Annapurna circuit trek is one of the most popular trekking experiences. Come and find out why over 21 days of trekking in Nepal.
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DestinationsThe Annapurna circuit trek is one of the most popular trekking experiences that you will endure. It is the longest trek and is ranked as one of the top ten. The beautiful sights that you will pass through include farms, foothills, alpine meadows, and the famous Thorung La pass.
Through this trek, you will end up in Tibet on the other side of the Himalayas. You will be going through some of the most culturally and geographically diverse areas of Nepal. You will see the diversity, including the landscapes, culture, and people. Also, the mountain views are breathtaking.
The trek starts at Besisahar, continuing along the Valley of Marsyangdi River through picturesque hill villages and lush green forests. After several days, you reach the Manang village at 3500 m, which offers one of the most beautiful views in the Himalayas. You will also encounter the rich Buddhist culture on the way as you will pass by numerous monasteries.
Soon, you cross the Thorung La pass at 5400m. Later on, around day 10 and reach Muktinath, a popular Hindu, and Buddhist pilgrimage site.
The next day we descend through Jharkot and the ancient Tibetan town of Kagbeni before reaching the dramatic Kali Gandaki gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. The way leads you through the beautiful hill villages of Marpha and Tukche, watched over by the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountains.
Descending down along an ancient trade route to Tibet, you can enjoy hot springs and a massage in Tatopani and climb Poon Hill for an astonishing 360-degree Himalayan sunrise view.
Over 21 days of trekking in Nepal, you will cross a surplus amount of rivers and streams. You will pass through waterfalls and hot springs. One of the deepest in the world, Kali Gandaki Gorge, on this trek. You do not want to miss this experience.
Itinerary for the Annapurna Circuit Trek, 21 days of trekking in Nepal
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal
Welcome to Nepal! After the immigration process, you will be picked up and transferred to your Hotel in Kathmandu. We will give you a short overview of the trip and discuss any further questions you may have. Don’t forget to bring your passport and four recent passport pictures so that our representative can issue your necessary trekking permit.
Meals: D | Sleeping: Hotel in Kathmandu
Day 2: Cultural sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
After breakfast, you are introduced to your personal tour guide, followed by a briefing on your detailed itinerary. Afterward, we will lead you up to the Buddhist Temple Swoyambhunath, also referred to as the Monkey Temple. The Stupa is atop a hill and requires a considerable walk. The next stop will be Patan Durbar Square.
Meals: B | Sleeping: Hotel in Kathmandu
Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar - 7 hours
Today you will take a five-hour bus drive to Besisahar, where you will spend the night at a teahouse.
Meals: L & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 4: Trek from Besisahar to Bahundanda - 6 hours
After an early breakfast, your journey begins. After crossing a suspension bridge at Bhulbhule, the route passes a cascading waterfall. Magnificent views of Manaslu appear as you traverse the rice terraces. After a gentle incline, we come to the village of Ngadi, with its picturesque shops, and from here we climb steeply to Bahundanda. Translated as the “hill of the Brahmins,” Bahundanda is the most northern Brahmin settlement in the Marsyangdi Valley, situated high up on a ridge.
Meals: B, L,& D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 5: Bahundanda trek to Jagat - 5 hours
You descend along a steep trail from Bahundanda through green rice terraces before crossing a stream at the bottom of a small waterfall. Leaving the hillside high above the river behind, you will reach the village of Hani Gaon. Ahead, the Marsyangdi valley forms a steep V-shape and the winding mountain path leads down through Syange and along the river for some distance. The trail then gets steep, leading up to 300 m above the riverbed. Eventually, we descend to the picturesque village of Jagat, where you will spend the night at a Tibetan-run lodge.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 6: Jagat trek to Dharapani - 6 hours
The trek leads steeply up through a thick forest to a teahouse with magnificent views of a waterfall on the opposite bank. You reach the village Chamje, with its numerous traditional tea houses, many of which may be packed with horses. After winding back down to the river and crossing a suspension bridge, we begin a steep climb to Sattale. After tea, you continue your journey on a hilly path above the river, climbing up to the top of the hill, with Tal below on a wide plain by the river. Beyond Tal and the check-post, the valley narrows and the path becomes winding; in several areas, the path is actually hewn from the rock. Beyond the small village of Karte, the path drops again to the river. Crossing a suspension bridge, you climb the short distance to the stone Khani marking the entrance to Dharapani.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 7: Dharapani trek to Chame - 5 hours
The trek continues through thick forests of pine and oak, passing through Danagyu and a thundering waterfall before it leads to Koto. After an hour you reach a clearing at the top with a charming Tibetan teahouse. During the tea break, you will have an amazing gaze over Manaslu. Heading back down to Koto Cupar, Annapurna II towers over your head—a stunning sight from deep within the majestic Himalayas. Many of the villagers here are from the Nar Phu valley; this is the gateway to their region. Less than an hour of hiking brings us to Chame, the local administrative center of Manang, and a large village packed with small shops, tea houses, an army post, and a large school.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 8: Chame trek to Pisang - 5 hours
