Searching for a short Annapurna Base Camp trek that actually fits your holiday dates and your budget? This is it. Our Annapurna Base Camp short trek runs 5 days from Pokhara and takes you to the same 4,130 m base camp reached on the standard 7 to 8 day itinerary, at a genuinely low cost and without cutting permits, guiding standards, or safety planning.
This page covers everything a serious trekker needs before booking a short trek to Annapurna Base Camp: the exact annapurna base camp trek short itinerary day by day, real short Annapurna Base Camp trek cost figures for 2026 and 2027, what is included and excluded, and an honest read on difficulty. We built this Nepal short ABC package to be more transparent and more complete than the other short ABC listings currently ranking on Google, most of which hide pickup, permits, or true group pricing until after you enquire.
Quick Facts: Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek 5 Days
- Duration: 5 days, 4 nights on the trail, hotel to hotel in Pokhara
- Max altitude: Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130 m
- Start/end point: Your hotel in Pokhara, private vehicle pickup and drop included
- Trek distance: approx. 38 to 42 km round trip
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging, fast pace, limited acclimatization buffer
- Short Annapurna Base Camp trek cost: from USD 429 per person (group rate), 2026/2027 price
- Best season: March–May and late September–November
- Group size: Private or small group, 1 to 13+ trekkers, priced by group size below
- Permits included: ACAP permit and TIMS card
What Is the Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek From Pokhara?
The short Annapurna Base Camp trek is a 5 day, 4 night version of the classic ABC route from Pokhara that reaches the same 4,130 m base camp using a faster daily pace, cutting 2 to 3 days off the standard itinerary while keeping full permits, a licensed guide, and safety standards in place.
Most Nepal trekking agencies sell the Annapurna Base Camp trek as a 7 to 8 day package, which remains the more relaxed choice for most travellers. But this annapurna base camp short trek exists for a real reason: not everyone has 8 free days in their travel plan. If you are on a stopover in Nepal, combining ABC with another region, or simply want a quick, fast Annapurna Base Camp trek without a spare acclimatization day, this short itinerary gets you to the same base camp inside the Annapurna Sanctuary, ringed by Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre, Hiunchuli, and Gangapurna.
The trade-off is pace, never scenery and never safety. You walk longer hours each day, and the plan does not build in a dedicated rest day the way our standard package does. In exchange, you get a genuinely low price, budget package and a shorter time commitment, which is exactly why this short trek to Annapurna Base Camp is one of the most searched budget trekking packages in Nepal for time-limited travellers.
How Is This Annapurna Base Camp Trek Short Itinerary Different From the Standard Route?
The short itinerary compresses the standard 7 to 8 day Annapurna Base Camp route into 5 days by merging trail sections and removing the built-in rest day, so you still see everything but with longer walking hours and a faster altitude gain.
Our standard package spreads the same distance across 7 to 8 days with a rest and acclimatization stop, usually at Chhomrong or Deurali. This annapurna base camp trek short version removes that buffer and covers the same ground faster. It suits trekkers who are reasonably fit, have some hiking background, and would rather manage a tougher pace than add extra days and extra cost to their Nepal trip. If that is not you, we say so plainly in the difficulty section below, and we are happy to move you to the standard itinerary instead.
What Is the Annapurna Base Camp Trek Short Itinerary Day by Day?
The 5 day itinerary runs: Day 1 hotel pickup and trek to Lower Sinuwa, Day 2 to Deurali, Day 3 to Annapurna Base Camp, Day 4 down to Bamboo, and Day 5 back to Jhinu and drive to your Pokhara hotel.
