Annapurna Circuit Trek

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Kathmandu
1 stop
1
You arrive at Kathmandu airport (1,300 meters ) where our representative will greet you and drive you to your hotel.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Guided Kathmandu Sightseeing
4 stops
2
Swaymbhunath
Swoyambhunath Temple ( World Heritage Site): This Buddhist Stupa, said to be 2000 years old is a perfect architecture of gilded spire and white washed dome located under thousands of fluttering prayer flags. From the spire, four faces of Buddha stare out across the valley in the cardinal directions. The entire structure is symbolic. The white dome represents the earth, the nose like shape below the piercing eyes is actually the nepali number ‘one’ signifying unity, and above is a third eye signifying the insight of the Buddha, while the 13 tiered beehive like structure at the top symbolizes the 13 stages that human being has to pass through to achieve nirvana. The base is ringed by prayer wheels which pilgrims circuiting the stupa spin each one as they pass by.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
3
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square (World Heritage Site): is one of three royal palace squares in the Kathmandu Valley. This site was the royal residence until the 19th century where important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch use to take place.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
4
Boudhanath Stupa
Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list, this enormous stupa where thousands of pilgrims gather daily to make a ritual circumnavigation of the dome, beneath the watchful eyes of the Buddha, which gaze out from the gilded central tower. This is one of the few places in the world where Tibetan Buddhist culture is accessible and unfetered, and the lanes around the stupa are crammed with monasteries and the surrounding is a paraphernalia for Buddhist life.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
5
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple (World Heritage Site), a pagoda style Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is considered to be the powerhouse of Hindu spiritual power in religious terms. Situated amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, the temple is 6 kms from Kathmandu city and just a few hundred meters from the end of the runway at Tribhuwan International Airport. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the main temple, but you can view the temple from the east bank of River Bagmati. Pashupatinath is the centre of annual pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri which falls in the month of February/March. Behind the temples are the cremation grounds.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 3
Drive to Besi Sahar and further to Chame
2 stops
6
Besisahar is around 190 kilometers from Kathmandu. We drive for six to seven hours to reach Besisahar from where we begin our trek. We walk down to the river and cross to the east side to avoid the new road which is currently under construction. Our trail undulates above the river, continuing northwards up the Marsyangdi Valley with Himalchuli and Peak 29 dominating the horizon. The trail takes us on quiet trails through rice paddies and villages for two hours until we meet the main trail at Bhulbule.
7 hours • Admission ticket free
7
Chame Village
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Trek to Pisang
1 stop
8
Annapurna Mountain Range
We now experience a dramatic change of scenery. Leaving the forests and vegetation of the alpine regions behind we enter the upper district of Manang, known as Nyeshang. At first our trail follows the river closely through a deep canyon before coming to Brathang at 2919m. The trail then follows the steep narrow valley through deep forest from which there are fine views of Annapurna II. We cross the river where the impressive curved rock face of Paungda Danda rises nearly 1500m from the riverbank, and climb to the village of Pisang at 3,185m.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Trek to Manang
1 stop
9
Annapurna Mountain Range
There are 2 options today. The energetic can take the high route to Manang via the villages of Gyaru and Ngawal. This is a wonderful walk with great views across to the Annapurnas. We drop down to the main trail just before Braga and continue on the main trail to Manang. The second option is to take the shorter main trail to Manang which climbs a low pass into the valley below Pisang Peak. As we continue up the valley, it becomes increasingly barren, and eventually we reach Braga, a picturesque village dominated by a large ancient gompa. Passing carved mani walls we arrive at the village of Manang at 3351m. The longer walk takes approximately 8-9 hours and the shorter walk 5-6 hours.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Rest Day in Manang
1 stop
10
Annapurna Mountain Range
We spend this day around Manang acclimatising to the altitude. Most people climb the hill behind Manang to enjoy the magnificent views of the whole Annapurna range and the enormous icefall that crashes and rumbles down from Gangapurna. This is the part of the trek where we are closest to the mountains. Across the valley the huge bulk of Gangapurna and the Annapurnas tower way above us- the sunset and sunrise over this great amphitheatre is one of the most beautiful mountain views in the country.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Trek to Yak Kharka
1 stop
11
Annapurna Mountain Range
Leaving Manang we head towards the base of the Thorong La. We climb out of the Marsyangdi valley and turn northwest up the valley of the Jarsang Khola. We are above the forests now and pass through dry, alpine country, with scrub juniper and occasional clumps of birch. We spend tonight at a lodge in Yak Kharka. We will reach the lodge by lunchtime and in the afternoon we will have an acclimatisation walk onto the surrounding hills. Look out for the Blue Sheep that inhabit this cold, windy spot.
5 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Trek to Thorung Phedi
1 stop
12
Annapurna Mountain Range
Another short day to aid acclimatisation. The scenery becomes more wild as we continue ascending the valley. At one point we descend to cross the Jarsang Khola, and traverse a scree slope to the lone teahouses at Phedi at the foot of the Thorong La (4,400m).Thorong Phedi can be very cold and windy.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
Trek to Muktinath crossing Thorung La (5416 meter)
2 stops
13
A long day as we leave Phedi very early the next morning for the climb to the pass. The first part of the ascent is very steep, but it eases somewhat as we approach the top, although the altitude still makes the going tough. Eventually, after numerous false summits, we reach the pass itself at 5416m. Ahead there is a magnificent panorama of snow-capped peaks extending northwards into Tibet, and looking back we can see several of the main peaks of Annapurna. Directly in front of us is the great chasm of the Kali Gandaki, 2,500m. It's a very long descent that begins gently and becomes steeper, as we follow a series of switch-backs down to the grassy slopes, before easing off to a gentle descent to Muktinath (3802m).
6 hours • Admission ticket included
14
Highest point in the Annapurna Circuit Trek
5 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Trek to Tatopani
1 stop
15
From Muktinath we pass through landscape of bare, eroded hills with a backdrop of snow-capped high peaks. After visiting the temples above Muktinath, we cross the Jhong Khola and climb up to Jhong - a beautiful village. There is a very old monastery here dating back to the 7th or 8th century and the ruins of an old fort. The village has a small lodge where we can get a very simple lunch. Passing wind-eroded cliffs in an array of beautiful colours we continue down the valley arriving at the interesting village of Kagbeni. (This route avoids the newly built road). Please note that in case we are delayed due to bad weather this day will be missed out and we will trek direct from Muktinath to Marpha.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 11
Trek to Ghorepani
1 stop
16
Ghorepani
Ghorepani Village
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 12
Trek to Tadapani
1 stop
17
tadapani village
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 13
Trek to Ghandruk
1 stop
18
Ghandruk
Beautiful scenic village Ghandruk
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 14
Trek to Nayapul and drive to Pokhara
1 stop
19
Drive to Nayapul
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 15
Drive to Kathmandu
1 stop
20
Thamel
Today you drive to Kathmandu. We spend our last evening in Kathmandu in a farewell dinner together sharing photos recalling the excitements of trip and exchanging emails enjoying the cultural dance program in one of the traditional Nepalese restaurant.
7 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 16
Departure Flight
1 stop
21
Tribhuvan International Airport
Today you are on your own and you will be dropped to airport at your flight time.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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