Annapurna Circuit Trekking – 12 Days has been considered one of the best treks in Nepal for a long time because of its scenery and cultural diversity. The Annapurna round short trek itinerary has also been considered one of the classic routes in Nepal. It goes after the Marsyangdi Valley north of the core Himalayan ranges. It crosses a 5416m pass to descend into the impressive desert-like Tibetan-Style landscape of the upper Kali Gandaki Valley. Since it was unlocked to foreign trekkers in 1977, trekking around the Annapurna region has been the most famous in Nepal. It goes through scenic villages home to Gurungs, Thakalis, and Manages, presenting stunning views of the several Annapuran peaks above 7000m.
Annapurna Circuit Trek 12 Days trail in the Manang side has been affected slightly, but the trek in Jomsom through the Kali-Gandaki valley on the west side is incised by dusty roads piled by motorbike traffic and jeeps. So trekkers now finish their walk in Jomsom, and some use flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. The starting; you will be a witness of Himchuli to the northeast and Ngadi Chuli.
Annapurna Circuit Trek 12 Days frequently trekked counter-clockwise because the walk to the Thorung-La Pass (5416m) from the western side is too strenuous and has too much elevation gain to think about in one day. Sometimes, the weather could challenge the trekkers as Thorungla – Pass is often closed from December to mid-March, and stormy weather can change anytime. It would help if you were appropriately acclimatized before crossing the passes above 5000 meters. The highlights of this trek are visiting places such as Manang, Muktinath, and Jomsom. Adding a couple of days to your itinerary to explore some of these trails would be good. If you plan to trek to the base camp of the Annapurna, the Annapurna Base Camp/Sanctuary trek could be the best for you. The classic ABC itinerary is for 14 days; if you have a short holiday, it can be done within a week without the Ghorepani Poonhill trek.
Our representative from the Himalayan Windows Team will meet you at the Kathmandu International airport and transfer you to the hotel. You will meet your trekking guide at the hotel or at our office to have a brief discussion about the Annapurna Circuit Trek (12 Days) and we will take you for some last-hour shopping or any equipment needed for the trek and we will process for the trekking permit. If you are arriving late at night, we will discuss the trek and prepare the permit next day.
Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu
You will drive to Chame via private or tourist bus to Beshi Shahar via Prithivi Highway. You will reach to Beshi Shahar in about 6 hours drive and then we will take you to another local transport (Jeep) for Chame which takes about four hours. Our drive passes through the village of Sange, Bhulbhule, Nagdi, Chamche, Tal, Tima, Koto and etc with the breathtaking view of Mount Annapurna and Manaslu. You will have the most beautiful views of Annapurna II, Lamjung Himal, Manaslu. You will reach Chame which is the headquarters of Manag district.
Overnight at a tea house in Chame
There is a long, pleasant and mostly level walk in the forest. The pine-scented trail rounds a bend to reveal the first views of dramatic Paungda Danda rock face, a large curve slab of rock. The trail follows through the river valley with an excellent view along the way of Annapurna II and Pisang Peak at Pisang. Pisang recognizes the beginning of the region’s upper portion of the Manang District.
Overnight at the tea house in Pisang
The trail is about 20 KM and takes about 6-7 hours. From upper Pisang, the high trail enters pine grooves to reveal views of the small turquoise lake. The path does a dogleg through the charming village, passing with views of painted Mandalas and Dragon mouth spouts and hiking through the fields of grazing Yak and the wide variety of crops. This large Tibetan settlement provides excellent views of Annapurna II, III and IV, Tarkekang, Gangapurna.
Overnight at the tea house in Manang
This day is your second night in Manag to acclimatize to the higher elevation as you will proceed towards the Thgorong La. You can observe the spectacular views of the Himalaya nearby taking some advice from Himalayan Rescue Association. There are excellent views of the milky blue glacier lake at the foot of dramatic Gangapurna icefall and traditional stone buildings.
Overnight at the tea house in Manang
The trail continues to climb out of the Marsyangdi Valley. The trail follows this valley to the north, passing a Goths as it steadily gains elevation. The total walking distance is 10 KM and takes about four to five hours to reach Chure Letdar.
Overnight at the tea house in Churi Letdar
The trail from Letdar climbs along the east bank of the Jarkang Khola, then descends and crosses the stream on a wooden bridge at 4310m. Blue sheep and snow-capped leopard sometimes magically appear. The crow-like bird choughs, large lammergeyers, and Himalayan griffons circles you overhead.
Overnight at the tea house in Phedi
The trail becomes steep immediately after leaving Thorung Phedi, switchbacking up moraines and following rocky ridges as it ascends to the Thorung La Pass (5416m). You will see the long great Barrier ridge, Tibet like region of Manang as well as the Annapurnas, Gangapurna, and the heavily glaciated peak of Khatung Khang (6484m). The trail descends, crossing meadows steeply down to Muktinath. One of the most sacred sites for both Hindus and Buddhists.
