12 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek

Namaste and welcome to Nepal! Ready to embark on one of the best adventures with us? Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, our team will be there to pick you up and swiftly transfer you to your hotel. Depending on time of arrival, your itinerary will be based. But in general, your time after getting settled in your hotel will consist of debriefing and preparing for the trek that starts the following day.

And if you happen to have time to spare, you can go around the city of Kathmandu and explore the area, do last-minute shopping, enjoy some Nepalese cuisine, and do other fun and spontaneous activities. 

Our adventurous journey of 12 days begins early in the morning with an early breakfast and then getting on a bus to Besisahar. It is an exciting drive, as you will be swept away from the hustling and bustling energy that Kathmandu brings and enter a more peaceful area with crisp, clean air, lush green forests, reverberating rivers, and quaint villages with welcoming faces.

The ride to Besisahar can be bumpy at times, but you will have frequent breaks for lunch and stretching your legs. After 5-6 hours of driving, you will finally reach Besisahar and check into a hotel for the night. You will still have time after checking in, which you can utilize by exploring around the village, visiting local cafes, taking in the breathtaking views of the Lamjung Himal, and immersing in local vibes. And finally having dinner before settling in for the night. 

Our voyage further continues with another day of driving, and this time we will be switching to a Jeep. The road leading to Chame isn’t exactly smooth, and you might want to hold onto your seats at times. But the spectacular view from the window of your Jeep isn’t something you would trade for the world. Driving through the dense alpine forest of oaks and rhododendrons will be an adventurous ride. And especially if you are traveling in the spring season, you will get to feast your eyes on the full bloom of the rhododendron flowers covering the entire forest.

But this journey isn’t only limited to forests, rivers, and flowers; you will also get a chance to witness the different indigenous livelihoods and villages of communities of Gurungs and Magars. There will be many instances where we will stop to take photos for memories, one of the important ones being a stunning waterfall, and after 5-6 hours of driving, we will arrive at the rustic town of Chame. It is the headquarters of Manang district.

After checking into a comfortable tea house, you can use the remaining free time to explore the town before coming back to the tea house for dinner and finally resting for the night, as the following day our trek will begin. 

It is the fourth day of this exciting trekking quest, and our day begins with a hearty breakfast to fill our stomachs and give us energy for the day as we will be starting our hike today. The trail presents us with a well-maintained path that follows through the unique landscape that is covered with alpine trees and apple orchards.

Crossing a suspension bridge, we arrive at a small village called Dhukur Pokhari, where we make a stop for a small break before continuing on our journey. The magnificent views of Chulu Peak and Pisang Peak can be seen in the far distance, making the tiring hike even more worth it. After 4-5 hours of walking all day, we will finally arrive at Pisang, which is divided into upper and lower Pisang. These two villages are divided by the Marsyangdi River and are both extremely beautiful in their own right with a vibrant atmosphere. We, however, will be staying in upper Pisang. 

If you didn’t feel the gain in altitude yesterday, you will definitely feel it today. Today we will be moving forward to Manang Village, which sits at an elevation of 3,519 meters (11,545 ft). As our previously followed routine, we begin our day with an early breakfast and embark on the day’s trek. Today’s journey will not only incorporate nature but also have a spiritual touch as we get blessings from the old Barga Monastery that is estimated to be over 900 years old.

Spinning the prayer wheels and watching the fluttering of the prayer flag in the wind against the gorgeous backdrops of the mountains, such as Annapurna II and III, Gangapurna Chulu, and Pisang Peak, you will have a spiritual journey. Then we resume our walk till Manang Village, where we will spend two nights.

Today is a part of acclimatization, so that our body will get used to the gain in elevation. It is also a day to rest because, in the coming days, we will be crossing the world’s highest pass, Thorong La. You can spend the day exploring the village itself or set out to hike to some view-points, one of the famous being the Gangapurna Lake, from where not only can you see the pristine lake but also get the best view of the Gangapurna mountain. There is also Manang Glacial Lake. And last but not least, Ice Lake, which is a bit strenuous and time-consuming to reach and come back and takes an entire day.

As there are a lot of options, you can consult with your guide and do what suits the best for you and is in your deep interest. Because no matter what you choose, stunning views are guaranteed. But make sure to get plenty of rest, eat and hydrate, keeping your body and mind healthy because we have more days left of this thrilling Annapurna Circuit Trek 

Our rest day ends here, and a new pursuit begins. Today we will be ascending even higher, so we will walk at a slow but steady pace. By today, you will see a significant difference in the change in landscape from when the trek began till now. The dense alpine forests will have changed to short bushes of shrubs, which are actually trees. The lack of giant trees with big leaves indicates the lack of oxygen due to the high altitude.

