What to Expect on the Annapurna Base Camp Trail: Villages, Views and Culture

The Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek is one of the most popular treks in Nepal’s Annapurna region. It is often confused with the Annapurna Circuit, but they are two different treks: ABC goes north from Pokhara into the Annapurna Sanctuary to 4,130 m, while the Circuit loops around the whole Annapurna massif and crosses the Thorong La pass.

Last checked: November 2026.

The ABC trek takes you through forests, Gurung villages, terraced farmland, gorges and rivers, and then into a basin of snow-capped peaks. The route is lined with teahouses. You can see the full day-by-day plan on our Annapurna Base Camp Trek page.

Along the way, you’ll meet friendly locals, many of them from Gurung communities, in villages such as Ghandruk and Chhomrong. Below we describe the places on the ABC trail, and also several famous places elsewhere in the Annapurna region, clearly marked, so you know which trek takes you where.

Machhapuchhare
Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3,700 m) is the last stop before Annapurna Base Camp on our Annapurna Base Camp trek. Often referred to as “Fishtail Mountain” for its distinctive peak resembling a fish’s tail, Machhapuchhre (6,993 m) towers over the trail. The mountain is sacred locally and closed to climbing. This moderate trek offers panoramic views not just of Machhapuchhre, but also of the Annapurna massif, including Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Gangapurna.

Royal Trek
The Royal Trek is a short trek in the Annapurna foothills, east of Pokhara. It is known as the Royal Trek because Prince Charles of the United Kingdom walked it in 1980. The walk provides a chance to learn about the variety of ethnic cultures in the surrounding villages. It is a separate trek and is not part of the ABC trail.

Pokhara Valley
Pokhara, the city at the foot of the Annapurna range, is known as the tourism capital of Nepal. Phewa Lake, Sarangkot, Devi’s Fall, Bindhyabasini Temple, Begnas Lake, the International Mountain Museum, Tal Barahi Temple, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, Mahendra Cave and the Gurkha Memorial Museum are some of the major attractions of the city.

Pokhara is an ideal place for tourists, offering everything from hills and waterfalls to lakes, markets and shrines. If you are a spiritual person, you can visit Bindhyabasini Temple. Pokhara is the starting point for the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill treks, and many Annapurna Circuit trekkers, who usually start at Besisahar, finish their trek here. Tal Barahi Temple, a two-tiered pagoda on an island in Phewa Lake, yoga centres and lakeside restaurants are also worth your time. You can also watch sunrise and sunset over the mountains from Sarangkot.

Poon Hill
Poon Hill (3,210 m) is a viewpoint above Ghorepani village with a view of the Annapurna massif and Dhaulagiri.

Poon Hill is reached on the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek, and most people walk up before dawn for the sunrise. Mountains such as Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Dhampus Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machhapuchhre can be seen from here. The Poon Hill trek suits most trekkers, including beginners, and can be linked to the ABC trail via Tadapani and Chhomrong. April is considered an excellent month for this trek, when the rhododendrons are in full bloom. Along the way, you’ll walk through colourful rhododendron forests.

Tilicho Lake
Tilicho Lake (about 4,919 m) is one of the best-known sights of the Annapurna region, famous for its turquoise water. It is not on the ABC trail. Tilicho is reached by a side trip from Manang on the Annapurna Circuit, usually before crossing Thorong La Pass. The journey is tough but rewarding, and the lake is a highlight for many Circuit trekkers.

Ghandruk
Ghandruk (1,940 m) is one of the easiest villages in the Annapurna region to reach. It is on the ABC trail (day 3 of our itinerary) and on the Poon Hill loop, and from here you can see Annapurna South, Gangapurna, Machhapuchhre and Hiunchuli.

Home mainly to Gurung communities, the old village is reachable by jeep and local bus from Pokhara, the capital of Gandaki Province. Many jeeps stop at Kimche, about an hour or two’s walk below the village, while 4WD jeeps can go further up. The Gurung Cultural Museum and Meshram Baraha Temple are major attractions of the village. You can also enjoy the lifestyle, culture, festivals, clothing and food of the Gurung community.

Thorong La
Thorong La is the high pass on the Annapurna Circuit, not on the ABC trail. At 5,416 m above sea level, it is the highest point of the Circuit and one of the best-known passes in Nepal. On the way to the pass, the Circuit takes you through forests, past waterfalls, and gives views of mountains including the Annapurna massif, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Tilicho Peak.

