Classic Annapurna Circuit Trek – 18 Days

After breakfast in Bahundanda, you will move to Chamje. The walk from Bahundanda to Chamje starts easily. Then, with a descent, you will encounter the small settlement of Ghermu for a short tea break. Later, the trail continues along the banks of the Marsyangdi River while crossing several suspension bridges. The sound of the roaring river is your constant companion as you move forward through the rhododendron and bamboo forests.

Further, you will reach Syange, where you can observe the Syange waterfall. From there, you will arrive at Jagat. Then, you will reach Chamje, which is situated at the confluence of the Marsyandi and Dudh Khola. Once you reach Chamje, head to your accommodation option. Then, have a warm dinner and stay overnight in Chamje.

Completing your breakfast, you will step onto your Annapurna Circuit Trekking route. Your destination for today is Dharapani. Leaving Chamje, you will cross the first of many suspension bridges that hang over the Marshyangdi River. Then, you will take a steep, rocky climb towards Tal. Tal is a beautiful village set between a river and a waterfall in a wide-open valley.

From Tal, you will begin on the path that is squeezed between the river and cliffs. Then, with occasional sections of road passing through Kharte, you will reach Dharapani. Dharapani sits at the confluence of the Marsyangdi and Dhudh Khola rivers. Overnight and dinner at Dharapani.

Today’s walk starts with a gradual uphill climb through the forested trails. You will notice Tibetan-style houses with flat roofs along the route as you arrive at Bagarchap. Then, moving forward on the trail, you will face a steep uphill climb. This is the most physically challenging section of the whole day. After completing the uphill climb, you will arrive at the village of Timang, which can be a suitable place for lunch.

From Timang, you will head downhill, and the descent becomes easier after the tiring uphill climb. As you finish descending, you will reach the village of Koto. Upon reaching Koto, head to the checkpoint to have your permits checked. After the logistics, you will continue to the village of Chame. Overnight stay in Chame.

On the sixth day of your trek, finishing your morning schedule and eating breakfast, you will move on the route towards Upper Pisang. The trek begins with a walk along the Marsyandi River, which winds through pine forests, small streams, and distant mountain views. Along the way, you will pass through Bhratang. The village of Bhratang is known for its apple orchards and beautiful landscape. You can take a short break here to admire the mountain atmosphere.

Then, continuing onwards from Bhratang, you will descend to Dhikur Pokhar. You will cross suspension bridges as you follow the river valley. From Dhikur Pokhari, the trail climbs again, leading to Lower Pisang. Walking on the trail, you will slowly experience the change in landscape. The forest becomes thinner, and the views of the Annapurna range start to appear as you arrive at Upper Pisang. The village of Upper Pisang is decorated with prayer flags, mani walls, and stone-built houses that portray deep-rooted Tibetan culture. Overnight stay at Upper Pisang.

Start your morning with a fulfilling breakfast in Upper Pisang, and get ready to leave the village. With the sight of Annapurna II, follow the trail that gives you a look at the Marshyangdi River below. After a short walk, you will arrive at a split junction where one path leads you to the lower valley route, and another takes you to a higher trail that passes through Ghyaru and Ngawal. The higher valley route is a better option for uninterrupted mountain views.

Then, you will soon arrive at Ngawal, which will be your first major stop on the route, especially for lunch. Ngawal has stone houses, flat roofs, and prayer flags, giving you a traditional mountain setting. After lunch, the Annapurna Circuit Trekking trail becomes gentler while continuing west along the mountainside. With some more walking, you will pass through Ghyaru village and descend to Humde. Humde is a village on the Annapurna Circuit that is home to one of Nepal’s highest airstrips, at 3,325 m. The airstrip is primarily used for emergency evacuation.

Passing Humde, you will enter the Manang valley walking on a flatter trail. But before reaching Humde, you can take some time to visit Braga (3,519 m) and its renowned 500-year-old Braga Monastery. After the visit to the monastery, enter Manang and settle in your accommodation point. Today’s walk allows you to transition from the lower green valleys to harsh alpine mountain conditions. Overnight and dinner at Hotel Tilicho/Hotel Gangapurna.

It’s your first acclimatization day in the Classic Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal. Although it is a rest day, your objective for today is to go on a higher-altitude hike as an excursion, spend some time there to adjust to low oxygen levels, and return for an overnight stay. The acclimatization hike is important for your Thorong La Pass Trek, which is scheduled for the following days. So, with breakfast at Hotel Tilicho or Gangapurna, you will start your acclimatization hike to either Ice Lake or Gangapurna Lake. The hike to Ice Lake is comparatively challenging yet recommended, whereas the hike to Gangapurna is easier and a classic option.

