The most popular trekking region in Nepal, the Annapurna Circuit passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, with deep valleys and close up views of high mountains, ancient stone settlements, tibetan culture, and buddhist temples and monasteries. This is one of the most walked treks in the country and is one of the most exceptional trekking routes on earth, crossing Thorong-La pass at 17,769ft (5,416m) and requiring about three weeks.
This magnificent trek leads you to the fine village inhabited by a wide diversity of people from different ethnic groups, offering spectacular and majestic view of the white Himalayas. As it continues to the north of the main Himalayan range on to the high and dry Tibetan Plateau, the scenery is equally breathtaking.
Muktinath - the most sacred Hindu temple stands as the most remarkable feature of this trek offering the astonishing view of the snow - capped mountains from the top. The eye appealing view of around surrounding is beyond one's thought to enable you to enjoy never ending blissful experience in peace and tranquility.
Jomsom at an altitude of 2713m is the ultimate destination of this trek where our hiking excursion gets an end. A night rest at this point is more praiseworthy in a sense that the countryside view settle down your all tiredness both mentally and physically. The next day, a 20 minutes scenic flight takes you another picturesque town - Pokhara which undoubtedly offers many things of tourist's alike within a very limited area.
Anyone with sound health can join this trek since this trek has been set on the basis of slow hike pace to get full acclimatization with a view to enable our clients to get ultimate fun of trekking in this Himalayan paradise.
Annapurna Circuit Trek Highlights: Crossing the Thorung La Pass (5416m); The Pilgrimage town of Muktinath; Views of the Dhaulagiri ice - fall; The worlds deepest gorge in the Kali Gandaki river; Hot Spring at Tatopani; and Sunrise and mountains views from Poon Hill.
Meet our representative at the airport who will transfer you to the Hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu.
A day in Kathmandu. Morning guided sightseeing to the Buddhist and Hindu sights in Kathmandu, probably to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, Swayambunath - the Buddhist monkey temple and Pashupatinath – a sacred Hindu temple complex on the banks of the Bagmati River. The afternoon is free for you to explore the city further and pack bags ready for the start of the trek the following morning. You can leave a bag at the hotel with items you will not need on the trek. Overnight hotel. (B)
An early start gets us on the drive to Syange, the starting point of the trek. On the way we see lush green countryside, rivers, villages, farms and beautiful mountain-scapes. The road to Besishahar is tar, thereafter gravel.
A leisurely trekking pace takes us into the Manang district with its fields of barley, rice, potato and pine forests. We pass the village of Kodo and will overnight in Dharapani.
On the way to Chame we climb a few steep, forested ridges and are treated by some of the most sensational mountain views: Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV (7,525m/24,688ft). At our destination a few small hot springs bring relief to our taxed muscles.
We follow the east bank of the Marshyangdi to Brathang; here Annapurna 11 is directly above. Continuing through forest to a wide valley, with the dramatic Paungda Danda rock face rising more than 5,000 feet from the river. There are good views of Annapurna 11 to the south and Pisang Peak to the northeast. The trail continues to Pisang where flat roofed houses cling to the crumbling hillside. We will Lodge a little way beyond Pisang, in the forest on the south bank of the river, which provides good shelter against the cold wind, which very often blows up the valley. (5 to 6 hours walking). Overnight lodge.
We are now in the dry, arid region of Manang called Nyesyang. Since this area falls in the rain shadow area of the Himalaya, it seldom rains in the summer months, though it snows in the winter and the snow remains on the ground for a long time. The population is mostly farmers and traders. There are two routes leading out of Pisang towards the Manang Valley. The one we follow stays along the valley floor, on the left bank, providing spectacular views of Annapurna 111 and 1V along with Gangapurna and the Tilicho peaks. We pass through the village of Ongde where there is a STOL airfield. Crossing the river, just past the Manang mountaineering school we walk along a fairly broad trail to the fields near the village of Braga. From Braga we walk upstream and after a slight climb we arrive at the village of Manang. (5 to 6 hours walking). Overnight lodge.
Manang is a fascinating mediaeval village of just over 500 flat roofed houses whose entrances are reached from the narrow alleyways by ascending a steep log, notched with steps. This is an important acclimatisation day, which will prove very beneficial when we come to cross Thorung La. There are splendid views of the surrounding peaks from Manang. Manang is a large village situated on a rise immediately across from the huge glacier descending from Glacier Dome and Gangapurna. A beautiful emerald lake lies at its foot. Possible side trips include treks to: a lake about 3 hours north of Braga, to the main Manang Gompa, or to Khangsar on the trail to Tilicho Lake. We have excellent views of the Annapurnas, 11, 111 and 1V, Gangapurna, Glacier Dome and the huge ice fall descending from the northern slopes of Gangapurna is quite spectacular. Overnight lodge.
Past Manang the trail climbs steeply to the village of Tenki, which is the last permanent settlement, this side of the Thorung La. We climb a little further and then contour slowly past pastures to Yak Kharka (Yak Pastures). (5 to 6 hours walking). Overnight lodge.
We continue through pastures on the east bank of the Jarsang Khola before crossing. The trail climbs on scree slopes high above the river to Phedi. Overnight lodge.
An early start from Phedi. The trail becomes steep immediately on leaving Lodge. As local people have used this trail for hundreds of years the path is well defined. After a while the gradient eases and it is a steady walk to the Chorten and Cairns of the Thorung pass (5416 metres), which we reach in about 4 hours. The views are dramatic. Stretching below is the head of the Kali Gandaki valley and the brown/purple hills of Mustang leading to Tibet. Across the valley is the Tibetan marginal range of mountains and either side the pass tower twin 6500 metre peaks. The descent to Muktinath is steep and long, 1500 metres of knee jerking descent. (8 to 10 hours walking). Overnight lodge.
Today, we drive along a plateau above the Kali Gandaki – world`s deepest gorge. We have to adjust ourselves in a public vehicle on sharing basis for the day today. The road is gravel and unfortunately rough and dusty. However, we have worked hard and can save some time in this barren landscape which resembles the arid Tibetan Plateau. At Tatopani another treat awaits us, and everyone is anxious to relax their weary muscles in one of the hot spring pools. Ah!
The trek to Ghorepani takes us past the villages of Ghara and Sikha and their terraced farmlands, through Phalate and Chitre, and through beautiful rhododendron, brich, and magnolia stands. The surrounding peaks look wonderful, almost ominous, as they tower above.
An early ascent of Poon Hill (3,210m. /10,531ft) takes us to the top to witness a spectacular moment in time: sunrise over the whole Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs. Poon Hill is equated with “a photographer’s paradise”. We are reluctant to leave and trek through rhododendron forests to Tadapani. The scenery has remained dazzling throughout the entire day.
We trek for 6-7 hours through Rhododendron forest to Ghandruk (2nd largest Gurung settlement in Nepal. Gurung is a culturally rich ethnic group) for lunch. At Nayapul we conclude our trek with a 1 hour drive to Pokhara. Pokhara is know for its beautiful lakes and the dramatic backdrop of the Himalayan mountains.
This day we drive back to Kathmandu, were some will catch up on last minute shopping prior to our celebratory dinner. For most, life hereafter will be forever changed!
Today we will transfer you to the airport for your flight back to next destination. End of the package.
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Nepal Trekking Holidays
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal