The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a 15-day crossing of the Annapurna range. Per person, it runs from $828 to $1,198 — unlike EBC or ABC, this isn’t an out-and-back route. The trail climbs the Marsyangdi valley on the east and crosses Thorong La Pass at 5,416m. It then descends the Kali Gandaki valley on the west, looping back through Ghorepani and Poon Hill. You start in subtropical river valleys and end on a windswept Tibetan plateau, all in one continuous walk.
The route begins with a drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar. From there it follows the Marsyangdi River through Chame, Pisang, and Manang before crossing the pass. Beyond it, the trail drops to Muktinath and follows the Kali Gandaki through Jomsom to Tatopani. It then climbs through rhododendron forest to Ghorepani, Poon Hill, and Ghandruk before the drive to Pokhara.
Customise it with Tilicho Lake, a Jomsom flight, or road travel throughout.
We’re a Kathmandu-based trekking company, and a licensed guide is legally required on this route. Every departure includes one, along with porter support and all permits arranged before you land. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates and group size.
| Trip Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Trip Name | Annapurna Circuit Trek |
| Duration | 14 Nights / 15 Days |
| Maximum Altitude | 5,416m — Thorong La Pass |
| Trek Difficulty | Moderate to Challenging (High-Altitude Trek) |
| Trek Start Point | Besisahar (Lamjung) |
| Trek End Point | Ghandruk / Pokhara |
| Best Season | Spring (March–May) & Autumn (September–November) |
| Low Season | Winter — cold temperatures, quieter trails |
| Not Recommended | Peak Monsoon (July–August) |
| Accommodation | Tea House Lodges |
| Meals Included | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (during trek) |
| Permits Required | ACAP + TIMS |
| Trek Style | Guided Long-Distance Himalayan Trek |
| Region | Annapurna & Mustang |
Kathmandu → Besisahar → Chame → Upper Pisang → Ngawal → Manang → Yak Kharka → Thorong Phedi → Thorong La Pass → Muktinath → Kagbeni → Jomsom → Tatopani → Ghorepani → Poon Hill → Tadapani → Ghandruk → Pokhara
Most Annapurna region treks pick one valley and follow it up and back. This one crosses the entire range — up the Marsyangdi on one side, over Thorong La at 5,416 metres, down the Kali Gandaki on the other. You walk through subtropical rice terraces on Day 1 and windswept high-desert terrain within two weeks, a shift in climate and culture few other treks in Nepal attempt in one continuous route.
The cultural range matters as much as the altitude. Lower valleys are Hindu and Gurung; Manang and Mustang carry a Tibetan-Buddhist character shaped by centuries of trans-Himalayan trade, not tourism. Thorong La is the hinge between the two — cross it, and the entire landscape and culture around you changes within hours.
Compared to Annapurna Base Camp, this route is longer, reaches higher, and never retraces the same stretch of trail twice — it’s a genuine crossing, not an out-and-back. If fifteen days is more than your schedule allows, add Tilicho Lake instead, or take the Jomsom flight partway to shorten the return leg.
This is the longest trek on our site, and it should be treated that way. Fifteen days of walking, a genuine high-altitude pass at 5,416 metres, and terrain that shifts from subtropical valley to high desert all add up to a real physical undertaking — moderate to challenging, not casual. Thorong La itself demands proper acclimatisation in Manang beforehand; rushing that stage is where most difficulties on this route actually happen. Six to eight weeks of consistent uphill fitness work before you fly out makes a genuine difference over fifteen days of walking.
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Altitude: 760m | Drive: 6–7 hrs (local bus) | Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Besisahar
The drive west out of Kathmandu follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers through terraced hillsides, small market towns, and rural villages that thin out as the valley narrows. Besisahar is the traditional gateway to the Annapurna Circuit — the last night on flat ground before the mountains take over. It’s a long day in the vehicle, but it puts you at the trailhead rested rather than road-worn, ready for the real climbing that starts tomorrow.
Altitude: 2,670m | Drive: 5–6 hrs (shared local jeep or bus) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Chame
The mountain road climbs through Syange, Jagat, and Dharapani along the Marsyangdi River — waterfalls cutting the valley walls, the river always somewhere below. Chame at 2,670m delivers the first clear, unbroken mountain view as the valley finally opens up. We keep this a road day too, on purpose — the real trekking starts tomorrow, and you’ll want the legs for it.
