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Annapurna Circuit trek Nepal Thorung La high pass Himalaya
Home / Explore Nepal / Annapurna Circuit
🏆 World's Greatest Trek ⏱ Best 14–21 Days ★ 4.9 Rated

Annapurna Circuit

A 200km journey around the world's tenth-highest mountain — from subtropical rice terraces to the 5,416m Thorung La pass, crossing every ecological zone Nepal has to offer

Thorung La
5,416m
Circuit Length
~200km
Best Season
Oct–Nov · Mar–May
Starting From
NPR 75,000
✈️ Book This Trek 🗺 Plan My Itinerary
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🏆 About 📍 Highlights 🥾 Activities 🏨 Lodges 🗓 Itinerary 🍜 Food 💡 Tips 🗺 Map Book Trek →
About Annapurna Circuit

200km Around the World's Most Beautiful Mountain Massif

The Annapurna Circuit is widely considered the world's greatest trek — not for difficulty or altitude records, but for sheer landscape diversity and visual drama. Beginning in the subtropical Marsyangdi Valley at 800m and ending in the rain-shadow desert of Mustang, the route encircles the Annapurna massif (Annapurna I is the world's tenth-highest peak at 8,091m) through every ecological zone Nepal contains. Subtropical jungle, terraced rice paddies, rhododendron forest, alpine meadow, glacial moraine and high-altitude desert — all in a single continuous walk. The crossing of Thorung La at 5,416m is the dramatic centrepiece: a high, wild pass above the world.

🌿
5 ecological zones
From tropical jungle to arctic-alpine desert — more landscape variety than most countries
🏔
7 eight-thousanders visible
Annapurna I/II/III/IV, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Machhapuchhre all seen
🛕
Muktinath temple
One of the holiest Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the Himalaya, visited en route
🥾
No technical skill needed
A trail of extraordinary grandeur that is nonetheless walkable by fit beginners with proper preparation
200km
Full circuit distance
5,416m
Thorung La pass altitude
14–21
Days for the full circuit
8,091m
Annapurna I — world's 10th highest
Annapurna Circuit trek Nepal high pass panorama
🏆 Circuit Trek
Thorung La Pass 5416m Annapurna Circuit Nepal
🏔 Thorung La
Manang village Annapurna Circuit Nepal rice terrace
🌿 Manang Valley
Circuit Highlights

Key Stops on the Annapurna Circuit

From valley villages to glacier passes — the circuit's defining moments

Thorung La Pass 5416m Annapurna Circuit highest point Nepal
⭐ The Big Moment
Thorung La Pass — 5,416m

The dramatic high point of the circuit — a wide, windswept pass above a sea of clouds, with Annapurna and Dhaulagiri flanking you on either side. Leave Thorung Phedi (4,540m) at 3am to cross before afternoon storms. On the far side: the sacred town of Muktinath and an extraordinary descent into the Mustang desert landscape. One of the great days in adventure travel.

📍 5,416m altitude ⏱ 5–8 hrs crossing 🕒 Start at 3am
Manang village Annapurna Circuit Nepal glacial valley
🏘 Acclimatisation Base
Manang Village — 3,519m

The main acclimatisation stop before the pass — two nights here is standard protocol. A high Gurung village ringed by Annapurna III (7,555m), Gangapurna (7,454m) and the Annapurna Glacier. The Himalayan Rescue Association runs daily altitude safety talks. Excellent lodges, surprisingly good apple brandy.

📍 3,519m · 2 nights recommended
Muktinath temple Mustang Nepal pilgrimage holy site
🛕 Sacred Site
Muktinath — 3,800m

The first town below Thorung La on the Mustang side — one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Nepal, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple complex features 108 water spouts and an eternal flame. After the raw physical ordeal of the pass, arriving in this ancient holy town carries extraordinary emotional weight.

📍 3,800m · First stop post-pass
Pisang village Annapurna Circuit valley Nepal
🏘 Lower Valley
Pisang & Braga Villages

The Marsyangdi valley approach passes through a chain of traditional Gurung and Tibetan villages — Upper Pisang, Braga (with its ancient 700-year-old gompa) and Ghyaru perched on hillsides above the valley. The transition from Hindu lowlands to Tibetan Buddhist culture happens visibly over these days.

