The Annapurna Circuit Trek- 12 Days

The wind at Thorong La hits you before the view does. At 5,416 metres (17,769ft), the air is so thin that every breath feels earned, and the cold bites through every layer you are wearing. Then you look up. The entire Annapurna range stretches across the northern horizon — Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Gangapurna, and a dozen unnamed peaks shining white against a sky so blue it looks painted. Behind you, the trail you have climbed since before dawn disappears into shadow. Ahead, the long descent to Muktinath drops into a landscape so different from where you started that it feels like crossing into another country. This is not a photograph. You are standing on the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit, and the Himalayas are yours.

The 12-day Annapurna Circuit Trek takes you around the entire Annapurna massif through a corridor of geography that changes more dramatically than any other trek route in Nepal. You will walk through subtropical rice paddies and banana groves in the Marsyangdi valley, climb through dense rhododendron forests where Gurung and Magar villages cling to terraced hillsides, cross the high-altitude desert of the Manang valley where Tibetan Buddhist monasteries stand against barren brown cliffs, summit Thorong La Pass at 5,416 metres, and descend through the deepest gorge on earth into the apple orchards and whitewashed streets of Marpha and Jomsom. You will sleep in teahouses warmed by wood stoves, eat dal bhat cooked by families who have lived in these mountains for generations, and wake each morning to views that shift from jungle canopy to glacial moraine to arid Mustang plateau. No other trek in the Himalayas packs this much variety into twelve days.

What Makes This Trek Unforgettable

• Cross Thorong La Pass (5,416m / 17,769ft), one of the highest trekking passes in the world, with 360-degree views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges
• Walk through four distinct climate zones in twelve days — from subtropical lowlands to alpine meadows, high-altitude desert, and the world’s deepest gorge between Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri I
• Visit Muktinath Temple (3,710m), a sacred pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists, where 108 water spouts and an eternal natural flame burn side by side
• Acclimatise in Manang (3,540m), a centuries-old trading village set below Gangapurna Glacier, where yak herders and Tibetan Buddhist monks share the same stone streets
• Explore Chame, the district headquarters of Manang, with hot springs, apple orchards, and your first close-up views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal
• Walk through Marpha, often called the most beautiful village on the Circuit, famous for apple brandy, cobbled streets, and flat-roofed whitewashed houses
• Trek the Kali Gandaki gorge between Annapurna I (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri I (8,167m), the deepest gorge on earth, where the wind funnels through with a roar you feel in your chest
• Experience Gurung, Magar, and Thakali cultures in villages where traditional customs, dress, and hospitality have remained largely unchanged for centuries
• All permits included (ACAP and TIMS), so you spend zero time queuing at government offices in Kathmandu
• Every booking directly supports education for 70 children in rural Nepal through the Nagarjun Learning Center

12-Day Annapurna Circuit Overview

Twelve days. That is all it takes to walk a complete loop around one of the highest mountain massifs on earth, crossing a 5,416-metre pass and dropping into a landscape that looks nothing like where you started. Most trekkers call it the most varied trek they have ever done.

Your journey begins and ends in Kathmandu, but the trail starts beyond Pokhara, at Besisahar, the gateway town to the Marsyangdi valley. From here, the route climbs steadily through terraced hillsides and Gurung villages, past waterfalls and suspension bridges, through Chame (2,670m) and onward into the high dry valley around Manang (3,540m). You spend a rest day in Manang to acclimatise before the big push to Thorong La. The pass day begins in darkness, climbing from Thorong Phedi (4,450m) or High Camp (4,850m) to the prayer-flag-draped summit at 5,416 metres. The descent to Muktinath drops nearly 1,600 metres in a single day. From Muktinath, the trail follows the Kali Gandaki valley through Jomsom and Marpha, past apple orchards and the yawning depth of the world’s deepest gorge. You return to Pokhara by vehicle and then back to Kathmandu.

One acclimatisation day is built into the itinerary at Manang, because rushing altitude is dangerous and we will never compromise your safety for schedule. This rest day is not wasted. You can hike to Gangapurna Lake, visit the ancient Braga Monastery, or simply sit on a rooftop terrace with a cup of hot lemon and watch Gangapurna Glacier calve ice into the valley below.

