Annapurna Circuit Trek

You arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, and you are greeted with a warm traditional Nepali marigold garland by our airport representative. We transfer you to the hotel on an air-conditioned private vehicle as the day is an exploration through the colourful streets of Nepal’s most populated and bustling municipality filled with aroma and historical beauty. You then check into your hotel.

Lunch would be at your will either on the way to the hotel, or at the hotel, where you also receive a pre trek briefing. The areas which you pass while getting to the hotel are urban neighbourhoods within the municipality of Kathmandu. Expect to encounter the urban dwelling birds and stray animals. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Get up this morning and start your day with a full and fresh breakfast from your hotel and start a guided cultural trip and visits through the heritage sites UNESCO sites, namely the Boudhanath stupa and the Pashupatinath temple.

Enjoy your lunch at some nice rooftop cafe overlooking old squares and spend the afternoon with your trekking leader as we take time for a final gear check-up and briefing, before heading to Thamel at night for delicious traditional food like momos and dal bhat.

We pass through major highways of the city Kathmandu and some cultural streets and lanes today as well, and altitude is again not an issue (1,350 m). Expect to spot sacred temples, macaques, pigeons, and stray cattle around the cities. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

You will start your day early at 6:00 AM for a bumpy ride, getting out of Kathmandu towards the west to take on the Prithvi Highway, then onto dusty tracks along the Marsyangdi River. Have lunch along the roadside restaurant in Mugling or Besisahar; usually fried rice or noodle soup is available. You will cross the rice fields and pass the local waterfall and traditional Gurung village Bhulbhule, etc. You may see many kinds of low-country bird species, barking deer on a far hill, and domestic water buffalo. Overnight stay at a teahouse in Syange.

We begin trekking early at 7:00 am with breakfast. This is followed by crossing the bridge on the fast-flowing and noisy river gorge. Halfway across, we will take a break to enjoy lunch at Jagat. Enjoy crossing stone steps, pine forests with waterfalls along our way. We also experience security checkpoints in Tal village. A very mild form of altitude sickness can occur as we pass 1,500m elevation on our trek. But don’t worry, this will subside soon. Along the trekking we also get to see the grey langur monkeys in the trees and various varieties of butterflies flying around. We’ll then stay overnight at a teahouse in Dharapani.

Your day begins with a delicious morning meal of porridge and honey at 7:30, and you trek further through the thick fir and oak forests with inspiring views of Lamjung Himal over you as you trek through it. Enjoy hot noodle soup at a lunch stop in the village of Timang, with snowy views on one side. While walking, you come across villages such as Bagarchhap and Danque, where large quantities of majestic pine forests and mani-walls can be seen. Mild altitude headaches might begin to emerge as the air pressure increases towards 2,710meters. If you have time, you should look out for: wildlife; more commonly, the Himalayan tahr will be spotted darting across the rocky crags above, and several species of local birds will flutter by. Accommodation will be in a tea house in Chame for the night.

The day will start with pancake breakfast at 7:00h in the morning on a fresh morning. Then walk through steep, forested canyons with pines locally known as Paungda Danda rock face. Lunch will be taken at a local tea house with vegetable fried rice and piping hot ginger tea in Lower Pisang village. Wander past apple orchards through pine woods experiencing spectacular walks up cliff road to a Buddhist area that flutters its prayer flags. Traveling above the treeline, the symptoms of altitude sickness begin at 3,300 meters: visitors often may feel a slight headache and feel a little shortage of breath. And we will see wild animals such as wild sheep that stand on the rock wall and golden eagles flying in the air above head. Overnight at Pisang.

Morning views of the Annapurna massif are awesome in Upper Pisang. Upper scenic high trail traverses high alpine ridgeline of the Annapurna range. After lunch at the old medieval village of Ngawal, surrounded by traditional architecture in the form of stone houses and ancient monasteries, trekking takes a gradual descent through an arid landscape to reach Manang in mid-afternoon. In Manang we will have dinner and an overnight stay in a cosy lodge. The trail goes via: Ghyaru, Ngawal & Braga village. Some mild headaches on evenings are possible.

The day will start with a breakfast in your tea house, in accordance with trekking practices of “Trek High, Sleep Low”. You will not be hiking up today; instead, you will be taking a day of acclimatization hikes to a height of almost 3,800 meters to either Gangapurna Lake or Ice Lake. This will help your body to adjust to the changes in altitude where your body will start producing more red blood cells. You will have lunch in Manang town either at a bakery or a tea house. You are free in the afternoon to explore the Himalayan Rescue Association’s aid post, where they conduct an informative meeting on altitude sickness and its prevention. Your dinner will be had with Tibetan-style bread and dal bhat. You must be extra wary of altitude sickness as you adjust your body to prepare for crossing the high pass.

Today begins with a moderate but continuous upward journey from the valley floor in Manang. Leaving behind the treelines, we now enter barren, windblown alpine scrub. Lunch will be a simple yet satisfying one, provided at a small cluster of teahouses along the arid slopes.

The afternoon portion is short and takes us along the open slopes on which one might witness blue sheep grazing on precarious rock faces high above us.

We will reach Yak Kharka early for our dinner and overnight accommodation. The trail traverses through villages: Gamsang and Tenki Manang. We climb to a height of 4,110m here, and at these altitudes the frequent breathing, dry cold air and exhaustion will begin to feel like the norm.

Leave Yak Kharka in the crisp, cold morning air. We will cross a suspension bridge over the Jorsang Khola before ascending steadily along narrow gravel paths clinging to cliff-sides with potential minor rockfall hazards. By early afternoon, we will arrive at Thorong Phedi or High Camp, where we will enjoy lunch.

The rest of the day is reserved for relaxation, a huge intake of water, and readying your equipment for tomorrow’s crucial high pass.

We will dine and sleep in the busy base lodge at Thorong Phedi. Ledar and Thorong Phedi are the base huts. You’re at 4,420m – the air feels thin, and your breathing will pick up pace with just a few moves. Take it easy and steady.

We get going around 4 am in the frigid darkness of high alpine air.

It is an arduous climb of 4-5 hours, taking us steadily up the barren, ice-covered moraine slopes to the prayer flags of the Thorong La Pass, at 5,416m. A special welcome with hot tea and snacks is ready in between the Thorong La and Thorong Phedi tea-house before we reach the summit for celebration. After spending some time around the pass, the long descent begins and is rapidly made down steep scree slopes into the holy land of pilgrimage and Muktinath, and we have lunch. We then proceed to undertake a drive in an awesome 4-wheel drive jeep, driving down dusty Kali Gandaki valley to the amiable village of Marpha. In this village of Marpha, one enjoys food and rests and stays overnight. Altitude affects you badly throughout the pass crossing. By the time we are all back in Marpha, you will have already recovered.

The day begins with a wholesome breakfast set against the white stone pathways and apple orchards of Marpha, before you board a private/shared jeep and ascend into a thrilling, bumpy daytime journey to the world's deepest river gorge. A roadside lunch is arranged at a restaurant in Tatopani/Beni. The afternoon drive takes on its pleasant pace via paved roads traversing agricultural terraces and reaching Pokhara alongside the tranquil Phewa Lake. The settlements you will pass are Tukuche, Ghasa, Tatopani and Beni. This day you also descend to 850m altitude removing all cold and altitude effects entirely.

Your breakfast this morning is a peaceful one right next to the lake with views of Machhapuchhre from a viewpoint in Pokhara. Then you board the comfortable tourist bus / private vehicle back towards the east. We take the famous Prithvi Highway.

Lunch will be provided halfway during the travel in the restaurant situated on the road (highway). The afternoon drive takes you along the raging river and terraced hills, finally arriving in Kathmandu by the late afternoon.

We pass through various places such as Mugling & Malekhu. Our altitude comes down again to 1,350 meters, where we have normal atmospheric oxygen levels.

Enjoy your last day by having breakfast in your Kathmandu hotel in the early morning. Have fun enjoying shopping for souvenirs for loved ones, and then you are dropped at Tribhuvan Int'l Airport 3 hrs before your international flight.

You are going to travel from the inner ring road of the city of Kathmandu, which has an altitude of 1,350 meters above sea level; hence, there will not be any problem regarding altitude / physical trekking anymore.

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be received by our office representative, who will then transfer you to the hotel. You have a free afternoon to relax in the hotel after the long journey and take in the chaotic feel of the city. You may choose to go for a walk in Thamel and last-minute buying of trekking gear, getting cash converted, having a local lunch, etc. In the evening, meet up with the trek leader to confirm the details, check trekking gear, and sort out details for the next few days trekking into the wilderness.

Your trek starts with an early drive from the Kathmandu valley on the scenic Prithvi Highway alongside the Trishuli and Marsyangdi Rivers through colorful terraced fields and villages to Besisahar (760m). Here, you’ll catch up with your four wheel jeep ride to navigate the challenging, rough trail leading to Chame (2,700m). As you get acquainted with the gradually steeper slopes and the increasing remoteness in Manang District, the road will guide you through the pine forests & deep gorges till the end of the road head at Chame, which is the administrative head of the Manang District. From here, your eyes behold a magnificent immediate view of Annapurna II & Mt Lamjung.

The trail starts with a crossing to the northern banks of the Marsyangdi River before entering the dense woods of rhododendron and pine trees where there are some iconic rock formations such as the sheer curved cliff-face of Paungda Danda rising above 1,500 meters up out of the valley.

You’ll hike past impressive suspension bridges built across the river valleys and Buddhist mani walls created by local communities as their spiritual devotion. When entering the drier upper parts of the valley, you’ll notice how cool it becomes at night compared with your early morning departure.

Arriving in the town of Pisang you have time to explore the unique traditional stoneworking methods used for creating architecture here combined with the ancient monasteries located amidst dramatic alpine landscapes that make this an unforgettable day.

You have two options on which route to take today: either by taking the lower one, passing through Humde, or the higher route, going through Upper Pisang, Ghyaru & Ngawal.

