Pokhara: 6-Day Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Heli Return

Trek the classic Sanctuary trail to Annapurna Base Camp on foot, then fly out by shared helicopter. Six days, all permits, meals and a licensed guide included.
Most people see Annapurna Base Camp one of two ways: they walk all the way in and walk all the way back out, losing three days to the same stone staircase, or they fly in by helicopter and never earn the view.

This is the third option. You trek up the classic Sanctuary trail — Jhinu, Chhomrong, Bamboo, Deurali — through Gurung villages and rhododendron forest, sleep in mountain lodges, and reach Annapurna Base Camp on foot at 4,130m. Then you fly out.

Day 5 is the payoff. You wake before dawn in the amphitheatre with Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre all around you, and 25 minutes later you are landing in Pokhara — having skipped roughly 4,000m of cumulative descent on stone steps.

Shared departures mean you do not need to fill a helicopter. Seats are sold per person on scheduled flights, so solo travellers and couples can book a single seat. Seating is assigned by the pilot for weight balance, so window seats cannot be guaranteed on shared flights.

What the route actually feels like
Day 1 is a jeep from Pokhara to Jhinu, then the suspension bridge and the long stone climb to Chhomrong (2,170m). Day 2 is forest all day via Sinuwa to Bamboo, with Machhapuchhre appearing ahead. Day 3 climbs into the gorge past Dovan and the Hinku Cave to Deurali (3,230m). Day 4 crosses MBC and arrives at Base Camp by afternoon, in time for sunset on the sanctuary walls. Day 5 is sunrise at ABC and the helicopter out. Day 6 is your departure from Pokhara.

Who this suits
Fit walkers who want the Base Camp view without a nine-day commitment: 4 to 6 hours of walking a day at altitude, steep stone staircases, and no heart or lung conditions — this is 4,130m.

Good to know
The helicopter weight limit is strict: seat plus cabin bag under 80kg, weighed in Pokhara. Weather cancellations are rare but possible; the fallback is a same-day walk to MBC and a next-morning flight. Insurance covering helicopter evacuation is mandatory. Best seasons: March–May and September–December.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. If flights are canceled due to bad weather, you can choose to reschedule at no cost or receive a full refund.

Para garantir a disponibilidade, reserve o mais cedo possível. A reserva antecipada vale a pena considerar especialmente se você estiver planejando a viagem durante a alta temporada, como feriados ou fins de semana.

Esta excursão você pode cancelar sem custo até 24 horas antes do início da viagem. Se você cancelar após 24 horas ou não comparecer à excursão, ainda será cobrado o preço total da atividade. Chegar atrasado na coleta ou partida será considerado como não comparecimento.