How Much Does Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost? Complete 2026 Budget Breakdown

I get asked this question almost every day. Someone fills out our enquiry form, and within the first two messages it comes: how much does Annapurna Base Camp actually cost?

The honest answer is that it depends on how you trek. A budget trekker spending carefully will spend a completely different amount from someone who wants private rooms and a porter carrying everything. Both are valid. Both get you to the same 4,130-metre amphitheatre surrounded by some of the tallest mountains on earth.

What I can do is break down every cost you will face, from the permit office to the last cup of tea at Jhinu Danda hot springs, so you know exactly what to budget before you book anything.

April 2026 price note: Nepal’s fuel costs have risen sharply due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which pushed global oil prices to record highs. Nepal Oil Corporation hiked diesel by over 50% and aviation fuel by nearly 98% in a single month. Transport and teahouse food prices have increased as a result. Every number in this guide reflects current 2026 pricing.

The Quick Answer

If you want a number before reading three thousand words, here it is. A nine-day Annapurna Base Camp trek with a Nepali trekking company costs between 425 and 1,200 US dollars depending on your tier, plus around 1,000 to 1,800 dollars for flights, visa, insurance, and personal spending. Total trip cost from your front door and back: roughly 1,500 to 3,200 US dollars.

If that range is too wide for comfort, keep reading. I will narrow it down to what you specifically will pay.

Package Price: What a Nepali Trekking Company Charges

Most Nepali companies offer the ABC trek in tiered packages. Ours look like this, and they are fairly representative of what a licensed, reputable company charges:

Budget: 425 US dollars

This gets you a government-licensed English-speaking guide, all permits (ACAP and TIMS), ground transport between Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the trailhead at Nayapul, one night in Pokhara with breakfast, a SIM card, first aid kit with pulse oximeter, and a company t-shirt. You pay for your own meals on the trail and there is no porter — you carry your own bag.

Standard: 750 US dollars

Everything in Budget plus all three meals daily with tea, fruit, and two litres of water. Private twin rooms with attached bathroom where available. One porter per two trekkers carrying ten kilograms each. Private vehicle transport instead of tourist bus. SIM card with limited data. All taxes included.

Luxury: 1,200 US dollars

Everything in Standard plus premium private vehicle, all drinks except alcohol, private deluxe rooms with bed heater, one porter per trekker so you carry nothing, one guide per two trekkers, unlimited data SIM, and duffel bags provided.

Group rates bring the Standard tier down further: 696 dollars per person for two to four people, 675 for five to eight, 650 for nine to twelve, and 625 for groups of thirteen to twenty.

You can see the full breakdown and book on our Annapurna Base Camp trek page.

What Is Not Included in Any Package

Every company excludes certain costs. Here is what you need to budget separately:

• International flights to and from Kathmandu
• Nepal visa (30 to 125 US dollars depending on duration)
• Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover (90 to 250 dollars)
• Accommodation in Kathmandu before and after the trek
• Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara outside of the trek
• Alcohol and personal snacks on the trail
• Tips for guide and porter
• Personal trekking gear

Permit Costs

The Annapurna Base Camp trek requires two permits. Both are included in our packages, but if you are comparing prices or trekking independently, here is what they cost:

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): 3,000 Nepali rupees for foreigners (about 20 US dollars at the current rate of 151 rupees per dollar). SAARC nationals pay 1,000 rupees.

TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System): 1,000 rupees for agency trekkers, 2,000 for independent trekkers. Some checkpoints no longer enforce this, but it is still technically required.

Total permit cost: roughly 26 to 33 US dollars. Your company handles the paperwork — you do not need to visit any government offices. For more detail, read our complete permits guide.

Getting to and from the Trek: Transport Costs

The ABC trek starts from Nayapul, which is about an hour’s drive from Pokhara. First you need to get from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and then from Pokhara to the trailhead.

Kathmandu to Pokhara

Following the 2026 fuel price increases, transport prices have risen across Nepal:

• Tourist bus: 12 to 22 dollars one way (six to seven hours)
• Deluxe micro bus: 28 to 50 dollars (same journey, better seats)
• Domestic flight: 120 to 180 dollars one way (twenty-five minutes)
• Private vehicle: 140 to 210 dollars one way

Most trekking packages include private vehicle transport, which is what I would recommend. Read our full Kathmandu to Pokhara transport guide for details on each option.