If you are looking for some great panoramic vistas of Annapurna II, IV & Gangapurna, then definitely go with the second option, as this gives much better acclimatization benefits than the lower routes.

The trails also include amazing scenic views of the alpine landscape dotted with ancient chortens and the famous fluttering prayer flags against the backdrop of mountains. As we trek towards the upper side, you’ll observe how the climate changes rapidly turning it into a rain shadowed area similar to the Tibetan plateau.

You will finally arrive at the big village called Manang where you can relax and enjoy your important rest day after having soaked yourself up in the breathtaking scenery all around the valley. Check out our list of best places to visit here if you want to get an overview of the highlights you can see.

The high mountain pass can only be made when the body has acclimatized. Manang has a number of great day hikes which will help the body adjust to thinner air. Two favorite side trips were the day hike to the Gangapurna Lake viewpoint, or the very steep trek up to Chongkor viewpoint where you get commanding views of the Gangapurna Glacier and peaks surrounding, or hike to Praken Gompa and receive a blessing from a monk. The HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) clinic runs an amazing lecture on acclimatization every afternoon which you can also attend. Spend the afternoon resting and enjoying good food.

Once you depart from Manang, you will slowly climb out of the valley. Tenki village will come up before reaching the grazing pastures in the high mountain region. All trees will be replaced with scrub juniper, sparse grass and rocks. It’s a very easy and very short day in effort, all done to avoid straining at 4,000 metres, crossing streams and passing the yak and blue sheep grazed pastures, whilst appreciating some phenomenal views of the Annapurna range and Chulu West all the way. Upon reaching Yak Kharka you’ll settle into the tranquil teahouse to have some rest and allow your body some time to adjust further to the new 4k height.

The goal today is a short but steep climb to the base of Thorong Phedi (4,510m / 14,800 ft). From Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (the base of the pass) today’s walk is up the river canyon through the twists of the path. Soon you’ll cross a suspension bridge, then a rather screwy section of trail which is steep.

Keep your pace slow and try not to step on the loose rock to ensure a stable step. On arrival at Thorong Phedi we’ll check into our teahouse for an early meal. Some trekkers do push ahead for a further one-hour climb to the High Camp at 4,800 metres. However, it does little for the quality of your sleep. Keep drinking, organize tomorrow’s packs, then try to go to bed early for a midnight wake-up.

Beginning at dawn just before 3 am, the grueling climb to the Thorong La Pass will take place under a blanket of stars. The trail is incredibly steep, slippery and rocky. You will struggle as you hike under the weight of yourself and equipment in that thin air, and climbing to the summit of Thorong La (5,416 m), which will be adorned with prayer flags, is an unbelievable reward offering panoramic views of the entire Himalayan Range up to Tibet. After getting some souvenir snapshots, it is time for the 1,600m-plus descent, which will be steep, into the Mustang area; finally arriving in the holy temple town of Muktinath.

From Muktinath, after seeing and visiting this famous place (where locals like Hindu and Buddhists pray), known also for 108 spouts and eternal natural gas flame, you’ll make your way by local jeep/bus down into the Kali Gandaki gorge (the world’s deepest gorge) down to Tatopani via Mustang villages of Kagbeni and Jomsom. In the dry, windswept Kali Gandaki valley, the temperature will start to be not cold. Tatopani is famous for hot springs and it would relax you more from weeks’ days on altitude trekking.

Beyond the steaming hot springs of Tatopani, today's trekking route will be one of the challenging days of the whole hike – where you need to do long and sustained climbing to Ghorepani. It will take you over a suspension bridge over the Kali Gandaki, across farmland, and through the farming lands & village areas of Sikha and Chhitre. You will be ascending the long, never-ending stone staircase, where it goes on changing into thick jungle (rhododendron & oak). The long slog up to Ghorepani, an active ridge village which is the start-point of the walk to Poon Hill. The walk is well rewarded on clear days by excellent views of both the Dhaulagiri range and the mighty Annapurna South.

At first light we wake-up, we grab our gear and start climbing towards Poon Hill at 3,210m on foot before dawn. Once there, the views are worth every minute’s effort as the sun rises behind mighty Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Machhapuchhre while illuminating other peaks including Nilgiri.

After taking in this beautiful golden vista, it's time for some much needed breakfast at Ghorepani followed by a descent through Ulleri along stone steps back to the trailhead from which our vehicle will take us all the way back to Pokhara.

From here we catch a scenic 25 minutes’ short domestic flight from Pokhara Airport back to Kathmandu. On arriving back, we'll be transferred to our hotel where you can treat yourself to a nice hot shower, soft bed and a celebratory fare-well dinner in the city.

Your incredibly rewarding 12 day Annapurna Circuit trekking experience officially comes to its conclusion today. Depending on your flight schedule, the day is yours to shop for gifts and souvenirs in the bustling and colorful capital of Nepal (Thamel), take a stroll to one of Kathmandu’s many sacred and impressive temples or simply unwind with a delicious Nepali latte at your hotel or one of the city’s numerous charming cafes before a representative arrives to escort you to the international airport three hours prior to your flight home.

Our team’s company representative will be there to meet you on arrival and help arrange a smooth private transfer to your hotel. After you check into your hotel, relax for a while as you adjust from flying. Once ready, meet your trekking guide who will take you through the details of the Annapurna Circuit adventure before the trek starts officially. This includes an overview of the route, safety considerations, equipment arrangements and anything else that may come up in relation to your trek. Then spend the rest of your evening free exploring the alleys of Thamel or trying out delicious Nepalese cuisine at some local restaurants.

Today marks the real start of the adventure! We’re going to embark upon a picture postcard journey, beginning with a scenic morning drive towards the starting point of our Annapurna circuit adventure – Syange. This route runs along the famous Prithvi highway where we get incredible views of rushing rivers, terraced paddy fields, rustic villages, and the amazing views of snow-capped mountains. Along the way, you’ll also have opportunities to refresh yourself and enjoy a lovely lunch and tea. Our journey quickly makes the sharp turn off the main road and leaves the town of Besisahar for a rocky track following the Marshyandi River for the most part and then on to another charming little village called Syange to check in for your village tea house before lacing up for the trek tomorrow.

You will begin trekking from Syange following the dramatic Marshyangdi River. You’ll pass over several suspension bridges high above the river as you go up into the narrowing valley. The walk involves traversing through some nice Gurung and Tamang communities such as Jagat and Chamje as you continue into the pine forests of the Manang district. Arrive in Dharapani, check into the tea house and warm up in front of the wood burner with delicious food.

We will start the ascent from here through the pine and oak forests with lots of rhododendrons around the Marshyangdi River. Today’s walk will take us to the serene village of Bagarchhap with an array of Tibetan style stone houses and fluttering prayer flags. And after that, when the view opens up, we can look back at the mesmerizing sight of Annapurna II and the Lamjung Himal mountains.

We climb up through the apple orchards and cross some roaring streams and hot springs close to Latamarang. Today's journey brings us into the municipality of Chame, which is the district headquarters of Manang. This is a vibrant small settlement where we have local markets and enjoy our guest house stay.

Today's trek takes us deeper into the high altitude pine forests where temperatures get significantly cooler and crisper. We shall cross the river numerous times on some rather rickety-looking suspension bridges before passing through the imposing Paungda Danda, an almost vertical, smooth face of rock formed by glaciers some 1,500m above our river. The valley opens up considerably from the entry into Upper or Lower Pisang, and amazing, inspiring views of both Annapurna II and Pisang are available here. Retire to your tea house in the evening, or during the afternoon you can visit the monastery at the top of the hill.

Travel to Manang today is possible through the classic route going via the village of Ghyaru and Nawal, offering wide views over the valley, or via Hongde with its landing field. Either way, there are beautiful views over the peaks of Annapurna. You’ll find the trail changing and the landscape drying to become a more desolate Tibetan plateau with plenty of mani walls, chortens and prayer wheels and a couple of stone settlements. Upon arriving in Manang, traditional culture will be all you see – the main village of the upper valley, at that altitude. Take rest and have a good night's sleep.

For a safe summit of the high pass tomorrow, the whole day is an excellent and well-deserved day of acclimatisation and relaxation in and around Manang village. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then consider a day trek up to the Chongkor viewing point, or to the spectacular clear turquoise coloured glacial Gangapurna lake. Another choice is to climb to the ancient Praken Gompa or hundred-rupee lama’s monastery for a ritual blessing and fantastic views of Annapurna IV and Tilicho Peak. Also present in Manang is the Himalayan Rescue Association, giving day-long high-altitude medical lectures, all with the goal of prevention of altitude sickness before you prepare for tomorrow’s arduous climb.

Leaving behind the village of Manang, we begin the ascent from the Marshyangdi valley and trek up to Yak Kharka. The flora and topography around us begin to change – green grasses and fields turn into alpine meadows and grazing grounds with few of the trees. We continue up the trail; we cross over to Tenki Manang by ascending gradually up to the Jharsang Khola.

Here in this untamed and barren landscape, you can expect to find herds of local blue sheep or yak grazing in the shadow of these enormous mountains. As we crossed the 4000m sign-posted this morning, we now travel at a steady, careful, low pace to arrive by midday at Yak Kharka and allow you to relax and acclimatise throughout the afternoon.

Today the day’s journey is short but significant as you approach the gateway to the Thorong La Pass. From Yak Kharka, we walk along the contour of the mountain and descend to cross a wooden bridge over the river and continue ascending on a steeper path of scree leading us to the base camp of the Thorong La Pass in Thorong Phedi. Even though today’s day is shorter, because of the thin air quality, we feel every single step. Here we have to take rest, drink enough water, prepare our gear for the next early morning crossing, and hit the bed early to sleep more.

