Annapurna Circuit Trek: Over Thorung La


Peter, Kami, RC and David on Thorung La

Annapurna Circuit Trek (17 days, 16 nights)

The Annapurna circuit trek takes you through some of the most amazing and diverse landscape in Nepal. The trek begins in well forested and terraced hills; a region inhabited by Hindu groups of Nepal. But past Pisang the landscape changes dramatically as the dense forests give way to the barren landscape of the Tibetan plateau. Here you enter the Manang valley which is inhabited by gypsy traders of Tibetan origin. After several rest and short days for acclimatization, head north over the Thorung pass to Muktinath village where there is a shrine revered by both Hindus and Buddhists.

The Annapurna Circuit trek ends in Jomsom from where a flight through the Kali Gandaki gorge, the deepest gorge in the world between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, brings you to Kathmandu. However, you may opt to continue and complete the full Annapurna circuit. There is a newly built unpaved from Jomsom to Tatopani (3 days trek) but views of the Dhaulagiri range from here are awe-inspiring. Beyond Tatopani, ascend to Ghorepani Ridge and to Pun Hill from where a 360 degree unobstructed view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains is possible. This is indeed one of the best mountain view point.

Before you choose a trekking company, make sure you know what is included and what is not. Read suggested questions you should ask our competitors at the bottom of this page.

 

Itinerary

Day 01 - Kathmandu (1,300m/4,400ft)

Arrive Kathmandu. Transfer to Hotel. Rest of day free. Welcome dinner. (Dinner)

Day 02 - Kathmandu (1,300m/4,400ft)

Visit Pashupatinath, Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Here, you'll probably witness a Hindu cremation along the banks of the Bagmati River.

Then drive to Bhaktapur, the City of Devotees, for lunch and a tour of the royal palace square. Bhaktapur is a medieval city in the Kathmandu valley and is least disturbed by modern life. Here, you can absorb the architectural splendor of the five-storied Nyatapola temple, or the sculptural delight of the Peacock Window. (Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 03 - Kathmandu to Bhulbhule (840m/2,750ft)

A private vehicle takes you to Besi-Sahar. Trek couple hours to BhulBhule perched by the Marshyangdi river. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 04 - Bhulbhule to Jagat (1,330m/4,350ft)

Tropical lowlands of Nepal
Tropical lowland where the trek begins (Photo: Peter Sidell)

Today is mostly hiking up steep trails: first to Bahundanda and then to Jagat. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 05 - Dharapani (1,960m/6,500ft)

Trek past several waterfalls to Chamje and then to Tal Besi. From here, it is a grueling climb on swich backs to Tal where the valley opens into a large plateau. After lunch at Tal, continue to Dharapani. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 06 - Chame (2,710m/8,800ft)


Today is a long day of hiking. Most of the day there are views of Lamjung, Annapurna II and Annapurna IV. Camp is at Chame, the district head-quarters. Overnight Lodge. (All  meals)

Day 07 - Chame to Pisang (3,200m/10,500ft)

Todays highlight is the Paungda Danda rock face, an interesting and large rock slab. At our camp, Pisang peak (6,091m) looms over Pisang village. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 08 - Pisang to Manang (3,540m/11,600ft)


Gangapurna from Manang (Photo: Peter Sidell)

Today, you will find yourself above tree-line. The mountain views from here are marvelous: Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna I (8,091 , Annapurna III (7,555m) and Gangapurna (7,454m) are visible. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 09 - Manang (3,540m/11,600ft)

Acclimatization day in Manang. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 10 - Yak Kharka (4,110m/13,500ft)

A short day of 3 to 4 hours hiking to Yak Kharka. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 11 - Thorung Phedi (4,420m/14,200ft)

Another short trek day of 3 hours to the base of the Thorung la pass. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 12 - Thorung Phedi to Muktinath (3,800m)

Thorung Pass with Chulu West in the background
On Thorung Pass with Chulu West in the back (Photo: Jwalant Gurung)The day begins early with wake up call usually around 3:00 am. The steep ascent to the pass can take up to 5 or 6 hours. Then it is a long arduous descent to Muktinath. As you walk towards Muktinath, views of the Dhaulagiri massif dominate the horizon. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 13 - Contingency day

Contingency day for health or weather delays. If this day is not required, you can make a side trip to Kagbeni - the gateway to Lo in Mustang. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

 
 
 
 
 
 
Day 14 - Muktinath to Jomsom

Descend to Jomsom. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 15 - Jomsom to Pokhara

Kagbeni barley fields
Barley fields of Kabeni (Photo: Jwalant)Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara. Day free in Pokhara. Overnight Hotel Fairmount. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day 16 - Pokhara to Kathmandu

After breakfast, fly to Kathmandu. Sightseeing in Kathmandu. Farewell dinner in Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day 17 - Kathmandu to home

After breakfast, transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure. (Breakfast)

 

 

Full circuit extension

Day 15 - Jomsom to Kalopani

Longish day from Jomsom to Kalopani. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 16 - Kalopani to Tatopani


Dhaulagiri (Photo: Jenny)

Descend to Tatopani. Overnight Hotel Lodge. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day 17 - Tatopani to Ghorepani

Long uphill day from Tatopani to Ghorepani. Start early to avoid the effects of the sun. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 18 - Ghorepani to Ulleri

Early morning, hike to Pun Hill for sunrise. After breakfast, descend to Ulleri. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 19 - Ulleri to Pokhara

Descend from Ulleri to Nayapul. At Nayapul, you complete the Full Annapurna Circuit Trek. Board a chartered vehicle to Pokhara. Evening free in Pokhara. Overnight Hotel Fairmount. (Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 20 - Pokhara to Kathmandu

After breakfast, fly to Kathmandu. Sightseeing in Kathmandu. Farewell dinner in Kathmandu. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day 21 - Kathmandu to home

After breakfast, transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your final departure. (Breakfast)

John enjoying the view of Dhaulagiri and Tukche peak

 

Price includes:

Price does not include:

TO BOOK THIS TRIP:

A completed reservation form must be either faxed to us or scanned and emailed as an attachment.

