Annapurna region
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Around the Annapurna massif and over the 5,416 m Thorong La
The trek
Overview
The Annapurna Circuit is the great horseshoe of Himalayan trekking: a walk around the entire Annapurna massif, from the rice terraces and waterfalls of the Marsyangdi gorge to the wind-scoured high desert of the Kali Gandaki. No other trek in Nepal moves through so many climates in fifteen days.
The hinge of the journey is Thorong La, at 5,416 m the highest point most trekkers will ever stand. Our itinerary earns it patiently — a high-route day through the cliff villages of Ghyaru and Ngawal, a full acclimatization day in Manang at 3,540 m, and short stages above 4,000 m so you arrive at Thorong Phedi rested rather than ragged.
Along the way the culture shifts with the altitude, from Hindu farming villages to the Buddhist highlands of Manang and the temple complex of Muktinath. You sleep in teahouses throughout, eat dal bhat beside the stove, and finish with a twenty-minute mountain flight from Jomsom down the deepest gorge on earth.
Highlights
- Cross Thorong La at 5,416 m, the highest point of the circuit
- Walk from subtropical river gorge to the arid rain shadow of the Kali Gandaki
- The high-route day through Ghyaru and Ngawal, face to face with Annapurna II
- A full acclimatization day in Manang at 3,540 m
- The 108 water spouts of Muktinath, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike
- The Jomsom–Pokhara flight between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna
Trip facts
- Group size
- 2–12 trekkers
- Meals
- All meals on trek; breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Accommodation
- Teahouse lodges on trail; 3-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Transport
- Private drive to the trailhead, Jomsom–Pokhara flight, tourist coach return
Itinerary
Day by day
Meet your trek leader at Tribhuvan airport and transfer to your hotel in Thamel. Evening trip briefing and gear check; anything missing is a five-minute walk from the hotel.
1,400 m
Cost
What it costs
Group prices
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 trekker | US$ 1,250 |
| 2–4 trekkers | US$ 1,095 |
| 5–8 trekkers | US$ 1,045 |
| 9+ trekkers | US$ 1,005 |
What's included
- Airport transfers by private vehicle
- 3 nights' 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and 2 nights in Pokhara with breakfast
- Kathmandu–Besisahar private drive and shared jeep to Dharapani
- Jomsom–Pokhara flight and Pokhara–Kathmandu tourist coach
- Teahouse accommodation for all nights on trek
- All meals on trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner) with tea or coffee
- Licensed, English-speaking trek guide, insured and equipped
- One porter between two trekkers (max 18 kg shared load)
- ACAP and TIMS permits
- First-aid kit, pulse oximeter checks above 3,000 m
- NTP duffel bag, route map and trek completion certificate
Not included
- International flights and Nepal entry visa
- Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover (mandatory)
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Drinks, snacks, hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging on trek
- Personal trekking gear and sleeping bag (rentable in Kathmandu)
- Tips for guide and porters
Optional add-ons
Private porter
Your own porter for the full trek (max 18 kg)
US$ 220
per person
Tilicho Lake side trip
Two extra days from Manang to the 4,919 m lake, with a night at Tilicho Base Camp
US$ 180
per person
Single room supplement
Private rooms in Kathmandu, Pokhara and on trek where available
US$ 220
per person
Sleeping bag & down jacket rental
Four-season bag and 800-fill jacket for the full trip
US$ 40
per person
Pokhara–Kathmandu flight upgrade
Swap the seven-hour drive for a 25-minute flight
US$ 70
per person
Route map
The route
Detailed route map in production — every itinerary stage above is GPS-logged.
Dates & availability
Departures
| Start | End | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 2026 | 3 Oct 2026 | US$ 1,095 | Open |
| 3 Oct 2026 | 17 Oct 2026 | US$ 1,095 | Guaranteed |
| 17 Oct 2026 | 31 Oct 2026 | US$ 1,095 | 4 spots left |
| 31 Oct 2026 | 14 Nov 2026 | US$ 1,095 | Open |
| 14 Nov 2026 | 28 Nov 2026 | US$ 1,095 | Open |
| 6 Mar 2027 | 20 Mar 2027 | US$ 1,095 | Open |
| 20 Mar 2027 | 3 Apr 2027 | US$ 1,095 | Guaranteed |
| 3 Apr 2027 | 17 Apr 2027 | US$ 1,095 | Open |
| 17 Apr 2027 | 1 May 2027 | US$ 1,095 | Open |
- Open
19 Sep 2026 – 3 Oct 2026
US$ 1,095
- Guaranteed
3 Oct 2026 – 17 Oct 2026
US$ 1,095
- 4 spots left
17 Oct 2026 – 31 Oct 2026
US$ 1,095
- Open
31 Oct 2026 – 14 Nov 2026
US$ 1,095
- Open
14 Nov 2026 – 28 Nov 2026
US$ 1,095
- Open
6 Mar 2027 – 20 Mar 2027
US$ 1,095
- Guaranteed
20 Mar 2027 – 3 Apr 2027
US$ 1,095
- Open
3 Apr 2027 – 17 Apr 2027
US$ 1,095
- Open
17 Apr 2027 – 1 May 2027
US$ 1,095
Every departure runs with a minimum of 2 trekkers — or book it as a private trip.
Before you go
Essential information
Permits
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
NPR 3,000, checked at Besisahar and Jomsom — included in the trip price
US$ 23
TIMS card
NPR 2,000, arranged by us before departure — included
US$ 15
Permits are included in the trip price.
Best seasons
Departure dates above keep to these windows.
FAQs
Questions, answered
Trusted by trekkers
Walked with us
4.9
out of 5, average rating
111
traveler reviews
15
years in the Himalaya
“Mardi Himal packs a lot into five days: rhododendron forest in full April bloom, then a narrowing ridge where Machapuchare fills the sky ahead of you. Sunrise above High Camp, with a cloud sea flooding the valleys below, justified every early start. The guide's pacing and teahouse choices were spot on. Four stars only because spring is popular and High Camp's lodges are basic and full — go expecting a bunkhouse atmosphere and you will love all of it.”
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