Annapurna Circuit Trek - 23 Days
-Sightseeing around Kathmandu and Pokhara.
-Ascending Marshyangdi River valley.
-Visiting oldest Buddhist monastery in Braga village.
-Sightseeing around Manag village.
-Crossing the Thorung- La over 5416 meters.
-The Pilgrimage town of Muktinath.
-Walking through the world’s deepest gorge and the Kaligandaki valley.
-Bathe in natural hot springs at Tatopani.
-Sunrise at Poon Hill with magnificent mountain views.
Photos
Details
Private departure are available any time any dates within the year.
Kathmandu, Pokhara, Besishar, Chame, Pisang, Manang, Thorong Phedi, Thorong La pass, Muktinath, Jomsom, Marpha, Kalopani, Ghorepani, Tatopani, Nayapul
From US$ 1650 per person for whole trip. No local and hidden payment require.
Please inquire for a custom quote. The price is customized based on final hotel choices, travel dates, and other custom preferences.
Discounts for groups of 4+ people are available
Detailed Description
Since it opened to foreign trekkers in 1977, Annapurna Circuit Trek is renowned as one of the most spectacular and varied walks in the world with lush green valleys and fascinating villages that offer impressive snow-capped views of the white Himalayas. Starting from less than 1,000 meters, it gives us a chance to explore the Himalayas from bottom to top and from many different angles and perspectives. This three week trek starts right from Besisahar which goes along the Marshyangdi River, with great views of Manaslu and Himal Chuli to the east. This magnificent trek leads you to the fine village, inhabited by a wide diversity of people from different ethnic groups, offering spectacular and majestic views of the Himalayas. Continuing to the north of the main Himalayan range to the high and dry Tibetan Plateau, the scenery is equally breathtaking.
The highest point of the Annapurna Circuit trek is Thorung La pass at the top of the valley at 5416 meters high. Due to the difficulties of crossing the pass, the circuit is usually walked in a counter clockwise direction. Traveling clockwise the longer ascent and shorter descent from west to east is too much for many people to manage in one day.
As we descend to the west at Muktinath, from pass we continue to the barren Tibetan like village of the Kali Gandaki - the world's deepest gorge, passes between the giant Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains. After you cross the Thorung La pass from Manang to Muktinath the final seven days of the circuit trek are the same as the Jomsom Trek from Pokhara, but in reverse.
For more details, please visit http://www.acethehimalaya.com/tripdetails.php?trip_id=11
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival in Kathmandu airport (1345meters).
There you will be met by our Airport Representative and transferred to hotel by private tourist vehicle. Overnight at hotel.
Kathmandu city tour.
In the morning after breakfast at 9 AM, we host a Pre-Trip meeting at your hotel in Kathmandu and introduced your trek Leader/Guide mean time and it will provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions about the your trek and to introduce you to other participants. This includes a final briefing and preparations for the trip.
PLEASE ADVISE US IF YOU WILL BE ARRIVING LATE AND ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE PRE-TRIP MEETING.
In THE PRE-TRIP MEETING All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Four copies of Passport size photos each.
3. Travel Insurance Policy.
4. A writing pen
5. Notepad.
After the Pre-Trip meeting and breakfast your sightseeing trip will start at 9.45 AM in the morning. We provide a private vehicle and professional tour guide. We visit Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world, where we observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the stupa. After Bodhnath Stupa we visit Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats. We also visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is a collection of pagoda and shikhara – style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood. The attraction of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is The Lion gate, The Golden gate, The Palace of fifty five windows, Art Galleries, The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla.
The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area near by your hotel. Later, we are supplied with our Trek Pack and departure information for tomorrow. Overnight at hotel.
Drive to Besisahar (830meters) by bus. 7 hours.
Trekking staff will arrive at your Hotel at 7.00 am in the morning to pick you up. We have 7 hours of driving to Besishar. It is about 185km from Kathmandu. On arrival at Besisahar you will witness stunning snow caped mountain scenery. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Bahundanda (1310 meters) 5 hours.
Today our journey starts at Besishahar, from where, the trail makes the climb to Khudi at 790m, then reach the first Gurung village (many of Nepal’s Gurkha Soldiers are Gurungs). As we continue the from Khudi the trail offers fine views of Himalchuli and Peak 29 (Ngadi Chuli). It climbs to Bhulbhule at 825m, it then goes to Ngadi before reaching Lampata at 1135m and nearby Bahundanda at 1310m. A brilliant start to the culture of Nepal. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Chamje (1400meters). 5 hours.
The trail drops steeply to Syange at 1070meters from Bahundanda. Leaving Bahundanda a large waterfall may be seen. Crossing the Marsyangdi River on a suspension bridge. We then follow the river to the stone village of Jagat before climbing through forest to Chyamje at 1400meters. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Bagarchhap (2160meters). 5 hours.
Our day begins with the rocky trail following the Marsyandi Rivers steadily uphill to Tal at 1675meters, the first village in the Manang district. We make a trail verse crossing a wide, flat valley. The journey continues up and down to Dharapani at 1890 meters. A stone entrance chorten typical of the Tibetan influenced villages. Upon reaching Bagarchhap at 2160 meters the typical flat roofed stone houses of local Tibetans design along with the village surrounded by apple Orchards and maize fields. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Chame (2630meters). 5 hours.
