Discover Nepal's Myths and Mountain Trails: Annapurna Circuit Trek

Duration 20 Days
Difficulty Level Challenging
Trip Start and End Kathmandu Kathmandu
Group Size 2 - 10
Maximum Altitude 5416

Overview

The trek through the Annapurna Circuit offers an unforgettable experience. It combines the contrasting landscapes of the Lower Mustang and the verdant farmlands of the Marshyangdi valley. The trek crosses the Thorong La and reaches the sacred site of Muktinath. On a clear day, Dhaulagiri is visible in the distance. We reach the Kali Gandaki river gorge, which cuts through the massifs of the Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna. After a relaxing swim at the hot springs at Tatopani, we reach Poon Hill for a sunrise view.

Trip Includes

- International arrival and departure in a private vehicle.
- Drive from Kathmandu to Besishahar in a private vehicle
- Jomsom-Pokhara airfare and airport transfer
- Pokhara to Kathmandu airfare and airport transfer.
- 16 days of accommodation in a tea house.
- Meals on full board basis during the trek ( breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)
- Pokhara - Kathmandu Airfare* and domestic airport tax
- ACAP and Trek permit fees.
- English speaking local expert guide and porter on the trek.
- Salary, and insurance for staffs.
- Trek guide's return bus fare.
- Kitbags ( Duffle Bag)
- All government taxes.

Trip Excludes

- International airfare and Nepal visa fee
- Accommodation, Lunch, and Dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Soft Drinks and Alcoholic beverages like Coke, Beer, Mineral water, etc.
- Entrance fees for monasteries and museum
- Personal gears and trekking equipment
- Personal expenses like Phone calls, Wi-Fi, gadget charging, laundry, Shower, and Gratitudes
- Your insurance and emergency rescue evacuation if required.
- Any items not mentioned in "Service included a section"

Note : Traveling to Everest, especially for the Everest Base Camp trek or any mountaineering activity, is an extraordinary adventure that requires thorough preparation and awareness of potential risks.

Itinerary

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Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.

Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset over the valley.

In the evening, the tourist hub of Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.

Overnight: Kathmandu

After breakfast at your hotel, you'll be picked up by an English-speaking guide for a full-day tour of the Kathmandu Valley, visiting three sacred sites: Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square.

This day fits quite a bit in—helpful for maximizing your time in Kathmandu—but doesn't overload you with too many sites. You can spend as much time as you like at each temple (this is a private tour just for you), although most people tend to spend an hour. For lunch, you'll stop at one of our recommended local restaurants.

Return to your hotel in Kathmandu in the late afternoon and meet your trekking guide who will go over details for tomorrow's adventure.

Tour length: 7-8 hours (including transfers)

Overnight: Kathmandu

After breakfast in Kathmandu, you'll be transferred by the private driver along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway towards Dumre and then follow a rough road near the Marsyangdi River until you get to Besisahar—a small town at the bank of the river (about a six-hour drive).

From Besisahar, you'll have lunch and then begin an easy trek along the narrow trail to Pam Khola. Cross the stream and begin to trek along the Marsyangdi River towards the Gurung village of Khudi passing scenic ride paddies and subtropical forests.

Driving time: 6-7 hours
Trekking time: 2-3 hours
Trekking distance: 4.3 miles (7 km)
Overnight: Khudi (2,592 feet / 890 m)
Accommodation: Teahouse

After breakfast in Khudi, you'll make your way through more of the Marsyangdi Valley with views of the Annapurna range, trekking along wooden and bamboo bridges before reaching the village of Bhulbule. The trail then comes to a picturesque waterfall on the river bank and as you hike along rice terraces with beautiful views of Manaslu range.

Following a gentle incline, you'll come to the village of Ngadi and stop for lunch. The trail then continues a more challenging ascent towards Bahundanda, which means 'hill of the Brahmins'. Located at the top of a hill, this is the most northerly Brahmin settlement in the Marsyangdi Valley and there will be time to explore the area before dinner.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Trekking distance: 6 miles (10 km)
Overnight: Bahundanda 4347 feet (1325 m)
Accommodation: Teahouse

After breakfast in Bahundanda, you'll start a steep descent through more rice paddies before crossing a stream at the bottom of a waterfall. From here, the path climbs up to Hani Gaon as you wind through fields along the river, crossing a long suspension bridge before arriving in Syange village.

