Annapurna Circuit

Classic Trek Around The Annapurna Massif Inside The Annapurna Conservation Area, Crossing The Thorong La At 5,416 Metres · Manang, Gandaki

The Annapurna Circuit is one of the great treks of the world, a loop of about two to three weeks around the Annapurna massif that climbs from subtropical rice terraces through pine forest to the high, dry Tibetan landscape of Manang, crosses the Thorong La pass at 5,416 metres, and drops into the Kali Gandaki valley, often called the deepest gorge in the world between the peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Few treks pass through so many climates, cultures and religions in one walk: Hindu villages at the bottom, Tibetan Buddhist ones at the top, and on the far side of the pass the temple at Muktinath, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. The honest caveat is the road. Dirt roads have been pushed up both sides of the circuit, so jeeps and dust now share long stretches, and many trekkers skip the lower sections by jeep or take the newer trails away from the road. The high section around Manang and the pass remains magnificent, and the lodges make it possible without camping.

Annapurna Conservation Area, from Besisahar through Manang and the Thorong La to Muktinath, Manang, Gandaki, Nepal

Seasonal. The best months are October to November and March to April; the Thorong La is often closed by snow in winter and cloudy in the monsoon. An Annapurna Conservation Area Permit is required, and guide rules for foreign trekkers changed in 2023 - confirm. The circuit starts near Besisahar, a day's drive from Kathmandu, and the trek usually ends at Jomsom, which has flights and roads to Pokhara.

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