Trek the Annapurna Circuit
Overview
Whether you’re craving adventure or simply want to take your trekking to the next level, this Annapurna Circuit trek offers an epic journey through Nepal’s diverse landscapes and mountain villages. We’ll start in Kathmandu, exploring the capital’s buzzing streets and sacred sites before driving to the trailhead at Jagat. From there, it’s all about following rivers, passing through ancient villages and soaking up the stunning mountain views, with nights spent in cosy teahouses along the way.
We’ll cross the mighty Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters, trek through the beautiful Kali Gandaki Valley and visit sacred temples in Muktinath. You’ll hike through alpine meadows, see rhododendron forests and even take a well-earned dip in the natural hot springs of Tatopani. After catching the sunrise at Poon Hill, we’ll descend to the tranquil town of Pokhara, where the lakeside views offer the perfect way to reflect on the epic adventure. This trek is both challenging and incredibly rewarding and great for first-time visitors to Nepal or those returning and looking for another fantastic trek.
What's Included?
- Airport Transfers & Local Transport
- Expert Local Guides & Porters
- 3 Nights in a Hotel in Kathmandu
- 1 Night in a Hotel in Pokhara
- 13 Nights in Local Teahouses
- 17 Breakfasts, 15 Lunches & 13 Dinners
- Park Fees & Permits
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Soft Drinks, Alcohol or Drinking Water
- Tips for Guides & Porters
- Personal Equipment & Clothing
- Souvenirs
Trip Highlights
- Kathmandu: Whilst the mountains and trekking are the obvious draw for anyone heading to Nepal, Kathmandu is a great introduction to this incredible country. Eating great food, enjoying the fascinating sights and strolling through the hustle & bustle of Thamel is a great start to any trip.
- Thorong La Pass: An early start will see you setting off before dawn to reach the top of the high pass that marks the highest point of your trek and will provide some of the most spectacular views.
- Sunrise from Poon Hill: It’s a short stroll up to the top of Poon Hill but you’ll be up early so you can see the sun rise over Annapurna One, Annapurna South, Nilgiri, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri.








Daily Itinerary
Welcome to Nepal! Our team will be there to greet you as you step into the lively streets of Kathmandu. We'll take you to your guesthouse in Thamel, a bustling neighbourhood full of shops and restaurants. Once you're settled in, your guide will meet you for a kit check and to go over the plan for tomorrow. If you're up for it, we'll enjoy a welcome dinner together and get to know each other before the adventure begins. Meals Included: None
Today, we’ll dive into the cultural wonders of Kathmandu with a guided tour of its most famous sites, including the Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) and Pashupatinath Temple. After soaking in the history and spirituality, you'll have time to make any last-minute preparations for the trek. In the evening, we'll meet up for a pre-trek briefing, ensuring everything is ready for the days ahead. It'll be a good chance for you to make sure you've got everything you need and to get to know your guide. Meals Included: Breakfast
We start our journey with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Jagat. It’s a long day on the road, but the changing landscapes—from bustling towns to serene countryside—keep it interesting, as will the notorious Prithvi Highway. We'll stop en route for a roadside dal bhat, By evening, we’ll arrive in the small village of Jagat, where you can unwind at the lodge and get ready for the trek ahead. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today marks the first full day of trekking! We’ll make our way from Jagat to Dharapani, following the Marsyangdi River through lush forests and picturesque villages. It’s a day filled with beautiful scenery, including cascading waterfalls and terraced fields. After 7-8 hours of trekking, we’ll reach Dharapani, where you can relax in the serene surroundings of this stone-built village. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Our trek continues as we head towards Chame, the district headquarters of Manang. The trail offers incredible views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal as we pass through pine forests and apple orchards. Chame is a bustling town, and after a day on the trail, you can soak in the local hot springs or explore the market. We’ll rest here for the night. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek takes us from Chame to Pisang, where the landscape begins to change dramatically. As we ascend, the views of Pisang Peak and Annapurna IV come into focus. The village of Pisang, split into Upper and Lower sections, offers a glimpse into local culture. We’ll spend the night in a local teahouse, resting up for the next day’s journey. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Our route today takes us to Manang, with an option to trek via Ghyaru and Ngawal for panoramic views of the Annapurna range. Manang is a stunning village with traditional stone houses and a rich cultural heritage. We’ll be spending two nights here to acclimatise, so take the time to explore the area and visit local monasteries. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today is all about acclimatisation. You have the option to hike to the serene Gangapurna Lake or explore Melarepa Cave, both offering fantastic views and a deeper understanding of the local culture. Later, you might want to attend a talk on altitude sickness at the Himalayan Rescue Association’s clinic. The rest of the day is yours to relax and soak in the beauty of Manang. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Leaving Manang, we’ll trek to Yak Kharka or Ledar, gaining significant altitude as we move through alpine meadows where yaks graze. The landscape becomes more barren, but the views are no less stunning. Tonight, we’ll rest in a small teahouse, surrounded by the tranquility of the high mountains. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek is shorter but still challenging as we continue our ascent to Thorong Phedi, the last stop before crossing the Thorong La Pass. The trail is rugged and steep in parts, so we’ll take it slow. Thorong Phedi is a remote and stark place, perfect for resting up before the big day tomorrow. The teahouse is pretty basic which is no surprise given the effort it takes to build up at this altitude. You'll hunker down for a warm and comfortable nights' sleep though ahead of the pass tomorrow. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This is it—the big day! We’ll set off early to cross the Thorong La Pass, the highest point of our trek. It's a super early start as we get up before dawn to have a warming breakfast before setting off for the pass. The climb is tough, but the reward is an unforgettable view from 5,416 meters. We'll stop for plenty of photos and for a well earned rest! After crossing the pass, we’ll descend to Muktinath, a sacred site for both Hindus and Buddhists. It's a long trail widing down the mountain so we'll take it slow and try and make it easy on any creaking joints! Here, you can explore the famous temple and its surroundings (it's worth it, even if you're tired!) before we rest for the night after a long day. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
From Muktinath, we’ll trek down to Marpha, a charming village known for its apple orchards and unique architecture. The descent through the Kali Gandaki Valley offers stunning views of Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri. Marpha is famous for its apple products, so be sure to try the local cider or brandy (but not too much!) before we settle in for the night. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Our journey continues along the Kali Gandaki River as we trek to Kalopani. The trail is surrounded by lush forests and traditional villages, with the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges providing a stunning backdrop. Kalopani is a peaceful village where we’ll spend the night, enjoying the warm hospitality of the locals. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today’s trek takes us to Tatopani, a long but rewarding journey that brings us to a warmer climate. The highlight of Tatopani (literally meaning 'Hot Springs') is its natural hot springs—perfect for soaking away the aches of the trek. We’ll spend the night here, rejuvenated by the hot springs and surrounded by beautiful scenery. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Leaving Tatopani, we’ll begin our ascent to Ghorepani. The trail takes us through terraced fields and rhododendron forests, with every step bringing us closer to the stunning mountain views that Ghorepani is known for. We’ll spend the night here, preparing for tomorrow’s early hike to Poon Hill. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Our last early morning of the trip but we'll be up early this morning to catch the sunrise at Poon Hill. It can get quite busy up here but it's worth the morning snaking walk up to catch the sunrise over the Himalayas—a truly breathtaking experience. After soaking in the views, we’ll descend to Tikhedunga and then drive to the lakeside town of Pokhara. Once in Pokhara, you can relax by the lakeside and reflect on the incredible journey you’ve just completed. There's plenty of bars and restaurants to celebrate a successful couple of weeks' of trekking, spas to indulge those weary limbs or shops to pick up some souvenirs! Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll start the long old drive back to Kathmandu, taking in the scenic views of Nepal’s countryside. It's a bumpy journey and progress will be pretty slow along the Prithvi Highway where roadworks are a constant. Upon arrival, you’ll have time to rest or explore the city before we gather for a farewell dinner - an opportunity to celebrate the completion of an unforgettable trek. Meals Included: Breakfast
And that's a wrap! Feel free to head off any time. If you've got an early-start then we'll sort you out with a packed breakfast otherwise take your time and enjoy the hotel's hospitality before checking-out and heading off on your next adventure! Meals Included: Breakfast
Where We'll Stay
We’ve taken on the tough task of staying at some of the best hotels and guest houses around the world to hand pick those that we think you’ll love. They’ll always be locally-owned where possible. Below are some examples of where you’ll be staying on your trip, although please note, we don’t guarantee which hotels or guesthouses we use. On this trip, most of the time we’ll be staying in teahouses. These are often basic with twin rooms, shared facilities and communal dining. They’ll always be clean, provide great hospitality, have breathtaking views and be a welcome place to get some rest after long days on the trail!






Like the sound of this trip, have a question or want to check something before you book? Maybe even have a great idea to customise this itinerary? Get in touch and start your adventure!
Interactive Route Map
Check out the interactive map of this trip below. You can simply zoom in and have a look at the route.
Or, if you’re wanting to get a feel for the route or to dive into the daily details then click on any of the steps and you’ll be redirected to our Polarsteps page.
What is Polarsteps?
We’ve loaded all of our itineraries onto Polarsteps. It’s an app that can help you plan, track and relive your travels. We’ve used it to display our trips in all their glory but anyone can easily create on-the-go mementos of their adventures.
Carbon Emissions
This trip emits approximately 293 kg of carbon per person. This includes emissions from transport, accommodation, food, activities, and the operations behind the scenes to run the trip.
What does this mean?
This is roughly the same as driving a typical petrol car about 900 miles.
It’s equivalent to the carbon emissions from heating an average UK home with a gas boiler for about 12 days during winter.
