TREK OVIERVIEW: The Annapurna Circuit trek is known as the
most diverse trek of the world. The complete circuit of the
Annapurna massive an estimated 300km begins from lush sub-tropical
forests below 800m in altitude. The scene changes every day
from rice paddies to pine forests to Tibet like country on the
northern slopes of the Himalaya in the district of Manang. Manang
was only opened to trekkers in 1977, although a few mountaineering
expeditions and scientific arties had visited this region in
1950s.
Day 1 - Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport.
Your Bhutanese representative from Raven Tours and Treks will
greet you on arrival and drive you to the hotel where you will
be staying.
Later Sightseeing tour of Swayambunth & Kathmandu Durbar
Square.
Swayambunath is one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaitya.
It is said to be 2000 years old. Painted on the foursides of
the spdire bases are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It
is three kilometeres west of Kathmandu city and is situated
on a hillock about 77 m. above the level of the Kathmandu Valley.
Kahmandu Durbar Square is the historic seat of ty. The Durbar
Square, with its old temples and places, epitomizes the religious
and cultural life of the people. It is here that Kings of Nepal
are crowned and their coronations solemnized. Interesting things
to seek here are; Taleju Temple built by King Mahendra Malla
in 1549 A.D., Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction, Nautalle
Durbar, Coronation Nasal Chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, the statue
of King Pratap Malla, the Big Bell, Drum and the Jagannath Temple.In
the evening welcome meal with Nepali traditional dance.
Later in the evening you will be taken to the typical Nepali
restaurant (Bhojan Grihia) for dinner and will be hosting traditional
dances.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 2 - In Kathmandu
After breakfast proceed for city tour of Kathmandu visiting
Pashupatinath and Boudhanath.
Pashupatinath Temple is situated 5 km east of Kathmandu,
the temple of Lord Shiva, Pathupatinath with two tierd golden
roof and silver doors is considered one of the holiest shrines
of Hindus.
The stupa of Boudhanath lies 8kms east of Kathmandu.
This ancient colossal stupa is one of the biggest in the world
and the center of Buddhism in the world. It was listed in the
UNESCO Heritage Monument in 1979.
Later proceed for city tour of Kathmandu visiting Patan Square,
complex of palaces, courtyard and temples, built between
the 12th and 18th centuries, use to be the seat of the ancient
Malla kings of Kathmandu.
Later stroll around the city of Thamel.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 3 - Drive to Besi Sahar. (750m)
The drive to Besi Sahar takes about 5 hours. Leaving Kathmandu
valley you are driven on the Tribhuwan Raj Marg (Highway) along
the Trisuli river until Mugling. From Mugling you have to move
Westwards along the Marshyangdi River. You will be trekking
along the Marshyangdi river until the day you move over the
Thorung la pass. (5416m) From Besi Sahar we have a short trek
of 90 minutes to 2 hours towards the village of Khudi. After
an hour's walk, you will cross a bamboo bridge, which signifies
the approach to Khudi. You can relax to the sound of the mighty
Marshyangdi.
Day 4 - Trek to Bahundanda (1310m) 5 to 5.30 hours Leaving Khudi, you will pass by a local school on the right
side. You will have to stop at Bhulbule where there is a check
post for the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). You
will cross a steel bridge over the Marshyangdi river, which
serves as a vital connection between both the sides of the village.
You will pass through level rice fields until the village of
Ngadi (The birthplace of Late DR. Harka Gurung). Your trek leader
will probably suggest a short break for lunch. After lunch,
you will cross another large suspension bridge over the Ngadi
River where the trail begins to ascent straying away from the
Marshyangdi river through woods. The last hour is a steep climb
to Bahundanda (Hill of Brahmins) through cultivated land.
Day 5 - Trek to Chyamje (1430m) 6 to 6.30 hours
Leaving Bahundanda, you will descend on several stone steps.
The farmers here harvest 2-3 crops a year in these lowlands
depending on the rainfall. The path levels off and from here,
the small villages of Sildhunga and Tadring are seen on the
hillside opposite the valley. Contouring along the 'undulating'
path until the descent to the small settlement of Syange. You
will take a short break for relaxation before the descent at
Ghermu phant for a drink while enjoying an impressive waterfall
on the opposite side of the valley. You need to cross a suspension
bridge across Marshyangdi. You will notice the sides narrowing
and getting steeper while walking up the valley. You may pass
mule trains along the way. From here is a steep climb to the
village of Jagat. A series of up and down walk brings you to
Chyamje, the final stop for the night.