⏱ Lower circuit approach
Annapurna Base Camp view Nepal trek mountain
🌊 Dramatic Gorge
Kali Gandaki Gorge

The world's deepest gorge — 5,571m between Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna I (8,091m) — runs along the lower circuit's western leg. Walking through it, flanked by the two giants, is one of the most overpowering natural experiences on the trek. Strong valley winds blow consistently from noon onward; walk early.

⏱ World's deepest gorge
Pokhara Phewa lake finish Annapurna Circuit Nepal
🎉 Finish Line
Pokhara — Trek's End

The traditional endpoint of the circuit — Pokhara's lakeside is the greatest possible reward after 14+ days on the mountain. Phewa Lake, the Annapurna panorama, the finest dal bhat restaurant in Nepal (according to every returning trekker), and a hot shower. Few moments in travel match the feeling of finishing here.

⏱ Classic circuit finish
Things to Do

Activities on the Circuit

Pass crossings, side trips, culture and some of the finest views in Asia

Thorung La pass crossing 5416m Annapurna Circuit Nepal
⭐ Defining moment Strenuous
Cross Thorung La
The defining act of the circuit. Leave Thorung Phedi camp at 3–4am and ascend 876m to the pass in darkness, emerging into a dawn panorama of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. The 1,600m descent to Muktinath on the far side passes prayer flags and a completely different landscape. The pass can be closed by snow — October and November give the highest reliability.
5,416m · 8–10 hrs total Included
Poon Hill sunrise Annapurna massif view Nepal Ghorepani
🌅 Sunrise Easy
Poon Hill Sunrise
The lower circuit's most famous viewpoint — a 30-minute climb from Ghorepani at dawn to Poon Hill (3,210m), where the entire Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges turn gold with the rising sun. One of the most photographed mountain panoramas in Nepal, accessible without the full circuit. Often combined with Ghorepani as a 4-day short trek.
3,210m · 30 min Free
Muktinath temple pilgrimage Nepal Hindu Buddhist sacred
🛕 Sacred Easy
Muktinath Temple
One of Nepal's holiest sites — where Hindu and Buddhist traditions converge at 3,800m. The temple's 108 water spouts and eternal natural gas flame are considered miraculous. Hindu pilgrims come to bathe in the sacred waters; Buddhist pilgrims circumambulate the monastery. Arriving here after crossing Thorung La makes it one of the most emotionally charged stops in Himalayan trekking.
3,800m NPR 500 entry
Ice Lake Annapurna side trip Manang Nepal glacier
💧 Side Trip Moderate
Ice Lake Side Trip
On the acclimatisation day in Manang, climb to the Ice Lake (Kicho Tal) at 4,620m for extraordinary views of Gangapurna Glacier, Annapurna III and the Manang valley. A hard 5-hour round trip that doubles as the perfect acclimatisation hike (climb high, sleep low). Many consider it the best day hike on the entire circuit.
4,620m · 5 hrs Free
Tilicho Lake world highest lake Annapurna Circuit Nepal
🏆 Bucket List Strenuous
Tilicho Lake Detour
A 2-day detour from the main circuit reaches Tilicho Lake (4,919m) — the world's highest lake, spectacularly set below the Tilicho Peak (7,134m). The trail from Manang crosses a steep, avalanche-prone rock face (there is a fixed rope section) to reach a turquoise lake that few trekkers visit. Adds 2 days but is among the finest diversion on any Himalayan trek.
4,919m · 2 days Add-on
Where to Stay

