Annapurna Circuit Trek at a glance
How the grades compare across routes: Nepal trek difficulty grades explained.
Overview
The Annapurna Circuit loops around the Annapurna massif, climbing the Marsyangdi valley on the east side, crossing the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m, and dropping into the Kali Gandaki valley on the west. Over two to three weeks the landscape changes from rice terraces and subtropical forest to pine and juniper, then to the dry, high plateau around Manang and Muktinath, which sits in the rain shadow of the Himalaya.
The route passes through Gurung, Manangi and Thakali villages, Buddhist gompas and chortens, and the Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site of Muktinath. Teahouses are found in every village, so you sleep indoors and eat in lodge dining rooms along the whole route.
Roads now reach far up both valleys, and most trekkers take a jeep for the lower sections and walk from around Dharapani or Chame. Quieter footpaths on the opposite bank of the river, such as the upper route via Ghyaru and Ngawal, avoid much of the traffic. The crossing day is long and starts before dawn, which is why an acclimatisation day in Manang matters.
The trek suits fit walkers with some hiking experience who are comfortable with several days above 4,000 m. A licence-verified guide you contact directly can adjust the pace, choose the quieter trails and judge conditions on the pass.
Deciding between routes? Everest Base Camp vs Annapurna Circuit: Which to Choose · Manaslu Circuit vs Annapurna Circuit: Which to Choose
🌟 Trail Highlights
- Crossing the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m
- The rain-shadow landscape around Manang and Muktinath
- Upper route through Ghyaru and Ngawal with views of Annapurna II
- Acclimatisation hike above Manang to Gangapurna Lake or Ice Lake
- Muktinath temple, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists
- Sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South from Poon Hill
Annapurna Circuit Trek itinerary
- Day 1
Kathmandu to Besisahar
Drive west from Kathmandu along the Prithvi Highway, then north up the Marsyangdi valley to Besisahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung. The road is busy and the drive takes most of the day.
- Day 2
Jeep from Besisahar to Dharapani
Shared or private jeeps follow the rough road up the narrow Marsyangdi gorge past waterfalls and the villages of Jagat and Tal. The road is slow and can be affected by landslides, especially after the monsoon.
- Day 3
Dharapani to Chame
Walk through pine and oak forest via Bagarchhap and Danaque, with the first views of Manaslu and Annapurna II. Chame is the headquarters of Manang district and has a good choice of lodges.
- Day 4
Chame to Upper Pisang
The valley narrows past the curved rock face of Paungda Danda before opening out into drier country. Stay in Upper Pisang rather than Lower Pisang for the views and a better start to the upper route.
- Day 5
Upper Pisang to Manang via Ghyaru and Ngawal
A steep climb to Ghyaru is rewarded by some of the finest Annapurna views on the circuit. The trail then contours through Ngawal and descends to Braka and Manang. This higher route also helps acclimatisation.
- Day 6
Acclimatisation day in Manang
Stay a second night in Manang. Walk high and sleep low: a morning hike to Gangapurna Lake, the Praken Gompa or, for strong walkers, Ice Lake helps your body adjust before the pass. The Himalayan Rescue Association post in Manang often runs altitude talks in season.
- Day 7
Manang to Yak Kharka
A short day to keep the gain in altitude gentle, climbing through Gunsang into open grazing land. Arrive early and rest.
- Day 8
Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi
Cross a landslide-prone stretch above the river to Thorong Phedi at the foot of the pass. Some groups continue a further steep hour to High Camp; your guide will decide based on how everyone is acclimatising.
- Day 9
Over the Thorong La to Muktinath
Start before dawn for the long climb to the Thorong La at 5,416 m, then a steep, knee-testing descent of around 1,700 m to Muktinath. Weather and snow can close the pass, so be ready to wait a day.
- Day 10
Muktinath to Jomsom
Visit the Muktinath temple complex in the morning, then walk down via the old village of Jharkot and Kagbeni or take the road to Jomsom. Afternoon winds in the Kali Gandaki valley are strong, so start early.
- Day 11
Jeep from Jomsom to Tatopani
Drive down the Kali Gandaki gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, past Marpha and Kalopani, to Tatopani and its hot springs. Many trekkers instead fly or drive from Jomsom straight to Pokhara.
- Day 12
Tatopani to Ghorepani
A long, steady climb through terraced farmland and the villages of Ghara and Shikha into rhododendron forest. Ghorepani is a busy lodge village on the ridge.