You'll gradually make your way uphill from the river where you'll begin one last steep climb and then descend again, eventually landing in Jagat. This village, with its iconic stone houses, has a great view of the Marsyangdi valley.

Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Trekking distance: 5 miles (8 km)
Overnight: Jagat (4,232 feet / 1,290 m)
Accommodation: Teahouse

After breakfast in Jagat, you'll descend along a rocky path until the trail nearly reaches the river before it begins to climb again through a tropical forest. You'll go up and down a few more times like this, and then follow a level track to a beautiful Gurung village of Chamje. Keep an eye out for the long and scenic waterfall on the opposite bank and views of the Annapurna range beyond.

From Chamje, it's time to descend back to the Marsyangdi River and then cross a suspension bridge as you climb to Sattale on a steep path, which at certain points has huge boulders that cover the rushing water. Keep climbing the zigzag path to the top of the hill and you'll catch your first glimpses of the village of Tal situated on a beautiful gorge by the river.

The valley then narrows and the winding path becomes higher with more areas of strewn rocks. Continue past the small village of Karte and enjoy the cliff-side path before the path drops again to the river. You'll cross yet another suspension bridge, and then climb upstream to the stone entrance marking the larger village of Dharapani.

Trekking time: 5 hours
Trekking distance: 9.3 miles (15 km)
Overnight: Dharapani (6,299 feet / 1,920 m)
Accommodation: Teahouse

After breakfast in Dharapani, you'll begin a series of uphills and downhills as you start to see different types of vegetation and landscapes, as well as key Himalayan peaks. In fact, early in the trek, you'll notice that the Marsyangdi River veers to the left where Annapurna II becomes visible. Here begins a nice trail to get to Bagarchhap, a village known for traditional Tibetan architecture and plenty of prayer flags.

From here, the altitude gains and you'll continue to climb through oak and pine forests as you pass through Dhanakyu near a heavy waterfall. Further on, you'll enter an alpine area where the air gets cooler passing through farms and pine forests. The river soon enters a gorge where the path consists of steep stone steps. This is a good place to take a break and turn around for views of Manaslu—the 8th highest peak in the world.

The steep ascent will then head into rhododendron trees to Ratamron and then continue on a gently rising path, crossing a stream before entering another pine forest. From here, the trail climbs through fir and pine trees to get to the larger village of Chame, the headquarters for the Manang district with plenty of shops, conveniences, and teahouses.

Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Trekking distance: 10 miles (16 km)
Overnight: Chame (8,629 feet / 2,630 m)
Accommodation: Teahouse

Enjoy views of Lamjung Himal while having breakfast in Chame before you set off for Pisang. You'll ascend the valley passing apple orchards, rolling hills, small villages, and fir and pine forests towards a high, rocky area called Dhukur Pokhari—a nice place to stop for lunch. From this point, the valley becomes extremely steep as you follow the trail to Bratang. Wander through this area that was once used as the military station for troops who fought against the Khampa tribal revolution.

A brief climb from the village brings you to a rock-strewn area where you'll cross a wooden bridge and follow a high, winding path, before crossing again back again. Make your way through more pine forests until you're greeted with expansive vistas of Annapurna II and Pisang Peak. From here, you'll come to a long mani wall by a bridge and the lower windswept village of Pisang with views of the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges. Once settled in Pisang, you can take an optional hour-long climb to Upper Pisang and explore the village's ancient Tibetan-style Buddhist monastery (with even better views).

Trekking time: 5-6 hours (10 miles / 16.5 km)

Trekking distance: 10 miles (16 km)

Overnight: Pisang

After breakfast in Pisang, you'll hit the trail to Manang. The path ascends a steep ridge through forests leading to views of the Manang Valley, Humde village, and Tilicho peak. From here you can take in the rolling hills and expansive plains of the Sabje Khola Valley where the Annapurna massif soon becomes visible. You'll then cross a wooden bridge over the Marsyangdi River to get to the tiny village of Mungji, as well as the village of Bryaga, with its notable monastery including chortens and mani walls surrounded by more snow-capped Himalayan peaks.

Continue trekking along rolling hillside until you reach the large village of Manang. Once settled, you'll have opportunities to explore more of the area's Tibetan culture, truly a standout in this remote mountainous region.

Trekking time: 5 hours (12 miles / 19.5 km)
Accommodation: Teahouse

Overnight: Manang