Annapurna Circuit Trek
Annapurna Circuit trek is the classic 330 km trek, beginning at Besisahar (a 5-7 hour bus ride from Kathmandu) and continuing through typical country inhabited by Gurung and Hindu castes. From its beginning among low terraced rice fields, at an altitude lower than Kathmandu, the trail gradually climbs up through cooler zones to alpine meadows and the Trans-Himalayan area which adjoins the Tibetan Plateau. There are superb views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiris along the way, and the trek is accompanied by the sound and sight of the Marshyangdi river as far as Manang. For centuries, this flat-roofed town lying in the rain-shadow, has been an important commercial centre for the region.
After Manang the trek progresses to Phedi in readiness for the ascent to the Thorung La (at 5416m, the highest commonly trekked pass in Nepal). Beyond the pass lie the mysterious hills of the Tibetan plateau and Mustang, and below, stretches the Kali Gandaki Valley and its river, whose gorge is the deepest in the world. After the long descent into Muktinath, where fire and water meet, and which has been a sacred site for over 2000 years, the trail follows the Thak Khola valley, passing Jharkot and Kagbeni where polyandry (one woman marries an entire family of brothers) is still practised.
At Jomsom, an important town in the Kali Gandaki Valley, with its dramatic STOL airstrip, there is an interesting museum of local culture and Tibetan medicine. From Jomsom the trek will carry on through Marpha, a small town famed for its apple brandy, and Tukuche, an old Buddhist town and important trading centre. There are hot springs for bathing and refreshment at Tatopani, and outstanding views from Pun Hill and Ghodepani, before descending through oak and rhododendron forests to the riverside town of Birethanti. From there it is on to Pokhara by road after a short climb to Nayapul.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
Day 2 Morning sightseeing and preparation for trek
Day 3 Drive to Ngadi (930m) via Besisahar (760m)
Day 4 Trek to Jagat (1300m)
Day 5 Trek to Dharapani (1860m)
Day 6 Trek to Chame (2670m)
Day 7 Trek to Upper Pisang (3200m)
Day 8 Trek to Braga (3360m) or Manang (3540m)
Day 9 Braga or Manang rest day
Day 10 Short trek to Yak Kharka (4018m)
Day 11 Short trek to Phedi (4450m)
Day 12 Cross Thorung La (5416m) and trek to Muktinath (3800m)/Ranipauwa (3700m)
Day 13 Trek to Marpha (2665m) or Tukche (2590m) via Kagbeni (2800m)
Day 14 Trek to Kalopani (2525m)
Day 15 Trek to Tatopani (hot spring) (1190m)
Day 16 Trek to Ghorepani (2785m)
Day 17 Early morning to Pun hill (3210m) and trek to Tirkhedhunga (1540m)
Day 18 Trek to Naya Pul (1070m) and drive to Pokhara and overnight
Day 19 Afternoon drive to to Kathmandu
Day 20 Shopping /Leisure time in Kathmandu and optional visit to EPHC
Day 21 Transfer to Airport for Departure
Date & Price
All ACCESS-HIMALAYA adventure travel trips are small group departures and therefore places can fill quickly. To avoid disappointment, we suggest you book your trip as soon as possible.
Price Includes
... in Lodge Trek
Accommodation in Kathmandu, bed & breakfast basis, (accommodation in twin room unless otherwise arranged) - accommodation facilities/details outlined belowAll three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
All internal transportation as stated in itinerary, including domestic flights (see itinerary above)
In Lodge trek – mostly basic twin room with clean bed and mattress (toilet facilities may be outside – NO ATTACHED BATHROOM, unless otherwise arranged. Extra cost is applicable and subject to availability)
National Park entrance fees
TIMS permit
Experienced staff - (guide, assistant guides, porters or yaks)
Staff and porter insurance
Sightseeing in Kathmandu as stated in itinerary (guide and transport only)
Free gift of Access-Himalaya trekking kit bag for each member of group (to be distributed on arrival in Kathmandu)
Free airport pick and drop
Price Excludes
... in Lodge Trek
Your personal equipmentInternational flights
Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond our control
Your travel insurance, (Make sure the policy covers helicopter rescue and evacuation service)
Medical examination and vaccination costs
Personal expenditure, including bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, tips, shower and bathroom facilities on the trek etc. Hot shower charge could be $2 to $5 per person on trek)
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and elsewhere-apart from trek (see itinerary)
Heritage sights/Monastery/Temple entrance fees
Trek and Tour crew tips at end of tour
Availability Explained
- A AVAILABLE - Trip date is available and open for bookings. Go for it!
