A guided Annapurna Base Camp trek from Pokhara starts at around 649 US dollars per person, and arranging it yourself puts most people between 700 and 1,200. It is one of the cheaper big treks in Nepal, because it begins with a short drive rather than a flight, so you are not paying for domestic air tickets before you reach the trail. The money goes on the same handful of things either way: the permits, a guide, teahouse nights, and that drive to the trailhead.
What it costs at a glance
Most trekkers spend somewhere between 700 and 1,200 US dollars per person for the Annapurna Base Camp trek, and the gap between those two numbers is mostly about how much support you want. The lower end is a lean, independent walk on local transport with simple lodges. The higher end covers a guide, a porter, private transport from Pokhara, and a bit more comfort each night.
Our own guided Annapurna Base Camp trek starts from around 649 US dollars per person for the classic seven-day version. That figure carries the parts most people find fiddly to arrange alone: permits, a licensed guide, transport to and from the trailhead, and teahouse nights on the trail.
For one trekker who hires a guide and shares a porter, a week breaks down roughly like this. Permits come to about 37 dollars, and a guide across the seven days runs 210 to 245. Half of a shared porter adds another 70 to 90. Teahouse rooms and food are the daily grind at 30 to 50 dollars, so call it 210 to 350 for the week, and the shared jeep at each end is 20 to 40 more. That lands most people between 550 and 760 dollars before flights home, tips, and gear, which is why the honest all-in figure creeps toward the higher band once you add those.
Permits
Two permits are needed, and both are fixed, so there is no negotiating them.
- ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): NPR 3,000, about 22 US dollars per person. It is checked at the entry post and pays into the conservation area you spend the whole trek inside.
- TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System): NPR 2,000, about 15 US dollars per person. It logs who is on the trail for safety.
A tip that saves money: arrange both before you set off, either online, at the Nepal Tourism Board counter in Damside in Pokhara, or through a registered agency. Permits issued at a check post on the trail are charged at double.
Guide and porter
Since April 2023, every foreign trekker on a route that needs a TIMS card must walk with a licensed guide, and Annapurna Base Camp is one of those routes. So a guide is now part of the real cost, not an optional add-on.
- Licensed guide: about 30 to 35 US dollars a day, which covers the guide's wages, food, lodging, and insurance on the trail.
- Porter: about 20 to 25 US dollars a day, usually shared between two trekkers. A porter carries 20 to 25 kg, so you walk with a light day pack and keep more in the tank for the climb into the Sanctuary.
On a seven-day trek those daily rates add up to a meaningful share of the budget, which is why a fully organised trip often works out close to what independent trekkers pay once they have hired the same guide and porter themselves.
Teahouses and meals
The trail is lined with teahouses, so you are not carrying a tent or food. A room runs anywhere from 5 to 50 US dollars a night depending on altitude and how basic or comfortable the lodge is. Higher up in the gorge, rooms get simpler and prices rise a little because everything has to be carried in.
Meals are the steadier cost. Expect 5 to 10 US dollars a plate, more as you gain height. The reliable choice is dal bhat, the lentil and rice set that comes with free refills, so trekkers live on it. Budget around 25 to 40 US dollars a day for food and drink across the whole walk, and a bit more if you buy bottled drinks and snacks.
Getting there from Pokhara
The trailhead near Chhomrong is a few hours by road from the lake, and how you cover that stretch is the one transport cost you can control. A shared local jeep is the budget option at roughly 10 to 20 US dollars, and a private vehicle hire in Pokhara costs more but takes you door to trailhead on your own schedule, which matters on the first and last day when you are either fresh or tired. On our trips this drive both ways is already included, so it is one less thing to sort on the ground.
Guided or independent
Independent trekking looks cheaper on paper, but the gap narrows once you account for the now-mandatory guide, both permits, and transport at each end. Organising it yourself saves some money and gives you full control of the pace. A guided trip costs a little more but folds the permits, the licensed guide, the trailhead transport, and the teahouse nights into one figure you can see in advance, with someone reading the altitude and the weather for you. For a first trek in Nepal at this altitude, most people find that worth the difference.
When to go, and what it does to cost
The trek is at its best in October and November, and again in March and April. Prices for lodges and guides are broadly stable across the year, so season is about clear skies and safe trails rather than saving money. The shoulder weeks at the edges of those windows are quieter on the trail without costing less, which suits walkers who would rather trade a small chance of haze for fewer people at the viewpoints.
If you have a few extra days, adding the Poon Hill sunrise on the front is a popular way to ease into the altitude. Our Poon Hill trek guide covers that shorter walk, and the quieter Mardi Himal trek is worth a look if you want a similar Annapurna tour on a lighter budget and timeline.
FAQ
How much does the Annapurna Base Camp trek cost from Pokhara in 2026?
Plan for 700 to 1,200 US dollars per person all in, depending on how much support and comfort you want. A guided trip that bundles permits, guide, transport, and teahouses starts from around 649 US dollars with us.
Do I have to hire a guide?
Yes. Since April 2023, a licensed guide is required for Annapurna Base Camp, so a guide is part of the cost whether you book a trip or arrange one yourself.
What are the permit costs?
ACAP is NPR 3,000 (about 22 US dollars) and the TIMS card is NPR 2,000 (about 15 US dollars) per person. Arrange both before the trail to avoid the doubled check-post fee.
Can I keep the cost down?
Use shared jeeps rather than private transport, eat dal bhat, share a porter between two, and travel in the shoulder weeks. The permits and the guide are fixed, so the savings come from transport, food, and lodging choices.
Is Annapurna Base Camp cheaper than Everest Base Camp?
Usually, yes. Annapurna Base Camp starts with a short drive from Pokhara rather than a flight to Lukla, which removes one of the biggest fixed costs on the Everest trek.
