Annapurna Circuit Trek with Annapurna Base Camp - 27 Days

Arriving at Kathmandu marks the beginning of your journey to Annapurna Circuit with the Annapurna Base Camp trek. We, Discovery World Trekking, will receive you at the airport and take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. You will also meet with your DWT guide, who will brief you about the trek. You will be spending your night in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Valley is a microcosm of entire Nepal. Today, we will explore this ancient city rich in cultural heritage. You will visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath (the Monkey temple), Boudhanath, and historic Durbar Squares. As you relish these wonders, you will also get a brief insight into these places from our tour guide. After an entire day exploring Kathmandu, you will prepare for your trek that will start the next day. Your trek lead will conduct a final check of the equipment and gear you are carrying. 

You will start the Annapurna Circuit along with the Annapurna Base Camp trek with a drive to Bhulbhule. The bus will follow Prithvi Highway by the side of Trishuli River until Dumre. From Dumre, we head north to Besisahar and then to Bhulbhule.

Situated along the Marshyangdi River, Bhulbhule provides fantastic views of several snow-capped peaks. Throughout the trip, you can enjoy astonishing views of mountains, villages, rivers, and terraced farms. We need to register our permits at the Bhulbhule check-post before starting on the trails. We stroll around Bhulbhule and explore the beauty of this small yet wonderful town.

Today is the first day of your walk in the Annapurna circuit. The trail is relaxing, and you will enjoy the stunning scenery as you traverse through lush forests and terraced fields along the banks of the Marsyangdi River.

The path is easy to walk and provides stunning views of mountains. You will be passing through several settlements and farmlands to reach the village of Jagat. We will be staying at Jagat for the night. Today's light walk will prepare you for more intense treks set to follow in the coming days.

After a peaceful stay at Jagat, we begin our hike towards Dharapani. As we commence our trek, we come across a split road. The trail goes uphill till we reach Tal, where the split trail meets. You will be enjoying several gorgeous waterfalls forming small sandy beaches along the way. Passing by rice and potato fields and crossing numerous bridges, you will reach one of the biggest villages of Manang, Kodo. 

After a short climb of the stone Kani, from Kodo, you will reach Dharapani. We have to register our Annapurna Circuit Permit at Dharapani before moving ahead. We relax at Dharapani and enjoy its scenery and traditional food.

Our destination for this day is Chame. We walk through a motorable road, which can be both easy but dusty as the vehicles pass by. Following the trail through forests with pine, fir, oak, and maple trees along the Marsyangdi River, we head to Chame, the district headquarters of the Manang District. With greenery all around us, you will enjoy the amusing settlements of the Manang District. 

The aura of Chame is so beautiful that it will transport you to a serene and joyful world. The prodigious sights of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV enhance your whole experience. You will also stop by a small hot spring where you can dip in for a while to relax.

As we move through a steep and narrow valley, you will see a massive rock wall as you head to Pisang. Locals consider this rock, known as Pinguda Danda, very sacred. Gazing at the rock will provide you with hints about its sacredness. This massive rock rises 1,500m above the river and looks stunning.

Moving ahead on the trails, you can clearly see Annapurna II in the south and Pisang peak in the northeast. Then, we descend further to the Manang Valley floor. You still have to trek some more to reach Pisang, our destination for the day.

We hike today alongside glorious mountains as we head to upper Pisang via Geru, appreciating the north face of Annapurna (II, III, IV), Gangapurna, Tilicho, and Pisang Peak. As you ascend, enjoying stunning views, you will notice the air becoming cold and dry. You will move past small Tibetan-style settlements, where we get a chance to appreciate Buddhist culture.

You will visit one of the largest and most famous monasteries in Manang - the Barge Monastery. The trail to Manang is full of Buddhist shrines and other Buddhist relics. When you reach Manang, you will notice that it is quite active with tourists. Manang is full of wonders, and you might realize that a single day may not be enough to explore this place.

You will spend one extra day in Manang, exploring this village while adapting to the high altitude. There are many side hikes that you can commence on. For acclimatization, you need to trek high and sleep low.

You can hike up to Gangapurna Lake and spend the day admiring the absolute beauty of Annapurna III, Tilicho, Pisang, and Chulu Peaks. You can also hike up to the famous Ice Lake nearby.

We will take you to the Himalayan Rescue Association in Vraja Village in the afternoon. At this association, you can learn about acute mountain sickness, its symptoms, and precautions. After a relaxing day at enigmatic Manang village, we will have acclimatized to the altitude and prepare for the next day.

