On the first day of our hike, we will use a local bus from Kathmandu that directly goes to Besi Sahar, after which a jeep or minibus will take us to Darapani. This will be a long trip of 6 hours on the tarmac, which will then be followed by 4 hours on rugged terrain.

First, we will take a slow climb to the village of Koto, and then traverse the forest trail to reach the village of Chame. You can spend some time exploring the Buddhist monastery and hot springhouse Additionally, you can enjoy the most picturesque sceneries of the 8th highest mountain of the world, the Manaslu at 8,163m above sea level. And so we kept hiking for 6 hours, gaining altitude by 940m and losing it on the way down by 160m by the end of the second day.

Your third-day trip begins with a passage through the Marsangdi Khola, which is a bright and fresh mountain river. On the trail, you will pass by delightful apple orchards and peaceful prayer walls, allowing you to experience the diverse culture. As you ascend, the valley widens to give birth to a picturesque vista with Annapurna II, Pisang Peak, and Chulu. During those 5 hours, you are getting 780 meters up and down 220 meters. It’s only the start of an epic adventure that awaits you.

Today’s trek is dedicated to helping you adjust to the altitude. We will start from the old village of Pisang and pass through pine forests on our way up to the gateway marked by rows of prayer stones.

Our hike is now heading towards the high pass decorated with bright prayer flags with the great Annapurna Range. From there, we witness the deep Hongde valley below, green and welcoming while the rest of the Himalayas continue their leveling, majestic and impressive.

For those looking for a more daring adventure, you may opt for trekking to Pisang Peak Base Camp, located at an altitude of 4300m. From this highest camp balcony to heaven we will get the most memorable view. This high-up sanctuary gives you a fantastic, unrestricted widescreen view. Focus on the summits with the Annapurna mountains in slightly front, Tilicho Peak unique in shape, and the Chulu hills in the distance.

If you are so fortunate, you can also expect to come across a band of blue sheep, Himalayan monals, or a lone yak in this deserted high mountain area. Then, we will continue along a valley trail and reach through forests to the untouched settlement of Gyaru which follows away from the main track. It takes around 7.5 hours in total with an elevation gain of 580m and a descent of 100m trekking.

Today, we will experience a wonderful sequence of gradual inclines, stunning panoramas, and a charming village encounter. The trail gradually continues upwards through the hill which provides a magnificent sight of Hongde Valley. As you get up, you quickly realize that Annapurna II, III, and IV, with their snow-capped summits, are the real giants here, capturing your attention anytime throughout the day.

Similarly, the way leads you to Ngawal, a small scattered community lapping the hillside. Finally, this road takes you to Hongde, following the path of Marsyangdi River. On your journey, the second part takes you to the village of Manang, following the river stream. It was an approximately 4-hour hike with a total elevation of 305 meters up until Hongde and a steeper descent of 675 meters down to the final resting point.

On this day, we can take a break at Manang village. Manang is a trekker’s paradise­ and a precious gold of Nepal. Manang village is also known as the hidden treasure of Nepal. As an alternative, you can also go on a side trip to the villages of Braga and Khangsar. The villages are present with historical monasteries, providing a scene for cultural and religious traditions. Your reward for the exploration will be breathtaking sceneries with the dramatic shapes of Tilicho Peaks. Moreover, Manang is a perfect place to prepare your mind and body for the hardest stage of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

After a one-day break in Manang, push uphill and walk through Tangi. You will enter the beautiful Jarsang Khola valley, full of peace. As you approach Ledar, the vegetation becomes scarce and eventually, only grasses and shrubs grow before you finally reach the Yak Kharkha. Now the path passes sharpy turns, and goes through meadows where horses and yaks peacefully feed. The hike is about 4 hours long and includes an uphill climb of 1095 meters and a downhill slope of 145 meters.

Today’s trek will be relatively short as we prepare ourselves for the challenging Thorong La Pass. We will ascend through a desolate landscape. We will be walking through an area that is barren and uninhabited. The path will take us to Thorong Phedi, a small village that serves as a resting point for trekkers before they attempt the pass. During the trek, we will climb 170 meters, which will help us acclimatize to the altitude and prepare us for the challenges ahead. The trek is expected to take around 3 hours and will give us a chance to take in the stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

The journey to Thorong La Pass, which stands tall at an altitude of 5416m, is a challenging and exhilarating one. For a better adventure, it’s advisable to start early and allot a huge amount of time for the climb. Besides that, Annapurna, one of the most mighty mountains in the world, will be in front of your eyes when you hike up to the pass.

