Annapurna Circuit Trek - 12 Days
12 Days
Annapurna Circuit Trek is the classic trek in the Himalayas. Annapurna is a Himalayan region in north-central Nepal famed for its magnificent views, rough landscape, and isolated mountain settlements, desolate high mountains, hot springs, Buddhist and Hindu Temples and the stunning views of Annapurna Summit. The Annapurna Circuit Trek is still without doubt one of the best treks anywhere in the world despite inroads being developed in the region.
The overall length of the trip ranges between 160–230 kilometers (100–145 mi), depending on where motorized transportation is used and where the trek concludes. This hike traverses two river valleys and rounds the Annapurna Massif. The hike is moderate to fairly demanding, with multiple river crossings over steel and wooden suspension bridges. There are tea shops and lodges along the route where you may eat and stay.
Itinerary Outline
| Day | Description | Altitude (Meters) | Trekking Duration |
| 1 | Arrival in Kathmandu. Meet at Airport and Transfer to Hotel | 1,365 | - |
| 2 | Drive from Kathmandu to BesiSahar and to Chame | 2670 | 6-7 hours |
| 3 | Trek from Chame to Upper Pisang | 3100 | 5 hours |
| 4 | Pisang to Manang | 3540 | 5 hours |
| 5 | Acclimatisation day at Manang | 4600 | - |
| 6 | Manang to Letdar | 4200 | 5 hours |
| 7 | Letdar to Thorung Phedi | 4450 | 3-4 hours |
| 8 | Thorung Phedi to Thorung La Pass to Muktinath | 5416 | 7-8 hours |
| 9 | Muktinath to Jomsom | 2730 | 4-5 hours |
| 10 | Jomsom to Pokhara by Flight | - | 15 minutes |
| 11 | Pokhara to Kathmandu | - | 25 minutes |
| 12 | Departure | - | - |
Required Permit for Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake
To trek to Annapurna Circuit and Tilicho Lake, you’ll need to obtain two trekking permits. They are:
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit
Where to obtain:
- Nepal Tourism Board Office on Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu
- Nepal Tourism Board Service Center in Damside
How much does it cost:
- US$30 for international travelers
- US$2 for SAARC travelers
Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Card
Where to obtain:
- Nepal Tourism Board Office on Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu
- Nepal Tourism Board Service Center in Damside
- TAAN Lakeside Office in Shanti Patan, Pokhara
How much does it cost:
- US$20 for individual trekkers
- US$10 for group trekkers
- For SAARC, US$6 individual trekkers
- For SAARC, US$3 group trekkers
Things required to acquire TIMS Card
- Permit fees
- Photocopy of your passport
- Passport size photographs
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival In Kathmandu( TIA) International Airport(1,365m) Transfer To Hotel Evening Welcome Dinner. O/N At Hotel
On this very first day, we welcome you to the land of Himalayas, you will be received at the airport by our representative. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel.You can take your time to refresh and relax.
Day 2: Private Drive From Kathmandu To BesiSahar (760m) & Shared Ride Till Chame (2670m), 132km, 10 hours
In the early morning, we will have an early departure from Kathmandu. You will be received at your hotel and drive to Besisahar. The first overnight will be at Chame and to reach Chame you will share your drive till the destination. Our journey takes us via the villages of Sange, Bhulbhule, Nagdi, Chamche, Tal, Tima, Koto, and many others, with spectacular views of Mount Annapurna and Manaslu. You will enjoy breathtaking views of Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal, and Manaslu. Chame is also the district headquarter of Manang, with numerous shops and teahouses.
Overnight at Chame
Day 3: Chame To Upper Pisang ( 3100 M) Walking 5 Hours, O/N At Tea House
Day 3 will be our trekking day. You will be walking along the Marsyangdi river in the dense forests .In the woodland, there is a lengthy, lovely, fairly flat walk. The pine-scented route bends to show the first glimpses of the stunning Paungda Danda rock face, a massive curved slab of rock. The trek winds across the river valley, providing spectacular views of Annapurna II and Pisang Peak at Pisang. Pisang is also the beginning spot of upper Manang.
Overnight stay at a tea house in Pisang.
