Annapurna Circuit trek: route, itinerary, difficulty and crossing the Thorong La

The Annapurna Circuit is a loop trek in the Gandaki Province of central Nepal, roughly six to eight hours west of Kathmandu by road. The route encircles the Annapurna massif, home to Annapurna I (8,091 m, the world's tenth highest peak), Annapurna II, III and IV, as well as Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak and the iconic fishtail silhouette of Machapuchare. To the west, the route crosses into the rain shadow of the Himalayas, where the landscape shifts abruptly from dense rhododendron and pine forest to a windswept, ochre-coloured plateau that feels closer to Tibet than to the green foothills you started in.

The trek is traditionally walked anti-clockwise, ascending gradually through the Marsyangdi valley on the eastern side and crossing the Thorong La from east to west. This direction keeps your daily altitude gain manageable and gives your body more time to adapt before the high pass. The Bookatrekking app carries the full route description with waypoints, elevation profiles and the current weather reading pulled from the coordinates of each hut, which is far more useful than a general forecast for the region.

The Annapurna Circuit route today

The Annapurna Circuit route has changed significantly over the past two decades. A road now runs up the Marsyangdi valley from Besisahar all the way to Manang, which means the lowest sections of the original walking trail overlap with jeep tracks. Rather than starting in Besisahar and walking a road for the first day, we begin our treks at Bhulbhule, where the walking path diverges clearly from the vehicle route and the scenery is immediately engaging: suspension bridges, waterfalls, stone villages and terraced fields stacked against cliff faces.

On the western side, a road now links Jomsom to Pokhara, and most operators cover the Jomsom to Tatopani section by vehicle rather than walking the road. From Tatopani the original trail continues in excellent condition to Ghorepani and Poon Hill, so the final days of the circuit retain their classic character. The essential experience, the high-altitude valley walk, the Thorong La crossing and the cultural villages from Chame to Manang, remains entirely on foot and unchanged in its drama. The Annapurna Circuit start, when you step off the vehicle at Bhulbhule and take your first steps on a stone path above the Marsyangdi, still feels like the beginning of a genuine adventure.

Our Annapurna Circuit trek options

Bookatrekking offers three bookable routes on the Annapurna Circuit, covering different durations and preferences. The current price for each option sits on the individual product page; we do not list prices here because availability and departure dates affect what you pay.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek Accelerated in 15 days is our full circuit, covering 169.4 km from Bhulbhule to Nayapul via the Thorong La, with the Poon Hill sunrise on day 14. It includes a rest day in Manang and all teahouse accommodation. This is the version for trekkers who want the complete Annapurna Circuit experience from the lower Marsyangdi valley to the Kali Gandaki.

For trekkers with less time, the Annapurna Circuit Short in 10 days covers 84.6 km and drives past the lower road-affected valley section to begin walking from Chame. The itinerary still includes the full high-altitude experience: Manang, the acclimatisation day, Yak Kharka, Thorung Phedi and the Thorong La crossing, before flying from Jomsom to Pokhara. The longest day is 20.0 km.

If you prefer the classic sanctuary approach rather than the high pass, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek Classic in 12 days takes you deep into the Annapurna Sanctuary to the amphitheatre at 4,130 m, surrounded by seven peaks above 7,000 m. It is a different experience but shares the same teahouse format and guided structure.

Here is what one of our trekkers said after completing the circuit:

"We just completed the 12-day Annapurna circuit. Great experience with the Alpine Ramble team! The itinerary was accurate, both guide and porter were good and very supportive, the food was fine, guesthouses provided good services and the experience was awesome. Additionally, the Director was on top of things, to make sure that nothing was missing for our hiking."

— Carlos, 5 stars on Trustpilot, April 2023

All three packages include your licensed guide, accommodation in teahouses throughout the trek, all required permits and the Bookatrekking app with route description and per-hut weather data. Visit the product page for the current departure dates and pricing.