Starting earlier in the morning around 4 am, we trek toward one of the most challenging but memorable days for you. Today we will trek all the way up to Thorong La Pass (5,416m) through a steeper and icy route, with prayer flags, and you will witness the platform where you celebrated your successful trip by congratulating each other with camera and photos along with the magnificent Mountain view. Then you will commence the very long and steep downhill trip, approximately 2,000 meters vertically down. You will reach and rest your legs at Muktinath, a holy land, by the afternoon at the teahouse.

Following the holy pilgrimage destination to the holiest Muktinath Temple where one can observe the hundred eight stone spouts and burning fire flame always burning 24 hours, we ride back to our vehicles from the Kali Gandaki Valley driving across windy Tibetan influenced hub i.e. Jomsom and historically acclaimed apple gardens of Marpha village with its branded local cider. Then we cross the world’s deepest gorge that exists between Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri and enter into the green and lush landscape from the dry and barren Trans-Himalayan region of Himalayas. In the late afternoon you will reach the very serene village called Tatopani, which provides you with relaxation for weary legs at the hot natural riverside springs.

Today’s itinerary is one that involves a lengthy but mostly flat trail as it branches off from the Kali Gandaki and begins its climb into Ghorepani. The trail crosses the traditional farming villages named Ghara and Sikha. You have a view of the terraced land of millet and mustard on the hills through the beautiful thick forest of rhododendron and oak that blooms pink/red in the spring season. The 3,000 stone steps give your thighs a good workout, although they are softened by plenty of tea breaks, and you finally arrive at the mountaintop Ghorepani Village by late afternoon to enjoy sunset views over the Dhaulagiri range.

Early in the morning (4:30 AM), trek to Poon Hill and witness the glorious sunrise over the top of the snow-capped Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri range, where you will get marvelous photo shots. Witnessing the sunrise, trek back down to Ghorepani where you will have your breakfast, and enjoy long downward hike via stunning rhododendron forest by the side of Magar village of Ulleri, and Birethanti where you can rest and later have small, final walk up to Nayapul. Here your private vehicle will take you a 2 hrs ride to well-renowned lakeside town Pokhara where you will check in to the hotel, have a hot shower, comfort bed, food and dinner.

Wake to a relaxed breakfast, taking in the views of the serene Phewa Lake, Pokhara. Board a tourist bus or private jeep to travel back to Kathmandu Valley by the same highway, taking in the Marshyangdi and Trishuli rivers and views of the rural villages and terraced fields of Nepal, and street vendors by the side of the highway. Alternatively, there is an option of traveling back by domestic flight, taking 25 minutes, and checking in to your hotel in Kathmandu, followed by a full day for any final souvenir shopping at Thamel.

The Annapurna Circuit journey lasting 15 days officially concludes today. Take a chance to relax at a cozy cafe, explore historical Kathmandu for the last time or browse through local handicraft souvenirs based on your flight schedule. You will be driven by a private vehicle from your hotel by one of our representatives to Tribhuvan International Airport 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight out. With loads of memories from Thorong La, Poon Hill, hot springs, and mountain hospitality – you take off for home.

After a long and winding mountain journey that takes you away from the capital city, the morning ride out to the Annapurnas comes to an abrupt end on your arrival in Chame, 2,760 meters, after a steep ascent to the higher terrain; most of the altitude sickness should be felt by now. You'll pass a rugged dirt road alongside deep river gorges, waterfalls, rice paddies of flat hillside farming plots and tiny villages carved into the hillsides for lunch in a rural roadside restaurant just before Besisahar before settling down in a comfortable Chame lodge in the evening. You would see domesticated goats grazing on village land, mules packed up with freight passing you by and if very lucky, you may even see monkeys playfully leaping between trees in the sparse woodland, close to this altitude, along the winding mountain route.

We will encounter the sweet aroma of pine and flower-dotted rhododendron trees, with our trail following along the rushing Marsyangdi River, and feel refreshing pure mountain air for the first time on our treks. The altitude effect hits you at 3,300 metres as you reach upper Pisang. You will see great curved walls of rock, old carved mani walls, prayer wheels, and simple stone domes.

Your lunch will be served at a trail-side tea house in Dhukur Pokhari with beautiful views. You will have your dinner at a guest house in Pisang. Many heavy pack mules come down from Manang, farm goats grazing on the grassy banks, shy musk-deer peeping from behind green branches and brilliant colorful birds perched on the tree branches along your pathway of fragrant pine branches.

Following a slow-paced ascent and the natural settlement with the altitude, you will take one easy walk all through this amazing arid rain-shadow lands of the Upper Manang Valley. At 3,500m we reached the historic high-altitude settlement town of Manang. We walk past historic Buddhist monasteries, traditional flat-roofed mud houses, historic chortens and view the wide valley floor.

We will have lunch in a warm lodge at the village of Humde and spend tonight at an altitude of around 3,500m eating dinner in a warm wood-fired dining room in Manang.

You will no doubt see yaks contained in stone enclosures in pastures along the open valley floor, and be on the look out for pikas darting among the boulders and you may spot horses or bearded vultures drifting high above.

Rise and enjoy your breakfast a relaxing start before a leisurely hike up to one of our popular acclimatisation viewpoints (Chongkor or Gangapurna Lake at  3,800m) to take in Annapurna and Gangapurna vistas from above. Return back from the acclimatization hike and explore a collection of traditional stone villages with fluttering prayer flags, bakers producing delicious local bread from high-altitude bakers, and high alpine ridges. Here you may discover hardy blue sheep in the cliff faces, grazing with yaks and mountain horses, local inhabitants and golden eagles drifting through in thermal winds on the ridge crest. After a tasty lunch in a local cafe in Manang you descend back to your comfy lodge for the evening.

After having a fairly standard uphill trek from the treeline and out of the forests into the crisp, cold alpine tundra, the most pronounced effects of the altitude are at Thorong Phedi, the staging post at 4,600 meters, the air is notably thin and cold. Pastures where yaks graze (Yak Kharkas), small, airy suspension bridges, loose and volatile scree-trails, dry glacial riverbeds will all be encountered. You’ll have lunch in the remote high-rise teahouse in the hamlet of Ledar; then take the biggest meal of the day back in the restaurant at the teahouse inn where you stay the night in Thorong Phedi. You’ll view hordes of yaks eating thinly scattered sparse grassy spots over the frosty slopes and high rises and also Himalayan marmots coming out of the burrows and also a high-fly and also chough fluttering over in the currents high overhead.

Start your day early for one of our most challenging climbs to Thorong La Pass - an altitude that can reach an extreme of 5,416m (the summit). As we climb, enjoy icy moraine trails, fluttering prayer flags, high rock cairns, and snow-capped mountains. Enjoy lunch on packed snacks either at the pass itself, or at a lower tea house in Charabu. We will turn around and make our way down to dinner to stay in the more developed village of Muktinath (3,800m). Look out again along our trek as we pass expedition yaks, Himalayan golden eagle and elusive Himalayan blue sheep clinging to sheer mountainsides up towards the snow.

Your final day ends with an early wake in Muktinath and an incredibly long road journey from there. You may feel high altitude from the first thing up in Muktinath (3,800 meters) and descend to the bottom of Kali Gandaki Gorge as you travel from, seeing dust deserts, windy mountain roads, green hillsides, lively country road towns along the Prithvi Highway. Lunch will take place at the river-side (in Malekhu), and evening at a hotel/local diner in Kathmandu after your trip. You'll spot many pack horses, rural farm cows, village street dogs and close to roadside temples, some monkeys.

Welcome to Nepal! Your representative will meet and greet you at Tribhuvan International airport of Kathmandu and drive you to your hotel for Check-in where you relax a bit after your tired journey  or roam around the busiest part of the trekking journey that is Thamel street. Later you meet our expedition team for a detailed trek briefing where the guide will check up your gear, explain to you about the trail and will sort out every last-minute worries and doubts that you have so you will have a very good rest tonight. Your trek for an extensive Himalayan journey through popular Annapurna will begin tomorrow morning.

Day one would be spent on travel as we start our journey towards Bulbule through scenic drives taking 7-9 hours starting from Kathmandu.

Leaving Kathmandu Valley we drive along the banks of Trishuli and Marsyangdi Rivers enjoying views of picturesque terraced farmlands, traditional rural hamlets and lush green hillsides leading up to Besisahar.

The snowcapped Himalayas come into view as soon as we head further into Bulbule, after which we can relax by checking into our lovely Bulbule teahouse and exploring the village for sometime before beginning our exciting trekking day tomorrow.

The journey starts today, with your very first official day walking along the banks of the roaring Marsyangdi River.

As you walk the trail, you’ll cross some beautiful suspension bridges and see many breathtaking sights, including lovely terraced fields and sub-tropical forests. You’ll also get to experience some wonderful Gurung & Tamang villages like ‘Bahundanda’ & ‘Ghermu’, famous for their colorful prayer flags fluttering in the air.

Along this 5-6 hour long trek, there are lots of opportunities for amazing photos, especially at those dramatic-looking waterfalls that cascade down from the cliff sides. Finally, after climbing up the last little bit, you’ll arrive at this quaint little town called Chamje. There you can take a nice break at your comfortable teahouse and appreciate the views of the evening.

Today’s path takes us out of Chamje and ascends significantly through tough pine & rhododendron forests. We come upon the Manang region when we cross the river over yet another suspension bridge. A steep set of stone steps leads us toward the town of Tal, whose flat expanse contrasts against its imposing waterfall. From here we traverse groves of bamboo until we find ourselves hiking through stretches of forest where we can admire views of the surrounding mountains and stop to visit nearby rural mountain villages like Dharapani. Eventually we start encountering more arid scenery similar to alpine landscapes and arrive at our destination, Bagarchhap - a very culturally rich Tibetan-influenced village with an amazing number of prayer wheels and stone chortens (shrines).