From here, you’ll begin a steep descent down to Muktinath, a sacred place for both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. As you continue your trek, you’ll come across the charming village of Jharkot, known for its beautiful traditional architecture and friendly locals. Overall, the trek will take you anywhere from 8 to 12 hours, depending upon your speed, and you will ascend for a height of 980 meters and descend up to 1850 meters.

Finally, we are at Mustang, a place with majestic beauty and has no permit restriction to enter it. Similarly, the Jharkot monastery is a sight to behold, resembling a fortress that overlooks the valley from its elevated position. Let us begin our trek by the beautiful and classic trail till we come to the wide valley of Kaligandaki and the vista is astonishing. Later on, we will deviate from the trail and head towards the Panda Khola, a picturesque spot that is perfect for taking photos.

At noon we will stop at a small village where we will have lunch at a typical Takali house and enjoy a traditional dal bhat meal. For lunch, we’ll relax a little bit and then we move on to the main trail to Thinigaon. Along the way, we’ll pass by several apple orchards, and you won’t want to miss the opportunity to taste the local apple juice and cider. The drinks are refreshing and delicious, and they’re a perfect way to quench your thirst after a long trek. The trekking will take approximately 6 hours, and we’ll descend 670m.

Finally, we are at Mustang, a place with majestic beauty and has no permit restriction to enter it. Similarly, the Jharkot monastery is a sight to behold, resembling a fortress that overlooks the valley from its elevated position. Let us begin our trek by the beautiful and classic trail till we come to the wide valley of Kaligandaki and the vista is astonishing. Later on, we will deviate from the trail and head towards the Panda Khola, a picturesque spot that is perfect for taking photos.

At noon we will stop at a small village where we will have lunch at a typical Takali house and enjoy a traditional dal bhat meal. For lunch, we’ll relax a little bit and then we move on to the main trail to Thinigaon. Along the way, we’ll pass by several apple orchards, and you won’t want to miss the opportunity to taste the local apple juice and cider. The drinks are refreshing and delicious, and they’re a perfect way to quench your thirst after a long trek. The trekking will take approximately 6 hours, and we’ll descend 670m.

As you embark on the trail, you will come across the wide riverbed that the trail occasionally crosses. The journey will take you through a sea buckthorn forest that is famous for the juice the locals make. You will have a chance to taste this special juice at the lodges along the way.

As you continue on the trail, be prepared to be amazed by the spectacular view of the massive icefall of Dhaulagiri and the towering Nilgiri. This is a perspective that is not typically seen from the usual trail, and it’s a breathtaking sight that you shouldn’t miss. After five hours of trekking, you will descend 148 meters, and the journey will come to an end.

As you begin your journey through the valley, you will witness the serene sound of waterfalls and the refreshing fragrance of pine forests. When you descend, the valley will gradually narrow, leading you to Tatopani, a charming little village situated in the Annapurna region of Nepal.

Once you leave the Takhalis area, you will notice a significant change in the appearance of the houses. The dwellings in Tatopani are constructed from stone and mud and the village is inhabited by a small yet welcoming community of locals who are always happy to receive guests. Tatopani, a Nepali word meaning “hot water,” is so named because the village is home to natural hot springs.

At an elevation of 1150 meters above sea level, Tatopani provides a pleasant break for trekkers after a long day of hiking. You can take a dip in the hot springs, which are said to have healing properties and rejuvenate your tired muscles. To reach Tatopani, you’ll need to trek for about 6 hours, descending by 1249 meters.

Your trek continues today from Tatopani to Ghorepani. After crossing the Kali Gandaki River, you’ll reach on a steep ascent through a monkey-filled forest until reaching a rocky pass with views of Dhaulagiri. The path then eases as you continue to Chittre.

From here, a gradual climb through a rhododendron forest leads you to Ghorepani, your destination for the night. Depending on your energy levels, you might even conquer Poon Hill this evening to witness the breathtaking Himalayan panorama. This is a long day, so pace yourself and enjoy the scenery.

It’s the second last day, and the Annapurna Circuit rewards you with a spectacular sunrise. On a crisp morning, you will trek through a vibrant rhododendron forest for an hour, reaching Poon Hill just before dawn.

Here, you’ll see a breathtaking sunrise painting the majestic Himalayan giants in a golden light. This panoramic vista will forever be etched in your memory. But the trek isn’t over yet. You will trek a long descent on stairs, a total of 6 hours down to Birethanti, dropping a significant 1780 meters.

To get from Birethanti to Kathmandu, you can take a short walk from Birethanti to Naya Pul. From there, you can catch a local bus that will take you to Kathmandu. Depending on the traffic, the journey can take approximately 8 hours.