Treks

Api base camp trek: route, days, season and costs from Darchula

Api Himal base camp trek in Darchula: 9, 12 and 16-day operator itineraries, base camp altitude, best months, the Darchula permit row, park entry, prices.

Roads to Rara editors · Checked 20 October 2026 against 7 sources

In short

The Api base camp trek starts and ends at Makarighad in Darchula district, below Api, the highest mountain in Nepal's far west1. Operators run it in 9, 12 or 16 days2,1,3 and put base camp at 4,100 m2 or 3,900 m3. In October 2026 the Department of Immigration listed a Darchula permit at USD 90 per person per week5.

Trailhead
Makarighad, Darchula district1
Base camp altitude
4,100 m (Best Heritage Treks) or 3,900 m (Alpine Journeys)2,3
Itineraries
9, 12 or 16 days, depending on the operator2,1,3
Season
March to May and October to November3
Darchula permit row
USD 90 per person per week, seen October 20265
Api Nampa entry
NPR 2,000 for foreigners per entry, seen October 20267
Contents
  1. Route and days
  2. Highest point
  3. Season
  4. Permits
  5. Costs
  6. Getting to the trailhead
A grassy trail climbs through a valley of dry grass and conifers toward a snow-streaked peak
Trail toward Mt. Api Himal, Api Nampa Conservation Area

Api Himal stands at 7,132 m in Darchula district, near Nepal’s border4. The base camp trek is the walk to its foot, and operators disagree on how long it takes and how high base camp sits, so this page sets the three published itineraries side by side. Other far-west routes are listed in the treks hub, and the protected area is covered in Api Nampa Conservation Area.

Route and days

Western Nepal Treks’ 12-day version starts and ends at Makarighad1. It reaches the trailhead by bus and jeep and gives distances for each stage1:

Day Stage Distance or time
2 Night bus Attariya to Latinath about 260 km, 13 hours1
3 Jeep Latinath to Makarigad, trek to Khandeshwori 13 km by jeep, 6 km walking1
4 Khandeshwori to Thumti to Lumcha 12 km, 7.5 hours1
5 Lumcha to Chhirchhire to Simar 10 km, 5 hours1
6 Simar to Dhaule Odar, Bhabaiya Valley outing 9 km one way, plus 6 km return1
7 Dhaule Odar to Api base camp and Kali Dhunga lake, back to Dhaule Odar about 15 km1
8 Dhaule Odar to Simar to Chhirchhire to Khaykot 18 km1
9 Khaykot to Sitti Village to Ghusha to Jhusku 14 km1
10 Jhusku to Makarigad, jeep to Latinath 4 km walking, 7 km by jeep1

Best Heritage Treks’ 9-day version reaches base camp on day 42:

Day Stage Altitude Time
3 Makarigaad to Ghusa Village and Siti Village Ghusa 2,000 m, Siti 2,400 m 6 to 7 hours, gaining 1,100 m2
4 Siti Village to Dhauliodhar and Api base camp Dhauliodhar 3,200 m, base camp 4,100 m 8 to 9 hours2
5 Exploration day at base camp not listed not listed2
6 Base camp down to Siti Village 2,400 m 7 to 8 hours2
7 Ghusa Village to Makarigaad, drive to Gokuleshwor not listed 4 hours walking, 3 hours driving2

Alpine Journeys’ 16-day version flies to Dhangadhi and drives to Gokuleshwor on day 33. It then walks Chiureni, Makarighat, Seti, Domal and Dhaulo Odar, reaches Api base camp on day 9 and walks on to Saheb Bagar on day 103.

Highest point

Best Heritage Treks gives 4,100 m for Api base camp2, and Alpine Journeys gives 3,900 m3. This page uses 4,100 m, which Best Heritage Treks gives in both its header and its day 4 stage2. The peak itself is 7,132 m4.

Season

Alpine Journeys names pre-monsoon, March to May, as the best season, when rhododendrons are in full bloom, followed by October and November with clear skies3. Its header lists March to May and September to November3. December to February is very cold, with snow blocking routes, and the monsoon months of June to September bring rain that makes trails slippery and difficult3.

Best Heritage Treks pitches its 9-day version for the Ashoj and Kartik months2.

