Overview
The Annapurna Region in Nepal is known as one of the best places for trekking. It has many options that surprise travelers. One of the treks in this region is called the Annapurna Circuit. The highest point of this trek is the Throng la Pass, which reaches a height of 5,416m and touches the Tibetan Plateau. The total length of the route varies from 160 to 230 km, depending on the mode of transportation you choose. Usually, the trek starts from Besisahar Lamjung and ends at Nayapul, Pokhara. Most trekkers prefer to hike in a counterclockwise direction because it allows for a gradual increase in altitude and makes crossing the Throng la Pass easier and safer. However, the itinerary can be adjusted according to your preferences.
During this journey, you will circle around the entire Mt. Annapurna Massif. You will pass through the Kali Gandaki River, which is the world’s deepest gorge. Along the way, you will be treated to magnificent views of peaks ranging from 6,000 to 8,000 meters in height. Examples of these peaks include Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Tilicho Peak, and Pisang. You will also walk alongside the Marshyangdi River, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Manaslu and Himal Chuli peaks. As you continue north, you will witness the awe-inspiring sights of the arid Tibetan Plateau and the snowy white Himalayas.
Foreigners were first allowed to trek in this area in 1977. The most challenging part of the trek is crossing the Thorong La Pass. Once you reach the top of the pass, you will be rewarded with majestic mountain views before descending to the holy temples of Muktinath. The Annapurna Circuit Trek also takes you to the popular city of Jomsom, which serves as a resting point for trekkers. There are well-equipped hotels in Jomsom where you can relax. Other places like Jomsom and Lete will also leave you in awe with their astonishing views.
Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake major trip Highlights
- The Thorong La Pass, standing at an impressive height of 5,416 meters, offers breathtaking panoramic views.
- Tilicho Lake, one of the highest lakes globally, sits majestically at an altitude of 4,949 meters.
- Keep an eye out for the graceful blue sheep as you pass through Yak Kharka.
- Prepare to be awe-struck by the stunning vistas of Mt. Annapurna, Thorung Peak, Nilgiri, Chulu West and East, Tukuche Peak, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV.
- Take a break and unwind at the soothing Tatopani hot springs along the route.
- Marvel at the magnificent lakes, glaciers, gorges, and cascading waterfalls that adorn the landscape.
- Muktinath holds immense spiritual significance for both Hindus and Buddhists, making it a revered and holy site.
- Immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of the Manang district, surrounded by awe-inspiring natural wonders.
- Visit the Barge Monastery, the largest monastery in the Manang district, and be captivated by its grandeur and spiritual ambiance.
Itinerary
You will arrive in Kathmandu valley at the Tribhuvan International Airport, and our agents from Gravity Expedition will be there to pick you up. They will take you to your hotel, where you can rest and enjoy a delicious and traditional Nepali meal. In the evening, you have the option to attend a fascinating folk cultural performance.
After enjoying your breakfast in the morning, our guide will come to your hotel and accompany you on a sightseeing tour of the Kathmandu Valley. Your first stop will be the Swayambhunath Stupa, situated on top of a hill. This dome-shaped stupa, also known as the Monkey Temple, provides breathtaking views of the beautiful Kathmandu city, surrounded by lush green hills and towering snow-capped mountains.
Once you’ve explored the ancient Swayambhunath, you can proceed to Boudhanath, another impressive stupa often referred to as Little Tibet. Here, you’ll experience a clear representation of Tibetan lifestyle and culture in the area.
Moving towards the eastern part of the Kathmandu valley, you can visit the Pashupatinath Temple. While non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple gates, you can still wander around its vast premises and observe the rituals taking place. From across the Bagmati River, you’ll be able to admire the temple’s golden rooftop. Pashupatinath attracts pilgrims from all over the world, especially during Shiva Ratri, a sacred festival honoring the birth of Lord Shiva.