Pokhara to Nayapul: About 1,200 to 1,500 rupees (8 to 10 dollars) by local bus, or included in your package if you booked private transport.

Food and Drink on the Trail

If you are on a Standard or Luxury package, all your meals are included. If you booked Budget, or if you want extras beyond what is provided, here is what teahouse food costs on the ABC trail in 2026:

• Dal bhat (the staple meal, unlimited refills): 500 to 900 rupees (3.50 to 6 dollars)
• Pasta, fried rice, noodle soup: 450 to 800 rupees (3 to 5.50 dollars)
• Momos (dumplings): 400 to 700 rupees
• Tea or coffee: 100 to 250 rupees
• Bottled water (1 litre): 150 to 400 rupees (increases with altitude)
• Beer: 500 to 900 rupees
• Chocolate bar or snack: 200 to 400 rupees

A Budget trekker eating three dal bhat meals a day, plus tea and the occasional snack, will spend 25 to 35 dollars per day on food. Over nine days, that is 225 to 315 dollars.

Standard and Luxury trekkers: your meals are covered, but budget 5 to 15 dollars per day for extras like beer, chocolate, and bottled drinks.

Accommodation on the Trail

The ABC trail has teahouses at every stop. Room prices depend on the season and whether you eat at the teahouse (most offer free or cheap rooms if you order meals there).

• Basic shared room: 200 to 500 rupees per night (1.50 to 3.50 dollars)
• Private room with attached bathroom: 500 to 1,500 rupees (3.50 to 10 dollars)
• Hot shower: 200 to 500 rupees per use
• Device charging: 100 to 300 rupees
• WiFi: 200 to 500 rupees per day

Accommodation is included in all our packages, so this is mainly relevant for independent trekkers.

Flights to Nepal

This is usually the biggest single cost. Return flights to Kathmandu vary enormously by origin:

• From the UK: 450 to 800 pounds return (600 to 1,050 dollars)
• From the US: 800 to 1,400 dollars return
• From Australia: 700 to 1,200 Australian dollars (500 to 850 US dollars)
• From India: 8,000 to 20,000 Indian rupees return (95 to 240 US dollars)

Book three to four months ahead for the best prices. October and November are peak season, so spring (March to May) flights tend to be cheaper.

Nepal Visa

Every foreign national except Indians needs a visa. You get it on arrival at Kathmandu airport:

• 15 days: 30 US dollars
• 30 days: 50 US dollars
• 90 days: 125 US dollars

You need a passport-sized photo and a completed arrival form. The queue takes twenty to forty minutes. For the full process, see our visa on arrival guide.

Travel Insurance

This is mandatory and non-negotiable. The ABC trek reaches 4,130 metres, which means you need a policy that covers:

• Emergency helicopter evacuation up to 5,000 metres minimum
• Medical treatment abroad (at least 100,000 US dollars)
• Trip cancellation

A two-week policy with altitude cover costs 90 to 180 dollars for most nationalities. Read our trekking insurance guide for recommended providers.

Tips

Tipping is customary in Nepal and deeply appreciated. The standard is:

• Guide: 10 to 15 US dollars per day
• Porter: 8 to 10 US dollars per day

For a nine-day trek, budget 90 to 135 dollars for your guide and 72 to 90 dollars for your porter. These go directly to the people who made your trek possible. More on this in our tipping guide.

Personal Spending and Extras

Beyond food and accommodation, budget for:

• Kathmandu hotel: 15 to 60 dollars per night depending on standard
• Meals in Kathmandu: 5 to 15 dollars per meal
• Jhinu Danda hot springs: 100 rupees entry (less than a dollar — worth every rupee after seven days of walking)
• Souvenirs and shopping: whatever you fancy
• Kathmandu sightseeing: temple entry fees, taxis

Most trekkers spend 10 to 25 dollars per day on personal extras during the trek, and 30 to 60 dollars per day in Kathmandu.

Gear: Buy or Rent?

You do not need to buy everything new. Kathmandu’s Thamel district is full of shops selling and renting trekking gear. We provide duffel bags and down jackets to all our trekkers at no extra charge. If you need a sleeping bag or other gear, we help you buy affordable quality items in Thamel where prices are a fraction of what you would pay at home. Trekking poles rent for 50 cents to 1 dollar per day.