The pass day is the summit of your trek — literally and emotionally. You leave Thorong Phedi before dawn, headtorch on, climbing switchbacks through frozen scree. The altitude is real. The cold is real. But when you stand at the top, surrounded by prayer flags snapping in the wind and the Himalayas stretching in every direction, every hard step is worth it.

The descent through the Kali Gandaki is a study in contrasts. Within hours of standing on snow at 5,416 metres, you are walking through apple orchards in Marpha, tasting locally distilled apple brandy, and watching Dhaulagiri glow orange at sunset. The final day in Pokhara is for resting lakeside, looking back at the Annapurna range you just walked around, and letting it sink in.

Before You Arrive

Please arrive in Kathmandu the day before your trek starts. This gives you time to recover from your international flight, meet your guide, and do any last-minute gear shopping in Thamel if needed. Make sure your Nepal visa and trekking insurance are in order before you fly, and bring enough Nepali rupees for personal spending on the trail. ATMs are available in Kathmandu and Pokhara but not beyond Besisahar, so draw cash before you leave civilisation behind.

Online Briefing

Think of this as our first conversation together. After you book, we schedule a video call where we walk you through everything: what to wear and pack, what the teahouses are really like on the Circuit, how acclimatisation works on this route, what to expect on pass day, and anything else on your mind. No question is too small.

This is also when we learn about you. Our trek itinerary does not include your hotel in Kathmandu — during the briefing, share your preferences and budget, and we will arrange accommodation that fits. Whether you want a simple guesthouse in Thamel or a five-star hotel with a rooftop pool, we will set it up for you.

Transport

All three tiers travel the same route: Kathmandu to Pokhara by road (approximately 6–7 hours), then Pokhara to Besisahar (approximately 4–5 hours) to reach the trailhead. On the return, you travel from Jomsom back to Pokhara by vehicle. The difference between tiers is the vehicle itself. Budget trekkers travel by local tourist bus, which is safe and well-used by Nepalis and travellers alike. Standard trekkers ride in a private tourist vehicle with more legroom and air conditioning. Luxury trekkers get a premium private vehicle. There are no internal flights on this itinerary; everything is by road, which keeps costs down and gives you more of Nepal’s countryside through the window. For a full breakdown of what trekking in Nepal actually costs, see our complete cost guide.

Your Trek, Your Way

Every trek we run is arranged privately for your group. You will not be paired with strangers unless you choose to join a public departure. Whether you book as a solo trekker, a couple, or a group of friends, this itinerary belongs to you. Want to add a rest day? Extend to include Tilicho Lake? Spend an extra night in Manang? We can adjust. Our three tiers (Budget, Standard and Luxury) give you genuine choice over accommodation, meals, porter support and transport without affecting the route itself. Same expert guides. Same safety standards. Three comfort levels. Read more about what the price difference actually buys or explore budget trekking in Nepal.

Difficulty: Very Challenging (5 out of 5)

This trek earns its 5/5 rating. Thorong La Pass at 5,416 metres is the highest point most trekkers will ever reach on foot. The pass day involves 8–10 hours of walking, starting before dawn at around 4,450 metres and ascending over 900 metres of altitude before descending nearly 1,600 metres to Muktinath. Altitude sickness is a genuine concern above Manang, and the combination of cold, thin air, and sustained effort on pass day demands real physical and mental resilience. Daily walking ranges from 5 to 8 hours over uneven terrain, river crossings, and steep ascents. Our guides carry a pulse oximeter and monitor your oxygen levels daily. We also recommend consulting your doctor about Diamox before departure. If you can comfortably walk 6–8 hours a day on hilly terrain and have a reasonable level of fitness, you can do this trek. If you have concerns, read our beginner’s guide.

Compare Our Three Packages

Himalayas for Every Budget. Same expert guides, same safety, three comfort levels. Every tier includes all permits, a Nepal government well-trained guide, airport transfers and 24/7 emergency support. The only things that change are the comfort details. Read our full comparison of what the price difference actually buys or explore luxury trekking in Nepal. Note: in Pokhara, only breakfast is included at your hotel across all tiers; other meals in Pokhara are at your own expense, giving you the freedom to explore the city’s lakeside restaurants. Check our guide on WiFi and charging on the trail so you know what to expect beyond Chame.

Your Trek, Our Family

The Everest Holiday is not a faceless agency. It is a family.

