Annapurna Circuit Trek

I recently completed the Manaslu & Tsum Valley trek, and it’s safe to say it was one of the most rewarding and culturally rich experiences I’ve had in the Himalayas. From the start, the communication with the company was clear, prompt, and reassuring. They helped tailor the itinerary slightly to suit my pace and interests, and everything from permits to logistics was handled smoothly—which is no small feat in such a remote region. Our guide, was fantastic—not only knowledgeable about the trails, villages, and cultural nuances, but also genuinely caring and adaptable. He struck the perfect balance between giving us space to take in the environment and stepping in when needed (especially during the tougher parts of the trail). The trek itself is stunning but not for the faint-hearted. Compared to more well-known routes like Annapurna or Everest, this one feels wilder and less developed, which was exactly what I was looking for. The trails wind through deep gorges, suspension bridges, serene monasteries, and small villages that still feel untouched by mass tourism. Tsum Valley in particular felt incredibly special—like stepping into another world, with its Tibetan-influenced culture and timeless pace of life. Accommodation was understandably basic in many places, but my guide chose the best available tea houses and kept me and the others well-fed and comfortable. Even during the colder nights at higher altitudes, we always felt looked after. Overall, this trek was physically demanding, culturally immersive, and emotionally grounding. It’s not your typical tourist trail, and that’s exactly why I’d recommend it—and especially go with a reputable company —to anyone seeking a more authentic Himalayan adventure. In a safe way! Can’t wait until next trek!

I'm so grateful for the wonderful experience I had on this trip. It was a hard-earned vacation, and meeting Dev as our guide on the Annapurna Circuit made the time truly worthwhile. Dev is an exceptionally knowledgeable and considerate guide, always prioritizing my comfort and carefully planning every step of our journey to ensure our success. Thanks to his guidance and explanations, I was able to enjoy the trek with peace of mind. This experience in the Himalayas will remain a treasured memory, holding great significance in my life.

My husband and I had an incredible time on our trek with this tour company, and have nothing but good things to say about the experience. They helped us arrange our dream trek on short notice, and we were able to combine the Manaslu and Annapurna circuits into one 22 day trek. Our guide, Raju Kandel, was exceptional, and his experience with guiding, and relationship with many guesthouse owners along the way truly enhanced our experience. The itinerary was well planned for acclimatizing safely and seeing beautiful sights, and feeling good for the passes. We had flexibility based on our goals and preferences. The accommodation and food exceeded our expectations along the way. I would highly recommend this company.

My wife and I highly recommend this experience. We have nothing but amazing things to say about the trek. Our guide Raju Kandel, his tour company and its owner and manager Khum Subedi. I will review all three here: I will start by describing our trek. We booked a 22 day trek of the Manaslu circuit followed by the Annapurna circuit, including Poon Hill and ending in Pokhara, from March 15 to April 5. We took a local bus from Kathmandu to Machhakhola to start the Manaslu circuit. It took us 11 days to complete this circuit to Dharapani, which is where we started the Annapurna circuit. We did not trek the Tsum Valley due to time constraints. The main Manaslu cuicuit was spectacular. Only one day comprised of Jeep road trekking for portions of the day. Many epic suspension bridges, many colourful villages along the way. We were impressed by the mission statement of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project in reducing environmental impact of trekking and supporting the local people. We met locals along the way, and where even invited into a local home for traditional Tibetan tea and Sisnu (nettle) soup that we collected on the trail. We got to partake in a local celebration including dancing and community Momo feast. We visiting the tranquil monastery in Lho, and passed by other monasteries with traditional music and ritual. The accommodations were satisfactory, we typically were able to pay for a hot shower expect at the highest elevation villages in the 2 night prior to Larke pass. The food was way beyond my expectations. We ate Dal Bhat every day, sometimes twice a day, and did not tire of this dish. Each restaurant had their own variation on the dish and the fresh vegetables were delicious. The day of the pass was difficult but the views are spectacular. Birendra lake was spectacular and worth a visit. The Annapurna section boasted more panoramic mountain views, different type of forest scenery and slightly more polished accommodations. It had more trekkers than Manaslu and more of the trek included the Jeep Road. At most we would see 5-10 cars per day on the road. Thorong La pass was also a memorable experience. We took a bus from Muktinath to Tatopani and I do not think we missed much skipping this portion of the trek (dry arid and dusty area). From Tatopani to Ghorepani was spectacular jungle and rhododendron forest trekking. Overall it was the most varied, beautiful, culturally immersive, and delicious trek I have done. Our guide Raju Kandel was fantastic and went beyond what I expected from a guide. He was a joy to trek with and very professional. He took our safety as top concern, regarding altitude symptom monitoring, and how to navigate around the animals that share the path for examples. We later learned he has experience in mountain search and rescue. He has done the Manaslu circuit for many years, and has a relationship with the locals in the guest houses and restaurants along the way. He was able to call ahead to reserve rooms at the best accommodations, pick the most delicious Dal Bhat restaurants, plan the days in order to see key sights along the way, network with locals we met along the path to translate our questions and even get an offer for a visit into a home for food and tea. He taught us Nepali trekking songs and key phrases. He learned what our interests and preferences where along the trek and was able to tailor the experience for us. He got us into the kitchen at most smaller Tea Houses on Manaslu circuit to witness the cooking our our meals. Without Raju as our guide, our experience would not have been as personal or immersive. This was a fantastic agency to book our trek with. Its owner and manager Khum Subedi was friendly, professional and went the extra mile. He personally picked us up at our hotel on the first day of the trek. He helped us navigate an issue we had with another agency (and luckily we ended up not booking with the other agency), again going the extra mile. He ensures a debrief meeting with his trekkers, demonstrating his commitment to providing the best experience for the trekkers that book through his organization. Overall very pleased with the entire experience. It was the adventure of a lifetime.

Nice and caring guide. They will make you reach your objectives. Anapurna circuit was nice and we also had good weather. Our guide Ramesh was very adaptive. He adapts your trek to your physical conditions and needs.