- G GUARANTEED - Trip is reached minimum numbers and this is 'Guaranteed to Run'
- L LIMITED - Trip is 'Guaranteed to Run' and there are a very limited number of available places remaining. Immediate booking is recommended.
- C CLOSED - Trip has reached maximum numbers and it is unavailable. Please Contact Us to enquire about other trip departure dates or booking this trip as a private departure
Trip Info (Tour/Trek Styles) Explained
- PG Private Group: This style of trip is organized for specific groups of people (families, friends,school and college students, colleagues, business associates etc.), and is closed to outsiders. If you are interested in this particular trip departure date then please get in touch with us.
- OA Open to All: This trip departure is open to all. However, if you are interested in this particular trip departure date but want your own private group, then please get in touch with us.
- LT Lodge Based Trip/Trek: This trip/trek is lodge (teahouse) based. All accommodation, including food, is provided in local lodges. Occasionally however, where a large group is concerned we may choose to send our own cook along, as well, to take care of your food hygiene and to cook some special additional items.We provide all necessary documentation, including permits, and arrange all internal transport. We provide trekking guide, assistant guide(s) and porters/animals for transport of your gear. You merely carry a daysack with essentials, including water.
- CT Camping Based Trip/Trek: This trip/trek is camping (tent) based. We will provide one 3-man tent for every two people, also single tents, where requested, on payment of supplementary costs. All food and drinks are provided by our experienced cook and his kitchen team. We provide all necessary documentation, including permits, and arrange all internal transport. We provide trekking guide, assistant guide(s), cook, kitchen crew, food and drink, and porters/animals for transport of your gear. You merely carry a daysack with essentials, including water.
- GAP Guide, Accommodation & Porter only: In this trip neither food nor transportation is included. Clients are responsible for food and local transportation, and our responsibility is to provide insured guide, insured porter, and all necessary permits. All additional costs are the responsibility of the clients, including charges incurred as a result of delays or cancellation of services beyond our control. Clients pay for their own accommodation. Any additional costs are the responsibility of the clients, We can arrange hotels and international airport transfer, on request.
- SG Self Guided/Budget Trip: This trip is specially designed for low-budget travellers who prefer fairly basic facilities with reduced services. It is a pre-requisite that a porter is hired for any self-guided trip, which is an ideal set-up for those who enjoy independent travel with minimum cost. We have added support to minimise the hard work of planning and costing, and we will be available to help in the unlikely event of an emergency. We will arrange all documentation (including permits), before you arrive in Nepal, so that you are free to get on with your adventure, relying only on your porter to help you on your way. All additional costs are the responsibility of the clients, including charges incurred as a result of delays or cancellation of services beyond our control. Hotel accommodation, local transportation and international airport transfers may be arranged, on request.
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Travel Insurance
It is a strict condition of joining an Access-Himalaya adventure holiday that you must be insured against all medical and personal accident risks, including repatriation if necessary. Helicopter evacuation, in the unlikely event of your being injured or taken seriously ill on trek, is very costly - an average rescue ... read more.. -
Nepal Visa and Passport
All visitors to Nepal require a passport (valid for at least 6 months after your return to your home country) and an entry visa. A visa application should be obtained from the Nepalese Embassy, in London (click here to download Nepal visa application form ), or in your own country ... read more..
If our fixed departure dates are not convenient for you or your group, we can also arrange private departures on all of our small group tours. Private group departures will follow the same itineraries as our usual small group tours, or itineraries may be tailormade to suit your own convenient tour date/budgets.
Itineraries may be tailor-made to suit your dates. So if you can’t find a date to suit you or if you want to have your very own tour just with your friends or family then we can help you.
Customised Private Groups:
For most of our usual tours, or itineraries, where there is a group numbering 2 or more, we can customise and organise private group trip(s) where we design the itinerary and activities exclusively for you, according to your requirements and budgets, such as Honeymoon, Anniversary, Family, Scouts, School, College, Fundraising or Charity trips. Find out more about our private group tours.
To enquire about booking a private departure of this tour or about organising your own private group tour, please fill in the form below and we will get back to you shortly with details.