The trail climbs to Tyanja at 2360 meters, then continuing through forest, but near the river, to Kopar at 2590meters. As we reach the Chame, the headquarters of the Manang district, we are rewarded by the fine views of Annapurna II as you approach Chame & two small hot springs by the town. Along this route we are introduced to a local community said to have migrated from Tibet a long time past, noticeable by their different features. With them, they have bought local Tibetan house designs and maintained their ways. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Pisang (3300 meters) 5 hours.
The day starts through deep forest in a steep and narrow valley, crosses a river on a long bridge at 2910meters. We then cross another bridge at 3040meters, from there the view of the soaring Paungda Danda rock face really begins to appear. From there the trail joins to climb to Pisang, which sprawls between 3200m & 3300meters. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Manang (3540 meters). 5 hours.
Today we continue through the drier upper part of the Manang district, cut off from the full effect of the monsoon by the Annapurna Range. People of this region herd the yaks & raise crops for part of the year. They also continue to enjoy special trading rights gained way back in 1784. Leaving Pisang, we have alternate trails north and south of the Marsyangdi River which meets up again at Mungji. The southern route by Hongde, with its airstrip, at 3325meters which involves less climbing than the northern route via Ghyaru, though there are better views on the trail that follows the northern bank of the river. From Mungji, the trail continues past the picturesque but partially hidden village of Bryanga at 3475meters to nearby Manang at 3540meters. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Acclimatization day at Manang village.
Today we spend a day acclimatizing in Manang. The whole day we spend doing some fine day walks and over viewing the magnificent views around the village & the day time is best to gain altitude. At the end of the day, we return back to our accommodation & have a night rest. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Yak Kharka (4000 meters) 5 hours.
Today we leave Manang, & the trail makes an ascent of nearly 500meters to the Yak Kharka. We make the climb steadily through Tenki Manang, leaving the Marsyangi Valley. Continuing along the Jarsang Khola Valley, we reach Yak Kharka at 4000 meters, there we see the many yaks and vegetations steadily more sparse. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Thorong Phedi (4450 meters) 5 hours.
After asending for two hours the trail descends to cross the river at 4310meters we then climb up to Thorong Phedi at 4450meters where we have recently found some good Guesthouses built. Our overnight stay will be there. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Muktinath (3800 meters) via Thorung La pass (5416 meters) 8 hours.
Today is a long trek starting before sunrise at 4 am to reach the pass by 9-10 am otherwise weather conditions will greatly affect the journey. We cross over at an altitude of 5416 meters we can be exposed to strong winds if crossing too late. We start to climb steeply that is regularly used and easy to follow. However, the problem may arise due to the altitude and snow. It often causes terrible problems to cross the pass if it is covered by heavy snow. About four hours climb up to the pass marked by the chortens & prayer flags. As you reach the top, you are rewarded by the magnificent view from the top with another 4 hours trek will take to the holy town of Muktinath.
Muktinath means place of Nirvana and is home to the Muktinath temple as well as several monasteries. It is said that all sorrows you feel are relieved when visiting the Temple, which is a scared pilgrimage site to both Hindus and Buddhists. The main pilgrimage normally takes place in September. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has 108 waterspouts around it from which Holy water pours. Another attraction nearby is the Jwala Mai Temple this contains a spring and an eternal flame fed by natural underground gas. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Marpha (2670 meters) 6 hours.
Our descent continues through the Kali Gandaki Valley to Marpha. Marpha is home to many apple orchids as well as all the various food products made from the fruit. Apple Brandy is a local specialty that you may be lucky enough to taste en route. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Ghasa (2010 meters) 6 hours.
We descend through the valley following the Kali Gandaki River to Ghasa. We walk along the bank of Kali Gandaki River. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Tatopani (1190 meters). 5 hours.
Today, we will walk through the world’s deepest gorge in the Earth at Kopchepani; we then continue descending through the Kali Gandaki River valley to Tatopani. This place is famous for its hot springs. This is the best place to relax your body after a long days trek, we will have one more extra day here tomorrow to relax. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Rest and relaxing day at Tatopani. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Ghorepani (2810 meters) 6 hours.
Leaving the hot springs behind us we ascend again to Ghorepani arriving mid afternoon. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Hike to Poon Hill (3210meters) and trek to Tikhedunga (1570meters) 5 hours.
Today, very early in the morning, we start an hour hiking to Poon Hill at elevation of 3210meters, a brilliant spectacle; this vantage point provides unobstructed views of the early morning sunrise over the high Himalayas. There we spend about 1 hour, then return to Ghorepani where we take a hot breakfast at the hotel then trek down to Tikhedunga (1570meters). Before starting towards Tikhedunga, we then walk down along the ridges and through rhododendron forests to large Magar village of Ulleri at 2070meters. After that we descend steeply down to Tikhedunga. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Trek to Nayapul (1010 meters) 3 hours and drive to Pokhara
Today, we are going to end our trek at Nayapul at elevation of 1010 meters, then driving to Pokhara for an hour by private vehicle. We have short and easy walking day for today. Overnight at Hotel.