ABC + MHBC Twin Base Camp Trek
17 - 28 Oct 2026
(Annapurna Base Camp and Mardi Himal Base Camp)
Team members:
Amy T, Jess Woo, Josephine Lee, Sabrina Lim;
KC Leong, Ang Cheng Lai, Daniel Woon, Felix Ng, Kevin Lee, Lawrence Leong, Tong San Hee, Tan Han Cie.
If you are motivated, just contact Mr Cheban of Manaslu Adventure Treks, the Nepal trekking agent, via Whatsapp at:
+977 985-1055876
We have a superb experience with Manaslu Adventure Treks. Everything was seamlessly arranged from start to finish. Our mountain guides were incredibly attentive, ensuring all our needs were met while staying at the teahouses. The company was also exceptionally reliable with logistics, promptly dispatching transport whenever necessary.
Do CLICK HERE to view 140 photos taken by yours truly, KC Leong.
A warm welcome offered by Mr Cheban (2nd from right, back row), the Nepal trekking agent.
Overnight Accommodations & Elevation Breakdown:
This twin-base camp itinerary is highly achievable.
- ABC: 5D4N;
- MHBC: 4D3N;
- Total Trekking: 9 Days.
ABC Ascent:
Trailhead Suspension Bridge = 1,530m;
Sinuwa = 2,360m (overnight #1);
Deurali = 3,230m (overnight #2);
ABC = 4,130m (overnight #3) night temperature -4°C (minus 4).
ABC Descent:
Dovan = 2,500m (overnight #4);
Jhinu Danda = 1,760m (overnight #5).
MHBC Ascent:
Forest Camp = 2,550m (overnight #6);
High Camp = 3,585m (overnight #7);
At 4am, start hike to View Point (4,200m) and Base Camp (4,500m). COLD & WINDY.
MHBC Descent:
Middle Camp or Badal Danda = 3,210m (overnight #8).
At Siding trailhead (1,700m; end of trek), take 4WD back to hotel in Pokhara.
When I checked with Mr Cheban, Nepal trekking agent, about reversing the route to do MHBC first, he advised sticking to ABC as our first base camp. He mentioned that because MHBC is higher, doing it first puts hikers at a greater risk of mountain sickness.
Start of trekking at Jhinu Danda, where 4WD journey end here; crossing the suspension bridge
The Food
The food at the teahouses and lodges of Nepal has really improved lately, thanks to standardization introduced by Western tourists. You can take a menu from Lodge A and use it to pre-order your meals at Lodge B; the only thing that changes is the pricing, which gets higher as you go up in elevation.
We appointed Tong San Hee (previously RHB Bank IT colleague) as our CFO: not Chief Financial Officer, but Chief Food Officer, to handle all the ordering. The daily three meals are included in the package: we just place the order; chief guide will determine if the price exceeds the budget.
Our meals generally consisted of fried rice, fried noodles, the famous dal bhat, and surprisingly delicious tuna pizza, macaroni, momo, vegetable spring-roll, and chicken curry. The Korean Shin Ramyun noodle soup is way too spicy. We always shared our food, which have a huge advantage: if you order and eat privately, you risk going hungry if you don't like your meal. By sharing, everyone gets a taste of everything.
Hot drinks before meals are included in our package. We have the option of ordering coffee, tea, ginger lemon tea, or hot lemon water. It was wonderful to relax with a hot cup of tea or coffee before enjoying our meals. We were also informed that because dal bhat is the national dish of Nepal, ordering two or more portions entitles the group to unlimited refills of rice and dal bhat.
Enjoying the Nepalese food ... Some fried noodles include canned tuna or chicken. However, the famous dal bhat is a vegetarian rice dish made with lentils, which can cause a lot of stomach gas. The kitchen can also make delicious pizza with canned tuna.
Annapurna Base Camp
It was an incredible feat: with 4WD reaches Jhinu Danda area, first overnight at Sinuwa; second night at Deurali; third night is already at Annapurna base camp. If any team member has any high mountainous discomfort, forth day morning, the team is going downhill already (problem would solve by itself).
Then subsequently, when trekking MHBC, though higher elevation, all were fine with the elevation.
The Baraha Temple - characterized by the towering cascading waterfalls and steep rocky cliffs that rise directly behind it.