The Annapurna Circuit trek sits in the moderate-to-challenging category. There is no technical climbing, no scrambling and no glacier travel. The paths are well-maintained and clearly signed, and you sleep in a teahouse every night, which removes the physical burden of carrying a tent and cooking gear. What makes the trek genuinely demanding is the combination of three factors: altitude, distance and accumulated fatigue over multiple days.

The altitude is the biggest variable. At Manang you are already above 3,500 m, and the Thorong La tops out at 5,416 m, higher than any summit in the European Alps including Mont Blanc. At that elevation the air holds roughly half the oxygen available at sea level. The itinerary builds in a rest day in Manang and short stages before the pass precisely because altitude cannot be outrun by fitness. Even very fit trekkers with no previous high-altitude experience can be slowed significantly by acute mountain sickness (AMS) if they ascend too fast. Your guide monitors your condition throughout, uses a blood oxygen metre and knows when to slow the pace.

The distances are also real. Our 15-day itinerary covers 169.4 km, with the longest day at 21.5 km. After ten or eleven consecutive days on the trail, your legs feel the accumulation even on shorter stages. Good hiking boots, trekking poles and a packing list that keeps your pack weight below ten kilogrammes make a noticeable difference.

Is the Annapurna Circuit beginner friendly? The honest answer is: yes, for motivated beginners who prepare adequately. Because the path requires no technical skills and teahouses provide meals and beds, the logistical barriers that stop beginners on other treks do not apply here. What a beginner does need is a base level of cardiovascular fitness and at least eight weeks of regular hill walking before departure. We would not recommend it as a first-ever hiking experience, but for anyone who walks regularly and is prepared for altitude, the circuit is very achievable.

Can I trek the Annapurna Circuit in 7 days? Seven days is not enough time to complete the full circuit safely. The itinerary needs a minimum of ten days, as in our Annapurna Circuit Short in 10 days, which covers the upper section from Chame to Jomsom and still includes the Thorong La crossing. Attempting the full loop in seven days would force daily altitude gains that significantly increase the risk of serious AMS, and no responsible guide would lead the route at that pace.

Which is harder, Annapurna Circuit or Kilimanjaro? Both reach comparable maximum altitudes (Kilimanjaro's summit is 5,895 m, the Thorong La is 5,416 m), but they are hard in different ways. Kilimanjaro is a single summit push spread over five to eight days with no teahouse infrastructure. The Annapurna Circuit is a multi-week endurance trek with a complex itinerary, significant daily distances and far more altitude variation day to day. Most trekkers who have done both describe the Annapurna Circuit as the harder overall undertaking because of its duration and cumulative fatigue, while Kilimanjaro's summit night is more acutely intense.

How many people have died on the Annapurna Circuit? Serious accidents and fatalities on the Annapurna Circuit do occur, primarily from acute mountain sickness, HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Oedema) and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema) in trekkers who ignored early symptoms or ascended too fast. Avalanche incidents on and near the Thorong La have also caused deaths in severe weather years. The risks are real but manageable with proper acclimatisation, a licensed guide who recognises AMS symptoms early, and the willingness to descend if your body does not adapt. Our guides carry pulse oximetres and are trained in altitude illness protocols.

The Annapurna region has four distinct seasons and you can, in principle, trek year-round, but the experience and safety level differ considerably between them.

Spring (March to May) is high season and the most popular window for the Annapurna Circuit. Temperatures at valley level are warm and pleasant, precipitation is low and the rhododendrons are in full bloom through the lower forests. The Thorong La is generally clear of heavy snow by late March and conditions on the pass are reliable through May. The trail is busy, which means teahouse availability is tighter and the Thorong La sees significant foot traffic, particularly in mid-October and late April. Booking several months in advance is advisable for spring departures.

