About this trip
The Annapurna Circuit is a 12-day trek through one of Nepal's most varied landscapes, taking you from lowland villages and forest trails up to high mountain passes. You'll walk through changing terrain and climate zones, with river crossings, forest trails, and long days of ascent and descent.
The trek's high point, literally and otherwise, is crossing Thorung La Pass at 5,416m, with views out to Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Lamjung along the way. From there you descend to Muktinath Temple, a site sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, where pilgrims travel from across the region.
Along the route you pass through villages that give a real sense of how people live in this part of the Himalaya, from farming communities to more remote settlements near Manang. It's demanding underfoot but doesn't require previous trekking experience, provided you're reasonably fit.
What you'll do
- Drive from Kathmandu to Besi Sahar to begin the trek
- Walk through rhododendron and bamboo forest and river valleys en route to Manang
- Cross Thorung La Pass at 5,416m
- Take in views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Lamjung
- Visit Muktinath Temple, a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists
- Pass through villages with their own distinct traditions and way of life
- Physically demanding with several long ascents and descents, but no previous trekking experience required
- Best done between September and May; December to February is colder with more snow and a harder pass crossing
- Thorung La Pass crossing is the most difficult and exposed section of the trek
Worth it if you want a well-guided, culturally immersive trek with reliable logistics. Think twice if you need luxury accommodation or expect gourmet food.
- Guide expertise is genuine: knowledgeable about peaks, cultures, local history and safety throughout.
- Nepal Social Treks handles logistics properly: attached bathrooms in most guesthouses, responsive booking, good price for quality.
- Tea house food is repetitive and functional rather than creative, though guides steer you toward better options per location.
- Weather can force last-minute route changes; high snow in spring made one person's original trek impossible, requiring alternative arrangement.
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Getting there
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Where to stay
A night before your tour in Kathmandu · 20 Jul – 21 Jul
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