Day 6 - Trek to Bagarchhap (2160m) 6 to 7 hours You will cross a suspension bridge to the eastern side of
the Marshyangdi soon after leaving Chyamje. You will pass along
a series of over hanging rock formations. The path begins to
traverse a broad ledge after a short climb. You will then come
to a series of stone steps as you pass through a couple of teashops
while going uphill. The trail evens out after a while and you
will cross an archway, which is the gateway to Tal and the Manang
district. Tal means lake in Nepali. You can see a broad expanse
where a lake used to be. The Tibetan influence gets more evident
from here on with 'Chortens', 'Gompas' and the beautiful architectural
designs of the buildings.
The trail from Tal levels out for a while, a welcome relief
for your legs. You will cross a bridge back to the West of the
Marshyangdi about an hour later. You can see the old trail on
the other side which was recently abandoned due landslides.
The trail continues upwards until the village of Dharapani where
there is a police check post. Bagarchhap is just a 45 minutes'
walk from Jagat.
Day 7 - Trek to Chame (2630m) 5 hours Great views of Mt. Annapurna II (7937m) and Mt. Lamjung
Himal (6932m) will greet you as you proceed up the valley. You
will reach the village of Danakyu after a walk of 30 minutes.
If you look beyond the lofty peaks of Mt. Manaslu (8156m), the
eighth highest peak in the world and Peak 29 (7833m) would be
visible on clear days. There is a steep climb of about an hour
through Pine and Fir forest with spectacular scenery. You may
see Langur monkeys in the forest. Then, you will reach Timang
village with spectacular views of Manaslu (8156m). Continuing
on the flattish path along the river, the village of Thanchok
is reached. The towering Annapurna II (7937m) is incredible
further up the trail. The path rejoins the main trail while
descending through woodland down to Koto, which sits in the
shadow of Annapurna II (7937m). The Nar Khola river flowing
from the recently opened valleys of Nar and Phu joins the Marshyangdi
from the right side of the valley. Chame, which is the district
headquarters of Manang, is a short walk from here. There are
excellent views of Lamjung Himal (6932m) from here.
Day 8 - Trek to Pisang (3190m) 5 hours
A short day of trekking to Pisang. However, as it is so beautiful
most of the trekkers take their own time to admire the scenery
and click many photographs. You will pass through a series of
mani walls. The trail is pretty even until we arrive at the
apple orchards of Brathang. The trail heads uphill for about
45 minutes through forest, leveling off before reaching a suspension
bridge. A moderate climb follows after crossing the bridge through
a forest consisting of Juniper, Pine and Fir. The valley begins
to broaden and Pisang Peak (6091m) stands out in front of you.
You will pass through a couple of small lakes where sometimes
birds can be seen wading. Pisang is divided into upper and lower.
Day 9 - Trek to Manang (3500m) 5 hours (Lower Route) or 7
to 8 hours (Higher Route) There are 2 options for this day. You can follow a lower
route of 5 hours stretch or a higher route of 7 to 8 hours stretch.
If you take the lower route, it is less strenuous route, the
path out of the valley is leveled and then once out of the valley
you will begin to contour round to your left and climb up onto
a ridge. The view from this ridge is breathtaking looking down
into the Manang valley and you will like to stay here all day
to enjoy it. Dropping to the valley floor the path is wide and
dusty. You will notice that the scenery here is more arid, the
air drier and the wind colder. Annapurna III (7,555m) rises
to the left and passing through the village of Hongde you will
see the deserted remains of the old village on its outskirts.
The path then rises gradually and takes you to the next valley.
After a couple of hours walk you will pass through the village
of Braga, just 30 minutes walk from Manang.
The High route
If you are feeling fit and energetic then the high route on
the eastern bank of the Marshyangdi is strenuous but well worth
the effort. You have to cross the river out of Pisang village
and then take a reasonably level path through scrubland, passing
through a small picturesque lake on your right. You will then
pass a long 'mani walls' and descend to cross a stream and begin
a strenuous zigzagging climb up to the village of Ghyaru (3,673m).
A welcome teashop is the first house you will come across in
the village. It is well worth climbing up to visit the Gompa
at the top of the village. The views from here of Annapurna
II and Annapurna IV are very stunning. From Ghyaru you will
continue up the valley on a wonderful high-level trail. Here,
passing through the ruins of a castle, we will set on a promontory,
with views both ways up and down the valley. Then, we will arrive
at the village of Ngawal (3,650m) where there is a large newly
built Gompa up to the right. You will leave the village near
a long mani wall. Finally, you will descend back to the valley
floor and rejoin the main trail to continue to Braga and Manang.
