13-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal via Thorong La Pass

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Day 01

Kathmandu Arrival and Drive to Bahundanda

• Upon your arrival in Nepal, the tour representative will welcome you and take you to your hotel. You will be briefed about the Annapurna Circuit trekking details either on the day of your arrival or the very next day, whichever suits you best. During the briefing, you will also be introduced to your guide.
• Then, we will drive to Besisahar and continue onward to Bahundanda by vehicle, where we will begin our Annapurna Circuit trek.

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Day 02

Trek from Bahundanda to Chyamje

• Today we trek from Bahundanda to Chyamje for about 6 hours, starting with a descent across the paddy fields. The view of the mountains and the snow-capped Himalayas is mesmerizing.
• Take a lunch break by the riverside and enjoy a great view of the waterfall. During your trek around Annapurna, the many waterfalls and a few unavoidable roads are great excuses to make new friends trekking in the same region toward the Manaslu Circuit, Manang trek, or Nar Phu Valley trek.

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Day 03

Trek to Bagarchhap via Dharapani

• After breakfast, we start trekking toward Bagarchhap for about 6 hours. Today we part ways with the trekkers taking the Manaslu Circuit trek at a place called Dharapani, and this is where you will see Mt. Manaslu.
• After walking for 30 minutes from Bagarchhap, we can reach Danaque, so if you are interested in walking further, you can continue on to Danaque, the deepest gorge of Kaligandaki. Bagarchhap is a small village and is peaceful in comparison to Danaque.

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Day 04

Forest Trail from Bagarchhap to Chame

• You will see many government offices and a few good hotels in this destination.
• Trek from Bagarchhap to Chame through jungle, waterfalls, and small villages. The views of mountains such as Manaslu and part of Annapurna are magnificent.
• Reach the hot springs after crossing the river that we have followed all day long.

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Day 05

Scenic Walk from Chame to Pisang

• The trek from Chame to Pisang takes about 5 hours. Most of today's walk will be along the road, but the scenery of forests, river formations, villages, and the widening valley looks amazing.
• We will stay at Lower Pisang, and if you are interested, you can request your guide to walk to Upper Pisang for a side trip. Upper Pisang is just opposite Lower Pisang and has a monastery. The view of Pisang Peak and part of Annapurna looks magnificent from this destination.

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Day 06

Pisang to Manang via Valley or Ridge Route

• The gradual walk from Pisang to Manang has two options. One goes via Nagwol, which is a wise idea for avoiding the road, but you need to walk uphill to reach Nagwol village and then descend to Manang. If you choose to take the road to Manang, it is an easy trail, and the wide-open river valley looks great. Places like Humde, which has an airport, and Braka, which has a historic monastery, are both historic and beautiful.
• If you choose the ridge walk to avoid the road for today's trek, make sure you have enough snacks, but be happy that you will get an unreal view of the valley and the majestic Annapurna all at once.

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Day 07

Acclimatization Hike around Manang

• Today is an acclimatization day, which means you will hike up to a certain height and come back down to sleep at a lower altitude. There are plenty of options for a side trip from Manang. The monastery at the top of the ridge offers a great view of Manang village and the surrounding mountain range.
• If you walk across the river, you will get to Gangapurna Lake. If you want to continue walking uphill from Gangapurna Lake, you will reach a great viewpoint and a yak shed.
• Walking around the village in the afternoon is the best way to witness local activities and meet some friendly people.

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Day 08

Trek from Manang to Ledar

• We trek via Ledar as our destination to avoid the crowd at Yak Kharka and to have a shorter walk to High Camp on the next trekking day. The walk from Manang to Ledar will take approximately 6 hours.

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Day 09

High-Altitude Trek from Ledar to High Camp

• After breakfast at Ledar, we will begin our trekking adventure at high altitude. Walk slowly and steadily to save energy. Ledar has a great view of the river valley and the surrounding mountains.
• After crossing the river via a suspension bridge, we will pass through a rockfall zone where your guide will assist you in walking carefully.
• After passing the rocky zone, you will reach a small village right at the bottom of the big rock - this is Phedi. After two hours of walking uphill from Phedi, you will arrive at High Camp for Thorong La Pass. High Camp has only one teahouse, so do not expect the best accommodation. Nature is in the leading role at this point, and the rest has to be compromised.

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Day 10

Cross Thorong La Pass to Muktinath

• We will start our trek early in the morning after breakfast arranged by your guide. Walking up to Thorong La Pass is not difficult, and it is not a steep uphill climb, but at an altitude above 4000 meters, it is always hard to walk.
• Go slowly, follow your guide, and let your guide know if anything feels abnormal.
• After 2 hours of walking, you will reach the top of Thorong La Pass. The descent is easy in comparison to what you have climbed earlier. Walking downhill gives you a fantastic view of the river valley, and new mountains come into sight, including Mt. Dhaulagiri (8164 meters), Nilgiri, Dhampus Peak, and a few others. Once you get to Base Camp on the other side of the pass, the trail goes flat all the way to Muktinath. Muktinath has a beautiful Hindu and Buddhist temple. The dry landscape of Muktinath resembles Tibet. Muktinath lies in the Mustang region of Nepal.

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Day 11

Easy Walk from Muktinath to Jomsom

• Start an easy walk from Muktinath to Jomsom on flat terrain. The deserted landscape, passing through villages like Jharkot, is beautiful. Views of Dhaulagiri Himal and villages like Kagbeni will take your breath away. Jomsom is one of the biggest villages you will see during the entire Annapurna Circuit trek. There is also an option to fly out to Pokhara from Jomsom Airport.

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Day 12

Drive to Tatopani and Relax in Hot Waters

• Dipping your tired feet into the waters of Tatopani after days of walking relaxes your muscles and makes you comfortable. The drive from Jomsom to Tatopani is basically easy, which makes this a chilled rest day at the end of your trek.
• Have fun and enjoy the last day with your whole trekking team - guides, porters, and fellow trekkers.

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Day 13

Return via Pokhara to Kathmandu

• Drive back to Pokhara, which will take around 7 hours.
• Once you get back to Pokhara, the city vibe will catch you. Enjoy the return to civilization after 12 days of trekking in the mountains of Annapurna. Pokhara is a beautiful city with a lake, and we will have your hotel near Phewa Lake.
• Being near the lake, you can go boating across the water to a lakeside house or to the small island with the temple of Goddess Barahi. Nightlife in Pokhara is lively, with a number of pubs and clubs.
• Make sure you enjoy moderately, though, so you can get up early to catch the bus to Kathmandu.