Annapurna Circuit Trek-Experience the Diversity 15 Days

Our office representative or your Trek leader will be there to receive you at the Kathmandu international airport and transfer you to the hotel in Kathmandu. Once you are settled your group leader will organize a trek briefing that also includes the distribution of office provided equipment like - Sleeping bag, duffel bag, down jackets, etc. 

Once you are done with the briefing around evening time your trek leader will lead you to the Traditional Restaurant where traditional Royal Nepali welcome dinner will be provided accompanied by a cultural dance. It is indeed perfect to get along with your trekking team to know each other.

After Breakfast you will be visiting Boudhanath Stupa (Buddhist Shrine) and Pashupatinath Temple (Hindu Shrine), both are Enlisted in UNESCO's Cultural World heritage sites. You will be accompanied by a professional tour guide. Vehicle, Guide and Entry Fee to the sites are included. You will be thoroughly briefed in prior about all the aspects of the tour by your tour guide or trip leader. The tour will start around 9:00 (Can also be done in the afternoon if requested from all the clients) and it will take around 3 hrs.

The afternoon is free and you can do last minute preparations. However for the clients who arrived late in the evening, the afternoon will be used for trip briefing.

To skip the traffic on Our highway we depart from Kathmandu early in the morning. Our first-day drive from Kathmandu to Besi-Sahar is around 177 Km and the next further drive to Jagat is 34 Km which is approximately 211 Km and would take around 8 - 9 hours excluding lunch.

Along the way, you will enjoy fine views of tumbling Whitewater Rivers, amazing terraced hillsides, and superb mountain panoramas. we will stop for a lunch most probably at Besi-Sahar which solely depends on our time schedule. On arrival, you will be introduced to your trekking crew and you have the opportunity to explore this road-head village. While on our way to Jagat, the views of the mountains are spectacular with Lamjung Himal (6931m) dominating the skyline. The views from Bhulbule are tremendous, with the snowy peak of Himalchulee (7893 m) dominating the skyline. In the afternoon you drive along Marsyandi River, views of Manaslu (8156 m), Peak 29 (7541 m), and Lamjung (6986 m) open out on the horizon. Eventually, we get to our destination, the village of Jagat (1341m), a Tibetan village that served as a customs post on the old trading route from Tibet where you will spend the night.

Today the vegetation changes to rhododendron and pine forest and the valley becomes narrower and steeper. You leave the village and soon cross the river on a large suspension bridge. From here the trail steepness and consequently the angle of the river does the same, sending the water tumbling through a maze of large boulders. After reaching the top of a zigzag climb, amazingly the valley widens out to reveal the village of Tal, which nestles amongst the fields of barley, wheat, and potatoes. You have now entered the district of Manang and you will take lunch in one of the many fine hotels here. The afternoon's walk follows river valley crossing back to the west bank before gradually ascending to Dharapani where you will end the trekking day.

The valley now extends westward through dramatic fir and pine forests. After half an hour, you reach Bagarchhap (2160m), the first village on the trek with typical Tibetan architecture. Here you may observe firewood stacked on the roofs in preparation for the long, hard winters. The village marks the transition between the lower, wet valleys and the higher, dry, arid area of the Manang Valley. From here there are excellent views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II (7937M), and Annapurna III (7555m) up the valley. Down the valley to the west Manaslu and Peak 29 soar magnificently to the skies. 

Leaving Bagarchhap, you cross a small wooden bridge beside a beautiful waterfall and ascend to Latamarang (2360m) where you may wish to relax over a cold drink. Your permit may be checked at the police post at Koto, a short distance from before Chame (2685m) that boasts among other things, a wireless station, bank, health post, and well-run hotels.

A trail now leads through fields of barley and buckwheat, to reach the apple orchards at Brathang (2840m), a formal Khampa (Tibetan rebels) settlement. Here you will stop for lunch, before crossing the river into thick fir forest where you will have a glimpse of Lamjung and Annapurna towering high above the trail. After spending some time in the forest we will suddenly reach a clearing to reveal the huge rock slabs of Paungda Danda. From here you continue to follow the valley to reach the flat-roofed with stone houses of Pisang village and our lodge in full view of Annapurna II and Pisang Peak (6092m). 

You follow wooden irrigation channels through Pisang village, an indication of the arid trans-Himalayan terrain. Here the soils are poor and only one crop per year of barley, wheat, buckwheat, or potatoes can be grown. To supplement their living many locals run hotels and teahouses as well as having herds of goats and yaks that graze on the hillsides high above the valley. 

We skip the regular lower trail and take the upper Pisang trail that leads us to the village of Ghyaru (3670 m) and Ngawal (3660 m). The upper Pisang trail is best known for its magnificent mountain views. Though the climb to Ghyaru is an hour and a half switchback trail all the way up till we get to the ridge yet its a worth of climb which is very rewarding. The panoramic mountain view is simply unbelievable. We further walk an effortless trail to the village of Ngawal for Lunch. After lunch, we descend down to the yet another settlement of Braga (3440 m) and walk further to Manang. 