Day 10 - Trek to Rest Day for Acclimatisation
It is essential to spend time for acclimatisation in this area.
There are splendid views of the peaks from both Manang and Braga
villages. Manang is a large village situated on a rise immediately
across the huge Gangapurna glacier. A beautiful emerald lake
lies at its foot. There are plenty of good walks in the area
and for at least a couple of hours you can try to climb as high
as possible above the village. Side trips are recommended to
a small summit with prayer flags about an hour above Braga village,
or up the ridge behind Manang village, or to a viewpoint above
the lake opposite Manang Village. It is also possible to walk
up the valley towards Tilicho Lake to the village of Khangsar.
In addition, it is worth visiting the Manang Gompa or if it
is open, visit the clinic run by the Himalayan Rescue Association.
They often have talks about altitude in the afternoon. There
are also shops to explore for souvenirs.
Day 11 - Trek to Yak Kharka (4090m) 4 hours
Despite being a shorter day, it is essential for acclimatisation
to stop between Manang and Thorung Phedi. You will leave Manang
and take about 30 minutes to reach the upper village. Afterwards,
you will contour round the hillside and gain great views of
the "G rand barrier", the high ridge between Roc Noir
and Nilgiri named by French climber Maurice Herzog. Below the
grand barrier you will see down the Khangsar valley which leads
up to Tilicho lake. Passing the hamlet of Gunsang you will continue
through the upper barren reaches of the Manang valley. The path
ascends gradually but it is still hard work due to the increased
altitude. You will arrive at Yak Kharka and will have lunch
there. In the afternoon, you could take a walk further up the
valley or climb the ridge behind the village. If you make it
to the top of the ridge, there are great views of the northern
side of the Annapurna range. Either of these walks would help
with acclimatisation. Even if you only venture a short way above
the camp there is the chance to see the large flocks of blue
sheep, which inhabit this area. Either of these walks would
help with acclimatisation.
Day 12 - Trek to Thorung Phedi (4420m) 4 hours
Again a short day yet essential for proper acclimatisation.
Leaving Yak Kharka you will pass through the small collection
of lodges known as Letdar. You will take a high route, which
winds its way around the eastern side of the Thorung valley,
before dropping down to the valley floor. Crossing the river
there is a short but sharp climb to Thorung Phedi. Phedi means
"foot of the hill" and while it is the jumping point
for crossing the Thorung La, it is the prettiest place in the
world. In the afternoon, it is worth walking up beyond the first
notch to the collection of huts known as upper base camp as
an acclimatisation walk, and then continuing up to the right
to a small peak for all round superb views. Watch out for blue
sheep here.
Day 13 - Trek to Muktinath (3800m) via Thorung la (5415m)
Approximately 8 to 10 hours
Starting at dawn, you will first ascend steeply for 1½
hours to a rock ledge and notch at 4,679m, and then continue
up along an ascending and undulating trail. This ascent will
seem endless and be careful, as there are several false summits.
However, there are great views back down the valley as you go.
Finally, after 3 to 5 hours of walk, you will arrive at the
top of the Thorung La (5,416m) with its large cairn and many
prayer flags. You will have spectacular views of the Annapurna
Range to the south and the Mukut Himal bordering Dolpo to the
west. The peak immediately to the south of the pass is Thorung
Peak - this is a 'trekker's peak' and you may see people climbing
here. You will probably not want to linger too long at the pass
as it can be very cold and you will probably be feeling the
effects of altitude. The descent to Muktinath is very steep
and it takes about 3 to 4 hours. This is where you might appreciate
having walking poles to take the strain off the knees. During
the descent, there are splendid views of Dhaulagiri (8167m)
and Tukuche Peak (6,920m) and all the way down into the valley
of the Kali Gandaki below. Finally, you will see the buildings
of Muktinath coming into the view. You will bypass the enclosure
round the famous temples and descend to the main village, which
is actually called Ranipauwa and not Muktinath, a name that
technically refers just to the temple.
Day 14 - Trek to Marpha (2665m) 7 to 8 hours
You will start your trek today by walking down from Muktinath.
You have to walk for about half an hour towards the northern
side of the police station to reach the pleasant village of
Chhyonkhar. Here, a wooden bridge over the river has to be crossed.
A proper road is not developed to reach this area but the Village
Development Committee has a budget for building it. You have
to take the downhill path and cross the suspension bridge to
reach Jhong - a beautiful village. Here, a very old monastery
exists dating back to the 7th or 8th century and the ruins of
an old fort. The village has 40 households and a restaurant
named Milan where tea and coffee is served during the tourist
season. After walking downhill for another half an hour to 45
minutes, you will reach the road crossing at Putak. There are
two roads leading out - the lower road goes alongside the river
and leads to Khinga while the upper road goes towards Kagbeni.
You need to begin by walking over a dry section of the riverbed
to reach the small settlement of Eklaibhatti, which means 'a
lone tea house' but the original lodge here is now joined to
other buildings. As you walk down the valley, look out for ammonite
fossils among the pebbles. These are sacred to Hindus who call
them 'shaligrams'. You have to cross the suspension bridge and
walk along a trail on the bank of the Kali Gandaki river until
you reach Jomsom to avoid the motor road. Jomsom - the administrative
headquarters of the Mustang District is rather a dusty, characterless
town with STOL airstrip, police station, army camp, banks and
shops. It is possible to telephone from here. The Kali Gandaki
is called Thak Khola here and the local people belong to the
ethnic group known as 'Thakali', an enterprising and ambitious
community who formerly dominated the salt trade with Tibet as
it passed down this valley. After the collapse of this trade
in the 1950s, they diversified into other businesses, most notably
running hotels along the trek routes. Their former wealth is
reflected in their fine villages, the principle ones that you
visit being Marpha and Tukuche. After lunch at Jomsom, you will
continue walking below the Airport and cross the bridge onto
the Thini Village and the Dhumba Lake area passing by pine and
juniper forests. There is a monastery here and the local people
follow either Buddhism or the ancient Bon religion. You walk
down towards the river, and cross the wooden bridge to reach
Samley village. After walking for about 45 minutes, you will
arrive at Dhumba Lake. This lake is considered sacred by most
folks, especially the Thakali people. There is a monastery near
the lake named Dhumba Gompa. From the monastery, you will experience
good views of Thini, Jomsom, Syang, and Marpha villages, along
with Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak, Dhampus Peak, Thapa Peak, and
Tashikang Peak (Nanda Bhauju Takura). A village named Dhumba
Gaon lies to the southern side of the hill. An hour's walk from
the monastery takes you to Chairo Gaon where you can see the
Tibetan Refugee Camp, monastery, school, small tea shops and
many large pine trees.
Then, you will cross the Kali Gandaki river and spend a night
at Marpha. Marpha is a lovely village with paved streets and
well- maintained, whitewashed houses surrounded by productive
fields and orchards. In the autumn, be sure to try some of the
beautiful, locally grown apples or better try to taste the local
apple brandy. The well maintained Gompa is also worth a visit.
Day 15 - Trek to Larjung (2550m) 6 to 7 hours
You will cross the Kali Gandaki and walk through the Chairo
Gaon. A two-hour walk takes you to an exceptionally beautiful
village - Chimang Village (2,850m). You have to walk 20 minutes
downhill to the Chiming river. Cross the river and walk for
another 20 minutes towards Dading to reach Chokhopani village.
Before Chokhopani, a suspension bridge has to be crossed to
reach Tukuche Gaon. Further, up from Tukuche, the Kaligandaki
river hits the banks as it flows down. In the 19th century,
Tukche played a central role in the salt trade with Tibet. The
doors and windows of the houses in this village are very artistically
created. Another attraction of Tukuche is the Tukuche Distillery,
which produces the famous Apple Brandy and Apricot Brandy. After
leaving Tukuche Gaon from its lower end, you will cross the
wooden bridge and then walk for one hour to reach Sauru Village.
This is another remarkable village but recently there was a
flood in this area leading to the destruction of many houses
and farming land. Since, this village does not provide proper
accommodation, stay overnight at Larjung, which is just 40 minutes
from Sauru.
Day 16 - Trek to Ghasa (1860m) 7 to 8 hours
You have to cross the wooden bridge at the lower end of Larjung
to reach Nupsang Kharka (2,980m) via the small village of Sirkung.
