ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK – 17 DAYS

Upon arrival at Kathmandu International Airport, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Visit Swayambhunath Stupa and Kathmandu City and make necessary arrangements for the trek.
Swayambhunath Stupa: Located about 4 km (2.5 miles) from central Kathmandu, this ancient Buddhist stupa is believed to be around 2,000 years old. The main structure consists of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth, supporting a lofty conical spire capped with a pinnacle of copper gilt.

Kathmandu City: Visit the temple of the Living Goddess, who acknowledges devotees from the balcony of her temple residence. Explore Durbar Square, home to an array of temples and overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient residence of Nepalese royalty.

Early in the morning, begin the drive to Besisahar and start your trek. The initial part of the trail is relatively flat, running along the banks of the Marshyangdi River. Enjoy the scenic beauty and immerse yourself in the local Gurung community’s culture as you walk through rice terrace fields, with stunning views of various mountains in the background.

The trail ascends steeply from Ngadi, winding through lush rice terraces before crossing a stream at the base of a picturesque waterfall. It continues to climb, traversing the hillside high above the river, eventually reaching the charming village of LiliGaon. As you proceed, the Marsyangdi Valley narrows into a dramatic V-shape, and you follow the winding mountain path down to the village of Syange.

You descend to the stone village of Jagat, perched on a shelf extending into the steep Marshyangdi Valley. From Jagat, the trail descends close to the river before climbing again through a forest. When the climb ends, you follow a level track to Chamje, marked by a magnificent waterfall on the opposite bank.

You then descend to a grassy riverbank, leading to Tal with its hotels and teahouses, where you can enjoy the exhilarating waterfall.

Beyond Tal, the valley narrows and the path becomes high and winding. After passing through the small village of Karte, the trail involves some cliff-walking before dropping back down to the river. You cross a suspension bridge and climb a short distance to the entrance of Dharapani. As you traverse a narrow field, the Dudh Khola, originating from the south face of Manaslu, joins the river on the opposite bank. The Marsyangdi then veers left, revealing Annapurna II ahead, and you arrive at Bagarchhap, a Tibetan village adorned with fluttering prayer flags.

Continuing along the left bank, you’ll climb up the heavily wooded Manang Valley, passing small settlements with excellent views of Manaslu and the peaks above Larky La. The trail leads through the administrative headquarters of the region and the last major market before Jomsom. Chame also features a police checkpoint and a bank.

With Lamjung Himal (6,893m) sparkling in the morning sun, you set off for Pisang. The trail continues through a fir and pine forest, climbing to a high, rocky area as the opposite bank becomes an impassable cliff. From this point, the valley becomes extremely steep-sided as you follow the path to Bratang. A short climb from the village brings you to a rock-strewn area where you cross a wooden bridge and follow a high, winding path before crossing back to the right bank. You then walk through a pine forest, and as the forest ends, the valley changes from a V-shape to a gentle U-shape, revealing a wonderful vista. You can see the east peak of Annapurna as well as Pisang Peak to the northeast. Continuing, you come to a long Mani wall by a bridge and the lower village of Pisang.

Beyond Pisang, the trail climbs a steep ridge, offering excellent views of the Manang Valley and Tilicho Peak. Descending past Manang’s airstrip at Hongde, you reach a level area where the northeast face of Annapurna rises majestically above you. Cultivated fields appear on both sides of the path, and to the right, below a craggy mountain, you can see the village of Bryaga with its splendid monastery. After a short, steep climb, you arrive in Manang, a surprisingly large village in this remote mountain region. You camp here for the night, surrounded by fluttering prayer flags adorning the houses.

You are now in the dry, arid region of Manang known as Nyesyang. This area falls within the rain shadow of the Himalayas, resulting in minimal summer rainfall, though winter brings snow that lingers for extended periods. Pass through the village of Hongde, home to an STOL airfield servicing the Manang district. After crossing the river near the Manang Mountaineering School, follow a broad trail that leads to the fields surrounding the village.

Climb up to Leder via the Manang Tengi Gurung settlement. The route takes you through rose forests and meadows where yaks and horse’s graze. Continue walking to Leder through Yak Kharka, also known as Koche, where you can observe large herds of yaks grazing in the nearby fields.

We continue through lush pastures that gradually transition into a high arid desert, leading up to the camp at Phedi, situated at the base of Thorong La.

Leaving the river valley, you set out early in the morning, weather permitting. From Phedi, ascend to a notch, then turn left to head for Thorong La. The pass is marked by a milestone of rocks, though it may be obscured by snow. Beyond the pass, you enter the Kali Gandaki River valley. The descent to Muktinath (3,800m) is steep but manageable.

Trek down a level but rocky trail through juniper woods to Jomsom, passing through the charming villages of Jharkot and Kagbeni, inhabited by people of Tibetan origin.

Early morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free to explore or relax.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your onward journey.