Annapurna Circuit Trek 13 Days (Itinerary, Cost, Complete Guide)

The trip starts with a 7 hour drive west from Kathmandu to Besisahar, the headquarters of Lamjung district. We leave early in the morning to avoid city traffic. The road follows the Prithvi Highway beside the Trishuli River to Mugling. Here, the Trishuli meets the Marsyangdi River, and this river stays with you all the way to Manang. At Dumre, the road turns north off the highway and follows the Marsyangdi up to Besisahar.

Today is a travel day, so there is no walking. The views are of green hills, terraced rice fields and river valleys. On clear days, you may see Manaslu (8,163 m) and Lamjung Himal (6,983 m) to the north as you get close to Besisahar.

Besisahar is a busy road town at 760 m, with many hotels, shops and banks. It is the last place on the east side with reliable ATMs, so take out any extra cash you need here. Your guide will go over the plan for tomorrow's jeep ride.

Hotels in Besisahar are modern, with attached bathrooms, hot showers, Wi-Fi and full Nepali, Indian and Western menus. This is the most comfortable night of the trek until Pokhara, so enjoy a hot shower and a good sleep.

Today you ride a jeep up the Marsyangdi valley from Besisahar to Chame, the headquarters of Manang district. The road is paved for only a few kilometers. After that, it is a narrow, rough dirt road cut into the side of the gorge. The jeep passes Ngadi, Jagat, Tal, Dharapani and Koto before reaching Chame. Expect a bumpy ride, slow sections and short stops to let other jeeps pass.

This is one of the most scenic drives in Nepal. Waterfalls pour down the cliffs near Chamje. At Tal, you enter Manang district, and the valley opens into a wide, flat area beside the river. At Dharapani, the Manaslu Circuit trail joins the road, and there is an ACAP checkpoint where your guide shows your permit. On clear days, Himalchuli (7,893 m) and Ngadi Chuli (7,871 m) are visible in the lower valley, and Annapurna II (7,937 m) appears above Chame.

Landslides are the main risk on this road, especially in the monsoon and after autumn storms. In late September 2026, landslides blocked the road for six days before it reopened on 3 October. Your guide checks the road each morning and will tell you if we need to walk a short section or wait for the road to clear.

Chame sits at 2,670 m beside the Marsyangdi, with around 20 lodges. Rooms are simple but good, and some have attached bathrooms. A small hot spring lies by the river. Evenings here are much colder than in Besisahar, so put on a warm layer after sunset.

Today is your first full walking day. The trail follows the Marsyangdi River west through pine and fir forest. After about 2 hours, you reach Bhratang (2,850 m), a small settlement known for its large apple orchard. Buy a few fresh apples or a glass of apple juice here.

After Bhratang, the valley gets narrow. The trail passes a famous section where the road is cut into the cliff face. Across the river, you see Paungda Danda, a huge curved slab of smooth rock that rises high above the river. Local people call it Swarga Dwari, which means "Gate to Heaven".

The trail then crosses the river and climbs gently to Dhukur Pokhari (3,240 m), a good lunch stop with a small pond. From here, the valley opens wide, and the forest gets thinner. A short, steep climb of about an hour brings you to Upper Pisang. Walk slowly on this last part, because you are now above 3,000 m.

Upper Pisang is an old Tibetan Buddhist village of stone houses built on a hillside. From the village, you get a direct view of Annapurna II (7,937 m) across the valley, plus Annapurna IV (7,525 m) and Pisang Peak (6,091 m). Visit the gompa above the village in the late afternoon. Lodges here are good, and some rooms have attached bathrooms, but the rooms are colder than in Chame.

Today you take the upper trail to Manang, which many trekkers say is the most beautiful section of the whole circuit. There are two ways from Pisang to Manang. The lower route follows the valley floor and the road. The upper route climbs to the villages of Ghyaru and Ngawal on the north side of the valley. It has no road, fewer people and much better views, and the extra height also helps your acclimatization.

The day starts with the hardest part. From Upper Pisang, the trail drops to the river and then climbs a steep zigzag path for about 400 m to Ghyaru (about 3,730 m). This climb takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Go slowly, take short steps and stop to breathe when you need to. The view from Ghyaru is the reward: Annapurna II, Annapurna III and Annapurna IV stand right across the valley, and you can see far down the Marsyangdi.

