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Popular treks
Annapurna Base Camp Trek11 days · from $850Annapurna Circuit Trek16 days · from $1,150Everest Base Camp Trek14 days · from $1,000Langtang Valley Trek10 days · from $890By style
Quiet, off the beaten pathFewer trekkers, wild valleysTeahouse treksLodges every nightPrivate treksYour group, your dates
Not sure which trek fits you?Tell us your dates and fitness. A local expert suggests the right route.Ask on WhatsApp
EverestUp to 5,545 m
AnnapurnaUp to 5,416 m
ManasluUp to 5,106 m
LangtangUp to 4,984 m
KanchenjungaUp to 5,143 m
Nar PhuUp to 5,320 m
Pikey PeakUp to 4,065 m
Tamang Heritage TrailUp to 3,165 m2026/2027 season open · start on any date you choose
The Annapurna Circuit is one of the great treks of the world. It follows the Marsyangdi valley from rice terraces and waterfalls into the Tibetan-style villages of Manang, crosses Thorong La (5,416 m), one of the highest trekking passes in Nepal, and drops to the temple town of Muktinath and the dry, windswept landscape of Mustang.
Jeep roads now reach far up both sides of the valley, so our itinerary drives to Dharapani and walks from there on quieter trails such as the high route through Ghyaru and Ngawal. A rest day in Manang and two easy days to Thorong Phedi prepare you for the pass. You fly out from Jomsom to Pokhara at the end.
Verified route 2026/2027
Our heritage and roots
Born and raised in the mountains of Nepal, our founder grew up walking Himalayan trails with the elders of his village. That lifelong respect for the mountains became the foundation of Travel To Nepal.
Sujan SherpaFounder and lead trek director
Read our storyDirect local consultation
Message us on WhatsApp or send us an email. Either I or my team will personally answer your questions and make sure all your doubts are answered properly.
Trek milestones
A long, unforgettable day over prayer flags and snow, from Thorong Phedi down to Muktinath.
Stone villages, monasteries and views of Annapurna II, III and Gangapurna.
Quiet trail above the valley with some of the best mountain views on the Circuit.
A pilgrimage site sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, just below the pass.
Subtropical gorges, pine forest, alpine meadows and the high desert of Mustang in one trek.
A short mountain flight between Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas back to Pokhara.
Trekker suitability guide
An honest checklist from our guides to help you decide if the Annapurna Circuit suits your goals.
Suitability checklist
Physical demands and fitness: 5 to 7 hours a day for two weeks, and an 8–10 hour day over the pass. Good fitness and stamina are needed.
Altitude and acclimatization: You sleep at 4,450 m and cross 5,416 m. A rest day in Manang and a slow climb are built into the plan.
Technical skill required: None in good conditions. After fresh snow the pass may need microspikes; your guide decides on the day.
Trail comfort and accommodation: Good teahouses up to Manang, simpler lodges at Yak Kharka and Thorong Phedi with cold nights.
Mental resilience: Be ready for a very early start, wind and cold on the pass, and to turn back if the weather says so.
Medical conditions: With heart or lung conditions or severe asthma, speak to your doctor before booking a high-pass trek.
Unsure about your fitness or readiness?Our lead trek director gives a free, no-obligation preparation check.
Step-by-step route
Sixteen days from Kathmandu around the Annapurna massif. You drive to Besisahar and Dharapani, walk up the Marsyangdi valley to Manang with a rest day there, cross Thorong La to Muktinath, and walk down to Jomsom for the flight to Pokhara. Every night on the trail is in a family-run teahouse.
Airport pickup · Gear check in Thamel
Arrival · 1,400 m
Our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and takes you to your hotel. In the evening we check your gear, sort the permits and talk you through the route.
Trishuli and Marsyangdi valleys
6–7 hrs drive · 760 m
A long drive west along the Trishuli river and up the Marsyangdi to Besisahar, the gateway to the Circuit.
