Bhulbhule: The First Night on the Annapurna Circuit

Last updated 9 October 2026.

Bhulbhule is a small village beside the Marsyangdi River at 845 m, and it is where the Annapurna Circuit starts for most of our trekkers. After a long drive from Kathmandu you spend the first night here, in a simple teahouse, with the river roaring through the gorge below. Our Annapurna Circuit Trek, 12 days begins with this night.

Short answer: Bhulbhule is at 845 m (2,772 ft). The drive from Kathmandu takes 7 to 8 hours by our itinerary. The next day, the walk to Jagat (1,300 m) takes 5 to 6 hours and covers 16 km. It is the lowest and warmest night of the trek, and altitude is not an issue here.

Bhulbhule at a glance

Where does Bhulbhule sit on our Annapurna Circuit trek?

It is the night of day 1. Day 2 walks to Jagat. Then Dharapani (1,860 m), Chame (2,670 m) and Upper Pisang (3,300 m) bring you to Manang (3,540 m) on day 6. The 16-day Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake starts one stop higher, with a drive straight to Jagat (1,300 m), so Bhulbhule is not a night on that trip. For the town on the road before it, read my Besisahar trailhead guide.

What is the drive from Kathmandu to Bhulbhule like?

The road runs west along the Prithvi Highway, following the Trisuli River through deep gorges and terraced hillsides, then turns north at Dumre into the Marsyangdi valley. The scenery changes all day, from the red-brick sprawl of Kathmandu to subtropical lowlands, riverside market towns and finally the narrow valley that marks the start of the Annapurna Conservation Area. It is long. How you travel depends on your tier: Budget trekkers go by local bus, Standard by shared tourist vehicle and Luxury by premium private transport. Meals during drives are at your own choice and cost.

On roads, one thing needs saying. A landslide that blocks the vehicle road is not a closed trail, and it is mostly a transport problem. I explain the difference in Is the Annapurna Circuit open? Road versus trail, and on the road works in the 2026 road construction guide.

What is Bhulbhule like to stay in?

Bhulbhule sits at 845 m beside the Marsyangdi, surrounded by rice paddies and banana trees. The air is warm and humid, a world away from the high passes ahead. The teahouse is simple but comfortable, and the dining room serves dal bhat and noodle soup while the river runs through the gorge below. This is your first night on the trail, and your guide briefs you on the days ahead: from subtropical forest to the highest trekking pass on the Annapurna Circuit. Budget means shared rooms, no meals included and no porter. Standard means private rooms, all trek meals and one porter for every two trekkers. Luxury means a private deluxe room, all meals plus fruit and nuts, and a dedicated porter for each trekker.

What is the first walk to Jagat like?

The first full trekking day follows the Marsyangdi upstream through a gorge that narrows and widens. You cross the river several times on suspension bridges that bounce gently underfoot, and you pass through villages with stone houses among mango and banana trees. Between Bhulbhule and Jagat you walk through Ngadi and several smaller settlements. The lower villages are mostly Gurung and Magar, with Hindu temples beside Buddhist prayer flags. The Annapurna Conservation Area checkpoint at the start of the trail is where your permits are checked for the first time. Jagat sits at 1,300 m in a tight part of the gorge, and its feel is already a little Tibetan. The subtropical humidity makes dehydration easy to miss, so drink water through the day. My Jagat guide covers the next stop.

Is altitude a problem in Bhulbhule?

No. At 845 m, there is no altitude effect, and you will be warm. The Annapurna Circuit builds height slowly: 1,300 m on day 2, 1,860 m on day 3, 2,670 m on day 4, 3,300 m on day 5 and 3,540 m at Manang on day 6, where you rest for a day before going higher. Buy travel insurance at home that covers up to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation, because the pass is at 5,416 m.

When is the best time to start at Bhulbhule?

October to November is the clearest and most stable time on the circuit, and March to April is the second season. In winter the pass can be snowed shut, and June to September is the monsoon, when this lower valley is wet and humid. My Annapurna Circuit best time guide sets out each month.

Questions people ask

How high is Bhulbhule? Our itinerary gives 845 m, which is 2,772 ft.

How long is the drive from Kathmandu to Bhulbhule? 7 to 8 hours by our itinerary, longer if traffic or road works slow it down.

How far is it from Bhulbhule to Jagat? 16 km, a walk of 5 to 6 hours, climbing from 845 m to 1,300 m.

Do you sleep in Bhulbhule on the Annapurna Circuit? On the 12-day trek, yes, on day 1. On the 16-day trek with Tilicho Lake, no: that trip drives on to Jagat.

Where are the Annapurna Conservation Area permits checked? At the checkpoint at the start of the trail between Bhulbhule and Jagat. We arrange the permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners) and the TIMS card (NPR 2,000) for you.

Is it a hard first day? The drive is long, but the walking is gentle and low. The heat is the main thing to plan for.

How do I travel from Kathmandu if I am on Budget? By local bus. Standard uses a shared tourist vehicle and Luxury a premium private vehicle.

Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also trek solo. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.

How do you plan this with us?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates, how many of you there are and the month you are thinking of. I will tell you which tier and which route I would choose, and send you the exact quote.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.