ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK
The Essential Guide
In this guide to the Annapurna Circuit we’ll cover everything you need to know to plan the perfect trek, including a suggested itinerary, budget breakdown, practical details, and more. We’ll also outline the best Annapurna Circuit side trips and add-on treks for those looking to extend their Himalaya adventure.
The Annapurna Circuit is a classic Nepal trek. It traverses wonderfully varied landscapes, from lush lowlands to the high-altitude Thorong Pass, with the majestic Annapurna Massif a near constant companion. A string of trekking lodges and clearly marked trails make this an easily accessible trek for both independent hikers and guided treks. It’s also a great option for experienced trekkers looking to tackle an epic Nepal trek on a budget, as the permit fees are low and a guide is not compulsory.
Spectacular scenery abounds, but alas, the Annapurna Circuit is not without flaws. Extensive road building over the last few years has changed the nature of this trek dramatically. Few days are now spent solely on trekking trails. But, armed with the right advice and useful tips for getting ‘off-road’, this is still a standout Nepal trek.
Want to know more about the Annapurna Circuit Trek itself? Check out our day by day account. You can also watch our complete Annapurna Circuit Instagram Stories, plus our video below!
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ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREKKING GUIDE
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ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK ITINERARY
Below is a possible Annapurna Circuit trek itinerary for a full 21 day trek. This is not set in stone, just a suggested route. Some people stay in alternative villages along the way or cut days off the start or end. We feel this route takes in the best scenery and highlights along the way and ensures ample acclimatisation opportunity on the approach to Thorong La (5416 m).
Distances and trekking times are approximate.
DAY 0 | Kathmandu → Bhulbhule | 8+ hours (by bus/ jeep) |
DAY 1 | Bhulbhule (840m) → Ghermu (1130m) | 13 km / 5 hours |
DAY 2 | Ghermu (1130m) → Tal (1700m) | 13 km / 6 hours |
DAY 3* | Tal (1700m) → Dharapani (1860m) | 6.5 km / 2 hours 30 minutes |
DAY 4 | Dharapani (1860m) → Chame (2670m) | 16 km / 6 hours 30 minutes |
DAY 5 | Chame (2670m) → Upper Pisang (3300m) | 14 km / 5 hours |
DAY 6 | Upper Pisang (3300m) → Ngawal (3660m) | 10 km / 4 hours |
DAY 7 | Ngawal (3660m)→ Braka/Manang (3540m) | 10 km / 4 hours |
DAY 8 | Braka/Manang (3540m) → Ice Lake (4600m) → Braka/Manang | 12 – 16 km / 4 – 6 hours |
DAY 9** | Braka/Manang (3540m) → Yak Kharka (4050m) | 10 – 12 km / 3 – 4 hours |
DAY 10 | Yak Kharka (4050m) → Thorong Phedi (4525m)/High Camp (4880m) | 8 – 9km / 3 – 4 hours |
DAY 11 | Thorong Phedi (4525m)/High Camp (4880m) → Thorong La (5416m) → Muktinath (3700m) | 14 – 15 km / 6 – 8 hours |
DAY 12 | Muktinath (3700m) → Kagbeni (via Jhong) (2810m) | 12 km / 4 hours |
DAY 13 | Kagbeni (2810m) → Marpha (via Dhumba Lake) (2670m) | 20 km / 6 hours |
DAY 14 | Marpha (2670m) → Kokethanti (via Chimrang & Sauru) (2545m) | 19 km / 8 hours |
DAY 15 | Kokethanti (2545m) → Ghasa (via Titi Lake) (2010m) | 21 km / 7 hours |
DAY 16 | Ghasa (2010m) → Tatopani (1190m) | 16 km / 5 hours |
DAY 17 | Tatopani (1190m) → Ghorepani (2860m) | 15 km / 6 hours 30 minutes |
DAY 18 | Ghorepani (2860m) → Sunrise Poon Hill (3193m) → Tadapani (2630m) | 13 km / 6 hours |
DAY 19 | Tadapani (2630m) → Ghandruk (1940m) | 6.5 km / 3 hours |
DAY 20 | Ghandruk (1940m) → Pitam Deurali (2130m) | 10km / 6 hours |
DAY 21 | Pitam Deurali (2130m) → Kande (1770m) | 6 km / 2 hours 30 minutes (+ bus/taxi 1 hr to Pokhara) |
DAY 0 | Kathmandu → Bhulbhule | 8+ hours (by bus/ jeep) |
---|---|---|
DAY 1 | Bhulbhule (840m) → Ghermu (1130m) | 13 km / 5 hours |
DAY 2 | Ghermu (1130m) → Tal (1700m) | 13 km / 6 hours |
DAY 3* | Tal (1700m) → Dharapani (1860m) | 6.5 km / 2 hours 30 minutes |
DAY 4 | Dharapani (1860m) → Chame (2670m) | 16 km / 6 hours 30 minutes |
DAY 5 | Chame (2670m) → Upper Pisang (3300m) | 14 km / 5 hours |
DAY 6 | Upper Pisang (3300m) → Ngawal (3660m) | 10 km / 4 hours |
DAY 7 | Ngawal (3660m) → Braka/Manang (3540m) | 10 km / 4 hours |
DAY 8 | Braka/Manang (3540m) → Ice Lake (4600m) → Braka/Manang | 12 – 16 km / 4 – 6 hours |
DAY 9** | Braka/Manang (3540m) → Yak Kharka (4050m) | 10 – 12 km / 3 – 4 hours |
DAY 10 | Yak Kharka (4050m) → Thorong Phedi (4525m)/High Camp (4880m) | 8 – 9km / 3 – 4 hours |
DAY 11 | Thorong Phedi (4525m)/High Camp (4880m) → Thorong La (5416m) → Muktinath (3700m) | 14 – 15 km / 6 – 8 hours |
DAY 12 | Muktinath (3700m) → Kagbeni (via Jhong) (2810m) | 12 km / 4 hours |
DAY 13 | Kagbeni (2810m) → Marpha (via Dhumba Lake) (2670m) | 20 km / 6 hours |
DAY 14 | Marpha (2670m) → Kokethanti (via Chimrang & Sauru) (2545m) | 19 km / 8 hours |
DAY 15 | Kokethanti (2545m) → Ghasa (via Titi Lake) (2010m) | 21 km / 7 hours |
DAY 16 | Ghasa (2010m) → Tatopani (1190m) | 16 km / 5 hours |
DAY 17 | Tatopani (1190m) → Ghorepani (2860m) | 15 km / 6 hours 30 minutes |
