Annapurna Circuit Trek-20 Days

Annapurna Circuit Trek

Book This Trip
  • Duration20 Days
  • Trip GradeStrenuous
  • Maximum Altitude5,416 m
  • Best SeasonSpring and Autumn
  • Trip styleTrek
  • Start/EndKathmandu
All-Inclusive PriceUS $2100
Book This TripCustom Trip Plan
Free cancellation before 60 days departure
tripadvisor

About Annapurna Circuit Trek

"Go on an adventurous journey with us on our 20 days Annapurna Circuit Trek and explore the tempting beauty of the western Himalayas, cross challenging Thorong La pass & get blessed in the Muktinath Temple."

Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the most famous and loved trekking routes in Nepal. It is a wonderful trek amidst the great Himalayan range in the high west of the nation. 20 days Annapurna Circuit Trek is all about pushing your limits and testing your endurance while enjoying some of the sensational landscapes on Earth. No other trek balances adventure, cultural heritage, interactions with locals, and mountain scenery like Annapurna Circuit. 

From Manang village (3,519 m) onwards, the terrain gets grassy and rocky. The climate gets colder and drier. We cross the Thorong La pass (5,416 m) and later visit the ancient Muktinath temple (3,800 m). Muktinath temple is a significant pilgrimage site. The later part of the trail explores the deepest gorge in the world- Kali Gandaki gorge, apple orchards, tempting waterfalls, and natural hot springs. 

Annapurna Circuit Trek is a physically demanding venture, therefore we only recommend it to experienced fit trekkers. The Annapurna Circuit Trek route has numerous steep ascents & descents. You will be following rugged foothills and trek through dense forests of rhododendron (national flower of Nepal), pine, birch, etc. While passing by remote villages, you get to interact with the locals and have a glimpse of their daily lifestyle.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Nepal will take you to high altitudes. The trail is full of breathtaking mountain views of Annapurna (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Nilgiri (7,061 m), Himchuli (6,441 m), Tukuche (6,920 m), Tilicho Peak (7,134 m), Gangapurna (7,455 m), Fishtail (6,993 m), etc. Following our Annapurna Circuit Trek itinerary, you get ample time to acclimatize and soak the scenery.

To make the 20 days Annapurna Circuit Trek even more adventurous, you extend the trip to Tilicho Lake (4,919 m). It is the second largest lake in Nepal.

If you are already enchanted by Annapurna Circuit Trek Nepal, then you should also check out our Manaslu Circuit Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek, and Annapurna Base Camp Trek. These are some of our other very famous treks in the Himalayas.

You can now book Annapurna Circuit Trek 2022/2023 anytime with us. For more information regarding the Annapurna Circuit Trek package, talk to our representative anytime. 

Good to Know

  • Explore two major cities of Nepal- Kathmandu & Pokhara
  • Trek through picturesque remote mountain villages and lush forests of rhododendron
  • Cross suspension bridges and pass by gorgeous waterfalls
  • Meet with locals from different ethnic groups and have a glimpse of their lifestyle
  • Witness breathtaking views of the western Himalayan mountains
  • Cross the challenging Thorong La pass
  • Visit Muktinath Temple
  • Explore apple orchards and relax in a natural hot spring
  • Walk by the Kali Gandaki gorge, the deepest gorge in the world

Itinerary

Expand allCollapse all

Even before landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by the magical views of the stretching snow-capped mountains and hills. At the airport, meet with our team members and drive to the hotel.

In the evening, we have planned a welcome dinner where you meet with the rest of the team members. Over the dinner, we discuss the further program and later explore Thamel.

 

  • AccommodationAt hotel
  • MealsWelcome dinner
  • Max. Altitude1300 m

The Kathmandu heritage tour takes you to some of the oldest historical sites of the city. You will visit the famous Monkey Temple - Swayambhunath and the largest stupa of Nepal - Boudhnath Stupa. Both of these places have huge religious significance for Buddhists. 

Likewise, the tour also takes you to the sacred Pashupatinath Temple. It is an ancient Hindu temple located at the bank of the holy Bagmati river. The tour ends with exploring the courtyards, palaces, and temples of Kathmandu Durbar Square, an old royal residence. 

In the late afternoon, your trek guide will meet you for a small briefing. We will then do the preparation for the trip and buy needed trekking gear. 

 

  • AccommodationAt hotel
  • MealsB,L,D

From Kathmandu, we take a bus ride to Bulbule. The drive is fantastic as it offers beautiful views of rivers and green hills. After lunch at Bulbule, we continue to trek towards Ngadi. It's an hour-long walk from Bulbule onwards. Ngadi village offers superb views of Ratna Chuli Himal (7,035 m) and Ngadi Chuli Himal (7,871 m).