After Ghyaru, the trail is almost flat. It follows the hillside for about 5 km past mani walls, chortens and old ruins, at about 3,700 m. Pisang Peak rises behind you, and the Chulu peaks appear ahead. This part takes about 2 hours and is easy walking.

Ngawal (3,650 m) is a quiet Manangi village with a gompa, prayer wheels and stone houses. Several lodges and small cafes serve trekkers, and some rooms have attached bathrooms with mountain views. Phone signal here is weak, so this is a good evening to rest and enjoy the view of the Annapurnas turning pink at sunset.

Today is a short and easy day. From Ngawal, the trail drops steadily for about an hour to Humde (3,330 m), a village with a small airstrip. Here, you join the main Annapurna Circuit trail on the valley floor.

From Humde, a wide, nearly flat path runs about 6 km west to Braga (3,450 m). This part takes about 2.5 hours. Annapurna III (7,555 m) and Gangapurna (7,455 m) rise on your left the whole way, and you pass long mani walls and chortens. Braga is a village of stone houses stacked on a hillside, with an old monastery above it. If you have energy, climb up to see the monastery's statues and paintings.

From Braga, a flat 30-minute walk brings you to Manang (3,540 m) by lunchtime. Manang is the largest village in the upper valley, with more than 30 lodges, bakeries selling apple pie and cinnamon rolls, coffee shops, a small cinema and shops selling snacks and warm gear. Manang also has an ATM, but it often does not work, so do not depend on it.

In the afternoon, visit the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) aid post. In spring and autumn, it runs a free talk on altitude sickness at 3 PM every day. The talk explains how to spot altitude sickness and what to do about it. It is the best hour you can spend before the high part of the trek.

Today you rest in Manang, but "rest" does not mean staying in bed. The best way to adjust to altitude is to climb high during the day and sleep low at night. So you take a day hike above Manang and come back to the same lodge to sleep. This day is very important. It prepares your body for Tilicho Base Camp tomorrow and for Thorong La five days later.

Ice Lake (Kicho Tal, 4,600 m) is the main hike, and the most demanding one. The trail starts behind Braga and climbs steeply and steadily for about 1,060 m. It takes 6 to 8 hours to go up and come back. A small seasonal tea stall sits about halfway up, at around 4,200 m. There is no food or water at the lake, so carry a packed lunch, snacks and at least 2 liters of water. The lake can stay frozen until late April. From the top, you see Annapurna II, III and IV, Gangapurna and Tilicho Peak.

If you feel tired, or if the weather is bad, your guide will suggest an easier hike:

• Chongkor Viewpoint (3,900 m): 1 to 2 hours, easy to moderate. Views of Annapurna II to IV, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, the Chulu peaks and Pisang Peak.

• Praken Gompa (3,945 m): About 2 hours uphill each way. A small monastery in the cliffs where a resident lama gives blessings to trekkers.

• Gangapurna Lake: A short walk from Manang. Floods in 2021 filled the lake with silt and it lost most of its water, so the Chongkor Viewpoint above it now gives a better view of the Gangapurna Glacier.

• Milarepa Cave (about 4,100 m): About 2 hours each way from Braga, steep. A cave linked to the Tibetan saint Milarepa, below Annapurna III.

After the hike, eat a big dinner and drink plenty of fluids. Your guide will check your oxygen level and ask how you feel. Tell them about any headache, poor appetite or poor sleep.

Today you leave the main Annapurna Circuit and walk west toward Tilicho Lake. From Manang, the trail crosses the Marsyangdi and climbs gradually for about 2 hours and 5 km to Khangsar (3,734 m). Khangsar is a quiet village of flat-roofed stone houses and stacked firewood. Few trekkers stop here, so it feels calm compared to Manang.

From Khangsar, the trail climbs steeply at first and then more gently for about 2.5 hours to Shree Kharka (4,060 m), where you stop for lunch. Khangsar Kang (7,485 m), also called Roc Noir, towers over the valley ahead.