For the optional excursion to Ice Lake, also known as Kicho Lake, you will leave Manang with views of Annapurna III (7,555 m) and Gangapurna (7,455 m). You will then walk 16-17 km to reach Ice Lake, which is situated at an altitude of 4,620 m. Reaching Ice Lake, you can enjoy views of Annapurna II, III, IV, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, and the Chulu Range.

But if you want to go on a hike to Gangapurna Lake, you will walk about 2-3 km round trip to reach an altitude of 3,540 m. After reaching the destination, you will enjoy the view of the turquoise Gangapurna Lake fed by the Gangapurna glacier. Here you can see the views of Gangapurna Peak and Annapurna III.

As the exciting acclimatization day concludes, you will return to your accommodation in Manang. Then you can rest further until dinner is served. Enjoy a warm dinner and drinks, then sleep. Overnight stay in Manang.

After the acclimatization day in Manang, you will leave the village and begin walking. Your destination for today is Ledar, which is not very long but should not be taken lightly. So, you will head northwest following the Marshyangdi River upstream. True high-altitude adventure begins when you see brown bushes, sandy glacial rocks, prayer flags, and towering mountains all around.

About 30 minutes into the walk, you will reach Tenki and then cross a wooden bridge over a small stream. Views of Annapurna II and Gangapurna to the south meet your constant attention through the walk. To the north, you will see a sharp, dry ridge that marks the border with the Tibetan plateau. Then, about 2 to 2.5 hours into the walk, you will reach Yak Kharka, which is a good place for lunch. Enjoy good food while looking down the valley toward Manang. After lunch, you will walk another 45 minutes to reach Ledar for an overnight stop.

Today, you will have to wake up early in Ledar and have breakfast. After breakfast, leave Ledar and continue your journey toward Phedi or Thorong Phedi. It’s a short walk to Thorong Phedi, but the elevation gain may make the trek seem difficult. Beginning the trek, you will hike along the north side of the Jarsang Khola River. Then, you will follow the river uphill through a landscape that becomes drier and emptier as you walk. The trail is uneven, making the trek tiring but not difficult.

As you gain altitude, the valley narrows, with steep sides on both sides. But the scenery is stunning, with shades of rust, gray, and brown, set against an arid landscape. The wind is funneled through the valley and can be very cold. Similarly, the route passes through settlements like Tengi and Gunsang. Between the villages, you will also see yak pastures with mountains in the background, giving off a scenic view.

After a while of walking, you will reach Thorong Phedi. The views of Khatung Kang (6,484 m), rocky moraines, and glacial streams welcome you. On a clear day, you can also see the trail that leads the way up to the Thorong La Pass summit. Overnight stay and dinner at Thorong Phedi.

It’s the main highlight of the entire Guided Annapurna Circuit Trek, where you will reach the summit of Thorong La Pass (5,416 m). So, with renewed energy, you will leave Thorong Phedi early, while it’s still dark outside. At this hour, the temperature is cold, so layer your clothes accordingly and be sure to eat breakfast. It is necessary to start the climb early to avoid the strong afternoon wind, so prepare accordingly.

As you get ready for the climb, put on your headlamp, grab your trekking poles, and start walking. You will immediately feel the trail start steeply through the switchbacks on a wide, rocky slope. You will also see the trail lined with headlamps from other trekkers who wish to conquer the Thorong La Pass that day.

We highly recommend that you follow your guide’s instructions and walk slowly. The altitude can come into effect, but it’s time to push your limits. The last 30 minutes before the summit can be physically demanding. So, stay mentally focused and continue walking. As you approach the prayer flags, the trail finally becomes flat, marking your arrival at the top of the Thorong La Pass.

The summit gives you a 360-degree view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountains. If the weather is clear, you can also see the Tibetan Mountains in the north. You can take your time, capture photographs, and enjoy the beautiful view. Later, you will walk down the other side of the summit. Careful navigation is still required as the path is narrow and slippery. Then, with hours of downhill walking, you will reach Muktinath. Overnight stay and dinner in Muktinath.

The day starts with a visit to the Muktinath Temple, a sacred temple for both Hinduism and Buddhism. It is believed that paying homage at the temple brings good luck and blessings. Also, the temple premises contain 108 water spouts and two kundas, where bathing is believed to cleanse human sins. You can also visit the temple of Jwala Mai, which has the eternal flame. Then, after the exploration, you can have breakfast and begin the descent journey to Marpha village.