Day 4: Pisang To Manang (3540m) , 5 Hrs Walking, O/N At Tea House
The journey on day 4 starts from Pisang, passing from the old village of Nwagal and our trail ends at Manang. The trail allows us to enter pine grooves with the mesmerizing view of turquoise lake. Peaks such as Annapurna, Gangapurna and Tilicho are seen almost the entire way. Your visit to Barge monastery, the largest in Manang's district, will also be noteworthy.
Overnight stay at a tea house in Manang.
Day 5: Acclimatization day at Manang and Visit to Gangapurna Lake (4600m) O/N At Tea House
This is your second night in Manang to acclimatize to the greater elevation before continuing on to the Thorong La. You can see the amazing Himalayan vistas nearby. It is not advised to sit inactive, but rather to take a short stroll to Gangapurna lake to acclimate. Gangaourna lake is the glacial lake of Manang, formed by the glaciers from Mt. Gangapurna, Annapurna IV, Khangsar Kang and Glacier Dom.
Overnight Stay at Manang.
Day 6: Manang To Letdar (4200m) , 5 Hrs Walk, O/N At Tea House
Today the trail continues to climb out of the Marsyangdi Valley. The route follows this valley to the north. After the ascent climb for about 5 hrs, you will reach Letdar.
Overnight stay at teahouse in Letdar
Day 7: Letdar To Thorung Phedi (4450m) , 3 -4Hrs Walk, O/N At Tea House
The route from Letdar ascends along the east bank of the Jarkang Khola before descending and crossing the stream on a wooden bridge.The trail sometimes gives the sight of blue sheep and snow-capped leopard as well. The ascent for 3-4 hours will lead you to Thorung Phedi.
Overnight stay at the tea house at Phedi.
Day 8: Thorung Phedi Thorung La Pass (5,416m) To Muktinath (3760m) 7 -8hrs Walk, O/N At Tea House
Today is the longest trekking day of your journey, as well as the most exciting trek. After leaving Thorung Phedi, the path gets steep, switching over moraines and along stony ridges as it ascends to Thorung La Pass. The lengthy Great Barrier Ridge, the Tibet-like area of Manang, the Annapurnas, Gangapurna, and the highly glaciated mountain of Khatung Khang will all be seen in this trail. The route then gets steep through meadows to muktinath. Muktinath is one of the holiest places for bith Hindus and Buddhists.
Overnight stay at Muktinath.
Day 9: Muktinath To Jomsom (2720m ) Via Kagbeni 4/ 5 Hrs Walk.O/N At Tea House
After our visit to temples, shrines and Ghumbas of Muktinath, our destination will be the barren hillside to kagbeni. From Muktinath you will descend to the Eklebhatti. As the path progresses, you will be able to experience spectacular vistas of Mt. Dhaulagiri. The walk then continues down to the Kaligandaki- a river and then reaches to Jomsom. Jomsom is a small town with various amenities, markets and hotels.
Overnight stay at Johmson.
Day 10: Jomsom To Pokhara By Flight And Overnight At Pokhara
You will travel to Pokhara early in the morning; it is a short flight of around 15 minutes, and we will drive you to the hotel. Today is your free day to unwind and roam around Lakeside in Pokhara.
Overnight in Pokhara
Day 11: Pokhara to Kathmandu
To get back to Kathmandu, you may either take a 25-minute flight or a six- to seven-hour tourist bus ride. Farewell dinner at Hotel.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 12: Departure
With a lifetime experience and memory , you will be escorted to Tribhuwan International Airport by the representative of Nepal Social Trek.
The Cost Include(s)
- Hotel Accommodation in Kathmandu & Pokhara on twin sharing basis.
- Private Arrival & Departure transfers
- Jomsom-Pokhara flight
- Full board meals while trekking (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner).
- Accommodation in teahouse during the trek on twin sharing basis.
- Welcome dinner in Kathmandu
- Transportation to and from the starting and ending points of the trek
- Nepal Social Treks Gears - sleeping bag, duffel bag etc for use during the trip. garbage plastic bag.
- Professional local experienced Trek Leader / Guide trained in Wilderness First Aid.
- Comprehensive First Aid Kit.
- Respective region ( Annapurna) trekking map. TIMS Card & Trek Permit
- Necessary Porters to carry all personal gear and group equipment.
- Proper Insurance of all staff including porters.
- Warm clothing & trekking gear for staff including porters: Gore Tex jacket & trousers, fleece jacket and pants, trekking shoes / boots, woolen hat, gloves, shocks etc.