The last 5 km from Shree Kharka to Tilicho Base Camp is the most dangerous part of the whole trek. The trail crosses a long, steep slope of loose scree, and small rocks sometimes fall from above. The path is narrow, with a big drop below. Follow your guide's rules here: walk steadily, do not stop for photos, keep a gap between you and the person in front, and look up the slope from time to time. This section takes about 2.5 hours.

Tilicho Base Camp (4,150 m) has about 10 lodges, a health post and grid electricity since 2024. Rooms are basic wooden rooms or dorms with no heating, and toilets are shared. The lodges fill up fast in October, which is why we book ahead. Nepal Telecom phone signal has worked here since October 2025. Eat an early dinner and go to bed early, because tomorrow starts around 5 AM.

Today you climb to Tilicho Lake, the highlight of the side trip. You leave base camp at about 5 AM. The trail to the lake is 5 km long, but it climbs about 800 m on a steep zigzag path up a dusty slope. It takes about 3.5 hours. Walk slowly and breathe deeply. In late autumn and spring, there may be snow and ice near the top, so your guide may ask you to wear microspikes.

At the top of the climb, the trail reaches a ridge, and Tilicho Lake (4,919 m) appears in front of you. The lake is deep turquoise in autumn and is often frozen from December to March. Tilicho Peak (7,134 m) rises above the far shore, with glaciers dropping toward the water. Spend about 30 minutes here for photos and a snack. The wind at the lake is cold even on sunny days, so keep your down jacket on.

The walk back down to base camp takes about 1.5 hours on the same steep path. Use your trekking poles and take short steps. You have lunch at base camp. Then you cross the landslide zone again and walk 2 hours back to Shree Kharka (4,060 m). The same safety rules apply: keep moving and do not stop in the exposed section.

Sleeping at Shree Kharka, about 90 m lower than base camp, helps your body recover after the high climb. You reach it by mid-afternoon. Lodges here are simple, with shared toilets and short menus.

Today you walk back to the main Annapurna Circuit trail without going back to Manang. The first 5 km is a gentle 2-hour descent from Shree Kharka to Khangsar. From Khangsar, you take a side trail that drops to the river, crosses it and climbs the slope on the other side. This part has some steep climbs, so take regular water breaks.

The trail joins the main circuit above Manang and continues up the wide, open valley to Yak Kharka. This section from Khangsar takes about 5 hours and 8 km. Gangapurna and Annapurna III stay behind you, and the Chulu peaks rise to the east. Look out for blue sheep on the slopes in the late afternoon.

Yak Kharka (4,050 m) means "yak pasture", and the village sits on wide grassy slopes used by herders. Rooms are small and basic, with thin walls and shared toilets, and electricity can be weak. Your sleeping height is almost the same as last night, which keeps your acclimatization steady before the last climb.

Today is short on purpose, so you can rest before Thorong La. From Yak Kharka, the trail climbs gently for about an hour and 2 km to Ledar (4,200 m), a small group of lodges and the last settlement before Thorong Phedi.

After Ledar, the trail crosses a suspension bridge and climbs along the valley side for about 3 hours. The last part runs across a narrow, landslide-prone slope above the river. Loose stones can fall from above, so walk steadily through this section and do not stop.

Thorong Phedi (4,450 m) is the last stop below the pass. "Phedi" means "foot of the hill" in Nepali. Yakawa Kang (6,482 m) and Khatung Kang (6,484 m), the two mountains on either side of the pass, rise above you. There are only 2 to 3 lodges here, and rooms are very basic: dorms or small twin rooms, little or no heating, shared toilets and limited hot water. Some lodges offer paid Starlink Wi-Fi, but there is no phone signal.

Spend the afternoon resting, eating well and drinking plenty of water. A short walk up the slope above the lodge and back helps your body adjust. Pack your bag tonight and put your warm clothes, gloves, headlamp and snacks on top. Tomorrow starts at about 3 AM.

Some groups sleep at Thorong High Camp (4,880 m) instead, one hour above Phedi. This makes tomorrow shorter, but you sleep 430 m higher, in colder and windier rooms. We sleep at Thorong Phedi because a lower night is safer for most trekkers.