Lodges on the Circuit

From Manang's best lodge to high-pass teahouses and Pokhara's lakeside hotels

Manang lodge hotel Annapurna Circuit comfortable
★ Manang
Yak Hotel, Manang
★★★★
The best-regarded lodge in Manang — sunny south-facing rooms with Gangapurna views, excellent food (the yak steak is famous), good wifi for the altitude and a warm dining room for evening altitude briefings from the HRA. Book ahead in October–November; it fills up completely during peak season.
from NPR 1,200/night
Book
Thorung Phedi High Camp teahouse Nepal pass base
High Camp
Thorung High Camp
★★★
The last lodge before the pass at 4,925m — spartan rooms, basic food and bunk-style sleeping. But staying here (rather than at Thorung Phedi below) cuts 1.5 hours off the pass-crossing walk and improves acclimatisation. The dawn views from the doorstep — Annapurna illuminated, the pass above, total silence — are extraordinary.
from NPR 800/night
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Jomsom guesthouse lodge Muktinath Mustang side Nepal
Muktinath side
Hotel Muktinath, Jomsom
★★★★
A comfortable modern hotel in Jomsom — accessible by daily flight from Pokhara if you don't want to walk back. En-suite rooms, hot showers and the best food on the western circuit. A logical 2-night stay to explore Muktinath and the Kali Gandaki gorge before the lower circuit or the flight home.
from NPR 2,500/night
Book
Besisahar start point Annapurna Circuit guesthouse Nepal
Circuit Start
Hotels, Besisahar
★★★
The traditional circuit start town at 760m — a night here before the walk begins is standard (bus from Kathmandu is 6–7 hrs). Good local guesthouses, permit checkpoints and the start of the Marsyangdi valley trail. The Hotel Annapurna and Green View Lodge are consistently well-reviewed.
from NPR 700/night
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Sample Plan

16-Day Annapurna Circuit Itinerary

Besisahar to Pokhara — the classic circuit with the best acclimatisation schedule

Day 1
🚌 Kathmandu → Besisahar (760m)
Bus or jeep from Kathmandu (6–7 hrs). Arrive Besisahar, sort ACAP permit and TIMS card if not already done. First night on the circuit. The Marsyangdi Valley stretches north ahead — the next two weeks unfold from this unassuming market town.
Days 2–3
🥾 Besisahar → Bahundanda → Jagat (1,300m)
The first two walking days through subtropical river valley — rice paddies, suspension bridges, small Gurung and Brahmin villages. The vegetation is lush, the path flat and easy. This is Nepal in its lowland form: warm, green, agricultural. The culture shifts noticeably higher up.
Days 4–5
🏔 Dharapani → Chame (2,710m)
The valley narrows and altitude increases — pine forest replaces subtropical jungle, first views of Annapurna II appear. The large, curving granite wall near Chame (a natural amphitheatre) signals the shift to high-altitude landscape. Chame is the administrative centre of Manang district — good lodges and food.
Day 6
🏘 Chame → Pisang → Braga (3,360m)
The most photographed stretch of the lower circuit — the trail passes below the enormous curving rock wall, then opens to the wide Manang valley with Annapurna III framing the horizon. Visit Braga's 700-year-old monastery perched on a cliff above the river. Start choosing between the lower and upper Pisang routes.
💡 Tip: Take the upper route from Pisang through Ghyaru — longer (1 extra hr) but vastly more scenic, with panoramic views of Annapurna II and the Marsyangdi valley.
Days 1–6 Spend
Bus Kathmandu–BesisaharNPR 1,500
ACAP permitNPR 3,000
TIMS cardNPR 2,000
Lodge (6 nights)NPR 6,000
Meals (6 days)NPR 9,600
Days 1–6 totalNPR 22,100
Days 7–8
🏘 Manang Acclimatisation (2 nights)
Two nights in Manang (3,519m) — the most critical part of the itinerary. Day one: rest, attend the HRA altitude talk, explore the village and Braga monastery. Day two: climb to Ice Lake (4,620m) for acclimatisation, return to sleep at Manang. The climb-high-sleep-low protocol here is proven to reduce pass failure rates dramatically.
Day 9
🏕 Manang → Thorung High Camp (4,925m)
A moderate 4-hour walk up the valley to Thorung High Camp — the last teahouse before the pass. Arrive early afternoon, rest and eat well (high-carb meals, lots of hydration), and sleep by 7pm. Set an alarm for 2–3am. The stars above the camp at this altitude are extraordinary — the Milky Way is close enough to touch.
Day 10
🏔 THORUNG LA PASS (5,416m) → Muktinath
The day. Leave at 2–3am. Ascend in the dark with headtorches — one step at a time, slow and steady. Dawn breaks over the pass; Annapurna and Dhaulagiri materialise in the light. Summit the pass, plant your flag in the prayer flags and begin the long descent to Muktinath. Celebrate with hot tea at the temple — you've crossed the roof of the world.
Days 7–10 Spend
Guide (4 days)NPR 10,000
Porter (4 days)NPR 6,000
Lodge (4 nights)NPR 4,800
Meals & hot drinksNPR 8,400
Days 7–10 totalNPR 29,200
Days 11–12
🏜 Muktinath → Marpha → Jomsom
The Mustang side of the circuit — a completely different landscape. The trail descends through eroded badlands and Tibetan-style villages to Marpha (famous for apple brandy and the best bakeries on the circuit) and Jomsom. Walk in the morning; the Kali Gandaki winds become violent from noon onward.
Days 13–14
🌿 Tatopani Hot Springs → Ghorepani
Tatopani — 'hot water' — features natural hot springs beside the river at 1,190m, the perfect remedy for aching muscles after 10 days above 3,000m. Soak for 2 hours. Then ascend 1,900m through rhododendron forest to Ghorepani (2,860m) — Nepal's greatest forest walk, with the rhododendrons in full bloom in April.
Day 15
🌅 Poon Hill Sunrise → Descent to Nayapul
4:30am — walk to Poon Hill (3,210m) for one final, perfect panorama: Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre at golden hour. Photograph it. Then descend all day to Nayapul through beautiful forest and Gurung villages. A fitting final day in the mountains.
Day 16
🎉 Nayapul → Pokhara
A 1.5-hour drive from Nayapul to Pokhara lakeside. Dal bhat at the best restaurant in the city. A hot shower. Phewa Lake glinting in the afternoon sun, Annapurna framing the far horizon. You walked around the world's greatest mountain massif. You're done.
Days 11–16 Spend
Guide (6 days)NPR 15,000
Porter (6 days)NPR 9,000
Lodge (6 nights)NPR 7,200
Meals (6 days)NPR 9,600
Days 11–16 totalNPR 40,800
Circuit Food

