Nepal’s most famous and oldest trekking route is the Annapurna Circuit Trek route nestled in the majestic landscape of Manang and Mustang region of Nepal. The trail is further glorified by the presence of the magnificent Himalayan high altitude pass the Thorong La Pass (5416 m). Over the years the route of the Annapurna Circuit Trek has faced so many challenges due to natural disaster and developmental activities. The essence of trekking has been threatened so many times in this trail of Nepal Trekking. However, every time the people of the region have stood up and shown great resilience. It is evident in the fact that the oldest trekking route is still one of the major popular trekking trail for trekkers from across the globe. The Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary has different days until this day! In fact, for some adventure lovers it is possible to do the Annapurna Cycling Tour as well!
In this blog, we will focus merely on all the details about day to day activities and possible alternatives! We will also present the positives and negatives of modern Annapurna Circuit Trek scenario. Everyday lots of clients of Nepal High Trek ask about the updated itinerary of Annapurna Circuit Trek. They also ask about Annapurna Circuit Trek Cost. Therefore, this blog tries to give all answers about Annapurna Circuit Trek journey in Nepal.
There are different itineraries of Annapurna Circuit Trek in the market. After the construction of road in the Mustang and Manang region of Nepal the number of trekking days has significantly decreased. The major reason behind the change in itinerary is the construction of road network. However, opening of lots of different trekking trailheads in the periphery of Annapurna Round Trek route is also another factor in changing the itinerary.
The original Annapurna Circuit Trek itinerary used to consist of walking from Lamjung Besisahar up to Nayapul. This section included places where trekkers travel by jeep nowadays. In this blog we will try to depict both contemporary trekking routes and classical Annapurna Circuit Trek routes!
At first, let’s know about the classical Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary before expansion of road network! In doing so we will divide and depict the section which is now a driving section! While depicting the motor able sections of the trekking route, we will explain in detail about the modern Annapurna Circuit Trek route in detail. Later, we will also discuss about possible 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek and 12 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek. Some trekkers wish to add Tilicho Lake section as well. Therefore, we will also focus some sections by adding Tilicho Lake. In doing so, we will talk further about skipping the Thorong La Pass by doing Meso Kanta La Pass or including the Thorong La Pass after visiting Tilicho Lake.
Early in the morning, the local bus or private jeep takes trekkers to the small town of Besisahar. This is the district headquarter of Lamjung district of Nepal. The road trip is filled with various roadside towns along the Prithvi Highway up until Dumre. From this place, trekkers have take the small road to Besisahar. The journey is about 5 to 6 hours from Kathmandu. It is comfortable journey but the renovation of highway has made some sections bumpy and dusty. Therefore, expect a tiring bus or private vehicle journey from Kathmandu to Besisahar.
Originally, there were no road connecting Besisahar and Chame! During the Classical Annapurna Circuit Trek trekkers had to trek from Besisahar to Chame or to some town before Chame according to walking stamina of trekkers. Nowadays, a jeep drive for about 5 to 6 hours can take trekkers directly to Chame from Besisahar. There are many ethnic villages, streams, forests, and terraced farmlands in this section of the trekking.
There is a provision of jeep driving from Chame village to Pisang nowadays. Even if there is a possibility of jeep drive from Chame to Pisang, trekkers prefer to do trekking instead of jeep drive. Most of the walking sections on this day is on the road. Therefore, it is a pleasant day of trekking. In modern trekking itinerary you can either choose to take a hitch hike or simply walk enjoying the changing landscape as you trek higher!
Nowadays, the most interesting tea break is at newly established apple farm on the side of the trekking trail. Trekkers can spend 15 to 30 minutes of tea break to explore this magnificent self sustained apple farm that consists of cozy cafe and shop! Please remember that there is road connection in the trekking route throughout until you reach Manang Village. Beyond Manang Village, there is a road network but it is not as managed as when trekkers travel up until they reach Manang Village. In fact, Nepalese travelers take their motorbike up to Manang village easily! Thus, Nepalese domestic tourism is also flourishing rapidly.
