The Annapurna Circuit Trek-12 Days

We leave Kathmandu early in the morning to start our 12-day Annapurna Circuit trek journey.  Get  into  our  bus  for  a picturesque  7–8  hour  ride  via  the  winding  roads  of  the  Trishuli  and Marsyangdi  River  valleys.   The  trip  itself  is  a  fascinating  introduction  to  Nepal's  diverse 
landscapes.  It  goes from  the  busy  city  to  terraced  farms,  traditional  villages,  and  wooded foothills, with vistas of distant, snow-capped peaks that generate excitement for the days to come.

You  will  get  to  Besisahar,  the  official  beginning  point  of  the  Annapurna  Circuit,  by  late afternoon.   The gravel road ends here, and the trailhead spirit begins. After that, we will take a short jeep trip to Bhulbhule, a beautiful settlement next to the roaring Marsyangdi River. This 
is the end of our first day. You may stretch your legs, take in the peaceful surroundings, and get ready for the first steps of your Himalayan trip tomorrow.

Today is the start of our trip. You'll walk 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) from Bhulbhule (845m) to Jagat (1,300m). This 5–6 hour trip takes you along the tremendous flow of the Marsyangdi River and shows you how the path works. The trail passes through beautiful subtropical areas, across 
numerous stunning suspension bridges, and it goes by charming waterfalls and old stone settlements. The steady trek up to 455 meters (1,492 feet) is well-paced, and as the valley gets narrower and the air gets colder, you feel like you're making progress.

Jagat, our destination, is a beautiful stone village that marks the start of the Manang district and officially enters the Annapurna Conservation Area. This historical trade station, with its cobbled walkways and slate-roofed homes, is a nice place to stop and talk about the day's adventure. As you get used to your new surroundings, you'll notice a big change in culture and landscape. This is a great way to be ready for the more exciting things that will happen in the next few days.

Today's hike is around 13 Km long and takes about 5 to 6 hours to accomplish. It goes from Jagat (1,300 m/4,265 ft) to Dharapani (1,860 m/6,102 ft), which is a beautiful and culturally rich area. The route keeps going up through a mix of beautiful forests and traditional villages, following the  roaring  Marsyangdi  River.  The  valley  will  get  steeper  and  more  dramatic  as  we  cross additional suspension bridges and walk through terraced agriculture. The elevation climb of 560 meters (1,935 feet) is notable but slow, giving you lots of chances to stop and enjoy the views of 
the mountains as they change.

You will instantly feel a change in the air and the buildings when you get to Dharapani. This lively community is a key cultural and geographical crossroads, where Tibetan Buddhism's influence gets stronger. You can see this in the beautiful mani walls, chortens, and prayer flags that line 
the route. Dharapani is also an important stop on the Annapurna Circuit. Its friendly teahouses are the perfect place to relax, think about how far you've traveled that day, and look forward to the higher, wilder vistas ahead.

Today's  hike  is  a  wonderful  15.5  km  (9.6-mile)  trek  from  Dharapani  (1,860m)  to  Chame (2,610m), which will take around 5–6 hours. As you go along the route, you will get deeper into the  Himalayas.  We  hike slowly  through  pine  trees  and  past  traditional  stone  cottages.  You'll stroll along routes cut into the steep sides of the valley and over strong bridges over the mighty Marsyangdi River. As you climb 750 meters (2,460 feet), the air gets clearer and the views are more spectacular, with glimpses of towering peaks like Manaslu and Annapurna II.

When  we get  to  Chame,  the  administrative  center  of  the Manang  District,  you'll  find  a  busy environment and well-equipped lodgings. This busy town is set against a background of high cliffs  and  lush  forest,  and  it  has  amazing  views  of Lamjung  Himal  up  close.  You  could  also observe that Tibetan culture is becoming more important in the local crafts, prayer wheels, and many walls. Chame is the perfect spot to relax, rejuvenate, and take in the amazing progress you've made in the high Himalayas.

