22 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek

  • Duration 22
  • Destination Nepal
  • Trip Grade Challenging
  • Starts at
  • Ends at
  • Meals Full Board During Trek
  • Accommodation 3-star & Tea House on Trek
  • Max. Altitude 5,416 m/17,769 ft
  • Activity Sightseeing and Trekking
  • Group Type
  • Group Size 1-15(Customize your Trip on Request)
  • Best Season

22 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek Overview

Since its opening to foreign trekkers in 1977, the Annapurna Circuit Trek has become one of the most iconic and spectacular hiking trails in the world. This comprehensive 22-day Himalayan adventure offers an unparalleled journey through lush green valleys, charming traditional villages, and alongside the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Annapurna range. Experience the diverse landscapes of Nepal, from subtropical lowlands to high alpine deserts, on this challenging yet incredibly rewarding Nepal trekking experience.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Overview: Journey Through Diverse Landscapes

Also known as the Round Annapurna Trek, this classic three-week expedition begins in Syange, following the Marshyangdi River. To the east, you’ll be greeted by the breathtaking beauty of Manaslu and Himal Chuli. This magnificent trek takes you through exquisite towns, allowing you to encounter a rich tapestry of people from various ethnic groups, all set against the backdrop of stunning Himalayan vistas. As the trail extends northward into the dry plateau bordering Tibet, the landscape transforms, offering equally impressive views.

The ultimate highlight of the Annapurna Circuit trek is the crossing of Thorong La Pass at a majestic height of 5,416 meters (17,769 ft), the highest point of this incredible journey. Due to the challenging nature of the pass, the circuit is typically traversed in an anti-clockwise direction, offering a more gradual ascent and a shorter, steeper descent from west to east.

As you descend westward from Thorong La into Muktinath, you’ll enter the barren, Tibetan-influenced villages of the Kali Gandaki Valley—the deepest canyon in the world, carved between the colossal Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. After visiting the sacred pilgrimage site of Muktinath, the journey continues to Tatopani, where you can relax in natural hot springs. The adventure culminates with a climb to Poon Hill for a legendary sunrise view, before descending to the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara.

The Annapurna region, spanning Kaski, Mustang, and Manang areas, is a biodiversity hotspot. It boasts diverse vegetation, including various orchids and azaleas, and is home to about 100 different mammals, including the rare snow leopard and blue sheep. Around 478 types of birds and numerous reptile and amphibian species also thrive here. Your journey will take you through vast paddy fields, pleasant villages, and lush forests, offering continuous changes in flora and fauna. Along the way, you’ll pass close to Lamjung Himal, Manaslu (8,156 m), Upper Tukuche, and Machhapuchhre (6,996 m), among other towering peaks.

Trip Highlights & Features:

  • Duration: 22 Days
  • Destination: Nepal (Annapurna Circuit, Manang, Mustang)
  • Trip Grade: Challenging (Requires excellent physical fitness)
  • Max. Altitude: Conquer Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m (17,769 ft)
  • Activity: Cultural Sightseeing, High-Altitude Trekking, Scenic Drives
  • Group Size: 1-15 participants (Customize your private trip on request)
  • Best Season: Autumn (Sept. to Nov.) and Spring (March to May)
  • Guided tours in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
  • Approach the beautiful Marshyangdi River valley.
  • Meet diverse mountain communities in the heart of the Himalayas.
  • Witness landscapes dominated by the world’s highest mountains: Dhaulagiri I (7th highest), Manaslu (8th highest), and Annapurna I (10th highest).
  • Cross the iconic Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters.
  • Visit the sacred Muktinath pilgrimage site.
  • Journey through the deepest canyon in the world and the Kaligandaki Valley.
  • Relax in the Tatopani Natural Spa.
  • Experience magnificent sunrise views from Poon Hill.

