Annapurna Circuit Trek

After breakfast, you meet our tour guide at the hotel premises. He will give you the highlights of the day which includes a brief history of the places you will be visiting. Our company van will take you around the valley for sightseeing to sites like Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath. Meanwhile, we arrange the permits and other documents required for the trek. In case, you have missed anything while packing you can buy them at the market. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Early in the morning, you take a scenic drive to Bhulbhule. On the way, you take a short break at Besisahar for lunch. Besisahar is the district capital and has a big market. From Bhulbhule, you start the trek and pass through some tropical trees and terraced fields to reach Ngadi. Here, you can make final preparations for the trek. Overnight stay at Ngadi.

The trail climbs steadily to Bahundanda which is a small village with shops and teahouses. After exiting Bahundanda, the trail drops to Syange and crosses Marsayangdi River on a suspension bridge. You continue the trek alongside a peaceful river and then make an ascent to the village of Jagat. Overnight stay at Jagat.

Today’s trek begins with a gentle walk through the farmlands and dense groves of rhododendron and bamboo. First, you pass through the village of Chamje and then climb to the beautiful Tal village. Tal is the entry point of Manang district. After reaching Dharapani, you get your permits checked as the town lies at the border of Annapurna and Manaslu conservation areas. Overnight stay at Dharapani.

You leave Dharapani and then start the walk to Chame. The trail starts alongside Marsayangdi river valley and climbs through the peaceful forest ridge and settlements providing views of Annapurna and Lamjung mountains. Eventually, you descend back to the river and pass through the terraced fields before making a final climb to Chame.

From Chame, you climb on a steep narrow path a dense forest and head towards a dramatically curved rock. Later, you reach the valley which sports fabulous mountain vista. Passing Danakyu and Koto on the trek, you continue the trek towards Pisang which offers views of Annapurna II (7,937 m) and Pisang Peak (6,091 m). Overnight stay at Pisang.

Today’s trekking route provides stunning views of the landscapes and surrounding peaks. You pass the out-of-order Manang airport and make your way to an open valley. After Braga, you follow the trail dotted with Buddhist shrines and reach the large settlement of Manang. You can also explore the Braga Monastery before heading to Manang. Overnight stay at Manang.

In order to adjust with the high altitude, you take the day off for acclimatization. During this time, you can go on short hikes around the village or visit Gangapurna Lake. This is also a good time to check out the monasteries of Manang and get some insight into the local culture. Overnight stay at Manang.

After acclimatization in Manang, you move forward to the Thorung La Pass (5416m). You make your way through the older section on Manang and then climb through Ghunsang to reach the open meadow of Yak Kharka. On the trek, you can spot herds of yaks grazing in the pasturelands making for a brilliant photographic session. Overnight stay at Yak Kharka.

Today’s trek is relatively short but provides spectacular mountain views. You make your way to the foot of the high pass and start the preparations for the climb tomorrow. Most of the trekkers use Thorung Phedi as a base camp. However, you can spend the night at the lodges near the Marsayangdi River. Overnight stay at Thorung La High Camp.

You wake up early in the morning and start climbing the Thorung La Pass (5416m). The trail becomes steep after leaving Phedi but is easy to follow.  From the top of the pass, you can enjoy the views of Annapurna Mountains, Thorung peak (6144m), and Kali Gandaki valley. After climbing down the pass, you follow the wide trail to reach the holy temple of Muktinath. Overnight stay at Muktinath.

In the morning, you visit the holy Muktinath temple and then head towards Vishnu temple in the temple vicinity. There are also a number of Buddhist gompas owing to the Buddhist celebration of the temple. After the visit, you continue your trekking journey with a descent down the hill into the deep Kali Gandaki gorge. Then you follow the sandy and windy trail and arrive at Kagbeni. Overnight stay at Kagbeni.

You follow the flat, sandy trail from Kagbeni and head towards Jomsom. Jomsom is the capital of Mustang district. After a short break at Jomsom, you start the trek once again and make your way to the apple village of Marpha. Upon arriving here, you can taste the delicious apples and local alcohol beverage named after the village- Marpha. Overnight stay at Marpha.

After leaving Marpha, you follow a new route to Kalopani. The trail passes through the traditional Thakali villages and offers the views of mountain peaks like Annapurna (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), and Nilgiri (7,061 m). You follow the riverbed of Kali Gandaki and pass Tukuche and Larjung on the way. Overnight stay at Kalopani.

On the 16th day, you head towards Tatopani. The trail is quite easy and mostly downhill. On this route, you pass through the subtropical forests and visit Rupse waterfall, if time permits. After arriving at Tatopani, you can take a relaxing warm bath at the natural hot springs here. These springs will help you relax and are good for the skin as well. Overnight stay at Tatopani.

Today, you head to the eastern side of the Kali Gandaki River and then follow a steady climb to Ghasa. The trail passes through the rural settlements, terraced farmlands, and beautiful rhododendron forests. After walking for some you climb a ridge and reach your destination of Ghorepani. Ghorepani is a Gurung village and is famous for hosting amicable environs for the travelers. Overnight stay at Ghorepani.

You wake up early in the morning and hike to Poon Hill. It is a famous spot, and arguably one of the bests, to witness the beautiful sunrise over the panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains. From here, you can get close views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. You return to Ghorepani for breakfast and then follow the downhill trail to reach Nayapul. Here, you get on a short drive to Pokhara, the tourist capital of the country. Overnight stay at a hotel in Pokhara.

From Pokhara, you drive along the Prithvi Highway enjoying the views of the landscapes and rural settlements. After reaching Kathmandu, you can take some rest at your hotel room. You can also head into the city and shop for gifts and souvenirs. In the evening, you join the trip group for a farewell dinner hosted by the company. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu.

The 20-day trip comes to an end. After a fulfilling breakfast, our company representative will take you to the airport 3 hours before the flight schedule. We wish you safe travel and hope to see you soon on your next venture in Nepal.