Early in the morning, we’ll take a private jeep from Kathmandu to Beshishar, which is about a 7 to 8 hours drive. On the way, you can have a lunch break and admire the stunning mountains on the opposite side of the river. The road we’ll be taking is winding and runs above the Trishuli River, creating a fascinating and picturesque journey. Once we reach Beshishar, we’ll stay there overnight.
Today, we’re hitting the road again, but it’s not going to be as smooth as yesterday. We have a five-hour journey ahead, and the road is quite rough, even though we’re in a four-wheel drive vehicle. Our drive today takes us through Marsyangdhi valley, passing by some charming mountain villages and beautiful green valleys. The backdrop is adorned with majestic mountain views, making the journey even more remarkable. We’ll be following a bumpy road, but it gently leads us to our destination for the night, Chame.
This day trek begins by passing through local villages, ancient walls, and lush green pine forests with deep ravines on both sides. Along the way, you’ll be treated to a stunning view of Lamjung Himal on a steep slope. After some trekking, you’ll reach an Apple garden in Bratang, where you’ll cross a river and climb uphill for a breathtaking view of the Himalayas, including Annapurna II and Pisang. You’ll have a delightful lunch here, surrounded by nature’s beauty. After lunch, you’ll trek for about an hour to reach Pisang Village. Once there, you have the option to take a short trek to Upper Pisang for a beautiful sunset view and visit a Tibetan Monastery. For the night, you’ll stay at a lodge.
Today, as you continue your trek, you’ll leave the lush green landscapes behind and start hiking uphill, enjoying even more stunning and breathtaking views. Once you cross the river, you’ll climb switch-backs up to Gyaru, where you’ll be treated to massive mountain views down the valley. The trek continues, offering you more scenic vistas until you reach the charming Tibetan-style village of Ngawal. After having lunch, you’ll descend and walk on level ground to reach Munji. From there, it’s an easy one-hour walk to the village of Manang, where you’ll spend the night at a lodge.
Today, we have an acclimatization day in Manang. We’ll decide based on your interests what you’d like to do. One option is an easy and short hike. We’ll cross the river and walk uphill, where you can enjoy the stunning view of the beautiful Gangapurna Glacier lake. As we climb higher, we’ll reach a viewpoint on the ridge, providing breathtaking views of the Gangapurna glacier and the picturesque Manang village. This trip will take about 3 to 4 hours round trip, taking you to some truly awe-inspiring places.
On this hike, we’ll pass through buckwheat cultivation on a rough trail until we reach a small monastery at the top. From there, you’ll get an incredible view of the Annapurna range, Tilicho peak, Gangapurna, and the Manang valley. Afterward, we’ll descend back to Manang, where you’ll spend the night at a lodge.
After having breakfast at the hotel, our trek begins. We’ll climb a bit higher after passing through Manang village. Then, we’ll take the upper route that leads us downhill to the riverside. Crossing a suspension bridge, we’ll walk through a lovely pine forest. After a few hours of walking through this beautiful area, we’ll reach Khangsar village, where the local people are of Tibetan descent. We’ll take a lunch break here before continuing our trek for about an hour to Shiri Kharka. We’ll spend the night at a lodge in Shiri Kharka.
After breakfast, we’ll take an easy path that passes through an area affected by landslides. Here, you’ll see remarkable rock formations. We’ll continue trekking until we reach Tilicho base camp. From there, you’ll have a great view of Tilicho Peak and other beautiful snow-capped mountains nearby. We’ll spend the night at a lodge in the base camp.
Today, we begin our early-day hike to Tilicho Lake right after having breakfast at the lodge. We’ll climb gradually until we reach Tilicho Lake, which is the highest lake in the world. It’s nestled at the base of stunning 360-degree mountain views, making it truly impressive and breathtaking. After taking in the beautiful scenery and mesmerizing views, we’ll start our descent. We’ll spend the night at a lodge after this unforgettable experience.
Today, we’ll walk past the old Khangsar village, which unfortunately doesn’t have any people living there anymore. We’ll also come across Tare Gumpa, a monastery believed to be around 1,000 years old. As we descend into the Thorong Khola Valley, we’ll cross a river and then hike up to a plateau. Along the way, you’ll be amazed by the stunning Annapurna range against the backdrop of the clear blue sky.