Accommodation & Dining: Comfort on Your Epic Trek

We will be staying at 3-star hotels in Pokhara and Kathmandu and teahouses during the trek. All accommodations are on twin-shared basis. And Single supplement will be served on request and will have an additional cost. We will have rooms with attached washrooms in most parts of the trek but according to place it can be afforded. In higher elevations, single rooms are not available like in Kathmandu and the lower elevation regions but Mountain Expedition Nepal will do our best for your happiness.

For Meals, all meals will be served during hiking, while Kathmandu and Pokhara only offer breakfast. The hotel will also offer welcome and farewell dinner. The most common dishes on most menus are Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian and the most common Continental.

Is this trip moderate for me?

This is a moderate trek suitable for passionate walkers who have the ability to walk at least 5-7 hours a day with a light day pack, if we are in excellent health with average physical fitness and have a positive attitude, self-confidence, and strong determination, we can accomplish this trek successfully and there is not any technical requirement for this trek. If you start to exercise and morning walk regularly for some weeks prior to the trip is a good idea to enhance our strength and stability. Past hiking experience would be better but not mandatory. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases to consult their doctor before taking the trip and inform Himalayan Adventure Nepal before booking this trip.

Best Time to Travel

Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the best time for hiking in the Annapurna region. The weather is fine, warm and beautiful. If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy your time alone with nature, this winter trip (December, January, and February) is also an option. However, for most guests, the temperature in winter can be hard. Hiking during the summer or monsoon season (June to August) will be affected by rain, but summer hiking can be a blessing for interested botanists.

Day to Day Itinerary
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Our representative at the airport will meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, he / she will show signs of  outside the airport terminal. Next, you will take our private tourist vehicle to your respective hotel. Note: If you are arriving after 4:00 p.m., our guide will inform you of the trip, which will be your line before the meeting, so be sure to make all the problems. But if you arrive before 4 pm, your pre-trip meeting will take place in the day’s office. During the meeting, we will present your leadership / difficulties guide. For meetings, be sure to bring your passport, three passport photos and a legible copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, clear the balance owed (if applicable) and signs a legally binding travel form with a disclaimer. Overnight at a hotel. No meals included.

After enjoying a hearty breakfast, your tour will start at 8:30 in the morning. You can use private vehicles and professional guides. Today we will visit part of the heritage that is detailed below: Pashupatinath Temple: The Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most important Hindu temples in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Although you are not allowed to enter the temple because it is limited to the Hindus, you can clearly see the activities of the temple and the east bank of the Bagmati River. This is a two-story square pagoda temple built on a single-storey pedestal that is famous throughout the world. Boudhanath Stupa: Boudhananath is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. It was built in the 5th century AD and has four pairs of Buddha eyes in four main directions, maintaining an eternal vigilance of people and their actions. You will find Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet turning the prayer wheel around the pagoda. Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Visit Bhaktapur Durbar, Bhupatindra Malla real residential area, five-story name of the Nyatapola temple, pagoda-style palace in Batsala Temple, Bhairavnath, Duttatraya temple, Pujari Muth and 55 windows. We can explore the rest of Kathmandu for free and take a last minute shopping trip in the Thamel area for hiking. Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included.

Today we will take a public bus from Kathmandu to Besisahar and from there we will take a jeep to Syange. We will witness beautiful landscape, rivers and waterfalls on the way. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Now tighten up the shoes laces. We will start walking gradually following the beautiful Marsyangdi River. This walk will be slightly ascending and we will come across the beautiful waterfalls on this walk. We will rest at Tal tonight. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