This route offers a chance of seeing different species of birds
and various types of trees such as pine and rhododendron. There
are great views from Nupsang Kharka of Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak
and Dhampus peak. A road heads straight down to Thiti Gaon and
Thiti Taal (Lake). You have to walk along the road for an hour
towards the left of Nupsang Kharka, passing through Taglung
to reach Kunjo Gaon. Kunjo Gaon (2,580m) has telephone services,
a small tea shop and a lodge. You have to cross the Lete river
and have to walk along the dusty road until you reach Ghasa.
You can also avoid walking on this road but it will be an unnecessary
diversion of 40 minutes.
Day 17 - Trek to Tatopani (1190m) 7 to 8 hours
After breakfast, you will leave Thakali country for Ghasa, an
area populated by Brahmins and Chettri hill farmers and members
of hill tribes such as Gurungs and Magars. The trail climbs
high above the river through a narrow gorge. You have to leave
the former trail route at Kopchepani and climb uphill to reach
Bhalebas. Rupse Chhahara is seen on the opposite side of Bhalebas.
You have to stop for lunch at Kopchepani. After lunch, you will
walk by a Brahmin-Chettri settlement and the hydro power plant.
Then, you will cross the bridge at Topang to reach the main
trail, which leads to Tatopani, a bustling village that has
long catered to the needs of trekkers. In Tatopani, which means
'hot water' in Nepali, there are natural hot springs down by
the riverside, which are great for a relaxing soak.
Day 18 - Trek to Chitre (2390m) 5 hours
Continuing down beside the river, you will cross a long suspension
bridge to the eastern bank. At a cluster of houses, the trail
divides: one branch continues downstream to emerge at the road
ahead to Beni but your path takes off steeply uphill, making
an altitude gain of about 4,000m to reach the small settlement
of Chitre.
Day 19 - Trek to Ghorepani (2800m) 2 to 3 hours
Today it is a short day's walk. You will continue walking uphill
to Ghorepani (horse-watering place). This was a main staging
post on the old trade route to Pokhara although nowadays it
is less utilised with most of the mule traffic going down the
Kali Gandaki to exit at the road head at Beni. The main settlement
of Ghorepani is down the other side of the pass but most trekkers
stay in the settlement at the pass itself to be in a good situation
for climbing Poon Hill. You should be able to arrive here by
lunchtime. If weather condition is clear in the afternoon, you
can climb Poon Hill (10,495ft/3,190m), which offers a magnificent
panoramic view of the mountains, during afternoon. To the east,
across the Kali Gandaki, towering is Daulgiri, while Annapurna
to the South and Hiunchuli directly in front of you, with Machapuchare
and others looking less distinguished a little further to the
East. Far to the east the rolling hills diminish in size, you
can see the serpentine Chinese road snaking its way through
the hills, and where the road ends at the Phewa Tal (Lake),
Pokhara can be seen. If it is cloudy, it is better to leave
the climb of Poon Hill until sunrise the next morning.
Day 20 - Finish trek at Nayapul and drive on to Pokhara (915m)
5-6 hours
At sunrise, you can climb Poon Hill, if you have not climb last
evening, to see the mountains turn pink - one of Nepal's classic
views. Return to the lodge for breakfast and then descend from
Ghorepani to fine oak/rhododendron forest. As you descend, you
will pass through the small settlements of Nangethanti and Banthanti
and then emerge from the forest into cultivated land above the
large and picturesque Magar village of Ulleri (6,800ft/2,073m).
From here, it is a long descent on stone steps to reach the
river, where you will cross a suspension bridge to the village
of Tirkedhunga (1,577m) - a total descent from Ghorepani (1,200m).
The trail then descends in a more sedate fashion down the valley
of the Burungdi Khola to the village of Hille. Continue descending
down the valley of the Burungdi Khola, passing a waterfall on
your right with a beautiful pools at its base (for good swimming)
to arrive at the bizarre bazaar town of Birethanti with its
sturdy houses, paved streets and café terraces overlooking
the Modi Khola River. Then, you will cross the river on a long
suspension bridge and then it is a further 20-30 minutes walk
alongside the river to reach the road at Nayapul where your
transport will be waiting to take you to Pokhara. Stay overnight
at Hotel.
Day 21 - Late afternoon flight to Kathmandu
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 22 - In Kathmandu
Relax and stroll around the Kathmandu city and Thamel.
Day 23 - Depart from Kathmandu International Airport.
Early breakfast at the hotel and then drive to the airport to
board the flight. Your escort from Raven Tours and Treks will
assist you with exit formalities and bid you farewell.
“Raven Tours
and Treks” is a member of the following organizations:
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