22 Days/ 21 nights

The Annapurna Round Trek provides dramatic changes in landscape, culture and climate. It visits the sacred shrine of Muktinath in the Mustang district. From lush jungle to arid deserts and icy glaciers, the Annapurna Circuit has it all. The most challenging part of the trek is crossing the high pass of Thorong La.

Trekking Itinerary Day Location Day 1 Kathmandu Arrival Day 2 Kathmandu – Besi Sahar Day 3 Besi Sahar – Ngadi Day 4 Ngadi – Syange Day 5 Syange – Dorepani Day 6 Dorepani – Chame Day 7 Chame – Pisang Day 8 Pisang – Manang Day 9 Rest day in Manang Day 10 Manang – Yak Kharka Day 11 Yak Kharka– Thorong Phedi Day 12 Thorong Phedi – Muktinath Day 13 Muktinath – Marpha Day 14 Marpha – Kalopani Day 15 Kalopani – Tatopani Day 16 Tatopani – Chitre Day 17 Chitre – Ghorepani Day 18 Ghorepani – Tadopani Day 19 Tadopani – Gandruk Day 20 Ghandruk – Naya Pul – Pokhara Day 21 Pokhara – Kathmandu Day 22 End of Trip

Highlights: 18 days trekking, tent camping or lodges 02 nights hotel in Kathmandu 01 night hotel in Pokhara walk completely around the Annapurna massif. trek through lowland villages to the remote Manang region and down the Kali Gandaki. Cross a 5416m pass — probably the highest you'll get without climbing a mountain.   Trekking Profile (click to enlarge)

Annapurna Round Trek

Few places in the world have such a splendid variety of natural beauty as the Annapurna region. It is a rare combination of snow capped peaks, crystal clear lakes, turbulent rivers with deep gorges, Tibetan monasteries, hot-springs, and picturesque villages inhabited by simple and friendly ethnic people. From lush jungle to arid deserts and icy glaciers -- the Annapurna Round has it all.

Trip Profile:
22 Day Trip
02 Nights in Kathmandu
01 Night in Pokhara
18 Days of Annapurna Trekking

Graded: moderately strenuous


ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu (1200m)

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be met at the airport and brought to your downtown hotel. We will be collecting your passport & photos (two pp sized copy each) in order to get the Annapurna Conservation Permit needed for the trek. The passport would be returned to you in the evening at the time of pre-trek briefing by the trekking staff manager. A traditional Nepali welcome dinner will follow shortly after the trip meeting. Overnight in the hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 02: Drive to Besi Sahar (823m)

The journey by bus to Besi Sahar takes approximately about 9 hours. This is a small town at the head of the Annapurna Circuit where you can find many shops and a pharmacy where you can buy little things that you might have forgotten. Lunch will be provided at the restaurant on the way to Besi Sahar and dinner will possible at your own camp or lodge.

Day 03: Besi Sahar to Ngadi (880m)

After a long walk through the Besi Sahar Bazaar, the trai drops, then follows the gentle slope of the Marsyangdi Khola to Khudi at 830m. This is the first Gurung Village you reach (many of Nepal’s Gurkha soldiers are Gurungs). Most of the people in the wide river valley are Brahmans and Chhetris although there are a few Gurung villages in the side valleys and slopes above the river. The Khudi trail offers fine view of Himalchuli (to the northeast) and Ngagdi Chuli (aka Manaslu II) as it climbs to Bulbule at 840m. You enter the Annapurna Conservation Area here and must register at the ACAP check point. Your guide will be completing all the necessary formalities in here. We soon reach the small settlement of Ngadi where we will overnight.

Day 04: Ngadi to Syange (1080m)

Today we start our walk by crossing a long suspension bridge to reach a Tibetan settlement and porter stop on the east side of the Ngadi Khola (river). There are excellent campsites beside the river on both sides of the bridge. The trail then moves gently upwards through scrub forests for about half an hour, then climbs to some bhattis and cold drink stall opposite the rice terraces of Lampata. The trail then makes a short steep climb to Bahundanda (hill of the Brahmins), an attractive village in the saddle of a long ridge at 1310m. The trail then descends steeply through amphitheatre-shaped rice terraces. Often flocks of parakeets are seen in the rice fields. Contour across terraces and eventually drop to a log bridge across a stream at the foot of a waterfall. The trail traverses high above the river to the pleasant village of Kanigaon where there is a Chinese restaurant. The trail drops to cross the Marsyangdi on a long rattling suspension bridge at Syange, our next camping stop. Syange is the last of the rolling Middle Hills before entering the main Himalayan range.

Day 05: Syange to Dhorepani (1920m)

From Syange the trail follows the river to the stone village of Jaget perched strategically in a steep sided valley and looking for all the world like the toll station that is was for the Tibetan salt trade. The trail descends before climbing through forest to Chamje at 1400 m. After Chamje, the trail again follows the Marsyangdi steadily uphill to Tal at 1700m. Here the valley has been filled by ancient landslides and the river meanders through the fertile flat land before disappearing under some huge boulders. Tal is the first village in the Manang district. The trail crosses the valley floor then climbs a stone stairway before dropping down to another crossing of the Marsyangdi and it continues to Dhorepani at 1920m, which is marked by a stone-entrance chorten typical of the Tibetan influenced villages.

