The Annapurna Circuit is Nepal’s original big trek — a 15-21 day loop that crosses the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m, circumnavigates the entire Annapurna massif, and moves through six genuinely distinct ecological and cultural zones. For decades it was considered the single best trek in the Himalaya. Road construction in the 2000s cut chunks out of the original walking route, and some of the lower sections are now rideable by jeep if you prefer. But the core of the trek — Manang, Thorong La, Muktinath, and the upper Kali Gandaki valley — remains one of the most rewarding multi-week trekking experiences available anywhere.
In This Article
This guide covers the current 2026 route (what’s still walkable, what’s now roaded), standard 15-day itinerary, costs, and trade-offs.
The basics
- Duration: 15-21 days standard, 12-14 days with jeep sections
- Start: Besisahar or Chame (road end, 4-5 hours drive from Kathmandu/Pokhara)
- End: Jomsom or Pokhara
- Highest point: Thorong La pass (5,416 m)
- Distance: 160-230 km depending on starting point and jeep sections used
- Grade: strenuous. The pass day is long and hard; altitude is significant
- Best seasons: October-November, March-May
- Cost: USD $1,200-$2,800 per person
The current standard 15-day itinerary
The “purist” 21-day circuit walks every step from Besisahar to Pokhara. The “modern” 15-day version takes a jeep to Chame or Dharapani to skip the lower roaded section, and sometimes flies from Jomsom to Pokhara to skip the lower Kali Gandaki. This is the current mainstream approach:
| Day | Route | Altitude |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathmandu/Pokhara → Chame (jeep) | 2,650 m |
| 2 | Chame → Upper Pisang | 3,300 m |
| 3 | Upper Pisang → Ngawal → Manang | 3,540 m |
| 4 | Manang acclimatisation day (Ice Lake side trip) | 3,540 m sleep / 4,600 m day hike |
| 5 | Manang → Yak Kharka | 4,020 m |
| 6 | Yak Kharka → Thorong Phedi | 4,450 m |
| 7 | Thorong Phedi → High Camp | 4,880 m |
| 8 | Thorong La pass → Muktinath | 5,416 m → 3,800 m |
| 9 | Muktinath → Kagbeni | 2,810 m |
| 10 | Kagbeni → Jomsom → Pokhara (flight) | — |
This 10-day version keeps the essential circuit experience (Manang, the pass, Muktinath, Kagbeni) while cutting the lower sections that are now jeep roads on both sides. Add 3-5 days if you want to walk out instead of flying from Jomsom. Add 2-3 days for side trips like Tilicho Lake (highest lake in the world at 4,919 m, epic) or Nar Phu (restricted-area valley off Pisang).
Thorong La — the make-or-break day
The crossing of Thorong La at 5,416 m is the defining moment of the circuit. 4 AM start from High Camp, 4-5 hours of steady climbing to the pass in bitter cold, an hour at the summit for the view of Dhaulagiri across the valley, then a brutal 1,600 m descent to Muktinath on the other side. Total walking day: 10-12 hours.
The pass is genuinely dangerous in the wrong weather. October 2014 saw a freak snowstorm kill 43 trekkers and guides. Since then, CAAN and TAAN have implemented stricter weather-pass restrictions — if conditions are marginal, your guide will turn you around. Listen to them.
Altitude profile: Thorong Phedi (4,450 m) → High Camp (4,880 m) → Thorong La (5,416 m) → Muktinath (3,800 m) all within 36 hours. This is why the Manang acclimatisation is non-negotiable. Don’t skip day 4.
Muktinath and the Kali Gandaki descent
Muktinath (3,800 m) is a pilgrimage town where the Hindu and Buddhist faiths share the same temple complex — one of the few such places in South Asia. Pilgrims walk clockwise around 108 water spouts and bathe in the icy flow. Worth half a day.
From Muktinath the circuit drops into the upper Kali Gandaki valley — the deepest gorge on earth, running between Annapurna (8,091 m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167 m). Kagbeni is the classic overnight stop: a Thakali village with whitewashed stone houses, apple orchards, and the feel of Tibet more than Nepal. Most trekkers then fly Jomsom-Pokhara to finish; purists walk down through Marpha, Tukuche, and Tatopani to end at Beni.
Route variants and side trips
- Tilicho Lake side trip: 3 extra days from Manang. The highest lake of its size in the world (4,919 m), turquoise water ringed by 7,000 m peaks. Worth it if you have the time.
- Nar Phu Valley: restricted-area extension ($90 permit for first week) into a traditional Tibetan-Buddhist valley. 5-7 extra days. Gets wilder than the main circuit.
- Upper Mustang combo: finish the circuit at Jomsom, then continue north on a separate Upper Mustang permit ($500 per 10-day). Total 20-25 days.
- Mesocanta La variant: high-altitude alternative to Thorong La via Tilicho and the Mesocanta pass at 5,120 m. Less crowded, requires longer itinerary.
Permits, costs, and logistics
Same as ABC — ACAP (NPR 3,000) + TIMS (NPR 2,000). Nar Phu and Upper Mustang require separate restricted-area permits. Mandatory licensed guide since April 2023.
Costs:
- Budget Nepali agency: $1,200-$1,800 (10-day version)
- Mid-range: $1,800-$2,500
- International operator: $2,800-$4,500
Getting to Chame: private jeep from Kathmandu (8-9 hours) or Pokhara (5-6 hours), $100-180 for the vehicle. Public bus to Besisahar + local jeep to Chame is cheaper but takes a full day.
When to go
The circuit has a tighter weather window than the shorter Annapurna-region treks because of Thorong La. October-early November and late April-May are the reliable windows. Early October risks post-monsoon instability (the 2014 incident was in October). Mid-October through mid-November is the sweet spot. December-February the pass is snowed in unpredictably. June-September is monsoon and the pass is off-limits.
For the broader context on Annapurna-region trekking, permits, and the current 2023 guide rule, see our full trekking guide. For the flights in and out, see the airlines guide. For Pokhara (your before-or-after base), see the Pokhara guide.
Is it still worth doing?
Despite road encroachment, yes. The pass day, the Manang cultural zone, Muktinath, and the Kali Gandaki are all unchanged and unmatched. The modern 10-day jeep-assisted version delivers the core experience in the time most visitors have. Only purists need the 21-day version, and they know who they are.
The Circuit is still the right trek for people who want the long-trek experience, varied scenery across multiple ecological zones, a genuinely challenging pass day, and a multi-cultural trek (Gurung, Tamang, Manangi, Thakali all represented). If you’ve done ABC or EBC and want something bigger, this is it.
