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Annapurna circuit trekking holiday

country:Nepal
location:Annapurna, Annapurna Circuit
trip type:Very challenging trekking holidays
departures:Selected Saturday departures February - June, September - December
price:From £763 (23 days) excluding flights. Fully inclusive package. Group discount available 4+. Please request for private departure.
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
read 2 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Since it opened to foreign trekkers in 1977, the Annapurna Circuit is renowned as one of the most spectacular and varied walks in the world.

Starting from less than 1,000 meters in lush green valleys, it gives us a chance to explore the Himalayas from bottom to top and from many different angles and perspectives. This three week trek starts right from Besisahar which goes along the Marshyangdi River, with great views of Manaslu and Himal Chuli to the east. This magnificent trek leads you to the fine village, inhabited by a wide diversity of people from different ethnic groups, offering spectacular and majestic views of the white Himalayas.

Continuing to the north of the main Himalayan range to the high and dry Tibetan Plateau, the scenery is equally breathtaking. The highest point of the trek is Thorung La pass at the top of the valley at 5416 meters high. Due to the difficulties of crossing the pass, the circuit is usually walked in a counter clockwise direction. Traveling clockwise the longer ascent and shorter descent from west to east is too much for many people to manage in one day.

As we descend to the west at Muktinath, from pass we continue to the barren Tibetan like village of the Kali Gandaki - the world's deepest gorge, passes between the giant Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains. After you cross the Thorung La pass from Manang to Muktinath the final seven days of the circuit trek are the same as the Jomsom Trek from Pokhara, but in reverse.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:Arrive at Kathmandu airport (1345meters). Overnight at hotel.
Day 2:Kathmandu city tour. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3:Drive to Besisahar (830meters) by bus. 7 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 4:Trek Besisahar to Bahundanda (1310 meters) 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 5:Trek to Chamje (1400meters). 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 6:Trek to Bagarchhap (2160meters). 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 7:Trek to Chame (2630meters). 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 8:Trek to Pisang (3300 meters) 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 9:Trek to Manang (3540 meters). 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 10:Acclimatization day at Manang village. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 11:Trek to Yak Kharka (4000 meters) 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 12:Trek to Thorong Phedi (4450 meters) 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 13:Trek to Muktinath (3800 meters) via Thorung La pass (5416 meters) 8 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 14:Trek to Marpha (2670 meters) via Jomsom (2710 meters). 6 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 15:Trek to Ghasa (2010 meters) 6 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 16:Trek to Tatopani (1190 meters). 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 17:Rest and relaxing day at Tatopani. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 18:Trek to Ghorepani (2810 meters) 6 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 19:Early in the morning hiking up to Poon Hill (3210meters) and trek to Tikhedunga (1570meters) 5 hours. Overnight at Guesthouse.
Day 20:Trek down to Nayapul (1010 meters) and an hour drive to Pokhara. Overnight at hotel.
Day 21:Pokhara City tour. Overnight at hotel.
Day 22:Drive back to Kathmandu (1345meters). Overnight at hotel.
Day 23:Transfer to international airport for your final departure.
travellers' tales
The trekking was absolutely amazing! The views each day were breathtaking and the scenery changed by day - we went from lush green paddy fields to rocky morane and isolation to dessert - it was awesome. (more)
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.
how this holiday makes a difference
Responsible tourism is very much imperative as it becomes a responsibility of each and every individual in the tourism industry as the very sustainability of the industry depends on this significant factor. Before our Annapurna Tour commences our guide will brief group members on the importance of conservation in the environment as part of our responsible tourism efforts. We are fully aware that global warming is no longer a myth. It is alarming and prevalent; therefore this procedure has become a sacred responsibility of our efforts.

The hotel in Kathmandu has notices in the bathrooms about saving water and towel usage. In the teahouses much of the fresh food is grown locally and staff are from the local communities, all contributing to put money into the local village economies.

All our staff are from local communities. Our guides are English speaking and have years of experience as they live locally, displaying a wealth of knowledge in the Annapurna Region with local people and customs. Each guide comes fully equipped and supported by us, having obtained the training in the related tourism sectors including Ministry of Tourism in Nepal, High Altitude First Aid and Environmental issues for Nepal.

We are dedicated to giving something back to the local community the Sambhav Nepal Foundation is a registered Nepalese charity we are associated with. With the foundation our aim is to offer English medium schooling and health services for a remote isolated region of Gorkha.

We understand and appreciate the hard work the guides and porters perform. Therefore we treat and obey the following Guide and Porter Policy to ensure the conditions for our guides and porters are of a humane standard. We work towards eliminating avoidable illness, injury and death.
  • All our guides and porters receive medical care when ill or injured.
  • We provide basic accommodation for our guides and porters or tent with sleeping gear, and they are provided food and warm drinks.
  • We have insurance policies for each of our employees.
  • We provide appropriate clothing for each season and altitude, ensuring protection from cold, rain and snow. This means windproof jackets, trousers, fleece jacket, long johns, suitable footwear, socks, hat, gloves and sunglasses.
  • We never overload our porters for us it’s not all about making money we strive on being able to employ local people; we respect and treat each and every one of our employees with the up most respect.
  • Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

    We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

    'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

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