Annapurna Circuit Trek: Eighteen Days

Meet our representative on landing at Tribhuvan International Airport and drive to your hotel in the city. You are free for the rest of the day.

It takes around six hours to reach Beshishar from Kathmandu. Besisahar is the headquarters of Lamjung district and the starting point of this trek.

Take the trail to Bhulbule. Beyond Bhulbule, the trail travels up the east bank of the Marsyangdi River, past an impressive 60-metre waterfall. Wander through extensive rice terraces and enjoy the scenic beauty of rural Nepal as you continue your journey to Ngadi, which is located some three and a half kilometre further from Bhulbule.

Around six kilometres away from Ngadi is Bahundanda, a village largely inhabited by Hindu upper-caste people. From Bahundanda, you will continue to Ghermu followed by Syanje and Srichaur. Call it a day on reaching Jagat.

A 30-minute walk from Jagat takes you to Chamje. Descend to a beautiful valley with the Marsyangdi winding lazily through it. Call it a day on reaching Dharapani. Across Dharapani, on the eastern bank of the Marsyangdi, thunders a massive waterfall.

Follow the trail along the Marsyangdi as you leave Dharapani. Up a wooded slope is Danaque, from where you can see Mount Manaslu on the east while Lamjung Himal peers from the west. You will encounter impressive rock formations as you continue towards Chame, the largest settlement up from Besisahar, where your journey comes to an end for today.

A mani wall beyond Chame's monastery marks the end of the village. Hike through pine forests and see scenic highland lakes as you head for Pisang.

Clamber up to the saddle that divides the valley of Pisang from the Manang Valley. Cross the Marsyangdi via a wooden bridge to reach the village of Mungji. A little over two kilometres from the village is a sign showing the way to Milarepa’s cave. Further from the sign is the gateway to Braga, known for its monastery.

Spend the better part of an hour exploring the monastery. Manang, your destination for the day, is around one and a half kilometres from Braga is Manang.

Allow your body to acclimatise to the increasing elevation. You can spend the day exploring the village and enjoying spectacular views of the Himalayas. On a clear day, you can see mountains like Annapurna II (7,937m), Annapurna III (7,555m), Gangapurna (7,454m) and Chulu East from Manang.

Leave Manang behind as you climb out of the Marsyangdi Valley. Hike through pastures and woodlands to reach Yakkharka.

An hour further from Yakkharka is Letdar, from where the trail climbs along the eastern bank of Jarsang Khola then descends and crosses the stream via a wooden bridge at an elevation of 4,310 metres. Follow a narrow trail after crossing the stream as you travel across an exposed slope and climb to Thorong Phedi. An hour above Thorong Phedi is Thorong High Camp.

It takes between three to five hours to reach Thorong La from Thorong Phedi. Enjoy stunning views along the trail and from the top of the pass. See the long ridge that separates the arid region from the windward side of the mountains.

Continue your trek down meadows and past a deep ravine to reach Muktinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site. There is plenty to explore in Muktinath and it is a good place to rest after today’s journey.

Downhill from Muktinath is Jomsom, your final destination of the day.

Continue along the trail that offers excellent views of the Annapurna range. Call it a day on reaching Tatopani, a popular stop for weary trekkers due to the hot springs in the area.

From Tatopani, most trekkers climb to Ghorepani. However, if we are out of time, we might make a quick exit through Beni today. Whichever route we choose, we will have to cross two successive suspension bridges, the first across the Kali Gandaki and the next across Ghar Khola.

Plod your way up the steps from Ghar Khola to reach Ghara, a quiet place that does not feel touristy. Further from Ghara, there are tea houses all along the trail, where you can stop for a drink and relish the valley’s pastoral ambience if you want to.

The views only get better as you gain altitude. Your journey ends on reaching Ghorepani. But before you reach the final destination of the day, there is a steep climb through forests of rhododendron, birch and magnolia trees with occasional meadows along the way.

Today is the final day of the trek. But before you leave the Himalayan theatre behind, enjoy the final views of the magnificent mountains from a place known for its splendid views. Utilize every ounce of energy that you have as you clamber your way up through a fairly steep path that takes you to Poon Hill.

The journey is tiring but the rewards of the breathtaking panorama from Poon Hill is worth it. To the south of Poon Hill are the plains while from the northwest to the northeast stretches a long, jagged ribbon of peaks. From here you can see three of the earth’s ten highest mountains: Dhaulagiri I, Manaslu and Annapurna.

Enjoy the views before heading for Pokhara, where you will stay tonight.

Fly back to Kathmandu from Pokhara. We will drop you off at your hotel in the city on arrival. You are free for the rest of the day. Join us for farewell in the evening.

Check out of your hotel after breakfast. We will drive you to the airport for your flight home. Please let us know if you want to extend your stay in Nepal and experience a variety of activities like wildlife safaris in national parks, rafting, mountain biking, etc. We will be glad to assist.