Overnight at guest house Muktinath
After visiting Temple and religious shrines of Muktinath, you will head down the steep, barren hillside to Kagbeni. Kagbeni still feels like a medieval village, with its tightly packed mud houses and dark tunnels. Situated at an auspicious river confluence, it is also the gateway to Upper Mustang. We will pass some ancient caves and view the impressive white mountains. We transit at the significant Kagbedi town then we will reach to Jomsom, the district headquarter of Mustang.
Overnight at guest house Jomsom
Early morning, you will fly to Pokhara, it is a very short flight for about 15 minutes and we will take you to the hotel. You will have a free day today to relax and stroll around Lakeside in Pokhara.
We keep one free day in Pokhara because the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara is unpredictable and most of the flights have to be operated in the morning time. If the flight gets canceled due to weather; another alternative would be the drive to Pokhara. It takes 6-7 hours to reach Pokhara from Jomsom.
In order to return to Kathmandu; you can either take 25 minutes flight or take a tourist bus drive to Kathmandu which takes about six to seven hours. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu
If you have a short time; you may take option taking a flight back to Kathmandu; so that you can explore the Kathmandu Temples and some Durbar Squares.
Now, your 12 day Annapurna Circuit Trek ends here. Our team will transfer you to the international airport for your final flight back home with sweet Himalayan memories.
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Payment: A deposit of 30% of the total tour cost is required to book the tour with Himalayan Windows (HW). The remaining balance is to be paid three days prior to the departure date. Payment can be made via Wire Transfer or Credit Card. All credit card payments are securely processed and a bank fee applies.
Cancellation: For cancellations more than 30 days before the Tour Start Date, there will be no cancellation fee. If the cancellation happens within 29-4 days prior to the Tour Start Date, a charge of 30% of the total invoice amount will be applied. Cancellations occurring within 3 days or less of the start date or in the case of a no-show, 100% of the total invoice amount will be charged. Learn more about Terms and Conditions.
Accommodation: Accommodation is typically provided in twin rooms in cities, though a single supplement can be requested for an additional fee. During peak season, it can be difficult to find single or twin rooms in the mountains, so our lodges usually offer dormitory-style accommodation. Our priority is always to provide clean and safe rooms for our guests.
Meals: Our packages in Bhutan include full board meals, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. For treks, all meals are provided, but you will need to pay extra for drinking water and snacks.
Nepal Visa: If you are planning a trip to Nepal, you must have a valid passport and Nepal Visa. Depending on your country of origin, you may need to obtain a Nepal Tourist Visa before your arrival. To be eligible, your passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from your Tour Start Date. If you are planning on traveling to multiple countries on your trip, make sure to get a multi-entries Nepal Visa.
Bhutan Visa Clearance: All visitors to Bhutan must have a valid Bhutan Visa Clearance before their trip. To obtain it, you must submit a color-scanned copy of your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months from the start date of your tour. Your tour operator will send you a Visa Clearance prior to your departure, which you must present at the Druk Air/Bhutan Airlines counter during check-in. Once you arrive at Paro Airport, your passport will be stamped with the original visa.
Tibet Group Visa (TGV): All travelers from any nation intending to go to Tibet from Nepal must obtain a Tibet Group Visa (TGV) in Kathmandu with the help of a tour operator. To ensure the successful application of the TGV, you should plan to arrive in Kathmandu 3-4 working days before your travel date. If you are coming from China, you will not require a TGV; instead, you will need a Chinese Visa and Permit. To find out more about the process of entering Tibet, please look into the Tibet entry procedure.
Nepal & Bhutan: Visiting Nepal and Bhutan at the same time is ideal as they share a similar climate. From high mountains to low land sub-tropical plains and jungles, the two countries have similar weather. The best time to visit is from March to April (spring) and October to December (autumn and early winter). During these months, the air is clean and fresh with sunny skies. January and February are colder months, while June, July, and August (summer) are typically monsoon seasons.
Tibet: It is best to visit Tibet between April and October when the weather is warm and the skies are clear. However, from November to March, it is still possible to explore certain areas like Namtso, Everest Base Camp, and Mount Kailash, as long as the roads are not blocked by snow. Temperatures during this time may be quite cold.
HimalayanWindows strongly recommends that anyone planning to travel in the Himalayas purchase Travel Insurance. This policy will provide coverage in the case of medical emergencies, evacuation, theft, loss of belongings, and last-minute tour/ticket cancellations. Having this protection in place will help ensure that your trip is safe and enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Nepal Tour and Trekking Do I Need A Visa To Enter Nepal? Yes, all foreigners, Except Indians, need a Nepalese visa to enter Nepal. Most nationals can get an on-arrival visa at the TIA airport. However, it is advised to consult with your nearby Embassy or Consulate of Nepal. What do I need to get my visa? You need to have a valid passport, some… Read More »
