- Activities
Trekking
- Trip Grade
Moderate
- Starting Price
$1650/Person
- Accommodation
Tea house/Lodge
- Max. Altitude
5416meters
- Best Season
Sep-Dec, Mars-May
- Active Hours
6hours
- Group Size
04-20
Annapurna Region
The Annapurna region is a dream for independent trekkers. It combines some of Nepal’s most iconic mountains, including fish-tailed Machhapuchhare and massive Annapurna itself, with a superb trekking infrastructure and easy access, as most trailheads are just an hour or two from Pokhara. The region’s charming Gurung, Manangi and Thakli villages add a cultural highlight.
It is one of the busiest trekking region after Everest Base Camp Trek.
The entire massif and surrounding area are protected within the 7,629-square-kilometre (2,946 sq mi) Annapurna Conservation Area, the first and largest conservation area in Nepal.
The whole massif sits between two of the major river system in Nepal; Marsyangdi and Kali Gandaki. Apart from the tenth highest mountain in the world, this region has 13 peaks over 7000 meters and 16 peaks over 6000 meters high.
Departure from the destination from the different cities
Arrival at Kathmandu airport (usually in the afternoon) already marks our entry into another world... Customs formalities, baggage collection and welcome by our local French-speaking guide. Crossing the city to the hotel already offers a first discovery of the bustling and colorful capital of Nepal. Buses, trucks, bicycles and sacred cows crisscross in a friendly chaos... Depending on the arrival time, visit the surrounding area or simply settle in and rest at the hotel before your dinner at the hotel.
In case of early arrival in Kathmandu, lunch will be included in the program.
Free time
Take the bus to Besishar (about 6 hours drive). Change vehicles, take the jeep to go Jagat (the evening stage) 3 hours of 4*4. Jagat is a small, pretty colorful village with different pretty colors. Now it is the gateway to enter the classic Annapurnas trek. There are more than 10 lodges and some local houses.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 6h in good road and 3h in mountains road
Accommodation : in lodge
We start walking on the road way for 1 and half an hour. We change the stiff one. Crosses the Marsayagdi River. Steep climb for 30 minutes and walk to the balcony with beautiful scenery. 20 minutes of steep climb and arrive at a gate with the change of district. Leave Lamjung and enter the Manang district. Start to see Tal village for lunch. 2 hours 15 minutes of walking to reach the evening stage at Dharapani. It is a village where there is customs for the control of trekking permits.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 6h to 6h30h of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +1050m/-450m
After 45 minutes of walking, we arrive at the village of Bagarchap (bank of the river). This is where the course of Marsyangdi curves to take an east-west direction. Bagarchap marks the limit between the humid valleys to the south, that the wind crosses and the dry areas of Upper Marsyangdi, less affected by monsoon rains. We see seventh largest mountain in the world Manaslu 8163m. The change in vegetation is evident after the subtropical forest, we discover very beautiful expanses of blue pines, spruces and oaks. Chame is the capital of Manang district.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 6h to 6h30h of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +980m/-250m
The architecture becomes Tibetan with flat roofs. We have bypassed the Annapurnas and are now in Manangi country.
Visit Buddhist monastery which is like on the roof of the village. Beautiful view of Annapurana 2 (7937m). Stopover at the beautiful village of Pisang. There are lower and upper Pisang village. Crosses many Buddhist monuments during the day and reaches Pisang.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 5h30 to 6h30 walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +630m/-120m
Discovery of the Manangi country of Tibetan culture, facing the magnificent barrier of Annapurnas 2 (7937m), 3 (7555m), 4 (7525m) and Gangapurna Himal (7455m). 40 minutes of steep climb to reach Gyaru village (3673m) after 45 minutes of walking from high Pisang. Exceptional day of this trek. Drink tea with the beau seen in Gyaru and walk on the balcony. It's a more beautiful day of trekking also to see the mountains and landscapes. Lunch in Ngawal typical village.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 6h30 to 7h of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +940m/-605m
Day of rest to complete our acclimatization. We climb up to 4000m towards Gangapurna Lake. Return for lunch at the lodge. We sleep 2 nights in the same lodge in Manang. In the afternoon, visit the village (free time).
