Annapurna Circuit Thorong La Pass Trek: 15 Days from Kathmandu

Climb 5,416m across the Annapurna Circuit's highest pass in a single morning push.

The Annapurna Circuit Thorong La Pass is a 15-day trek from Kathmandu that crosses the Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters, one of the toughest summits on the route through the western Himalayas. The trek includes an English-speaking guide, all meals, tea house accommodation, porter support, and transport by bus and on foot through mountain villages, river valleys and high-altitude terrain. Trekkers should have moderate fitness; children are welcome from age 15.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival in Kathmandu

• Arrival in Kathmandu
• Transfer to hotel
• Preparation for trekking
• Overnight in Kathmandu hotel

Day 2 — Kathmandu to Besisahar

• Bus from Kathmandu to Besisahar
• Overnight in Besisahar

Day 3 — Besisahar to Koto

• Drive from Besisahar to Koto
• Overnight in Koto

Day 4 — Koto to Upper Pisang

• Trek from Koto to Upper Pisang
• Overnight in Upper Pisang

Day 5 — Upper Pisang to Nawal

• Trek from Upper Pisang to Nawal
• Overnight in Nawal

Day 6 — Nawal to Manang

• Trek from Nawal to Manang
• Overnight in Manang

Day 7 — Acclimatization Day in Manang

• Hike to lake and mountain views
• Overnight in Manang

Day 8 — Manang to Yak Kharka

• Trek from Manang to Yak Kharka
• Overnight in Yak Kharka

Day 9 — Yak Kharka to Thorang Phedi or High Camp

• Trek to Thorang Phedi or High Camp
• Overnight at chosen camp

Day 10 — Phedi to Muktinath via Thorong La Pass

• Climb Thorong La Pass
• Descend to Muktinath
• Overnight in Muktinath

Day 11 — Muktinath to Kagbeni

• Trek from Muktinath to Kagbeni
• Overnight in Kagbeni

Day 12 — Kagbeni to Tatopani

• Bus from Kagbeni to Tatopani
• Overnight in Tatopani

Day 13 — Tatopani to Pokhara

• Bus from Tatopani to Pokhara
• Overnight in Pokhara hotel

Day 14 — Pokhara to Kathmandu

• Bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu
• Overnight in Kathmandu hotel

Day 15 — Departure from Kathmandu

• Departure to international airport
• Optional chill, shopping, sightseeing

The Experience

Fifteen days means the trek unfolds in stages that let your body adjust to altitude. You start in Kathmandu with two nights in a 3-star hotel, then take a bus to Besisahar and begin walking. The route climbs gradually through tea houses—small family-run lodges where you sleep and eat—passing through Upper Pisang, Nawal and Manang. At Manang (3,540m), you get a full acclimatization day to hike to a glacial lake and scan the Himalayan peaks before pushing higher. A porter carries half your gear between two trekkers, so you walk with only a daypack.

The pass itself comes on day 10. You sleep at either Thorang Phedi (4,450m) or High Camp (4,880m) depending on your stamina, then wake before dawn for the 8- to 9-hour climb to Thorong La Top at 5,416 meters. The ascent gains 1,200 meters in thin air; the descent to Muktinath (3,800m) takes the rest of the day. After that, the trek eases: you walk down to Kagbeni, then bus to Tatopani and follow the river valley through Beni to Pokhara, where you spend a night in another 3-star hotel. A final tourist bus returns you to Kathmandu.

Your guide speaks English and manages the route, the permits and the logistics. All standard meals come with the trek—breakfast, lunch and dinner in the tea houses, plus three cups of tea or coffee daily. You get a TIMS card (Trekkers Information Management System), the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, a duffel bag and a company t-shirt. Airport pickup and drop-off are included, as is a medical kit. The trek suits anyone with moderate fitness who can walk 5 to 7 hours a day on mountain trails and handle altitude; the operator notes that stamina and acclimatization matter more than speed.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide for all 15 days.
• all meals during trekking (breakfast, lunch, dinner plus three cups of tea or coffee daily).
• tea house accommodation on the mountain and 3-star hotel stays in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast.
• porter service (one porter between two trekkers).
• all ground transport including buses and airport pickup and drop-off.
• Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card.
• medical kit.
• company duffel bag and t-shirt.
• government and local taxes.

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Happyland Treks

Is this one for you?Book this trek if you want to cross a genuine high-altitude pass (5,416m) without arranging permits, transport, meals or a guide yourself—the 15-day schedule builds in acclimatization days and a porter carries your gear, so the climb is the challenge, not the logistics.

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Top questions

How high is Thorong La Pass and what does the climb feel like on the day you cross it?

Thorong La Pass sits at 5,416 meters, making it one of the toughest summits on the Annapurna Circuit. The crossing happens on day 10: you climb roughly 1,200 meters from your overnight camp to the pass in 8 to 9 hours, then descend 1,600 meters to Muktinath the same day. The altitude and the single-day push are what make it demanding.

Do I sleep in hotels or in tea houses during the trek?

You sleep in 3-star hotels for two nights in Kathmandu at the start and one night in Pokhara near the end. During the 11 trekking days, you stay in tea houses—small family-run lodges in mountain villages where you also eat your meals.

What meals are included, and do I need to bring my own food?

All standard meals are included: breakfast, lunch and dinner in the tea houses, plus three cups of tea or coffee daily. You don't need to bring food for the trek itself. Lunch and dinner during your stays in Kathmandu and Pokhara are not included, so you can choose where to eat in those cities.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The price covers all ground transport, accommodation, meals during trekking, the guide, porter service, permits, airport pickup and drop-off, a medical kit, and a duffel bag and t-shirt. You pay separately for personal gear, personal expenses like hot showers and drinks, travel medical insurance, your Nepal visa, international airfare, and tips for the guide and porter (tipping is expected).

Can children trek the Annapurna Circuit, and is there a minimum age?

Children are welcome from age 15. The operator notes that trekkers should have at least moderate physical fitness and the ability to walk 5 to 7 hours daily at altitude.