Altitude: 3,300m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Upper Pisang
The trail leaves Chame through pine forest and rocky cliffs, and as it curves through the Bhratang gorge, Paungda Danda — the “Gateway to Heaven” rock wall — rises suddenly above you across the river, hundreds of metres high and entirely unannounced. Annapurna II (7,937m) appears above the valley as the trail climbs into Upper Pisang, a hillside village with some of the widest mountain views on the lower circuit.
Altitude: 3,660m | Trek: 4–5 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Ngawal
As the trail drops toward the valley floor below Upper Pisang, Green Lake (Mring Tal) sits in the basin — turquoise water throwing back a near-perfect mirror of the Paungda Danda rock face and Annapurna II behind it. It’s the finest photography stop on the circuit, and worth the extra few minutes. The trail then climbs steeply through Ghyaru village, with Annapurna II, III, and the full Manang Valley opening up before you reach Ngawal at 3,660m.
Altitude: 3,540m | Trek: 4–5 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Manang
The trail descends gradually through Braga and Humde — Tibetan-influenced villages with monasteries that have stood for centuries — before the Manang Valley opens wide around you. Gangapurna (7,455m), Annapurna III, and the Chulu peaks surround the village on arrival. Withdraw your cash at the Manang ATM tonight. The next one is in Jomsom, three days and a 5,416m pass away.
Altitude: 3,540m overnight / 3,700m hike | Hike: 3–4 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Manang
Morning: the hike up to Gangapurna Lake at 3,700m, a glacial lake sitting directly beneath Gangapurna’s south face with the glacier reflected across the water. It’s the most popular acclimatisation hike on the circuit, and the most effective one — gaining altitude for a few hours then dropping back to sleep at Manang is exactly the “climb high, sleep low” pattern your body needs before what’s coming. Afternoon: the free HRA altitude medicine lecture in Manang, essential before Thorong La. Full dinner, early bed. The high circuit begins tomorrow.
Altitude: 4,050m | Trek: 4–5 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Yak Kharka
Above Manang the landscape changes completely — vegetation thins out, the trail crosses alpine meadow and rocky terrain, and the scale of the mountains around you becomes almost overwhelming. This is your first overnight above 4,000m, and appetite and sleep quality both start to slip here. Eat a full dinner anyway and drink 3–4 litres of water. What you put in tonight is what carries you above 5,000m tomorrow.
Altitude: 4,450m | Trek: 3–4 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Thorong Phedi
A short but demanding climb to Thorong Phedi, the last camp before the pass. The afternoon is deliberately unhurried — rest, eat, prepare for the 4am start. Eat the full dinner even when your appetite has mostly disappeared by this point, because tomorrow doesn’t forgive a poor one tonight. Sleep by 7pm. The alarm goes off at 3:30am.
Altitude: 5,416m high point / 3,800m overnight | Trek: 6–7 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Muktinath
Departure at 4:00–4:30am, in darkness and cold. The ascent gains 966m from Thorong Phedi to the summit at 5,416m — steady, deliberate, conversational pace the entire way, no exceptions. Prayer flags mark the top, and the views open up across to Dhaulagiri on the far side of the Kali Gandaki. Then 1,616m of descent on steep, rocky terrain down to Muktinath, the most sacred Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal. This is the day the whole circuit is built around, and it delivers.
Altitude: 2,720m | Trek/Drive: 4–5 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Jomsom
After visiting the sacred Muktinath Temple — the holy fire, the 108 water spouts, the ancient monastery — the route descends through Kagbeni, the medieval walled village guarding the entrance to Upper Mustang. The Kali Gandaki Valley opens up properly here: arid, wind-carved, flanked by canyon walls on both sides. Jomsom is the key decision point on the whole circuit — continue the full walking return, or fly out to Pokhara from here.
Altitude: 1,200m | Drive: 4–5 hrs (shared local jeep or bus) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Tatopani
The shared vehicle follows the Kali Gandaki Valley south through Marpha’s apple orchards, past Tukuche, and through deep river gorges before reaching Tatopani at 1,200m. Natural hot springs sit right beside the river. The temperature swings from alpine cold to subtropical warmth in a single afternoon, and it’s genuinely disorienting in the best way. This is the most restorative overnight on the whole circuit — Thorong La is behind you, and the hot springs are right outside the door.