Manang is the most beautiful town which looks arid in nature but is very lively. Situated at the base of the high Annapurna Himalayas the town is very fascinating with river, lakes, ample side excursion, shopping, movies, bakery, and so on. Besides all these the town has a beautiful history of Tibetan culture and their own cult.

Manang is a tight compact village of about 500 flat-roofed houses set among spectacular scenery. The huge icefall of Annapurna rears over the village. Annapurna II and IV (7525m) tower dramatically above the valley floor to the southeast, with Tilicho (7132m), Roc Noir (7485m), and the Grand Barrier to the west. Chulu West (6630m) and East (6200m) lay behind the village a hauntingly beautiful panorama. The rest here is designed to aid in acclimatization and you can choose to relax or trek above the village to Gangapurna Glacier where you will be rewarded with great views of the Annapurnas. You may even see elusive mountain goats (Himalayan Thar) and blue sheep on the craggy higher slopes. You take a break up here in the ridge and get yourself a hot drink and enjoy as the time flies. 

We will leave early in the morning and slowly ascend to Tengi. Here you branch away from Marsyangdi Valley and follow the Jarsang Khola. Scrub juniper and grasses replace sparse fir and pine. You pass small yak herders (shelters) before stopping at the pleasant valley of Yak-Kharka. As the name suggests Yak-Kharka is a grazing area for yaks, so this small settlement with only 3 lodges is yet very serene and exceptional. A relaxed walking day today, taken at a slow pace to allow for the effects of altitude. From Ledar

Today is another short day to ensure we arrive at the base of the Thorong pass feeling well acclimatized. Leaving Yak-Kharka we climb a short ridge and then we get to the Himalayan meadow where the valley opens and the trail gets wider. Since its a territory of the Yaks, you may encounter ample.  You will cross the Jarsang Khola on a covered bridge and then follow the left bank of the river over loose screes on the steep-sided valley. You arrive at Phedi (4420 meters) in time for lunch, and you will have the afternoon free to relax and prepare for the crossing of the pass. 

However, your trek leader may organize a short acclimatization walk to the high-camp, which all depends on weather, your physical fitness, etc. 

Though the pass poses no technical problems you need to start very early, around 3 am, so you can proceed slowly and safely. The trail is not steep and long, gradual approach passes several false summits before reaching some stone cairns making the crest of the pass at 5416 m. in fine conditions the views from the pass are truly fantastic. Spread out before you is the entire Annapurna range to the south, the Mukut and Mustang Himal to the west, and the incredibly deep Kali Gandaki valley below. Peaks of Chulu West and east lie to the north, and on either side of the pass are Thorungtse (6482m) to the north and the snow dome of Thorung peak (6484m) to the south. The steep descent from the pass is guaranteed to make the knees wobble, but you are compensated with the view of mighty Dhaulagiri (8167m) and Tukche peak (6920m). You will arrive at the first village on the other side of the pass, Muktinath, in the early afternoon. 

Muktinath, where Mukti" means "Salvation or Nirvana" and "Nath" mean "God or Master". Muktinath temple is very symbolic and has great religious and spiritual significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. So literally its a place of salvation where every year thousands of Hindus and Buddhists come to visit the temple. It is also a sacred place that demonstrates the harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism. 

Today is a relatively easy day. Though the road is busy, the completely different landscape from the rest of trek makes it worth taking a few hours walk to descend. Typical Tibetan Villages like Jharkot and Kagbeni make the walk even more interesting. And the afternoon wind of  Kaligandaki Valley is worth experiencing. It will take around 6 hrs to reach Jomsom, the headquarter of Mountain desert of Nepal.

As the Kaligandaki Valley almost certainly gets windy in the afternoon, the flights to and from Jomsom are generally in the morning. Expect a very early  wakeup call and Breakfast. Its only 5 minutes Walk to the Airport. Our staff or the Teahouse staff will help you with your Bags. 

Its approximately 15 minutes flight on a small plane through the Kaligandaki Valley with Spectacular View of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountain Ranges. Your vehicle will be on standby and will drive you back to Pokhara. Once you get to Pokhara you will have enough time to explore the lake or do some activities like paragliding, zipline, bungee, etc.

It is about 20 minutes Scenic Flight to Kathmandu. On a clear day, Magnificent views of Annapurna, Manaslu and, Ganesh Himal Range make the flight as good as any mountain flights in Nepal. About 30-40 minutes drive will get you back to your hotel. Rest of the afternoon will be free.

Transportation to the airport is provided. You need to leave the hotel 3 hours prior to your flight departure. Your vehicle will be ready as per the time schedule and you will be accompanied by your Trek Leader.