Annapurna Circuit Trek with Local Guide & Family Team

Summary

15 Days Across Annapurna: Family-Led Trekking & Nepali Moments

Experience 15 days trekking Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit with a local family-run team guiding you from Kathmandu through mountain villages, waterfalls, and high passes. Learn bits of Nepali language along the way, soak in Tatopani’s hot springs after long days on foot, and share laughter over home-cooked meals — moments you’ll remember long after your boots are clean again.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that went sideways was my backpack — I’d packed way too much, and our guide, Suman, just grinned and said, “You’ll learn to love less weight.” He was right. We left Kathmandu early for Bulbule, crammed into a bus with Nepali pop songs playing too loud and the smell of fried snacks drifting in from someone’s lunchbox. The road followed the Marshyangdi River most of the way; I kept losing count of how many times we crossed it on those wobbly suspension bridges. Suman’s cousin Li tried teaching me how to say “waterfall” in Nepali as we passed one — I completely butchered it, but she laughed and clapped anyway.

Every day on this Annapurna Circuit trek felt different. Some mornings were cold enough that my breath hung in the air; other afternoons we’d walk through villages where kids ran up to shout “namaste!” and old women sold apples from baskets. In Manang, we took an acclimatization day — Suman insisted on sweet tea at a tiny monastery (I still think about that taste), then pointed out Gangapurna Lake shimmering under a sky so blue it almost looked fake. There was this moment outside Braga when the wind picked up and prayer flags snapped overhead; I just stopped walking for a second because it felt like everything else went quiet.

The climb up to Thorong La Pass was brutal — no way around it. We started before sunrise, headlamps bobbing along the trail while everyone moved slow and careful. At the top (5,416 meters!), people hugged or just stared at the mountains in silence. My legs were shaking but I felt weirdly light at the same time. Coming down into Muktinath, there were pilgrims spinning prayer wheels and steam rising from hot springs in Tatopani later on — honestly, sitting in that water after days of dust felt like some kind of magic reset button.

I didn’t expect to pick up so much Nepali along the way (Li kept quizzing me over dal bhat dinners), or to laugh so hard trying to explain what peanut butter is to someone who’d never tasted it. The family team made everything feel less like a transaction and more like being invited along for something personal — even when my boots got soaked or I got lost in a maze of rhododendrons near Ghorepani. The last morning on Poon Hill watching sunlight spill over Dhaulagiri… well, you know how some views just stay with you? That’s one of them.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Kathmandu to Bulbule by Bus and Walk

• Bus to Besisahar-Bulbule via Trisuli River
• Drive or walk to Bulbule with mountain views

Day 2 — Bulbule to Ghermu Phant Trek

• Walk through villages to Bahun Danda and Ghermu Phant

Day 3 — Ghermu to Tal via Chamje Trek

• Trek downhill to Syange, cross river, climb to Chamje and Tal

Day 4 — Tal to Chame via Dharapani Trek

• Cross suspension bridge, visit villages, climb to Chame

Day 5 — Chame to Pisang Trek

• Trek through forest, cross river, visit Dhukure Pokhari and Pisang

Day 6 — Pisang to Manang via Ghyaru and Ngawal

• Trek through Pisang, Ghyaru, Ngawal to Manang

Day 7 — Acclimatization Day in Manang

• Rest and optional local explorations in Manang

Day 8 — Manang to Yak Kharka or Chauri Lader

• Trek uphill through meadows to Yak Kharka or Chauri Lader

Day 9 — Chauri Lader to Thorong Phedi Trek

• Trek along yak grazing grounds to Thorong Phedi

Day 10 — Thorong Phedi to Muktinath via Thorong Pass

• Climb Thorong-La Pass and descend to Muktinath

Day 11 — Muktinath to Tatopani by Drive

• Drive from Muktinath to Tatopani with hot spring visit

Day 12 — Tatopani to Shikha Trek

• Trek crossing suspension bridge and climb to Shikha

Day 13 — Shikha to Ghorepani Trek

• Trek through Magar villages and forest to Ghorepani

Day 14 — Ghorepani to Pokhara via Poon Hill

• Sunrise hike to Poon Hill, trek to Tikhedunga and drive to Pokhara

Day 15 — Pokhara to Kathmandu by Bus

• Deluxe tourist bus drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu

Top questions

How long does the Annapurna Circuit trek take from Kathmandu?

The full circuit described here takes 15 days starting from Kathmandu and ending in Pokhara before returning by bus.

Is there hotel pickup included for this Annapurna trek?

Yes, international airport pickup and drop-off are included as part of your booking.

Do I need special permits for the Annapurna Circuit?

Yes, all required permits (ACAP permit and TIMS card) are included by the company.

What kind of accommodation is provided during the trek?

Lodge accommodation is provided each night along the route.

Is lunch or dinner included during trekking days?

A farewell lunch or dinner is included; daily meals are typically purchased at lodges along the way.

Are guides local? Will they teach us Nepali?

Your guide is local and part of a family-run team; they offer informal Nepali language lessons during the trip.

How do we travel between towns during this trek?

You’ll use public buses between Kathmandu-Bulbule and Muktinath-Tatopani; private car from Nayapul to Pokhara is also included.

Is this trek suitable for beginners?

Trekkers should have at least moderate physical fitness; not recommended for those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

Your experience includes international airport transfers, all necessary trekking permits (ACAP & TIMS), public transportation between key points (Kathmandu-Bulbule, Muktinath-Tatopani), lodge accommodation throughout the circuit, guidance from an experienced local family team (with informal language lessons), private car transfer from Nayapul to Pokhara at trek’s end, deluxe tourist bus back to Kathmandu, plus a farewell meal before departure.