On this day, trekkers can feel the absolute change in the vegetation and landscape! Slowly, trekkers feel that they are entering the wilderness areas of the trekking route. The tree lines start to fade and chill mountain air starts to dazzle trekkers. Moreover, the change in altitude means that trekkers start to feel different while breathing. So far walking is on the clear well maintained path mainly on a bumpy graveled road. There are scattered households in this section until we reach Manang Village. The village is densely populated mainly by the Gurung tribes of Nepal.
The journey beyond Manang Village is in the high altitude places about 3500 m altitude. Therefore, it is necessary for trekkers to do acclimatization activities. As part of acclimatization activity, trekkers either hike to Ice Lake (4600 m) or Gangapurna Lake on this day. Both of these activities are equally suitable to get adjusted to the demand of high altitude places up to Thorong La Pass. During this acclimatization trekkers can visit old monasteries and households of the village. This is the best way to understand culture and nature of the region.
After a proper acclimatization rest, trekkers start their journey towards the village of Yak Kharka or Ledar. The trail is okay but occasional uphill and high altitude may make it hard for trekkers to trek smoothly on this section of the trekking.
Some trekkers add the Tilicho Lake Trek itinerary in their Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary. If you are adding trek to Tilicho Lake then you will have to allocate additional 4 days to reach Yak Kharka. Trekkers trek to Siri Kharka instead of Yak Kharka if they are going to Tilicho Lake before Yak Kharka. Trekkers will visit the Tilicho Base Camp and return back to Siri Kharka. From Siri Kharka they trek to Yak Kharka to meet the Annapurna Circuit Trek route. The journey of Tilicho Lake Trek is tedious as they will have to trek through landslide prone areas between Siri Kharka and Tilicho Lake Base Camp. The exploration of Tilicho Lake is adventurous as well as legendary. Do you know that Tilicho Lake is the highest situated lake of the world. Leaving footprints at the shores of the lake is always momentous.
Off the beaten trekking lovers who have done the crossing of Thorong La Pass before choose to do the crossing of Meso Kanta La Pass to reach Jomsom directly skipping the Muktinath Temple section. This is also slowly getting lots of attention from people across the globe. Nowadays, even rural municipality is promoting this section of trekking. Please add at least 4 days if you are adding Tilicho otherwise trekkers can reach directly to Yak Kharka to continue their journey of Annapurna Circuit Trek!
There is a debate whether to spend overnight in Thorong Phedi or in Thorong High Camp before crossing the Thorong La Pass (5416 m). There are positives of both these places while staying overnight. If you choose to stay at Thorong Phedi then you will be staying overnight in low altitude place with less risk of altitude sickness and better sleep. However, spending a night in Thorong High Camp before crossing Thorong La Pass is much easier in terms of next day’s walking to cross the pass. The altitude is high but you will cut at least 2 hours of walking early in the morning if you choose to spend a night in Thorong High Camp.
Cross the longest high altitude mountain pass of Nepal the Thorong La Pass. This is one of the most famous passes of Nepal that offers the quintessential scenery of Annapurna Massifs, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, etc. Upon crossing the pass trekker trek towards the sacred region of Muktinath Temple. The temple is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. You can find 108 taps, a temple, two ponds, and a nunnery in the region. All these places have their own significance.
Day 9: Trek to Marpha
Before learning about trekking to Marpha, let’s know more about modern alternatives of doing the Annapurna Circuit Trek. There are two ways doing the trek either flying back to Pokhara from Jomsom or continue driving to Pokhara directly. So, let’s learn more about this before knowing about trekking to Marpha village.
The distance between Muktinath temple and Pokhara is about 173 kilometers in Beni Jomsom Highway. The road trip is about 5 to 6 hours depending upon the traffic. In some Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary, trekkers prefer to do road drive from Muktinath to Pokhara directly via Marpha and Beni. This is the new modern way of doing the Annapurna Circuit Trek. If you choose to do this style then you will skip the Tatopani and Ghorepani section which is in the Classical Annapurna Circuit Trek trip itinerary.
