Overview of Birethanti

Birethanti (1,025 m) is the first village of the Annapurna Conservation Area on the Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp trekking routes - a riverside settlement on the west bank of the Modi Khola at the confluence with the Bhurungdi Khola, 20 minutes south of the Nayapul vehicle drop-off point. The ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) permit checkpoint at Birethanti is the official entry point into the conservation area from this approach - every trekker must register and have their ACAP permit and TIMS card checked here before continuing into the hills.

Birethanti is a genuine village rather than just a checkpoint - it has a growing number of teahouses, restaurants, and guesthouses serving the tens of thousands of trekkers who pass through annually. The Modi Khola suspension bridge in the centre of the village, the whitewashed teahouses along the river bank, and the immediate backdrop of forested ridges rising toward Ulleri and Ghorepani make Birethanti visually appealing despite its low altitude. It is also the first point where trekkers experience the characteristic sounds and smells of the Annapurna foothills: rushing glacial river water, wood smoke from kitchen fires, and the terraced agriculture of the Modi Khola valley.

The ACAP Permit Checkpoint

The ACAP entry checkpoint at Birethanti is the busiest conservation area entry point in the Annapurna Conservation Area. During October peak season, 300 - 500 trekkers per day pass through this checkpoint - creating queues of 20 - 40 minutes during the 08:00 - 10:00 morning rush when most groups arrive from Pokhara via taxi or bus.

Documents required at the Birethanti checkpoint:

ACAP permit: NPR 3,000 (purchase in advance at the ACAP office in Pokhara's Damside neighbourhood, or at the Tourism Board in Kathmandu - NOT available for purchase at the checkpoint itself)
TIMS card: NPR 2,000 (agency trekkers) or NPR 3,000 (independent trekkers); purchase at TAAN offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara
Passport: Required for identity verification and permit number cross-referencing

Without valid ACAP permits and TIMS cards, trekkers are turned back from the Birethanti checkpoint. The checkpoint operates 06:00 - 18:00 daily. Arriving before 08:00 or after 11:00 significantly reduces queue times.

Trail Junction at Birethanti

Birethanti is the critical trail junction where the two main Annapurna trekking routes diverge:

Poon Hill / Ghorepani route (west): Cross the Modi Khola suspension bridge into Birethanti, then follow the Bhurungdi Khola valley west toward Tikhedhunga (1,540 m, 2 hours) and the famous Ulleri stone staircase (3,000+ stone steps) to Ghorepani (2,850 m). This is the highest-traffic trekking trail in Nepal by trekker volume during October - November.
Annapurna Base Camp route (north): From Birethanti checkpoint, follow the Modi Khola north toward Kimche (1,640 m) and Ghandruk (1,940 m) - the Gurung heritage village that is the first major destination on the ABC route.
Annapurna Circuit (historical): The old circuit route continued from Birethanti toward Hile and Tikhedhunga on the way to the Marsyangdi valley; most circuit trekkers now start from the north (Besisahar) due to road construction on the southern approach.

Signs at the Birethanti junction are clear; trail marking throughout the ACAP is well-maintained. No guide is required for navigation from Birethanti onward on either the Poon Hill or ABC routes.

The Village of Birethanti

Birethanti has developed substantially as a trekking services hub. The village has:

Teahouses and guesthouses: 8 - 12 options ranging from basic (NPR 300 - 500/night) to mid-range (NPR 700 - 1,200) with river-facing rooms. Recommended for trekkers wanting a first-night stop closer to Pokhara than Tikhedhunga.
Restaurants: Better meal quality than at higher altitude stops due to supply logistics - fresh vegetables, good dhal bhat, Western breakfast options.
Money exchange: Several shops offer exchange; rates are less favourable than Pokhara. Carry Nepali rupees from Pokhara.
Last supply point: Birethanti's small shops stock snacks, water, and basic trekking supplies at lower prices than higher on the trail.

Getting Here from Nayapul

Birethanti is a 20-minute walk from the Nayapul vehicle drop-off - 2 km south along the Modi Khola bank on a flat, well-worn trail. The path is obvious: follow the road briefly south from Nayapul, then take the riverside trail as it splits from the vehicle road. There is no trail-finding challenge on this section.

Nayapul is reached from Pokhara by tourist bus (NPR 200 - 300; 1.5 hours), shared jeep (NPR 300 - 400), or private taxi (NPR 1,500 - 2,500; 45 - 60 minutes). Virtually all trekkers starting the Poon Hill or ABC treks pass through Nayapul to Birethanti.

Practical Information

Altitude: 1,025 m (3,363 ft)
Coordinates: 28.2861°N, 83.7953°E
District: Kaski, Gandaki Province
ACAP checkpoint hours: 06:00 - 18:00 daily
Walking time from Nayapul: 20 minutes (2 km flat)
Walking time to Tikhedhunga (Poon Hill route): 2 hours
Walking time to Ghandruk (ABC route): 5 - 6 hours via Kimche
ACAP permit cost: NPR 3,000 (must be purchased in advance)
Best season: October - November; March - May