Annapurna Circuit Trekking

Trip Itinerary

• Day 1: Kathmandu, overnight at Hotel (B):

  Arrivals in international airport meet our staff transfer to hotel. Join welcome dinner with staff meeting, introduction with guide and Sherpa, porters and briefing the programs, overnight at Hotel.

• Day 2: Travel to Besisahar, 200KM, 5/6 hours by tourist bus, overnight Guest house/Lodge (B/L/D:

  Start at 7 Am from Kathmandu to BesiSahar by bus. 5/6 hours through narrow tracks, suspension bridges and a deep river gorge over Prithivi Highway. It takes 5 hours’ drive by bus, transfer to hotel, overnight Guest house/Lodge.

• Day 3: Basi Sahar to Chame (2713m): 7-8 hours’ drive by Jeep, overnight Guest house/Lodge (B/L/D:

  6.30 AM breakfast, 7.30 AM drive to Nyagdi cross Jagat continues to Dharapani, you have lunch in Dharapani or on the way. After Lunch, continue to Bagarchhap, Dhanaque and cross the Koto to reach Chame by bus/Jeep 7 to 8 drive, Overnight at Guest house.

• Day 4: Chame to Upper:Lower Pisang (3115m) 5-6 hours, overnight Guest house/Lodge (B/L/D:

  7 AM breakfast time, 8 AM start our trek, today walking is not a difficult walk. We cross the right side of the river, easily walking through the alpine forest. We pass Bhratang, the small village where there is an Apple plantation too. May we have some hot tea or coffee then continue to walk to cross the Marshyangdi River and climb a little bit. We reached Dhukur Pokhari at an altitude of 3060. Maybe we have hot lunch and continue walking, there are two ways either you can go on the left side of the river to reach lower Pisang or you can cross the river on the right side and gradually climb to reach upper Pisang., overnight at Upper Pisang in Lodge.

• Day 5: Upper/Lower Pisang to Manang (3450m) 6 hours, use upper part off road, overnight Guest house/Lodge (B/L/D:

  7 AM breakfast, 8 Am start our trek; After a 5-6 hour walk through trials and broad forested valley, climb up and down than reach the Nawal village which is small settlement of Gurung People, where we have lunch today (3-4 hours), After Nawal the trekking path catch road so follow the road to reach a village of about 200 houses and Barge monastery which is the largest in the entire district and reach Manang. Explore Barge Monastery and continue to Manang for 1 hour. Manang is a beautiful landscape. In Manang it is possible to explore for a few days such as Gangapurna glacier view, Ice Lake, hundred rupees monks, monastery etc. overnight Hotel/Lodge.

• Day 6: Rest day in Manang for Acclimatization (B/L/D:

  We have already above 3500 so that we recommend to our clients rest for acclimatization. On that day, there are many options to spend a one day hike, either you can visit Gangapurna Glacier and lake or Ice Lake, or visit 100 rupees monks on the hill top of a cave monastery. You can talk with your guide and decide whatever you want and how your condition is. As well as there are altitude classes every 3.30pm by a foreigner doctor in season time, Overnight at Guest House.

• Day 7: Manang trek to Yak Kharka (4200m) 4 hours, overnight Guest house/tea house (B/L/D:

  Today is a short day so we start after breakfast at 7.30 -8 AM; from the landscape it is more like the Tibetan Plateau. It seems more gradual than up but hard to breath takes longer time to cover the short distance. We branch away from the Marsyandi Khola steadily climbing into quiet distinct alpine areas. Passing the two small settlements called Tanki Manang and Ghunsa then reach Yak Kharka. Yak Kharka means Yak pasture so we will meet many Yak pastures around there. Today we have lunch in Yak Kharka, after lunch we will bring you on the hill top for acclimatization and see the yaks and Naks. According to the altitude, we said "climb high, sleep lower", overnight at the lodge.

• Day 8: Yak Kharka trek to Thorong Phedi (4450m) or High camp (4850m), 4.30 hours, overnight tea house (B/L/D:

  Today also not long distance is above 10 KM so we start at 8 am it takes 4 hours. The trekking path brings us to Lader where there are few tea houses or guest houses. Maybe we have some hot tea/coffee then continue walking to cross the Thorong Khola. After crossing the Khola then the path has some land with a slight area. You need to be careful. Sometimes the deer walk over then the stone comes down. From here to reach Phedi takes one hour. From Phedi to reach high camp takes 1 hour to climb. If all our members are fine you can walk to High camp after lunch in Phedi, otherwise stay overnight in Phedi and climb High Camp continues to Thorong Pass on the next day. Tonight, to be a hard night with lack of enough oxygen, you need to prepare to pack your bag to get ready to walk up early in the morning. We recommend starting early because of the weather and long distances, overnight at lodge.

• Day 9: Trekking to Muktinath - hardest day to cross Thorong La Pass (5416m) continues trek to Muktinath (3800m) 6/8 hours, overnight Guest house/Lodge (B/L/D:

  4 AM wake up call, 4.30 hot and short breakfasts and start walking at 5 Am in the morning. Starting time you can decide to talk with a guide. If you stay in Phedi, it takes one hour to get to high camp. After high camp the trails lead on the left side of the mountain. It’s the first one seasonal tea house. Maybe it is open in season time only. After that we need to cross many mountain terraces which are very nice and feel like a long walk. It is almost 4 to 5 hours walking and you can reach above the mountain. You feel how difficult and beautiful the earth is. On the top of Thorong La (5416m), there is one tea shop (small hut) and many Buddhist flags and one small board written on Thorong Top with altitude etc. After the top, the trails gradually go down. Some places have steeply down. We do not require ice-x, crampons or any climbing equipment but sometimes it is very hard to go down if there is heavy snowing. Trekking poles help you if you have a knee. Within 3-5 hours you can reach Muktinath side Base camp; the time is depending on you, weather and season. After Muktinath Base Camp you need to walk 1.30 to 2 hours to reach the overnight stay place in Muktinath. The trails cross the Muktinath Temple area. Either you can visit on the same day or come the next morning. Muktinath is the name of the Hindu God with the meaning of the “God of Salvation” in Hindu and in Buddhism “Nirvana”. The Sep- Oct fest is the most interesting and many Hindus people visit. Apart from this, this is the greatest example of the correlation and harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism. There are a few small temples, Mane wall, 108 taps etc, overnight at Lodge.