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com
Fax: 977 – 1- 4412647

You must also send us a non-refundable deposit of GBP/EURO/AUS$ 300 per person through bank transfer. Wire details will be provided. The balance must be paid on arrival, either in traveler’s checks, cash or by credit card (VISA card only). If you plan to pay by credit card, the payable amount will be converted to US$ and a 4% surcharge will be added.

Download reservation form (Word)»

Cancellation policy:

- Cancel 30 days prior to the beginning of the trip, deposit valid for any trip undertaken within a year with us in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India.
- Cancel 0 to 29 days prior to the beginning of the trip, forfeit trip deposit.
- No refunds once trek begins.

Currency of payment:

Prices are guaranteed. You may choose to pay in US$ or your country's currency. If you pay by credit card, you will be charged in US$.

North American clients:

Please book this trip with our US based sister company - Grand Asian Journeys. (Separate booking and cancellation policy applies.)

Grand Asian Journeys
PO Box 608
Indianola, WA 98342
Toll Free: 1-888-586-7750
Email: info@grandasianjourneys.com

Trek Rating:

The Annapurna Circuit trek is rated strenuous but is moderately paced. The trek involves daily hiking of between 5-8 hours but the entire trek involves lots of up and down. On the day you cross the pass, total hiking time can be between 8 to 12 hours. Highest altitude reached is 17,700 ft. and highest camp is at around 14,000 ft. While the trek requires good physical fitness and involves walking through rocky terrain and landslides, no technical climbing experience is required nor do you have to be a very experienced hiker.

Physical conditioning is required. Nothing prepares you for hiking like hiking. So besides hitting the tread-mill or the stair-master at the gym, do include hiking in your training regimen which should begin at least two months prior to the trek if not earlier.

REFERENCES:

Crystal Mountain Treks organizes treks and tours in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tibet for hundreds of satisfied travelers every year. Our previous trekking clients have included travellers from the USA, UK, Australia, France, Germany and Russia. Feel free to ask us for references who can tell you about their experience with us. We may be able to get you in touch with a previous client from your native country.

WHY BOOK WITH CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN?:

There are over 500 and counting trekking companies in Nepal plus numerous adventure companies based outside of Nepal selling treks in Nepal. We are aware that you have lots of options. But, we believe there are reasons we stand out from our competitors. Our most compelling argument is that we provide the BEST VALUE. When you book with us, cost of all your meals on your trek are included. And you may choose anything or any amount from the menu. A lot of trekking companies have hidden costs - cost of meals while on the trek are not included. Prices at lodges in the Annapurna region are highly inflated and each meal can cost GBP 5 per person on average meaning an additional GBP 150 per person on the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Also, we provide boiled water for your water bottles at breakfast, lunch and dinner. With other companies, this would be extra (GBP 2 for two liters of water). All these costs add up very quickly. We've listed more reasons why we are different here...

QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK OUR COMPETITORS:

- Is boiled water for drinking provided? Is it included in the trek cost?
- Can I order as much water as I need or is the per day quantity limited?
- Are all my meals on the trek included?
- Can I order as many items from the menu? Or am I only limited to certain items?
- What if I am still hungry because the potions are small? And I need the extra fuel at altitude.
- Are the porters provided meals? Or do they have to buy their own meals?
- What kind of gear do you provide the porters?
- Are the porters provided with good hiking boots? Or do you only provide canvas or army shoes?
- Are the staff insured?
- If required will you pay for staff helicopter evacuation which I understand Nepali insurance companies don't cover?

While these issues may sound trivial on paper, these are all very important once you are on the ground and trekking. Ask our previous clients what they think about these issues and what we deliver. Upon request, we are glad to provide references from the UK, Australia, Germany, USA and Canada.

 

Other Treks in the Annapurna region:

EQUIPMENT:

No technical climbing equipment is required for participation on this trek. A clothing list will be provided to you. We are also happy to provide duffel bags, down jackets and sleeping jackets for our clients for no charge. We do only have a limited stock and will provide these on a first-come, first-served basis.

FLYING TO NEPAL:

Flying from the UK:
Most economical options are either flying through Abi Dhabi (Etihad Airlines) or through Delhi (Jet Airways and Air India). Other options include flying through Bahrain on Gulf Air and through Doha on Qatar Airlines.

Flying from Australia:
Your best options are either flying through Bangkok (Thai Airways), through Singapore (Singapore Airlines), or through Delhi (Jet Airways).

Check out the following sites to compare prices for flights to Nepal:

www.kayak.com
www.sidestep.com
www.cheapoair.com

NEPAL TREK PREPARATION:

Click on the link for useful information that should help you better plan/prepare for your trekking journey in Nepal. This page will be continually updated based on client feedback/experience: NEPAL TREK PREPARATION

QUESTIONS:

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com

Phone
Land Line: + 977 1 4416813

Mobile phone: + 977 98410-00724

Or feel free to provide us your Skype address/telephone number and a time convenient for you and we would be glad to call you from Kathmandu to answer your questions.