 

  • AccommodationTea House
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude890 m
  • Duration6-7 hour driver and 1 hour trek

The trail from Ngadi goes to Bahundanda (2 hours walk). We then continue towards Ghermu village, which is another couple of hours of walk from Bahundanda. From here, we cross a suspension bridge and walk for 10-15 minutes to reach Syange. The final walk is another 2 to 3 hours long before you reach Jagat.

 

  • AccommodationTea House
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude1400 m
  • Duration6 hours

The trail gradually ascends and comes across the Marshyangdi river to Chamche. From here, it's a steep walk. You will pass by a beautiful waterfall. The trail then descends and crosses the Marshyangdi River on a suspension bridge. After 2 to 3 hours of walking, you reach Tal village and keep trekking along the foothills to reach Dharapani.

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude1,960 m
  • Duration7-8 hours

rom Dharapani, the first village you reach is Timang at 2,350 m. On a clear day, you can see the stunning view of the Manaslu range from here. We will have lunch here and trek for another two hours to reach Chame. Chame is the headquarter of the Manang district.

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude2,710 m
  • Duration5-6 hours

The trail offers views of Lamjung Himal and turns to Pisang. Passing through Bhartang village, we walk and reach Dhukur Pokhari. Here we take a short break for lunch and move towards Lower Pisang. We will be spending the night in the lower Pisang. 

 

  • AccommodationTea House
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude3,300 m
  • Duration5-6 hours

We begin the day trekking towards Manang village through the Upper Pisang that passes through Ghyaru village. There is one more route to Manang, but the route we will be following offers great mountain landscapes. From Ghyaru, we trek for a couple of hours to reach Ngawal. 

Ngawal village offers breathtaking panoramas of Tilicho Peak, Annapurna Range, and Mt. Gangapurna. You may notice a change in landscape and vegetation. The climate also begins to get more cold and dry. Paying a short visit to the ancient Barge monastery, we ascend to Manang village.

 

  • AccommodationTea House
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude3,519 m
  • Duration6-7 hours

We spend the day resting in Manang. The resting involves exploring the village and hiking to nearby areas. We hike to Gangapurna Tal. It is also known as the Ice Lake. We then explore monasteries and high caves. Later, you can room around the village and visit the shops & museums.

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude3,519 m

After having breakfast, we begin the day with a gentle ascent to Yak Kharka. The trail goes through Gunsang village (3,960 m). Along the way, we get to see excellent views of mountains. It's a relatively short trek from Manang Village to Yak Kharka, but the rise in elevation may be more exhausting than you could think.

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude4,110 m
  • Duration3-4 hours

Today is another uphill trek day. After walking a bit, we cross a suspension bridge and reach Ledar. The trail then further ascends to Thorong Phedi. Along the route, we can see tempting views of mt. Khatungkan, Thorong Peak, Mt. Gundang, Mt. Syagang, etc. 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude4,600 m
  • Duration3-4 hours

After the two short trekking days, it's time to gear up and face the most challenging part of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. We will cross the highest pass of Nepal, Thorong La Pass. The trail from Thorong Phedi continues ascending on a steep, rugged uphill path that leads to the top of the pass. It's a difficult and sloppy climb. 

After a hard climb, we get rewarded with the best views of the western Himalayan mountains from the top of the pass. The trail then gradually drops down to the holy Muktinath Temple for the night's stay. It's a well-known pilgrimage site.

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude5,416 m
  • Duration7-8 hours

The first part of the route follows a flat rocky path along the bank of the world's deepest gorge, Kali Gandaki gorge. We continue walking towards the picturesque Marpha village. This village is famous for its delicious apples.

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude2,670 m
  • Duration4-5 hours

The trail steeply goes through lush forests of rhododendron, pine & birches to the last Thakali village. Mountains like Tukuche, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna I, and Fang are seen along the way today. 

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude2,530 m
  • Duration5-6 hours

The trail descends steeply to Rupse Chhahara, crossing Ghasa. It is a gorgeous waterfall. We can see views of Mt. Annapurna I in the east and Dhaulagiri in the west. Further, the trail ascends to Tatopani through small settlement areas.

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude1,200 m
  • Duration6-7 hours

It's a long day ahead of us, so we begin trekking early. The trail is flat at first and steeply climbs for an hour through multiple villages. Further, we walk by villages like Phalate, Chitre, and others. The end part of the route goes through lush rhododendron forests to fine Ghorepani village. 

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude2,850 m
  • Duration7-8 hours

Before we leave Ghorepani village, we hike up to the popular viewpoint of the lower Annapurna region, Poon Hill. The mesmerizing sunrise and jaw-dropping mountain panorama from this place are surreal. After enjoying the sunrise, we descend back to Ghorepani village and begin ascending in the east. The trail goes through dense forests and passes by waterfalls to Tadapani.

 

  • AccommodationTea house
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude2,700 m
  • Duration6-7 hours

We continue trekking through dense and dark forests. The trail takes to another famous village, Ghandruk. We can see great views of Annapurna, Himchuli, Fishtail, and other mountains from here. Further, we descend to Nayapul, from where we drive to Pokhara. The evening is free. Relax and explore around Phewa Lake.

