Annapurna Circuit TrekkingAnnapurna Circuit Trekking

Annapurna Circuit Trekking

6 REVIEWS
Highlights
  • A breathtaking journey from low subtropical to cooler green hills and arctic climate
  • Enjoy the change in landscapes, vegetation, and local culture

  • Explore the traditional villages and deep traditions in the mountains 

  • Scenic views of the snow-capped peaks throughout the entire trekking session

  • Cross the high Thorang-La pass and face the breathtaking panoramic view of the mountains.

Journey around the massive Annapurna Himalayas and cross the high Thorang-La pass

Annapurna Circuit Trekking with Explorer Adventure takes you to the elevation of 5,416 m at Thorong-La Pass. Here, you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the world's highest peaks. These peaks include Annapurna, Manaslu, and Dhaulagiri Himalayas, along with an array of many other giant snow-capped peaks. 

Annapurna Circuit Trekking is an exciting journey around the Northern and Southern face of Annapurna Himalayan peaks. 

The popular trekking route of Annapurna Circuit Trekking is listed as one of the world's top ten adventure destinations. In this trek, we can experience some of the most breathtaking scenarios that one cannot find anyone else. Therefore, it is renowned as one of the best high-altitude treks around the entirety of the Himalayan range. 

The journey starts from the warm framing areas of Lamjung district. Then, we head towards the higher, cooler areas of Manang. 

There, we can witness dramatic changes and biodiversity within a short period. This includes the changes in scenic landscapes, vegetation, temperatures, and local cultures. We can enjoy the daily walks in the morning and witness the beautiful snow-capped peaks in the background. 

Our trek continues following the raging Marsyangdi River upstream to its source at Manang Valley. This valley is surrounded by the massif Annapurna and Chuli range, which feeds the Marsyangdi river with its ice-falls and glaciers. 

After a few days of walking, we enter Pisang, going past the lovely villages of Dharapani, Timang, and Chame town. There, we face the imposing views of the snow-capped mountain range of Pisang Peak and Chulus. Then, we spend an extra day at Manang for acclimatization and explore its scenic viewpoints along with the village, adorned with impressive cultures. 

We then head to the end of Manang Valley to reach the top of Thorong-La Pass. At this point, we can enjoy the breathtaking view surrounded by the stunning views of the snow peaks. Then, we head downhill to Mustang and other areas of the journey. 

Our walk continues through the charming villages of Marpha and Tukuche, passing through Jomsom town. Then, we head towards the low areas of Tatopani, a village with natural hot springs, to enjoy the refreshing warm pools. 

From Tatopani, our journey continues with a climb back to cooler hills filled with dense forests of rhododendrons and pines. Then, we reach the popular village of Ghorepani, from where we hike towards the Poon Hill. Poon Hill offers stunning sunrise views along with an array of peaks, such as Mount Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Manaslu

Our trek slowly comes to an end as we follow the downhill path to Ulleri village. Then, we take a short but exciting ride to Pokhara, a renowned tourist destination blessed with serene lakes and marvelous mountains. This is a great place to conclude our adventure after an unforgettable experience on Annapurna Circuit Trekking. 

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Itinerary

After you arrive at Nepal International Airport, our guide receives you and takes you for a short drive to your hotel at the hub of Kathmandu city. After you freshen up, we hold a short gathering session where our guide briefs us on the trek, local lodges, and other cultures we encounter on the trek. Then, we are free for the rest of the day to do as we please. 

In the evening, we hold a hearty dinner in local Nepalese restaurants with local programs that serve as an introduction to Nepalese culture and heritage.

    We have a day in Kathmandu for preparation and for sightseeing. Our city guide takes us around historical and cultural places listed in the World Heritage Sites. After visiting the historical and cultural sites, we head back to the hotel to prepare for the Annapurna Circuit Trekking.

      Our journey begins with an early morning departure for the Annapurna Circuit Trek. We start off at Kathmandu and take a long but enjoyable drive on a private coach or a comfortable tourist bus. Our drive leads us beyond Kathmandu Valley on a winding highway towards the Besisar at Lamjung district.

      From here, we drive past many small towns and villages as we head towards the Midwest Gandaki Zone. Then, we finally reached Jagat village, where we stopped for an overnight stay. 

