In this guide (8 sections)
Quick answer
Thorong La is not technical, but it is high and long. Acclimatise in Manang, sleep at Thorong Phedi or High Camp, start before dawn, keep a slow and steady pace, and be ready to turn back if anyone shows serious signs of altitude sickness or the weather turns.
I come from Samagaon, below Manaslu, and I have led groups over the high passes of Manaslu and Annapurna for many years. Thorong La is the one most trekkers worry about, and with good reason: it is the highest point most people will ever walk to.
With the right preparation, it becomes a day you remember for all the right reasons. This is how we plan it.
Acclimatise before you go high
Our Circuit itinerary includes a full day in Manang (3,540 m), with a walk up to Praken Gompa (3,945 m) and back. Climbing high and sleeping lower helps your body adjust. From Manang we go up slowly: Yak Kharka (4,050 m), then Thorong Phedi (4,450 m).
Drink 3–4 litres of water, tea or soup a day
Walk slowly, even when you feel strong
Tell your guide about headaches, nausea or unusual tiredness straight away
Talk to your doctor before the trip about medication for altitude
The signs of altitude sickness
Mild symptoms are common above 3,500 m: a light headache, poor sleep, less appetite, feeling more tired than usual. They usually ease with rest, fluids and a slower pace. Tell your guide anyway, because they check everyone each evening and need the full picture.
Symptoms that get worse, not better, are a different matter. A headache that does not respond to rest, vomiting, confusion, clumsiness, or breathlessness while resting are warning signs. The right response is to stop going up and, if they continue, to go down.
Day 9: Manang to Yak Kharka (4,050 m)
Short day · Above the tree line
3–4 hrs · 4,050 m
Leave the last villages behind and climb gently through Gunsang into high pastures grazed by yaks, with Chulu peaks and Gangapurna behind you.
Day 10: Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4,450 m)
Short day · Rest before the pass
3–4 hrs · 4,450 m
A short walk past Ledar and along a landslide slope to Thorong Phedi at the foot of the pass. Early dinner and early to bed.
Day 11: Cross Thorong La (5,416 m), descend to Muktinath (3,800 m)
The high point of the trek · Prayer flags on the pass
8–10 hrs · 5,416 m · High point
Start before dawn and climb slowly past High Camp to the prayer flags of Thorong La. Then comes a long, steep descent into the Kali Gandaki side, ending at Muktinath.
The pass day, step by step
We usually leave Thorong Phedi around 4–5 am, by headlamp. The first steep climb to High Camp (about 4,880 m) takes about an hour. Above that, the trail climbs steadily over moraine and often snow to the prayer flags on the pass, about 3–4 hours more for most groups.
After photos and a hot drink at the top, the long descent to Muktinath (3,800 m) begins: about 1,600 m down on steep, loose ground. Many trekkers find the descent harder than the climb. Take it slowly and use your poles. Most groups reach Muktinath in the early afternoon.
Pack for the pass day
- Down jacket and a warm hat
- Insulated gloves, plus a thin pair
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- 2 litres of water in insulated bottles
- Snacks you like to eat when you are tired
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Trekking poles for the descent
- Microspikes, if your guide says the snow needs them
“On Thorong La the top is only halfway. I keep everyone's strength for the descent to Muktinath, and I never mind turning back. The pass will still be there next season.”
Weather and the time of year
The pass is usually crossed from late September to November and from March to May. Snow can close it for a day or more at any time, and in winter it is often closed for long spells. In the late morning, strong cold winds often blow across the top, which is another reason we start so early.
If you are combining Nar Phu with the Circuit, you will already have crossed the Kang La (5,320 m), which is excellent preparation for Thorong La a few days later.
High Camp or Thorong Phedi?
Thorong High Camp is higher, so it shortens the pass day by about an hour. Thorong Phedi is lower, which is usually better for sleep and for the body. We choose for each group: if everyone is well acclimatised and the weather is settled, High Camp can work; if anyone is struggling, we stay at Phedi.
Either way, go to bed early. The alarm goes off long before sunrise.
Training before the Circuit
You cannot train for altitude at home, but you can make the rest of the trek easier. In the 6–8 weeks before you fly, walk hills or stairs with a light pack, and do at least a few long days of 5–6 hours on your feet.
Strong legs make the steep descent to Muktinath much more comfortable, and good general fitness leaves more energy for coping with the thin air on the pass.
Plan your Circuit with a guide who knows the pass
Ask Tsering on WhatsAppFrequently asked questions
How high is Thorong La?
5,416 m (17,769 ft). It is the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the highest trekking passes in the world.
Do I need climbing experience to cross Thorong La?
No. It is a walking pass with no ropes or climbing. You need good fitness, warm clothing and proper acclimatisation. Microspikes can help on icy mornings.
What happens if the pass is closed?
We wait at Thorong Phedi or Manang for the weather to clear, which is why our itineraries keep a spare day. If the pass stays closed, we turn back and plan another route with you.
Is the descent to Muktinath difficult?
It is long and steep, with loose gravel in places. Go slowly, use trekking poles and keep drinking. Most people are tired but happy by the time they reach Muktinath.
Which way is best to cross Thorong La?
Almost everyone crosses from Manang to Muktinath, anticlockwise. The climb from that side is more gradual, and it gives you more time to acclimatise on the way up.