| Day | Route | Approx. Walking Time | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Pickup from your Pokhara hotel, drive to Jhinu, trek to Lower Sinuwa | 4–5 hrs | Lower Sinuwa (2,340 m) |
| Day 2 | Lower Sinuwa – Bamboo – Himalaya – Deurali | 6–7 hrs | Deurali (3,230 m) |
| Day 3 | Deurali – Machhapuchhre Base Camp – Annapurna Base Camp | 5–6 hrs | ABC (4,130 m) |
| Day 4 | Sunrise at ABC, descend all the way to Bamboo | 7–8 hrs | Bamboo (2,310 m) |
| Day 5 | Bamboo – Jhinu (hot spring stop), drive back to your Pokhara hotel | 4–5 hrs | Drop at your Pokhara hotel |
Day 1: Pokhara Hotel Pickup to Lower Sinuwa
Your guide picks you up directly from your hotel in Pokhara by private vehicle in the morning. We drive to Jhinu (or the nearest road head, depending on current road conditions), and from there you start trekking through rhododendron and bamboo forest toward Chhomrong village, continuing to Lower Sinuwa for the night. This first day of the short annapurna base camp trek itinerary eases you in while covering meaningful distance, since a 5 day schedule leaves no room for a slow start.
Day 2: Lower Sinuwa to Deurali
One of the longer walking days on this annapurna base camp short trek. You pass Bamboo village and Himalaya, climbing steadily along the Modi Khola valley as the forest thins near Deurali. Altitude gain is noticeable, so your guide sets a pace that keeps the group safe while still holding the 5 day schedule.
Day 3: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp
You leave the tree line behind and pass Machhapuchhre Base Camp before the final push to Annapurna Base Camp, arriving with enough daylight to take in the full amphitheater of peaks: Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Hiunchuli, and Gangapurna. Overnight at ABC is the highlight of this short trek to Annapurna Base Camp.
Day 4: ABC Sunrise to Bamboo
Sunrise at Annapurna Base Camp is one of the best mountain views in Nepal, and we plan the morning around catching it before the long descent begins. Because this is a quick, fast ABC trek, Day 4 covers the most ground of the whole itinerary, dropping through Deurali and Himalaya all the way to Bamboo. This is the toughest day physically.
Day 5: Bamboo to Jhinu and Drive Back to Pokhara
The final trekking day brings you back down to Jhinu, where most groups stop for a soak in the natural hot spring by the Modi River before the private vehicle drive back to your hotel in Pokhara. A well-earned finish to a fast-paced, budget Nepal trek.
What Is the Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost (Price Per Person)?
The short Annapurna Base Camp trek cost starts from USD 639 for a solo trekker and drops as low as USD 429 per person for groups of 13 or more, with every group tier including permits, a licensed guide, teahouse stay, meals, and Pokhara hotel pickup and drop.
Annapurna base camp trek cost varies a lot across Kathmandu and Pokhara agencies, and group size is the single biggest factor. A genuinely low cost, budget ABC package should still include a licensed guide and full permits regardless of group size. Below is our real, per-person price breakdown for this short annapurna base camp trek, so you can see exactly what you pay at your group size, not a single "from" figure that only applies to the largest group.
| Group Size | Price per Person (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1 person (solo/private) | $639 |
| 2–3 people | $489 |
| 4–7 people | $469 |
| 8–12 people | $449 |
| 13+ people | $429 |
Every tier above includes the same short ABC trek inclusions: permits, guide, teahouse accommodation, full board meals during the trek, and hotel pickup and drop in Pokhara. Larger groups pay less per person mainly because the guide and vehicle cost is shared across more trekkers, not because anything is removed from the smaller group package. These are indicative 2026 and 2027 prices for our short, fast, budget Annapurna Base Camp trek; we confirm your exact quote within 24 hours of enquiry with no hidden extras added later.
A 20% deposit confirms your booking. We accept bank transfer (Nepal Investment Mega Bank Ltd, Thamel branch) or card payment, which carries a 4% processing surcharge.
How Do You Book This Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek?
Send us your preferred dates and group size, receive a personalised quote within 24 hours based on the price tiers above, confirm with a 20% deposit, and we handle your permits and Pokhara hotel pickup arrangement.
- Send your preferred dates and group size via WhatsApp or email
- We confirm availability and send a full, transparent quote within 24 hours based on your group size and the price tiers above
- Pay a 20% deposit to secure your booking (bank transfer or card, 4% surcharge on card)
- Receive your pre-departure packing list and a briefing call with our office
- We pick you up from your Pokhara hotel on Day 1 and start trekking with your certified guide
.webp&w=1200&q=75&dpl=dpl_9uRBxgKNdEe7xwTiEenJbWTWMmiK)
