Day 1
Besisahar to Jagat
6 hrs / 18 km / sleep 1,300 m
Begin the trek along the Marsyangdi River valley. Pass through small villages and cross suspension bridges through terraced farmland.
Annapurna
Annapurna Circuit
The classic Himalayan circuit around the entire Annapurna massif, crossing the legendary Thorong La Pass at 5,416m. One of the world's great long-distance treks.
Strenuous14 days5,416 mMar - May, Oct - Nov
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsOverview
Trek overview
Long-form route context for planning, pacing, and realistic expectations.
Key Highlights & Takeaways
- Thorong La Pass (5,416m)
- Muktinath Temple
- Manang Valley
- Kali Gandaki - deepest gorge in the world
The classic Himalayan circuit around the entire Annapurna massif, crossing the legendary Thorong La Pass at 5,416m. One of the world's great long-distance treks.
This itinerary is synced from TrekGuard mobile app data and includes 14 planned days, 160 km of walking, and 8,500 m of total elevation gain.
Highlights include Thorong La Pass (5,416m), Muktinath Temple, Manang Valley, Kali Gandaki - deepest gorge in the world.
Itinerary
Daily route plan
Day 2
Jagat to Dharapani
6 hrs / 14 km / sleep 1,860 m
Follow the rocky trail along the Marsyangdi River. Pass through Tal - the first village in Manang District - where the scenery dramatically changes.
Day 3
Dharapani to Chame
6 hrs / 15 km / sleep 2,670 m
Ascend through pine and fir forests with views of Annapurna II (7,937m) emerging. Chame is the administrative center of Manang District.
Day 4
Chame to Upper Pisang
5 hrs / 13 km / sleep 3,300 m
Trek through deep forest and past a massive rock face. A dramatic curved wall of rock marks the entrance to the Manang Valley.
Day 5
Upper Pisang to Manang
6 hrs / 16 km / sleep 3,540 m
Take the upper trail through Ghyaru and Ngawal for superior views. Manang is the largest town in the region with bakeries, shops, and the HRA clinic.
Day 6
Manang acclimatization
4 hrs / 6 km / sleep 3,540 m
Essential acclimatization day. Hike to Ice Lake (4,600m) or Gangapurna Lake. Attend the HRA daily altitude sickness briefing.
Day 7
Manang to Yak Kharka
4 hrs / 9 km / sleep 4,110 m
Leave the Manang valley behind and climb across open meadows and yak pastures. The landscape becomes increasingly arid and barren.
Day 8
Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi
3 hrs / 7 km / sleep 4,450 m
Short trek to the base camp for Thorong La. Rest and prepare for the early morning pass crossing tomorrow. Some trekkers push to High Camp (4,925m).
Day 9
Thorong Phedi to Muktinath
8 hrs / 15 km / sleep 3,760 m
The biggest day. Start before dawn to cross Thorong La Pass (5,416m). The climb is steep but the views are extraordinary. Long, knee-punishing descent to Muktinath.
Day 10
Muktinath to Marpha
6 hrs / 20 km / sleep 2,670 m
Descend through Kagbeni and along the Kali Gandaki riverbed - the deepest gorge on Earth between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. Marpha is famous for apple brandy.
Day 11
Marpha to Tatopani
7 hrs / 22 km / sleep 1,190 m
Long descent through Jomsom and down the Kali Gandaki valley. The temperature rises as you drop. Hot springs await at Tatopani.
Day 12
Tatopani to Ghorepani
7 hrs / 13 km / sleep 2,860 m
Steep climb through terraced fields and rhododendron forests to Ghorepani. This is the hardest ascent of the return journey.
Day 13
Ghorepani to Nayapul
7 hrs / 18 km / sleep 1,070 m
Optional pre-dawn hike to Poon Hill (3,210m) for sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges. Then descend via Ulleri to Nayapul. Drive to Pokhara.