Your trek carries on as you hike through the oak, maple, and blue pine forest. The path begins to close beside the river; the rocks grow high with the dramatic view of the high mountains. After you pass by the settlements of Danakyu and Timang, you might even spot clear-ups through the clouds and grand views of Mount Manaslu and Peak 29. As the air grows thinner, you rise over 5-6 hours to reach Chame – the administrative center of the Manang district. For the rest of the day, relax in the town, visit the stores seeking out local handmade crafts and unwind.

A trip today with a duration between 5 and 6 hours will reveal astonishing mountain views during a trek upwards in the valley. You'll walk through dense pine forests leading to Paungda Danda, an enormous, curving rock formation rising precariously above the river. As we advance towards Pisang, the vegetation changes to arid mountain ranges and terrain.

Your path will cross the river again and lead to Lower Pisang, where views of Annapurna II and the Pisang Peak can be seen.

You have the entire afternoon to enjoy yourself and visit Pisang’s old monastery in Upper Pisang and its wide vistas over the valley.

It takes around 5 to 6 hours to hike from Pisang to Manang. This trail involves two possible routes off the main route further into the rain shadow of the Himalayas. There are amazing cliff formations, ancient caves, and mani walls along this hike to the dry, open valley of Manang. We’ll pass some really awesome traditional villages on our journey today, like Bryaga – which features a 500-year-old monastery with many valuable Buddhist statues and murals inside. You can expect gorgeous vistas as well when you arrive at Manang, including those of Annapurna III, Gangapurna & Tilicho Peak. Finally, check into your teahouse and get ready for tomorrow’s big acclimatization day.

Ensure that you spend an acclimatization day here because passing Thorong La without adequate preparation can be risky. A popular option is to spend the day hiking either to Gangapurna Lake or the viewpoint above Chongkor, where we have an amazing view of glaciers and turquoise waters. You may also opt to do some hikes in this village – like going all the way up to Praken Gompa, which will give you a chance to meet with one of the resident monks who can grant you a blessing while taking in the panoramic vistas of the Annapurna range. As always when planning on being exposed to higher altitudes, it’s better if you spend more time there (if possible) than coming down into lower elevation. Try visiting the local bakeries after the lunch hour. This gives you the opportunity to rest and take part in a short lecture on what they call ‘high altitude’ provided by the local medical post.

From Manang, the trek continues towards higher altitude and leads you through beautiful alpine pastures covered with juniper bushes and other types of scrub vegetation. With this short 4-5 hour walk, we allow our bodies to acclimatise to the higher altitude while gaining altitude.

You will pass by a small wooden bridge crossing over the Thorung Khola and get some great up close views of Annapurna II, Annapurna III, and Chulu West. There are also chances for you to see herds of lovely-looking Blue Sheep feeding on rocky slopes. You will reach the village of Yak Kharka here today and will want to check into your room, try to stay as warm as possible, and take a peaceful afternoon rest.

Today you have a short but important 4-5 hours trek on your hands that takes you to the base of Thorong La Pass. You’ll walk across the suspension bridge and travel through high-altitude alpine terrain and scree slopes. So keep your pace slow & steady throughout this hike in order to preserve your energies and tackle the decreasing level of oxygen. Once you reach the place called “Thorung Phedi”, which is actually a small settlement right at the foot of the pass, it’s time for some rest here along with drinking lots of fluids and preparing yourself for tomorrow’s challenging trek. Also, make sure you go to bed pretty early tonight because the entire journey up the high pass starts way before the sun rises!

From 3:00 AM, we start our journey on a difficult path to reach the highest point, “Thorong La Pass,” which stands at 5,416-meter height from sea level. Our trek through cold wind and thin air will be rewarded by the magnificent view of all sides (360 degrees) of the two great mountain ranges "Annapurna" & "Dhaulagiri" covered with colorful prayer flags when we reach up here. After some beautiful photo shooting, we go down towards “Mustang Valley” for quite a long time, passing through the desert area after 7-9 hours trekking, and finally reaching “Muktinath”, a sacred temple complex of the Hindu and Buddhist religions.

After some time exploring all 108 waterspouts and eternal flame of Muktinath, we will return, descending down to Kagbeni, which is an old-style medieval village of cobbled lanes among the mud-brick chortens that denote the entrance into Upper Mustang. We will spend ample time exploring Kagbeni and then descend by walking down through the Kali Gandaki's dry river bed to windy Jomsom. We stay at a teahouse here and glance at the Thakali people culture and traditions that live there.

Today you wave goodbye to the remote high-altitude trek, board the transport and settle in for an invigorating and visually stunning drive of 5 – 6 hours along the Kali Gandaki River Gorge down to Tatopani. En route, you navigate what is considered the world’s deepest gorge between the giant peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. See impressive transformation, from barren hillsides into subtropical luxuriant lower mountain villages to rain forest for Marpha and Dana etc. At Tatopani, submerge yourself in natural hot water flowing beside the river and enjoy the peak of your achievement while crossing the high pass.

Freshen up after your soak in our hot springs and start another 7 to 9 hour climb out of this beautiful river valley and up towards the village of Ghorepani.

Along this route we will travel through some very scenic terrain that includes terraced farmlands and charming Magar and Gurung villages including Sikha & Chitre. We’ll walk through some very unique areas including dense and ancient rhododendron & oak forests full of all kinds of fascinating flora and fauna. At last, reach the hilltop village of Ghorepani, with spectacular views of these very mountains, the magnificent Mt Dhaulagiri & Annapurna South & Nilgiri.

Go for an early hike to one of our trek's main highlight points - Poon Hill viewpoint. As we reach, we shall be able to see a dramatic sunrise on the Annapurna & Dhaulagiri mountain range. Then descend to Ghorepani for some breakfast and then head further down along the beautiful rhododendron forest towards Ulleri village and then onwards to Tikhedhunga.

We have a short break for lunch at Birethanti, close to the river checkpoint. Finally, we complete our trek from there to Nayapul, which would take us around 45 mins on foot only. Our private transport will be waiting for you here in this location and will drive us all the way to Pokhara City. As you arrive, check in to your hotel and relax while having dinner right on the banks of tranquil Phewa Lake.

Start your day with a refreshing early morning hike around calm Phewa Lake or go about relaxed breakfast before taking a simple ride (approx. 6-7 hrs) back to the capital, Kathmandu, via Prithvi Highway with peaceful river views, paddy terraces, tiny villages, as well as various appealing cities along the way. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to the hotel to enjoy some refreshments. For lunch, indulge in the classic locally made momo and other tantalizing varieties like Thakali Dal Bhat & Newari Specialities from local famous restaurants like Thamel House Restaurants, The Best Kathmandu Kitchen.

Today marks the end of your wonderful 17-day Annapurna Circuit tour. Have your breakfast in your hotel in accordance with your flight schedule. A member of staff will take you to the Tribhuvan International Airport (which is around 3 hours drive). Say goodbye and jump into your return flight with a bag full of thoughts and a heart full of memories back to your homeland of the majestic Himalayan passes and monasteries, meeting humble people, experiencing their cultures and enjoying the beautiful environment.

The adventure to the Annapurna begins in morning after breakfast at the hotel in Kathmandu. Board a Loal bus and drive west on the winding road along the Prithvi Highway. You will take the driving, in the path of Trishuli and Marsyangdi River side while enjoying views of colourful countryside farms on steep hillside, small towns and green hills, you take a simple country Nepal lunch on roadside restaurant nearer to the Besisahar, continue to the dirt road along the side of the river through hill and valley then reach a small entrance village named Bhulbhule by the afternoon. Here spend overnight at the teahouse and have dinner and sleep under in between the subtropical climate.

From Bhulbhule, after a warm breakfast at the teahouse, you’ll take a 4WD jeep into the exciting Annapurna Conservation Area. This bumpy mountain road curves up, around rivers and waterfalls, and past pretty mountain villages such as Jagat, Dharapani, and Koto, passing through the dense and ever-changing vegetation zones. Stop for a delicious lunch at one of the lodges located on the trekking route in Dharapani, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot a herd of Himalayan Tahr. Soon, you’ll leave the dense forests behind as we ascend further to reach a very busy trading and district headquarters village. It’s a real melting pot of cultures up here. Stay overnight in traditional teahouse accommodation.

Wake up with mountain views and have your hot breakfast. After which, we set off on foot for today's trek through thick pine and apple orchards, passing suspension bridges over the Marsyangdi River.

Pass the impressive curved rock-face (Paungda Danda), then stop at the cosy lodge in Dhukur Pokhari for a hot lunch. There are also lots of high-altitude bird-life here, including some very big birds – the Red-Billed Choughs & Himalayan Griffons which can be seen gliding effortlessly on the thermals as they pass above our trail. This evening, we will arrive at either Upper or Lower Pisang. There are many fascinating things to do like exploring the local Prayer wheels, having dinner made with local ingredients, and spending the night in one of their finest teahouses.

After a yummy breakfast in Pisang, you could take an early morning either a short lower direct way to reach Manang directly, or take a very scenic upper way via Pisang, Gyaru, and Upper Pisang. This upper road would take you across wonderful views of Annapurna II, Annapurna III and Pisang Peak. At one point in the upper valley, we would have a lunch break in a peaceful, beautiful teahouse in Ngawal and overlook the whole valley. Along the dry area, you might see Pika, a local fluffy-like mouse with a burrow in stone under or groups of Bharal. The route goes gently back down to the valley floor towards Manang, and in the evening, have dinner and stay in the village.

After breakfast in Manang, we are now getting into a serious altitude zone as you trek out of the main settlement of the valley and upwards into an increasingly high altitude landscape. You’re gaining altitude quickly, leaving the Marsyangdi River valley as the trail climbs above it with juniper scrub. You walk past the traditional settlement of Tenki Manang, leaving the valley out into vast and open mountain pastures. We stop for a good, energy-giving lunch at a tea lodge somewhere in the high grounds, perhaps Gunsang, and hopefully spot some marmots and herds of grazing yaks. A relatively shorter day today that helps us acclimatise well to the altitude. Arrive at the isolated settlement of Ledar this early afternoon for evening meal and overnight.

