Annapurna Trek - 20 Days

You will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. At the arrival terminal, you will find our representative holding a pamphlet with your name and our company logo. They will first greet you and present you with a marigold garland as a welcome gesture. Then, they will take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. 

Kathmandu Valley is like a microcosm of Nepal. It is known for its unique architecture and rich culture. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu, among which you will be visiting Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath (the Monkey temple), and the historic Durbar Squares. 

As you relish these wonders, our Kathmandu tour guide will provide you with information about these sites. After exploring Kathmandu for a day, you will prepare for the trek departure, scheduled for the next day.

We begin our Annapurna Circuit trek with a bus ride to Bhulbhule. You can enjoy beautiful views of terraced fields, subtropical jungles, and traditional villages throughout your ride as the bus rolls by the side of the Trishuli River along Prithivi Highway. From Bandipur, we leave Prithivi Highway and head north to Besisahar and to Bhulbhule. Situated along the Marshyangdi River, Bhulbhule is a gorgeous village that provides magnificent views of several snow peaks. After registering our permits at the Bhulbhule check-post, we explore this beautiful village. We will be spending our night at Bhulbhule.

Trekking begins. We start our trek through a pleasant trail, traversing through lush forests and terraced fields following the Marsyangdi River. The path is easy yet surprisingly beautiful as we pass through traditional settlements and farmlands to reach the isolated village of Jagat. Today's trek will be more like a warm-up, and it is a fun way to begin your trek in the Annapurna region. You will notice the declining settlements as we trek further. We halt at the peaceful village of Jagat to rest for the night.

After a peaceful stay at Jagat, we follow the trail to reach Dharapani. We enjoy several stunning waterfalls forming small sandy beaches on our way. Walking past the 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, you will reach Dharapani. Dharapani has a checkpoint where we will get our Annapurna permits checked before trekking further. We conclude our trek day at Dharapani and enjoy the delicious food of the place.

Along the Marsyangdi River, we follow a trail that passes through pine, fir, oak, and maple forest and head to Chame, the district headquarters of the Manang district. This area is covered with natural greenery. The views of glorious mountains - Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV - will make your trek very fulfilling. We'll also stop by a small hot spring where we can relax all our sore muscles.

We leave Chame and head to Pisang today. As you trek through a steep and narrow valley, you will get glimpses of a massive rock wall, known as Pinguda Danda rock, which locals believe to be holy. You will find yourself wondering about this rock as you see it. Because this rock rises 1,500m from the river, it is undeniably beautiful. From the path, you can see a clear view of Annapurna II in the south and Pisang peak in the northeast. We descend further to the Manang Valley floor. The trail throughout the journey, without a doubt, looks breathtaking.

We start at the upper Pisang path, which steeply ascends to Ghyaru, providing stunning views of the north face of Annapurna (II, III, IV), Gangapurna, Tilicho, and Pisang Peak. The air starts to turn cold and dry. As you pass through small Tibetan-style settlements, you will witness Buddhist culture and realize that the trail is dotted with Buddhist shrines and mani walls.

You will also visit one of the largest and most famous monasteries of Manang - Barge Monastery. As you trek ahead, you will reach a lively area that caters to many tourists, Manang. Manang is full of wonders, and we will be staying one more day at Manang for rest and acclimatization.

To acclimatize, we will spend one whole day in Manang. You are free to spend the entire day exploring this village. However, we will stay busy, taking part in side hikes. You are free to hike to  Gangapurna Lake and spend the day admiring the beauty of Annapurna III, Tilicho, Pisang, and Chulu Peaks. There are several monasteries in this area that you might like to visit.

We will also visit the Himalayan Rescue Association in Vajra Village to learn about acute mountain sickness, its symptoms, and precautions. After a relaxing day exploring the enigmatic village of Manang, we will have acclimatized to this altitude, and we will be ready to trek ahead the next day.

After a day of acclimatization at Manang, we will continue the trek. From Manang, we head to Tenki Village, crossing several beautiful streams. Further, we head out of Marshyangdi Valley northwest to Jar Sang Khola Valley on a trail full of uphills and downhills. You will also be passing through dense Juniper forests and a few pastures. Along the way lies Gunsan Village, known for houses with flat mud roofs. After crossing a small river on a wooden bridge, we make our way up the spectacular valley to an open, peaceful meadow known as Yak Kharka.

Today we head to the foot of Thorong La Pass - Thorong Phedi. From Yak Kharka, we first climb up to a ridge, then head down and cross the Marsyangdi river on a wooden bridge. Then, we will ascend one more time, following a narrow trail, and descend to Thorong Phedi. The uninhabited, rugged terrain is otherworldly and much different than the lush lowlands we passed on the way up during the initial trekking days. Thorong Phedi is well situated to cross the Thorong La Pass. We will stay at Thorong Phedi for the night.