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 4h of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +/-360m
Climb towards the hamlet of Ledar also called Yak Kharka because of the presence of yaks, this Himalayan area is in fact the kingdom of the yak, a bovid of Tibetan origin raised for its meat. There are areas of the "Thar" the wild goat which lives in herds. It rises steadily.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 4h to 4h30 of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +625/-135m
Go up to Ledar (4200m) after crossing the suspension bridge. Walk towards the pass base camp which is called Thorang Phedi. The name of the pass is Thorang-la and Phedi meaning base camp. 15/20 minutes of steep climbing otherwise climbs regularly.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 4h of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +485/-140m
Departure early in the morning for a long climb on trails and moraines and then arrive at the high camp. There is also a lodge. After high camp climb regularly. There are tea shops on the road and even at the summit pass (5419m). Thorang peak, Yakuwa kang and Thorangse. Descend several times steeply to reach the other side of base camp (4200m) to eat hot food. One can see the seventh largest mountain in the world (Dhaulagiri Himal 8167m). Quick visit to the magnificent complex of Buddhist and Hindu shrines. Muktinath is a place of Pilgrimage. There are 108 faucets which represent the 108 deities in Hinduism.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 7h30- to 8h of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +980/-1700m
It’s a bus day. Between 5 to 6 hours by bus. Visit Jomsom (capital of Mustang district). Beautiful view of Nilgiri Himal and Dhaulagiri Himal. Kaligandi river. Visit a beautiful and clean Marpha village. We stop at Kalopani to see the 3rd eight thousand mountain of the trek and tenth highest mountain in the world, Annapurna 1 (8091m).
Evening stopover at Tatopani (Tato- hot, pani- water = hot water). Natural hot water.
Totally different Trekking day. Cross two suspension bridges to climb the steep climb to Ghar Khola on the ridge with beautiful terrace of fields. Typical houses, plain nature of village life. Lunch at Sikha (1920m) and then another 3 hours to climb to the stage at Gorepani via Chitre village (2350m). In spring, we see a lot of rhododendron flowers. Rhododendron forests. Gorepani is a pretty and very touristy village which is not very far from Pokhara.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 7h to 7h30 of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +1830/-200m
Early in the morning, climb Poon Hill to see the sunrise and to see the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Machhapuchre, Annapurna South. Return to have breakfast then descend slowly towards Ulleri and last stage of the trek at Hile.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Between 6h of walk
Accommodation:in lodge
Height difference +100/-2100m
2 hours and 30 minutes of walking. Take the bus from Birethanti or Nayapul. Arrive in Pokhara. Second largest tourist city of Nepal with Phewa lake. We sleep by the lake.
A free evening. Dinner at your expense. 2 hours drive.
Breakfast annd lunch are included.
Accommodation:in lodge
By flight
Rest and visit Kathmandu
Breakfast included.
Free time to visit Kathmandu and shopping time.
Breakfast included.
Time to back to the destination (Departure)
Breaakfast included
Arrival in the destination
(End of the trek)
The Annapurna Circuit is a moderately difficult trek and is challenging for two main reasons. First, it's a relatively long trek. Most people cover up to 230km over 14-18 days or more. Second, it's a high altitude trek.
The mountain is named after Annapurna, the Hindu goddess of food and nourishment, who is said to reside there. The name Annapurna is derived from the Sanskrit-language words purna ("filled") and anna ("food"), and can be translated as "everlasting food".
The tallest of the mountains in the massif is Annapurna I (8,091m), first climbed on June 3rd, 1950 by Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal. It was the first of the 'over 8000m' peaks to be summited - it is still widely acknowledged as one of the most dangerous mountains in the world for climbers.
The high point and highlight of the legendary Annapurna Circuit trek. You crest the brow of the Thorung La Pass (5,416m) to be greeted by a panorama of prayer flags and mighty mountain peaks stretched across the horizon. Drop down its far side and you enter a drier world that feels more like Tibet.
Picking the right time of year to trek in Annapurna or hike the Annapurna Circuit is crucial. The best times to hike the Annapurna Circuit are October-November or April-May. During these seasons everything tends to be pretty dry, the skies are clear, and it won't be unfathomably cold up high.
There isn't a strict age limit for the Annapurna Circuit Trek, but it's important to consider the physical and mental demands of the trek before deciding to embark on it, especially for younger participants.
The Annapurna Circuit Trek route is around 208 kilometers/ 129 miles/. You may complete the whole route by hiking in 16 days. Now due to the road development in some areas, you may squeeze it by some days if you want to take a drive.
You will need the TIMS permit to venture into the Annapurna Circuit Trek without a guide or with a guide. The guide would usually manage this card for you along with the conservation area permit. The TIMS card would cost you around NRS 2000 which is approximately $20.
