Who this is for
A full circling of the massif, crossing Thorong La at 5,416 m. Typically ten to fourteen days from Pokhara or Besisahar.
The Circuit remains the great horseshoe of Nepal trekking, run with real acclimatisation days in Manang — not as a race to the pass. Typical length from Pokhara or Besisahar is ten to fourteen days; we hold twelve. Thorong La (5,416 m) is a long, cold morning. We will not sell a rushed crossing.
Included
- — Licensed guide
- — ACAP & TIMS permits
- — Tea-house lodging
- — Breakfast, lunch, dinner on trek
- — Pokhara airport or hotel pickup
Not included
- — International flights
- — Nepal visa
- — Travel insurance
- — Personal snacks & drinks
- — Tips
Itinerary
01
Pokhara or Besisahar into the Marsyangdi
Road day into the valley, first tea house.
02
Up the Marsyangdi
Village-to-village toward Chame.
03
Into pine and apple country
Higher, drier air. Overnight before Manang.
04
Manang
Arrival in Manang at about 3,540 m.
05
Acclimatisation in Manang
A real rest or a short high walk. Not a skip day.
06
Toward Yak Kharka
Higher pastures, shorter days.
07
Thorong Phedi or High Camp
Sleep high, eat early, pack for a cold start.
08
Thorong La to Muktinath
5,416 m pass at dawn, long descent to Muktinath.
09
Muktinath to Jomsom
Wind on the Kali Gandaki, jeep or walk to Jomsom.
10
Jomsom to Tatopani or Marpha
Down-valley, optional springs.
11
Toward Pokhara
Road or remaining trail toward the lake.
12
Pokhara
Lake evening. Gear down.
Difficulty and altitude
Annapurna Circuit is a Challenging walk of 12 days, with a high point around 5416 m. We pace for acclimatisation, not a brochure summit morning.
Best time to go
Typical season: March–May & September–November. October–November and March–April are the classic Himalayan windows. We close or reroute when cloud and rain make the view a fiction.
Permits and what is included
Annapurna routes include ACAP and usually TIMS, processed in Pokhara. Restricted valleys (Mustang, Manaslu, Tsum, Nar Phu) add a RAP filed through immigration. The quote lists permit days; there is no surprise at the checkpoint.
Permit notes from Lakeside · Best treks in Nepal
How the trip starts from Pokhara
You sleep in Pokhara the night before a jeep or tourist bus. We confirm the trailhead, tea-house nights, and who meets you. No guest account — a manager replies on WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber or email.
Altitude
The path
Questions before you book
Questions before you book
Yes on the major Nepal trails. We walk with a licensed local guide; the booking is with a government-registered Pokhara agency.