Day 06: Dhorepani to Chame (2710m)

From Dhorepani we continue to Bagarchap meaning "the butcher’s place". This place has flat roofed stone houses of typical Tibetan design although the village is still in the transition zone before the dry highlands. The trail, often tough and rocky, climbs to the Lattemarang at 2440m and then continues through fir and pine forests to Kotho. Chame – at 2710m – is the headquarters of the Manang district and its buildings include many hotels, a health post and a bank. At the entrance to the villages you pass a large mani wall with many prayer wheels. There are fine views of Annapurna II as your approach Chame and two small hot springs are across the river. The route crosses Marsyangdi Khola here.

Day 07: Chame to Pisang (3190 m)

We continue up a narrow valley of pine, hemlock and cypress forest. The trail leads serenely through the forest to lower Pisang; a side trip to higher Pisang (100m higher) is a must for an amazing view of Annapurna II. This arid region is in the rain shadow of the Himalaya. The men here are traders – and may sell or trade almost anything – and part-time farmers, and the women are full-time farmers.

Day 08: Pisang to Manang (3500 m)

There are 2 routes from here: a low road and a high road, the latter taking longer but affording outstanding views of the Annapurna Himal and few trekkers. Both routes converge in the large and interesting village of Braga, which is the seat of the oldest monastery in the area. The gompa is about 900 years old and belongs to the Kargyupa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and contains some unique works of art. Manang is 30 minutes from here. Overnight at Manang.

Day 09: Manang (3500m)

Today is acclimatization day. For some, it is best spent being active and climbing to higher elevations for views and returning to the lower elevation for sleep. Manang itself is in a spectacular location with many rest-day options: there are lakes, caves, moraine-hills, monasteries or local activities in town. You can buy film, batteries, and sunscreen, Snickers bars and just about anything else a trekker could break, lose, forget or crave. The Manangis’ legendary trading skills are seen at their keenest here – buy with caution.

The setting of the Manang is most dramatic, with the summits of Annapurna and Gangapurna less than 8km away, and a huge icefall rumbling and crashing on the flanks of the peaks. The old part of the village is west of the hotels and is a compact collection of 500 flat-roofed stone houses separated by narrow alleyways. To reach a doorway you must ascend a steep log notched with steps. Exploring this fascinating area is one of the highlights of the journey.

Day 10: Manang to Yak Kharka (4090 m)

Facilities become scarcer upon leaving Manang. The trail begins to ascend, crosses a stream, climbs to Tengi then continues to climb out of the Marsyangdi Valley, turning north-west up the valley of the Jarsang Khola. The trail passing a few goths (yak huts) as it steadily gains elevation. You climb above the tree-line, the vegetation changing to scrub juniper and alpine grasses. The trail continues to the small village of Gunsang, a cluster of flat mud roofs just below the trail. The route passes through sparse forests of juniper, rose and barberry and a few meadows where horses and yaks graze. After the peaks of Chulu West and Gundang, the trail passes an ancient mani wall in a pleasant meadow at 3990 m. Beyond is Yak Kharka, also known as Koche, which is our next camping spot. We will probably see a large herd of yaks grazing in the fields nearby. Villagers from Manang collect firewood from the slopes above, which also support herds of blue sheep. The night in Yak Kharka is important for acclimatization.

Day 11: Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4420 m)

One hour further, we reach Letdar, cross the river at 4310m and then climb to Thorung Phedi situated in a rock-strewn meadow surrounded by vertical cliffs. We get an early night in preparation for crossing over Thorong La in the morning. Local people have used this trail for hundreds of years to bring sheep and yaks in and out of Manang; the trail is well defined and easy to follow. The pass is usually snowbound from mid-December to late February and is occasionally blocked by unseasonable storms.

Day 12: Thorung Phedi - Thorong La (5416m) - Muktinath (3800m)

The trail now leaves the river valley and climbs steadily over a lateral moraine surrounded by icy peaks. The pass, marked by a traditional chorten (prayer flags and stone cairn), is the high point of our trek. It is an exhilarating geographical feature, dividing two mighty Himalayan valleys. Far below to the west is the Kali Gandaki River. Their is a teashop on top of the pass! The steep descent down the other side enjoys amazing views of the Mustang region, a shocking new desert landscape that distracts you away from your complaining knees. One's sense of scale boggles from the immense vertical relief of the Himalaya. We descend in that direction for the village of Muktinath, located in a poplar grove. It is a sacred shrine and pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. Dhauligiri comes into view for the first time, standing alone in the distance across the valley.