It's day six now. After a steaming, high-energy breakfast, we take the rocky path up to the point where the pass begins. As we skirt the side of screes we cross the Jarsang Khola on a wooden bridge. Watch out for the steep side of the valley for a possible glimpse of Blue Sheep as well as eagles gliding from above with majestic looks.

Reach Thorong Phedi for lunch, then ascend a steep climb through switchbacks to the ‘High Camp’ 4900m in an effort to reduce the distance to travel across the pass tomorrow. Conserve your strength; drink plenty of water and take an early dinner for the big day. Overnight at a mountain guest house.

An early wake up for summit day. An early start means a high-energy, early-morning breakfast followed by an uphill traverse along some gnarly glacial moraines as dawn breaks, under starry skies. The goal is to cross the famous prayer-flagged, 5,416m high Thorong La pass and reach the summit crest. Take in the celebrations and grab some pics from this ultimate high point, before a very long, steep drop down into Mustang; the trek will pause for a late hot-lunch and much-needed rest at a high teahouse in Charabu ( you might even spot some hardy Snowcocks on frozen high ledges, way above the treeline), then down to holy Muktinath for dinner and an overnight at the town’s inn.

Wake up to beautiful temple views from your Muktinath accommodation. Then catch a shared jeep/bus and ride all the way down the desert and windy landscape that is the Kali Gandaki Valley. You drive past Jomsom, the wind-powered apple hub, and traditional Thakali settlements like Marpha. Have lunch at Marpha, a local town renowned for its apples and delicious local fruit pies. Your trek further south passes the Mustang desert and continues to the green and lush area of Ghasa, characterized by waterfalls. Finally, in the late afternoon, you descend into the humid valley city of Tatopani, and immediately make yourself comfortable in the natural hot springs after dinner.

Have a relaxed breakfast in this mild climate. Then you’ll board your transfer vehicle for a ride to take along the banks of the Kali Gandaki river road towards Beni, where there are some beautiful sights of subtropical forests, terraced farmlands and rural hill settlements.

Have a wonderful lunch at the most scenic roadside restaurant either in Beni or Nayapul. Along the way spot the Annapurna Massif and the fishtail, and then you reach the Pokhara valley, also called city of lakes, around the afternoon hour.

After checking in to our hotel, spend the rest of the evening free, wandering Phewa Lake as one enjoys their free time in town. Enjoy a delicious meal at a restaurant overlooking the lake waters with dinner followed by an overnight stay.

Enjoy the final breakfast at the hotel and drive overland to Kathmandu via the Prithvi Highway. This highway traverses the basin of the Trishuli River with a unique and fascinating view of different remote Nepalese ways of life, cable car nearby Kurintar as well as green hills. During this trip, you have Lunch at the riverside restaurant on the way back. Reach Kathmandu in the late afternoon then. Your driver will take you straight to your hotel or the place where you need to go for further arrangements. And this concludes our tour safely.

At your hotel in Kathmandu after an early morning breakfast, we start our long overland scenic drive westward in Prithvi Highway following the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers and we experience the amazing life of rural roadside towns (Malekhu, Dumre, Besisahar). Lunch is enjoyed on the way in a highway restaurant near Besisahar. After that, we change for a tough 4 Wheel Drive mountain jeep, heading up towards the high altitude through a terraced field, waterfall and cliff side remote village such as Syange, and Dharapani in between and we reach the remote village called Chame. Later you will be served with a delicious dinner at your teahouse and overnight stay in Chame.

Rise to a hot breakfast at your teahouse at approximately 7:00 A.M. And set out along the Marsyangdi River valley. Wander through dense pine and rhododendron forests, coming across traditional stoned villages of Bhratang as well as daring suspension bridges. Look up at the magnificent curve of the Paungda Danda rock cliff hovering above the valley. You stop for lunch in the teahouse close to Dhukur Pokhari, which is simple and minimalistic, but quite charming. The valley floor becomes broader and enters alpine area as you proceed towards your destination, where you may be able to watch herds of Himalayan Tahr feeding along high ledges.

You’ll spend the night at your teahouse in Upper or Lower Pisang, enjoying an evening of spectacular views of Pisang Peak and beyond.

After an early morning breakfast overlooking Annapurna II, you set off and trek through the drier, windy conditions of the upper Marsyangdi Valley. You pass traditional stone-built villages such as Humde and Geru, you see stone Mani walls, prayer wheels which are spun by the local population and various Chortens scattered along the trail. A local lunch is taken en route at one of the trail lodges in Humde or Mugje.

Soaring Eagles and Himalayan griffons can often be seen in the thermal air currents above. As evening approaches you reach the lively village of Manang perched high in the valley. You are allocated to a teahouse lodge, the lodge is warm and cosy and the evening meal is eaten. Following dinner you spend the night as the following day will be an acclimatization day.

Today will not be a rush of miles but will be a more active morning to reach high elevation. Breakfast can be at your leisure at your teahouse in Manang. Following "climb high and sleep low" rules, you will take an afternoon trek to view Gangapurna Lake and/or hike to the Chongkor viewpoint, or a trek toward Praken Gompa in the early afternoon, where views open out over the Annapurna Massif and Gangapurna Glacier.

Lunch in Manang at a bakery/teahouse. Spend your afternoon wandering through the town of Manang past traditional stonewalls, enjoy a visit to the old heritage museum, or participate in the day’s evening medical lecture on altitude sickness in altitude training facilities. Dinner and overnight in your teahouse in Manang.

After a hearty breakfast at Manang, your day hike begins: It gradually ascends from the main valley and passes the tree line to alpine scrubland. You will cross the stream and pass the stone huts of Tenki Manang and ascend to open pastures. Lunch will be at the isolated trailside teahouse at Ghunsang. You climb further up in the thin air and reach the major grazing pastures where you will often see loads of domesticated yak and blue sheep (Bharal) clinging to the steep mountain faces. You will reach Yak Kharka early enough to relax your legs and have your dinner with an overnight stay at your teahouse.

Morning breakfast at around 7.30 AM, then we embark on a short day hike with a strenuous walk toward the base of the pass, traversing through an alpine landscape, a suspension bridge over Thorong Khola, and a rockfall terrain. We stop for lunch on the way at Ledar or at the arrival time at Thorong Phedi in this high, remote landscape where we look for mountain pikas and snow pigeons around the rocks. We arrive in early afternoon at Thorong Phedi (or High camp) to rest, remain hydrated and get our day pack ready for the day's great climb. We have an early dinner and an early sleep tonight.

You start early at dawn, at 4 am after your lodge breakfast, to hike up for about 5 hours under stars; a tough zigzag climbing route takes you to the famous 5,416m Thorong La Pass adorned by colourful flags; you can feast on panoramas of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges from a top before clicking copious photos and beginning an intense downhill trail towards Mustang. You will have a late lunch in charabu/first couple of tea-shops of Ranipauwa. Afterwards, hike down to the sacred pilgrimage site called Muktinath, which includes a visit to the very holy Muktinath temple, enjoy your congratulatory dinner and have the soundest sleep you will experience in Muktinath.

You start your last day with a quiet morning breakfast at Mustang Mountain views with the backdrop of dry lands. You take a scenic road down through the Kali Gandaki Valley-which holds title of the world’s deepest gorge-including the apple-growing villages, i.e. Jomsom, Marpha, Lete and Tatopani, including a lunch stop. As we descend, the dry, barren land changes to lush sub-tropical hills till you get on the highway to Pokhara. By late afternoon, you will be in Pokhara. Your trekking formally concludes at Phewa Lakeside for some evening rest and overnight in Pokhara.

Your Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal starts with the first days in the Annapurna region. After an exciting scenic and rough drive, the trail leaves Kathmandu towards the mountain passes of the Annapurna, prior to ascending sharply from below near Besisahar. After the road journey to Chame, the air turns cold and most of the high land will be felt.

Pass through the deep gorges of rivers, the cascading waterfalls as you continue along the narrow dirt roads, and pass through rice paddy terraces and the rural mountain settlements in hillsides.

Lunch will take place at a highway restaurant after Besisahar, dinner in a cozy guesthouse in Chame. You'll see various farm animals and local creatures that can be seen along the way, such as stray dogs, local farm animals and pack mules carrying cargo along the dirt track, and monkeys in the trees of the lower altitude jungle areas, as you enjoy this incredible scenic mountain journey.

The cool mountain air will refresh you and as the first section of this trek takes you down towards the wild Marsyangdi River you'll trek through pine and rhododendron forests. Altitude will first be really noticeable when the path starts climbing to Pisang Village (3300m) where the climb isn't long, and the following short descent from 3350m takes you down to 3300m. You'll travel over immense curved walls of stone, old carved mani walls, prayer wheels and many traditional stone homes as you ascend up to where a trailside teahouse within Dhukur Pokhari affords you lunch, before you stay for dinner at your teahouse in Pisang. The forest has a sharp scent of pine to it, and along the route it becomes a usual thing for travellers to observe large, heavily loaded pack mules to their fore and rear, browsing farm goats, nervous-looking, hidden musk deer lurking deep in their thorn-covered homes; you'll also see a multitude of colourful mountain birds fluttering among the trees.

Today begins with a pleasant hike through the unique dry rainshadow country of Upper Manang Valley. At approximately 3,500 meters your acclimatisation will finally catch up as you walk to the remote, high altitude, ancient village of Manang.  

You’ll visit several ancient Buddhist monasteries as well as walk among the characteristic flat roofed mud houses. You’ll see some very old chortens (Buddhist shrines) too with great views over this vast valley.

Enjoy a lovely lunch in a friendly teahouse in the village of Humde then share your final meal together at a wood fired dining room in Manang. Along the wide expanse of this valley’s floor there are often yaks and pikas around while there are often horses inside their stone walls and high up flying the big lammergeier vultures.

