Annapurna Circuit Trek

A representative of Enlightenment Treks will come to pick you up at the airport. After some rest, we will offer a trip briefing about your 12 day Annapurna Circuit Trek and answer each of your questions at our office. We will also give you quick do’s and don’ts during the trip. After the trip briefing prepare yourself and your equipment for your trek tomorrow.

We start our Annapurna Circuit Trek from Pokhara(822 m), on a local bus for the 105 km journey to Besisahar (760 m). The scenic 4-hour bus ride offers stunning landscapes along the route. Upon arrival, we will have a quick lunch and precede a Jeep ride to Dharapani (1,860 m). The 5 hour journey treats us to panoramic views of the Marsyangdi River, cliffs adorned with waterfalls, and the Marsyandi River's hydropower. Overnight stay at Dharapani.

On the second day, we start our trek from Dharapani (1,860m) towards Chame (2,670m). The trekking route spans over 15.5km which we will cover in about 6 hours. We check-in at the ACAP office, at the beginning of our trek today.  This section of the trek offers pine forests, and charming villages, we ascend, relishing the serene atmosphere. Overnight stay at Chame.

Today our path leads us through a dense pine forest and along a steep rocky trail, offering glimpses of the Marsyangdi River along the way. We will walk along a semi-tunnel carved into the hillside and cross a bridge to reach Bharthang. After a total hike of 16 kilometers lasting 6 hours, we arrive at Upper Pisang. It is a charming town brimming with Tibetan Gurung culture, where we settle in for the night.

After breakfast, we ascend to Ghyaru village, which offers stunning views of the Annapurna range. The trek to Ngawal from Upper Pisang is 10 kilometers, which takes 4-5 hours due to the ascending route. We will have our lunch at Ngawal, and head to Braka, descending initially from Ngawal, with the latter half on motor roads. 

From Braka the village of Manang is only 10 minutes. Finally, after a total of 7 - 8 hours of trekking, we will reach Manang (3,519 m). Overnight stay at Manang.

Today we will acclimatize at Manang, visiting nearby Gangapurna Lake and the monasteries of Braka village. As the altitude from here crosses 4,000 m the air becomes thinner and thinner so to prevent altitude sickness, acclimatization is a must. You can also visit the Ice Lake if you are seeking adventure even during the acclimatization day.

After breakfast in Manang, we start on our trek to Tilicho Lake Base Camp. While you can complete the Annapurna Circuit without going to Tilicho Lake, we don’t want you to miss this absolutely beautiful lake after coming this close.  

The route leads through Khangsar Village, elevated above the Margsyandi River via Khangsar Khola Valley. We will cross a suspension bridge, and ascend gradually, enjoying Himalayan vistas. After a bit challenging trek of 7 hours, we reach Tilicho Lake Base Camp, situated at an altitude of 4,160 m. Overnight stay at Tilicho Lake.

We will set out early towards Tilicho Lake, and the trail is also well-marked. Along the route, we will catch glimpses of the majestic Manaslu and Ngada Chulli from the east side. The ascent through zig-zag paths adds to the challenge, so it takes about a 3-4 hour trek to reach Tilicho Lake, one of the world's highest glacial lakes at 4,919 meters above sea level. The turquoise waters, often partly frozen, offer a stunning contrast against the rugged mountain backdrop, with views extending to peaks like Tilicho Peak and Gangapurna. After exploring the lake, we descend back to Tilicho Base Camp. Overnight stay at Tilicho Base Camp.

From Tilicho base camp, we trek towards Yak Kharka, a small mountain village at an altitude of 4,050 m. You will see the Yaks grazing here, as Kharka means pasture grasslands. After 6 - 7 hours of trek covering 15 kilometers, we will arrive at Yak Kharka. We can enjoy Thorung Peak from here. Overnight stay at Yak Kharka.

Today is the shortest day of the Annapurna Circuit Trek, as we only trek for 3 - 4 hours, covering only 6.5 km. We start from Yak Kharka to Thorung Phedi, at 4,450 m. After reaching Thorung Phedi we rest our bodies and go to bed early to prepare for the Thorung La Pass tomorrow. Overnight stay at Thorung Phedi.

We start very early in the morning, and trek towards Thorung La Pass. We will trek to Thorung La High Pass, which is an hour away from Thorung Phedi. After a quick tea/coffee break, we trek along the most demanding and interesting section of the whole trek. 

Throughout the trek, the views become more mesmerizing, and the lack of oxygen is filled with mountain views. After 5 hours of trekking, we will encounter a huge board adorned with Tibetan multi-color flags, the Thorung La Pass is conquered. Congrats you have summited an altitude of 5,416 m and made it through the tough section.

After capturing some snaps to remember the moment, we will descend towards Muktinath. From here, it takes about 3 hours of downhill trekking to reach Muktinath. Overnight stay at Muktinath.

Muktinath is a famous temple, at a height of 3,710 m and hundreds of pilgrims visit here via trekking or by vehicles. JoWe will explore Lord Vishnu Temple, and Buddha Park and trek towards Jomsom via Kagbeni. Kagbeni is also known as the gateway to Upper Mustang. 

The trek from Muktinath to Jomsom via Kagbeni takes about 7 hours, with a distance of 20 km. Jomsom is a village in Mustang, situated at 2,743 m, and also hosts an airport. If your days are limited then, you can consider flying back to Pokhara or Kathmandu from here. Overnight stay at Jomsom

We drive from Jomsom to Tatopani on a public bus or Jeep. The road passes through the deep Kaligandaki gorge, so you will not be bored during the drive. The drive from Jomsom to Tatopani is about 50 km and takes 2 hours to drive. Tatopani is situated at 1,200 m.

Soak your body in the warm water of Tatopani and get rid of tiredness. After washing our bodies we trek to Sikha village which is on the way to Ghorepani. The short trek to Shikha village will help us cover the distance for Ghorepani tomorrow. The trek from Tatopani to Sikha Village takes about 4 - 5 hours. Overnight stay at Sikha Village, at an altitude of 1,914 m.

After breakfast in Sikha village, we pass through scenic villages like Ghara and Phalate.  The trail to Ghorepani is ascending, with stone-paved paths winding through forests and offering diverse flora. With its popularity and connectivity to other treks, Ghorepani can be crowded. We prepare for our trek to Poon Hill while settling in for the night in Ghorepani at an altitude of 2,874 m.

We rise early and set off for Poonhill, to witness the sunrise. The climb is about 45 minutes uphill from Ghorepani and leads us to an elevation of 3,210 meters. Atop Poonhill, we will be greeted by a shower of golden rays illuminating the snowy peaks, a truly awe-inspiring sight.

After soaking in the beauty of Poonhill, we descend to Ghorepani and prepare for the final stretch of our journey to Pokhara.

We trek to Hile, a picturesque trekking section through rhododendron woods and charming villages like Banthanti and Ulleri. The 5 to 6 hours of trekking, will take us to Hile. From here we will drive with our jeep back to Pokhara. At Nayapul checkpoint, our permits are checked out before we depart. Alongside the Seti River, we reach Pokhara after 2 to 2:30 hours of driving.