- Trekking map
The Cost Exclude(s)
- Nepal entry Visa fees,
- Your travel insurance of any kind
- Lunch and Dinner except mentioned on Itinerary
- All Drinks and main meals in cities.
- Tips to trekking staffs.
- Items of personal expenses like hot shower, battery charge, Telephone, beverages, hot mineral water during trekking etc.
Booking
Review
Island Peak expedition
Nepal Social Treks was the most professional company I have travelled with. The airport pickup was smooth, followed by a nice stay at their hotel in Kathmandu. A day trip around Kathmandu was planned and despite being cut short, it was a very enjoyable tour. Pasang Sherpa, the trekking guide for my trip was a highly experienced guide and mountaineer and gave me an authentic Nepalese experience as we walked through the Himalayas. When it came time to summit Island Peak, I had absolute confidence in his ability to keep me safe at all times, and he led the expedition at my pace. As an inexperienced climber, Pasang made sure I had all the required skills before going onto the mountain. The transition from trekking to life back in Kathmandu was easy, and Basu and the team from Nepal Social Treks made sure I had a comfortable and enjoyable few days prior to leaving Nepal. I would recommend anyone thinking of trekking or mountaineering in Nepal to book with Nepal Social Treks as they will tailor the trip to your needs and you will be treated incredibly well for the entire trip.
Perfect taste of Nepal
Did the Explore Nepal tour 11 days and was the only one on the tour. The tour was very well organized, hitting all the main attractions to give a good flavour of Nepal. Operator was very responsive to questions and requests. Accommodations were better than expected with excellent beds and breakfasts. Highly recommend.
Two First-Timers, One Incredible ABC Trek—Thanks to an Amazing Team!
If you’re scanning through endless trek companies in Nepal (like we did!), trust me—Nepal Social Treks and Expedition is the one you’ll end up loving. We literally made a massive Excel sheet comparing quotations from almost every company out there 😂… and guess who came out on top? These guys! From day one, Sushila was our guiding light. She answered every tiny question we threw at her—with so much patience and warmth. And then there’s Mr. Basu, the owner. I only spoke to him a couple of times (because the Gen-Z protest had us all restless), but the way he comforted us on the call… rare to see that kind of calm reassurance from someone at his level. Truly appreciated. Now comes the funniest part—this was actually our FIRST EVER TREK! People still look at us like we’re crazy when we say that, but honestly… why not? We’ve always been the type who happily walk into troubles since childhood 😄. And then came Suraj, our guide—calm, kind, and the perfect person to handle two excited first-timers like us. Honestly, I don’t think I can put into words how beautiful the entire trek felt. I’ve been travelling for 10+ years but Nepal… Nepal completely changed my relationship with the mountains. Never felt this kind of addiction before! If you’re planning a trek or trip in Nepal and want something that fits your budget without compromising comfort—this is your team. The hotels they arranged, the car, everything was so well taken care of. When you travel after a hectic work life, you want peace and a headache-free experience. You don’t want to lead or worry about small things. And that’s exactly what this amazing team provides. A huge thank you to Mr. Basu, Sushila, Suraj, and everyone at Nepal Social Trek for giving us a trip we’ll remember forever. ❤️ P.S. Already planning the Manaslu Circuit with them next! 🌄✨
I had an incredible experience doing the Manaslu Circuit trek!! As I was the only one who had booked, they paired me with another solo girl from a different company which worked super well. Our guide Nekhil was attentive, supportive and made us feel really safe. He was clearly a very experienced guide and gave us lots of tips to manage the altitude and trekking, plus having lots of fun together along the way! Our porter Chhiring was awesome too! Not only were the views incredible, it felt so nice to be ‘looked after’ and have everything taken care of so we could just enjoy ourselves. This included by the office in Kathmandu, who were so helpful and generous in giving me an extra day in a nearby hotel and lending me some gear. I couldn’t have been happier with the experience! I would definitely recommend :))
Hey, this was awesome! The Agency made all well, and especially, Ngima Sherpa is the best guide ever! He made my experience on everest view trek special and wonderful. His heartwarming, calm and respectful behaviour let me feel welcome and my needs during trek seen. He knows a lot of trekking and the insides there in the mountains, showed me all possible in that 7 days and has my full 5-star review. Always again!
Amazing experience! We had a very loving and caring guide Narayan. Also not possible without our porters 💜💜