Mardi Himal Base Camp
The journey to MHBC is spectacular; the iconic Fishtail Mountain serves as the dominant figure in the background. The trail winds past Forest Camp, offering plenty of shade and a lush, mossy forest atmosphere. The teahouses along this trek are surprisingly comfortable, providing thick mattresses and warm blankets that live up to hotel standards. The trip wraps up beautifully with a final outdoor breakfast, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Fishtail Mountain.
Overnight at Deurali - This is an important stop as the timing next day will give trekkers sufficient time to arrive at ABC
Viewing the Sunrise
For ABC, catching the sunrise is effortless, as the viewing spot is a mere 200 meters from the teahouses. Sunrise is at 6:15am. In contrast, reaching the MHBC viewpoint requires a challenging 2.5-hour trek up the mountain through freezing, windy, and extreme conditions; meaning proper cold-weather gear is essential. To ensure you have enough time, plan to leave the High Camp teahouses shortly before 4am. A great tip is to order hot water in a thermal flask the night before. The next morning, simply mix in a 3-in-1 coffee packet to enjoy a hot drink along your journey to the summit.
At Machhapuchhre Base Camp (3700m). There is a lot of helicopter traffic around both the ABC and MBC areas.
Toilet conditions
Most lodges in ABC and MHBC feature both modern seated toilets and traditional squat toilets.
Shower & Charing Services
Hot showers and phone charging are available at RM8 per service, per person. Do not take hot showers above 3,000 meters in elevation, as doing so can trigger mountain sickness.
Arriving at Annapurna Base Camp
Trekking Itinerary Summary:
Note: standard lunch time is 1 hr 15 minutes.
Day 1 (18 Oct, Sunday): (trailhead) Jhinu Danda to Sinuwa. Start at 11:30am; arrive at 5:15pm; Total time: about 6 hours.
Day 2: Sinuwa to Deurali. Start at 7:30am; arrive at 5:15pm; Total time: about 10 hours.
Day 3: Deurali to ABC. Start at 7:15am; arrive at 2:30pm; Cloudy; external temperature dropped to 1°C by 5pm; Total time: about 7 hours.
Day 4: Descent from ABC to Dovan. Start at 8:15am after all the group photos; arrive at 3pm. Total time: about 7 hours.
Day 5: Descent from Dovan to Jhinu Danda. Start at 7:30am; hiked for 6 hours for lunch. Arrive at Jhinu Danda Hotel Evergreen at 4pm. Total time: about 9 hours.
Day 6 (23 Oct, Friday): first day of Mardi Hilmal trek. Start at 7:30am; arrive at Forest Camp (2550m) at 3:15pm. We take a connecting trek from ABC to MHBC; uphill all the way. Total time: about 8 hours.
Day 7: Second day of Mardi Hilmal trek. Start from Forest Camp at 7:30am; arrived at High Camp (3,585m) at 3:15pm. Total time: about 8 hours.
Day 8: The final ascent of the Mardi Himal trek. The team started trekking at 4am in the freezing cold. We arrived at the View Point by 6:15am just in time to watch the sunrise. We then continued to Base Camp before returning to the High Camp teahouse for lunch at 12:30pm. We finally reached Middle Camp (Badal Danda) at 3pm to overnight. Total time: about 11 hours.
Day 9 (26 Oct, Monday): Final trekking day. Started at 7:40am after an outdoor breakfast with Fishtail mountain in the background at Middle Camp teahouse. Arrived at 4WD pickup point at 11am. Total time: about 3 hours. Transfer to Hotel Mount Kailash Resort, Pokhara at 1pm. Present tips to porters and guides. Went out for Nepalese lunch that finished at 3pm.
Fitness Requirements:
1. Endurance Training: You must be capable of hiking continuously for 5 to 8 hours per hike;
2. Stair Training: Because about 80% of the terrain consists of stone steps, specific stair training is essential in addition to regular trail hikes. It is highly recommended to practise walking up and down the stairwells of your office or apartment building daily for several weeks leading up to the trip. Alternatively, one can go to gym and practice with the stair-stepping machine.
1. Arrival: van transport from Kathmandu international airport to domestic airport;
2. Pokhara: van transport from Pokhara airport to hotel;
3. 4WD transport to ABC trailhead;
4. (9 days later) 4WD transport from MHBC end point to Pokhara hotel;
5. Excursion: half-day van transport sightseeing tour in Pokhara;
6. Van transport from hotel to Pokhara airport;
7. Van transport from Kathmandu airport to hotel;
8. Departure: van transport from hotel to Kathmandu international airport.
