Conquer the Himalayas: The Ultimate 16-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek

Arrival in kathmandu and our representative will transfer you to your hotel. Rest for the day or city wak for few hours to get used to the country.

full day sightseeing around kathmandu and its UNESCO world heritage sites and Dinner and Trek briefing in the evening.

You start your journey into the hills on a winding road along the Trishuli River. On the way you admire terraced farms and beautiful huts. After reaching a juncture at Mugling, you move straight ahead towards Pokhara. At Dumre, you leave the previous trail and head north to Besisahar. A half-an-hour's drive from Besisahar takes you to Khudi, the starting point of our trek. Alternatively, you can get off at Besisahar, and then trek for an hour to get to Khudi along the wide trail. Khudi offers you a first glimpse of the gorgeous Manaslu range.

You leave Sirung for Jagat on a relatively easy trail. You leave behind the terraces of the village and hit forest, ferns and woodland. On the forest trail you spot a variety of birds. You also pass through several small villages and a few temples on the way. You cross a suspension bridge over Sangu Khola at Mipra then again at Syange over the Marshyangdi River. There is also a waterfall nearby the bridge. Now your trail moves alongside the mighty Marshyangdi River and you cross one more bridge before reaching Jagat.

Your first day's walk involves crossing a few suspension bridges and waterfalls including several ascents and descents across rice paddies and a subtropical forest. Initially, the walk is gradual but is then followed by steeper trails. The mountains that you see from Khudi seem a lot closer now. Before reaching Sirung village you pass an ethnic Tamang settlement of Taranche. You admire close-up views of Nadi Chuli and Manaslu mountains from Sirung.

Sirung to jagat
Picturesque Villages: Pass through charming villages like Kharka and Nauli Gaon, offering glimpses into the local life and culture of the Manang people.
Marshyangdi River Valley: The trail follows the Marshyangdi River Valley, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains and lush vegetation.
Diverse Landscapes: Experience a transition from lower subalpine forests with rhododendrons to drier landscapes with juniper trees as you gain altitude.
Waterfalls and Suspension Bridges: Encounter cascading waterfalls and cross thrilling suspension bridges along the trail.

After breakfast, you slowly begin your trek today. The trail from Jagat descends until it reaches the river and then continues through a lush forest. Further ascent leads to sharp-edged cliff facing the riverbank. En route, Chyamje comes into picture amidst the glorious backdrop of towering Annapurna mountain ranges. After crossing a suspension bridge, you climb steeply towards the slippery and physically challenging path to Sattale. On treading along a succession of rock-strewn trails, you descend to a grassy riverbank that leads to Tal. As you walk away from Tal, the path becomes rugged and winding. Then you approach steeply-forested village of Karte. Meandering along the waterfalls and cliffs, you finally reach Dharapani after crossing a suspension bridge.

Today you walk through a few forested ridges on your way to Chame, which is the headquarters of the Manang District. Throughout the trek you can admire amazing views of the Himalayas including Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV (7,525m/24,688ft). On today’s trek you also come across small hot springs where you can dip in and soothe your aching muscles.

From Manang village, the trail crosses a stream, climbs to a village of Tenki and continues to climb out of the Marshyangdi Valley turning northwest up the valley of Jarsang Khola. The trail follows this valley northward, passing a few pastures and a scrub of juniper trees, as it steadily gains elevation. The trail further passes near the small village of Ghunsa, a cluster of flat mud roofs just below the trailhead. Now the trail goes through meadows where horses and yaks graze. After crossing a small river on a wooden bridge, the trail passes an ancient old Mani wall in a pleasant meadow and then reaches another small village of Yak Kharka.

There are two routes to Manang but you follow the trail that takes you to Upper Pisang via Geru. This trail guarantees excellent views of the beautiful landscape and the mighty mountains including Annapurna and Pisang. You begin to notice a contrast in the landscape and vegetation from today. The cold and dry climate also creates a much harsher environment. Your short visit to Barge monastery, the largest monastery in the entire district of Manang will be memorable.

A steep and narrow path through a very dense forest will bring you to the dramatic curved rock face, rising 1500m from the river. This is probably the steepest part of the Marshyangdi Valley, so steep that the trail is carved into the vertical rock. After passing this last bit of rock, the valley opens up with majestic vistas. And right where the valley widens stands the Paungda Danda, a massive sloping rock face that rises over 5,000ft (1500m) above the trail. You trek for a while before reaching Lower Pisang where you spend the night.

It is an uphill walk to Thorang Phedi. After walking for some time you cross a suspension bridge and reach Ledar village. You ascend furthermore and pass through towering cliffs before reaching Thorang Phedi, the last village before Thorong La pass. On this trip you are rewarded with one of the best views of Mt. Gundang, Mt. Syagang, Thorung Peak and Mt. Khatungkan. The word Phedi in Nepalese is referred to as the foot of a mountain.

From Tatopani, you make a steep descent through the dense and dark forest. This part of the trek will be through a thick forest of old rhododendron trees. When the rhododendron trees are in bloom, these forests actually turn into amazing gardens. By afternoon, depending upon the season of travel, you also get to enjoy cherry blossoms in bloom on the slopes on the other side of the ravine. After trekking a few more minutes, you enter the village of Ghandruk, a slope settlement with stone houses mostly inhabited by the Gurung people. Here, you enjoy the stunningly close-up towering views of Fishtail, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli mountains. You continue your trek to Nayapul from where you drive to Pokhara.

In order to keep fit on the trails that follow, you keep yourself busy today with a short hike to either Bhojo Gumba or Gangapurna Lake. If you have the energy, you can even hike to Vraga Village where you can visit the Himalayan Rescue Association which will give you some idea about Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

Muktinanth to Tatopani Hot springs. Your journey today is mostly downhill. During the early part of today’s trek, you cross the bridge at Ghasa. As you drop to lower elevations, you emerge back into subtropical forests, lush with vegetation. Our trail continues along Rupse Chahara (waterfall). you continue down the east bank from Kopchepani via Garpar to a bridge at Dana. At Narchyang Besi, you get to see a powerhouse that supplies electricity in the area. There are bigger villages in this area where you can observe the everyday lives of the local people. Upon reaching Tatopani, you relax and have a bath in the hot spring.

Crossing Thorong La pass, one of the highest passes in the world, will be your ultimate objective today. You will be crossing the pass from east to west (Manang to Muktinath) which is the easiest and safest direction. You get up around three in the morning and walk up the mountain. When you finally make it to the top, we realize that your journey was worth it. You can take a few photos before heading to Muktinath Valley at the foot of the Thorong La pass.