As you gradually climb up from the tree lines, you will start walking with the views of the highest mountains and reach the beautiful high mountain Tundras. The altitude here will be the most significant one when we arrive at the 4,600 meter point which is known as “Thorong Phedi”. Here we have to pass through some natural attractions such as Yak Kharka grazing fields, suspension bridges swaying in the wind, loose scree fields, and Dry glacial River beds. You will eat lunch at a basic alpine teahouse at Ledar village and dinner at your teahouse lodging in Thorong Phedi. Grazing yaks, Himalayan marmots scampering out from their burrows, and alpine choughs circling in wind currents can all be observed on these barren, cold slopes.

Start your morning with a freezing climb up to the formidable Thorong La Pass. Altitude bites hardest here, peaking on the pass’ summit of 5,416m above sea level.

Pass through icy moraine trails, fluttering prayer flag monuments, high rock cairns, and sweeping snowcapped mountain ranges. Have a packed lunch from either the pass or down at the bottom teahouse in Charabu and a rewarding dinner down at 3,800 m Muktinath. Along snow covered walks and rocky descents look for yaks. Watch Golden eagles on the wing and be sure to watch out for the rarely spotted Himalayan Blue sheep as they clatter down ravines on rocky descents.

After a morning tour to visit the holy Muktinath Temple Complex, journey back down from high altitude gains (our highest altitude gain will be achieved today when we go down from the temple complex at Muktinath starting at an elevation of 3800m). Today’s trek takes us on a very long journey down from our high altitude towards our destination city of Pokhara, descending into tropical/sub-tropical lower altitudes.

As you go down the dusty Kali Gandaki Valley, experience huge deep gorges along with the apple orchards of Marpha, terraced steep hills, and lunch at Tatopani at a wayside restaurant. After a long way down to Pokhara, you reach this beautiful city and take dinner at some cosy little restaurant on the lakeside. You can come across loaded ponies on the pathways, local stray bulls along the way, stray dogs, and town ducks.

Upon leaving customs, you will be met by our airport representatives, who will transport you to the hotel. Our representative will have you check us into your hotel rooms, and you will be able to enjoy a late lunch or a snack at your hotel. Then you would be free till the evening. You can also explore the local shops around or just relax after this long flight. In the evenings, you can join up for a short briefing about treks with our trekking guides before enjoying a nice meal of traditional Nepali cuisine along with some cultural performances in the evening. We shall be spending our nights here in Kathmandu town so that we get enough rest before the journey starts. Lunch and Dinner is not part of the package so that you can explore on your own.

You get the day off to an early start with a hot breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a long drive west overland on the Prithvi Highway. This highway runs alongside the Trishuli and Marsyangdi Rivers, before you reach exciting highway stopovers such as Malekhu and Dumre, to arrive in Besisahar for a trailside lunch. In Besisahar you board a private 4WD vehicle, as you will need this for the difficult mountain road ahead. You will see waterfalls and villages on your way to higher ground to reach Chame, travelling past several more villages and waterfalls. Soon you start to notice the effects of higher altitude, with slight headaches or breathlessness. You check into a lodge house in Chame. As you are at 2,760m, some mild symptoms of altitude may be felt.

After a hearty breakfast at your Chame lodge, you set out for the first full day of your trek following the powerful Marsyangdi River along pine covered trails passing the apple orchards of Bhratang. You cross a formidable suspension bridge and look back at the concave stone of Paungda Danda above. Lunch is served by the trail at Dhukur Pokhari, a lodge situated next to our trail passing where you can observe a good number of Himalayan Tahr high on cliffs. Afterwards, the valley broadens considerably as we approach Lower or Upper Pisang. Following on from this, your evening is spent and dinner taken in your Pisang lodge beneath the shadow of Pisang Peak.

Enjoying your cooked breakfast with a clear mountain view of Annapurna II, you move up into the arid Manang Valley. You pass some truly traditional stone-built villages like Humde and Geru. You hike past etched mani walls, as well as chortens and prayer wheels, all en route, with lunch at a teahouse in Humde. In the rocky and arid areas you may observe griffon and Himalayan eagles flying overhead as well. By early afternoon you reach the remote, high-altitude gateway of Manang (3,500m), which crosses the 3,000m mark as you begin to get familiar with a light-headed feeling, reduced appetite, and mild sleeplessness, etc. You stay, eat dinner, and spend the night at a lodge in Manang.

Today commences early after a final morning meal in Manang, before embarking on a prolonged and gradual incline into high alpine landscapes. You leave the timberline behind as you pass through alpine meadows beyond the charming villages of Tenki Manang and Ghunsang. You can take lunch during the journey, and you may have the opportunity to watch for grazing blue sheep on sheer mountainsides. Crossing a suspension bridge over the Thorong Khola, you reach your day's destination. Thorong Phedi (4,600m) is an altitude where you can experience physiological altitude effects: oxygen deprivation to your bloodstream causes severe throbbing head pain and often nausea and an obvious loss of energy. It will be a good time to receive a close assessment of your oxygen levels from your guide. You will have your dinner early this day, and you will spend an overnight stay in Thorong Phedi ahead of the big pass to come.

Today is the highlight day. At 4:00 AM, you rise from bed to a special morning wake-up call, followed by an early breakfast. You start your ascent over steep and icy trails under moonlight to cross the mighty Thorong La Pass, 5,416 meters, beautifully decked with prayer flags.

At this height, you should expect the physiological stress to peak, with extreme breathlessness or difficulty breathing heavily on this arduous day. After taking a snapshot at the top of this long and high pass, we traverse the route downward through the steep terrain toward Mustang. A late lunch, along with a visit to the sacred Temple of Muktinath, is on the way. After reaching there, you will hop into a local jeep and drive to the famous town of Jomsom, concluding the evening with a delicious and hearty dinner and overnight stay.

A peaceful morning meal in the company of Jomsom's dry, rocky scenery, and then you hop into an overland jeep which drives all the way through the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world, passing historical Mustang villages such as Marpha, Lete, etc. You will stop for lunch at a local hotel in Tatopani. As we descend in elevation, any altitude symptoms gradually fade away. The lofty desert gradually turns greener towards the semi-tropical zone, and then the paved road starts at the highway to Pokhara. Then, upon reaching Pokhara, hotel check-in, have lakeside dinner, then overnight and rest.

Breakfast with views by Lake Fewa. We'll take a scenic vehicle trip back to Kathmandu in Tourist bus or Private Jeep on the Prithvi Highway – passing lush, terraced farmland, rushing rivers and Nepali hamlets before we complete the journey to arrive in your Kathmandu hotel late this afternoon. You'll have a late supper then be at your own disposal for souvenir shopping at your pace or for a final coffee in a cozy cafe while perusing any recent purchases you have made to take home with you. We'll then embark for your farewell dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Your last morning can be spent at your Kathmandu hotel enjoying your final breakfast, with some downtime or packing up if your departure is due sometime in the morning. The drive to Kathmandu International Airport is provided 3 hours prior to departure. All our staff will see you off to the airport, with a pleasant goodbye to be carried in your memory, and a heart full of remembrance for Nepal and the Himalayas, as your 9-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek comes to an end.

The day starts right away with an airport pickup at Tribhuvan International Airport; one of our representatives will be there to meet you, holding a traditional garland. Thereafter, you will find a comfortable vehicle that takes you through the hustle and bustle of the city to your pre – arranged hotel in Thamel. After checking in, you will have an easygoing afternoon. Relax for a while or buy that last-minute trekking gear.Lunch is arranged at a nice local cafe; it offers either traditional Newari dishes or some continental options too. Later in the afternoon, there is a pre-trip briefing you need to attend; this will be with your lead guide, and the purpose is to go over safety procedures and talk about permits. For dinner, we will go to a traditional Nepali restaurant where they also have live cultural music playing. At 1,400 meters, there are no altitude worries at all, so you should be able to sleep well and be ready for the mountain journey that begins the next day.

Your day will start rather early, with breakfast at the hotel, and then you begin an 8- to 9-hour private jeep ride in a 4WD vehicle, heading north from Kathmandu. The way you go follows along the Trishuli and then the Marsyangdi rivers, and you will see terraced hillsides and waterfalls cascading down, as well as many rural villages. You are going to stop somewhere in the middle for a hot lunch, some dal bhat, at one of the roadside lodges in either Besishahar or Dumre. After that, you continue, passing over suspension bridges and along some rocky canyon roads, until you get into the Manang district. It will be late afternoon by the time you reach Chame, which is the main administrative center there. Dinner is usually served at one of the friendly, warm teahouses, and typically will be prepared as an accompaniment to your meal with roasted rice and garlic soup. The altitude in Chame is 2,760 meters and probably won’t cause you any of the nasty symptoms, although making sure you drink plenty can help your body get used to the different air.

The day normally begins rather early in Chame; you would have breakfast with the sunlight hitting those pine forests, close by. Then, one heads out walking, and the path takes you over a fairly big suspension bridge. After that, it kind of winds through a very steep, narrow gorge; that is what they call the Paungda Danda rock face. You go past Bhratang, this old apple farm; it has a rest stop where you can get fresh pastries. Continuing along, you are in thick pine woods then, and you stop for lunch at a lodge right on the trail. It has good views of Annapurna II. Later in the afternoon, the trail crosses some fields, usually buckwheat, before it goes into Lower Pisang. For dinner, it is always nice, filling noodles and a steaming cup of hot tea, usually at the lodge. Just remember as you hike up from here - once you've hit over 3,200 m, the air starts to feel decidedly thin, and you really need to be walking at a consistent, measured pace and drinking water constantly.