Altitude: 2,860m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +1,660m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Ghorepani
The hardest day of the return leg. The trail climbs 1,660m through dense rhododendron and oak forest, on legs that have already carried you through 11 days of trekking. Arrive before dark, eat properly, and set the 3:30am alarm without complaint — Poon Hill tomorrow is the reward for everything today asks of you.
Altitude: 3,210m sunrise point / 2,700m overnight | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Tadapani
The 45-minute pre-dawn climb to Poon Hill delivers the finest panoramic sunrise in the Annapurna region — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machapuchare, and Hiunchuli lighting up in sequence as the sun clears the ridgeline. After breakfast, the trail continues along forested ridges toward Tadapani, with Annapurna South staying in view for most of the walk.
Altitude: 1,940m | Trek: 3–4 hrs | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Ghandruk
A gentle descent through forest trail into Ghandruk, one of Nepal’s finest traditional Gurung villages. Stone-paved lanes, slate-roofed houses, and the full Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre panorama from the upper village. It’s the best final overnight on any Nepal circuit trek, and a good place to let the last two weeks sink in.
Altitude: 820m | Drive: 2.5–3 hrs (shared local jeep) | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
A scenic jeep drive descends through rural hillsides toward Pokhara, the Annapurna range still visible behind you on a clear morning. The circuit ends on arrival — Phewa Lake, a warm shower, and fifteen days of one continuous mountain crossing behind you. Done.
The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a 15-day crossing of the Annapurna range, starting from Besisahar and finishing in Pokhara. Unlike Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp, it’s not an out-and-back route — the trail climbs the Marsyangdi valley, crosses Thorong La Pass at 5,416m, and descends the Kali Gandaki valley on the other side before looping back through Ghorepani and Poon Hill. You pass through subtropical valleys, high-alpine desert, and Tibetan-influenced villages all in one continuous walk.
Moderate to challenging. There’s no technical climbing anywhere on the route, but Thorong La at 5,416m is a genuine high-altitude pass crossing, and fifteen days of sustained walking is a real physical undertaking. The days around Manang and the pass itself are the most demanding — proper acclimatisation before the crossing matters more here than on shorter treks. Six to eight weeks of consistent uphill fitness work before you fly out makes a real difference.
Thorong La Pass, at 5,416 metres — one of the highest trekking passes in the world and the trek’s defining crossing, usually reached on Day 9 after an acclimatisation day in Manang and a staged approach through Yak Kharka and Thorong Phedi.
Two permits — the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) at NPR 3,000 per person, and the TIMS card at NPR 1,000 per person when issued through a registered agency like ours (independent trekkers applying without an agency pay NPR 2,000 instead). Both are included in our package price, and your guide handles all documentation and checkpoint presentation along the route.
Yes — Nepal’s April 2023 trekking regulations require all foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region to use a licensed guide from a registered agency. Independent trekking without a guide is no longer legally permitted regardless of experience or nationality. We include a licensed guide with real Thorong La crossing experience on every departure as standard, not as an optional extra.
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best windows — stable weather and the clearest visibility at Thorong La, which matters more here than on lower-altitude treks. Winter is possible but the pass can close entirely after heavy snow; check conditions with us before booking a winter departure. Avoid the peak monsoon months of July and August, when the lower valleys turn slippery and views disappear under cloud.
Our package runs from $828 per person for groups of 8–12 up to $1,198 for solo trekkers, with $998 the most common rate for pairs and small groups. Guide, porter, all permits, all trek meals, teahouse accommodation, and transport are already included in that number. For the full budget breakdown: Annapurna Circuit Cost Guide →
Yes. We can start the drive directly from Pokhara to Besisahar, follow the same route, and end the trek back in Pokhara — no need to travel through Kathmandu at either end if that suits your itinerary better. Most trekkers who finish in Pokhara stay a few extra days there to relax before heading anywhere else; when you’re ready, we arrange your tourist bus ticket back to Kathmandu for whichever day you choose, not a fixed departure date.
Yes — a domestic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu is available as a paid add-on if you’d rather not take the road. Message us with your preferred date and we’ll arrange and quote it separately.
Yes — Tilicho Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world, branches off the main circuit near Manang before rejoining the route toward Thorong La. It adds 2–3 days to the standard itinerary. See our Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake page for the extended route and pricing.
Plan every aspect of your circuit with these detailed guides:
