Short Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary - 11 days

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, you will be transferred to your hotel in Thamel.

After relaxing, you will meet the guide and our team, who will assist you for trip preparation. Once the preparation for the trek is done, you can head out to the streets of Thamel to explore the local restaurants and try new cuisine.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

On this day, wake up early to drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar, which will take you to the renowned Annapurna region. The drive is long and might include a lot of bumpy experiences. Some parts of the road have been recently reconstructed so the roads might be smooth. Eventually, from Besisahar, you will continue to Chame. At Chame, you will be amazed by the close-up views of the mountain ranges surrounding the area.

Overnight stay in Chame.

You will officially begin the trek today as you get your backpack and trekking poles ready for the walk to Upper Pisang. Initially, through the rough jeep track, you will head to Lower Pisang village.

From there, continue to Upper Pisang, where the elevation rises. Along with the rise in elevation, you will witness amazing views of Pisang Peak, Lamjung Himal, and Annapurna II. You could interact with the Tibetan settlers and witness their unique customs and lifestyle.

Overnight stay in Upper Pisang.

From Upper Pisang, this day's trek will take you to the mystical Manang. The hike takes you to an arid landscape with some sections covered in the pinewood forest. You can witness houses that are mostly made of mud and stacked on top of each other. Braga is an old village filled with traditional houses of Tibetan Buddhists. You can also explore an old Buddhist monastery there.

In a short while from Braga, you will reach Manang, where you can take a well-deserved rest at a tea house.

Overnight stay in Manang.

There is a significant rise in the altitude, so you need to take a rest day in Manang. While some trekkers prefer to familiarize themselves with the locals by visiting the nearby houses and common grounds, others prefer to take a day hike to the nearby Ice Lake.

Along the northern slope of Chulu East, the trail heads to the Ice Lake known officially as Kicho Tal. It is fed by the Chulu River and is a peaceful place. After taking pictures, head back to Manang and enjoy some local delicacies.

Overnight stay in Manang.

You will be heading away from the lively Manang settlement and towards an abandoned settlement. Passing by some farmlands, the road becomes steeper and rugged. Taking a steep descent, you will cross a river and head to Yak Kharka - a plain grazing field.

There are few tea houses here, and it might get busy in peak seasons with tourists flocking the circuit.

Overnight stay in Yak Kharka.

This is a tough trekking day as you would need to walk towards the foot of the Thorong La Pass. Walking slowly does the trick if the higher altitude is getting to you. At times the trail seems secluded as there are no teahouses in between or any settlements. The landscape gets rugged and steep. However, the views of mountains on all sides are something that could distract you from the challenge. The climate is very cold, and sleep might be difficult in Thorong Phedi.

Overnight stay in Thorong Phedi.

This could be the most challenging part of the trek, as you will be starting early before dawn on a steep and difficult trail. Crossing the pass early in the morning means you won't have to face the harsh winds of the day. The final leg of this day's trek is the toughest as the strong winds and the difficult terrain play a challenging role.

However, reaching the top of the pass is indeed the best experience. Views of the 8,000m mountains like Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, along with other mountain ranges, make the whole experience surreal. Following the triumph, you will head towards the ancient kingdom of Mustang, leaving behind Manang. On the other end, you will reach Muktinath, which is a holy pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. There are many standard tea houses in this area so that you can relax your sore muscles here.

Overnight stay in Muktinath.

In the morning, you can visit the holy Muktinath temple to receive the blessings of the Hindu and Buddhist deities Lord Vishnu and Avalokiteshwars, respectively. The main temple is small, but you will find surrounding smaller temples and gompas in this area. Moreover, you can run through the 108 bull-faced sacred water taps in the outer courtyard. There are also two small ponds known to take away your sins, so devotees are seen taking sacred baths even in freezing temperatures. It is also popular as one of the world's highest temples at an altitude of 3,800 m.

Following the puja, you will take a long drive to Pokhara city, passing by Jomsom in the lower Mustang along the way.

Upon reaching Pokhara city, you will be transferred to a hotel to relax and stay for the night. You can choose to enjoy the night in a pub or club near the Phewa lakeside. 

Overnight stay in Pokhara.

On this day, you will fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu city, enjoying a bird's eye view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountain ranges. After relaxing at your hotel in Thamel, you can head out for the day to enjoy the nearby popular tourist destinations. You can choose to visit the nearby Kathmandu Durbar Square in Basantapur streets, also known as Freak Street. Witness narrow alleyways, ancient temples, Hanuman Dhoka Museum, or even the place where the living goddess Kumari resides.

At night enjoy a warm Nepali dinner with your team to rejoice in the success of the amazing trek.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

On this day, bid farewell to your newfound Nepali friends as we drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport international terminal. As you reminisce about the times spent in Mustang and Manang along the Annapurna Circuit trail, you can make plans to return for a different Nepal adventure. Reach out to our team if you wish to prolong the trip or wish to come back for a new one in the future.