After enough rest and acclimatizing to the high elevation at Manang, we move ahead with the trek. From Manang, we head to Tenki village, crossing several beautiful streams. 

Then, you will head out of Marshyangdi Valley northwest to Jar Sang Khola Valley. The trail is full of ups and downs. You will pass through the amazing Juniper forests and a few pastures. As you continue the trek, you will reach a small village called Gunsan - with houses made of flat mud roofs. As you trek forward, you will cross a small river on a wooden bridge to enter a spectacular valley and reach a peaceful meadow -Yak Kharka. However, you will continue to reach Ledar for the night.

We start the trek by climbing a ridge, then head down and cross the Marsyangdi River on a wooden bridge. After climbing the mountain path, we follow a narrow trail across a slope and descend to Thorong Phedi. From Thorong Phedi, we continue to hike until reaching Thorong High Camp for the night. The uninhabited, rugged terrain you face will look otherworldly and much different than the lush lowlands you passed on the way up during the initial phase of the trek.

As one of the most challenging days of the trek, we begin this hike as early as possible. You will be crossing one of the most exquisite high passes in the Annapurna region - Thorong La High Pass (5,416 m/ 17,756 ft). It is also the highest point of the trek.

With increasing elevation and decreasing oxygen level, the trail turns out to be challenging. Despite the difficulty of climbing, the view is unquestionably worth it. From the top of the pass, you will enjoy the panoramic views of glorious mountains extending northwards into Tibet. On the other side, you can see the Annapurna massifs smiling back. We take this hike slow and steady and conquer it and then descend to Muktinath, where we visit the famous Muktinath temple. 

A sacred place for Hindus and Buddhists, Muktinath is believed to be the god of forgiveness. You can take a bath at 108 water sprouts on Muktinath Temple premises. People believe that washing yourself on these water sprouts will wash away your sins. Buddhists call Muktinath Temple Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means "Hundred Waters." We will spend the night at Muktinath.

We descend from Muktinath to Kagbeni while witnessing the famous Sky Caves of the region. The path is quite easy as well as beautiful. If you wish, we can take you to have a short detour across the traditional villages of Chhyongkhar, Jhong, and Purang. A culturally rich place, Kagbeni, is a wonderful village. Today will be a relaxing day with not much distance to cover.

We trek from Kagbeni to Marpha today. It will be an exciting day as you will trek on an easy path, passing through gorgeous scenery. You will cross the Kaligandaki River to reach Marpha. Marpha is a hypnotizingly beautiful village. All the houses at Marpha are painted white, and the narrow Marpha alleys look fascinating. You will find captivating peaks, green forests with pine and oak trees, cold desert-like land, and the deepest river gorge (Kali Gandaki Gorge). 

Marpha is also famous for its apple farming. The apple pie and alcohol made from local apple, branded as 'Marpha,' is a must-try of this place. You can also hike up to a small turquoise-green lake nearby. The enigmatic village of Marpha, without a doubt, will impress you.

Our trek follows the Kali Gandaki River. The afternoon wind kicks up a lot of dust, so we must walk as early as possible. You will pass through wooden bridges, rocky paths, landslide areas, and several apple farms. 

As you move ahead, you will pass Khobang village on a narrow trail and trek until you reach Larjung. At Larjung, you can explore the narrow alleys filled with livestock. We will also descend to the river at Larjung to see stunning sunset views of Mount Nilgiri. Then, we conclude our day with a delicious dinner at Larjung.

We head to Ghasa, enjoying marvelous views of the mountains throughout the path. From Larjung, we head to Kalapani while witnessing the wonderous Annapurna peak. After a wave-like trail from Lete, we finally reach Ghasa. We halt at Ghasa and enjoy the mysterious Tibetan-style village. From Ghasa, you can get fantastic views of Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, and Dhampus peaks. Today's trek will be relaxing and entertaining, as you can view exotic floras and faunas in the incredible Annapurna region. You will be spending the night at Ghasa Village.

A long trekking day awaits. We will be hiking to Tatopani, where you can dip in the natural hot spring. Tatopani precisely translates to 'hot water," and we will relax in the lukewarm water. En route, you will witness Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. The trails are broad and comfortable to walk. We conclude our day in Tatopani immersed in lukewarm water that will soothe our sore muscles.