If you already own hiking boots, a rain jacket, and thermal layers, you can get away with spending very little on gear. Between what we provide and what you can buy cheaply in Thamel, there is no need to arrive with a full kit from home. Read our Thamel gear shopping guide for details on what to rent versus buy.

The Full Cost Breakdown: Three Scenarios

Here is what the total trip actually costs for three different types of trekker, flying from the UK:

Budget Trekker (carrying own bag, paying own meals)

Standard Trekker (all meals included, porter, private transport)

Luxury Trekker (private guide, porter, best rooms, all drinks)

ABC vs EBC: Which Is Cheaper?

Annapurna Base Camp is significantly cheaper than Everest Base Camp for one main reason: no Lukla flight. The EBC trek requires a return flight from Kathmandu to Lukla costing 500 to 580 dollars at current fuel-adjusted prices, or an additional three days by road. The ABC trek starts from Pokhara, which is reachable by a seven-hour bus ride for 12 to 22 dollars.

Our Standard EBC package starts at 1,072 dollars compared to 750 for ABC Standard. Add the Lukla flights and the total gap is even wider. If budget is a factor, ABC gives you a world-class Himalayan experience for roughly 30 to 40 percent less than EBC.

Can You Do It Cheaper?

Yes, but with trade-offs. Some trekkers go fully independent with no guide and no porter, eating the cheapest dal bhat at every stop. Since Nepal’s 2023 mandatory guide rule, you legally need a guide, but enforcement varies on popular trails like ABC.

I would not recommend going without a guide. Not because I run a trekking company, but because the Annapurna region gets sudden weather changes, the trail above Deurali is steep and exposed, and if something goes wrong above 3,000 metres you want someone who knows the evacuation routes and speaks the language. The guide fee is a small fraction of your total trip cost. It is not the place to save money.

Where you can save: book flights early, stay in shared rooms, eat dal bhat (unlimited refills at every teahouse), fill water bottles at purification stations instead of buying bottled water, and trek in shoulder season when everything is slightly cheaper. Read our budget trekking guide for more honest tips.

How to Book Without Overpaying

Book directly with a Nepal-based company rather than through an international agent. The international operator adds their margin on top of ours, sometimes doubling the price for the exact same trek with the exact same guide. Our book direct guide explains why this matters.

We ask for a 10 percent deposit to secure your booking, paid through Himalayan Bank Limited’s secure payment gateway. The balance is due before departure. If your plans change, our cancellation policy gives you flexibility up to sixty days out.

If you have specific questions about costs, just message us. I answer most enquiries within a few hours, and I will give you an honest number — not a sales pitch.

What the ABC Trek Is Actually Like Day by Day

Understanding the daily experience helps you understand where the money goes. The nine-day itinerary breaks down like this:

Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara. Seven to eight hours by private vehicle through the middle hills. You pass through the Trisuli River gorge, stop for lunch at a roadside restaurant, and arrive at your Pokhara hotel by late afternoon. The drive is long but the scenery is beautiful. If you have booked a flight instead (120 to 180 USD one way), you arrive in twenty-five minutes with aerial views of the Annapurna range.

Days 2-3: Nayapul to Ghandruk to Chomrong. The trekking begins. You walk through terraced rice paddies, cross suspension bridges, and climb stone steps through Gurung villages. The teahouses here are comfortable with hot showers and WiFi. Teahouse quality is good at these lower altitudes. Food is varied and affordable.

Day 4: Chomrong to Deurali. The infamous Chomrong staircase. Thousands of stone steps down into the Modi Khola valley, then thousands more back up the other side. This is the hardest day physically. The landscape shifts from village farms to dense bamboo and rhododendron forest. You are entering the Annapurna Sanctuary.

Day 5: Deurali to Annapurna Base Camp. A short but spectacular walk. The valley opens into a vast natural amphitheatre surrounded by Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South, Machapuchare, Hiunchuli, and Gangapurna. You stand at 4,130 metres surrounded by peaks that dwarf anything in Europe or North America. This is what you paid for.

Days 6-8: Descent. The return follows a different route through Bamboo and Jhinu Danda, where natural hot springs along the Modi Khola river provide the best post-trek recovery imaginable. Entry is 100 rupees. Worth every one.

Day 9: Pokhara to Kathmandu. Return drive or flight. Farewell dinner with your guide. Trip complete.