• Day 10: Marpha - Trek to Jomsom or Marpha 2667m 5.30 hours, overnight Guest house/Lodge (B/L/D:

  Long and hard day of yesterday started a bit late today. The part of the trek from Muktinath to Kagbeni is really different from other days. Here, the climate is relatively dry, and the landscape looks like a desert. The area on the way from Muktinath to Kagbeni is full of ancient caves, and till you reach Jomsom you'll be able to see wonderful geological forms around you. From Muktinath (3800 meters) the trail descends gradually towards Jarkot, a nice village with interesting houses and lots of green fields in the brown-looking area around. From Jarkot the trail keeps descending, and you can choose between two ways: one goes directly to Jomsom, and the other goes to Kagbeni; located 2800 meters high, Kagbeni is an interesting village, with stone houses and narrow alleys, and a green area of fields lying between the high mountains above. The village is located near the Kali-Gandaki River, and it is the first place you meet this huge river, which still flows in a very wide valley in this area. Beware not to walk north of this village!! It is the border to the Mustang area, which is usually closed to tourists and requires a very special permission to visit, the cost of permit US$500 for 10 days. The way from Kagbeni to Jomsom goes along the Kali-Gandaki River, as most of the trek in the next few days. The geological forms you'll see on the way around you are really spectacular, and will offer you to buy black fossils called "Salligrams". Jomsom, located 2700 meters high, is a big village. It has a small airport, and so - connected by air to Pokhara and Kathmandu for the following day. Although it is a comfortable place to stay in, we recommend keeping on and sleeping in Marpha - a small and charming village, located 2660 meters high. It contains stone houses built on the mountain above the Kali-Gandaki River, with narrow streets paved with flat stones. There are a few lovely guest houses there, with excellent food, overnight at the guest house. Note: it is possible to drive directly to Marpha or directly to Tatopani or Pokhara through Beni by Jeep or Bus. You can make treks shorter or longer, let us know. But our itinerary here is trekking you all the way to Nayapul and a short drive to Pokhara.

• Day 11: Marpha drive to Tatopani (1189m), 5-6 hours, overnight at hotel (B/L/D:

  Today we drove to Tatopani, The bus moved from Jomsom but we caught it in Marpha at 7 or 8 am. The bus time depends on local passengers. We drive through the Kalopani, Ghasa then reach Tatopani. Tatopani means hot water, upon arriving in Tatopani we check the hotel then visit the natural hot pond. Relax and enjoy your time in natural hot water. Overnight at the hotel.

• Day 12: Tatopani treks to Ghorepani (2850m) 6 hours, overnight Guest house/Lodge (B/L/D:

  Today is long distance trekking so we recommend starting early. Start trekking at 7 AM, a challenging ascent up to Ghorepani. The treks bring you to follow the Kaligandaki River valley an half hour then start climbing all the way to Ghorepani, passing through Ghara, Sikha village, Phalate, Chitri and reaching Ghorepani. It takes 7-8 hours walking. We have lunch at Sikha village. Ghorepani, from where one can observe the best sunset view over the profile of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Annapurna include Manaslu. Tonight we slept early because the next morning we woke up early for the sunrise view from Poon Hill, less than one hour hike to reach, overnight at the hotel.

• Day 13: Early morning visit Poon Hill (3210m) and trek to Tikhedhunga (1575m) continues to Nayapul 6 hours and drive to Pokhara 1.30 hours, overnight Hotel (B/L):

  4.30 AM wake up call, climb 1 hour to Poon Hille (3210m) for sunrise view panoramic fantastic view. Poon Hill is one of the most breathtaking panorama viewpoints in Nepal. We can see the Dhauligiri range continues to Manaslu ranges including the famous Mountain peak Machhapuchhre “Fishtail” and Manaslu ranges. After sunrise, return back to the Hotel and have breakfast then proceed down to Nagythati meaning open hut, Banthati meaning Jungle hut and Ullari one of the famous Magar villages. You have lunch in Ullari or 1.30 hour steeply down to Tikhedhunga, the bank side of Burundi Khola. After lunch the trek continues to Nayapull passing through small places called Hille, Sudame, Ramghari and Birethati then reaching Nayapul which is 3.30 hours. Our tourist coach is waiting for us in Nayapul. Transfer to the hotel in Pokhara, dinner, overnight at the hotel.

• Day 14: Kathmandu - Travel to Kathmandu by tourist coach 6 hours, 200km (BB):

  6 AM wake up call, 6.30 drives to Dam side for the best view and drop to tourist Bus Park. At 7.30am the bus ride down to Kathmandu, 6 hours’ drive 200 Km, the bus stop for breakfast and Lunch on the way. Upon arriving at the hotel in Kathmandu, we finished our trip overnight at the Hotel.

• Day 15: Drop to Airport for your own way journey or next trip (B).

  Today is the last day in Nepal. We drop you at the international airport as per your flight schedule. If you have time, last minute shopping, or the next trip.