Upon crossing the Thorong La Pass (5416 m), trekkers reach Muktinath. From this place, trekkers trek to Jomsom and spend a night in this famous town located in the shores of Kaligandaki River. This town is the most vibrant town of the Lower Mustang region of Nepal. The flight from Jomsom to Pokhara is about 25 minutes long through narrow Kaligandaki River Valley. After Lukla Airport for Everest Base Camp Trek, the Jomsom Airport is also considered as one of the adventurous airports of Nepal. Flying to Pokhara from this airport saves time but you will skip the majority of classical trekking route.
If not road to Pokhara or fly to Pokhara; trekker trek to famous apple village of Marpha. The trekking trail is on a road so you will have to forget about riding a vehicle to skip walking. Enjoy the majestic landscape and walking on the shores of Kali Gandaki River. Relish the chance to visit the clustered houses of Thakali people in Marpha Village. The village is known for farming apple and producing various products of apple including liqueurs.
On this day, trekkers trek on the road as well as some walking trail including several suspension bridges. In the evening, trekkers enjoy the soothing natural hot springs bathing. Relieve your tired muscles and enjoy the perks of dipping in the natural hot springs. It is believed that you can get rid of many skin diseases if you dip into the water of Tatopani.
Day 11: Trek to Ghorepani
Today is completely an uphill walking day as trekkers traverse through green lush forests, terraced farmlands, and hamlets to reach the majestic Poon Hill area of Ghorepani. This is the small town full of tea houses, resorts, and eateries. The place is major town in the regular Annapurna Base Camp Trek route that includes Poon Hill section. Relish the majestic scenery of mountains like Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna Massifs, Himchuli, Dhampus, and Machhapuchhre.
Early in the morning, trekkers trek to the top of Poon Hill for sunrise experiences. This is one of the most intriguing moment of this trek. You can experience the Himalayan sunrise and treat yourself with the breathtaking scenery of mountains including the world’s 7th tallest Mt. Dhaulagiri and the world’s 10th tallest Mt. Annapurna. After the hike, trekkers trek downhill to Ulleri and take jeep to go back to Pokhara.
There is an alternative way of doing the trek instead of trekking back to Ulleri and taking a jeep! Let’s know more about this now:
You can choose to add an additional one night to reach Pokhara from Ghorepani by doing trekking. Trekkers trek to Tadapani via Gurung Hill and Banthanti from Ghorepani. This is joyous trekking as you will descend most of the time in your own pace without stress of reaching the destination. Do you know that Ghorepani is the first model Home Stay village of Nepal mainly habituated by Gurung and Magar people. Upon reaching Ghandruk, trekkers can take a jeep or local bus back to Pokhara.
There are two ways to reach Kathmandu from Pokhara. The first one is by flight which is about 35 to 40 minutes. The second one is by road which is about 7 to 8 hours. The road distance between Kathmandu and Pokhara is about 200 kilometers. The choice is yours. Overall, trekkers can complete the modern Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary in about 12 to 13 days.
Yes, it is possible to get 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek package in Nepal. There are some trekking agencies in Nepal who are working relentlessly to create a sustainable tourism environment and preserve the trekking essence of Tilicho Lake with Annapurna Circuit Trek. Among few reliable trekking agencies of Nepal, the Nepal High Trek is one of them. Therefore, you can always ask for different styles of trekking packages including the Annapurna Circuit Trek 10 Days Package. The agency has different itineraries. For example, you can choose Annapurna Circuit Trek 12 Days, Tilicho Lake Trek, Nar Phu Valley Trek, Annapurna Circuit 16 Days Trek that includes Ghorepani Poon Hill section, and other customization possible trekking trips in the trekking route of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
An average Annapurna Circuit Trek Cost ranges from 750 $ per person to 1250 $ per person in a normal trekking service. If you choose luxury and sumptuous way of trekking then the cost of trekking may differ.
The blogger hopes that the blog helped you to understand more about the Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary to the fullest. If you have any doubts regarding the Annapurna Circuit Trek or Trekking in Nepal then feel free to inquire with our travel planners! Nepal High Trek is always available to quench your thirst of knowing about doing trekking in Nepal. Please check our blogs regularly for more updates about trekking or tours in Nepal.