🍜 Eating on the Annapurna Circuit

The food transforms as dramatically as the landscape — from lowland dal bhat to Tibetan butter tea

Dal Bhat Nepal trail food trekking Annapurna Circuit
Dal Bhat — All Day, Every Day
The circuit is fed by dal bhat. Every lodge, every day, twice a day if you want — rice, thick lentil soup, vegetable curry, achar pickles, papads. Bottomless refills — ask for extra dal and they keep coming. After a 7-hour pass crossing day, a full dal bhat plate feels like a complete restoration of the human body. There is no better trekking food on Earth.
📍 All teahouses NPR 350–600
Marpha apple brandy pie Annapurna Circuit Mustang Nepal
Marpha Apple Brandy & Pie
Marpha village is the apple-growing capital of Nepal — the altitude and climate produce extraordinary apples. The village distillery makes a smooth apple brandy that every passing trekker stops for. The bakeries make fresh apple pie and cinnamon rolls that are genuinely world-class. A Marpha stopover is a highlight of the western circuit for food alone.
📍 Marpha village NPR 200–400
Butter tea chang Tibetan Nepal altitude warm
Butter Tea (Po Cha)
The Tibetan altitude drink — strong brick tea, yak butter and salt, churned together. Acquired taste: salty, fatty and oily in a way that shocks first-timers. But the Tibetan butter tea is scientifically proven to sustain energy at altitude, combat cold and hydrate the body. Above Manang, accept every cup offered — your body knows what it needs.
📍 Above Manang NPR 80–150
Tsampa roasted barley Nepal teahouse high altitude food
Tsampa (Roasted Barley)
The Tibetan staple above 3,000m — roasted barley flour mixed with butter tea into a dense dough eaten by hand. Extremely high in calories and digestible at altitude where complex foods sit heavy. Many Sherpa and Gurung guides still start every high-altitude day with tsampa rather than western trekking food. Try it at least once above Manang.
📍 Upper circuit teahouses NPR 200–300
Thali set meal Nepal mountain village food
Yak Steak at Manang
The Yak Hotel in Manang is famous for its yak steak — a dense, richly flavoured meat that fuels the final high-altitude push. Himalayan yaks graze on wild herbs at altitude, and the meat reflects it. Eaten the evening before the pass crossing with roasted potatoes and a glass of local chang barley beer, it has become a circuit ritual.
📍 Manang NPR 700–1,000
Tatopani hot spring meal Nepal recovery day circuit
Tatopani Feast
After days above 3,000m, Tatopani at 1,190m feels like arriving in paradise — warm air, fruit stalls and fresh vegetable food that was impossible at altitude. The thali set meals here use fresh local produce: spinach, tomato, egg and buffalo. Combined with two hours soaking in the riverside hot springs, a Tatopani lunch is the greatest rest day in trekking.
📍 Tatopani NPR 300–500
Insider Tips