Beginning the walk, you will continue the long descent while watching the beauty of the lower Mustang. Then, you will walk through a barren plateau and descend to Khingar village. Continuing the walk, you will reach Eklobhatti, where you can experience the arid highland landscape. After an hour’s walk, you will leave the main Annapurna Circuit at a junction and take a right towards Lubra village. The walk now lasts about 30-45 minutes to reach Lubra. Lubra village is one of the last remaining Bon communities in Nepal, where you can explore the ancient Bon monastery.

After exploring the Lubra village, you will rejoin the main Annapurna Circuit trail and continue the descent through the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest in the world. Soon, you will reach Jomsom, and eventually Marpha. Marpha is also known as the Apple capital of Nepal because of the abundance of Apple orchards that form apple pie, apple cider, apple brandy, and dried apples. Overnight stay in Marpha village.

Begin the trek with a descent to Ghasa. You will follow the Kali Gandaki River that cuts deep into the Kali Gandaki Valley through the junction of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Then you will cross the villages of Tukuche and Larjung. Afterward, you will continue towards Kokhethanti and into the Lete area. Here you can see the views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I.

From Lete, the trail continues downhill through conifer forests toward Ghasa. The gorge narrows noticeably here. As you approach Ghasa, get to your accommodation and have dinner. Overnight stay in Ghasa.

Out of Ghasa, you will descend towards the river and climb over some huge boulders. With careful navigation, you will cross a suspension bridge. Then, you will follow the left bank of the river for a while to reach the forested area. After a while, walking forward will lead you to places like Pairothapla and Kopchepani.

Here you will come across the impressive Rupse Chhahara or waterfall. Later, you will reach Tatopani. Tatopani is known for its hot springs, which make it a perfect place to relax after a tiring walk. Overnight in Tatopani.

After breakfast in your accommodation at Tatopani, you’ll start the day’s trek towards the beautiful settlement of Ghorepani (2,860 m / 9,383 ft). The trek gradually ascends through beautiful natural vegetation, forests, traditional settlements, and unique landscapes. It is one of the most challenging days on the Annapurna Circuit Trail as you’ll walk uphill, covering a distance of approximately 17 km in 8 hours and gaining about 1,700 m / 5,577 ft in elevation.

Initially, you’ll walk through terraced farmlands and well-marked trails before reaching Ghara. Heading forward from Ghara, you’ll reach Sikha (1,935 m / 6,358 ft), which is one of the bigger settlements in today’s trek. Continuing from Sikha, you’ll basically experience a steep climb uphill through staircases. After a strenuous walk of about 2-3 hours, you’ll get to Ghorepani, the final destination for the day. Overnight stay in Ghorepani.

You’ll wake up before sunrise and set off with your guide to the marvelous viewpoint at Poon Hill (3,210 m / 10,531 ft). Often recognized as one of Nepal’s best sunrise viewpoints, Poonhill takes approximately 30-45 minutes of steep uphill climbing from Ghorepani via well-maintained staircases. You can witness magnificent views of the first sunrays hitting the spectacular snow-capped peaks, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna massif, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and others.

After enjoying some remarkable time at Poon Hill, descend back to Ghorepani for breakfast. After breakfast, you’ll continue the trek towards Tadapani. Passing through beautiful bamboo and rhododendron forests and significant settlements. After walking for about 5-7 hours, you’ll reach Tadapani. Upon arrival, settle into your accommodation and relax. Overnight stay at Tadapani.

After breakfast in Tadapani, you’ll continue walking downhill through forests and small settlements toward Ghandruk village. Ghandruk is one of the most famous villages in the region, known for its rich Gurung culture, traditional houses, and warm hospitality. The views of Annapurna and Machhapuchhre from here are simply stunning.

Once you reach Ghandruk, you’ll stop for lunch and can visit the Gurung Museum to learn about the local lifestyle and traditions. After the break, you’ll travel by jeep back to Pokhara. The scenic drive passes through Kimche, Syauli Bazaar, Birethanti Waterfall, Nayapul, and Naudanda, offering one last glimpse of the beautiful countryside before arriving in Pokhara. You’ll reach the city by late afternoon and spend the night there, marking the end of your short yet memorable Poon Hill adventure.

After breakfast, you will leave Pokhara and drive to Kathmandu. You will follow along the same Prithivi Highway while passing through rivers, green hills, and villages. Bidding farewell to the mountains and filling up with memories, you will arrive in Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you can explore the nearby town of Thamel and shop for souvenirs. Overnight in Kathmandu.