Annapurna Circuit Trek
Embark on a mesmerizing journey through Nepal, starting in bustling Kathmandu. The adventure unfolds with a scenic drive to Syange that offers glimpses of the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges. Trek through diverse terrain from lush forests to charming villages and acclimatize in Manang while soaking in stunning mountain views. Traverse rugged landscapes, conquer Thorong La Pass and reach the sacred Muktinath village. Relax in Tatopani’s hot springs, hike to Ghorepani’s Poon Hill, and conclude the trip in picturesque Pokhara. This 15-day expedition promises unforgettable experiences, cultural immersion, and breathtaking natural beauty that will leave you with cherished memories.
Prepare for a remarkable journey through Nepal that begins amidst the vibrant energy of Kathmandu. From there you’ll embark on a captivating road trip to Syange, revealing awe-inspiring vistas of the Annapurna and Manaslu mountain ranges along the way. As your trek unfolds you’ll traverse a dynamic landscape, meandering through verdant forests and enchanting villages. Take a day to acclimate in Manang where panoramic mountain views inspire awe.
The terrain becomes progressively rugged as you ascend to Yak Kharka, a place of sheer, high-altitude beauty. The pinnacle challenge arrives with the ascent to Thorong La Pass, rewarded by breathtaking early morning views.
Descend to Muktinath, a sacred village revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Transition to relaxation with a jeep ride to Tatopani, renowned for its therapeutic hot springs.
The trek’s final leg leads through picturesque villages, terraced farms, and vibrant rhododendron forests with Nilgiri South making a spectacular cameo. Ghorepani offers respite and the chance to witness the ever-changing hues of the mountains from Poon Hill.
The adventure concludes with a scenic drive to Pokhara where you can unwind by tranquil Phewa Tal or explore the charming Lakeside district. This 15-day odyssey promises indelible memories, cultural immersion, and the profound beauty of Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit etched in your heart.
Day 1 |
Arrive at Kathmandu (1,400m) and transfer to hotel.Upon arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be met by a Sherpa Expedition & Trekking representative and taken by private vehicle to your hotel. After checking in at the hotel, you will be briefed on what to expect on your trek and given an itinerary. With time to spare you can wander around the tourist hub of Thamel or take in the sights of Kathmandu Valley. This will be followed by a welcome dinner in the evening. No meals included on this day. |
Day 2 |
Drive from Kathmandu to Syange (1,130m) via Besishahar (7,60m) Duration: 7-8 hours.Today we get an early start as we head off on a 190-kilometer and 6.5-hour road trip to Besisahar Village. From Besisahar we will travel by jeep drive to Syange (3,609ft). At Syange Village you will enjoy your first views of Mt. Annapurna II, Manaslu and Mount Lamjung. You will stay in a guesthouse tonight with breakfast, lunch & dinner included. |
Day 3 |
Trek from Shyange to Dharapani (1,860m) Duration: 5-6 hours.Today we take a road that is above the gorge, allowing us to peer down at the vegetation and occasional waterfalls below. Looking around from the road you can see several snow-covered peaks. We drive for two to three hours before coming to Jagat Village and then continue through terraced farmland until we reach Chamje Village. Leaving Chamje we continue for another hour until we reach Tal Village located on the banks of the Marsyangdi River. The road from here is less tortuous and eventually takes us to our overnight stop at Dharapani village where we will stay in a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch & dinner is included. |
Day 4 |
Trek from Dharapani to Chame (2650m) Duration: 5-6 hours.As you would expect from higher elevations the vegetation and landscape noticeably changes. It is also cooler as we follow the trail through forested areas until reaching Bagarchhap, a typical Tibetan style village along with its unique architecture. We continue to climb higher and reach the apple orchards and farms at Dhanaqi Village. From this vantage point, we also have some amazing views of Lamjung and Annapurna II peaks. Continuing along the banks of the Marsyangdi River we head upriver to Ratamanang and Koto villages until we reach Chame. Chame also happens to be the district headquarters of the Manang region. Tonight we will stay in a guesthouse with breakfast, lunch & dinner included. |
Day 5 |
Trek from Chame to Pisang (3,300m) Duration: 5-6 hours.We follow along the northern bank of the Marsyangdi River, passing pine forests and a number of small villages on an undulating trail until we reach Bratang Village. Crossing the bridge we have a steep ascent, again through dense pine forest until we reach the top of the ridge. Once clear of the trees we can see Pisang and Chulu peaks, as well as the exposed village of Pisang far below us. Tonight we will stay in a guesthouse with breakfast, lunch & dinner provided. |
Day 6 |
Trek from Pisang to Manang (3,500m) Duration: 6-7 hours.The views on the trail from Pisang get better, and snow-covered peaks are a frequent occurrence. We trek higher and after around 30 minutes we come out on top of a hill that provides more fantastic views down into the valley and the pristine white peaks of Gangapurna, Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Tilicho, and in the east Chuli. Pisang Peak is also visible from this location. From the hill, we head down to Kongde Village and then on to Manang. Just prior to Manang we will visit the Braga Monastery, which happens to be the largest in the area with displays of religious artifacts, such as Thangkas (paintings) and Sanskrit manuscripts. An easy one hour trek takes us to Manang where we will stay overnight in a guesthouse with breakfast, lunch & dinner included. |