We begin this day as early as possible, ready to conquer the most challenging parts of the trek. From Thorong Phedi, we ascend to Thorong La Pass, the highest point of this trek. Due to the high elevation and low level of oxygen in the air, the hike will be challenging. We take this hike slow and steady and conquer it. However, despite the climbing difficulty, the view from the pass is unquestionably worth it. 

You will enjoy the panoramic views of glorious mountains extending northwards into Tibet, and on the other side, you will see the Annapurna massifs smiling back. 

 From Thorong La Pass, we descend to Muktinath and visit the famous Muktinath temple. This site is holy for both Hindus and Buddhists. The Buddhists call it Chuming Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means "Hundred Waters". The name is quite fitting for a temple complex having 108 water sprouts. In addition, there is an eternal flame inside the temple premises.

We will be staying at Muktinath for the night.

The hike today is comparatively concise and easy. You descend from Muktinath to Kagbeni, while on the way, you will witness famous sky caves. These caves are as old as 3,000 years, but no one is sure about their purpose.

You can also have a short detour to the traditional villages of Chhyongkhar, Jhong, and Purang. A culturally rich place, Kagbeni is a package of wonders, and as you explore the narrow alleys of Kagbeni, you will discover several wonderful sites. 

Today you will be trekking at the most enthralling parts of the trail, as you leave Jomsom for Marpha. The hike is easy to cover and consists of only a few downhills. We continue trekking along the Kaligandaki River until we reach Marpha. 

Marpha, an ethnic village, is hypnotizingly beautiful. All the houses are white, and the narrow alleys are fascinating. As you trek, you will witness captivating scenery, beautiful peaks, green forests- full of pine and oak trees, cold desert - and the world's deepest river gorge - the Kali Gandaki Gorge. The trail is a package of surprises as you observe the depth of the places you pass through. Marpha is also famous for its apple farming. The local baked apple pie and alcohol made from apples called 'Marpha' are a must-try of this place. You can hike up to a nearby small turquoise-green lake.

We follow the Kali Gandaki River as we head to Ghasa from Marpha. The motorable road is easy to walk, and you will be passing through several apple farms as you head back. The view is astonishing and relaxing. You walk past the Khobang Village on a narrow trail and move ahead to Larjung and then to Kalapani while enjoying the views of Annapurna peaks. After hiking along a wave-like trail from Lete, we reach Ghasa. We halt at Ghasa and enjoy this Tibetan-styled small village.

Today's trek to Tatopani will be an exciting one. Tatopani in Nepali means hot water. The natural hot springs, amidst a quiet and peaceful place, let you enjoy and relax in lukewarm water. The trail from Ghasa to Tatopani is broad and more comfortable to walk. The sound of birds chirping and the lush forest will make your trek very enjoyable. We end our day with a dip in the hot springs of Tatopani.

After a relaxing day enjoying the hot spring, we move forward to Ghorepani. We cross the east side of the Kali Gandaki River and ascend to Ghorepani past the villages of Sikha, Chitre, and several other ethnic Thakali villages. You will be hiking through trails along terraced farmlands surrounded by huge mountains and then continue through forests full of rhododendron, birch, and magnolia to reach Ghorepani, which sits on top of a ridge. As a popular hiking route, Ghorepani is often full of tourists, and here, you can find standard to luxurious restaurants and hotels.

Today you will ascend to Poon Hill (3,210m) Viewpoint early in the morning. From this viewpoint, you can enjoy the sun kissing the Annapurna Range and Dhaulagiri Massif. It is one of the most photographic spots on this trail, you will find yourself surrounded by stunning mountain peaks, and the cold fresh air from the peaks enhances your experience. After enjoying the views from Poon Hill, we head back to Ghorepani and enjoy breakfast. 

After breakfast, we descend to Birethanti, trekking through marvelous forests. From Birethanti, you will drive back to Pokhara. In Pokhara, you will be staying at a hotel near the famous Phewa Lake. As one of the most happening cities in Nepal, Pokhara is full of restaurants and bars. And, there are many things you can do in Pokhara like boating and paragliding. 

After breakfast, we will drive back to Kathmandu on a tourist bus. It’s a 200-km route that follows the Marsyangdi River first and then the Trishuli River. Alternatively, you may also choose to return to Kathmandu by a 25-minute flight (not included in the package) from Pokhara. Our trek package completes at Kathmandu.

Our company representative will accompany you in a private vehicle to the international airport for your departure back home. We hope you’ve enjoyed the trip and will be back in Nepal for future trips.