Annapurna Circuit and Base Camp Trek - 18 days

A guide representing Third Rock Adventures will greet you at the airport and drive you to the hotel. Check-in and spend some time resting. Later in the day, you can attend a trip briefing at Third Rock Adventures' Office or the hotel lounge. Meet your trek guide and the rest of the members. Pack your stuff and get ready for your adventure.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

You begin your adventure by leaving Kathmandu in the morning and driving towards Besisahar. The highway is smooth and you have a pleasant ride driving past hills, forests, and rural settlements. It is an off road drive from Besisahar to Chame. As the road is not pitched the journey is rough and bumpy.

Set amongst green hills, Chame is a charming little settlement filled with stone houses. You spend a night here at a teahouse run by a local family.

Overnight at a teahouse in Chame.

After breakfast, you pack your stuff and start trekking making your way to Upper Pisang. You are deep in the mountains and the views are wonderful. The trail goes past rivers, bridges, and forests. There are mule trains with tinkling bells sharing the trail.

The village of Upper Pisang is filled with prayer wheels, prayer flags, and traditional houses. The villagers are Buddhists and one can find old men and women with small prayer wheels or meditation beads on their hands. The Himalayan mountains seem close enough. Once you reach Upper Pisang, you head to a local teahouse and take a well-deserved rest.

Overnight at a teahouse in Upper Pisang.

The views of Annapurna II and III are incredible as you make your way to Manang. The air gets thinner and colder as you ascend higher. The trail goes through hills covered with conifers, icy rivers, and snow-covered mountains. You stop briefly at the picturesque village of Ngawal before continuing to Manang. Chortens, Buddhist shrines, and prayer flags dot the trail. After a rough hike, you feel glad to reach Manang your stop for the night.

Overnight at a teahouse in Manang.

Manang, flanked by the Annapurna and Gangapurna mountains seems like a village straight out of a storybook. You spend a day in this quaint settlement acclimatizing and preparing for the tough Thorung La crossing.  Manang is one of the oldest villages on the Annapurna Circuit trail. The bustling village was an important stop for traders trading along the Tibet salt route in the bygone days.

You take a side trip to Ice Lake which lies about 16 kilometers from the village. To reach the lake you have to walk past the settlement of Braga and take an upward trail. Ice lake lies at an elevation of 4600m and elevation gain will leave you out of breath. But the views are stunning and worth every ragged breath. After taking pictures and soaking in the views you return to your teahouse.

Overnight at a teahouse in Manang.

More amazing sights of the snow-covered Gangapurna and Annapurna await you on the trail to Yak Kharka. Herds of Blue sheep, yaks, and Himalayan Tahr graze on the stubby shrubs and mountain grass. Riders on horseback gallop on the dusty trails. Horses are still a common means of transport in these parts. Yak Kharka which was a camp for yak herders has a couple of stone and wooden teahouses. You make your way to one of them where rooms have been booked for you and check-in.

Overnight at a teahouse in Yak Kharka.

You are getting closer to Thorung La, the pass you have been dreaming to cross since starting out. The section of the trail leading to Thorong Phedi is one of the most dangerous. Prone to landslides, the gravel trail is narrow and hugs the side of a barren hill. It is windy and dusty up here, high above the tree line. Thorong Phedi, your stop for the night, lies surrounded by vertical cliffs. At 4525m, this would be the highest overnight stop.

Overnight at a teahouse in Thorong Phedi.

You wake up before dawn and head up to High Camp. You need to have an early start as the weather starts deteriorating as the day progresses. You will have to cross the Thorung La Pass before it gets too windy and foggy.

Using a headlamp you make your way up in the dark. At High Camp, you stop for refreshments and warm yourself before plodding on. The hike is tough because of thin air which makes breathing difficult. Once you reach the pass, take selfies and pictures of the incredible views of the mountains. You can view the Tibetan peaks rearing in the distant horizon. After spending ample time at the snow-covered pass decorated with vibrant prayer flags, you head down to Muktinath.

Overnight at a guesthouse in Muktinath.