After enjoying the hot spring bath at Tatopani, we leave Tatopani for Ghorepani. Crossing the east side of the Kali Gandaki River, we ascend to Ghorepani past the Sikha, Chitre, and other Thakali villages. The trail passes through terraced farms and lush forests full of rhododendron, birch, and magnolia. Ghorepani sits at the top of a ridge and is known for providing astounding views of mountains. As a popular tourist village, you can find several restaurants and hotels to cater to your tastes. 

Today, you will hike to Poon Hill (3,210m) viewpoint before dawn to catch the stunning views of dawn breaking at the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massif. Poon Hill is one of the most popular photographic spots on this trail and possibly in the whole of Nepal. You will stay at Poon Hill, soaking in the natural beauty before heading back to Ghorepani, where you will enjoy your breakfast, and then head to Tadapani. You will be spending the night at Tadapani.

We begin our trek from Tadapani to Chomrong. After a delightful breakfast, we descend to the Kimron River from Ghandruk. From the way, you will get a glimpse of the marvelous Annapurna South and Mount Macchapucchre. Chomrong is a small yet majestically beautiful village situated in the middle of lush hills. It is also the starting point and popular stop for Annapurna Sanctuary and Annapurna Base Camp treks. Chomrong is vibrant with shops, lodges, and restaurants.

We commence this day early to cover a large trek distance. You will be enjoying the views of Chomrong Khola as you trek. Up ahead, you will reach a small village called Sinuwa that lies on top of a hill. The views get even better as you climb higher to Bamboo. From Bamboo, you will be trekking to Dovan. The path passes through rhododendron, bamboo, and oak forests. You will also be crossing several wooden bridges to reach Dovan. We will hike a few more hours from Dovan to reach the Himalaya, where we will halt for the night.

From Himalaya, trekking through a narrow gorge along the Modi Khola glacier, we head to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC). We pass by a fascinating large overhanging rock known as Hinku Cave before we reach Deurali. The forest trail to the base camp is utterly wonderful, due to the existing diverse floras and faunas. As you move ahead, you will come across several Annapurna glaciers. 

On the way to ABC, you will also stop for some time at Machhapuchhare Base Camp. From here, Macchhapucharre (Fishtail) looks spellbinding. 

When you reach ABC, you will get dazzling views of Himchuli, Annapurna Massifs, Macchapucchre, Khansari Kang, and Gangapurna. Encircled by peaks above 6000m, we enjoy the chilly and majestic aura at the base of Annapurna mountain. With snow-capped mountains all around, the views are other-worldly. The prayer flags add a spiritual dimension to the whole trek. We will be spending the night at Annapurna Base Camp.

We wake up early to enjoy the views of the sun kissing the snow mountains in front of us. Now, it is time to hike out of the Annapurna Sanctuary. We will trek back the same route we used to reach ABC and halt at Bamboo. The views of the mountains slowly diminish as we descend. Bamboo is a small yet enigmatic village. The cuisine here is pretty delicious. We can conclude our day with good food at Bamboo.

We continue our hike on the same trail that took us to the Annapurna Base Camp. Our final stop for today is Jhinu Dada. The track is mostly downhill, which can put stress on your knees. The trail is gorgeous, but the hot spring we visit at the end of our day is even more exciting. Jhinu Dada has a natural hot spring. When you take a dip in the hot spring, it will relax you and make you forget all your physical and mental stress. It is the perfect way to conclude the trek around the Annapurna region. We will spend the night at Jhinu Danda.

Today is the last day on the trails in the Annapurna circuit. You will trek back from Jhinu Dada to the plain dust road along the Modi Khola. This part of the trek is the most relaxing walk of the entire trek. When we reach Siwa/Ghandruk Phedi, we bid farewell to the majestic path and drive to Pokhara. The fun is yet to begin as Pokhara is the most happening city in Nepal. With the nightlife, boating, pubs, and bars, Pokhara offers all the luxury you would want.

We conclude our trek in the Annapurna region and bid farewell to the mountains and the enchanting Pokhara. After breakfast, we drive back to Kathmandu on a tourist bus. It’s a 200 km route that first follows the Marsyangdi River and then the Trishuli River. Alternatively, you can fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu at your own cost, as the flight cost is not covered by this package. Your trek package completes in Kathmandu.

Discovery World Trekking will drop you off at the airport in a private vehicle based on your flight schedule. We hope that you will have enjoyed your trek to the fullest.