Jomsom
Jomsom is the district headquarters of Mustang, on the western side of the Annapurna Circuit, and has an airport with flights to Pokhara. It sits at about 2,720 m and is the gateway to the Upper Mustang region. It is not on the ABC trail.

Muktinath
Muktinath Temple (about 3,800 m) is a major attraction of the Annapurna region and is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims from Nepal and neighbouring India in particular visit the temple, which is believed to grant salvation (mukti). Muktinath is where Circuit trekkers arrive after crossing Thorong La. It is not on the ABC trail.

Annapurna Dhaulagiri Panorama Trek
Lying in the Annapurna region, west of the ABC trail, the Annapurna Dhaulagiri Panorama Trek is a popular trek offering views of both Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. The trek goes through villages of ethnic communities, forests and mountain landscapes. Along the way, you will be welcomed with local dishes and traditions, and the sunrise and sunset views are a highlight.

Annapurna Conservation Area
The Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) is the protected area that covers the whole Annapurna region, including the entire ABC trail. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project began in 1986, and the area was formally declared in 1992. The area spans 7,629 sq km, making it the largest conservation area in Nepal. It includes the Annapurna Himalayan range and the Kali Gandaki valley, often described as the world’s deepest gorge.

It is bordered by the dry alpine landscapes of Mustang and Tibet (China) to the north, the Kali Gandaki valley to the west, the Marsyangdi valley to the east, and the valleys and foothills north of the Pokhara valley to the south. The ACA is rich in biodiversity and is home to about 1,226 species of flowering plants, 105 mammals, 523 birds, 23 amphibians and 40 reptiles, according to the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), which runs the conservation area. Newer surveys keep adding species; NTNC’s recent mammal survey, for example, lists 128 mammals.

Manang
Manang is a small town in Manang district, at about 3,540 m on the Annapurna Circuit. It offers an insight into the lifestyle of the local people, and its food, culture, language and traditions add to its charm. It is not on the ABC trail.

If you are fond of exploring local culture, clothes, language, food and festivals, Manang is a good place to visit. Circuit trekkers usually spend an extra night here to acclimatise before Thorong La, with views of mountain ranges, dry semi-desert land and forests.

Nar-Phu Valley
Nar-Phu is a remote side valley off the Annapurna Circuit, north of the Marsyangdi valley. It is not on the ABC trail, and trekkers need a restricted area permit. The valley preserves an old Tibetan-influenced culture. Travellers can see the villagers’ yak-herding way of life, their culture, clothing, language and festivals. Wide pastures, glaciers, views of the Annapurna range and the Nar-Phu river are among the main attractions of the valley.

Lo-Manthang
Lo Manthang is the walled capital of the former Kingdom of Lo, in Upper Mustang, at about 3,800 m above sea level. It is reached on the Upper Mustang trek, not on the ABC trail, and requires a restricted area permit. Dating back to the founding of the Kingdom of Lo by Ame Pal in the late 14th century, and built on the old trade route along the Kali Gandaki river through the Himalaya, it is a compact settlement of earthen buildings that preserves Tibetan culture and lifestyle.

The royal palace, the 15th-century monasteries of Jampa Lhakhang and Thubchen Lhakhang, Chode Gompa, and rows of chortens and mani walls are the main attractions inside the walls. The cliff caves in the surrounding area also attract travellers, and some contain old Buddhist murals and manuscripts.

FAQ

Does the Annapurna Base Camp trek cross Thorong La?

No. Thorong La (5,416 m) is on the Annapurna Circuit. The highest point of the ABC trek is Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m.

Are Manang and Muktinath on the ABC trail?

No. Manang, Tilicho Lake, Thorong La, Muktinath and Jomsom are all on or near the Annapurna Circuit. The ABC trail passes Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Dovan, Deurali and Machhapuchhre Base Camp.

Can I see Poon Hill on the ABC trek?

Not on the standard route, but you can link the two treks via Tadapani and Chhomrong, which usually adds a few days.

Do I need the same permit for ABC and the Circuit?

Both treks are inside the Annapurna Conservation Area and need the ACAP permit, plus a TIMS card where it is still required (TIMS practice in the region is unclear in 2026, so check with your agency). Nar-Phu and Upper Mustang need an additional restricted area permit.

Plan this trek with us: the full itinerary and inclusions are on our Annapurna Base Camp Trek page.