Skip to content
FirfireyFirfirey

Annapurna Regionमाछापुच्छ्रे आधार शिविर

Machhapuchhre Base Camp

Lodges at the entrance of the Annapurna Sanctuary, under the west face of Machhapuchhre, about two hours below Annapurna Base Camp.

The lodge site in the Annapurna Sanctuary below Machhapuchhre; not Mardi Himal Base Camp on the ridge to the south-east.

Plan a trip here
Altitude
3,700 m
Best months
Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
Type
Trek stop
District
Kaski, Gandaki
Permit
Permit required

Why go

Machhapuchhre Base Camp, usually called MBC, is a group of lodges at about 3,700 m where the Modi Khola gorge opens into the Annapurna Sanctuary. Machhapuchhre rises directly to the east, and Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Gangapurna close the view ahead.

Despite the name, it is not a climbing base camp: Machhapuchhre is closed to climbing. Trekkers use MBC as an overnight stop to break the climb to Annapurna Base Camp, about 2 hours further up the moraine, or as a sunrise point.

History and culture

Machhapuchhre ('fish tail') is sacred to Shiva in local belief, and the Nepal government has kept it closed to climbers since a 1957 British attempt that stopped short of the summit. The Gurung villages below long treated the whole Sanctuary as a sacred place, a tradition reflected in local customs about what may be brought into it.

Things to do in Machhapuchhre Base Camp

  • Sunrise on Machhapuchhre

    Early light catches the summit of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas from the lodge area.

  • Walk to Annapurna Base Camp

    A steady climb of about 2 hours on moraine leads to ABC at about 4,130 m.

Weather and the best time to visit Machhapuchhre Base Camp

Weather in Machhapuchhre Base Camp

Forecast for 3,700 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.

Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.

Best time to visit

Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Good month: Mar
  4. Good month: Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Good month: Oct
  11. Good month: Nov
  12. Dec
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
October and November bring clear mountain views and dry trails; lodges are busiest in these months.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
December to February is very cold, with snow on the trail and avalanche risk in the gorge below.
Spring (Mar-May)
March to May brings rhododendron flowers in the forest, warmer days and more afternoon cloud.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
June to August brings rain and cloud; views are rare and the trail below is slippery.

Where to stay

Teahouses

A few basic lodges with shared rooms; very cold at night.

No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.

Getting there

MBC is reached on foot from Deurali, after 3-4 days of walking from the Pokhara road heads.

Nearest hub: Pokhara

  • trekDeurali to MBC via Bagar, about 2.5-3 hours.
Mount Everest 8,848.86Kangchenjunga 8,586Dhaulagiri I 8,167Manaslu 8,163Annapurna I 8,091Machhapuchhre Base CampKathmandu
Boundary: Government of Nepal, Survey Department (2020). Peak data: Wikidata.

Permits and fees

Permit required

MBC is inside the Annapurna Conservation Area; an ACAP permit is required.

  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Issued by the National Trust for Nature Conservation in Kathmandu and Pokhara or online; checked on the trail.
  • TIMS card: Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
  • Guide rule: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; check the current rule.

Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against National Trust for Nature Conservation (Annapurna Conservation Area Project, e-permit links).

On the trail

On the Annapurna Base Camp trek.

Previous stop:
Deurali
Next stop:
Annapurna Base Camp
A typical day:
From Deurali, about 2.5-3 hours and 500 m of climbing over open ground and moraine.

Practical tips

  • At about 3,700 m, altitude illness is a real risk; if you have symptoms, do not continue to ABC. General information, not medical advice.
  • Bring a warm sleeping bag; nights are well below freezing much of the year.
  • Mobile signal is unreliable.

Questions about Machhapuchhre Base Camp

How high is Machhapuchhre Base Camp?

About 3,700 m.

Can you climb Machhapuchhre?

No. The mountain is closed to climbing.

Should I sleep at MBC or ABC?

Sleeping at MBC breaks the climb and helps acclimatisation; many trekkers then walk to ABC for sunrise or continue to sleep there.

More in Annapurna Region

All of Annapurna Region
Manang village in the upper Marsyangdi valley with Annapurna III and Gangapurna behind.

Town or village · 3,519 m

Manang

A high stone village in the upper Marsyangdi valley below Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where Circuit trekkers stop to acclimatise.

Snow-covered ground and lodge roofs at Annapurna Base Camp below Annapurna I and its neighbouring peaks under a deep blue sky.

Trek stop · 4,130 m

Annapurna Base Camp

Lodges at about 4,130 m in the glacial basin of the Annapurna Sanctuary, below the south face of Annapurna I.

Prayer flags and a small stone hut at the Thorong La, with patches of snow on grey scree under a blue sky.

Mountain pass · 5,416 m

Thorong La

The 5,416 m pass between Manang and Muktinath, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit.

Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range above forested ridges, seen from Australian Camp.

Trek stop · 2,060 m

Australian Camp

A grassy clearing at about 2,060 m above Kande with a wide view of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre, an easy walk from the road.

Trek stop · 2,310 m

Bamboo

A group of lodges in the bamboo forest of the Modi Khola gorge, the first overnight stop above Chhomrong on the way to Annapurna Base Camp.

Chhomrong village spread across a steep hillside, seen from Lower Sinuwa across the valley.

Trek stop · 2,170 m

Chhomrong

The last permanent Gurung village before the Annapurna Sanctuary, built on a steep staircase facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.

Trek stop · 1,650 m

Dhampus

A Gurung hill village above Phedi with views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas, close to Pokhara.

Nearby

Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Annapurna Sanctuary trek, Wikivoyage, Annapurna Sanctuary, Wikipedia, Machapuchare, Wikipedia