BodhVia

Annapurna

The Annapurna Circuit

A fourteen-day trek around the entire Annapurna massif — the classic Himalayan journey, walked at its proper, unhurried pace.

A fourteen-day trek from the green lowlands of Besisahar to the high desert of Manang, over the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m, and down through the apple orchards of Mustang. Privately guided by NMA-registered mountain guides who walk this circuit every season, with limited departures. We plan it with you before you arrive.

The trek that put Nepal on the map, made personal

The Annapurna Circuit drew the first Himalayan walkers to Nepal in the 1970s, and it is still the country's great classic. Roads have shortened it and crowds have changed it. Our version brings it back to what it was meant to be.

We follow the original line — the high route through Ghyaru and Ngawal, a slow and safe approach to the Thorong La, and the long descent into the apple orchards of Mustang. Your trek leader has walked this circuit every spring and autumn for years, and on your journey he is yours alone.

Every journey begins with a conversation. We keep groups small and departures limited. Tell us when you would like to travel, and we will plan it with you.

The line of the walk · 14 days on foot

max 5,416m (Thorong La)

5,416m

Hover the markers — 6 places along the way

Day by day

The walking
itinerary.

  1. Day 1

    840m

    Drive from Kathmandu to Bhulbhule

    A long but scenic drive through the foothills to the trailhead. We break the journey with a riverside lunch and arrive in Bhulbhule for a quiet first night under the stars.

    Walking1 hrs

  2. Day 2

    1,300m

    Bhulbhule to Jagat

    The first full day on the trail, and where your legs find their rhythm. We pass waterfalls, suspension bridges, and terraced rice paddies, with tea in a Gurung village along the way.

    Walking6 hrs

  3. Day 3

    1,860m

    Jagat to Dharapani

    The trail climbs into the Manang district and the landscape shifts — pine forest replaces rice terraces, and we pass our first chortens, the whitewashed Buddhist shrines that line the upper valleys.

    Walking6 hrs

  4. Day 4

    2,710m

    Dharapani to Chame

    We enter apple country. Chame is the district capital and the largest village since the trailhead — yet still small, quiet, and welcoming, with mountain views opening up around us.

    Walking5–6 hrs

  5. Day 5

    3,300m

    Chame to Pisang

    The sheer rock face of Paungda Danda rises ahead of us. A short, beautiful day with your first clear sight of Annapurna II towering above the valley.

    Walking5 hrs

  6. Day 6

    3,540m

    Pisang to Manang via the upper route

    We take the higher trail through the villages of Ghyaru and Ngawal — harder going, but with the finest mountain views of the whole trek. We reach Manang in the late afternoon.

    Walking6–7 hrs

  7. Day 7

    3,540m

    Acclimatisation day in Manang

    An active rest day with an optional climb to the Ice Lake or the Gangapurna Glacier to help your body adjust. A long lunch at our favourite kitchen, and an afternoon altitude-health talk at the village clinic.

    Walking3–4 hrs

  8. Day 8

    4,110m

    Manang to Yak Kharka

    A deliberately short, slow day to keep the climb gentle on the body. Grazing yaks, low juniper, and the first signs of the high desert ahead.

    Walking3–4 hrs

  9. Day 9

    4,540m

    Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi

    A steady climb to high camp at the foot of the pass, which now looms directly above us. An early dinner and an early night before tomorrow's crossing.

    Walking3–4 hrs

  10. Day 10

    5,416m / descend to 3,800m

    Cross the Thorong La pass to Muktinath

    The big day. We set out at four in the morning, climb in the cold, and cross the Thorong La at 5,416 m as the sun rises over the high Himalaya. A long, glorious descent follows to the temple town of Muktinath.

    Walking8–9 hrs

  11. Day 11

    2,810m

    Muktinath to Kagbeni

    We visit the sacred Muktinath temple in the morning, then descend into the rain shadow of the Annapurnas to Kagbeni, a medieval village at the gateway to the Mustang valley.

    Walking4 hrs

  12. Day 12

    820m

    Kagbeni to Jomsom, then fly to Pokhara

    A short walk to Jomsom and a scenic flight down to the lakeside city of Pokhara. The rest of the day is yours — a long afternoon at our lakeside hotel, a massage, and well-earned quiet.

  13. Day 13

    820m

    Recovery day in Pokhara

    A full day to rest and recover. Sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot, a relaxed breakfast by the lake, and an evening out on the water of Phewa Tal.

  14. Day 14

    1,400m

    Fly back to Kathmandu

    A private flight back to Kathmandu, with the whole Himalayan range on the horizon, and a private farewell dinner to close the journey.

What is included

  • Senior NMA-registered trek leader plus an assistant guide
  • A private porter team that carries all your luggage
  • Hand-picked teahouses, with a private room wherever available
  • All meals, snacks, and provisions on the trail
  • Lakeside Pokhara hotel with a full recovery day
  • Private Pokhara to Kathmandu flight
  • Daily SpO2 monitoring and a full altitude-safety protocol

Honest answers

Practicalities

  • How hard is the Thorong La pass?

    It is the high point of the trek at 5,416 m and a long day, but it is a walk, not a climb. We acclimatise at Manang for two nights beforehand and start at four in the morning, with full team support and supplementary oxygen.

  • How do you keep me safe at altitude?

    We take daily SpO2 readings from Manang onward, ascend slowly, and build in rest days. If any traveler dips below safe thresholds, we stop and rest — no exceptions.

  • Do I finish where I started?

    No. The circuit takes you the whole way around the massif. You finish at Jomsom, fly to Pokhara for a recovery day on Phewa Tal, then return to Kathmandu.

  • How do I book this trek?

    Every journey begins with a conversation. Tell us when you would like to travel and we will reply within three days to start planning your departure.

Walk this with us.

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