Day 13: Muktinath to Marpha (2680m)

From Muktinath to Marpha, we see people from Mustang, a restricted area to the north, who come to sell handicrafts to pilgrims. Among their merchandise is the highly revered mollusk fossil called shaligram. They are a common find in the fields around Mukitinath. We will pass some ancient caves of the original inhabitants of this valley and see closer views of the impressive White Mountain that is the Dhaulagiri. We also transit at the significant town of Kagbeni, which is at a junction of two rivers and the north-south and east-west trading routes. After this a gentle walk takes us to beautiful city area called Jomsom, the administrative headquarters for the region, straddling both sides of the Kali Gandaki. Convection winds grow stronger as the sun rises and exhilaratingly, we walk leaning into the wind. The major inhabitants of Jomsom are government officials, army and merchants engaged in distribution of the goods brought in by plane and pony caravans. We continue our gentle descent to reach Marpha, a lovely village of whitewashed houses and fertile fields, famous for its apple brandy and jam. This large Thakali village exhibits the typical Thak Khola architecture of flat roofs and narrow paved alleys and passageways. It is quite wonderful to wander its streets and shops – entirely different from towns in the West and still without automobiles.

Day 14: Marpha to Kalopani (2560m)

From Marpha, we continue our descent down the Kali Gandaki reaching the former Thakali trading center of Tukche. As the trail continues, the Himalayan rain shadow blends into beautiful coniferous forest and we reach the main river valley and Kalopani. From here there are spectacular views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas. We will be enjoying the great views of the Himalaya from this place. Overnight at Kalopani.

Day 15: Kalopani to Tatopani (hot spring) (1190m)

A beautiful walk, with another transition into sub-tropical vegetation and the return of water buffalo, poinsettas, banana, orange and guava trees. The trail follows the river through a narrow gorge and descends to cross a bridge near a spectacular waterfall, before winding through the valley to Tatopani (meaning hot water). The hot springs that give the village its name provide the perfect opportunity for a good scrub and relaxing tired muscles. The food and hospitality is amazing.

Day 16: Tatopani to Chitre (2420m)

From Tatopani, a steadily climbing passing by the ACAP check point crossing the Kali Gandaki river on a suspension bridge takes you to Ghara and then to Sikha, a large village with shops and hotels at 1980m. A further gentle climb shows us the extensively terraced hills through rhododendron, bamboo, and magnolia forests interspersedf with shepherds' goths, teashops and pastures. We overnight in Chitre.

Day 17: Chitre to Ghorepani (2775m)

We continue our climbing up leaving behind the terraced fields and walk through thick rhododendron forest to the village of Ghorepani (meaning horse water from the days when it was a pivotal watering stop for teams of the now familiar teams of horses, mules and ponies that carry loads between Pokhara and Jomsom). We pass the village of Deorali with spectacular views. We camp at the pass for views of the sunset over Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Himal.

Day 18: Ghorepani to Tadapani (2540m)

Today, the trail descends and then ascends taking us to Tadapani. The trail descents steeply to a stream before climbing again through forests to Tadapani, a jumble of hotels with a dramatic view of Machhapuchhare, the sacred 'Fish Tail' peak . Tadapani means 'far water' and the water supply is a long distance below the village. Fortunately a pipe now serves the village in place of water porters.

Day 19: Tadapani to Ghandruk (1970m)

From Tadapani, there is a trail to the left that descends through forests, then through terraced fields to the Khumnu Khola. You will pass through rhododendron forests and orchid colonies to the pretty Gurung town of Ghandruk, where the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhare (the Fishtail) dominate the mountain views, although glimpses of Lamjung Himal and the Manaslu range can also be seen further east.

Day 20: Ghandruk to Pokhara (884m) via Birethanti.

From Ghandrung all the way down hill through idyllic villages and terraced hillsides to Syauli Bazaar. It takes approximately two hours. Along the way you can see more good views Annapurna South and Machhapuchhare. From Syauli Bazaar, the trails follow the Modi River till Nayapul. Our lunch spot in Birethanti. After lunch you have a short trek of about 20 minutes to Nayapul, catch our vehicle and drive to Pokhara.You're free in Pokhara Valley also called "Magic Land" or Dreamland" of Nepal, to explore the various interesting place like a boating in Phewa Lake, and exploring David Falls, Mahendra Cave, various Temples. You are free to shop for souvenirs or rest in the afternoon. Overnight in Pokhara.

Day 21: Pokhara to Kathmandu

After breakfast you're return to Kathmandu by road. After arrive in Kathmandu you're free to shop and pick up some last minute souvenirs, rest and visit the shop etc. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 22: After breakfast, you are free to continue your travels or wait for a transfer to the International Airport for your flight home. Thank you for travelling with Peak Paldor Trekking & Expeditions.

Cost includes:

Two nights hotel in Kathmandu, one night in Pokhara, airport arrival/departure transport services all necessary land and air transportation as per trek itinerary, meal three times in a day, guide, porters, entrance permit, insurance for Nepalese staffs, and accommodation in the tents for camping treks and in lodges for Tea House treks.

Cost does not include:

Hard drinks, cold drinks, sleeping bag, tips for guide/ porters, hotel in Kathmandu except two nights offered after upon arrival at international airport and return from the trek, rescue helicopter if used during the trek (travel insurance recommended!), international airfare.

RESERVATIONS

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