Hari Lal Simkhada, Shreejan’s grandfather, arranged logistics and supported Himalayan expeditions in the 1960s and 1970s, back when reaching Nepal’s high mountains required weeks of approach marching and a willingness to solve problems nobody had solved before. Ganesh Prasad Simkhada, Shreejan’s father, has held senior positions in Nepal’s tourism and mountaineering institutions, helping shape the industry that now brings over 200,000 trekkers to Nepal each year.

Today, Shreejan Simkhada runs The Everest Holiday as CEO and third-generation guide. He personally designs every itinerary, selects every guide, and remains available to trekkers before, during and after their trip. This is not a company where you are handed off to a call centre. When you message us on WhatsApp (+977 9810351300), you are talking to the family.

Our Credentials

• 196 TripAdvisor Reviews — rated 4.9 out of 5, TripAdvisor Travellers Choice 2024
• 108+ Google Reviews — rated 4.9 out of 5
• TAAN Certified — Member #1586, Government Registration: 147653/072/073
• Secure 10% Deposit — processed through Himalayan Bank Limited, Nepal’s most trusted commercial bank
• Himalayas for Every Budget — three tiers, one standard of care
• Three Generations — family guiding in the Himalayas since the 1960s

Solo Trekkers Welcome

Most of our trekkers book alone. It is the single most common booking type we receive, and if you are wondering whether it is strange to trek solo in Nepal, it is not. Nepal’s mandatory guide rule means nobody treks without professional support, and our small groups (2–20 people) mean you will be walking with a handful of like-minded travellers, not a convoy. By day three on the trail, most groups feel like family.

You can book a private departure if you prefer to walk with just your guide, or join a public group to share costs and meet people. Either way, you are not alone out there. Read our solo female trekking guide (the advice applies to everyone, not just women), our notes on Nepal travel etiquette, and our guide to tipping your guide and porter.

Difficulty: Very Challenging (5 out of 5)

Very Challenging (5 out of 5). Here is what that means in practical terms for the Annapurna Circuit.

The maximum altitude is 5,416 metres (17,769ft) at Thorong La Pass. This is well above the threshold where altitude sickness can occur, and the rapid altitude gain from Manang (3,540m) to the pass summit over two trekking days demands respect. The pass day itself is the most physically demanding day most trekkers will experience in Nepal: you start walking between 3:00 and 4:00 AM, climb relentlessly for 4–5 hours through frozen switchbacks, stand briefly at the summit in biting wind, then descend for another 4–5 hours on tired legs to Muktinath. Our guides monitor your oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter and know when to slow down, when to push on, and when to turn back. We also recommend consulting your doctor about Diamox before departure.

The terrain varies enormously. The early days involve well-maintained trails through villages with stone steps, suspension bridges, and gradual climbs. Above Manang, the trail becomes rockier, more exposed, and less sheltered. The approach to Thorong La is loose scree and frozen ground. The Kali Gandaki section after the pass is flat but notoriously windy, with strong afternoon gusts that can make walking hard work. Bring proper layers, trekking poles, and be prepared for temperatures ranging from 25°C in the lower valleys to minus 15°C at the pass.

Daily walking hours range from 5 to 8 hours, with the pass day stretching to 8–10 hours. You should be comfortable walking uphill for extended periods and ideally have done some hill training before arrival. If you are unsure whether this trek is right for you, our beginner’s guide covers what fitness level is genuinely required, and you can always message Shreejan on WhatsApp for an honest conversation about your readiness.

Trek With a Purpose — Changing the World, One Step at a Time

In 2019, Shreejan Simkhada and Shamjhana Basukala founded the Nagarjun Learning Center in one of Nepal’s most remote communities. Today, 70 children receive free education and hot meals every school day at the centre’s flagship branch in Saldum Village, Dhading District. More than 600 people have received free medical care through annual health camps. 275 women have been reached through support and skills programmes. Seven learning centres now operate across Nepal.

The Nagarjun Learning Center is verified and listed on the UN Partner Portal.

When you trek with us, you are not just crossing a mountain pass. You are building futures. A portion of every booking goes directly to the centre, funding teachers, meals, and internet access for children who had none before. Every trek also upholds our commitment to responsible trekking and porter welfare. You can learn more at nepallearningcenter.com.