Today is the biggest day of the trek. You climb about 1,000 m to Thorong La and then descend about 1,650 m to Muktinath. You wake up around 3 AM, eat a quick breakfast and start walking at about 4 AM. Strong winds usually build on the pass by late morning, so an early start gives you calmer, safer conditions.

The first part is the steepest. The trail climbs about 430 m in just 1.2 km to Thorong High Camp (4,880 m), which takes about an hour in the dark. Keep your headlamp on and walk slowly. From High Camp, the trail climbs 4 km to the pass in about 3.5 hours. The slope is gentler, but every step feels heavy in the thin air. You will see several false summits, where the trail seems to end but keeps going. Keep a steady pace, eat a snack every hour and drink water even if you are not thirsty.

You reach Thorong La (5,416 m) at around 8 to 9 AM. Prayer flags, a large sign and a chorten mark the top. Thorong Peak (6,144 m) rises beside you. In peak season, a small tea shop sometimes runs near the top, but do not count on it. Take your photos, but do not stay longer than 20 to 30 minutes, because your body cools down fast at this height.

The descent is long and steep. The first 7.5 km drops about 1,230 m on loose gravel to Chabarbu (4,190 m), also called Muktinath Phedi. Use your trekking poles and take short steps to protect your knees. As you come down, Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) and Tukuche Peak (6,920 m) appear across the Kali Gandaki valley. From Chabarbu, a gentle 1-hour walk on grassy slopes takes you to Muktinath (3,800 m).

If anyone shows signs of serious altitude sickness on the climb, such as confusion, loss of balance or a bad headache that does not go away, your guide will turn them back to Phedi. Your safety comes before the pass.

You stay in Ranipauwa, the village just below Muktinath Temple. Lodges here are comfortable, with attached bathrooms, hot showers and reliable electricity. In the late afternoon, if you still have energy, visit the temple (about 3,710 m). Pilgrims bathe under its 108 stone water spouts, and inside the Jwala Mai shrine a small natural flame burns beside a spring. Remove your shoes where signs ask, and behave quietly.

Today you drive from the high desert of Mustang down to Pokhara. The first hour takes you 23 km from Muktinath past Jharkot and Kagbeni to Jomsom (2,720 m), the headquarters of Mustang district. Kagbeni is an old mud-brick village with a red monastery, and it is the gateway to the restricted Upper Mustang region.

From Jomsom, the road follows the Kali Gandaki River south through one of the deepest gorges in the world. You pass Marpha (2,670 m), a whitewashed Thakali village famous for apples, apple brandy and cider. Nilgiri North (7,061 m) and Tukuche Peak rise above the valley, and near Lete you can see Annapurna I on clear days. The 55 km from Jomsom to Tatopani (1,190 m) takes about 2.5 hours on a rough road. Then 25 km more brings you to Beni (830 m), where the paved road starts. The last 80 km to Pokhara takes about 2.5 hours.

The land changes fast on this drive. Dry, brown hills give way to pine forest, then to green terraced fields and banana trees. The Kali Gandaki road is rough and dusty, and it can be slowed by landslides. Autumn 2026 storms damaged the Beni to Jomsom road in many places, so plan for a long day.

You can also drive 1 hour to Jomsom and fly 20 to 25 minutes to Pokhara. Strong winds after late morning often cancel these flights. Also, Tara Air and Summit Air suspended regular Jomsom to Pokhara flights from 19 to 21 October 2026, reportedly for about five months, so only charter flights may be available. Ask us about the current situation before you book.

Pokhara sits beside Phewa Lake at 822 m. After almost two weeks in the mountains, you can enjoy a hot shower, a full menu and a walk along Lakeside.

On the last day, you drive back to Kathmandu on the Prithvi Highway. On clear mornings, look north before you leave Pokhara for views of Machhapuchhre (6,993 m) and Annapurna South (7,219 m).

The road heads east past Damauli to Mugling, where you meet the Trishuli River again, then follows the Trishuli toward Kathmandu. The bus stops for lunch and tea breaks at highway restaurants. You reach Kathmandu in the afternoon, but traffic at the valley entrance can add an hour or more.

If you want to save time, you can fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu in about 25 minutes. The flight is not included in the package, but we can book it for you.