ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK 18 DAYS

A representative from Sherpa Expedition Teams will be there to meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Thamel, followed by a briefing covering information about the trek. Tonight you will stay at a 3-star hotel in Thamel.

Today we first head to Besisahar and will then take a jeep to Syange. This drive gives you to introduce you to the terrain and give you a taste of what to expect along the trail. From Syange we will have an easy trek to Jagat.

The first leg of our trek today takes us to the village of Chamje. Along the trail we pass over the river on a suspension bridge and trek through an oak forest before coming out in a valley. We then pass through Kodo before coming to Dharapani.

Today we follow a mule trail through oak and maple forest. On the trail you will have some great mountain views before arriving at Chame.

This morning we pass through the village of Telekhu and on the trail have some wonderful views of Annapurna and Pisang (6091m) until we have to re-cross the river on a suspension bridge to the south bank of the Marsyangdi River. We then ascend passing through a pine forest as we trek through the upper reaches of the Manang valley to Pisang.

Pisang is where our trek in the upper Manang region begins. Today we first head to Braga; a Tibetan village with its distinctive architecture and houses constructed one upon the other. One of the main features here is its Gompa (temple), the largest in the entire Manang region. Manang is also a popular stopping off point with trekkers and is also the perfect place to acclimatize before heading higher.

Medical professionals vigorously recommend that before heading higher that trekkers spend time acclimatizing. They also suggest that you are active during this period. Today we will head up to Khangsar (3756m) as a way to assist us in the acclimatization process. We will stay overnight at Manang.

This morning we start out on a 10.4 km ascent to Yak Kharka passing through juniper forests along the way. On the trail we may see yak grazing in these alpine pastures. We will pass the only teahouse on this leg of the route at Thorong Khola. Depending on the weather conditions and energy levels of us trekkers we may decide to go a little further and stay overnight at the village of Letdar.

We gradually get used to the higher altitudes as we follow the trail along the east bank of the Jarang Khola (river) and on the trail come across some steep bluffs before coming to Thorong Phedi (meaning foothills). If we are lucky we may see blue sheep and possibly the very secretive snow leopard. This is also home to Lammergeyer (bearded vulture). There is also a belief that the mythical griffons inhabit this region (a mythical creature with a lion’s body and bird’s head).

Today is going to be a tough day on the trail as we trek for around 7 to 8 hours at higher altitudes. There are also strong winds in these upper regions that make it harder going too. Along the trail, we may pass sheep, yaks and merchants transporting their goods on their backs or on mules. At Thorong La Pass we will have some breathtaking views of Annapurna, Gangapurna and the distinct eye-catching peak of Khatungkang (6484m). We then descend for about 1600 meters. We can also see Mt. Dhaulagiri, (Dhavali giri, meaning “White Mountain”) the highest mountain that is entirely within the borders of Nepal. The trail is more undulating and less hard going as we head to Muktinath where we stay overnight.

The trail today follows the deepest gorge in the world - the Kali Gandaki Valley to Marpha. Marpha is home to many apple orchids and is where they have a reputation for making great apple brandy, apple cider and other drinks. This is a great place to stop for the night and sample a few products!

Today we continue along the trail along the banks next to the Kali Gandaki River to Ghasa.

Today we trek through the Magar village of Kopchepani and continue through the Kali Gandaki River valley to Tatopani (meaning hot/water in Nepali). This is an ideal place to sit back in these therapeutic hot springs and unwind.

Today you can wander around the village and explore the nearby countryside, or hop back in the hot springs and relax.

Today we have a long trek and first, come to the villages of Ghara and Shikhar after crossing a suspension bridge over the Kali Gandaki River. We then head through the lush forest and several other villages until we arrive at Ghorepani. On the trail, we have stunning views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and other snow-covered peaks of the Annapurna Mountain range.

In the very early hours of the morning, we trek the short distance to Poon hill to watch the sunrise over the mountains. This is truly an amazing and unforgettable scene that will leave you breathless. As dawn approaches the change in colors will have your camera going crazy as you snap away at the ever-changing scenes of the sun rising over the Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri, and its other snow-capped peaks. This is without a doubt one of the best places in Nepal to capture mountain views. We then descend to Ghorepani for breakfast and then have a 5-hour descent to Nayapul. The first part of this trail to Tikhedhunga is very steep, and then we pass terraced fields for several hours before arriving at Nayapul from where we leave by bus for Pokhara.

Today we take the bus back to Kathmandu. On arrival, you will be taken to your hotels in Thamel. You can spend the remainder of the day wandering the narrow winding streets and catch up on some last-minute shopping. You may also decide to find a lovely café or bar to celebrate the completion of your epic mountain journey.

A representative from Sherpa Expedition Teams will take you to the airport at least 3 hours prior to your departure. On your way home you may already be planning your next adventure to this stunning mountainous country.