Annapurna Circuit Trek

Overview

One of the most popular trekking trails in Nepal, the Annapurna Circuit Trek offers an amazing adventure for anyone who loves nature and mountains. Whereas, cultural exploration is an added merit for the trekkers while trekking in the Annapurna Region of Nepal. The trek takes us through diverse landscapes and gives us a chance to see the beautiful Himalayan mountains up close. Annapurna Circuit, aka, Round Annapurna Trek offers stunning views of the mountain ranges, deep gorges, and freshwater streams as we walk through lush forests, dry deserts, and rocky terrains. We will be amazed by the vistas of snow-capped peaks, green hills, and picturesque villages along the trail.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek in the Annapurna region of Nepal is a trekking trail that encompasses some of the tallest mountains in the world, like Annapurna I (8,091 meters). Round Annapurna is generally about 12-15 days longer but it can be amended depending on the pace and the places to be included during the trek.

The regular and the most popular route to Annapurna Circuit is from Besisahar. Walking throsasugh settlements like Chame, Bagarchhap, and Pisang, crossing several suspension bridges, and sighting stunning waterfalls along with mountain panoramas, we will make our way to the popular village of Manang. The Manang Village is one of the most scenic parts of the Annapurna Circuit Trek and a major highlight. Generally, it is recommended to have an acclimatization day in Manang to adapt your body to the change in altitude. It is also an important prevention against altitude sickness. We can explore nearby places and visit the local monasteries during that day.

En route, we pass through various cultural settlements with unique ethnicities and lifestyles. The warm hospitality of the locals and their way of living takes us to a different dimension of life that is untouched by modernization. We can get an insight into their lifestyle, culture, and tradition and relish their delicious meals to re-energize us. Whereas, if we happen to trek during the festival time and get to explore the celebration, that is an added merit of Annapurna Circuit Trekking. We will get to see rice paddy fields, forests, villages, and glacial areas along our Annapurna Circuit route along with the amazing vistas of the Himalayas, including gigantic mountains like Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Annapurna I, Mt. Manaslu, and many more.
The Annapurna Circuit Trek route includes crossing Thorong La Pass at 5,416m/17,770ft, a major highlight of this trek which is a challenging but rewarding experience of a lifetime. Therefore, this is one of the best trekking trails in the world. Walking ahead from Manang, passing through the pastures like Yak Kharka, we make our way to the Thorong La Pass via Thorong Phedi, the base camp of the Pass. After crossing the pass, we will descend to Muktinath, a holy and spiritual pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.

Finally, we conclude our Annapurna Circuit Trekking with a drive or flight to Pokhara from Jomsom. In this way, from the city of lakes, Pokhara at 800 meters to 5,416 meters at Throng La Pass, we will not just experience the change in altitude, but also landscapes, geography, and the sceneries during our Annapurna Circuit Trekking. Therefore, the trek is somewhat more physically demanding than other short treks in the Annapurna Region of Nepal. Hence, it is very important to be in good shape and to do some training before the trek like hiking, running, swimming, and strength exercises. Nevertheless, prior trekking experience is not mandatory to trek in the Annapurna Circuit route.

During our Annapurna Circuit Trek, our accommodations will be staying in teahouses. These are small lodges with basic lodging and food services. The common meals that we will devour during our Annapurna Round Trekking are Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), noodles, and typical local meals like potatoes. While on the other hand, we will be considerately trekking within the Annapurna Conservation Area. The first and the largest conservation area in Nepal which extends over an area of 7,629 sq. km and is home to some of the rare and extinct wildlife like Himalayan Thar, and Langur monkeys, along with various reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and bird species. Besides, there are several species of herbs and vegetation in the Annapurna Conservation Area.

The presence of the Annapurna Circuit Trekking route within this protected area is the reason that we need two permits to do the trek – the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) card. These permits can be issued either in Kathmandu or Pokhara via an officially registered trekking company like Nepal Mountain Guide.
Planning to trek on Annapurna Circuit and confused about the favorable time? Well, the best time to embark on this popular trekking trail in Nepal is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Autumn and Spring months offer stable weather with picturesque sceneries and eye-dazzling vistas of the mountains. Also, the temperatures are moderate and it is comfortable for trekking the Annapurna Circuit.

Itinerary