Your day starts right with a hearty breakfast looking across the striking Pisang valley wall and towards peaks looming over. Continue up to this old village in an elevated stronghold of stone constructed above the River Marsyangdi, commanding views out across the full range of the Annapurnas. Continue to Ngawal for lunch in this picturesque Tibetan-esque village, which has an ancient monastery. Later part of the afternoon sees us descend slowly through windswept arid lands past Braga village with its cliffside gompa and reaching the town of Manang just before sunset. At 3,500m the body feels pressure, and it’s imperative that we drink a lot of water, rest, and have early sleep to avoid AMS.

We begin today gently with a relaxed breakfast at our lodge, taking full cognizance of the 4 Ws of high elevation trekking- “water, wind, weight and acclimation. Instead of going higher, we would set off on an acclimatizing day hike to either Gangapurna Lake or to Bhojo Gompa ridge. This will have you pushing elevations up to around 3,800 meters, encouraging your body to create some new natural, healthy red blood cells. Lunch will be taken back down in the Manang valley at a local bakery or a café. Spend the rest of the afternoon visiting the Himalayan Rescue Association aid post and be treated to a talk on preventing mountain sickness. Dinner would be served – it would likely be some dal bhat and Tibetan bread.

Breakfast will be taken in the opening out treeless valley of Manang. Leaving the main Marsyangdi valley, the trek goes steadily upwards through alpine shrub and juniper, past ancient Mani walls and groups of small shepherd’s settlements; blue sheep may be seen on the sheer cliffs above. Your walk is deliberately paced to manage the increase in altitude, and you will reach Yak Kharka early in the afternoon for a welcome bowl of noodle soup and potato cakes for lunch. After lunch, relax, re-hydrate and make yourself comfortable before getting a reasonably early night as the night temperature is below freezing at 4,000m – a mild shortness of breath when physically exerted is normal here.

After breakfast in the high desolate windy plateau, you will have a very short and quick descent to the river before crossing a wooden suspension bridge over the Jarsang Khola, the trek leads steeply along the base of giant rock walls, passing through Ledar, the landscape becomes increasingly austere, an arctic–alpine landscape and desolate terrain all the way to Thorong Phedi, an early finish has been organized to spare your energy for tomorrow. A hot lunch awaits at the lodge; later, take an opportunity to get an early night and to double-check your gear for your pass traverse tomorrow. Altitude headaches and insomnia are relatively common here, as you are at 4,450m, so maintain fluid intake.

It’s a very early morning wake-up around 4 am, followed by a light breakfast and warm tea at sub-zero temperatures in the alpine dark. You will then trek towards Thorong La Pass (5,416m) with your guide, which means tackling a steep, rough climb with many loose rocks, and the thin air. Upon reaching the top of Thorong La, festooned with prayer flags, you will enjoy the view as it’s one of your best unforgettable experiences.

After a moment, the downward slope begins. The trek now goes down to the Mustang region via rough stony paths. You will reach for your late lunch at Ranipauwa close to the sacred Muktinath temple, and then you’ll take the 4WD local jeep ride to traverse the Kali Gandaki valley and go down to Jomsom. Relax with dinner in the evening while the altitude drops to approximately 2,700 - 3,800 meters. If you have been affected negatively by altitude, it will be gone the moment you arrive.

Have breakfast, amidst the windy valley of Jomsom, with views of faraway mountains. Then you embark on a jeep/bus trip with a local 4WD for a rough ride along the world's deepest river gorges, past Tatopani and through subtropical rolling hills. You'll stop midway to enjoy lunch of local fish-curry/dal bhat by the riverside. We will arrive at Pokhara, the colorful Lakeside City, by afternoon by jeep track as it turns into an asphalt road to Pokhara.

You will check into the hotel and have a ceremonial dinner by the lakeside, Phewa Lake. No more altitude problems with 850 meters; the rest, after an early dinner, will be just heavenly.

Your day starts with breakfast with views of Lakeside in Pokhara with reflected snow on the distant mountains. Today you will catch a Tourist Coach/Private vehicle and drive back along the river corridor for the remaining 6-7 hours to Kathmandu.

You'll stop for a hot lunch by the roadside restaurants midday.

By late afternoon, you'll reach your hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu, unpacked and enjoy your spare time shopping or get a wonderful massage.

Enjoy your final full breakfast at the hotel on your last day in Nepal, and if time permits, then depending on the time of your flight, perhaps one last visit to the maze of Thamel, where you can hunt for those smaller souvenir items and packets of tea you may have missed during your initial discovery. Our airport representative will receive you at the lobby and will assist you with your luggage and then escort you in a private vehicle to the international airport on the Annapurna Circuit for your homeward international flight from the Tribhuvan Airport with fond memories of high mountain passes and a colorful Nepal.

Your life’s incredible journey will begin early in the morning as you take a private jeep or local bus from Kathmandu to the west of the country along the Prithvi Highway and make your journey towards this stunning town – the official gateway to Annapurna. The route is truly mesmerizing, travelling along the banks of roaring rivers and terraced hills before making a detour to turn northwards to this amazing gateway. Trekkers will go as far as a rough dirt track road if the road condition permits and will then proceed towards Syange. It is also a fun trip to see a dramatic change in the scenery as it moves forward from the periphery of the city to the village with awesome waterfalls and green hills.

The very first trekking day on the trail will lead you walking along with the most wonderful roar of the Marsyangdi River. You will walk across suspension bridges, with many of those hanging with fluttering prayer flags, and hike through various steep cliffside routes and dense subtropical forests. You will soon make it to the Manang district by entering a beautiful river valley known for its vastness of plains and surrounded by waterfalls at Tal. From this point on, you will have to walk until you make it to this village and will experience the typical mountain house stay overnight.

Proceeding along this path higher towards the mountain region, the trail from Tal snakes through deep pine and rhododendron forests and the trail also leads you through tiny settlements and farming villages, such as Dharapani. At this stage, the trail seems to start constricting a bit, and you’ll feel the difference as the thick lowland air is replaced with cooler mountain air. You’ll start noticing some sort of cultural change as they use much more Tibetan-inspired architecture, prayer flags, and mani walls. Danakyu is the final stop for today, where you can catch glimpses of the snow-covered giants and get acclimatized for your trek.

We start out by hiking along the trails, passing through lovely pine forests and remote villages such as Timang, where one is surprised to get some amazing close-up views of both the ‘Peak 29’ and the other mountains known as Mt. Manaslu. Our route takes us along some beautiful paths ascending into alpine flora & pines amidst babbling streams, etc., while our next stop is made at around lunchtime when we finally arrive at the District Headquarters (Manang), also popularly known as “Chame”. Here, there are contemporary facilities available alongside all the local markets and hot springs, which are perfect to soothe out any muscles & joints pain, thus leaving them relaxed & refreshed for future endeavors.

After a steep and spectacular forested ascent through thick pine trees from Chame, you’ll venture to a narrow river valley crossing a deep, dramatic gorge which opens to a precipitous, vertical rock face of sheer 1,000m plus height called the Paungda Danda, a curved, natural rock face and the dramatic summit of Annapurna II looms in front of you. After this formidable passage, we’ll make our way to the base village of Pisang, framed in dense forests and with classic stone houses. You'll find yourself suddenly noticeably short of breath as you enter the upper Himalayas; the weather and landscape are incredibly different at this altitude.

You can take one of two routes up to Manang today, of which the higher path via Ghyaru and Ngawal is arguably one of the most stunning panoramas on the entire trekking circuit, including viewpoints of Annapurna II, III, IV, Gangapurna and Tilicho Peak.

A tough and wind-swept section of land past ancient monastic communities and stone villages gives way to the awesome, wide and stark, desert-like high valley of Manang, which is encircled by vast peaks. Having reached this destination, you will get comfortable and enjoy your multiple-night stay here, which allows you to become accustomed to the thin air.

Acclimatization to make your way across Thorong La safely and more comfortably requires some kind of break at the lovely town of Manang; rather than a day totally at rest, it actually is an active one. Hike up towards Gangapurna Glacier, to the ‘Ice Lake’ or onto the nearest ridgelines to take in the 360-degree surrounding mountain views. Today a short trek is advisable to aid your adjustment to the high altitude. A day spent wandering through the pretty alleys of Manang village is a pleasure – perhaps visiting one of the many bakeries for cake. You can relax, chat with the friendly locals, and attend the Himalayan Rescue Association's high altitude sickness educational programme here.

With improved fitness due to rest day and better acclimatization, you leave Manang and start out on an increasing incline, out of the Marsyangdi valley and along the alpine scrub, juniper bushes and open meadows populated by the grunting yak. This climb towards the 4,000m threshold is deliberately kept slow and even to help alleviate any altitude-related problems; you arrive at Yak Kharka by early afternoon, ready to relax with a refreshing drink.

This day involves quite a steep hike to get to the base of the pass through thin air and over the uneven rock-scattered floor. Crossing a couple of suspension bridges over a fast running stream on your way, you may also encounter evidence of occasional rockfalls due to unstable slopes of scree. If feeling well and depending on the weather conditions, you could continue a short way further to high camp. This would shorten the extremely steep climb you will undertake the following day, but the higher you camp, the higher the risk you pose yourself and care must be taken over hydration, etc and staying warm when sleeping at high elevation.

Physically, the hardest day will probably be summiting the infamous Thorong La – usually setting off to get an early start to avoid the ferocious winds that come up in the afternoon (usually leaving around 4-5 am in the darkness). Climb a steep and iced over trail in darkness until reaching a narrow, windy saddle at 5,416m, adorned with colourful prayer flags just as the sun rises over the edge of the mountain to shed light over the remote Himalayan peaks. After plenty of photos and celebrations, begin the equally long and steep descent along the scree-filled trail, into the lower Mustang valley towards the holy site of Muktinath.

You’ll start your scenic journey by switching from the dusty, rocky, winding valley paths to a rough and winding vehicular road where you can switch on a local jeep and experience the scenery while driving down the Kali Gandaki River Gorge (one of the deepest river gorges in the world). The jeep takes you down from the barren and windswept high altitude Trans Himalayan deserts into lush green subtropical valleys with blooming apple orchards and impressively cascading falls of white water. Finally, the jeep drops you off at the village of Tatopani by the river in the afternoon. Soak in the curative and natural mineral-rich hot springs by the river in the evenings after your treks.