Speaking of blue, you might spot some sheep that are known as Blue Sheep. Don’t worry, they aren’t actually blue in color! That’s just their name. We’ll spend the night at Yak Kharka, where you can rest and prepare for the next part of our adventure.
Today, you’ll have the opportunity to witness a breathtaking sunrise view as we make our way through the Legendary Himalayas. The trail will take us gradually up through Phedi, a place where yaks graze, and then onward to Ledar. We’ll continue on a level trail amidst the scrub, crossing a river along the way until we finally reach Phedi. For the night, we’ll stay at a lodge in Phedi, where you can rest and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.
To make it over the pass before the strong afternoon winds, it’s a good idea to wake up around 4 am. If possible, have breakfast to give you energy for the climb, or bring some snacks along with you.
Today’s walk might be tough, as there could be snow on the pass, and the altitude is quite high (5,416m/17,764ft). Once you successfully cross the pass, you’ll descend to Muktinath. Take some moments to breathe and enjoy the breathtaking scenery, especially the Dhaulagiri Massif.
Muktinath is well-known for its 108 water spouts, Hindu temple, and the eternal flame. In the afternoon, you can explore Muktinath or simply take it easy and do that tomorrow. You’ll spend the night in Muktinath.
In the morning, you have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the sights and sounds of Muktinath, in case you didn’t get a chance to do so yesterday. After that, you can take a bus or jeep ride on a rough road above the Kali Gandaki Gorge to reach Tatopani. Once you arrive there, you can unwind and relax in the famous hot springs before dinner. You’ll spend the night in Tatopani.
After having breakfast, we’ll start climbing up to Ghorepani. Along the way, we’ll pass through the villages of Sikha and Chitre. As we walk through terraced farmlands, we’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Eventually, we’ll reach Ghorepani, where we’ll spend the night at a lodge.
Enjoy the beautiful sunrise views and then start your trek to Tikhendunga. It takes about 2 hours to go up to Poon Hill and come back down. After that, you’ll trek for about 4-5 hours to reach Tikhendunga. In total, the trek will take around 8-9 hours.
To catch the sunrise, wake up early before dawn, around 4-5 am depending on the season, and hike for about an hour to reach the top of Poon Hill. Don’t worry, it should be easier than the Thorong La pass!
From the summit of Poon Hill, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of Annapurna South, Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, and Hiunchuli. Watching the sunrise over these majestic mountains is truly a highlight of your time in Nepal.
After enjoying the breathtaking views, trek back down to Ghorepani for breakfast and to collect your bags. Then, set out on your trek to Tikhendunga, where you’ll spend the night.
Today’s hike is short but incredibly beautiful, taking you from Tikhendunga to Nayapul. The trail will lead you through lush greenery and alongside fast-flowing rivers, offering a refreshing and picturesque experience. Once you reach Nayapul, you can take a jeep or bus to Pokhara.
In Pokhara, you’ll spend the night in Lakeside, a charming area by the lake. Here, you can relax and unwind in the lively atmosphere of its many vibrant bars, restaurants, and clubs. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the evening after your delightful hike.
You have two options to travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The first one is a scenic 7-hour drive, and the second option is to take a flight. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you’ll have some free time to shop for souvenirs for your family and friends. You’ll spend the night at the hotel in Kathmandu.
After a relaxing day in Kathmandu, you’ll have a farewell dinner and celebration with your Nepali friends and guide. If you’re interested, you can request a sightseeing tour of the Kathmandu Valley from your guide. During this tour, you can explore various museums in the valley, including the Narayanhiti Museum, which used to be the residence of Nepal’s last king. You can also visit the hilltop of Nagarkot for some beautiful views.
After exploring the valley’s world heritage sites, you’ll have a lovely farewell dinner. If you and your guide decide to extend your stay, you can plan for a Chitwan jungle safari, exciting rafting activities, and other fun adventures. It’s a great way to make the most of your time in Nepal!
