Annapurna Circuit Trek - 18 Days

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Thorang La Pass
Thorang La Pass
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Trip Details
  • Destination: Nepal
  • Trip Difficulty: Moderate
  • Trip Style: Trekking and sightseeing
  • Transport: Deluxe tourist bus & private car
  • Food: Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner
  • Accommodation: Hotel, lodge (tea house)
  • Group Size: 1 - 12 Pax
  • Max Elevation: 5,415 meters, Thorong - La pass, stunning views
  • Starts in: Kathmandu
  • Ends in: Kathmandu
  • Approx. walking: 6-7 hours

Highlights

  • Picturesque Marshyangdi River Valley with lush green forests & waterfalls
  • Explore Manang and its rich Tibetan Buddhist culture
  • Cross the Thorong La Pass (5,416m) – one of the highest trekking passes in the world
  • Visit the spiritual hub of Muktinath Temple and trek through the windy Kali Gandaki Valley
  • Experience breathtaking sunrise views from Poon Hill (3,210m)
  • Witness diverse landscapes—from subtropical forests to alpine deserts

About Annapurna Circuit Trek

Annapurna Circuit Trekking has marked itself as a spectacular trekking in Nepal. It is equally popular by Round Annapurna Trek that connects the Annapurna and Mustang region via Thorong La Pass (5416m), which is the highest Himalayan pass in the world. The gratifying Himalayan sceneries, biological diversities and recurrently shifting landscape of the Annapurna and away from its offer the unique familiarity to get the real content of the outing around Annapurna and a tiny part of the Mustang region.

The elegant two week excursion through the Annapurna Circuit trail begins through the Marshyangdi River Valley that proffers the charming beauty of Annapurna, including the greeneries of forest, waterfalls and the ethnic communities. The Tibetan Buddhism of Manang further justifies the worth of the journey that significantly allures you. The most fascinating part of the Round Annapurna trek lies on the day you cross through the Thorong La Pass to observe the stunning Annapurna white peaks and its vicinity. The arid part of Lower Mustang region is another side of the trek beyond Annapurna. Various places like Muktinath and Kagbeni along with the windy Kali Gandaki valley prospect the attractions of the trekkers. You meet the Lower Annapurna route as you ascend to Ghorepani via Sikha and hike to Poon Hill. Annapurna circuit trekking consistently changes the taste of altitude and geography. Local lodges with continental kitchen have contributed a lot to become this trip as a superb trek in Annapurna.

Adventure Bound Nepal arranges Annapurna Circuit Trekking with a perfectly designed itinerary.  Spring and autumn are the best seasons for this trek. Please, contact us for more details about the trek.

Itinerary

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Welcome to Nepal. You will be greeted by the representative of Adventure Bound Nepal and transferred to the hotel. In the evening, we give you a short briefing about the trip overview. 

  • Accommodation: Overnight in Madhuban Hotel.
  • Place: Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 1400 m

From Kathmandu, we take a drive after the breakfast through the Prithvi Highway. The drive offers the sceneries near by the Trishuli and Marshyangdi River valley, green hillside and the terraced hillside. Reaching Besisahar, we take a short break and drive further to Bulbule near Khudi. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Bhulbhule
  • Altitude: 923 m

On the first day of the trekking in the Annapurna circuit route, we follow the Marshyangdi Riverbank, crossing numerous suspension bridges. The farming land, forest, and waterfalls are the frequently occurring sceneries. The wide Ghermu Phant is breathtaking. Then we pass Syange and Jagat, we reach to Chamje with a steady walk. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Chamje
  • Altitude: 1410 m

After the breakfast at Chamje, we begin to trek through the uphill trail, following the Marshyangdi Riverbank. Passing Sattale, we reach to Tal from where we enter into the Manang region with an official entry. Then the trail goes steeply uphill to the stone staircase and reach to Dharapani, where centuries old chhortens lie. Then we gradually walk ahead to Bagarchhap and rest. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Bagarchhap
  • Altitude: 2160 m

We begin to walk after breakfast through the rocky trail. Passing Timang, we walk through the sub-tropical forest, which steadily leads us to Kopar. Then, we walk all the way easily to Chame, which is the district center of Manang. Another superb chance to enjoy the Annapurna view. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Chame
  • Altitude: 2,710 m

The trail from Chame begins through the dense woods. We cross numerous bridges enjoying the valley view accompanied by the snowy peaks on the horizon. Steadily, we reach to the Pisang village, located at the bottom of the Pisang peak.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Pisang
  • Altitude: 3,240 m