Autumn (September to November) is equally excellent and often preferred by experienced trekkers for one reason: air clarity. The monsoon washes the atmosphere clean, so mountain views in October and November are sharper and more consistent than in spring, when a slight haze often sits over the lower valleys. Temperatures follow a similar pattern to spring. November brings colder nights at high altitude and the Thorong La sees its first snow later in the month, so October is generally the safest autumn month for the pass crossing.

Monsoon (June to August) brings heavy rainfall, leeches on the lower trails, a significantly higher risk of landslides and near-constant cloud cover that obscures the mountains. Some sections of the trail become slippery and unstable. It is not impossible to trek in monsoon but it is the least rewarding time and we do not recommend it for first-time visitors.

Winter (December to February) is serious. Night temperatures above 4,000 m drop well below freezing and the Thorong La can be closed entirely due to snow accumulation. Our local partners track conditions on the pass daily in winter and will adjust or cancel a crossing if the risk is too high. For trekkers who do travel in winter, the trail is almost empty and the mountain views on clear days are extraordinary. It requires a higher tolerance for cold and uncertainty about the pass, but it is a genuinely different and memorable experience. Our team runs the circuit in winter with experienced guides who have crossed the Thorong La in all conditions.

For a broader overview of trekking conditions across Nepal by month, see our complete guide to trekking in Nepal. The Bookatrekking app shows the forecast at the coordinates of each hut, which is significantly more accurate than a regional weather widget when you are deciding whether to attempt the Thorong La on a given morning.

The rhythm of the Annapurna Circuit itinerary follows a logical pattern: a gradual climb through the Marsyangdi valley over the first week, a rest day in Manang for acclimatisation, the Thorong La crossing on the highest day, then a long descent west through Muktinath and Jomsom before the final ascent to Ghorepani and Poon Hill. The itinerary is designed so that your altitude gain is never rushed, giving your body time to adjust before the pass.

Annapurna Circuit trekking day by day

The Annapurna Circuit trekking experience is built around our 15-day itinerary, which covers 169.4 km in total with the longest walking day at 21.5 km. Here is how the stages unfold:

Days 1–2 — Drive from Kathmandu to Bhulbhule, then trek to Chamje (21.5 km, +1,000 m). This is the longest day of the circuit and sets the tone: a full day on the trail crossing the Marsyangdi valley on suspension bridges and climbing through forested gorges.

Days 3–6 — A four-day ascent through Bagarchhap (14.3 km, +980 m), Chame (13.0 km, +780 m) and Pisang (14.0 km, +800 m) to Manang (20.0 km, +710 m). The landscape transforms daily: pine and rhododendron give way to open valleys and the first Tibetan-influenced villages appear around Chame. By the time you reach Pisang the valley has opened into a wide, dry bowl with the Annapurna peaks dominating the horizon.

Day 7 — Rest and acclimatisation day in Manang (3,519 m). The Himalayan Rescue Association maintains a medical post in the village, and the team gives an informative talk on altitude sickness each evening. Optional hikes above the village to around 4,000 m help your body adapt.

Days 8–9 — Short stages to Yak Kharka (9.6 km, +550 m) and Thorung Phedi (7.0 km, +520 m). These are deliberately short to let you rest and conserve energy before the pass.

Day 10 — The Thorong La crossing: Thorung Phedi to Muktinath via the pass (15.0 km, +910 m). Departing before dawn, you climb steeply for four to five hours to reach the prayer flags and cairns at 5,416 m, then descend 1,600 vertical metres to the pilgrimage town of Muktinath.

Day 11 — Trek to Jomsom (19.0 km, +110 m) following the Kali Gandaki, one of the deepest gorges on Earth.

Day 12 — Drive from Jomsom to Tatopani, where natural hot springs allow your muscles to recover before the final walking days.

Days 13–14 — Trek to Ghorepani (15.0 km, +1,700 m, the steepest ascent day of the second half) and then the classic Poon Hill sunrise followed by the descent to Nayapul (21.0 km, +480 m).

Day 15 — Drive from Pokhara back to Kathmandu.

