Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride

 Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride is one of the best options to escape a day's walk to and from Jhino Danda, Hot Spring (1900m). In the past people would walk from Nayapool/Birethanti for their Annapurna Base Camp Trek spending one day for Jhino Danda where a natural hot spring is located and also had to do the same while returning from the trek.

Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride Video

 But, these days the jeep ride to Annapurna Base Camp (4130m) takes you directly to Jhinu Danda through Ghandruk from Pokhara. This jeep ride to Annapurna Base Camp is available at Hari Chowk near Bindhayabasini Temple in Pokhara.

Normally, everyone who is doing Annapurna Base Camp Trek use this jeep drive to Jhino Danda. This jeep drive takes 3 hours from Pokhara to get to Jhinu  Danda where the hot spring is located at the bank of Modi River. 

 The total distance Annapurna Base Camp Jeep ride covers 19 kilometers passing through local settlements, Modi Khola and alluring mountain panorama including Machhapuchhre.

You can trek to Annapurna Base Camp via Poonhill as well. If you are planning so, then, see the article Ghorepani-Poonhill Trek- A Complete Trekkers' Guide and make your plan in more comprehensive way for Annapurna Base Camp Trek via Poonhill. This way, you can acclimatize at Poonhill and move ahead to MBC and ABC

 1. How much is the Annapurna Base Camp Jeep ride?

 The cost of the Annapurna Base Camp Jeep ride is between USD 5 to USD 10 (RS 500-1000) per person on sharing jeep depending on how many people are there in  the sharing jeep and if you want to book it privately, then, you need to pay a total of USD 70. Majority of the people join in sharing a jeep ride to Jhino Danda which will be cheaper for you. Or if you don’t want to share this jeep ride to Annapurna Base Camp/ Jhino Danda, then, just go for private booking from the hotel you want for your Annapurna Base Camp Trek. If you book a private jeep for Jhino Danda, then, the jeep will come to receive you at the hotel where you stay but for the sharing jeep, you have to go to Hari Chowk, Pokhara from your hotel to get the sharing jeep. Even, your guide or porter will help you to find this jeep from Hari Chowk. The drive from your hotel to Hari Chowk may take Rs. 500 from Lakeside Pokhara. 

 2. How can I book the Annapurna Base Camp Jeep?

 You can book it through the hotel you are using in Pokhara or the local travel agent but most importantly, you had better go to Hari Chowk directly by 8 am after breakfast and then can get the ticket for Jhino Danda, Ulleri, Banthanit, Ghandruk and Ghorepani. All these trekking destinations are connected by jeep ride from Pokhara the jeep station located at Hari Chowk these days.

 The trekkers and the local people are waiting for the jeep at the station located at Hari Chowk, Pokhara to go to Ulleri, Banthanti, Ghandruk, Jhino Danda and Ghandruk. You can find the people there to accompany you in the jeep to Jhino Danda. One jeep can be adjusted by 7 people maximum and each individual will be sharing the cost equally. Ghorepani-Poonhill Jeep Ride also can be found at Hari Chowk which is  15 minutes drive from Lakeside, Pokhara. 

 3. Can we use the  Annapurna Base Camp jeep ride all around the year?

 Not actually, but for a maximum of 7-8 months. You can use this Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride during Autumn ( Sep-Nov), Spring ( Mar-May and Winter (Dec-Jan) when there is no rain in the Annapurna region. But, you cannot use this jeep drive during summer/rainy because the rainfall destroys the conditions of country roads like the section of the road from Birethanti to Ghandruk, Birethanti-Ulleri/ Banthanti, Birethanti- Jhinu Danda etc. All these sections of roads will be very muddy and slippery so that even the four-wheel jeep cannot function properly and it will be very dangerous to drive along this village slipper road during the rainy season. If you are planning to travel in the rainy season in the Annapurna region or Annapurna Base Camp, don’t expect to use this jeep ride from Pokhara to Jhinu  Danda. Otherwise, you can use it very comfortably in both modes, private and sharing. Sometimes,  in pre-autumn and late- spring, the jeep ride cannot be operated. So, for this, you can check the most recent news about the Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride beforehand boarding for the Annapurna Base Camp trek.

