Overview
The Annapurna Circuit trek from Kathmandu is a twelve-day teahouse trek that runs from the capital up the Marsyangdi valley, across the high Thorong La at 5,416 metres and down to sacred Muktinath. The road leads first to Tal, then you walk in through Chame and Pisang to the Tibetan-influenced village of Manang, take a side trip to Tilicho Lake at 4,919 metres, and acclimatise before the pre-dawn climb to the pass. From the top the trail drops into the Mustang side and the deep Kali Gandaki gorge, finishing with the drive back through Pokhara to Kathmandu. It is a demanding, high-altitude circuit walked on well-worn trails with comfortable lodges each night, and this from-Kathmandu version builds in the road transfers at both ends.
The itinerary
- Long scenic drive via Besisahar, following the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers
- Rough mountain road beyond Besisahar through narrow valleys
- Overnight at Tal (1,700 m), a riverside village with waterfalls
- Trek through Dharapani, Bagarchap and Danaque past forests and waterfalls
- Narrow gorge sections with steady altitude gain
- Reach Chame (2,670 m) with first close views of Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal
- Pine forests and the apple orchards of Bhratang
- Dramatic rock gorge with towering cliffs before the valley widens
- Overnight at Pisang (3,300 m) with panoramic Annapurna views
- Take the higher route via Ghyaru and Ngawal for wide views of Annapurna II, III and IV, Gangapurna and Tilicho Peak
- Pass traditional Manangi villages with strong Tibetan-influenced culture, mani walls and monasteries
- Descend gently into Manang (3,540 m), the main acclimatisation hub of the circuit
- Rest day to adjust to the altitude with an optional hike to Gangapurna Lake or Praken Gompa
- Explore Manang village, its bakeries and cafes
- Overnight back in Manang (about 3,800 m on the acclimatisation hikes)
- Leave the main circuit and trek along the Marsyangdi valley towards Khangsar
- Enter barren, rugged alpine terrain with dramatic mountain views
- Overnight at Tilicho Base Camp (4,150 m)
- Early start for the steep climb to Tilicho Lake, one of the world's highest lakes
- Turquoise glacial lake beneath Tilicho Peak at 4,919 m
- Descend back to Tilicho Base Camp for the night
- Rejoin the Annapurna Circuit trail and continue through open alpine terrain
- Sparse vegetation, yak pastures and a drier landscape
- Overnight at Yak Kharka (4,050 m)
- Short but steep climb to Thorong Phedi, the base for the pass
- Rugged high-mountain scenery throughout
- Afternoon rest and preparation at Thorong Phedi (4,540 m)
- Pre-dawn start for the steady climb to Thorong La at 5,416 m, the high point of the trek
- Panoramic Annapurna and Dhaulagiri views from the pass
- Long steep descent to sacred Muktinath and its temple
- Drive down the Kali Gandaki valley via Jomsom and Marpha
- Pass through the world's deepest gorge between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri
- Arrive Pokhara (822 m) for a relaxing evening
- Return drive to Kathmandu along the Trishuli River, or an optional flight
- Drop at your accommodation on arrival (1,400 m)
- The trek concludes in Kathmandu
Things to carry
- Layered clothing with a warm down jacket for the cold at Thorong La and the high camps
- Broken-in trekking boots and warm socks
- A warm sleeping bag or liner, insulated hat, gloves and a buff for the pass
- Sunglasses, sun hat, high-factor sunscreen and lip balm
- A refillable water bottle with purification, a daypack and a power bank
Good to know
Complete guide
The Annapurna Circuit is the classic long walk of Nepal: a full loop from green river valley to high desert, over a Himalayan pass and down into pilgrim country on the far side. Doing it from Kathmandu means the road transfers at both ends are built in, so you start and finish where you land. Here is how the trek works and what to know.
What the Annapurna Circuit trek from Kathmandu covers
The route runs Kathmandu to Tal by road, then on foot up through Chame, Pisang and Manang, out to Tilicho Lake at 4,919 metres, and over Thorong La at 5,416 metres to Muktinath, before the drive home through the Kali Gandaki gorge and Pokhara. The two ends are travel days; the heart of the trip is around ten days of teahouse walking through steadily changing country. If you would rather skip the Kathmandu transfers, a Pokhara-start version covers the same trail in fewer days, and trekkers wanting a gentler first Himalayan outing often warm up on the shorter budget Annapurna Base Camp trek before taking on the circuit.
How hard it is and how the altitude feels
This is a strenuous trek. The days are long, the total ascent is large, and the crux is a pre-dawn climb to a 5,416 metre pass where the air holds around half the oxygen of sea level. The profile is built to acclimatise you, with a rest day at Manang and the Tilicho side trip adding useful height beforehand, so serious altitude sickness is uncommon when you take it slowly. Walk at an easy pace, hydrate well, and treat any headache seriously. Weeks of hill walking before you come make the biggest difference to how much you enjoy it.
Permits, guides and teahouses
You need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and a trekkers' information card, and since April 2023 a licensed guide is mandatory in the region; we arrange all of this. Nights are spent in teahouses, family-run lodges with simple twin rooms and a warm dining room, so you carry only a daypack. Bring a warm sleeping bag or liner, a power bank and small cash for charging, Wi-Fi and hot showers, which grow scarcer as you near the pass.
A gentler alternative
If a two-week circuit and a 5,416 metre pass feel like a lot for a first trek, the same region has an easier introduction. The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek reaches a famous sunrise viewpoint over Annapurna and Dhaulagiri in a fraction of the days, on shorter walking hours and lower altitudes, and makes a natural stepping stone towards the full circuit later.
