Annapurna Trail Stops · Village by village

What are Machhapuchhre and Annapurna Base Camps?

By Base Camp Tours, licensed Nepal travel agency (Tourism License 3121/080) · Updated · 1 min read

The short answer

Machhapuchhre Base Camp (about 3,700 m) is a stop with lodges below the Fishtail peak. Annapurna Base Camp (about 4,130 m) sits inside a ring of giants with the glacier below; both are lodge-based, not tents.

Key facts

MBC
About 3,700 m
ABC
About 4,130 m
Style
Teahouses
Best
Sunrise

How it works

  1. Pass the Himalaya and Deurali stopsCheck your health.
  2. Enter the sanctuaryThe valley narrows with avalanche paths.
  3. Sleep at MBCRest and drink water.
  4. Walk to ABCA three-hour climb to a bowl of peaks.
  5. Watch sunrisePeaks glow in first light.

Insider tip

Many trekkers sleep at MBC, then ABC, then return in two days.

Avoid this

Do not climb above MBC on the same day you arrive if you feel unwell.

Related questions

Is the sanctuary safe in winter?

Avalanche risk rises; check conditions with a guide.

Can I do ABC in a short trip?

A helicopter option exists; see the helicopter hub.

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