After breakfast, we will leave Chame. The route goes up slowly through the tallest pine trees, with  the  powerful  Marsyangdi  River  flowing  below.  You  will  cross  several suspension  bridges and go through traditional villages, where you will see more Tibetan culture and architecture. 
The 690-meter (2,264-foot) elevation climb is significant but well-paced, offering more stunning mountain views, including close-up views of Annapurna II and Pisang Peak.

When you get to Upper Pisang, you'll be rewarded with one of the most beautiful places on the trek. This settlement lies on a hilltop with a view of the valley below. It has stunning, 360-degree views of the Himalayas. There is a strong sense of spirituality here, and the old monastery adds to the sense of peace and timelessness. Staying in Upper Pisang instead of Lower Pisang also helps  you  get  used  to  the  higher  altitudes.  It  gives  you  an  advantage  in  preparation  for  the greater elevations to come while letting you experience the raw beauty and quiet majesty of the Annapurna region.

Today's hike will take you on a beautiful 16 km (9.9-mile) excursion from Upper Pisang (3,300m) to Manang (3,540m), which usually takes 6–7 hours. The route has some of the most beautiful and culturally diverse scenery on the whole circuit, even if the net elevation increase is only 240 
meters (787 feet). The higher route through Ghyaru and Ngawal is highly suggested since it goes across open, high-altitude terrain and gives you the best, closest views of the Annapurna range, Pisang Peak, and the huge, semi-arid landscapes of the Manang Valley.

As we go down into the busy settlement of Manang, you'll see that the scenery opens up into a broad valley at a high altitude, surrounded by some of the most famous peaks in the Himalayas. Manang is the primary hub of the area and has many different places to stay and eat and even a small movie theater. This halt is really important for getting used to things. The thin, crisp air and the beautiful views of Gangapurna Lake and the icefall behind it make it seem like you've really arrived in the high Himalayas. It's a great spot to stay and explore for an additional day.

Today  is  a  very  important  day  of  rest  and  getting  used  to  the  higher  altitude  at  Manang (3,540m). This will help your body get used to the higher altitude before you go higher. Instead of staying still, you will do some gentle, active acclimatization by going on short hikes to higher 
altitudes and then going back to sleep at a lower altitude. A popular choice is the beautiful hike to Gangapurna Lake, a spectacular blue glacial lake situated at a higher altitude surrounded by dramatic icefalls. Another alternative is to visit the old Praken Gompa, a monastery built into the 
cliffs that look out over the settlement. These short treks help you get used to the altitude and provide you with stunning views of Annapurna III, Gangapurna, and the peaks around them.

Take  this  day  to  learn  about  Manang's  distinct  culture,  have  a  coffee  at  one  of  its  charming bakeries, or go to a discussion about how to be safe at high altitudes. To be safe and be ready for the challenging climb to Thorong La Pass in the next days, you need to drink enough water, 
get enough sleep, and gradually get used to the altitude. This break in the itinerary is both useful and enjoyable, as it gives you a chance to be ready physically and see some amazing parts of life and scenery in the high Himalayas.

Today  is  a  very  important  day  of  rest  and  getting  used  to  the  higher  altitude  at  Manang (3,540 m/11,300 ft). This will help your body get used to the higher altitude before you go higher. Instead of staying still, you will do some gentle, active acclimatization by going on short hikes to 
higher  altitudes  and  then  going  back  to  sleep  at  a  lower  altitude.  A  popular  choice  is  the beautiful hike to Gangapurna Lake, a spectacular blue glacial lake situated at a higher altitude surrounded by  dramatic  icefalls.  Another  alternative  is  to  visit  the  old  Praken  Gompa,  a monastery built into the cliffs that look out over the settlement. These short treks help you get used to the altitude and provide you with stunning views of Annapurna III, Gangapurna, and the peaks around them.

Take  this  day  to  learn  about  Manang's  distinct  culture,  have  a  coffee  at  one  of  its  charming bakeries, or go to a discussion about how to be safe at high altitudes. To be safe and be ready for the challenging climb to Thorong La Pass in the next days, you need to drink enough water , 
get enough sleep, and gradually get used to the altitude. This break in the itinerary is both useful and enjoyable, as it gives you a chance to be ready physically and see some amazing parts of life and scenery in the high Himalayas. 