Day 7 |
Exploration and Acclimatization day at Manang.For any trek to higher altitudes, it is critical that you acclimatize along the way before heading higher. It is recommended that during an acclimatization period you stay active. You may wish to take a short trek into the hills around Manang or explore the unique village of Manang with its 500 constructed stone flat-roofed houses and with views of Annapurna II, Annapurna III (7,555m), Gangapurna (7,454m) in the south with Tilicho (7,132m) and the Grand Barrier in the West, as well as Chulu West (6,583m) Chulu East (6,059m) directly to the north. Tonight we will stay in a guesthouse in Manang with breakfast, lunch & dinner included. |
Day 8 |
Trek from Manang to Yak Kharka (4,050m) Duration: 4-5 hours.Leaving Manang all refreshed and ready to go, we now ascend on the trail for around one hour, all the while offering more stunning views of Annapurna II, Gangapurna and Chuli peaks. The terrain is now arider and less vegetated due to its exposure to the wind, with only the odd juniper bush surviving here at this high altitude. We eventually reach the rather small village of Yak Kharka where we will stay in a guesthouse for the night. Arriving early enough allows us time to scout around the village and surrounding countryside. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included. |
Day 9 |
Trek from Yak Kharka to Thorang Phedi (4,500m) Duration: 3-4 hours.We have a steady climb to a tiny settlement where we can take in the views of Annapurna II, Gangapurna and Chuli peaks. As we continue the terrain becomes bleaker and exposed to high winds, and then we reach Thorong Phedi for our overnight stay at a guesthouse. If you have the energy, we can follow a winding trail to Upper Phedi or High Camp where there are a few teahouses and a lodge. We may decide to stay here instead of at Thorong Phedi. The reason being is that it will make tomorrow’s trek a little easier and shorter to Thorong La Pass. This is plan B and will depend on whether we have the energy to continue past Thorong Phedi. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included. |
Day 10 |
Cross Thorong La Pass (5,416m) then trek to Muktinath (3400m) Duration: 8-9 hours.This is a momentous day and requires an early – very early – start at around 3.30 a.m. The idea behind this is to reach the pass before the wind picks up later in the day. It can be quite cold, blustery and exposed at the pass. If we reach the pass early enough we will also have much improved, and spectacular views over the northern Annapurna, Damodar, Bhrikuti and Dhaulagiri range of mountains. The trail from Thorong Phedi follows a rocky path uphill, initially reaching a ridge before again heading higher to a small glacial lake and a teahouse. Another 1.5 hours has us at the pass. We must be cautious at this altitude due to the possibility of altitude sickness and maybe snow. At this high altitude of 5416m at the top of the pass we will have some breathtaking views of the Himalayan Mountains. Descending from the pass is rugged and steep, but there is some compensation as we are blessed with excellent views over Mt.Dhaulagiri (8,167m). We continue heading down to the bottom of the pass toward the holy village of Muktinath. We will stop at the bottom of the pass for a rest and tea. Another hour along the trail takes us to the Muktinath which is held sacred, and is a place where pilgrims come to from India and from within Nepal. It is sacred to both Hindu & Buddhists. We will stay at a guesthouse tonight with breakfast, lunch & dinner included. |
Day 11 |
Drive from Muktinath to Tatopani (1,300m) Duration: 5-6 hours.Our day begins in the morning with a jeep ride to Jomsom that should take us about 1.5 hours. At Jomsom, there is an Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) checkpoint. At Jomsom, we take another jeep or bus to Ghasa Village via several other villages, such as Marpha (apple growing district). At Ghasa we again change vehicles in order to reach Tatopani (meaning hot water in Nepali). After arriving at Tatopani we will check in to our guesthouse and then head for the hot springs and wash away any aches and pains – and dust too! Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included. |
Day 12 |
Trek from Totopani to Ghorepani (2,870m) Duration: 7-8 hours.With breakfast out of the way, we head to Ghorepani along a descending trail to the suspension bridge at the bottom. From here on, after crossing the bridge, it is all uphill passing small villages, terraced cultivated farms along the side of the hills, as well as a trek through a rhododendron forest. At one point on the trail, you will have an awesome view of Nilgiri South. The trail continues on to the rather small village of Ghara and an hour further down the track to Sikhar Village. If you stand at the highest point in the village you can look all the way back down the trail to Tatopani. Looking across to the opposite hills are other scattered villages. From Sikhar we continue on the trail until we reach Ghorepani where we will stay the night. Breakfast, lunch & dinner is included. Prior to reaching Ghorepani you will also get glimpses of Dhaulagiri and Tukuche peaks. |
Day 13 |