DAY 18 | Ghorepani (2860m) → Sunrise Poon Hill (3193m) → Tadapani (2630m) | 13 km / 6 hours |
DAY 19 | Tadapani (2630m) → Ghandruk (1940m) | 6.5 km / 3 hours |
DAY 20 | Ghandruk (1940m) → Pitam Deurali (2130m) | 10km / 6 hours |
DAY 21 | Pitam Deurali (2130m) → Kande (1770m) | 6 km / 2 hours 30 minutes (+ bus/taxi 1 hr to Pokhara) |
*Days 3-5 could be done over 2 days instead of 3 if you prefer to cover more distance in a day. Overnight at Timang, Thanchowk, Koto or Chame between Tal and Upper Pisang.
ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREKKING MAP
Below you’ll find our Annapurna Circuit Trek map with key points marked, possible side trips, and trek practicalities. You can also download this map for offline use with Maps.me. Be sure to download the Maps.Me app first (iOS/Android). Tap the menu button at the top left for more details, to toggle layers on and off, and to switch between satellite and terrain view. You can save this Google map by tapping the star. This is a useful online version of a popular paper trekking map of the region, with the NATT trails shown in red.
WHERE TO START & END THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT
Following the construction of dirt roads at the traditional start and end points of the Annapurna Circuit, there is no definitive answer to this question. Fifteen years ago most trekkers would have started at Besisahar and ended at Beni around 3 weeks later. These days, the road extends from Besisahar to Manang and from Muktinath to Beni. That leaves a 30 km, 3 day trekking trail between Manang and Muktinath. Hardly the Annapurna Circuit Trek of yore.
But it’s not all bad news. While the roads were literally built over the original trekking trails, many New Annapurna Trekking Trail (NATT) sections were created, offering alternative ‘off-road’ routes. Combining these new trails with what’s left of the original ones makes for a different, but still largely enjoyable experience. However, it makes the simple question of where to start and end much less clear cut.
One thing most people agree on is that it’s best to tackle the Annapurna Circuit in an anti-clockwise direction, as the ascent towards Thorong La is more gradual and this aids acclimatisation.
You can access the various trailheads at the start of the trek from Kathmandu or Pokhara, with Pokhara being closer. Pokhara is also much closer to the various end points of the trek and it is advisable to travel to Pokhara first before returning all the way to Kathmandu. Note that if you plan to leave excess baggage in a hotel, it may be best to start/end in the same city. For this, Pokhara is the ideal choice.
WHERE TO START THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT
Technically, you can start the Annapurna Circuit Trek anywhere between Besisahar and Manang. However, we wouldn’t recommend starting anywhere beyond Chame (2670m) for acclimatisation reasons.
Purists and those with no time limit will want to start at Besisahar or Bhulbhule, 7km up the busy road and accessible by public bus. If you are short on time, you could skip the first one to two days walking and start at Jagat (1300m) or Chamje/Chyamche (1430m), or skip four days walking and start at Chame (2670m). You can reach all of these points by shared jeep from Besisahar (Jagat/Chamje approx 1000 Rs/4-5 hours, Chame approx 2000 Rs/7-8 hours).
As we were linking the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Manaslu Circuit, we joined the trail at Dharapani (1860m), approx half way between Chamje and Chame.
WHERE TO END THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT
Technically, you can end your Annapurna Circuit Trek anywhere between Muktinath and Beni, with Jomsom and Tatopani being quite common endpoints. Nayapul, Kande and Phedi are also popular endpoints, and trekking this far is certainly more of an actual ‘circuit of the Annapurnas’.
If you have time, our suggested route is to carry on all the way to Kande or Phedi via Ghorepani (plus Poon Hill), Ghandruk and Tolka. In our opinion Kagbeni (between Muktinath and Jomsom) is an absolute must visit place, so we would suggest ending your trek no earlier than at Jomsom. Marpha (just south of Jomsom) is also very nice. Ghandruk is a beautiful Gurung village with wonderful views and distinct architecture, so if you have time we certainly recommend extending your trek as far as here.
SEE WHAT THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK IS ALL ABOUT
HOW MANY DAYS IS THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK?
As you may have gathered already, the length of your Annapurna Circuit Trek will depend entirely on where you decide to start and end your journey. As a bare minimum it would take 6 days to trek from Chame to Muktinath, including 2 nights in or around Manang for acclimatisation purposes. A more standard schedule is about 16 days from Bhulbhule to Tatopani, or 18 days finishing at Nayapul. Ending at Kande would take about 20 days. Add 3 days if you want to include a side trip to Tilicho Lake. See our full trek itinerary outline above to plan your ideal route.