The hike today is a short but demanding 7.3 km (4.5-mile) climb from Ledar (4,250m/13,943ft) to Thorong High Camp (4,925 m/16,158 ft). It will take around 3–4 hours and gain 675 meters (2,215  feet)  in  elevation. Following  the  route  of  the  Jarsang  Khola,  the  trail  progressively 
climbs through a difficult, high-altitude terrain of rocky moraines and vegetation. With the air being considerably thinner, we need to move at a calm, steady pace. The trail isn't hard, but it seems open and rough, which makes you even more excited as you get closer to the foot of the 
massive Thorong La Pass.

When you get to Thorong High Camp, you see a cold, windswept outpost on the tip of the alpine zone. The facilities here are simple and planned for hikers getting ready to cross the pass in the early morning. The views are huge and unspoiled, with the steep sides of Thorong Peak and 
neighboring mountains are standing out on the horizon. An early rest is crucial, as you’ll begin the final ascent well before dawn to maximize stable weather conditions and safely conquer the highest  point  of  the  trek. This  evening  is  spent  getting  ready  in  peace,  drinking  water,  and 
psychologically preparing for the big task that will begin at dawn.

Crossing the famous Thorong La Pass (5,416m) is the most challenging and most rewarding part of the trek. We need to leave early in the morning and have a packed lunch for this part of the hike because there are no teahouses or facilities on the pass. The entire 4.9 km (3-mile) ascent from High Camp (4,925m) to the pass climbs 491 meters (1,601 feet) in thin, freezing air. When you reach the top at daybreak, you feel like you've won. At the highest point of the trip, prayer flags  vibrate  in  the  wind,  and  you  can  see  a  stunning  360-degree  view  of  snow-capped 
mountains. 

The 10.7 km (6.6-mile) descent to Muktinath (3,760m) is lengthy and steep, and it lowers a total of 1,656 meters (5,429 ft). Your packed lunch is really important here since it lets you rest and get some much-needed energy at a safe area along the rough, winding path. The geography 
changes a hike lot from a cold, vacuumed world to the dry, desert-like territory of the Mustang region. When you come to the holy Muktinath Temple, you feel both spiritually and physically relieved. This is the end of the journey's longest challenge, and you will always remember how 
accomplished, we feel.

As you travel 174 kilometers (108 miles) from Muktinath (3,760m) in the high-altitude desert to Pokhara (822m) in the urban jungle, you will go from mountain routes to the road. This full-day trip takes around 8 to 9 hours and goes through some of Nepal's most stunning scenery as it 
dips to 2,936 meters (9,632 ft) in height. The road travels through the Kali Gandaki Gorge, which is  the  deepest  gorge  in  the  world.  It  passes  through traditional  villages,  apple  orchards,  and terraced  agriculture.  As  the  dry  Mustang  environment  gives  way  to  green  hills  and  flowing rivers, the road becomes more and more beautiful.

The trip is long, but it gives you a chance to see a lot of rural Nepal and think about what you've done in the Himalayas. The last part of the journey to Pokhara, with its peaceful Phewa Lake and beautiful  vistas  of  the  Annapurna  range,  is  a  sharp  contrast  to  the  raw  beauty  of  the  high mountains. When you get to this lovely lakeside city, your trekking journey is officially over. You may relax, take a hot shower, and enjoy finishing one of the world's great mountain circuits.

The  trek ends  with  a  beautiful  200  km  (124-mile)  drive  from  the  peaceful  lakeside  city  of Pokhara  (822m)  back  to  the  lively  capital  city  of  Kathmandu  (1,350m).  Along  the  Prithvi Highway, this 7–8 hour trip follows the rushing Trishuli and Marsyangdi Rivers as they snake 
through  verdant  river  valleys,  terraced  farmlands,  and  traditional  highland  communities.  The drive is long, but it gives you a fascinating last look at rural Nepali life as the terrain changes from the subtropical lowlands around Pokhara to the busy, culturally rich Kathmandu Valley.