16-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal via Thorong La and Muktinath

• Clear Sky Treks representatives will welcome the group at Kathmandu Airport with a banner and transfer you to the hotel.
• After check-in and refreshments, CST office staff and your guide will formally introduce themselves and provide a trip briefing. Group members should submit two passport-size photos, plus a copy of their passport and travel insurance, to the office staff.

• Drive along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway to Dumre, then continue on the narrow paved road beside the Marsyangdi River to Besi Sahar (823m). The journey takes almost seven hours. Besisahar is the district headquarters of Lamjung District.

• The first part of the trail follows a flat section along the bank of the Marshyangdi River. Along the way, you can enjoy the scenery and the local culture of the Gurung community.
• After lunch at Ngadi, the trail climbs steeply up to Bahundanda, which takes about two hours.

• Today's trek takes approximately six hours. A steep trail descends for about half an hour and then follows a flat path through rice terraces before crossing a stream at the bottom of a small waterfall. It then climbs again and traverses the hillside high above the river before reaching the village of Lali Gaon. Ahead, the Marsyangdi Valley forms a steep V-shape, and you follow the winding mountain path down through Syange (1100m), where there is a beautiful waterfall above it, and then continue along the river for some distance.

• The first part of the trail descends to the river, and after crossing a suspension bridge, you begin climbing to Sattale (1550m) on a path so steep that one slip seems as though it could send you hurtling into the valley below. The valley narrows, and the path becomes high and winding and, in several places, is hewn from the rock itself. Beyond the small village of Karte (1900m), there is a bit more cliff-walking before the path drops again to the river.
• You cross another suspension bridge and climb a short distance to the stone kani marking the entrance to Dharapani (1960m), your stop for the night.

• A small wooden bridge leads you onto a steep ascent up to Timang, which lies at the foot of Lamajung Himal. The trail then continues on a flatter section until you reach Chame, where there are government offices, shops, and hotels. Chame is the administrative headquarters of Manang District.

• A short climb from the village brings you to a rock-strewn area where you cross a suspension bridge and follow a high, winding path before crossing back to the right bank again. You then walk through a pine forest, and as the forest ends, the valley changes from a V-shape to a gentle U-shape, opening up a wonderful vista before you. You can see the east peak of Annapurna II as well as Pisang Peak (6091m) to the north-east. Continuing on, you come to a long mani wall by a bridge and the lower village of Pisang.

• Beyond Pisang, the trail climbs a steep ridge that affords good views of the Manang Valley and Tilicho Peak (7145m). Descending past Manang's airstrip at Hongde (3320m), you come to a level area from where the north-east face of Annapurna III rises majestically above you. From the wide plains of the Sabje Khola Valley, Annapurna IV (7525m) also becomes visible.

• This is an important rest and acclimatization day before crossing the Thorung La. Optional day walks include crossing the river to see the tremendous icefall coming down from the Annapurnas or climbing high above the village for a full panorama of the Annapurna range and the Manang Valley.

• This trek takes about three and a half hours. The trail ascends gently all the way to Yak Kharka, passing through the village of Gunsang (3960m). En route, you can enjoy panoramic views throughout the day.

• Leaving Yak Kharka, you climb gradually to a ridge before descending to the headwaters of the Marsyangdi and crossing via a covered wooden bridge. After a short ascent up the mountain path on the right bank, you follow a narrow trail across an unstable scree slope and then descend to Thorong Phedi.

• Trek from Thorong Phedi to Muktinath (3850m) via Thorong La Pass (5416m), a journey of about seven hours. An early start is required today for the crossing of Thorong La. The trail becomes steep immediately upon leaving camp, but as it has been used by local people for hundreds of years, the path is well defined. The gradient then eases, and after around four hours of steady climbing, you reach the chorten and prayer flags of the pass.

• Travel from Muktinath to Tatopani, which takes about five hours by bus. The route passes along the bank of the Kali Gandaki through Eklebhatti. The trail is windy after late morning, and the river flows through a broader course. Jomsom is the headquarters of Mustang and is split into two towns. From here, the landscape transitions into sub-tropical vegetation, with the return of water buffalo, banyan trees, and poinsettias. The route follows the river through a narrow gorge and descends to cross a bridge near a spectacular waterfall before winding through the valley to Tatopani. The hot water springs that give the village its name provide the perfect opportunity for a good scrub.

• Travel from Tatopani to Pokhara by tourist bus, then stay overnight at a hotel in Pokhara.

• After breakfast, say goodbye to Pokhara and head back to bustling Kathmandu by tourist bus.
• In the afternoon, enjoy free time of your own, which you can use for shopping, and in the evening, you will be taken for a farewell dinner.

Overnight in hotel.

• All too soon, it is time to bid Nepal farewell, and you realize that with this amazing adventure, one can never be intimate - only acquainted.