The trail from Chame is dominated by the arid landscape. The animal herds and the trekkers give us a wonderful scenario. Selecting the preferred route, we gradually walk to Mungji, which offers the beautiful view of the snow-covered peaks. If we walk via Hongde, it is less climbing route, and we reach to Ghyaru. Passing Braga of Manang, we reach to the Manang village, a big settlement of the Tibetan Buddhists. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Manang
  • Altitude: 3,540 m

The acclimatization day in Manang, we spend exploring the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, chhortens and Mani walls. Some of the ancient monasteries and the typical cultural lifestyles of the local people are amazing. We hike further to the Gangapurna Lake and back to Manang. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Manang
  • Altitude: 3,540 m

From Manang, we leave after the breakfast, continually ascending through the Jarshang Khola valley. From the stream, we take a steep uphill route and walk along the grazing meadow. We reach to Yak Kharka and take a rest. If you are fit with your energy level, we can go to Ledar. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Yak Kharka
  • Altitude: 4,120 m

Trekking from Yak Kharka begins with a gradual climb up Ledar. Then it goes to downhill continually to the river. Then we climb up steadily all the way to Phedi. Again, if you are fit enough to walk another couple of hours, we trek continually to Thorong High camp. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Thorung Phedi
  • Altitude: 4,560 m

From Phedi, we begin to ascend in the early morning. We cross the high camp and continually climb through steep rocky slope all the way to the Thorong La (5416 meters). The magnificent sceneries of the Annapurna range, Manaslu, Chulu peak and others can be seen. After the photo session, we begin to descend through the steep and slippery trail, all the way to Muktinath, which is a spiritual center of the Hindu and Buddhist devotees. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Muktinath
  • Altitude: 3,802 m

The prayer bells and the people's movement of the Muktinath temple is wonderful. From Muktinath, after the breakfast, we follow the downhill trail via Jharkot and Lupra. Then we reach the Kaligandaki River, and follow the dusty trail all the way to Jomsom, which is the district center of the Mustang region. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Jomsom
  • Altitude: 2,743 m

From Jomsom, we trek down through the widely spread Kaligandaki Riverbank. We reach to the Marpha village and see the apple orchid. It's a long way to walk along the Kali Gandaki River to reach Kokhethanti. Kalopani is a step ahead of it and we take a rest.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Kalopani
  • Altitude: 2,534 m

Descending continually following the river, we pass Lete and Ghasa, enjoying the wonderful Kaligandaki River valley. We pass Kopchepani and trek down gradually to reach Tatopani. The natural hot spring at Tatopani can give you the relaxation and avoid the tiredness of the trek.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable Lodge.
  • Place: Tatopani.
  • Altitude: 1,290 m

After breakfast we walk along the Gharkhola goan and trek uphill through sizeable shikha. The trail is almost uphill through the rhododendron forest with the pleasant sounds of the birds. We continually trek to Ghorepani. Ghorepani is a major stop for trekkers doing all varieties of the Annapurna Circuit, which lies at the base of the Poon hill. It's surrounded by the rhododendron forest. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight at comfortable hotel.
  • Place: Ghorepani
  • Altitude: 2,750 m

Poon Hill is the best viewpoint to enjoy the good morning sunrise over the snowy peaks. Early in the morning, we hike to Poon Hill and enjoy the spectacular moment, taking photographs. Then we trek down to Ghorepani, have a breakfast and trek down all the way to Nayapul via Ulleri and Tikhedhunga. Then we catch a taxi to Pokhara and transfer to the hotel. 

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
  • Accommodation: Overnight in comfortable Hotel.
  • Place: Pokhara.
  • Altitude: 900 m

From Pokhara, we drive back to Kathmandu, enjoying the Riverbank sceneries. If you have one more day, Pokhara sightseeing is a recommended thing to do along with the boating in Phewa Lake. Then, transfer to the hotel and take a rest. 

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: Overnight in Madhuban Hotel.
  • Place: Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 1400 m

According to the time of your flight, our airport representative drops you to the International Airport for your final departure. Thank you for joining us for your trekking in Nepal. See you again. 

  • Meals: Breakfast

Cost Details

Included

  • Airport pick up & drop off transport
  • 2 night standard twin sharing hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast.
  • 1 night standard twin sharing hotel in Pokhara with breakfast.
  • Public bus transportations from Kathmandu to Bulbule and tourist from Pokhara to Kathmandu
  • Private transportation from the trek ending point to Pokhara
  • All standard meals like Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner, during the trek with a cup of tea or coffee during breakfast time.
  • Tea house accommodation during the trek.
  • Gov. Licensed experienced helpful and friendly guide and porters (1 porter for 2 people) and their food, accommodation, salary, equipment, and accidental insurance for all staff.
  • Annapurna Conservation Park Permits fee.
  • TIMS Fee- Trekkers' Information Management System
  • Down Jacket and sleeping bag (if needed)
  • First aid box with normal medical supplies, including an Oximeter.
  • Trekking map
  • Government taxes & office service charge