This will be our exciting day. We will leave Marsyangdi River behind and continue our journey to witness Annapurna II and Pisang Peak and beautiful landscape and old villages. Don’t miss an opportunity to take beautiful pictures as we observe mountains, waterfalls and countryside life style of Nepal. We will rest at Danaque. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We will continue our walk enjoying the view of mountains, and waterfalls on the way. Today will be an easy day. After 4 hours of walking, we will reach Chame, the headquarter of Manang. It’s a beautiful little town with more facility than our previous days. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After breakfast, we continue our trek to Upper Pisang. On the way, we will walk through the dense forest, Marsyangdi River and come across the beautiful panoramic views of meadows and mountains. During this walk, we will see the first view of gigantic Paungda Dada rock face, which is curved like a bowl shape. Eventually, after 6 hours walk, we will reach Upper Pisang from where we can see  Majestic Annapurna II standing high on our south and we will rest here today. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today, wake up early in the morning, watch the beautiful sunrise and first ray of sun on Annapurna II. After breakfast, we will continue our trek towards Ngawal. The trail to Ngawal is about 400 m higher than the lower trail but you will have great opportunities to witness high altitude flora and fauna, beautiful gorges, Annapurna II and III and Pisang Peak. We will take rest in Ngawal. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We continue our trek walking through the big hills, jungle and wetlands. On the way, we can see beautiful landscapes, stupas and lama school. After 6 hours of walking, we will reach Manang, one of the happening places of the trek. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We spend a day acclimatizing in Manang by doing some walks and sightseeing around the village. We will visit a monastery and go to Gangapurna Glacier Lake during our walk. Towards the end of the day, we return to our accommodation for a night’s rest. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After acclimatization and rest at Manang, we will be energized and excited to continue our walk towards Yak Kharka which ascends by 500 m. We make the climb steadily through Tenki Manang, leaving the Marsyangdi Valley. Continuing along the Jarsang Khola Valley, we reach Yak Kharka at 4,000 m. Herds of yaks and vegetations appear to thin out. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After a two-hour ascent, the trail descends to cross the river at 4,310 m. We then climb up to Thorong Phedi at 4,450 m where decent guesthouses have been built in the recent years. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today is a long trek starting before sunrise at 4 am to reach the pass by 9-10 am. Otherwise weather conditions (strong winds) will greatly affect the journey, particularly at the Thorong La Pass. We climb steeply on a regular route which is quite easy to follow. However, some problems may arise due to altitude and snow. It often causes terrible problems to cross the pass if it is covered by heavy snow. After four hours of climbing to the pass marked by the chortens and prayer flags, we will be rewarded with stunning views from the top of the pass. Another four hours of walking will take us to the holy town of Muktinath. Muktinath means place of nirvana and is home to the Muktinath Temple as well as several monasteries. It is said that all sorrows we feel are relieved when visiting the Temple. It is a sacred pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. The prime pilgrimage month is September. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has 108 waterspouts around it. Another attraction nearby is the Jwala Mai Temple which has a gorgeous natural spring and an eternal flame fueled by natural gas. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

So now, we are at the other side of the Thorong La Pass, most of the land we see will be dry and looks somewhat like the desert. We will continue our trek walking by the bank of Kali Gandaki River. Most of the time, we will descend with closer view of stupas and old traditional houses and civilization of Mustang. Marpha is the home to the legendary apple orchids. We will be able to taste the apples and the myriad apple products like pies and wine. Apple Brandy is another local specialty that we may be lucky enough to taste en route. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We descend through the valley following the Kali Gandaki River. On this trail, we will have an opportunity to view Annapurna I and beautiful landscapes. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We still continue to descend through Kali Gandaki River Valley. On the way, we will encounter the world’s deepest gorge, Kopchepani. Tatopani is famous for its hot springs. This is the best place to relax our body after a long trek. We will spend another day relaxing at this spot. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Take a shower, dip into the natural hot springs, enjoy drinks and local food. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today is another big day. It will take about 7 hours to walk from Tatopani to Ghorepani. We climb about 1,620 meters up. From Ghorepani, we will be able to see Annapurna South, Himchuli and Tukuche Himal. We will pass a couple of Magar and Gurung villages on the trail. Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Very early in the morning, we start an hour hiking to Poon Hill at an elevation of 3,210 m – a brilliant spectacle. This vantage point provides unobstructed views of the early morning sunrise over the high Himalayas, weather permitting. There we spend about an hour. We return to Ghorepani where we take a hot breakfast at the hotel. We trek down towards Tikhedunga, walking down along the ridges and through rhododendron forests before finally reaching Tikhedhunga. Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast and lunch included.