Common Mistakes That Cost Extra Money

After managing hundreds of ABC bookings, I have seen the same costly mistakes repeatedly:

• Buying bottled water. Bottled water costs 200 to 700 rupees per litre at altitude and creates plastic waste. Bring a reusable bottle and purification tablets (10 USD for a trip's worth) or use teahouse boiled water. This alone saves 50 to 100 USD over nine days.
• Not eating dal bhat. Western food (pizza, pasta, burgers) costs more, takes longer to prepare, and is less nutritious than dal bhat. The Nepali staple comes with unlimited refills, is freshly cooked, and powers you through the longest days. It is the best value on the menu.
• Buying gear at home. Trekking poles, fleece layers, rain covers, and sleeping bag liners cost two to three times more in London or Sydney than in Kathmandu's Thamel. We provide duffel bags and down jackets free, and help you buy everything else affordably before departure.
• Skipping travel insurance. A helicopter evacuation from the Annapurna Sanctuary costs 5,000 to 8,000 USD without insurance. The insurance costs 120 to 180 USD. The maths is simple.
• Booking through an international operator. International agencies add their margin on top of ours, sometimes doubling the price. You get the same guide, the same teahouses, the same trail. Booking direct saves 30 to 50 percent.

Why Trek with The Everest Holiday

We are a family-run company based in Kathmandu, operating since 2016. Shreejan Simkhada, our founder, personally designs every itinerary and his family has been involved in Himalayan guiding since the 1960s. This is not a booking platform that connects you with random guides. We employ our own TAAN-certified team, and every trek supports the Nagarjun Learning Center, providing free education to 70 children in rural Nepal.

What makes a practical difference to your experience:

• 320+ verified reviews across TripAdvisor (4.9 stars), Google, and Trustpilot
• TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice 2024
• TAAN certified (Member #1586) with government registration
• Secure payment through Himalayan Bank Limited, Nepal's most trusted commercial bank
• We provide gear: duffel bags and down jackets included free. We help you buy the rest cheaply in Kathmandu
• No strangers added to your group. Your trek is private to your party

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Annapurna Base Camp trek worth the money?

If you want to stand inside a natural amphitheatre surrounded by 7,000 and 8,000-metre peaks without needing any climbing experience, there is no cheaper or more accessible way to do it. The ABC trek offers a high-altitude Himalayan experience for roughly half the cost of Everest Base Camp.

How much cash should I carry on the trek?

On Standard or Luxury packages where meals are included, carry 5,000 to 10,000 NPR (35 to 65 USD) for personal extras like hot showers, WiFi, snacks, and beer. On Budget, carry 30,000 to 50,000 NPR (200 to 330 USD) for food and extras. There are no ATMs on the trail. See our currency guide for more details.

Is ABC cheaper than EBC?

Yes, significantly. The main saving is the Lukla flight (500 to 580 USD return) which EBC requires but ABC does not. Our Standard EBC package starts at 1,072 USD versus 750 USD for ABC Standard. Total trip cost difference: roughly 800 to 1,200 USD.

Can I do the ABC trek in fewer than nine days?

Some companies offer seven-day versions that skip the Pokhara overnight and compress the trek. We do not recommend this. The compressed schedule reduces acclimatisation time and increases altitude sickness risk. Nine days gives your body the time it needs to adjust safely.

What is the best month for the ABC trek?

October and November (clearest skies, peak season, busiest). March and April (warmer, rhododendron blooms, slightly fewer trekkers). Both seasons have success rates above 95 percent for completing the trek. See our best time to trek guide for month-by-month detail.

Do I need to be fit?

You need to be comfortable walking five to seven hours per day over uneven terrain with some steep sections. The Chomrong staircase on Day 4 is the most physically demanding part. Previous trekking experience helps but is not required. Read our fitness guide for specific preparation advice.

Is the ABC trek safe?

The trail is well-established with teahouses at every stop. Our guides carry pulse oximeters and first aid kits, and monitor every trekker for altitude sickness symptoms daily. The main risks are altitude (mitigated by our acclimatisation schedule) and weather (mitigated by our guides' local knowledge). Thousands of trekkers complete this route safely every year.

Can I combine ABC with other treks or activities?

Yes. Many trekkers add a Pokhara adventure day (paragliding, zip-lining, boating) before or after the trek. You can also combine ABC with Poon Hill for an extended twelve to fourteen-day itinerary. Ask us about combined packages.

Have a question not covered here? Message us on WhatsApp at +977 9810351300 and I will reply within a few hours.

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