You will pass some horses and yaks along the way, which are the main mode for transporting goods to the Himalayas. We will also pass through a small resting spot of a few tea houses, then carry on to Yak Kharka for lunch. It is only around 4 hours of hiking, so we have an option to hike till Ledar, which is an additional 2-3 hours of trek. Staying in Leder will help shorten the distance of the trek for the next two days.

The views from both places, however, are impeccable. Upon reaching our destination, you will be free to explore around until dinner is ready and ultimately hit the hay as early as possible. 

It is the eighth day, and we have gained a good amount of elevation, but we can only go higher from here. Depending on our stay the previous night, we will determine our today’s destination. If we stayed at Yak Kharka, then we will hike up to Thorong Phedi, and if we stayed at Ledar, then our destination will be high camp.

As per our usual schedule, our hike begins after an early morning breakfast. You truly will be in the heart of the Himalayas, and the views of the mountains of the Annapurna Range along with Thorong Peak, Tilicho Peak, and Gangapurna will only get better and better.

After about 4-5 hours of hiking, we will find ourselves at our destination. It is recommended to eat and drink properly and head to bed early because we will be waking up very early, around 3-4 am. So, getting proper rest is very crucial. 

Today is one of the most prominent days of the entire trek, as we are setting out to conquer the world’s highest pass, Thorong La. For this, we will wake up very early in the morning while it is still dark out. The reason why we have to cross the pass very early in the morning is because in the afternoon there is extreme wind, making it difficult and dangerous. After having breakfast, we will move around 4:30 am at the latest.

With your headlights showing the way, the dark sky gives us a perfect opportunity for stargazing or viewing the moonlight shining upon the mountains. By the time we reach the top of the Thorong La, it will be bright and early and a perfect time to see the mountains we are surrounded by. The mountains you can see from the pass are Manaslu (8153 m), Mt. Annapurna II (7940 m), Annapurna III, Annapurna IV, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, Thorong Peak, Dhaulagiri, and many other lesser known peaks.

After taking a short break to take pictures and take in the view, we begin our descent. A few hours of descending, we arrive at a place called Thorong Phedi, where we will have lunch. After such a rigorous trek, our stomachs will be growling for food. After lunch, we resume our hike, and now it is a downhill descent till we reach Muktinath. So, we leave Manang district and enter Mustang district. After a total of 8-9 hours of hiking, we will check into a hotel in Muktinath. It is a very spiritual place, and you can take time to explore the surroundings, especially the temple of Muktinath, where Hindu and Buddhist devotees come from all around the world. 

The tenth day and our trekking days are now behind us. You can give your legs rest, as we will be driving back from now on. This route formerly used to be for trekking, but due to the access of roads, people now use Jeeps, cars, and buses. After a hearty breakfast, we will hop on a Jeep (sharing) and start on our journey back to Kathmandu. The ride is filled with views of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiris. We make a stop at Jomsom, famous for the Thakali ethnic communities and apple orchards, for lunch.

After lunch, we will continue on our drive and reach a place called Tatopani, where we will stay for the night. The best part of this day is that Tatopani literally translates to “hot water” because this place has a natural hot spring. After checking into your hotel, you can go and take a dip in the hot spring. It will be a relaxing experience after such a tiring trek. 

Our trek to the Annapurna Circuit is almost over. Today we will be from Tatopani to the city and the tourist hub, Pokhara. It is only a 4-5 hour drive, and you will arrive at Pokhara for lunch. Once checked into your hotel, you are free to do anything you want. There are a lot of options in Pokhara, from bungee jumping for those who seek an adrenaline rush to having a relaxing boating experience in Phewa Lake, so take your pick.

Most people returning from treks usually book a spa day for massages and relaxation and indulge in different delicious food that wasn’t available during the trek in the mountains. What matters is that you spend the day doing things you like. 

After an unforgettable journey to the Annapurna Circuit, our final day has arrived. It is sad that it is over but also opens a new door for other travels in your life. And saying that, we will board a tourist bus after a delicious breakfast. Hold on, because it is a long drive back. The roads open a view of the countryside, and the mountains will seem further and further away. You can also catch up on a nap or two by the time you arrive in Kathmandu.

The distinct atmosphere of Kathmandu will welcome you as you are taken back to your hotel. You can take time to relax and rest after such a long journey, and we will see you later in the evening for a farewell dinner. We truly hope you had the best experience trekking the Annapurna Circuit and wish you well for your future endeavors and hope to assist you on your future adventure as well. 

Please note: The trekking times indicated above are approximate and are best used as general guidelines. During the Annapurna Circuit Trek, you’ll be able to travel freely at your own pace.