Day 1 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Arrive at Kathmandu
Land at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Here, a representative of the tour operator will greet you and escort you to a hotel in the Thamel area of the city. You can spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, you'll meet your trek leader who will brief you regarding the weather and itinerary of your upcoming Annapurna Circuit trek. Overnight in a hotel at Kathmandu.
Day 2 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Day at Kathmandu
Take a heritage tour of Kathmandu and visit some of the local places of interest in the capital city. You'll visit the Patan Durbar Square, the Pashupatinath Temple and the Boudhanath stupa. You can also visit the local marketplace to shop for any last minute essentials for the trek. Overnight in a hotel at Kathmandu.
Day 3 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Kathmandu to Dharapani
Today, you'll check-out of the hotel and board a state transport bus from Kathmandu to Besi Shahar. The bus will drive along the Prithvi Highway, offering first views of snow-clad Himalayan peaks on the horizon. From Besi Shahar, you'll travel to the base village of Dharapani in a private jeep. Overnight in a tea-house at Dharapani.
Day 4 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Dharapani to Chame
You'll begin the trek from Dharapani towards the day's destination of Chame. The trail offers gorgeous views of Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Annapurna II. En route, you can stop at small, quaint, hill-side villages to rest and catch your breath. The vibrant Buddhist culture of the natives in these villages comes alive with monasteries and prayer flags. You'll reach the village of Chame by late afternoon. Overnight in a tea-house at Chame.
Day 5 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Chame to Pisang
Trek from Chame to Pisang. The well-paved trail follows a gradually increasing path, presenting exciting challenges as you continue to gain altitude. Throughout the trek, you'll be accompanied by beautiful views of Mt. Lamjung Himal, Mt. Manaslu and several other high peaks in the Annapurna Conservation Area. At Pisang, you can sit back and relax to views of the setting sun behind the majestic silhouette of Mt. Annapurna II. Overnight in a tea-house at Pisang.
Day 6 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Pisang to Ngawal
While most trekkers in the Annapurna Circuit travel directly from Pisang to Manang, you'll take an extra day and spend the night at Ngawal. More than 300 feet higher than Manang, the village of Ngawal present incredible views of snow-swept slopes in the Annapurna range. Cloudless days bring views of Mt. Gangapurna. Halting at Ngawal also aids with the acclimatization process. Overnight in a tea-house at Ngawal.
Day 7 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Ngawal to Manang
Taking the same route forward, you'll set off from Ngawal. The trail will take you past the glacier-fed waters of the Marsyangdi River, past the villages of Braga and Humde, ending at Manang. From this point onward, the trail turns from a well-paved route to a rough, mountain trail, presenting new and exciting challenges ahead. Overnight in a tea-house at Manang.
Day 8 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Day at Manang
Spend the day at leisure in Manang. During the day, you can join the group for an optional hike to explore the village of Manang. Trekking in the high-altitude of the village, over 11,600 feet in the mountains, helps with the acclimatization process. Alternatively, you can also spend the day relaxing indoors. Overnight in a tea-house at Manang.
Day 9 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Manang to Letdar Phedi
Resume trekking and make your way deeper into the Annapurna Conservation Area, to the tea-houses of Letdar Phedi. The trail offers a change of scenery as you leave the snow-stormed peaks of the Annapurna ridge behind and trek in the opposite direction. Views of barren, brown and grey mountains, majestic and awe-inspiring, will dominate the horizon. Overnight in a tea-house at Letdar Phedi.
Day 10 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Letdar Phedi to Thorang High Camp
Early in the morning, you'll leave for the next destination on the trek, the Thorang High Camp. A short and easy trek from Letdar Phedi will bring you to the base at Thorang Phetdi. Here, you'll rest for a minute before beginning the strenuous and difficult climb to the Thorang High Camp. You'll climb over a narrow trail that steeply inches upward between two mountains. Upon reaching, you'll be rewarded with exquisite views of the entire Annapurna range. Overnight in a tea-house at Thorang High Camp.
Day 11 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Thorang High Camp to Muktinath via Thorang-La
Before the break of dawn, you'll wake up and begin the 3-hr, slow-paced climb from Thorang High Camp to the Thorang-La pass, the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit trek at an altitude of over 17,700 feet. After some time spent enjoying the view from Thorang-La, you'll descend from the other end of the pass and reach the town of Muktinath, site of a sacred Hindu temple. Overnight in a tea-house at Muktinath.
Day 12 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Muktinath to Jomsom
Continue descending from Muktinath and proceed towards Jomsom, in the lower Mustang region of the Annapurna Conservation Area. En route, you'll pass through the village of Kagbeni, where the trail will be joined by the Kali Gandaki River. In the afternoons, the trail can get quite windy since it passes through the valley, with the two towering ranges of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna on either side. Overnight in a tea-house at Jomsom.
Day 13 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Jomsom to Tatopani
You'll take a break from trekking and travel to the village of Tatopani in a vehicle. The 60-km drive takes you over a bumpy, dirt road for 3 hrs until you reach Tatopani. Here, you can spend the day at leisure. Explore the small village or visit the hot springs nearby. Overnight in a tea-house at Tatopani.
Day 14 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Tatopani to Ghorepani
Resume trekking and make your way deeper into the Annapurna Conservation Area, to the tea-houses of Ghorepani, a major stopping point for trekkers to the Annapurna Base Camp. With a gentle breeze in your hair, magnificent views of the mountains all around, you'll trek over a short and simple trail to Ghorepani. En route, you'll spot the ethnic Sherpa natives in the hillside villages of Chitre and Ghar Khola. Overnight in a tea-house at Ghorepani.
Day 15 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Ghorepani to Tadapani via Poon Hill
Before the break of dawn, you'll wake up and begin hiking uphill over the slopes of Poon Hill. With flashlights in your hand and down jackets on your back, you'll reach a vantage point on Poon Hill, just in time for the morning sunrise. You'll get panoramic views of the Annapurna mountains, awash in the yellow light of the sun. Descend from Poon Hill, stop at Ghorepani for a brief rest and continue trekking through open pastures to reach Tadapani. Overnight in a tea-house at Tadapani.
Day 16 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Tadapani to Ghandruk
A 4-hr trek from Tadapani, over a meandering trail through beautiful alpine woods of pine and oak, will take you to Ghandruk. Enjoy a calm and peaceful hike, with gorgeous views of the forested mountain slopes all around. The quaint village of Ghandruk is settled by the ethnic Gurung natives. Overnight in a tea-house at Ghandruk.
Day 17 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Ghandruk to Pokhara
On the final day of your Annapurna Circuit trek, you'll trek down to the village of Nayapul, passing alongside the banks of the Modi Khola River. En route, you'll check-out of the Annapurna Conservation Area at Birethanti. You'll board a private vehicle at Nayapul and travel back to the city life at Pokhara. Overnight in a hotel at Pokhara.
Day 18 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Pokhara to Kathmandu
Wake up early in the morning and board a state transport bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu. A 7-hr drive later, you'll be back in the capital city, after having spent two weeks in the heart of Himalayan wilderness. In the evening, you'll have a farewell dinner with your fellow trekkers to celebrate the end of the trek. Overnight in a hotel at Kathmandu.
Day 19 of the Annapurna Circuit Trek: Depart from Kathmandu
Take an airport transfer from your hotel to the airport and proceed to your next destination. Your trip ends here.