Mountain road · Waterfalls and gorges
4–5 hrs drive · 1,860 m
A bumpy jeep ride up the gorge past Jagat and Tal to Dharapani, where the Manaslu trail joins the Circuit.
Pine forest · First views of Annapurna II
5–6 hrs · 2,670 m
Walk through Bagarchhap and Timang on trails away from the road, through pine and fir forest to Chame, the district headquarters of Manang.
Paungda Danda rock face · Apple orchards
5–6 hrs · 3,310 m
Past Bhratang and the huge curved rock wall of Paungda Danda into a drier valley. Upper Pisang looks straight across at Annapurna II.
The high route · Annapurna II, III and IV
5–6 hrs · 3,660 m
A steep climb to Ghyaru (3,670 m), then a balcony trail with wide mountain views to the old village of Ngawal. A great day for acclimatisation.
Braga monastery · Gangapurna views
3–4 hrs · 3,540 m
An easy walk down to the valley floor and past the old monastery at Braga to Manang, a lively village below Gangapurna and its glacier lake.
Rest day · Ice Lake for strong walkers
3–4 hrs · 3,945 m
Climb high and sleep low: a morning hike to the cliffside Praken Gompa, or the longer climb to Ice Lake (about 4,600 m). The afternoon is free to rest.
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.
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.
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.
Muktinath temple · Gateway to Upper Mustang
5–6 hrs · 2,720 m
Visit the Muktinath temple in the morning, then walk down through Jharkot to the old village of Kagbeni and along the windy Kali Gandaki to Jomsom.
Morning mountain flight · Lakeside afternoon
25 min flight · 820 m
A short morning flight between Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. If wind cancels the flight, we drive to Pokhara instead.
Spare day for weather · Phewa Lake
Rest day · 820 m
A day to relax by the lake, or a spare day if the Jomsom flight is delayed. Celebrate the end of the trek with your guide.
Bus or flight · Free evening in Thamel
6–7 hrs drive · 1,400 m
Travel back to Kathmandu by tourist bus or a short flight. The evening is free for shopping and a farewell dinner.
Airport transfer
1,400 m
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or stay on for another adventure in Nepal. We are happy to help plan it.
Tailor-made treks
Unlimited free changes until it is right
Want to match your own pace, fitness, group or holiday dates? Tell us what you have in mind and our Kathmandu team will change the route as many times as you need, until it is the Annapurna Circuit you want.
WhatsApp +977 980000000 · traveltonepal102@gmail.com · Reply usually within a few hours
Local expertise and safety first
Licensed guides who have crossed Thorong La many times, trained in wilderness first aid and focused on safe acclimatisation.
Annapurna local
WFR certified
Restricted-area trek leader
Samagaon, Gorkha
“On the Larkya La we start before dawn and turn back if the weather says so. That is how we come home.”
Family treks
First aid
Trek leader, family treks
Ghandruk, Kaski
“With children, the trek is not the destination. A good day is when everyone wants to walk again tomorrow.”
Full disclosure
Ground transport: Kathmandu – Besisahar by bus, jeep to Dharapani, Pokhara – Kathmandu by tourist bus.
Jomsom – Pokhara flight: the mountain flight at the end of the trek.
Licensed guide and porters: first-aid trained, insured and fairly paid.
Lodging: 11 nights on the trek and 4 hotel nights in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and TIMS card where checkpoints ask for it.
Safety gear and transfers: pulse oximeter, first-aid kit, and airport transfers in Kathmandu.
Meals on the trek: order freely from the menu (about $25–35 a day).
International airfare: flights to and from Kathmandu.
Travel insurance: required, with helicopter rescue cover up to 6,000 m.
Nepal tourist visa: on arrival at the airport.
Lodge extras: hot showers, battery charging and Wi-Fi.
Trekker-first transparency
Freedom of choice and appetiteAppetite changes with altitude. Order what your body wants, from dal bhat to pasta, porridge or soup.
Direct support for teahouse familiesYou pay the lodges directly, so all food money stays with the local families who run them.
