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
An Unforgettable Annapurna Base Camp Experience!
We had an absolutely incredible experience trekking to Annapurna Base Camp with Nepal Social Treks and Expedition, and we cannot recommend them highly enough! From beginning to end, everything was exceptionally well organized, but what truly made this adventure unforgettable was our amazing team: our guide, Achut Pandey, and our two porters, Niran and Thirtna. Achut was an outstanding guide. He was knowledgeable, professional, patient, kind, and always attentive to how everyone was feeling. Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp can be challenging, and having someone we trusted completely made such a difference. Achut knew the mountains and trails incredibly well, kept us informed about what to expect each day, and always made sure we were comfortable, safe, and enjoying the experience. His warmth, encouragement, and sense of humor made even the difficult stretches of the trek enjoyable. Niran and Thirtna were equally amazing. We have so much respect and gratitude for them. They worked incredibly hard throughout the trek and always greeted us with kindness and a smile. If you are considering trekking in Nepal, we wholeheartedly recommend Nepal Social Treks & Expedition. And if you have the opportunity to trek with Achut, Niran, and Thirtna, consider yourself very lucky!
Nepal Social Treks helped us turn a dream into reality.
We have just completed the Annapurna Base Camp private trek with my husband, and it was truly a dream come true! Our guide, Urken Sherpa, was incredibly calm, caring, and supportive throughout the trek. We really appreciated the peace, silence, and privacy of having a private trek. Our porter, Milan, was always smiling and brought so much positive energy to our days. His kindness and cheerful attitude made a real difference throughout the journey. It was our first time in Nepal, and Nepal Social Treks helped us turn a dream into reality. We are so grateful for the wonderful experience and cannot recommend Urken, Milan, and Nepal Social Treks highly enough! Thank you for making this adventure so memorable. ❤️
Trekking Everest Base Camp
I booked the Everest Base Camp trek with this agency, and from the very beginning they were always available to answer any questions or doubts I had. Everything was extremely well organized from start to finish, my guide was fantastic, and we were lucky enough to have perfect weather throughout the trek. It was an absolutely amazing experience, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Can’t wait to come back for another trekking ☺️ Highly recommended!
I booked the 5 day Around Kathmandu Valley tour for my family which was a great experience. Bhim was our tour guide and Deepak drove us around for the five days. The tour went very smoothly and didn't feel rushed at all. Since we went in the tourism off-season, all the stupas, temples, and UNESCO sites weren't very busy. We were able to finish the day's content by 4pm each day, giving plenty of time to rest for the next day. Bhim was very knowledgeable about each site, Nepali history, and was very receptive to our questions on Nepali culture. The hotels for this tour were also great. In particular, "hotel view point" in Nagarkot had a fantastic 360 view, as it actually is at the top of Nagarkot rather than a lot of other hotels down on the slopes. The view was incredible and we got to see some of the Himalayas, which we considered fairly lucky as we went during the cloudy, foggy monsoon season. Nepal Social Treks took complete care of everything from airport pick up to the hotels, and this was just an absolutely no-stress vacation to do some light cultural exploration of Nepal. Overall, would strongly recommend this tour and Nepal Social Treks!
I booked my trip through Nepalviaje (website in spanish) and from the first moment everything was perfect. Starting with Fernando that was answering really fast all our questions, when we arrive to Kathmandu the person waiting for us in the airport was absolutely fantastic, he wait over and hour for us cause it tooks a while to get out of the airport, the hotel for the first and last night is absolutely brilliant, when you arrive to the Office everything is super clear and they make you feel at home. The Trek is a experience of a lifetime, our guide Lhakpa IS the best guide ever and will not only guide you all the way to the base camp but show you things about culture and take care about every single details, lodges are always fantastic with a huge variaty of food. We made it with other girl and all of us reach EBC, Lhakpa will give you all the good advices to make it and the company will take care of everything, even the last day Basu(the manager of the company) call us to provide a helicopter service to come back to Kathmandu as the weather in Lukla was mean to be bad for a couple of days. 10/10 for this company and all the people involve on it
I completed the Everest Base Camp trek starting from Jiri, and it was simply an unforgettable experience. A long and authentic journey, away from the usual routes, that allowed me to experience Nepal in a deep and genuine way. From the very first day, the agency was fantastic: excellent organization, great support, and constant availability. I always felt well taken care of and never had to worry about anything. A truly special thanks to Anchal Magar, who was an outstanding guide in every sense. (A real friend) Always present, attentive, and highly professional, he showed great sensitivity in understanding my needs, adapting the pace and itinerary with care and intelligence. In the most challenging moments, he was a fundamental point of reference, providing reassurance and confidence. Beyond his skills, what stood out the most was his humanity, kindness, and dedication, rare qualities that made this experience even more meaningful. An experience I will carry with me forever!