From Chame to Pisang the path leads through quiet, cool, refreshing woods, offering spectacular views of the peaks hovering above. After five hours of walking, you will have the afternoon to explore the village of Pisang. You’ll have the option to walk up to Upper Pisang for amazing views of Annapurna II and Annapurna III.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 9: Pisang trek to Manang - 6 hours
In the morning you will head to Manang, a village of 500 flat-roofed houses at 3500m. Manang is an interesting village packed with trekkers, bakeries, and lodges and is surrounded by high peaks—Annapurna III and Gangapurna hover nearby, and a dramatic icefall is propped across the river. On the edge of town is an old Gompa, with many local teahouses and gorgeous winding streets leading out toward the Thorung La. Finally, you can relax in your guesthouse, hop in the shower, and enjoy cold beers, hot teas, and snacks. You will have the opportunity to join in on a lecture about altitude by the Himalayan Rescue Association.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 10: Manang rest day
Today is our day to get acclimatized, with several options: a day-hike to the Ice Lake; a visit to the ‘Hundred Rupee Lama’ at a cave above Manang; a two-hour hike to Milarepa’s cave across the river from Braga; the HRA lecture; or a tour through Manang’s many bakeries. We recommend hiking up 300 meters or so for acclimatization, but nothing too strenuous is advised. The guest house is a warm place to gaze at the peaks in the afternoon.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 11: Manang trek to Yak Kharka - 4 hours
Although it’s a short hiking day, you do gain some altitude, so we take it slowly. Along the way we will likely share the trail with galloping Manangi horses, saddled with expensive and well-made Tibetan wool saddle blankets, and their jubilant Manangi riders, who often wear bells to alert hikers. We climb past Tengi and Gunsang to Yak Kharka.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 12: Yak Kharka trek to Thorung Phedi - 3 hours
An easy two-hour hike up to the Thorung La Base Camp Hotel at Thorung Phedi. After an early lunch, it’s another hour or so before you reach High Camp. The next day starts early so you would want to get to bed early. If you have altitude sickness, you will have the option of staying at Thorung Phedi Base Camp, where we had lunch, which is situated at a lower elevation.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 13: Thorung Phedi - Thorung la pass 5400m - Muktinath - 9 hours
Today you ascend to the top of Thorung La at 5400 m, where the views over Mustang and the surrounding peaks are breathtaking. Upon descending, you will drink Tee and eat a snack at the local tea house at Chabarbu to readjust to the altitude change. Today’s destination is the lower Mustang, with its serene temple complex of Muktinath.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 14: Muktinath trek to Marpha - 6 hours
In the morning the route follows down along the Kali Gandaki riverbed, leading to Jomsom, the administrative center for the region. The Kali Gandaki valley can get extremely windy in the early afternoon, so it’s important to arrive before noon. In Jomsom, you will have lunch and there is also a bank if you need to change money. Afterward, the route takes you to Marpha, a village of cobbled streets, small shops, horses, donkeys, a recently rebuilt Gompa, and caves above the village.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 15: Marpha trek to Ghasa - 6 hours
Walking further into the Kali Gandaki Gorge, you head towards Tukuche, a quaint village with a large Gompa, continuing towards Larjung. Like many villages in the region, Larjung was constructed to shield strong valley winds, with its many narrow alleyways, tunnels, and courtyards connecting houses. The trail then winds through juniper and cypress forests to Kalopani, where you will have fine views of Annapurna I and Fang. Ghasa is an hour beyond Kalopani.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 16: Ghasa trek to Tatopani - 5 hours
After a long hike to Tatopani, you can relax in a hot spring that is right alongside the riverbed. You can also get a massage and try pastries from numerous bakeries.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 17: Tatopani trek to Ghorepani - 8 hours
This is going to be of the most difficult days yet, with plenty of hills. Today’s hike is hot and strenuous. After you reach Beni, the route takes you onto the Ghorepani trail, which takes you further up.
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 18: Ghorepani Trek - Poon hill - Tikhedhunga - 7 hours
Today you will have the option to hike up to Poon Hill for a 360-degree sunrise view of the Himalayas, one of the most beautiful views in Nepal, from where the entire Annapurna range can be seen. After breakfast, you head towards Tikhedhunga for half a day, where spectacular views of Machapuchare will wait. Monkeys run free around here, so keep your cameras out and your snacks are hidden!
Meals: B, L, & D | Sleeping: Tea House
Day 19: Tikhedhunga to Nayapul - 4 hours/drive to Pokhara and the end of the trek
Today’s route takes you through high waterfalls, lush green rice fields, and several suspension bridges traversed, passing several mountain villages. Along the way, it is likely to encounter mule or goat caravans carrying supplies to the mountains, accompanied by the chiming bells they wear. Stunning panoramic views of Machhapuchare and Annapurna peaking over the green ridges will appear from time to time, walking along Modi Khola River, as you hike up to Nayapul. After lunch, you will have time for a scenic drive to Pokhara, where you can enjoy a shower and relax. There will be plenty of leisure time to explore the lovely lakeside town of Pokhara.
Meals: B & L | Sleeping: Hotel in Pokhara
Day 20: Drive to Kathmandu
After breakfast, you will head to Kathmandu and check in to your hotel. In the evening Evening, a farewell dinner will be provided at the traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural dance and music.
Meals: B & D | Sleeping: Hotel in Kathmandu
Day 21: Final Departure from Kathmandu
We will transfer you to the Airport for your flight back home. Today is the day to say Goodbye – hopefully in reminiscence of the unique experiences of beautiful Nepal and its people.
Meals: B
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