Annapurna Circuit Trek Route trail image
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Trail

Annapurna Circuit Trek Route

Nepal · Khumbu

You can trek around the Annapurna Circuit from March to early May, and September to early December. We generally have groups of 4 – 6 people, and you will be led by Sherpa guides who have worked for us, for many years. The groups meet up in Kathmandu where we have a guesthouse if you wish to use it, or we can book one of the many hotels in the capital. Kathmandu is at an altitude of 1400m. The following day is a rest and briefing day, then on day 3 we travel by road to Bulbule followed by a 2hr walk to Ngadi which is at 900m. Day 4 is the start of our main trek and we then have a gradual height gain each day followed by a few days walking high and sleeping low before going over the 5412m Thorung La pass. After the pass we rapidly drop altitude to sub 2000m. Our circuit will bring us to Pokhara at the end of the trek and after a rest day there, we fly back to Kathmandu. The main itinerary ends on arrival back in Kathmandu and on the vast majority of occasions we are back in Kathmandu on day 20 with no problems. However, there are sometimes delays with the internal flights from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Therefore we recommend that you do not book international flights home that leave any earlier than the evening of day 21. This allows the possibility of making the internal flight (or drive if required) back to Kathmandu on day 21 if necessary. You can also arrange to stay an extra night in Kathmandu on the night of day 21 and fly out the following day. We can help you to book the extra night’s accommodation if needed. Please note: Due to the nature of trekking in the mountains and adventure travel, the itineraries here may need to be adapted on the ground to suit prevailing conditions of the mountains, weather and the group.

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Route stages

Stage 1

Arrive Kathmandu [Itinerary Starts]

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
Varies
Time
Flexible

Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel or Adventure Alternative guesthouse.

Stage 2

Rest & Briefing in Kathmandu

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
Flexible

Rest day and acclimatisation to jet lag. There is also the possibility of Kathmandu city sightseeing. Trek briefing will follow.

Stage 3

Kathmandu - Ngadi (drive)

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
2h

Kathmandu, Ngadi (drive). Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 560 metres of descent, a high point near 840 metres. Typical moving time is around 2 hours.

Stage 4

Ngadi - Jagat

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
430M
Time
5h

This stage covers Ngadi, Jagat. Expect moderate difficulty, about 430 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 1,270 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.

Stage 5

Jagat - Dharapani

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
690M
Time
5h

This stage covers Jagat, Dharapani. Expect moderate difficulty, about 690 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 1,960 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.

Stage 6

Dharapani - Chame

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
750M
Time
6h

This stage covers Dharapani, Chame. Expect moderate difficulty, about 750 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 2,710 metres. Typical moving time is around 6 hours.

Stage 7

Chame - Pisang

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
600M
Time
5h

This stage covers Chame, Pisang. Expect moderate difficulty, about 600 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 3,310 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.

Stage 8

Pisang - Manang

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
230M
Time
4h

This stage covers Pisang, Manang. Expect moderate difficulty, about 230 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 3,540 metres. Typical moving time is around 4 hours.

Stage 9

Rest day in Manang

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
1,060M
Time
Flexible

Rest day in Manang. Spend a day relaxing and acclimatizing with a day hike to the Ice Lake, high above the valley floor at 4600m.

Stage 10

Manang - Yak Kharka

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
4h

This stage covers Manang, Yak Kharka. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 580 metres of descent, a high point near 4,020 metres. Typical moving time is around 4 hours.

Stage 11

Yak Kharka - Thorung Phedi

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
520M
Time
4h

This stage covers Yak Kharka, Thorung Phedi. Expect moderate difficulty, about 520 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 4,540 metres. Typical moving time is around 4 hours.

Stage 12

Thorung Phedi - Thorung La - Muktinath

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
8h

This stage covers Thorung Phedi, Thorung La, Muktinath. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 24 metres of descent, a high point near 4,516 metres. Typical moving time is around 8 hours.

Stage 13

Muktinath - Tatopani (by vehicle)

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
5h

This stage covers Muktinath, Tatopani (by vehicle). Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 3,326 metres of descent, a high point near 1,190 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.

Stage 14

Tatopani - Sikha

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
740M
Time
4h

This stage covers Tatopani, Sikha. Expect moderate difficulty, about 740 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 1,930 metres. Typical moving time is around 4 hours.

Stage 15

Sikha - Gorepani

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
923M
Time
3h

This stage covers Sikha, Gorepani. Expect moderate difficulty, about 923 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 2,853 metres. Typical moving time is around 3 hours.

Stage 16

Gorepani - Poon Hill - Tadapani

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
357M
Time
6h

Gorepani to Tadapani. Early morning climb for around 1 – 2 hours to Poon Hill (3210m) to see the sunrise over the Himalayas, including the Doulagiri and Annapurna Range. Back at the lodge for breakfast and a walk descending for 4 – 5 hours to Tadapan

Stage 17

Tadapani - Ghandruk

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
4h

This stage covers Tadapani, Ghandruk. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 1,270 metres of descent, a high point near 1,940 metres. Typical moving time is around 4 hours.

Stage 18

Ghandruk - Nayapul (Trek) then drive to Pokhara

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
5h

Ghandruk, Nayapul (Trek) then drive to Pokhara. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 1,100 metres of descent, a high point near 840 metres. Typical moving time is around 5 hours.

Stage 19

Rest Day and sightseeing Pokhara

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
Flexible

Rest day and sightseeing around Pokhara, overnight in hotel.

Stage 20

Pokhara - Kathmandu (fly*) [Itinerary Ends]

Kathmandu to Unknown finish

Distance
Varies
Ascent
560M
Time
Flexible

Pokhara flight* to arrive in Kathmandu in the morning. The remainder of the day can be spent resting and/or sightseeing.

Stage 21

Depart for home or stay on in Kathmandu

Kathmandu to Pokhara

Distance
Varies
Ascent
0M
Time
Flexible

Depart for home or stay on in Kathmandu. Expect moderate difficulty, about 0 metres of ascent, about 0 metres of descent, a high point near 1,400 metres.