Annapurna Circuit Trek

A long travel day combining a 7-8 hour highway drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar, followed by a rough jeep ride up the Marsyangdi valley to Dharapani. The extra road time dramatically shortens the trekking distance and places you at the Manang district boundary ready to begin proper mountain trekking the next morning.

Your first full trekking day winds through broadening pine and fir forests as the Marsyangdi valley narrows and steepens. Pass the flat-roofed Tibetan-style villages of Bagarchhap and Danaque before reaching Chame, the administrative headquarters of Manang district, well supplied with teahouses and hot showers.

A spectacular day as the valley squeezes between towering red cliff walls and the trail climbs alongside a rushing gorge. The enormous curved rock face above Swargadwari is hard to miss before the path opens to wide panoramas. Upper Pisang sits high above the valley floor with commanding views of Annapurna II and Pisang Peak directly ahead.

Take the recommended high route along the ridge above Pisang for sweeping views of Annapurna II, III, IV, and Gangapurna before dropping to the broad flat valley at Manang. The shift from green highland forest to semi-arid rain-shadow terrain is dramatic — you are now firmly in Mustang country, where the sky is wide and the mountains enormous.

A vital acclimatization day before the high-altitude push to Thorong La. Take a guided hike up to Gangapurna Lake or the cave of Milarepa, visit the ancient hilltop gompa, or simply rest and hydrate at a teahouse. Your guide will advise on warning signs of altitude sickness and strategies for a safe pass crossing tomorrow.

A shorter but important acclimatization walk climbing into the high pastures above Manang. Vegetation thins, the air noticeably lightens, and herds of yak graze the windswept slopes. Settling here tonight gives the body a further step up before the demanding Thorong La crossing.

A short but critical positioning walk to the base of Thorong La pass. Arrive early, eat a good meal, rest, and set your alarm for a pre-dawn start. The basic teahouses at Thorong Phedi fill quickly in peak season, so early arrival is advised. Exciting and slightly nervous energy fills the dining hall as trekkers prepare for tomorrow.

The most dramatic and celebrated day of the entire circuit. Depart well before dawn to climb the 5,416 m Thorong La pass, the high point of the journey, before afternoon winds and cloud build. The ascent is long and steep but well-marked with cairns and prayer flags. From the summit the panorama across the Himalayas is extraordinary. Descend the long switchback track into the Mustang landscape and arrive at Muktinath, a sacred pilgrimage site revered by both Hindus and Buddhists.

Board a jeep and follow the dramatic Kali Gandaki gorge — the deepest valley on Earth — southward through Jomsom and Marpha, with their whitewashed mud-brick architecture, and on to the lower-altitude village of Tatopani. The famous natural hot springs here are a deeply welcome reward after the physical demands of the last few days.

A long and rewarding climb from the valley floor through dense rhododendron, oak, and bamboo forest up to the classic ridge village of Ghorepani. The trail is well-trodden and atmospheric, passing through terraced fields and small settlements. Ghorepani offers excellent teahouses, mountain views, and a well-earned rest before tomorrow's sunrise.

Begin before dawn with the short but iconic hike to Poon Hill viewpoint at 3,210 m for a golden sunrise panorama of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and the fishtail summit of Machapuchare. Descend through forested trails to Banthanti and then to a roadhead, where a vehicle transfer winds down the hillside to the lakeside city of Pokhara.

A well-earned rest day in Nepal's most relaxed city. Kayak or take a rowing boat on Phewa Lake, stroll the Old Bazaar, visit the World Peace Pagoda across the lake, try paragliding over the valley, or simply sit at a lakeside café and let the scale of what you have just accomplished sink in.

Complete the circuit with a scenic 25-minute domestic flight over the Himalayas or a comfortable 7-hour overland drive back to Kathmandu. Celebrate at a farewell dinner and collect your trekking certificate — you have completed one of the world's greatest mountain journeys.