drive back to Pokhara. Evening restorative session by Phewa Lake. |
| Day 11 | Rest and departure. A slow closing morning practice in Pokhara and departure, or continue your travels from Lakeside. |
How hard is it, and how high?
This route is graded moderate to challenging and tops out at 4,130 m. Reasonable fitness and a little preparation go a long way.
What fitness do you need?
- Can you walk five to seven hours on back-to-back days, up and down stone steps, carrying a light daypack?
- Are you comfortable gaining and losing altitude steadily over many days rather than in one big push?
- Can you hold a slow, even pace on long uphill sections without needing a full rest day to recover?
- Do you have no heart, lung, or blood-pressure condition that a doctor has flagged for altitude? If you are unsure, get a check-up before you book.
- Are you willing to walk slowly, drink water often, and tell your guide honestly how you feel each day?
If two or more of these give you pause, give yourself six to eight weeks to prepare: regular hill or stair walking, a few longer back-to-back walking days, and steady cardio two or three times a week. You do not need to be an athlete: consistent walking fitness matters far more than speed, and it is the single best thing you can do before this trek.
How is altitude managed?
The route is planned around gradual sleeping-altitude gains rather than a rush to 4,130 metres. The steepest days are paced slowly, the largest single-day climbs are kept moderate, and your licensed guide can add a rest night if anyone is adjusting slowly. Acclimatization is built into the schedule, not left to chance.
Everyone on the trail should know the early signs of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Tell your guide as soon as you notice any of them. The safe response is to stop climbing, rest, and descend if they do not settle:
- A headache that does not ease with rest and water
- Nausea or a loss of appetite
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Unusual tiredness or weakness on easy ground
- Broken or difficult sleep
- Feeling more breathless than the effort warrants
How acclimatization schedules work, what AMS symptoms mean, and what breath work can and cannot do for you: our guide to altitude on yoga treks covers every route's numbers in one place.
For the full picture, read our month-by-month season guide and the deposit-after-confirmation booking model.
What it costs & what's included
- Licensed trekking guide for the full route
- 10 nights teahouse lodge accommodation on the trail and in Pokhara
- Daily morning mobility yoga and evening restorative practice
- ACAP entry permit and TIMS card arrangements
- All main meals on trek, including dal bhat
- Return transport between Pokhara and the trailhead
- Acclimatization-paced itinerary with a Poon Hill sunrise
- Flights to Nepal
- Nepal visa fee (available on arrival)
- Travel and trekking insurance with altitude and helicopter evacuation cover
- Personal trekking gear and porter (available on request)
- Personal expenses, hot showers and drinks on the trail
What the yoga is actually like
At altitude the yoga is deliberately gentle: morning mobility to wake stiff joints, slow breath-led movement, and restorative poses in the evening to help you recover. Meditation happens where it matters most: at viewpoints, with the Annapurnas in front of you. Expect no strong vinyasa above 3,000 metres; the mountain sets the pace.
When to go
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) give the clearest mountain views and the most stable trails. The monsoon months (June–August) bring rain, cloud, and leeches lower down; deep winter adds snow near the sanctuary. Autumn is the most popular window.
What to pack
- Layered clothing: base layers, a warm mid-layer, and a windproof shell
- A warm sleeping-bag liner for teahouse nights
- Broken-in trekking boots and trail socks
- Sun hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen
- Refillable water bottle and purification tablets or a filter
- A light daypack; your yoga mat and duffel are usually carried for you
- Personal first-aid basics and any regular medication
- Head torch, power bank, and a warm hat and gloves
The full layer system, what operators provide, and the leave-at-home list live in our guide to what to pack for a yoga trek.
Which trek should you pick?
If eleven days and 4,130 metres feel like a lot for a first trek, the shorter Poon Hill yoga trek reaches 3,210 metres in three to five days and is gentler on both fitness and schedule. Choose Annapurna Base Camp if you want the full sanctuary experience and have the time; choose Poon Hill if you want a stunning sunrise with less commitment.
A third path splits the difference: the Mardi Himal yoga trek reaches about 4,500 metres in five to seven days on a far quieter ridge.