Our Approach
We recognise the significant carbon emissions from international travel, but we believe that the positive impact on the countries and communities we visit outweighs these challenges. We provide this estimate to help you make informed decisions about your carbon footprint and consider any offsets you may wish to support.
More Information
What's the fitness level required for this trip?
We grade all of our trips to try and make it easy to understand the fitness levels required. These are broad guidelines however so you’re welcome to chat to us about any specific concerns you might have.
You’ll find more information about these levels here and you can find the difficulty rating for this specific trip at the top of the page.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
Yes, it is. We run adventurous trips and it’s mandatory that you have suitable travel insurance in place to cover overseas medical treatment as well as evacuation or repatriation.
We can’t recommend which provider you use but the main things we’d encourage you to look out for is that you’re fully covered for the activities you’re taking part in (i.e., covers you up to the altitude you’ll be trekking at) and that it covers cancellation in the event that illness or other circumstances prevent you from travelling.
How much should I tip in Nepal?
Tips are not included in any of our trips. They are entirely discretionary but in most cases are expected by the teams that will be looking after you. We know it can be daunting to work out exactly what to give so whilst this guideline hopefully helps, please remember that it’s a completely personal choice and you should feel free to tip more or less based on the quality of service that you receive.
Trekking Guide: $10-$20 USD per day
Porters: $5-10 USD per day
Drivers: $5-10 USD for short trips; $10-15 USD for full-day services.
Again, tipping is not compulsory and please only do so if the service you’ve received warrants it. It’s hugely appreciated and a way for the teams looking after you to supplement their income.
How do I find out which hotels, meals and activities are included?
Unfortunately we can’t provide an exhaustive list of everything included in the ‘What’s Included’ section of this page as we include a whole bunch of stuff on our trips!
If it’s in the itinerary and we’ve not explicitly said that it’s an optional activity, then yes – it’s almost certainly included. If you’re not sure, please ask.
The meals that are included are all listed on the daily itinerary.
For the accommodation, we’ve got a shortlist of properties that we use. You can get a sense of the types of accommodation we use higher up the page in the ‘Where We’ll Stay’ section. We cannot guarantee any specific properties for your trip as it’s based on availability. If you are wanting to specifically request a property then please get in touch as we’re able to customise our trips.
Which airport do I need to fly into and out of for my trip to Nepal?
Your trip starts and ends in Kathmandu. You will need to book flights to arrive and depart from Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). This is around a 20-30 minute drive to the hotel you’ll be staying at.
What are your payment terms and is my booking financially protected?
Yes, absolutely. Here’s a link to where you can read more about how we are an ABTOT member and have an ATOL licence and what this means for your financial protection when booking a trip with us.
Deposits vary from destination to destination and from trip to trip. Generally speaking we require a deposit of 25%. This amount may be higher for certain trips where more services that usual need to be booked and paid for in advance (such as gorilla permits in Rwanda). Deposits are non-refundable.
Balance payments are required up to 70 days prior to travel.
If you need to cancel your booking, the following fees will apply based on the time before your scheduled departure:
- Immediate loss of deposit (25% of total cost) upon cancellation.
- 50% of the total cost if cancelled after the balance is paid and up to 45 days before departure.
- 75% of the total cost if cancelled 30 to 45 days before departure.
- 100% of the total cost if cancelled within 30 days of departure.
These fees compensate for expenses and bookings made on your behalf in anticipation of your trip.
Can I customise this trip in any way?
- adding in extra days or cutting out a day here or there;
- squeezing in other destinations or removing them;
- starting or finishing the trip in a different place;
- staying in a hotel or guesthouse that we don’t list as an option.
What if someone under the minimum age wants to travel?
It might not be an issue. Some destinations such as Rwanda have firm rules in place about how old people should be in order to visit the gorillas. In other destinations it’s more of a guideline.
Please do contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
What information will I receive after I book?
After you book, we’ll get to work confirming that the dates you’ve selected are completely available.
There are extremely rare circumstances that may mean we’re unable to confirm your booking. These circumstances are limited to events beyond our control or not being able to secure the services that you wanted to book.
In the extremely rare event that we’re unable to confirm your booking you will be offered an alternative itinerary or a full refund without any fees. Please do not book any non-changeable travel plans until you receive the confirmation from us. This will be within 72 hours.
A detailed Trip Dossier will then be sent to you after you make your booking. It’ll contain all the information you might need to help you pack and get prepared for your trip, including information on visas, vaccinations, packing and training.
We encourage you to refer to the UK Government’s official travel advisory service when planning your trips. You can find the FCDO advice here.
And when you travel, we work closely with local experts to put together the best itineraries. We’ve worked with them exhaustively to provide safe adventures at great value. They know their destination better than we ever could so you’ll be in good hands! You can read a bit more about why we will only ever have locally-led trips here.
Book Now
Whether you’d like more information about this itinerary or to customise it to exactly what you want to do, drop us a line and let us know your plans!