4. What will be the jeep like?

The jeep will be a four-wheel jeep. They will be in proper condition with spare parts like tyres and others. If anything wrong happens in the engine of the jeep, the driver will immediately call the mechanic or he will be the mechanic and rescue from the danger in no time.

 The seating will be very comfortable. The luggage will be fixed on the top of the roof with proper covering so that the dust and rain won’t affect them. The driver will take good care of your luggage and all the belongings. Even, your trekking crew like guide and porter will help you tremendously in this jeep trip to ABC or Jhinu Danda.

 You don’t need to worry about the condition of the jeep because the jeeps running in the Annapurna region are very reliable since they have been offering a world-class service to the trekkers both domestic and international and they keep it seriously in their minds during the operation of the services of jeep drive to ABC.

If you love adventure trip, then, you can go with Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride with helicopter return. If you do this, will have more natural thrills of adventure and excitements. 

5. How long is the Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride?

The Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride is around  55 km long from Pokhara to Jhino Danda, the base of the Jhino Dand from where you cross the suspension bridge to get main Jhinu Danda.

This drive is 3 hours long maximum. It is a comfortable drive till Birethanti and a further 3-5 kilometres and then the road turns to a rough country road and it will be under construction, somehow bumpy and dusty too. However, the drive will be very safe and exciting with new experiences of driving along the country and remote roads.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Itinerary with ABC Jeep Ride 

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu Nepal (1345 m) and transfer to the hotel by private vehicle. (D)

Day 2: Drive to Pokhara 860 m. 6-hour drive covering 220 km / 137 miles

Day 3: Jeep Drive to Jhinu Danda and then trek to Sinuwa (2340 m | 7,677 ft.)

Day 4: Trek to Deurali 3, 230 m / 10597 feet-04 hrs. 

Day 5: Trek to Annapurna Base Camp 4,130 m via Machhapuchare Base Camp 3,720 m -06 hrs.


Day6: Trek back to Sinuwa 2340 m | 7,677 ft. m - 06 hrs.


Day7: Trek to Jhinu-Danda a place with a hot spring 1, 700 m - 06 hrs. and drive back to Pokhara

Day 8:  Drive Fly back to Kathmandu 

ABC Trek Map 

What are the risks of Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride?

There are no such risks while undertaking Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride since it is safe and comfortable. This jeep drive to Jhino from Pokhara is only for 3 hours maximum. The total distance it covers is 19 kilometers and more than half of the road is concreted and smooth. You will only drive along the rough road while approaching Ghnadruk or Jhino Danda for Annapurna Base Camp Trek 

The only risk you may have on the way to Ghandruk and Jhino Danda will be the slippery road and some minor damage on the jeep you are riding. Sometimes, the country section of the road turns to be slippery and some mechanical damage can occur in the jeep that may interrupt your trip for some minutes or hours. If this thing happens on the way to Jhino Danda, you needn’t panic and the driver and your trekking crew will fix it in no time. 

Final Words 

Among various jeep rides in the Annapurna region like Poonhill Jeep Ride, Jomsom- Muktinath Jeep Ride, Upper Mustang Jeep Ride, Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride from Pokhara to Jhino Danda is to facilitate you in your Annapurna Base Camp Trek/ABC trek saving your time, stamina and budget so that you can conclude your trip to Annapurna Base Camp and back to Pokhara conveniently. Some people still prefer walking from Birethanti to Ghandruk or Jhino Danda but this walk is worthless since you have to walk along the dusty road and the local settlements have already changed into something so-called modern. So, we recommend you undertake the Annapurna Base Camp Jeep Ride from Pokhara, Hari Chowk to Jhinu Danda either on a sharing basis or privately.