Annapurna Circuit Trek @ $799

We will depart at around 7:30 am from Pokhara/ Kathmandu after breakfast. Its 4.5 hrs drive to Bensisahar from Pokhara and around 7 hours from Kathmandu. Trekkers from Pokhara will have lunch at Besisahar and trek to Ngadi (3 hrs). Trekkers from Kathmandu will have lunch at Malekhu and drive further to Ngadi.

We will start the trek at 7:30 am after breakfast. The trail is mostly gentle uphill along the motor offroad with 2 small steep uphills of around 30 minutes each. The trail is full of villages mostly inhabited by Bhramin and Chhetry Tribes. It contains lots of agricultural lands where people grow grains like paddy (rice), wheat, barley, maize, millet and lots of vegetables. Rearing cows, buffalos, goats, chickens can also be seen along the trail while enjoying beautiful green mountains and Marsyangdi River. I will be explaining you a lot about Nepalese way of living (socio- economic mainly), subsistence agricultue and some natural resources on the way if you are interested.

Today we will reach & see two giant waterfalls of Nepal, over 200 mtrs tall. There are 2 trails today: one along the motor road through which most of the tekkers trek and complain about the roads in this trail (interesting), the second one which is fully natural and very silent. I will take you through the silent way eacaping the crowds, noise and dust. There will be few settlements and farms on the way today. I will be explaining you about some species of flora including some herbs and orchids today. We might encounter some black lizards today. You will feel the change in land topography today.

Today is an easier day comparatively. There is one steep portion for around 40 minutes. There is a natural hot spring in Chame where you can go for a warm bath and stay in the warm pond after reaching hotel. From Chame we will see Lamjung Himal (6983 m, a dominant peak in Annapurna). We will aslo see the close view of Koto Peak and Mt. Annapurna II (7939 m) from the trail. The climate and vegetation today will change to Sub-Alpine from Temperate. I will be explaining you about climates, vegetaions & phyto-geography today if you are interested.

There is one steep uphill for around 40 minutes just after a trek of around 45 mins- 1 hr. The uphill takes us to a beautiful village call Timang, from where we can have an amazing view of Mt Manaslu Range (8163 m, the mountain taller than Annapurna). We will enjoy some hot drinks with a great view of Manaslu on the rooftop restaurant, after a tiring uphill.

Today, the day becomes shorter and easier comparatively. There is one steep uphill for around 40 minutes before lunch. On the way, we will go through a huge Apple farm (at the location called Bhratang), tasting some delicious products from locally produced apples. We will reach alpine zone today. Upper Pisang has a super beautiful and close view of Mt. Annapurna II (7939 m) which can be seen from its base to the top.

Today is even a shorter day. We will reach our overnight station, for lunch (between 1:00 & 2:00 pm). Most of the trekkers reach Manang today making a long day. But we will stay in a beautiful lodge at Ngawal. Ngawal is flat and wide with very beautiful view of valley, Annapurna II, Annapurna III (7555 m) and many other peaks of Mt. Chulu Range. We can enjoy the rest of the day in the beautiful hotel with your private works.

Instead of acclimatizing at crowded Manang, I find it far more better to acclimatize at Ngawal. Probably, I am only the guide doing this and this idea has become really successful (also highly recommended by my previous clients) to avoid the so-called crowd in Annapurna Circuit in Peak season like Oct-Nov. We will climb up a small mountain above Ngawal village for Acclimatization. With the verticle climb of around 500 mtrs from Ngawal, we can have the fantastic view comparative to the Acclimatization made from Manang with verticle climb of around 1000 mtrs. Also there will be very less people in our trail. The mountain we hike is an open grassland for mountain goats called Blue Sheeps. We will return back for lunch at Ngawal after the hike. Then we will have the overnight in same guest house.

We don’t have pre-planned overnight at Manang. If you want to stay there, no problem. But few more days upto Muktinath will be crowd if you stay at Manang. Today we will trek through Braga Village and Manang. We will visit 400 yrs old Braga Monastery on your interest and have lunch at Manang. We won’t find almost any trekkers today on the way although Oct. is a peak seson for this trek. Then we will trek nearly 2 hours from Manang to reach Gunsang. From my feelings, Gunsang has the most beautiful view of Mountains in the whole circuit. Gunsang is offlocation for most of the trekkers for overnight. It will be very quiet tonight.

Today we will reach the base of Thorong-la (pass) called as Thorong Phedi at around 3:00 pm. We will end of alpine climate, alpine vegetation and reach the tundra climatic zone today. I will explain about climates and vegetations during the trek. Trekking trail is easy today. We will trek slowly. There won’t be other trekkers in the trial to make crowd. I can’t guarentee about private rooms for today since the area has limited rooms, no phone signals to make pre bookings and most of the trekkers stay here for overnight. However there won’t be problems for dormitories.

Today is the challanging day for making the World’s Highest Mountain Pass (Thorong-la) out of the recognised trekking trails. I have mentioned the trekking level moderate, averaging all the day treks and from the views of many trekkers who have done it. Today we have to start the trek before around 2 hrs of sunrise time after having early breakfast. It will take 4 hours to reach the top for normal trekkers and 4 hours getting down to Muktinath with lunch break. After the pass we will end Manang district and enter Mustang district which has totally different nature and views that we had seen till the pass. We will have a beautiful hotel in Muktinath with good shower facilities and fire place.

Today we will trek to Kagbeni from Muktinath after breakfast. We will reach Kagbeni at around 12:00 pm. Its all the way downhill to Kagbeni. Muktinath and Kagbeni are the places of high religious values for Hindus and Buddhists. They are highly touristy for both religious & non religious visitors and more civilized than all the previous places we had stayed during this trek. These areas get big winds after the mid day. Hence its difficult to trek beyond 12:00 pm. IMPORTANT: If you have less time, we can finish our trek at Muktinath and drive to Pokhara without staying at Kagbeni. If any body from the group wants to separate from Muktinath, its also possible. Our trek ends at Marpha, 1 more overnight after Kagbeni and then 1 day drive to Pokhara.

Today is the last day of our trek. The trail is plain. We will trek along Kaligandaki River Valley to reach beautiful village Marpha at around 3:00 pm through Jomsom town (with airport). Marpha has beautiful apple farms and monastery. The housing structures in village are unique and attractive.

Today is the last day of trip. We will drive from Marpha to Pokhara today along Kaligandaki River valley. If I get a big enough group, I will get a reserved jeep else we will use public transports. It takes around 11 hours to drive to Pokhara.