 

Not Included

  • International flights
  • Nepal entry visa fee
  • Your travel and medical insurance (recommended)
  • Personal expenses (phone call, internet, laundry, bar bills, snacks, battery recharge, bottled or boiled water, hot showers, porter for single trekker etc.)
  • Tips for trekking staff (tipping is expected)

Useful Information

Best Time to Visit Annapurna Circuit Trek

The best seasons for the Annapurna Circuit Trek are:

Autumn (September–November) – Peak Trekking Season

  • Best weather conditions with clear skies
  • Stunning mountain views and comfortable daytime temperatures
  • Festive atmosphere with Dashain & Tihar festivals in Nepal

Spring (March–May) – Perfect for Nature Lovers

  • Blooming rhododendron forests and lush landscapes
  • Stable weather with moderate temperatures
  • Ideal for photography and wildlife spotting

Winter (December–February) – For Adventure Enthusiasts

  • Fewer crowds and quieter trails
  • Clear skies but very cold at higher altitudes
  • Thorong La Pass may be closed due to heavy snowfall

Monsoon (June–August) – Less Recommended

  • Heavy rainfall and landslides in lower regions
  • Poor visibility due to clouds
  • Best time for the rain-shadow area of Upper Mustang

For the best trekking experience, we recommend September–November 2025 for clear mountain views and the most favorable weather conditions.

Difficulty Level of Annapurna Circuit Trek

  • Trek Grade: Moderate to Challenging
  • Maximum Altitude: Thorong La Pass (5,416m)
  • Daily Walking Hours: 5–8 hours per day
  • Total Distance Covered: 160–230 km (depending on route variations)
  • Requires good physical fitness but no prior mountaineering experience. Regular cardio and strength training before the trek is recommended.

Altitude Sickness & Acclimatization Tips

  • Acclimatize properly (spend an extra day in Manang)
  • Stay hydrated (drink 3–4 liters of water daily)
  • Climb high, sleep low (follow a gradual ascent)
  • Avoid alcohol and smoking
  • Take Diamox if recommended by a doctor
  • All our guides carry an Oximeter and First Aid Kit to monitor trekkers at high altitudes

Packing List for Annapurna Circuit Trek

Clothing:

  • Base layers (moisture-wicking)
  • Insulated jacket (down or synthetic)
  • Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Trekking pants and shirts (quick-dry)
  • Thermal gloves, beanie, and gaiters

Footwear:

  • High-quality trekking boots (waterproof and broken-in)
  • Warm socks and camp shoes

Essentials:

  • Backpack (50-60L for trekkers, 30L for porters)
  • Sleeping bag (-10°C to -20°C)
  • Headlamp and extra batteries

Health & Safety:

  • Personal medications and first aid kit
  • Sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses
  • Reusable water bottle and purification tablets

We provide a sleeping bag and down jacket for all trekkers if needed.

Accommodation & Food on Annapurna Circuit Trek

Tea House Accommodation:

  • Basic twin-sharing rooms
  • Warm blankets (but sleeping bags are recommended)
  • Simple bathrooms (hot showers available at extra cost)

Food & Meals:

  • Dal Bhat (Rice & Lentils) – Unlimited refills
  • Momos (Dumplings) – A Nepali favorite
  • Pasta, Noodles, Soups – Western options
  • Yak Cheese and Tibetan Bread – Local specialties
  • Stick to hot meals, avoid raw salads, and drink boiled or purified water

Annapurna Circuit Trek Permit & Entry Fees

  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 (~$25)
  • Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) Card: NPR 2,000 (~$15)
  • Permit Checkpoints: Required at multiple points along the trek

How to Get to the Annapurna Circuit Starting Point?

By Road (Kathmandu to Bhulbhule):

  • Public Bus (7-8 hrs, included in package)
  • Private Jeep (5-6 hrs, optional upgrade)

By Air (Kathmandu to Pokhara + Drive to Bhulbhule):

  • Flight to Pokhara (30 min) + Drive to Bhulbhule (4 hrs)
  • Most trekkers take a bus or private jeep from Kathmandu for convenience

Internet & Mobile Network on Annapurna Circuit

  • WiFi: Available in tea houses for a small fee ($2–$5 per hour)
  • SIM Cards: NTC & Ncell networks work in some areas, but signals are weak at high altitudes
  • Best Solution: Buy a local Ncell or NTC SIM with a data pack before starting the trek

Trekking Insurance – Why It’s Important?