No package markupsAll-inclusive meal packages are often padded. Here you pay real menu prices for what you eat.
Dietary needs and allergiesVegetarian, vegan or gluten-free: order on the spot and get food made the way you need it.
Average daily food budget: plan on about $25–35 USD per day for hearty breakfasts, lunches, hot dinners and boiled drinking water or tea.
Trail pro tips
“Dal bhat power”: unlimited refills of rice, lentils and vegetable curry. The best fuel at altitude.
Go vegetarian higher up: meat is carried up without refrigeration, so we suggest vegetarian meals above Manang.
Stay hydrated: drink 3–4 litres a day (ginger-lemon-honey tea, garlic soup, boiled water).
Cash is king: ATMs in Chame and Manang are unreliable. Bring enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu.
Essential teahouse notes
Teahouse rule: eat breakfast and dinner where you sleep. Lodges keep room prices low because of it.
Order early: order dinner around 5 pm, and the night before the pass order a hot breakfast for 4 am.
Prices rise with altitude: food at Thorong Phedi costs about twice what it does in the lower valley.
Acclimatization map
You sleep no higher than 4,450 m and only day hike to the high point.
Peak: 5,416 m
Route and GPS waypoints
Interactive map
Interactive Google map
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Kathmandu 1,400 mStart
Day 1Besisahar 760 m
Day 2Dharapani 1,860 m
Day 3Chame 2,670 m
Day 4Upper Pisang 3,310 m
Day 5Ngawal 3,660 m
Day 6Manang 3,945 m
Days 7–8Yak Kharka 4,050 m
Day 9Thorong Phedi 4,450 m
Day 10Thorong La 5,416 mHigh point
Day 11Jomsom 2,720 m
Day 12Pokhara 820 m
Days 13–14Kathmandu 1,400 m
Days 15–16Interactive map by Google Maps. See our privacy policy for how Google handles your data.
Direct operator advantage
Local leadership, honest pricing and careful safety standards, straight from our Kathmandu team.
Licensed guides who grew up in the region they lead and know the teahouse families by name.
Everything included is listed before you book. Meals are paid on the trail at real menu prices.
Daily oxygen and pulse checks, a first-aid kit, and rescue coordinated from Kathmandu.
Every trek is private. Change the pace, days or route; we rewrite the plan for free.
You plan with our team directly, before, during and after your trek.
Weight limits, warm gear, insurance and fair pay for every person on your team.
Transparent pricing structure
Book directly with our Kathmandu team, with no middlemen. Every trek is private, so you choose your own start date.
| Group size | Per person | Your team | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person (solo) | $1,420 | Private guide + private porter | |
| 2 people | $1,260 | Guide + 1 porter | |
| Popular3–5 people | $1,150 | Lead guide + assistant + porters | |
| 6–10 people | $1,060 | Lead guide + 2 assistants + porters | |
| 11+ people | $990 | Full trekking team |
Official verification
Est. 2024 · Kathmandu
Nepal Department of Tourism registration certificateRegistration tourest registation · licensed trekking agency
The Travel To Nepal advantage
Why trekkers choose our locally led Annapurna treks.
Our trek leaders have walked these trails for years and know the teahouse families along the way.
Pulse oximeter readings morning and evening help catch altitude sickness early.
Fair wages, insurance, warm gear and strict weight limits for every porter.
Only your group, with personal pacing and quiet teahouse evenings.
Booking direct with a Nepali company means your money supports families along the trail.
Fast reply on WhatsApp
Direct local pricing, no middlemen. Fill this in and we open WhatsApp with your request already written.
Gear and essentials
Tested gear for the Circuit: −15 °C nights at Thorong Phedi to 25 °C days in the lower valley.
Base layers: 2–3 merino or synthetic tops and bottoms.
Fleece mid-layer: a warm fleece or softshell.
Down jacket: rated to about −15 °C for Thorong Phedi and the pass.