        From Jagat, our journey starts with a climb over the Marsyangdi River. Then, we take a winding path to Chamje. From here, our route leads us across the Marsyangdi River into the forested areas. Here, we can enjoy the views of the Annapurna and Manaslu Mountain ranges. We continue our walk as we reach Tal Besi, the starting point of Manang district. At Tal Besi, we stop for lunch. We then continue our journey towards Dharapani village for an overnight stop. This village is located at the junction of the Annapurna and Manaslu Circuit Trekking trails. 

          Our journey on this day leads us to a forested path lined with rhododendrons and pine trees all the way to Bagarchap and Danque villages. From here, we take a short hike to Timang village, which faces the grand views of Mt Manaslu and Lamjung Himal. After a brief lunch stop, we continued our journey towards Koto. At this location, the trail splits towards Nar-Phu and Chame. We take the Nar-Phu trail and continue our journey toward Chame, a large town and the headquarters of the Manang district. At Chame, we stayed at a nice lodge for the overnight stay.

            From Chame, we walk through the alpine forest of rhododendrons and pine trees. Then, we follow the Marsyangdi River for a short hike up to Dukure Pokhari for lunch. 

            In the afternoon, we take a walk down the flat valley near the glaciers of Annapurna II and IV. Our day ends as we reach the windy village of Pisang. From here, we can witness the grand view of Pisang Peak and Chulu's Himal range. We stop at a nice lodge for an overnight stay. 

              We take a slow climb from the lower Pisang village to the higher Pisang settlement in the morning. Here, we can visit a few monasteries. After a brief visit, we make our way to the scenic upper trail above Manang Valley, avoiding the main trail to reach the small village of Gheru. 

              This hidden path lets us witness the breathtaking view of the Annapurna Himalayas and Chulis. Our walk then follows a windy path towards Braga, close to the main Manang village. Before heading to Manang village, we visit the old Braga monastery. This monastery is enriched with old Buddhist relics, ancient wall paintings, and frescos. Furthermore, this location also offers us a stunning view of Annapurna Himalaya. After a pleasant visit to the monastery, we take a short and easy walk to Manang Village.

               

                We take a day off at Manang for acclimatization before heading to the upper areas of Thorong-La pass. Here, we can enjoy a short hike around the Manang village. It is a large village located on a windswept valley by the bank of Marsyangdi River, at the bottom of the Annapurna and Gangapurna mountain ranges. We can take a walk uphill for views of Gangapurna Glacier and Manang Glacial Lake.

                  After a nice rest at Manang, we continued our journey towards the Ghunsang village. We take a slow walk, marveling at the scenic view of snow-capped mountains. Then, we cross a small stream before reaching the Yak Kharka for lunch and an overnight stay. It is a lovely place facing the magnificent views of Gangapurna, Annapurna III, and Chulu Peaks. 

                    On our tenth day, we head towards the base of Thorong-La, crossing a bridge over the river. Then, we follow a gentle path to Thorang Phedi. If all goes well, we take a steep climb leading to Thorang High Camp for lunch and an overnight stop.

                      This is the main highlight of the adventure. We have an early breakfast and then take a long climb towards the Thorang-la. We take a steep winding road up to Thorang-La pass at 5,416 m. 17,700 ft high. This is the highest point of our adventure, and from here, we can witness the magnificent panoramic view of snow-capped mountains surrounding Thorang-La. After an enjoyable and hard climb, we descend to Muktinath in the Mustang district. 

                      On reaching Muktinath, we stopped for an overnight rest. This is a holy spot for both Hindus and Buddhists, as the word Muktinath literally translates to "The place for Nirvana/Liberation." At Muktinath, we can find many lodges, perfect for a good rest after a long walk. 

                        From the holy site of Muktinath, after observing the grand views of the Dhaulagiri range, we take a comfortable four-wheel drive to make the itinerary shorter. 

                        Our drive leads towards the wide Kali Gandaki River and past the windswept valley of Jomsom. Then, we follow Marpha and Tukuche village into the deep gorge of Kali Gandaki River. We continue our journey downhill, reaching into the warmer areas of Tatopani village for an overnight stay in a nice lodge for the night. Additionally, we can also take a short trip to the natural hot springs for a refreshing dip in the warm pools. 