Day 14
Pokhara to Kathmandu
0 hrs / 0 km / sleep 1,338 m
Drive or fly from Pokhara back to Kathmandu.
Altitude profile
How high you sleep, night by night
The single biggest safety factor on a high trek is how fast your sleeping altitude rises. Here's the shape of this itinerary.
760 m
Start
4,450 m
Highest sleep
5,416 m
Max altitude
14
Nights
See which days climb too fast and add rest days to build a safer schedule.
Check acclimatization →Map
Interactive route preview
Leaflet route rendering with checkpoints, altitude markers, and GPX geometry where published.
Loading route map...
GPX and KML downloads
Static route references for offline planning.
- Duration
- 14 days
- Altitude
- 5,416 m
- Updated
- 2026
Route files are planning references only. Always follow current trail conditions, local notices, and guide advice.
Packing checklist
Use a mobile-friendly checklist for clothing, electronics, medicine, documents, and trail gear.
Altitude and safety
Prepare before pushing higher.
Climb gradually and take acclimatization seriously.
Check weather, wind, and daylight before long days.
Descend and seek help if altitude symptoms worsen.
Annapurna Circuit FAQ
Straight answers on length, altitude, permits, season and cost for the Annapurna Circuit, generated from the same route data the TrekGuard app uses.
How many days does the Annapurna Circuit take?
The TrekGuard planning itinerary for the Annapurna Circuit runs 14 days and covers 160 km of walking. That includes 1 acclimatization day where you sleep at the same village instead of climbing higher. Treat it as a baseline: weather, flight delays and how you acclimatize can add days, so build slack into your schedule.
How high does the Annapurna Circuit go?
The Annapurna Circuit tops out at 5,416 m. The highest place you sleep on this itinerary is about 4,450 m, which matters more for altitude illness than the daytime high point.
What permits do you need for the Annapurna Circuit?
The Annapurna Circuit normally requires: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), TIMS Card. Permit rules, fees and issuing offices change between seasons - confirm the current requirements with the Nepal Tourism Board or a registered agency before you travel.
When is the best time to trek the Annapurna Circuit?
Mar - May, Oct - Nov is the usual window for the Annapurna Circuit. Outside it you are trading stable weather for either monsoon cloud and leeches or deep winter cold and snow-blocked passes.
How difficult is the Annapurna Circuit?
The Annapurna Circuit is rated strenuous, with 8,500 m of total ascent over 160 km. Walking days are roughly 3-8 hours. Above 4,000 m the limiting factor is usually altitude rather than fitness, so pace and rest days matter more than training volume.
Can you get altitude sickness on the Annapurna Circuit?
Yes. The Annapurna Circuit reaches 5,416 m, well above the 2,500 m mark where acute mountain sickness (AMS) becomes possible for anyone, regardless of fitness or age. Keep sleeping-altitude gains gradual, take the built-in rest days (1 on this itinerary), and descend if headache, nausea or breathlessness get worse rather than better. This is general information, not medical advice - see a travel-medicine clinician before the trip.
Is there a GPX file for the Annapurna Circuit?
Yes - the Annapurna Circuit GPX and KML tracks are free to download from this page and open in TrekGuard, Gaia GPS, Garmin Connect, Organic Maps or Google Earth. The track is a planning reference built from route data, not a surveyed trail: verify junctions on the ground and follow local signage and guides over the line on your screen.
Where does the Annapurna Circuit start and finish?
The Annapurna Circuit starts at Besisahar and finishes at Jomsom, in the Annapurna region.
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Planning aid - not a guide or rescue service. GPX lines, checklists, forecasts, and altitude readouts support your judgment. Trails, weather, permits, and illness can change faster than any app. Download offline map packs before signal ends; live map tiles and fresh weather need network. SMS SOS sharing needs cellular texting - not satellite.
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Download map packs on Wi‑Fi, pull weather while online, then use GPS altitude, planner & safety tools on trail - free on Google Play. Not a guide or rescue service.
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