Hat, gloves and buff: warm gloves and a windproof layer for the summit morning.
Trekking boots: waterproof, broken in, with ankle support.
Camp shoes: light trainers or sandals for the teahouse.
Socks: 5–6 pairs, including one warm pair for the pass.
Microspikes: useful after fresh snow on Thorong La.
Daypack (30–35 L): with a rain cover for layers, water and snacks.
Duffel bag: carried by your porter (max 15 kg).
Sleeping bag: comfort to −15 °C (you can rent one in Kathmandu).
Trekking poles and headlamp: for the long descent and the 4 am start.
Water purification: tablets or a UV pen, plus two 1 L bottles (one insulated for the pass).
Medical kit: blister plasters, painkillers, rehydration salts.
Sun protection: SPF 50 sunscreen, glacier sunglasses and lip balm.
Hygiene: wet wipes, hand sanitizer and a quick-dry towel.
Practical field knowledge
Essential insights from our local trek leaders.
Autumn (October to November): clear skies and the most reliable conditions on Thorong La.
Spring (April to May): warmer days and flowers lower down; snow has usually cleared from the pass.
*Snow can close the pass in March and from December. In the monsoon (Jun–Aug) the lower valley is wet, but Manang and Mustang lie in the rain shadow.
Rooms: comfortable lodges up to Manang, often with attached bathrooms; simple and cold rooms above.
Heating and showers: stove-heated dining rooms in the evening; hot showers cost a few dollars.
Wi-Fi and power: charging and Wi-Fi are available in most lodges for a small fee, less reliable at Thorong Phedi.
*Winter (Dec–Feb) is clear but very cold at Kyanjin. The monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings rain, leeches and landslide risk on the road.
Dal bhat: rice, lentil soup, vegetables and pickle, with free refills.
Local treats: apple pie and cider from the orchards around Marpha and Manang, yak cheese and Tibetan bread.
Hydration: drink 3–4 litres a day and treat your water; skip single-use plastic.
*Winter (Dec–Feb) is clear but very cold at Kyanjin. The monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings rain, leeches and landslide risk on the road.
Early start: leave Thorong Phedi around 4–5 am to cross before the afternoon wind picks up.
Slow and steady: about 4–5 hours to the top and 3–4 hours down to Muktinath.
Turn-back rule: if the weather turns or anyone shows signs of altitude sickness, we go back down.
Rescue: our Kathmandu office coordinates helicopter evacuation with your insurer if it is ever needed.
On the trail: your guide carries a first-aid kit and pulse oximeter; Manang has a health post run in the season.
Insurance: travel insurance covering emergency evacuation is required for every trekker.
*Winter (Dec–Feb) is clear but very cold at Kyanjin. The monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings rain, leeches and landslide risk on the road.
Thorong La at 5,416 m (17,769 ft). You cross it on day 11 and sleep the same night at Muktinath (3,800 m).
October and November for the most stable weather on the pass, and April to May. In March and from December, snow can close Thorong La for days at a time.
Our itinerary is 16 days from Kathmandu and back, with 11 nights on the trek. Starting the walk lower down, or adding Tilicho Lake, takes a few days more.
Yes, jeep roads now reach Manang on the east side and Muktinath on the west. We drive the lower part and walk quieter trails, such as the high route through Ghyaru and Ngawal, wherever they exist.
Challenging, grade 4 of 5. It is long, and the pass day is 8–10 hours at high altitude. No climbing skills are needed, but you should be fit and used to multi-day walking.
Thorong La is a long, high day but not technical. The risks are altitude and weather. We acclimatise in Manang, climb slowly, and your guide decides on the day whether it is safe to cross.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), and a TIMS card where checkpoints ask for it. We arrange both before you arrive. Nepal requires foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency. All our treks include one.
A rest day in Manang, short days to Yak Kharka and Thorong Phedi, pulse and oxygen checks every evening, plenty of fluids, and going down at once if serious symptoms appear.
Fast reply · local operator
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