                          After a pleasant time at Tatopani, we resume our trek as we cross a bridge over the Kali Gandaki River. Our route diverts as we make a steep climb to a terraced hillside dotted with farms and villages after a steep walk into alpine forests to Chitre. Then, we made a short climb to Ghorepani village for an overnight stop. Our stop offers us superb views of Mt Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Vara-Sikhar/Annapurna Fang. Our shop is located amidst beautiful rhododendron forests at the base of Poon Hill.

                            We take a hike to Poon Hill and trek to Ulleri 1,650 m and take a drive to Pokhara 860m. We take an early morning hike for an hour to Poon Hills. It is an amazing place, popular for viewing sunrise over the Himalayan peaks. Here, we can enjoy the sunrise beside the highest peaks.

                            After an enjoyable and exciting time at Poon Hill, we head back to Ghorepani and continue our last day of walk. Our route heads downhill into a lovely forested path for a few hours to the Ulleri village. We then take an exciting drive to Pokhara for an overnight stay. Here we can stay in a comfortable hotel, located by the Phewa lakeside.

                              We take a drive to Kathmandu on either a car, coach, or tourist bus. This drive takes us through villages and towns before reaching Kathmandu. 

                              After reaching Kathmandu, to respective hotels with time for souvenirs.

                                After an unforgettable trek at Annapurna Circuit Trek, our journey finally concludes. At this point, you can either head home on an international flight or stay with us for another memorable trip.

                                  Route Map

                                  Annapurna Circuit Trekking map
                                  What's Included
                                  • Pickup from and Drop to the Airport by vehicle
                                  • Three-night hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing plan with bed and breakfast
                                  • One night hotel in Pokhara on twin sharing plan with bed and breakfast
                                  • TIMS (Trekking Information Management System)
                                  • Tea house/lodge accommodation on a twin-sharing plan
                                  • Professional guide with a government license
                                  • Salary, Food, Accommodation, and Insurance for guides and porters  
                                  • Duffel bag 
                                  • Sleeping Bag and down jacket on rent
                                  • Transportation from Kathmandu to Besishar and from Pokhara to Kathmandu on Tourist Bus
                                  • Travel from Besishar to Syange on a Local Jeep
                                  • A journey from Muktinath to Tatopani on a local jeep or local bus
                                  • Travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu on a tourist bus
                                  • ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) entry permit
                                  • Official expenses and Government taxes.
                                  What's not Included
                                  • Domestic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu
                                  • Food and Drink during Trek ($20 to $30 per day)
                                  • Flight to Nepal
                                  • Tips for Porters and Guides ($80 to $100 for porters and $100 to $120 for guides)
                                  • Nepal Visa ($50)
                                  • Insurance which must include emergency by helicopter (Check worldnomads.com for further details)
                                  • Hot water, WiFi, Battery Charging in some places ($2 to $5)
                                  • Drinking water (the price increases along with the rise in altitude)

                                  Departure Dates

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                                  Trip DateMar 21, 2024 - Apr 05, 2024
                                  PriceUS$899
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                                  Trip DateMar 23, 2024 - Apr 07, 2024
                                  PriceUS$899
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                                  Trip DateMar 25, 2024 - Apr 09, 2024
                                  PriceUS$899
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                                  Trip DateMar 27, 2024 - Apr 11, 2024
                                  PriceUS$899
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                                  Trip DateMar 29, 2024 - Apr 13, 2024
                                  PriceUS$899
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                                  Useful Information

                                  Insurance policy for Medical and Travel:

                                  • Your insurance should cover illness and emergency evacuation by Helicopter and other means of transportation. This includes expenses on treatment at hospitals. 

                                  • Your insurance should also include travel insurance against bad and unfavorable conditions, delays, or cancellation of domestic flights on the mountain.
                                  • The travel and medication insurance should also cover the circumstances when clients discontinue the journey in the middle due to sickness or other problems. 