You’ll travel by Jeep/Bus all the way to the beautiful lake city of Pokhara. After a long walk, we are heading back to one of the beautiful cities of Nepal for another day’s journey. We drive through various villages, rice terraces and foothills of the Himalayan Range, which will offer views of Machhapuchhre/Fishtail Mountain & Annapurna South mountain ranges. On arrival at Pokhara, you can relax in the lakeside town, having beautiful landscapes around, as well as enjoy the comfort of city life in the evening, followed by a farewell dinner by the shore of Phewa Lake at night.

On our last day, we are going to enjoy our time relaxing in our tourist bus / private jeep as we are driven back to Kathmandu city from Pokhara [our official starting point via the famous Prithvi Highway.

We will see all the rivers, fields & villages that surround us throughout our amazing experience along with the far-off views of majestic Himalayas. We will reminisce about all the cultural exchange and challenges we had throughout this wonderful 13-day adventure tour.

As we approach Kathmandu in the late afternoon, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel, signaling the last day/triumphant end of your ‘slow-paced Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Your great adventure starts as your flight lands down to the Kathmandu airport. You will then proceed through customs, and at Tribhuvan International Airport, your representative will meet you at the terminal and transfer you to your hotel by private transfer through bustling city roads. You can have a light, fast lunch somewhere nearby according to your landing time. In the afternoon, you can visit shopping centers and colored street alleys of Thamel. In the evening, you will have a short briefing of the trip before you finally retire for the night.

You will spend today driving eastwards towards the Annapurna region taking approx 7-8 hours of travel. This trip will start with a 7 – 8 hour drive from Kathmandu to either Syange or Jagat.

The beautiful road trip along the banks of the Trishuli and Marsyangdi Rivers will take us deep into the heart of some of the most vibrantly picturesque countryside landscapes in Nepal as we travel beyond Besisahar.

The terrain gets more rugged from here on out with a number of amazing cascading falls and breathtaking river gorges that carve their way through rolling hills studded with little farming communities and towns. We'll be spending our last night together in Syange or Jagat and checking in to a local teahouse for the night to relax after driving all day long.

After a hearty and refreshing mountain breakfast, head onto the trail, following the fierce and wonderful Marsyangdi River. Suspension bridges, tea houses and terraces are just some features of today’s trail as you ascend higher to Chamje, where after a taxing ascent, you’ll reach Tal, a high valley-opening village with a cascade of waterfalls around the local stone houses. You’ll have lunch before following Karte and crossing yet another suspension bridge into Dharapani, where you’ll get settled in for a warm dinner in the communal hall and overnight rest.

Soothed by the crisp morning air and alpine shadows, you embark on your trek to Bagarchhap & Timang, gaining phenomenal early views of Manaslu. Traverse steep forest terrain of pine, oak & fir to be recompensed with a hot lunch & some delicious breads and soup in Thanchok. Following the river, you'll see prayer flags, a mini gumba, ancient inscribed stones and cascading waterfalls to your destination – Chame, the capital of the Manang District. As you reach your final destination, check in and unwind around the central fire for a tasty dinner this evening.

Leave Lamjung Himal’s mighty views and trek up the steep, narrow river valley through thick pine forests. Follow an increasingly narrow trail crossing a swinging suspension bridge, then look out for the extraordinary Paungda Danda, a sheer, smooth rock face of sheer height rising above several thousand feet from the trail. Then reach Dhukur Pokhari, where you’ll stop for a well-earned lunch while staring up at your surroundings. The route further leads you into the high alpine, dry landscape as you approach either Upper or Lower Pisang. Settle into your room and have a delicious meal made by the local teahouse owner.

Begin with the excellent high route from Upper Pisang, undoubtedly the most scenic route with magnificent views of Annapurna II and III. Traverse up and down the ridge, into villages such as Ghyaru and Ngawal, with a more Tibetan characteristics (chortens, prayer flags, stone built houses) and have lunch in Ngawal, basking in the sun, peace and in the company of the monumental peaks that dwarf others. Gently slope downwards towards the valley floor, again reaching a small valley which leads you past Braga, housing an old monastery on top of a cliff. Eventually, come into the dry, windy valley of Manang, which leads you to your booked hotel.

Enjoy a leisurely morning with breakfast accompanied by the views of Gangapurna Glacier on your rest day. Then you set off on your morning hike up to Chongkor viewpoint, or up to glacier lake to further help acclimatisation, before heading back to Manang for a relaxing lunch in a local bakery or teahouse with warm pastry and tea. After this, go for an exploration of Manang village, take a look at the heritage museum, or attend a high-altitude medical lecture. End the day with a mellow group dinner and conversation.

Set out from Manang after your morning breakfast. This is one of the days when you will be setting out from the main valley. This is a walk with easy ascending over sparse open meadows. You will pass the tiny hamlet of Tenki and leave the forest, climbing high above the treeline, and the way via juniper bushes. Have afternoon tea or late lunch in charming Ghunsang while you can enjoy awesome views of the Annapurnas in the background. You may walk through rickety wooded bridges to cross streams, and while crossing the streams, watch for the yak pastures along the route. Reach early at Yak Kharka and have a warm dinner in the dining room.

Get up early in the cold altitude and enjoy a relaxed early ascent alongside the river. Take your own time, hike at your pace and cross the settlement of Ledar. Passing this village we see that the hills become steeper and more barren. We cross a wooden suspended bridge and carefully step through a landslide-prone area; here you reach the base camp, Thorong Phedi.

Take early lunch so that there is enough rest at the base camp lodge. In the afternoon, you rest, drink lots of fluid and organize your daypack. Have an early dinner before turning in for a rest and good sleep.

At 4:00 am the alarm starts ringing! Switch on headlamps and head straight to the top of this steep hill to reach high camp and notorious pass. After many hours of exhausting ascending, in extremely cold weather we are at Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) , a beautiful place decorated with many prayer flags and with stunning panoramic views of all the Himalayan Range. After enjoying our moment at the pass we will steeply descend to the Mustang region of Nepal and will stop for a tea and snacks near Charabu. Finally, we make it to the religious village of Muktinath and visit the sacred temples. We’ll enjoy a long, well-deserved dinner to celebrate the achievement of crossing the pass here.

We'll go down today towards the stark Tibetan landscapes of the region of Mustang. We will cross on foot through the old village of the fortresses and monasteries and reach the wind tunnel of the Kali Gandaki Valley, and we will take lunch at the edge of the riverbed near the border of Kagbeni in Upper Mustang. Afterward, we will keep going on the dusty ground in the windy town of Jomsom, and finally we will reach the old and beautiful village of Marpha with its stone houses and its apples.

We’ll spend the morning walking through Marpha’s delightful pebble streets before hitting the south trail along the river, passing Chhairo, a small Tibetan refugee village, and along a forested trail to Tukuche. We’ll take a break for a delicious lunch with views of the Dhaulagiri icefall at Larjung before continuing our descent through Kobang and Kalopani, where we rejoin the lush green vegetation. After crossing a series of small rivers, and suspension bridges over the Kali Gandaki River we arrive in Ghasa for overnight stay and a warm local dinner.

We begin with a morning descent into the deepest valley with views of awesome cliff walls and through a small settlement, Rupse Chhada, which has a stunning waterfall. We descend further to Dana for an excellent lunch among the lush subtropical greenery and an orange grove. We continue downhill alongside the river to Tatopani, check in to the teahouse, have a very yummy dinner, and get a good sleep.

Have an opportunity to sleep in and have breakfast in this lovely, warm, humid environment. It is a great day to simply rest from the excellent trekking days - wash any clothing, read or wander around the quaint small town. In the afternoon we regroup for a laid-back lunch and have some fantastic fresh fruit and cool drinks from a little local shop. Later on during the afternoon we will soak in the hot and healing waters of their mineral-rich natural thermal hot pools situated beside the river before dinner.

We’ll start with a long day of gradual uphill trekking, passing through the villages of Ghara and Sikha, where local life unfolds along the terraced hillside. At Chitre we’ll stop for lunch with views across to Dhaulagiri and then set off through beautifully lush rhododendron and oak forests, climbing numerous stone staircases until we reach the vibrant, colorful mountain village of Ghorepani, perched precariously on the ridge line. We’ll then have a warm, cozy dinner in front of the fireplace.

Morning Hike: Get up very early before dawn to witness the stunning sunrise over the majestic Himalayas, Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range from the summit of Poon Hill on our short (45 min) hike up. After the wonderful views, we’ll descend to Ghorepani for our breakfast. We will then commence our hiking downwards to Ulleri and Tikhedhunga with stops for lunch at Birethanti, near the river checkpoint and then continue to our final destination of Nayapul, where our private vehicle waits. We’ll then drive alongside the lakes and the hills of Pokhara and wrap up with a delicious celebratory dinner near Phewa Lake.

Take an easy morning breakfast overlooking Lake Phewa, then board your tourist bus or private jeep. Travel to the east towards the Prithvi Highway, retracing your route through villages, stepped valleys, and river banks. Take another roadside lunch near Mugling on the river bed.

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu late afternoon you will drop your bags and check in to your hotel for a relaxation session. You will spend the remaining time visiting the Thamel area – a local souvenir-shopping district.

Have a relaxing morning; enjoy a final, enjoyable breakfast as you gaze out over the Annapurnas on Phewa Lake and board a vehicle for Kathmandu. We take the same ride back down to Kathmandu by the Prithvi Highway - we'll pass again through the same valleys, villages, and riversides as we did from Kathmandu. We’ll be taking an allocated place at a restaurant for our lunchtime stop. Upon arriving back in Kathmandu, you will have some final time to take a last walk through Thamel, doing some final souvenir shopping.