FAQS
Am I likely to suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness on this trek?
In general, the threat of high altitude sickness begins once you exceed the elevation of 3,500 meters. On this trek, you’ll be visiting the world’s highest altitude lake — Tilicho Lake at 4,949 meters and navigating the world’s highest pass — Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters. With such altitudinal variation, the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness in Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake is significant.
What kinds of insurance do I need for this trek?
Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the most strenuous treks in the Himalayas of Nepal. It is because this trek leads you across the highest navigable pass along the rugged mountain trails. Additionally, this trek will also take you to the world’s highest lake. Therefore, it possesses a massive threat of Acute Mountain Sickness and other unforeseeable events.
So, if you’re trekking to Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake, it is mandatory to provide a copy of your travel insurance to Nepal Social Treks before the trip. Considering the trek’s challenge, we highly recommend you to buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers all the necessary expenses.
Make sure your travel insurance covers all the medical treatment expenses, trip cancellation, accidents, theft, and, most importantly, helicopter evacuation charge at high elevation (up to 6,000 meters).
What are the Packing List for Annapurna Circuit Trek?
Here are a few essential gears you need to pack for Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake:
Bags:
● Daypack
● Duffel Bag
Clothing:
● Trekking Shirt - Pack 3 to 4 breathable trekking shirts, balancing both half and full sleeves
● Trekking Trousers - Minimum 2 water and wind-resistant trekking pants
● Trekking Shorts - Pack a couple of trekking shorts for lower reaches of the trek
● Fleece Jacket - Pack a lightweight fleece jacket for the lower region
● Down Jacket - Carry a high-quality down jacket to keep you warm from the extreme weather at the trek’s upper reaches
● Waterproof Shell Jacket - One waterproof jacket to stay protected in the wet weather
● Thermal Layer - At least one pair of a thermal layer
● Breathable Underwear - Carry at least 3 to 4 pairs of breathable and comfortable underwear
Footwears:
● Hiking Boots - A pair of high-quality hiking boots will be enough for the trek.
● Hiking Socks - Pack at least 4 to 5 pairs of comfortable hiking socks.
● Sandals/Trainers - A pair of either sandals or trainers, depending upon your preference.
● Thermal Socks - Carry at least a 2 pair of warm thermal socks to keep you warm in the evening and night.
● Gaiter (For Winter) - You can pack a gaiter for any season, even though it is primarily for winter.Head Wears:
● Sun Protection Hat - One sun protection hat to your face protected from harmful UV rays and sunburn.
● Buff/Neck Gaiter - One buff or neck gaiter to protect your neck from the harsh wind.
● Warm Beanie - One beanie to keep your head warm in the upper reaches of the trek.Hand Wear:
● Outer Gloves - A pair of outer gloves to wear as an additional layer in the upper reaches of the trek.
● Inner Gloves - A pair of inner gloves for the lower region of the trek.Other Accessories:
● Toiletries
● Trekking Poles
● High-Quality Sleeping Bag
● Water Bottle
● Water Purification Tablets
● UV Protection Sunglasses
● Hand Sanitizers
● Sunscreen/Lip Balm
● Headlamp with Spare Batteries
● Trekking Towels
● Camera
● Portable Chargers
● Prescribed Medications
Is there any Special Note?
It is our humble request to you to attend the briefing session mandatorily! Your trekking guide will provide you with all the necessary information regarding the trek in brief, including day-to-day itinerary, trek difficulty, transportation, accommodation, food, cultures, mountains, etc.
Note that we want the meeting to be as interactive as possible. Therefore, ask as many questions to your trekking guide to clear any concerns regarding the trek. During the meeting, we will also conduct a meet and greet session. So, try to bond with the rest of the members of the group during the session and at the dinner.It is advisable that you pack your bags before you go to sleep to avoid the rush in the morning. If there’s anything you want to leave at the hotel, keep it separate from your trekking bags.