                                   Guide and Porters for 16 Days Annapurna Circuit Trekking: 

                                  • On treks and climbs, you will be accompanied by expert guides. They are extremely familiar with the areas of the trek. The guides are professional and highly knowledgeable. Guides can provide you with information regarding history, geography, culture, flora, and fauna. 
                                  • All guides have basic medical training that includes treatment for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and can help you with simple First Aid. 
                                  • For severe medical conditions, you will be taken to a safer area or to the nearest hospital. 
                                  • Porters are picked from the company or hired in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Lukla. They are strong, cheerful, and can carry heavy luggage. They can carry a maximum luggage of 15Kg to 25Kg per porter. Furthermore, we do not allow guides of under 16 years or above 50 years. 
                                  • Porters and guides are well looked after by the company with good wages, medical insurance, and travel allowances, including meals. Along with this, we also provide warm gear in winter and for high or cold altitudes.

                                    Altitude Sickness or AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness):

                                    Information of AMS and Precaution Measures:

                                  • High Altitude or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a set of symptoms occurring at high altitude adventure walks. 
                                  • This sickness occurs due to high pressure and low oxygen. Some of the common symptoms of AMS are as follows:
                                  • Shortness of breath
                                  • Light Headache
                                  • Nausea
                                  • Dizziness
                                  • Lack of good sleep
                                  • Lessening of appetite
                                  • To avoid these symptoms, we at Explorer Adventure design itinerary days with ample room for acclimatization. Additionally, we also include short walks and plenty of time for sleeping and resting in low places. 
                                  • Another good way to avoid AMS is to go hiking slowly and steadily. Stopping frequently and drinking a lot of fluids (a minimum of two to three liters) is also great to support AMS. 
                                  • At high altitudes, taking enough rest with a short, slow hike allows us to witness views to aid in acclimatization. Sleeping and resting at low altitudes help you in avoiding AMS. 
                                  • The best way to adjust for acclimatization is to ascend slowly and stop at specific altitudes to adjust to new heights. 
                                  • We include both general medications and medications from your doctors. This includes medications for illnesses such as diarrhea, headache, fever, cold, constipation, cuts, wounds, and burns.

                                    What to Bring During Annapurna Circuit Trekking 16 Days?

                                    Clothing and footwear

                                  • trekking boots (should be warm, waterproof, breathable, cover and fix the ankle)
                                  •  sports sandals with a closed toe or sneakers.
                                  •  flip flops , Sun cap , Wool or fleece hat , 2 pairs of gloves/mittens (1 thin, 1 thick,}
                                  • Bandana or neckerchief ,  Fleece jackets (1 thin, 1 thick) .
                                  • Thermal underwear (merino wool!), preferably 2 sets (one for walking, the other for sleeping), buy at home.
                                  • Trekking socks - several pairs (there is a limited possibility of washing)
                                  •  Quick-drying sports T-shirts (e.g. Polartec PowerDry) - 2 pcs. or more.
                                  •  Down jacket , Windstopper , Windproof warm jacket with hood.
                                  • Trekking trousers ,  Warm synthetic pants like ski pants , Rain poncho.
                                  • Sun Screen Cream , Sunglasses,  Trekking pole , Water bottle.

                                    Equipment for 16 Days Annapurna Circuit Trekking

                                  •  *Duffel bags for trek will be perovided on Day 2 should be returned after the trek is over.
                                  •  *Backpack 20-30 liters with rain cover (optionally with drinking system)
                                  • *Sleeping bag (comfort temperature around -5 C). On the upper lodges they usually provide woolen blankets. You can rent a sleeping bag in       Kathmandu, $1-2 per day.
                                  • *A good quality headlight with new batteries and a spare set of batteries.
                                  •  *Sunglasses (category 3-4) + hard case , Trekking poles , Thermos 0.5-1 liter.
                                  • *Sealed packaging for documents and money , Sitting mat (optionally), Power bank.
                                  • * A roll of dense garbage bags 50 liters. You will pack your items in it when you put them in a duffel bag to protect them from moisture and dust.