After some light trekking, we reach Nayapul (1,010 m). An hour drive takes us to Pokhara. Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included.

We will be driving back to Kathmandu in the morning. If you are interested in extending the trip, there are many options such as Chitwan jungle safari, river rafting adventure, Kathmandu shopping tour, mountain biking and other activities. In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances. Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast and farewell dinner included.

The trip concludes here. Our airport representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu for your flight departure from Nepal. Breakfast included.

Our team guides, porters and accompanying staff are locals with a broad knowledge about each and every location that we travel through.

Customize Trip
Cost Includes
  • Standard twin-sharing accommodation in a three-star hotel in Kathmandu including breakfast (3 nights).
  • Standard twin-sharing accommodation in a three-star hotel in Pokhara including breakfast (1 nights).
  • Guesthouse accommodation during the trek in mostly twin-share and occasionally dormitory-style rooms (18 nights).
  • All standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
  • Local English-speaking trekking guide having licensed. An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek leader and assistant trek leader (6 trekkers: 1 assistant guide)
  • The required number of local staff and porters to carry your luggage during the trek. Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for all staff.
  • National Park permits, ACAP Permit and TIMS permit for trekking.
  • Free T shirt, bag and Hat.
  • Official expenses.
  • Welcome dinner with cultural program as listed in the itinerary.
  • Day guided city tour
  • Bus ticket to Besi Sahr and sharing Jeep to Syange from Besi Sahar.
  • Deluxe coach tourist bus ticket to Kathmandu from Pokhara
  • Private transportation to Pokhara from Nayapul at  end of the trekking.
  • Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
  • All government and local taxes
Cost Excludes
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu. Depending on your budget, it may cost about USD 15 to USD 20 per person.
  • Travel Insurance (compulsory!), which covers emergency high-altitude rescue and evacuation
  • International airfare and airport departure tax
  • Nepal entry visa – You can obtain the visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days can be obtained by paying USD 25 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying USD 40 and 100 respectively. Please bring 2 copies of passport size photos.)
  • Alcoholic, hot and cold drinks.
  • Personal trekking equipment (click on the Equipment tab).
  • Tips for trekking staff and driver (tipping is expected).
  • Any others expenses that are not mentioned in the ‘Price Includes’ section.
  • Any extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary plan
  • Cost arising out of landslides, road blockade, and rescue of any form, cancellation of flight or reasons beyond our control
  • World heritage entrance Fees.
Departure Dates
  • We have daily departures for this trip from March to May and from mid-September to mid-December. You can type in the number of passengers to book a reservation and select a date that is convenient for you. Due to group size, we never cancel a trip once you’ve made a reservation. If you would rather join the group, we will add more travelers on the selected date. You can let us know once you make a reservation or earlier.
Useful Info

Mountain Expedition Nepal has inserted much information on our webpage. However, if you have any query please feel free to contact us any time.

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FAQs

  • The best times to trek the Annapurna Circuit are during the spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) seasons. These months offer clear skies, stable weather, and stunning mountain views.

  • The Annapurna Circuit Trek is considered a challenging trek that requires good physical fitness and previous trekking experience. It involves daily hikes of 6-8 hours, with significant elevation gain and loss. Proper acclimatization is crucial to avoid altitude sickness.

  • While it’s possible to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek independently, hiring a guide and porter is highly recommended. A guide will provide valuable insights into the local culture, history, and flora and fauna, as well as assist with navigation and safety. A porter will help carry your luggage, allowing you to focus on the trek.

  • The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a 3-star & Tea House on Trek, meaning you’ll stay in tea houses or lodges along the trail. These accommodations offer basic amenities like dormitory-style rooms, blankets, and meals and other essential facilities.

  • When packing for the Annapurna Circuit Trek, prioritize warm, waterproof clothing, sturdy hiking boots, a down jacket, trekking poles, a headlamp, a water bottle, and a daypack. It’s also important to pack medications for altitude sickness, such as Diamox, and any personal medications you may need.

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Max. Height: 5,416 m/17,769 ft

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