Hike to Poon Hill (3,210m), trek to Nayapul (1,000m) and Drive to Pokhara (850m) Duration: 7-8 hours.Weather permitting we will get up before sunrise and trek up to Poon Hill to watch the morning light flood the mountains in ever-changing colors. At 3195m, Poon Hill is an excellent place for a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. From here you can see various ranges, such as Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna-I, Machapuchare (Fishtail), Himchuli and Annapurna South. Your camera will be in overdrive with so much to see in the crisp and clear morning light – a photographer’s dream location. Of course, we have no control over the weather. This is in the hands of the Gods. We will then head back to Ghorepani for breakfast. After breakfast the trail heads downhill through a section of cool forest and passes several small villages until we reach Bhanthati Village and a little further on Ulleri Village. At Ulleri we will take a jeep to Pokhara, about a three to four-hour drive through mostly rural farming areas, past waterfalls until we get to the village at Birethanti where there is another ACAP checkpoint on the banks of the Modi River. Not far from here is Nayapul and then two hours more Pokhara where we will stay near Phewa Tal (lake). You may wish to explore Pokhara and take a boat trip on the lake, or merely stroll through the shops from one end of Lakeside to the other. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner to celebrate the completion of our Annapurna Circuit Trek. Tonight you will stay in a three-star hotel with breakfast & lunch included. |
Day 14 |
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu (1,400m) Duration: 6-7 hours.With breakfast out of the way, we will drive back to Kathmandu which should take about six to seven hours with a few rest stops along the way. On the trip back to Kathmandu you may wish to consider other options, such as a trip to Chitwan National Park, a rafting adventure, scenic flight to Everest, mountain biking adventure, or guided shopping/scenic tour of Kathmandu. Tonight you have the luxury of hotel accommodation with breakfast included. |
Day 15 |
Transfer to the International Airport for your final departure.Today Sherpa Expedition and Trekking will take you to the airport about 3 hours before your scheduled departure. On your flight home, you can daydream and imagine your next trip to Nepal and where you would like next to explore. Breakfast is included today. |
What is the Annapurna region?
The Annapurna region is a popular trekking destination located in the Himalayas of Nepal. It is known for its stunning mountain views, diverse landscapes, and unique cultural experiences.
How difficult is the Annapurna trek?
The difficulty level of the Annapurna trek is considered moderate to challenging and requires a good level of fitness and some prior experience with high-altitude hiking.
How long does the Annapurna trek take?
The duration of the Annapurna trek can vary depending on the specific route and itinerary chosen. Most treks range from 7 to 21 days. This travel plan is 15 days. Please get in touch with us at sales@worldadventuretours.com
What is the best time to trek in the Annapurna region?
The best time to trek in the Annapurna region is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons when the weather is generally clear and dry. The views of the surrounding mountains are also at their best during these months.
What equipment do I need for the Annapurna trek?
You will need to bring appropriate hiking gear, including warm clothing, a sleeping bag, a down jacket, a headlamp, and sturdy hiking boots. It is also recommended to bring a hat, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a water bottle. You may also want to bring hiking poles and a camera to capture the stunning views.
What are the accommodation options during the Annapurna trek?
Various accommodation options are available during the Annapurna trek, including teahouses, lodges, and camping sites. Teahouses are small guesthouses that offer basic amenities, while lodges provide more comfortable accommodations with attached bathrooms. Please get in touch with us at sales@worldadventuretours.com if you want to discuss accommodation options for your Annapurna trek in Nepal.
What are the highlights of the Annapurna trek?
The highlights of the Annapurna trek include stunning mountain views, diverse landscapes, unique cultural experiences, and the opportunity to explore local villages and markets. Some of the most popular attractions include the Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, and the Thorong La Pass.
Included in the price:
- Airport pick-up and drop services on a private vehicle.
- 2 night’s hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Kathmandu – Bhulbhule transfers on a local bus, Pokhara – Kathmandu transportation on a Local bus
- One night hotel accommodation in Pokhara with breakfast
- Jomsom To Tatopani transportation by Bus or sharing jeep.
- 3 Meals a Day [Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner] during the trek
- Accommodation on beautiful cozy tea houses as per the itinerary
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) entry permits and Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) cards
- Experienced English-speaking, government licensed and ministry of tourism trained trekking guide with meals, accommodation, salary and insurance
- Strong experienced Sherpa helpers [porters] with meals, accommodation, salary, and insurance
- Assistant trekking guide for groups over 8 people with meals, accommodation, salary, and insurance
- Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion)
- Comprehensive first aid medical kit carried by the guide / American medical association approved Oximeter
- Necessary paper works, all government, and local taxes, company service charges
- Complimentary welcome or farewell dinner in Kathmandu at a cultural restaurant
Excluded from the price:
- Meals whilst you are in Kathmandu Lunch and Dinner.
- Meals in Pokhara.
- Nepal entry visa fee.
- Your Travel and medical rescue insurance(recommended).
- International airfare.
- Your personal expenses like; Laundry, Battery charging, telephone, and shopping, etc.
- Alcoholic and nonalcoholic hot and cold drinks.
- Desserts Sweet things like chocolate, cake, pie, and pudding.
- Tips for the guide, porter, and driver (tipping is expected).
- Kathmandu sightseeing monument entrance fees.
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