                                  "*"- denotes item that can be bought in Kathmandu

                                    Personal usage for Annapurna Circuit Trek 16 Days 

                                  • Light and quick-drying towel
                                  • Washing accessories and disinfection wipes
                                  • Antibacterial gel and moisturizing hand cream
                                  • Sun cream with high SPF
                                  • Lip balm with sun protection
                                  • Reusable water bottle
                                  • Snack - nuts and chocolates

                                  Annapurna Circuit Trekking FAQs

                                  • The food and accommodation used to be extremely simple. However, at present, the food and accommodation are rather good due to the flow of trekkers. There are many nice lodges for accommodation and a variety of food on the menu. The rooms are simple and clean and have large dining halls where food is served in a lively home environment. 

                                    The rooms with attached bathrooms are few in number because of the location and cold weather. This is because the plumbing can get frozen, especially around the higher areas. There is only basic accommodation and food around Yak-Kharka and around the high camp of Thorang-la. 

                                    Food is served per A La Carte for larger groups of more than four people. We recommend you to have set meals like Dal Bhat to save energy and fuel. It is also a perfect way to follow the rules of responsible tourism or eco-trekking.

                                  • Almost every village and lodge has facilities to charge your electric items and wifi. They are generally run by local hydropower or solar power. That said, you will need to pay extra per hour for your items. For this, you should coordinate with the guide or the landlord regarding the price. This includes charges for hot showers, internet, wifi, and telephone collections. 

                                    The internet and phone connection is interrupted and slow. Therefore, we recommend you buy local SIM and Internet data for your cell phone in Kathmandu if you want to use the internet.

                                  • There are a few hospitals for proper health care, and it is located at Chame, Jomsom, and Pokhara. The large villages and towns have small health posts. However, they may lack proper healthcare and doctors. On treks, we carry a complete medical box with medications for general illnesses and wounds.

                                  • We can get safe drinking water at every overnight lodge. We can also find safe drinking water in some areas en route with water drinking stations. ACAP provides the service at reasonable prices. 

                                    Buying bottled water can be expensive in higher locations. T Try to avoid buying plastic bottles. Note that purifying tablets only work 30% to 40% in Himalayan waters as they contain heavy minerals.

                                  • The trekking starts with a moderate walk from1,500 m to slowly getting acclimatized. The walk is relatively easy, and you can walk at a normal pace.

                                    The only tough part of the climb is the Thorang-La pass at 5,416 m, and this only lasts for a few hours. 

                                    Therefore, when compared to other Himalayan high destinations, the Annapurna Trekking Circuit is relatively easy. 

                                  Client Reviews
                                  • It was a trip of a lifetime!

                                    Thank you very much Bam, Amrit and Daki Pa to make it possible! I dreamed to walk this track for almost 5 years after the last large avalanche killed many tourists. 
                                    How I felt throughout the walk? It was great, I felt looked after, cared and listened, even on the way back home when Amrit formal duties of care finished, he still assisted me with what he could. The walk up and down the hills is not always easy for your knees..Amrit has the first aid on him to assist if any signed of issues felt. Daki Pa has less communication skills but his care and warm personality was making for it. He is young, but fit for the job! Amaizing landscapes and people working outside of their homes shown a glimpse of a different world. Amrit was there to explain the nuances of their customs, believes and traditions. Our minds were totally busy watching out for the wonders of the way, what distracted us from the hardship of the walk itself. After the 3800 m heights we both felt the signs of heights sleekness...again Amrit was there with helping hand. He had the pills, which removed unpleasant simptoms. 
                                    I cannot thank you guys enough for the joy I had throughout my 2 weeks adventure. For those of you who is still thinking, Explore Adventure is a team who you can trust in the mounting. They won’t run away from you, will listen and will care!

                                    Olia. Auckland.
                                    Olia. Auckland.New Zealand,November 28, 2019
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                                  • Annapurna Circuit Trek

                                    We just completed the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Amrit and Dahlkeepa . We had a fantastic time. The trip was very well organised and we were very well looked after throughout. The scenery was amazing and the views of the Annapurna range were simply stunning. Amrit and Dahlkeepa were friendly, relaxed and professional and made it a trip we will never forget. We would Thoroughly recommend this company . 
                                    Thank You Amrit and Dahlkeepa 
                                    Lisa and Richard

                                    Lisa
                                    LisaUnited Kingdom,November 23, 2019
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