It’s time to say goodbye and see you off. The staff from Gravity Expedition will come to your hotel to pick you up and then take you to Tribhuvan International Airport. They hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again in the future.
Cost Includes:
- All airport/hotel transfers,
- 4 nights Kathmandu in Kathmandu with breakfast,
- A full day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu valley including tour guide, transportations and entrance fees,
- Private Vehicle for drive to Besisahar,
- Transportation cost from Muktinath to Tatapani,
- Transportation cost from Nayapul to Pokhara,
- Transportation cost from Pokhara to Kathmandu,
- ACAP,
- TIMS,
- Food and Accommodation during trekking (full board service – breakfast, lunch and dinner + hot water),
- An experienced English speaking trekking guide and Sherpa porters to carry luggage including their salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging,
- All necessary paper works,
- Gravity expedition duffel bag and trekking map,
- Travel and rescue arrangements,
- Insurance for Nepali Staff,
- Welcome and Farewell Dinner.
Cost Excludes:
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary,
- Personal trekking gear,
- Meals in Kathmandu (except breakfast and farewell dinner),
- Alcohol and Beverages during the trek,
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, shower etc.),
- Emergency Medical Evacuation & any medical costs.
A: The ideal periods for visiting the Annapurna Circuit are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). However, the best response to when you should go is whenever you feel prepared. The Annapurna area has unique attractions each month, so it relies on what you’re looking forward to experiencing during the trek.
A: When it comes to the difficulty of trekking routes in Nepal, we must consider the issue of altitude sickness. Walking at or near sea level for a few hours is usually comfortable, but once you go beyond 4,000m (13,123ft.), time seems to drag on. The Annapurna Circuit is the longest route in the area, encircling the Annapurna massif. Compared to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, it is considered more challenging and takes longer. This is because hikers have to cross the high-altitude Thorong La Pass at 5,416m (17,764ft.). Apart from the altitude, the trek is made difficult by steep climbs, long distances, and limited facilities. During winter, the route is usually closed due to heavy snowfall. To complete this long trek, you need to be in excellent physical shape and able to walk for 5 to 7 hours daily. Even beginners can do it, but they should train for at least three months beforehand.
A: Going above 2500m carries some risk of altitude sickness. Different people react differently to higher elevations, regardless of their fitness or experience. The Annapurna Circuit Trek ranges from the lowest point at 800m/2625ft to the highest point at Thorong La Pass (5416m/1769ft), where you might experience symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and heavy breathing due to altitude sickness. However, the trek allows for enough days to acclimate your body, which helps prevent altitude sickness.
To avoid altitude sickness, you should drink at least 3 liters of water, ensure you have enough food, ascend gradually, and sleep at lower elevations. If you encounter any difficulties during the trek, it’s important to communicate them and take necessary actions. Overall, the trek is suitable for both novice and experienced trekkers.
A: Yes, without a doubt! Our scheduled trips are assured to proceed under normal circumstances. Even if other travelers decide to cancel their trek, your journey will still take place as planned. This is what sets Gravity Expedition apart from other agencies that often cancel their entire trip just a month or even a week before the departure date. As a tailor-made company, we are not dependent on a specific number of participants to operate. So, if your current operator cancels your trip and you find yourself in last-minute stress, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to help sort out your travel arrangements. Feel free to book your holidays with us, knowing that we ensure a stress-free experience. Unless there are uncontrollable situations such as political riots, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics, or severe weather catastrophes, our trips are always 100% guaranteed to go ahead.
A: Gravity Expedition, they understand the importance of flexibility in travel plans. That’s why they have a unique and customer-friendly lifetime deposit policy. With this policy, you can keep your deposit safe and use it whenever you’re ready for your next adventure. Whether you want to join a different trip in the future or even transfer the deposit to someone else, the choice is entirely yours. This lifetime deposit policy provides you with the freedom and peace of mind to plan your trips without any worries about losing your initial deposit. It’s a wonderful feature that ensures your investment remains secure and adaptable to your future travel aspirations.
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