  • Mandatory: Travel insurance covering high-altitude evacuation is required
  • Recommended coverage: Up to 6,000m altitude
  • Check policies from World Nomads, Allianz, or InsureMyTrip
  • Cost: $50–$150 (varies based on coverage)
  • If altitude sickness occurs, helicopter evacuation costs $3,000–$5,000 (covered by insurance)

Alternative Treks to Annapurna Circuit

Why Book with Us?

  • Certified and Experienced Guides – Government-licensed trekking experts
  • Flexible Itineraries – Customizable options for all fitness levels
  • Best Price Guarantee – Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
  • 24/7 Support – Assistance before, during, and after the trek

Client Reviews

Five stars to the company and the staff!

Shelley H, Afghanistan

We highly recommend Adventure Bound. Laxman was efficient, communicative and accommodating helping to develop our perfect plan. The team took care of every detail and made our plan seamless, allowing us to simply be present. We were lucky to get Santosh as our guide for our trek and he made the experience so memorable. He was thoughtful, proactive, kind and funny. From teaching us Dumbal to bringing fresh fruit for us every day and always ensuring we have the best of everything from rooms to busses to views. We cannot recommend him more highly. Manoj our porter was a great addition and he went out of his way to make the experience easy and wonderful.

Amazing trek around Annapurna!

Phil34009, Germany

Thank you for this amazing experience, we had a great time! Everything was taken care of: experienced guide, neat hotels/tea houses and of course all required permits. We felt always safe and would definitely recommend booking a trip with this agency! Thanks again! Date of experience: April 2019

Annapurna Circuit with Raj

heikoknopf, Germany

I was on the Annapurna-circuit together with a good friend. Hence we were not used to the necessarities, we wanted to have an individuial guidance and some flexibility. The guide -Raj- from „Adenture Bound“ gave us exactly this individual, adjusted background for the trip. While we explored the wunderful nature in the valley of Manang, the Thorung La-Pass an the Poon Hill we had a lot of fun and got an direct insight to the native live in Nepal. Especially the chance to get in contact with the local people was enabled by the guide! In difficult and dangerous situations we felt absolutely secure in respect on the prompt an direct reaction and guidance! The accomodation an meal-service was quite well! I absolutely recommend this distributor. Date of experience: April 2019

Annapurna Circuit mt Raj

belly h, Germany

Eine wundervolle und außergewöhnlich tolle Zeit hatten wir auf dem Annapurna Circuit, dank Raj und Bikas! Raj, unser Guide, zeigte uns sein Heimatland von seiner ganz persönlichen Perspektive, zeigte uns seine Lieblingsplätze und hatte zu jeder Frage eine Antwort. So auch Bikas, er entlastete uns nicht nur von unserem Gepäck sondern kümmerte sich mit Raj um uns. Die beiden waren rund um die Uhr für uns nicht nur Guide und Porter sondern vorallem gute Freunde und tolle Wegbegleiter! Danke für diese tollen 17 Tage Trek in Nepal!

Annapurna Circuit with Raj

KatrinDenne, Germany

We met Raj and his two clients on the Annapurna Circuit and got adopted by him on the way. He always made sure that we are okay and helped us with everything we need. It felt like a big family with him. Of course Bikas the porter was doing a great job too, we can't thank both of them enough! We also felt really safe crossing the pass with them. All in all we couldn't have had a better experience in Nepal! Thankyou! :) Date of experience: March 2019

Professional and funny at the same time

Petra L, Canada

3 weeks Annapurna Circuit with Adventure Bound was one of my best decisions! I was travelling with my friend, we are around 30-35 years old, both female. Our Guide, Santosh, and our porter, Laxu, were 2 very nice and dedicated people to travel with! 1. I felt totally respected as a woman during the hole trip 2. I could see and feel the experience of Santosh, as well as Laxu, which made me feel totally safe during the hole trip 3. They both understood our (sometimes very different western-) culture and were despite the differences on the same page with us - great humor! 4. Santosh, who spoke a very good english, answered all our questions with joy, regardless of the topic (village life, marriage, nature-mountains, -animals, politics,...) 5. They could "read us" sometimes without words (when we wanted to be alone and quiet, we could; when we wanted to talk during the trekking or play cards together in the evening, we could do that) 6. Even though the pass wasn't open (Thorung La) and we only made it up to 3300m, I feel totally complete with our trip and thankful for every minute of it! Resumé: Professional and really funny at the same time! If I ever do trekking in Nepal again, I'm going to wait until Santosh and Laxu are free! Highly recommend the agency (calm and correct boss) as well as Santosh as guide and Laxu as porter! DHANYABAAD VERY MUCH for all of you ;) See you next time!! Petra (Nepal: 02.-20.03.2019) Date of experience: March 2019

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