Annapurna Circuit Trek – 14 Days

Welcome to the land of Himalayas! Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from Extollo will be there to greet and escort you to your designated hotel. After resting for a while, there will be a pre-trip discussion for the last minute preparation before the trek at our office. Here you will meet your trek leader and other members of your group. This is the moment when you can seek answers and clear your doubts with your leader. Time permitting, you can take a lazy stroll around the streets near your hotel and observe the contemporary life of the bustling city without getting any cultural shocks. Have a good night’s sleep to revive your freshness in the morning and commence a vivid adventure. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We begin our long drive to Jagat early in the morning. En route we get to enjoy the countryside of Nepal with its green hills, winding rivers, terraced farms and, of course, the mighty Himalayas. We shall drive beside the river Trishuli followed by a bridge across river Marshyangdi and then along Prithvi highway. You will get past the beautiful town of Besisahar to arrive at today’s destination, Jagat. Jagat is an ancient town and was once a tax collection point for travelers heading to Tibet. We shall have our breakfast and lunch on our way and spend our night in a standard teahouse. Overnight in Jagat.

Today is yet another day on a drive and we will head towards Lower Pisang. It is a rough driving track though you will enjoy the beautiful scenery. Drive past the lunar landscape full of pine trees on brown hills with beautiful views of snowy peaks and wonderful waterfalls. After 3-4 hour drive, arrive at lower Pisang past Chame and take rest in your tea house. Explore the ancient village of Lower Pisang inhabited by descendants of Tibetan settlers and learn about their unique culture. Also, visit the upper Pisang filled with old monasteries and traditional houses. Return back to your tea house and have a good night’s sleep after dinner. Tomorrow we begin our beautiful walking adventure. Overnight in Lower Pisang.

From Pisang, there are two routes to Manang. We choose the one which passes through Upper Pisang via Geru as it guarantees outstanding views of Mt. Annapurna, Pisang Peak, and others. As we walk near Manang, the climate becomes more cold and dry. However, a short visit to Barge Monastery, the biggest monastery in the Manang District should cheer us up. Overnight at Manang.

Today we negotiate a few steep forested ridges along with several landslides on route to Chame. We should not forget to look up though, as we will be greeted with remarkable views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV (24,688 ft). We also come across small hot springs which should help us relax for a while. Overnight at Chame.

In order to keep fit on the trails that follow, we keep ourselves busy today with a short hike to either Bhojo Gumba or Gangapurna Lake. If we have the energy, we can even hike to Vraga Village where we can visit the Himalayan Rescue Association, which will give us some idea about Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Overnight in Manang.

From Manang village, the trail crosses a stream, climbs to a village of Tenki above Manang, and then continues to climb out of the Marshyangdi Valley turning northwest up the valley of Jarsang Khola. The trail follows this valley northward, passing a few pastures, a scrub of juniper trees, as it steadily gains elevation. The trail further passes near the small village of Ghunsa, a cluster of flat mud roofs just below the trailhead. Now the trail goes through meadows where horses and yaks graze. After crossing a small river on a wooden bridge, the trail passes an ancient old Mani wall in a pleasant meadow and then reaches another small village of Yak Kharka. Little but Gradual ascent is the key to avoiding altitude problems.

It is an uphill walk to Thorang Phedi. After walking for some time, we cross a suspension bridge and reach Ledar village. We ascend furthermore and pass through towering cliffs before reaching Thorang Phedi, the last village before Thorong La. On this trip we are rewarded with one of the best views of Mt. Gundang, Mt. Syagang, Thorung Peak and Mt. Khatungkan. Overnight in Thorang Phedi.

Crossing Thorong La pass, one of the highest passes in the world will be our ultimate objective today. We will be crossing the pass from east to west (Manang to Muktinath) which is the easiest and safest direction. We get up around three in the morning and walk up the mountain. When we finally make it to the top, we realize that our journey was worth it. We can take a few photos before heading to Muktinath Valley at the foot of the Thorong La pass. Overnight in Muktinath.

Our destination for today is Jomsom, a heart-warming town in the mountains. Before heading towards Jomsom, visit the sacred pilgrimage destination of Muktinath temple, worshipped by both the Hindus and Buddhists. Then continue your journey with a drive along the banks of Kali Gandaki river and in a couple of hours, you will arrive in Jomsom. You can find many facilities in the market of Jomsom including restaurants, bars and internet cafes. Also, the beautiful Himalayan town is famous for its delicious apples. Take a well-deserved rest and celebrate your successful Annapurna Circuit trek before leaving the mountain region. Overnight in Jomsom.

Today we fly to Pokhara, the lake city in the earliest possible airplane. After checking-in at our hotel, we may take a rest or visit the Lakeside area in the vicinity of the Fewa Lake. Here, we can indulge in buying some souvenirs or sampling some local delicacies. Overnight in Pokhara.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the beautiful lake city of Pokhara and drive towards Kathmandu. After reaching Kathmandu, we have the rest of the day off. There will also be a farewell dinner hosted by Extollo Adventures in the evening to celebrate the successful completion of our journey.

Today after breakfast we start a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu. Some of these landmarks are considered World Heritage Sites; including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swayambhunath) and Buddhists shrine (Bouddhanath) which is one of the large Stupas in the world. Overnight at Kathmandu.

Your journey to in the beautiful Annapurna region comes to an end today. A representative from Extollo Adventures will drop you off at the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight. Our representative shall assist you with your departure. On your way home you will have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal. We hope that the adventure in this mystic land created a strong and positive impression about our country, enough to bring you back again. Have a happy and a safe journey ahead!