Permits

In October 2026 the Department of Immigration’s trekking permit table listed one Darchula row: USD 90 per person per week, then USD 15 per day beyond 1 week, for Vyas Rural Municipality ward 15.

The Api Nampa Conservation Area, which reaches up to Api peak at 7,132 m6, charges entry per person per entry. In October 2026 the Nepal Tourism Board’s table listed it as follows, with children under 10 free7:

Visitor Api Nampa entry Seen
Nepali NPR 100 per person per entry October 20267
SAARC national NPR 500 per person per entry October 20267
Foreigner NPR 2,000 per person per entry October 20267

Area-by-area rules are in restricted-area permits.

Costs

In October 2026 Western Nepal Treks listed a trekking package at 1,550 euro, with a 400 euro flight ticket extra as an option1. The same page put the one-way Kathmandu to Dhangadhi flight at almost USD 2001.

Alpine Journeys’ version is mostly a camping trek with porters carrying tents, with basic teahouses or homestays in a few lower villages3.

Getting to the trailhead

The base is Dhangadhi. From Kathmandu, the flight takes about 1 hour1, and the overland alternative is a night bus to Attariya of about 750 km and 18 hours1. Best Heritage Treks gives 14 to 16 hours for the Kathmandu to Attariya bus2.

From Attariya the road goes up to Latinath, a night bus of about 260 km and 13 hours1, and then a jeep on to Makarigad1. Best Heritage Treks drives Attariya to Gokuleshwor and Makarigaad in 9 to 10 hours in a 4WD vehicle2. The route and its places are covered in Darchula.

Permits and fees

Api Nampa Conservation Area: entry fee, permits and how to reach it

Api Nampa Conservation Area in Darchula: entry fee for Nepalis, SAARC nationals and foreigners, the Darchula permit row, access from Dhangadhi, best months.

Treks

Saipal base camp trek: routes from Simikot and Chainpur, days and costs

Saipal Himal base camp trek: the Simikot (Humla) and Chainpur (Bajhang) approaches, stages, base camp altitude, best months, permit rows and prices.

District guides

Darchula: Khalanga, Api Nampa and the Mahakali border

Darchula district guide: Khalanga on the Mahakali, Api Nampa Conservation Area fees, the Darchula permit, Byans villages and when to go.

Questions travellers ask

How many days does it take to trek to Api Base Camp?

Operators give 9 days2, 12 days1 and 16 days3 from Kathmandu. The 9-day version uses night buses and 4WD transfers2; the 16-day one adds a trek-preparation day and flies to Dhangadhi on day 33.

How hard is the Api Himal trek?

Best Heritage Treks grades the 9-day version demanding or strenuous because of rapid altitude gain2. Alpine Journeys grades its 16-day version moderate and asks for 5 to 7 hours of walking a day3.

When is the best time for Api base camp?

March to May is the best season, with rhododendrons in bloom, followed by October and November with clear skies3. Winter from December to February is very cold, with snow blocking routes, and June to September rain makes trails slippery3.

How much does the Api Himal trek cost?

In October 2026 Western Nepal Treks listed a trekking package at 1,550 euro, with a flight ticket extra at 400 euro as an option1. The same page put a one-way Kathmandu to Dhangadhi flight at almost USD 2001.

Sources

  1. Api Base Camp Trek - Western Nepal Treks · Western Nepal Treks · westernnepaltreks.com · checked 19 October 2026
  2. Best 9-Day Api Himal Base Camp Short Trek Itinerary · Best Heritage Treks · bestheritagetour.com · checked 19 October 2026
  3. Api Base Camp Trek - Alpine Journeys Treks & Expedition · Alpine Journeys Treks & Expedition · alpinejourneys.com · checked 19 October 2026
  4. Api (mountain) - Wikipedia · Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · checked 19 October 2026
  5. Trekking Route and Permit Fee · Department of Immigration, Nepal · immigration.gov.np · checked 19 October 2026
  6. Api Nampa Conservation Area - Wikipedia · Wikipedia · en.wikipedia.org · checked 19 October 2026
  7. Park Entry Fees in Nepal · Nepal Tourism Board · ntb.gov.np · checked 19 October 2026
Image credits (1)
  • Sunuwargr / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

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