After breakfast, A drive to Tatopani is a scenic one. The route follows a lush coniferous forest and green pastures.  This is a welcome change from the dry and arid landscape of the past few days. As you descend lower you can feel the humidity and the change in the temperature. Cross the checkpoint and Ghasa before finally arriving in Tatopani, your stop for the night.

Tatopani which means 'hot water' in Nepali is famous for its hot springs. Locals come from far and wide to bathe in the therapeutic water of the hot springs. You can enjoy a dip in the steamy pool and relax your sore muscles. 

Overnight at a teahouse in Tatopani.

The trail to Ghorepani is well laid out and paved in stones. There are signs at interactions indicating the way to Ghorepani. It is a long walk past lush forests of oak and rhododendron. Follow and up and down route till you reach Ghorepani. The settlement was named Ghorepani or Horse Water as it was a popular rest stop for traders journeying to Tibet on horses. There are several lodges and teahouses with modern amenities and you choose one where you can spend a restful night.

Overnight in Ghorepani.

Wake up before sunrise and head to the hilltop vantage point of Poon Hill. The most popular Himalayan sunrise viewpoint in the Annapurna Region, Poon Hill offers amazing 360-degree views of the Annapurna Massif, Dhaulagiri, Gangapurna, and Hiunchuli.  The sun rising over the snow-covered mountains is a sight to remember. After taking in the views and clicking pictures head down to Ghorepani, collect your stuff, and proceed towards Tadapani.

Follow an up and down trail past a thick rhododendron forest. The forest along this route is one of the world's biggest rhododendron forests. During spring the path is filled with blooming trees. Cross Deurali and Birethanti before finally arriving in Tadapani, your overnight stop.

Overnight at a teahouse in Tadapani.

Continue on an up and down trail to Chhomrong, a picturesque Gurung village. The village has cute cottages that have been converted into lodges or teahouses. Stay at one of the beautiful local teahouses with an open porch and awesome view of Annapurna South.

Overnight at a teahouse in Chhomrong.

Take a downward trail and cross a suspension bridge. From there climb up and cross Sinuwa. The river and the waterfalls look pristine and beautiful. Walk past the settlements of Doban and Bamboo. Thickets of Bamboo and gnarly roots of oak trees cover the trail.

It is a tough walk and you are relieved when you finally reach Himalaya, a popular stop for trekkers on the Annapurna Base Camp route. Rest your tired feet and enjoy some hot brew at the teahouse.

Overnight at a teahouse in Himalaya.

You make an early start and head to Annapurna Base Camp, another major highlight of your trip. You walk past the Machhapuchhre Base Camp located at the foot of the Fishtail Peak.  This is one of the few mountains in Nepal which hasn't been climbed. This is a sacred mountain worshipped by locals and stepping on it is prohibited.

As your body has gotten used to high altitude, you won't feel the discomfort attached to walking at such a high altitude. Savor close up views of the Annapurna Massif from the Annapurna Base Camp.

Overnight at a teahouse in Annapurna Base Camp.

Wake up before dawn and head to Annapurna Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a glacial bowl ringed by Annapurna South, Annapurna I (the 10th highest mountain in the world), Hiunchuli, and Gangapurna. Enjoy standing close to 8000 and 7000-meter peaks. Take pictures and head down to your teahouse. Have breakfast, pack up, and walk down to Bamboo.

Overnight at a teahouse in Bamboo.

From Bamboo head down to Matque. En route cross the villages of Sinuwa, Chhomrong, and Jhinu Danda. The final walk of your trek takes you past a typical Nepalese countryside with terraced fields, traditional mud houses, and farms.

On reaching Matque walk to the highway and catch a vehicle bound for Pokhara.

Overnight at a hotel in Pokhara.

Take a long drive back to Kathmandu city through the Prithvi Highway. Along the way, you will get to observe the views of hills, green farms, and rivers. You will stop along the highway at a local restaurant for lunch and snacks. For easier and quicker travel, you can opt to take a flight to Kathmandu as well. 

Note: You can either take a private or public vehicle or fly out of Pokhara. It takes around 25 to 30 minutes to reach Kathmandu by flight.

You will be driven to the airport in due time to catch your flight (three hours prior to the scheduled departure). If you want you can extend your trip and explore more of the country. Choose from our vast range of itineraries or allow us to customize a tour for you.