 

  • AccommodationAt hotel
  • MealsB,L,D
  • Max. Altitude850 m
  • Duration5-6 hours trek & 1-hour drive

This is the last long drive back to Kathmandu. The drive is fantastic and less stressful because of the stunning landscapes. We will drop you at the hotel. You get the afternoon and entire evening free to do shopping and pack. In the late evening, we celebrate the success of the trip at the farewell dinner.

 

  • AccommodationAt hotel
  • MealsFarewell dinner
  • Duration6 hours

 

The Nepal Dream Travels airport representatives will escort you to the airport for your flight back home. It's time to leave Nepal with memories worth cherishing for a lifetime. 

 

  • MealsB

Useful Information

Annapurna Circuit Trek route

Our Annapurna Circuit Trek itinerary ascends from Bulbule, located around a 7-8 hours drive from Kathmandu. The trail passes by villages like Ngadi, Jagat, Dharapani, Chame, and Pisang before we reach Manang village. 

We then walk by the pastures of Yak Kharka and walk on a steep, rocky path to Thorong Phedi. The next part of the Annapurna Circuit Trek Nepal crosses the Thorong La pass and descends to Muktinath. Walking alongside the deepest gorge in the world, Kali Gandaki gorge, we reach Marpha. 

The trail then passes by villages like Kalopani and Tatopani before we make it to Ghorepani village. Further, we hike to Poon Hill to enjoy the sunrise and follow a downhill route to Nayapul via Ghandruk village. Our 20 days Annapurna Circuit Trek ends at Nayapul, and we drive to Pokhara on the same day to spend the night. 

Annapurna Circuit Trek difficulty

Annapurna Circuit Trek is a difficult trek. It requires previous trekking experience and a good level of physical fitness. The trekker has to walk 6 to 7 hours on a daily basis with a backpack. The most challenging part of Annapurna Circuit Trekking is crossing Thorong La pass. 

The trail to the top of the pass is steep and rocky. You may have to walk on snowy ridges depending upon your trekking period. Likewise, there are many other steep paths along the way. The remoteness of the region also affects the difficulty of the trek. With the increase in elevation, everything gets expensive and limited. 

Altitude Sickness during the Annapurna Circuit Trek

20 days Annapurna Circuit Trek goes above 5,000 meters. From Pisang village onwards, you will be spending 5 days above 3,000 meters above sea level, and each day, the elevation rises and takes you to 5,416 meters before dropping to 3,800 meters on the same day. 

These many days at high altitudes can trigger altitude sickness if the trekkers do not maintain measures. The best thing is our Annapurna Circuit Trek itinerary has enough acclimatization days. It means the trekkers get rest days in between the trek to adjust to the altitude and relax. 

Our best advice is to keep yourself hydrated and not smoke or consume alcoholic drinks while trekking. Similarly, if you see any symptoms like breathing problems, loss in appetite, headache, nausea, etc inform your guide and follow his instructions. 

Best time to do Annapurna Circuit 

You can do Annapurna Circuit Trek from March to April (spring) and October to November (autumn). These are the perfect months to trek in the Annapurna region and relish the breathtaking mountain panorama. The trekking route gets bloomed with seasonal flora and fauna. And the climate is neither too cold nor hot, which makes the trek in these seasons fantastic. 

Food & Drinks

Kathmandu and Pokhara have every kind of food and drink. In the city, you get breakfast and a welcome/farewell dinner. While trekking, three meals a day are provided to the trekkers. Compared to the past, the tea houses these days offer a wide range of menus that goes from dal bhat to burgers and yak steaks. You can choose what you want to eat given the budget. 

For drinks, there are options like the range of teas, coffee, soft drinks, soup, etc. You will get alcoholic drinks too, but we recommend you avoid them throughout the trek to not get dehydrated and ultimately vulnerable to altitude sickness. 

Along the Annapurna Circuit route, we come across tea shops, where we can refill our water bottles with boiled water and also buy snacks & chocolate bars. The price of the snacks is more expensive than what you get in the city because of the lack of transportation. Get your favorite snacks in the city to last while trekking.

Accommodation

Our pre & post-trek accommodations are in Kathmandu & one night in Pokhara. We book a tourist standard hotel in the cities for our guests. 

During the Annapurna Circuit trek, you will be staying at teahouses. The tea houses are basic with twin-shared rooms. The washroom is shared at most places. Hot showers are not available free of cost. You have to pay a few extra bucks to use it while trekking (not covered in the package cost).

Other services like the internet and charging your electronic devices may also cost you additional money, which again is not covered in our Annapurna Circuit trek package price. We recommend you budget some money to use these services while trekking. Do know that you can only withdraw Nepali cash in Kathmandu, and there's no ATM along the trekking route. 

 

Similar Trips

See All Trips

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

Privacy Policy