- Length
- 13 days
- Highest point
- 5,416 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Best months
- Oct–Nov, Mar–May
- Starts
- Besisahar / Kathmandu
- Group size
- 2–12 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House
<p>Thirteen days around the entire Annapurna massif — Thorong La at 5,416m, the descent into Mustang's high desert, teahouses that have fed trekkers for half a century. You'll cross the pass at dawn with the wind at your back and understand why trekkers come back to Nepal for a second time. And a third.</p>
- Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) — world's most famous mountain trek pass
- Muktinath Temple — 108 sacred water spouts and eternal flame; holiest spot on the Circuit
- Tilicho Lake side excursion option (4,919 m) — world's highest lake by altitude
- Kali Gandaki Gorge — awe-inspiring canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon
- Manang Valley acclimatisation day — Annapurna III and Gangapurna glacier views
- Kagbeni medieval village — gateway to the forbidden Upper Mustang kingdom
- High-altitude desert of Mustang: ochre canyons and Tibetan-heritage villages
- Marpha apple orchard village and Tatopani hot springs on the descent
- Kathmandu valley heritage included: Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath
The climb, day by day
Day 1Drive Kathmandu → Besisahar (760 m)760 m
Depart Kathmandu by private vehicle along the Prithvi Highway, following the Trishuli then Marsyangdi river valleys to Besisahar — the traditional starting point of the Annapurna Circuit. Approximately 7–8 hours of scenic midhill driving. Overnight to rest before the trek begins.
- Distance
- 185 km
- Walking
- Drive
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 2Besisahar → Bahundanda (1,310 m)1,310 m
Begin the Circuit heading north along the Marsyangdi river through Khudi and Bhulbhule. Cross suspension bridges over turquoise rapids, trekking through subtropical rice terraces and bamboo groves to the hilltop Brahmin village of Bahundanda.
- Distance
- 22 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Bahundanda → Chame (2,670 m)2,670 m
Trek through Syange, Jagat, Chamje, Tal and Dharapani, entering the restricted Manang district. The valley narrows to a dramatic gorge past Bagarchhap and Danaque, where flat-roofed Tibetan-style houses mark the cultural transition. Chame is the district headquarters with hot springs.
- Distance
- 38 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 4Chame → Pisang (3,300 m)3,300 m
Trek past the spectacular curved rock face above Chame through dense pine and fir forest. The Annapurna range comes into full view. Reach Lower Pisang beneath the striking Pisang Peak (6,091 m). Optional detour to Upper Pisang for elevated valley views.
- Distance
- 18 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 5Pisang → Manang (3,519 m)3,519 m
Wide open valley walk under Annapurna II, Annapurna III, and Gangapurna. Pass through Humde, Bhraka, and Ngawal — a fascinating walled Tibetan village. Manang has a Himalayan Rescue Association clinic, good bakeries, and superb mountain views.
- Distance
- 22 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 6Manang · Acclimatisation Day3,519 m
Full rest day in Manang to adjust to altitude before the Thorong La crossing. Recommended hike to Gangapurna Lake or the viewpoint above town. Attend the free altitude lecture at the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic in the afternoon. Drink at least 3–4 litres of water.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Rest Day
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 7Manang → Thorong High Camp (4,925 m)4,925 m
Trek through Tenki, Gunsang, and Yak Kharka (4,018 m) to Thorong Phedi (4,450 m), then a steep switchback climb to Thorong High Camp. The highest tea house accommodation on the circuit. Dinner early and sleep by 8 pm ahead of the big crossing.
- Distance
- 14 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 8Thorong High Camp → Thorong La (5,416 m) → Muktinath (3,800 m)3,800 m
Pre-dawn departure (3–4 am) for the crossing of Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m — the highest point of the entire Annapurna Circuit. The pre-dawn sky and post-sunrise panorama of the Himalayan divide are extraordinary. Steep 4–5 hour descent through scree to the sacred Muktinath temple — 108 water spouts and an eternal flame.
- Distance
- 20 km
- Walking
- 7–9 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 9Muktinath → Jomsom (2,720 m)2,720 m
Morning visit to the Muktinath temple complex, then descend the arid Kali Gandaki valley through Kagbeni (a medieval walled village at the entrance to Upper Mustang) to Jomsom, the main town of Mustang district. Strong afternoon winds in this valley are famous — trek before noon when possible.
- Distance
- 18 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 10Jomsom → Tatopani (1,190 m)1,190 m
Long descent south through the Kali Gandaki gorge, the world deepest canyon by some measures. Pass through the apple-orchard village of Marpha, then Tukuche, Larjung, and Ghasa as the landscape transforms from arid plateau to lush subtropical valley. Tatopani hot springs await at the end of a long day.
- Distance
- 38 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 11Tatopani → Ghorepani (2,860 m)2,860 m
Steep climb out of the Kali Gandaki gorge through Shikha and Phalate, ascending through terraced farmland into rhododendron and oak forest. Emerge at Ghorepani on the classic Poon Hill ridge with views of Dhaulagiri appearing above the treeline.
- Distance
- 16 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 12Ghorepani · Poon Hill Sunrise (3,210 m) · Trek to Nayapul · Drive Pokhara827 m
Pre-dawn ascent to Poon Hill (3,210 m) for the defining Himalayan panorama — Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre and a dozen more peaks in one sweeping arc. Return for breakfast then descend through Ulleri and Birethanti to Nayapul. Private vehicle back to Pokhara — circuit complete.
- Distance
- 16 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B
- Night
- Hotel
Day 13Pokhara · Rest or Fly to Kathmandu827 m
Free morning in Pokhara to celebrate completing the circuit. Options include a boat on Phewa Lake, the International Mountain Museum, or simply a lakeside breakfast with Machhapuchhre views. Transfer to airport for the 25-minute flight to Kathmandu or take the tourist bus.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Rest Day
- Meals
- B
- Night
- Hotel
The price includes
- Government-registered English-speaking trek guide
- Porter (1 per 2 trekkers)
- ACAP permit and TIMS card
- Kathmandu–Besisahar bus plus Besisahar–Jagat 4WD jeep
- Jomsom–Pokhara mountain flight
- Pokhara–Kathmandu tourist bus (or flight option)
- All teahouse accommodation on trek
- 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Kathmandu hotel/airport transfers
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare to/from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee ($30–$50 on arrival)
- Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency evacuation
- Meals not listed in daily itinerary
- Personal trekking gear and equipment
- Tips for guides and porters
- Beverages, hot showers, and battery charging at teahouses (payable direct)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Any costs arising from illness, injury, or early departure
The 13-day Annapurna Circuit from Kathmandu is the complete highland circuit with Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu logistics — all transport between Kathmandu and the trailhead, the full Thorong La crossing (5,416 m), and the Jomsom mountain flight exit to Pokhara included in one seamless package. Unlike Pokhara-start itineraries, this version includes the Kathmandu overland to Besisahar and the jeep transfer up to Chame — adding one travel day but eliminating separate booking of intercity transport.
The circuit's high points — the Manang valley acclimatisation with its dramatic views of the Annapurna massif, the Thorong La pre-dawn crossing, Muktinath's sacred pilgrimage atmosphere, and the Kali Gandaki gorge with Dhaulagiri and Annapurna facing each other across a 6 km gap — are all included. The Jomsom–Pokhara mountain flight exit replaces the lower valley descent, which has been significantly affected by jeep road construction.
This itinerary suits travellers flying into Kathmandu who prefer the logistics of a single end-to-end package without needing to arrange separate Kathmandu–Pokhara transport independently.
Best seasons: October–November and March–May. Thorong La: 5,416 m. Start/end: Kathmandu.