- Day 13
Poon Hill sunrise, then to Tadapani
Climb to Poon Hill (3,210 m) before dawn for sunrise over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas, return for breakfast, then follow the ridge through forest via Deurali to Tadapani.
- Day 14
Tadapani to Ghandruk, drive to Pokhara
Descend through forest to the large Gurung village of Ghandruk, then take a jeep down to Nayapul and on to Pokhara.
- Day 15
Pokhara to Kathmandu
Drive back to Kathmandu, or take a short flight. Keep a spare day in your plans in case weather delays the pass or flights.
This trek climbs above 3,000 m, where the pace of the climb matters. See our guide to altitude sickness on Nepal treks for how to prevent, spot and respond to it.
Best time to trek
The best months for the Annapurna Circuit Trek are Mar–May, Oct–Nov.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
How does it compare with other routes? See our month-by-month guide to trekking in Nepal.
Permits & costs
- Permit & park fees
- NPR 5,000 per person (≈ US$32)
- Guide day rates
- $25–$40 per day, set by the guides below
- ACAP, NPR 3,000 (about US$19): the one conservation-area permit covers the whole loop, from the Marsyangdi side over the Thorong La to the Kali Gandaki. Buy it in Kathmandu or Pokhara before the drive to Besisahar.
- TIMS card, NPR 2,000 (about US$13): the Annapurna Circuit is on the Nepal Tourism Board's list of routes that need a licensed guide, so the card comes through the registered agency that provides your guide.
- Where it's checked: ACAP posts sit at Chame and Manang on the way up, and again around Muktinath once you are over the pass. Keep both documents with your passport rather than in your main bag, which may travel separately by jeep or porter.
- The figures above can be revised; your agency will know the rate on the day you buy.
Every fee and rule, trek by trek: our guide to Nepal trekking permits. Which routes need a licensed guide: do you need a guide to trek in Nepal? What a day rate covers, tips and flights: how much a trekking guide costs in Nepal.
Getting there & back
The loop begins on the east side at Besisahar, a 6–8 hour bus or jeep ride from Kathmandu; shared jeeps then grind up the Marsyangdi road, and many groups ride as far as Dharapani or Chame before walking. It ends on the west side, so plan the exit before you go: from Ghandruk or Nayapul a jeep reaches Pokhara in about 2 hours, while from Jomsom there are short morning flights to Pokhara that afternoon wind often grounds.
📸 Trail Checkpoints & Scenery Gallery
Annapurna Circuit Trek FAQs
How difficult is the Annapurna Circuit?
It is a demanding but non-technical trek. Most days are 4–7 hours of walking on good trails, but the Thorong La day is long and high, with a steep descent afterwards. You should be comfortable walking several days in a row and have done some multi-day hiking before.
How do I avoid altitude sickness on the Thorong La?
Gain altitude gradually, take a full acclimatisation day in Manang, and keep the stages above 4,000 m short, as in the itinerary above. Drink plenty of water and tell your guide early about headaches, nausea or unusual tiredness. If symptoms get worse, the only reliable treatment is to descend.
Do I need a guide for the Annapurna Circuit?
Yes. The circuit lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, where Nepal has required foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide since 1 April 2023, and the Nepal Tourism Board lists the Annapurna Circuit among the routes that need one. On this route the guide earns their keep on Thorong La morning, deciding the start time from Thorong Phedi or High Camp and turning the group back if the weather or anyone's health says so.
What permits do I need?
Two: the ACAP and a TIMS card. Because you start at Besisahar rather than Pokhara, it is easiest to have your agency buy both in Kathmandu before the drive. Expect to show them at Chame, Manang and near Muktinath.
When is the best time to trek the circuit?
October and November usually give the clearest skies and most stable weather, and March to May is the second main season, with warmer days and rhododendrons in bloom lower down. In winter the Thorong La can be closed by snow, and the summer monsoon brings rain, leeches and landslides on the lower roads.
What is the accommodation like?
Every night is in a family-run teahouse, usually a twin room with a shared bathroom. The higher you go past Manang towards Thorong Phedi, the colder and simpler the rooms get, so a warm sleeping bag earns its weight on the night before the pass. Menus are similar along the whole valley.
Is there phone signal, Wi-Fi and charging?
Mobile signal is available in many villages but patchy in the gorges and near the pass. Most lodges offer Wi-Fi and device charging, often for a small fee, and both become less reliable higher up. A power bank is worth carrying.
Guides who lead the Annapurna Circuit Trek
Every one of them is licence-verified by our compliance team. Open a profile to read about them, then send your dates — they reply to you directly with their own price.
