Annapurna Circuit Trek - 504 Days

After breakfast, we will start a guided tour to several famous tourist sites of Kathmandu Valley. Some of these landmarks are also listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Temple of Hindu devotees - Pashupatinath, the famous monkey temple (Swoyambhunath) and the world's largest Buddhist stupa - Bouddanath. At noon, a short briefing and discussion will be held at our office, where you will meet our trekking team. Today we will be mentally prepared for trekking in the Annapurna Region.

In the morning, we will start our drive from Kathmandu, following the road along the river side and small settlements. On the way you will get a chance to explore the countryside of Nepal, with beautiful freshwater rivers, cultivated terrains and mountain scenery. On reaching Dumre, we will leave our route to Pokhara and head towards Besisahar. Just a half hour drive from Besisahar takes us to Khudi, the starting point of our trek. We also have an option to get off in Besisahar and trek to Khudi, which takes approximately one hour. Khudi rewards us with the first glimpse of the Manaslu Mountain Range.

Our initial walk starts after a hygienic breakfast in Khudi. We follow a trail with several up and downhill sections crossing bridges, waterfalls, and cultivated paddy fields. The walk gradually becomes steeper. The mountains we see from Khudi become closer and offer more astounding vistas. After passing through the ethnic villages of Tamang peoples, we reach the very beautiful village Sirung that offers us home-stay. Overnight at Sirung.

Today's walk will start by passing through amphitheater-shaped ice terraces, lush forests, and some culturally intriguing villages. Following the Marshyangdi River, we will walk on a fantastic trail with little waterfalls, forest and villages. Observing the beautiful villages and mountain vistas we will reach Syange, then the walk becomes a bit tougher as a steep trail is to be crossed. After a few hours of walking we will reach Chamje. Overnight at Chamje.

After having breakfast, our trek starts. Today is the day to enter the Manang region. On the way we will pass through cultivated terrain of barley, potatoes and corn and then through Rhododendron and bamboo forests. On the way we will explore the beautiful village Tal. We might have to give way to a large number of donkey caravans. After approximately 7 hours of walking we will reach Dharapani. Overnight at Dharapani.

Passing through lush forests of rhododendron, oak and pine and several landslides on the route, and observing beautiful views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II and many other tall mountains towering near us, we will reach Chame, a very beautiful village with alluring surrounding views. We stay overnight at Chame.

We continue walking through very dense forests leading to a dramatic curved rock face, rising 1500m from the river. Crossing several suspension bridges and exploring views of gigantic peaks we will reach Manang valley hanging between two giant snow peaks. After approximately 5 hours of walking we reach the beautiful Pisang village for overnight stay.

Here we have a divergence of two routes that we follow. The Upper Route (recommended) - the route through Geru will offer outstanding scenery of the Himalayan range and other natural wonders. The panoramic views of several peaks like Annapurna, Pisang Peak, and several other high snow capped peaks will definitely allure us. We experience great variation in the landscape and vegetation from today. We will get a chance to explore the traditional Barge monastery, the largest monastery of Manang, and stay in Manang overnight.

Today we will take a rest in Manang in order to acclimatize our bodies to the high altitude. Though this is a resting day, we may go for short hikes in the nearby hills or to explore the unique village and ancient monuments like Gumba and chortens.

After having breakfast in Manang, we follow the trail crossing a stream and climb to Tenki village, then continue toward Marshyangdi valley. Passing through pastures and scrub of juniper trees, we reach Ghunsa village. A short walk from here takes us to a meadow used for grazing yaks, popularly known as Yak Kharka, at an elevation of 4,110 meters. Overnight stay at Yak Kharka village.

Today also, we will have only 3-4 hours of walking to Thorong Phedi. This is a small but busy settlement catering to the needs of tired trekkers and climbers. Though we have a tougher walk in the coming days, we will stay in Phedi so we can get sound sleep rather than risky sleep in high altitude at high camp. Overnight stay at Thorong Phedi.

Today we have a tough walk as we will pass the high Thorong La pass at an altitude of 5,416 meters. An early start is very important to complete the mission. After passing through Thorong La pass, we continue to Muktinath, a sacred holy place for both Hindu and Buddhist devotees. The view from Muktinath is outstanding and equally alluring. The snowy surroundings make it more charming if you manage to trek in the appropriate season. We stop in Muktinath for overnight stay.

We start our trek early in the morning after a short visit to Vishnu Temple and Gompa. We descend through Ranipauwa village down toward Kagbeni and to Jomsom, finally arriving at Marpha. Marpha is a very famous village for Himalayan apples. You can taste the famous Marpha apple brandy here. The warm hospitality of the locals will make your trekking more memorable. Overnight stay at Marpha.

Leaving Marpha, we take a new route toward Kalopani via Chokhopani village. Today, we will get a chance to explore famous Thakali villages and also apple gardens. 360 degree views of the Himalayan range await us here. We will get to see panoramas of Dhaulagiri, Tukuche peak, Annapurna I and several other alluring peaks. Crossing rivers and streams on a suspension bridge we will reach Kalopani for overnight stay.

Today we will have a comparatively easy trek as we mostly follow the downhill trail. We cross a bridge at Ghasa and walk downhill, and as we drop to lower elevation, we emerge back into subtropical forests with lush vegetation. On the trail we will explore many local villages and picturesque surroundings. Upon arrival at Tatopani we will relax and take a hot bath there. Overnight at Tatopani.

Today we will take uphill and downhill walks to reach the very famous village of the region - Ghorepani. This is a picturesque Gurung village that offers awe-inspiring views of the surroundings. After some gradual uphills and downhills we will reach Ghorepani and stay there to experience their warm hospitality. Additionally, we will get a chance to know more about the rural lifestyle of Nepalese people.

Today we start early in the morning for a hike to Poonhill. Poonhill is a very famous sunrise viewpoint in the Annapurna Region. This offers stunning sunrise and sunset views that captivate every trekker. Poonhill is also called a photographer's paradise. After enjoying the tantalizing sunrise and taking some photos we will continue to Tadapani, crossing small settlements and lush forests. Overnight at Tadapani.

Today we will have the final walk on the Annapurna Circuit Trekking journey. Today's trail leads through Rhododendron Forests to Ghandruk, the second largest Gurung settlement in Nepal. From there, we will continue to Nayapul and then take a short drive to the city of lakes, Pokhara. You can go for a walk on the lakeside in Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara.

Today we will have a scenic drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu. During the drive one can explore the beautiful landscapes and rivers with green rolling hills. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be escorted to the hotel. Relax in your leisure time or you can do some final hour shopping.

Today is the final day of our trekking. You will be dropped at TIA by our office representative, approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight. Or you can also extend the trip by joining short hiking or sightseeing tours in Kathmandu valley.