Tour Overview
| Duration | 12 Days / 11 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Annapurna Conservation Area — Nepal |
| Price From | $995 per person (twin share, teahouse) |
| Max Elevation | 5,416m — Thorong La Pass |
| Difficulty | Moderate-Challenging |
| Best Season | March — May, October — November |
| Data Source | Himalayan Glacier / TourRadar 2026 verified pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1-2: Kathmandu to Chame (2,670m)
The Annapurna Circuit was once described as “the best long-distance trek in the world” — and the highway that now penetrates part of it has only concentrated the magic higher up. Drive from Kathmandu to Chame, the district headquarters of Manang, through terraced rice paddies and deep gorges. Chame sits at the base of Lamjung Himal, with hot springs nearby — your first taste of mountain life.
Day 3-4: Chame to Pisang to Manang (3,540m)
The trail enters the rain shadow of the Annapurnas — the landscape transforms from lush forest to high-altitude desert as dramatically as flipping a switch. Buddhist culture deepens: mani walls miles long, ancient gompas (monasteries), and the flat-roofed stone houses of the Manangi people. The view of Annapurna II (7,937m) dominates the skyline. Arrive in Manang, a medieval village of whitewashed houses and narrow alleyways where you spend two nights acclimatizing. Hike to Gangapurna Lake — a glacial lake of impossible turquoise — and visit the Himalayan Rescue Association for a talk on altitude sickness.
Day 5: Manang to Yak Kharka (4,050m)
Short day gaining altitude slowly. The landscape is now above the tree line — scrub juniper, grazing yaks, and views of the Annapurna massif opening wider with every step. Yak Kharka means “yak pasture” — these shaggy, grunting animals are at home here where nothing else grows.
Day 6: Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4,540m)
The trail climbs steadily along the Jarsang Khola valley. Thorong Phedi (meaning “foot of the pass”) is the last outpost before the big day — a handful of teahouses at the base of a massive scree slope. Early dinner, final gear check, and nervous excitement. Overnight at Thorong Phedi.
Day 7: Cross Thorong La Pass (5,416m) — Descend to Muktinath (3,800m)
The day that defines the Annapurna Circuit. 3am start by headlamp, climbing 900m over 4-5 hours in thin air where every step is a conscious effort. The trail is a ribbon of ice and scree. At the pass, prayer flags whip in the wind — the view of the Annapurna Range, Dhaulagiri, and the Kali Gandaki gorge (the deepest in the world) is otherworldly. Congratulations, tea, photos, and then the long descent — 1,600m down to Muktinath, a sacred site for both Hindus and Buddhists with its 108 water spouts and eternal flame burning from natural gas seeps. Your legs will never have worked this hard. Overnight in Muktinath.
Day 8-9: Muktinath to Jomsom to Pokhara
Morning visit to Muktinath Temple — one of the world’s highest temples (3,800m), where pilgrims bathe under freezing water from the 108 spouts to wash away sins. Then descend through the Kali Gandaki Valley, past Kagbeni (a medieval fortress village at the gateway to Upper Mustang, the forbidden kingdom). The trail follows the fossil-rich riverbed — ammonites from the Tethys Sea, millions of years old. Jeep to Jomsom, then fly or drive back to Pokhara — the lakeside city where hot showers, cold beers, and the view of the Annapurna Range reflected in Phewa Lake are your reward. Overnight in Pokhara.
Day 10-12: Pokhara to Kathmandu — Departure
Free day in Pokhara — paragliding over the lake, boating to the Tal Barahi Temple, or simply sitting at a lakeside cafe staring at the mountains. Drive or fly to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner and departure.
Included
- 11 nights (teahouse trek + hotels in Pokhara/Kathmandu)
- ACAP & TIMS trekking permits
- Expert English-speaking guide & porter
- All meals on trek
- Ground transport Kathmandu-Chame / Jomsom-Pokhara-Kathmandu
- Airport transfers