Tips for the Annapurna Circuit

Pass strategy, permits, acclimatisation and everything the guidebooks miss

🏔
Top Tip
Cross Thorung La by 9am — afternoon storms close the pass and are non-negotiable
Thorung La is crossed by hundreds of people on good weather days — and closed to all on bad ones. The weather window is narrow: the pass is usually clear from 3am to 10am, after which clouds build and wind intensifies. Leave Thorung High Camp no later than 3:30am. Trekkers who leave at 6am often turn back. There is no alternative — the pass is the only way through.
🎫
PERMITS
ACAP permit (NPR 3,000) + TIMS card — mandatory
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit (NPR 3,000) and TIMS trekking card (NPR 2,000) are both required — get them in Kathmandu or Pokhara before the trek starts. Checkpoints at Besisahar, Manang and Jomsom verify these. We handle all permits as part of any booking with us.
🚙
JEEP ROADS
The lower circuit has jeep roads now — walk the upper paths
Since 2010, jeep roads have been built along much of the lower Marsyangdi valley. If you walk the main road, you're walking through dust and traffic. Always take the upper-valley alternative trails — they are marked, scenic, and avoid the road entirely. Our guides know every upper-route shortcut. This changes the experience completely.
🌡
ACCLIMATISATION
Never skip the Manang rest day — it is the most important day of the trek
The two nights in Manang with an acclimatisation hike to Ice Lake are not optional. The altitude jump from Chame (2,710m) to the pass (5,416m) is 2,706m — the body needs time. Every person who has skipped Manang and gone straight to the pass has either turned back or been evacuated. The extra day is the difference between success and failure.
💨
WIND
Kali Gandaki valley wind: always walk before noon on the western side
The Kali Gandaki gorge — the world's deepest — funnels wind from the Indian Ocean at extraordinary speeds from midday onward. After 1pm, the wind makes walking difficult and miserable. Plan every stage of the western circuit (Jomsom to Tatopani) to finish walking by noon. Leave lodges at 6–7am. Arrive by 11am. Non-negotiable for a pleasant experience.
💊
HEALTH
Carry Diamox — start above Chame, not at the pass
Acetazolamide (Diamox) is recommended for the high sections of the circuit. Start half a 250mg tablet twice daily from Chame upward (not at the pass — it needs 24 hrs to be effective). Common side effects: tingling hands, frequent urination, vivid dreams — normal. If you have a persistent headache, vomiting or loss of coordination above 4,000m: descend immediately, do not wait.
🛡
INSURANCE
Helicopter evacuation policy covering up to 5,500m — essential
Helicopter rescue from Thorung High Camp or above costs USD 2,000–4,000 payable immediately. Without insurance covering helicopter evacuation to 5,500m, altitude emergencies become financial catastrophes. World Nomads and True Traveller policies work well — verify there is no altitude exclusion clause. Carry your policy number and emergency contact in your passport wallet.
📅 Best Time for Annapurna Circuit
Himalayan weather — two optimal windows with clear pass days
Jan
Cold
Feb
Cold
Mar
Good ★
Apr
Best ★
May
Good ★
Jun
Monsoon
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Monsoon
Sep
End
Oct
Peak ★
Nov
Peak ★
Dec
Cold
Best — clear pass days, stable weather, optimal conditions
Avoid — monsoon closes Thorung La frequently
Thorung La Annapurna Circuit panorama Nepal
Circuit Specialist Available

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All permits handled — ACAP, TIMS and any restricted area permits
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Tilicho Lake and Three Passes extensions available
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Annapurna Circuit on the Map

Manang District, Gandaki Province — the 200km circuit route

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🏔 Thorung La Pass 🏘 Manang Village 🛕 Muktinath 🌅 Poon Hill 🚌 Besisahar Start
Annapurna Circuit from NPR 75,000
Permits + guide + porter
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