Annapurna Circuit Trek

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a 16-day loop around the Annapurna massif, crossing Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters. The route moves through six climate zones: subtropical forest, temperate farmland, alpine meadows, arid high plateau, trans-Himalayan desert, and the deep Kali Gandaki gorge. No other single trek in Nepal covers this range of terrain and culture.

The standard direction runs counter-clockwise from Besisahar (760m) on the east side, climbing gradually through Chame (2,670m) and Manang (3,519m) to Thorong La. The mandatory rest day in Manang allows acclimatization with optional hikes to Ice Lake (4,620m) or Gangapurna Lake. The 4 AM crossing of Thorong La drops 1,600 meters to Muktinath (3,800m) on the west side, a sacred Hindu and Buddhist temple complex.

Beyond Muktinath, the trail descends the Kali Gandaki valley, the deepest gorge on Earth, with Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna I (8,091m) rising on opposite sides. The arid landscape of Kagbeni and Jomsom gives way to apple orchards in Marpha, Thakali villages in Tukuche, and eventually subtropical forest near Tatopani hot springs. The circuit ends at Nayapul with a drive back to Pokhara.

Permits: ACAP (NPR 3,000) and TIMS card, both included. Licensed guide mandatory since 2023 for all foreign trekkers.

To add Tilicho Lake (4,919m) to the circuit, the Tilicho Lake Via Annapurna Circuit adds a side trip from Manang. For the restricted Nar Phu Valley detour, see the Nar Phu Valley Trek. The Thorong La crossing alone is available as the shorter Thorong La Pass Trek (15 days). For the lower Mustang section, see the Jomsom Muktinath Trek.

The Thorong La crossing is the defining moment of the circuit. A 4 AM start from High Camp (4,850m) in darkness, 4 to 5 hours of steady climbing to the prayer flag-covered pass at 5,416m, views of Dhaulagiri across the valley, then a brutal 1,600-meter descent to Muktinath. The pre-dawn cold, the altitude, and the scale of the descent make this one of the most memorable pass crossings in trekking.

The Kali Gandaki gorge below Kagbeni is a geological wonder. The river cuts between Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna I (8,091m), creating the deepest gorge on Earth measured from rim to river. The wind funnels through the gorge every afternoon, and the landscape shifts from Tibetan-style stone houses and barley fields to apple orchards and subtropical forest within two days of walking.

Manang (3,519m) is the cultural heart of the circuit. A Tibetan-influenced trading town with flat-roofed stone houses, a Buddhist gompa, and the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic that gives free altitude lectures. The rest day here is not wasted time; it is one of the best acclimatization stops on any Nepal trek.

Six climate zones in one trek: subtropical forest, temperate farmland, alpine meadows, arid plateau, trans-Himalayan desert, and the deepest gorge on Earth. No other trek matches this range.

Thorong La at 5,416m is one of the great pass crossings in world trekking. The 4 AM start, the prayer flags at the top, and the 1,600-meter descent to Muktinath are unforgettable.

Manang is a genuine Tibetan-influenced mountain town, not a tourist village. Flat roofs, barley fields, Buddhist gompas, and yak caravans.

The Kali Gandaki gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna is the deepest gorge on Earth. The scale is incomprehensible from the trail.

Tatopani hot springs at the end of the circuit are a natural reward after 12 days of walking. Mineral pools beside the river at 1,190m.