All distances and elevation figures above come directly from our route data. Do not rely on competitor itineraries for stage distances; they vary considerably depending on start point and vehicle sections.

The Thorung La is no doubt the crux of the trek. Here, the Annapurna Circuit elevation reaches its absolute max at 5416 meters above sea level. It is an old trading route and connects with Tibet. The altitude of this mountain pass is higher than any mountain in the European Alps including Mont Blanc. In height it is comparable to a big mountain like Mount Elbrus in the Russian Caucasus. Do you need to acclimatize to avoid altitude sickness? For sure! Do you need special skills to cross the Thorung La? The answer is no. You just need to be fit!

It is a bit like scaling a mountain, but you are walking up rather than climbing. The day starts very early and you basically hit the trail before sunrise. The guides are doing the pacing to make sure you don’t head up too quickly. The path itself is not that steep, but you will feel the thin air at this altitude. From around 5000 meters we were walking on snow, with a good track carved out by the people who had gone before us. The snow really adds to the adventurous feeling of scaling a mountain pass this high. Looking back you can see all the big peaks of the Annapurnas as if you are at the same level with them and this is perhaps the most magical moment on the entire trek.

Reaching the Thorung La pass is an incredible, rewarding experience as it isn't easy. And from the top you still have a whopping 1600 vertical meters of descent to go to the village of Muktinath. Despite that, we believe that everybody with willpower, stamina and a sense of adventure can do it.

Nepal's trekking regulations require all trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit to carry two permits: the TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System) and the ACAP permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Project). These are checked at multiple control points along the route. Without them you will be turned back. Bookatrekking arranges both permits on your behalf as part of the package: you do not need to queue at the Nepal Tourism Board office yourself. For the current permit fee rates, check the ACAP official website, as fees are revised periodically and we do not list permit costs that may have changed since this page was written.

Do you need a guided trek on the Annapurna Circuit?

A licensed guide is not legally mandatory for the Annapurna Circuit in the same way as it is for some restricted areas of Nepal, but trekking the circuit without one significantly increases your risk and reduces your experience. The practical case for an Annapurna Circuit guided trek comes down to five things.

First, safety. A qualified guide monitors your oxygen saturation daily, paces the group correctly for altitude gain and makes the call to descend if symptoms of AMS appear. Guides who know the Thorong La have seen dozens of trekkers turn back and dozens summit safely; that experience is genuinely valuable at 5,000 m.

Second, logistics. Guides confirm teahouse bookings, navigate the few trail junctions where the path is ambiguous and handle communication with local families in Nepali and Gurung, which improves your experience in villages considerably.

Third, cultural access. A good local guide explains the Buddhist and Hindu traditions you encounter, from the prayer flags on the Thorong La to the Muktinath temple, which is sacred to both faiths simultaneously. That context transforms a walk past a monastery into a genuine cultural encounter.

Fourth, emergencies. If a member of your group needs helicopter evacuation, your guide coordinates with the rescue services and with your insurance provider. Solo trekkers in the same situation face a much more stressful process.

Fifth, the Annapurna Circuit guide you trek with is a licensed professional, typically with a government-issued certificate. At Bookatrekking, our local partner in Nepal vets all guides for certification, altitude experience and English language ability. You are not matched with an agency's least-available staff member; you trek with someone who knows this specific route.

Tea houses are small hotels known as Bhatti. These are small hotels and you can expect a certain level of comfort. However, comfort in this high, remote region is relative. Tea houses are comfortable to the extent that you have a roof above your head and that you can enjoy warm, home-cooked meals. They are run by local families who have opened their houses to trekkers passing by.

Trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal has become very popular in recent years, and more and more tea houses have popped up along Nepal’s trekking routes. The more popular your route, the better the quality of your tea house is. Hence, the tea houses on the Annapurna Circuit Trek are good value for money. You can expect flush toilets, hot showers, and in some cases even wireless internet. The use of these amenities is usually at an additional charge.