Annapurna Circuit Trek Kathmandu: 12-Day Mountain Loop

The Annapurna Circuit: 12 Days Crossing Nepal's High Pass

You trek eleven days across the Annapurna Circuit, starting from Kathmandu and crossing Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters before descending to Pokhara. All permits, accommodation, meals, a guide, and transport between towns are included. You walk, and everything else is arranged. The trek takes moderate fitness and acclimatization time, but the fixed itinerary and included logistics mean you're not managing logistics while managing altitude.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to hotel

• Arrive in Kathmandu
• Transfer to hotel

Day 2: Drive to Dharapani via Beshishar

• Drive to Dharapani

Day 3: Trek to Chame

• Trek to Chame

Day 4: Trek to Upper Pisang

• Trek to Upper Pisang

Day 5: Trek to Manang via upper trail

• Trek to Manang

Day 6: Acclimatization day in Manang

• Rest and acclimatize

Day 7: Trek to Yak Kharka

• Trek to Yak Kharka

Day 8: Trek to Thorong Basecamp or Phedi

• Trek to Thorong Basecamp or Phedi

Day 9: Trek to Muktinath via Thorong La Pass

• Trek over Thorong La Pass
• Arrive at Muktinath

Day 10: Trek to Marpha via Jomsom

• Trek to Marpha via Jomsom

Day 11: Drive to Tatopani

• Drive to Tatopani by bus or jeep

Day 12: Drive to Pokhara and trip ends

• Drive to Pokhara
• End of trip

The experience

The trek doesn't start the way you'd expect. You arrive in Kathmandu, get picked up from the airport, and instead of heading straight into the mountains, you spend a night in a 3-star hotel while your guide sorts permits and paperwork. It feels like a pause before the real thing begins, which it is. The next morning, you're in a shared jeep for seven to eight hours heading toward Dharapani, climbing from the valley floor to 2,000 meters. The road is rough in places. Your legs aren't tired yet, but you're already thinking about what comes next.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek itself unfolds over eleven days of walking, each one building on the last. You trek from Dharapani through Chame, Upper Pisang, and Manang: each stop a village where you sleep in a teahouse and eat meals cooked by locals who've fed trekkers for decades. The rhythm is steady: four to eight hours of walking each day, with one acclimatization day built in at Manang so your body adjusts to the altitude. Then comes the push to Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters. That's the high point of the circuit, and it's the day that separates the people who trained from the people who didn't. Seven to eight hours of steep terrain, thin air, and the knowledge that you're crossing the spine of the Annapurna range. On the other side, you descend to Muktinath, Marpha, and Jomsom: the landscape shifts from alpine to something drier and more open.

What makes this trek manageable is what's already arranged. Your guide is experienced and stays with you the whole way. Accommodation is sorted each night: no hunting for a room or negotiating prices. Meals come three times a day, plus tea and fresh fruit after dinner. The permits (Annapurna Conservation Entrance Permit and TMIS card) are handled before you start. You carry a duffle bag that Nature Explore provides, and they give you a down jacket too: both returned at the end. The shared buses and jeeps between Kathmandu, the trailhead, and Pokhara are included, as is the airport pickup. It's the kind of detail work that sounds small until you're standing in a Himalayan village at dusk and realize you don't have to figure out where to sleep or how to eat.

The trek ends in Pokhara, where you get one more night in a hotel before heading back. By then, you've walked over a hundred kilometers, crossed a pass higher than most people have ever been, and seen the Annapurna massif from angles that change how you think about mountains. Your legs will know it happened. So will your lungs.

What’s included

Airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu, 3-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu, all permits (Annapurna Conservation Entrance Permit and TMIS card), experienced guide for the entire trek, teahouse accommodation during the eleven trekking days, one night hotel in Pokhara, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) plus tea and coffee during the trek, fresh fruit after dinner each day, shared transport by bus or jeep between Kathmandu and the trailhead and between the trek end and Pokhara, treated drinking water, Nature Explore down jacket and duffle bag (both returned after the trek), and a Nature Explore t-shirt as a gift.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 00:45, the last at 17:45

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 to 80 years) · Under 15: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Hindi

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Nature Explore Trekking Pvt Ltd

Is this one for you?Right for trekkers who want the Annapurna Circuit's full loop without arranging permits, transport, accommodation, or meals separately: the fixed itinerary and included guide mean you walk and everything else is managed.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi and Chinese.

How many days is the Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Twelve days total: one night in Kathmandu, eleven days trekking, one night in Pokhara. The actual walking spans eleven days with one acclimatization day built in at Manang.

What is the highest altitude on the Annapurna Circuit?

Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters. The trek climbs gradually to Manang (3,500m) before the final push to the pass.

Is the guide included?

Yes. An experienced guide stays with you throughout the trek and handles logistics, navigation, and cultural context.

What meals are provided?

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the trek, plus tea or coffee during the day and fresh fruit after dinner. Meals are cooked at teahouses in each village.

Are permits included?

Yes. The Annapurna Conservation Entrance Permit and TMIS card are included and arranged before the trek starts.

What is the daily walking time?

Four to eight hours per day, depending on the stage. Most days are five to six hours of trekking.

Do I need to carry my own bag?

No. Nature Explore provides a duffle bag for your gear, which is carried for you. You carry a day pack with essentials.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. Airport pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu are included in the trek package.

What accommodation is provided?

A 3-star hotel in Kathmandu, teahouse accommodation during the trek, and one night in a hotel in Pokhara after the trek ends.

What fitness level is needed?

Moderate fitness is recommended. The trek involves daily walking at altitude, but the pace is gradual and includes an acclimatization day.