Round Annapurna TrekRound Annapurna Trek

Round Annapurna Trek

Trip Summary
  • Trip Duration21 Days
  • Difficulty Level Strenuous
Highlights
  • Exploring the incredible cultural landscapes of the Annapurna region
  • Trekking through the scenic and rugged terrains of the Himalayan region
  • Observing the snow-clad mountains of the Himalayas, including Mt. Dhaulagiri 1 (8167m), Mt. Manaslu (8156m), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m), and others.
  • Pilgrimage of the Muktinath temple and its spiritual premise
  • Incredible hospitality of the local people
  • Sightseeing in the many exciting landmarks of Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Exploring the Manang village settlement
  • Dipping in the natural hot Spring of Tatopani
  • Passing through the magnificent Thorong La Pass (5416m)
  • Awe-inspiring Himalayan sunrise from Ghorepani-Poonhill

Annapurna region in western Nepal is filled with immense beauty and adventure. Trekking the majestic foothills of the Annapurna massif is top on the list of avid trekkers. The round Annapurna trek is a famous trekking journey loved by adventurers worldwide. This stunning itinerary is perfect for anyone looking for a complete wilderness exploration.

This incredible trek through the rugged Himalayan terrain and remote landscapes is a lifetime journey. You will get to observe the astonishing scenery and sweeping silver Himalayan mountains. The walk traverses along the magical landscapes of the Annapurna Sanctuary, which boasts natural diversities, including forests, waterfalls, mountain passes, etc.

Round Annapurna Trek is a magnificent comprehensive Himalayan trekking journey. To complete this expedition, you will trek 6-7 hours daily for around three weeks. There are many days where you will stop and acclimatize to adjust your body in high altitude conditions.

There are unique settlements with high cultural value along the trails. Trekkers can experience the spiritual atmosphere with Buddhist heritage sites, landmarks, and inscriptions along the route. You can interact with the locals and explore their traditions and lifestyle. A professional guide helps communicate with the locals and learn about taboos.

Mt. Dhaulagiri I (8167m), Mt. Manaslu (8156m), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m), and others are the spectacular snow-clad mountains along the trail. They are the seventh, eighth, and tenth-highest mountains in the world. Besides that, there are numerous 7000+ peaks and small hills.

The round Annapurna trek is also incredibly challenging as it takes you to the high Thorong La pass (5416m). Trekkers can enjoy some thrilling views from vantage points such as Ghorepani-Poon Hill. You can also go on some exciting side-trip destinations during this trek. On this journey, you can visit the Muktinath temple and get a spiritual experience.

The Round Annapurna trek is an unforgettable experience in the Himalayan foothills. You will pass through the deepest mountain valleys, the highest mountain pass, and the tallest Himalayan peaks. Moreover, it is an excellent way to learn and experience Himalayan culture and lifestyle. The magnificent Annapurna region will enthrall adventurers and provide a comprehensive experience.

Read for more information about this Round Annapurna Trek journey below and contact us for bookings. Happy Adventure!

Itinerary
Expand AllCollapse All

You will transfer to the hotel in Kathmandu from the airport. Our staff and representative will help you in this process of moving to the hotel. There you can either prepare or rest.

  • Max. Altitude:1350 m

On this trekking day, you will go sightseeing in the region. Beautiful temples and durbar squares in the region are the region’s highlights. The area has three distinct durbar squares, including the Basantapur, Patan, and Bhaktapur durbar squares.

You can observe religious landmarks like Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanth, etc. These sites date back many centuries and are religiously and historically significant. You will explore as many sites as possible and then return to the hotel for the preparation.

  • Max. Altitude:1350 m

On this day of the trek, you will begin on this journey of the round Annapurna trek. You will start your tour with an early breakfast and then drive to Syange. It takes around 5-6 hours to complete the journey.

The beautiful scenic drive passes through the settlement of Besisahar. You will travel to Besisahar on a bus from where you will travel on a jeep. From Besisahar, you will pass through the challenging terrains on rough and rugged terrains ideal in a 4WD jeep.

Along the journey, you will get the most spectacular views of Mt. Annapurna II (7937m), Mt Lamjung (6983m), and Mt. Manaslu (8156m). After arriving at Syange, you will rest at a local teahouse.

  • Max. Altitude:1100m
  • Duration:8 hrs

The trail starts through the incredible terrains that lead you to Tal from the village settlement of Syange. You will then trek through the fantastic landscapes that pass through uphill and downhill terrains. The incredible terrains will then take you through a dirt road. A large gorge and a cascading waterfall also lie along the trail from Syange.

From here, you will trek through the village settlements of Jagat and Chamje before arriving at the destination, Tal. After arriving at the Tal, you will climb uphill to the village, look out for a teahouse and stay.

  • Max. Altitude:1756m
  • Duration:5-6 hrs

On this day, you will wake up early in the region to trek to the destination of Dharapani. The beautiful trail on the way climbs steeply uphill before entering the local settlements. After climbing uphill for some time, you will arrive at Dharapani, where you end the trek for the day.

  • Max. Altitude:1860m
  • Duration:5 hrs

You will start your trekking journey along the beautiful terrains to arrive at Chame. The trails of this section will take you through the diverse landscape as you come from Dharapani to Chame. The beautiful trails will lead you from the forested areas to the dry arid landscapes of the region.

The trail on the round Annapurna Trek will lead you alongside the Marsyangdi River. It heads upstream and through the beautiful settlements of Manang and Koto before reaching Chame. In Chame, you can observe apple-growing on farms. There you can also watch Lamjung and Annapurna II. You will explore around and stay.

  • Max. Altitude:2760m
  • Duration:4-5 hrs

On this trek section, you will trek from the settlement of Chame to Upper Pisang. You will walk through the spectacular hills to reach your destination. The trails in the region will lead you through the territories of Telekhu. The snow-clad mountains of the Annapurna mountain range and Pisang look spectacular.

You will climb over the south bank alongside the Marsyangdi River. We will cross the pine-forested areas of the region to arrive at the Manang valley to Pisang. At Pisang village, you can observe Pisang and Chulu peaks. There you can rest in the teahouse.

  • Max. Altitude:3346m
  • Duration:5-6 hrs

On this trek section, you will pass through the beautiful settlement of Pisang to Manang. You will continue along the trail passing through the beautiful accommodations of the upper Manang area. This trek section will take you to Braga village settlement, where you will continue your route to Tibetan village.

Beautiful trails will lead you through the region’s scenic terrains, including the unique architecture of the houses. There is a large Gompa that holds great value for the local people. We can then rest for the night.

  • Max. Altitude:3500m
  • Duration:5-6 hrs

On this day of the Round Annapurna Trek, you will have a rest and go on an acclimatization journey in the Manang village. You will need to acclimatize along the trail, providing you with views of the entire region.

The trail will lead you to higher altitude trails where you will face less weather and air pressure. This will help you to remain at high altitude conditions. The beautiful trails will take you to the hill point on top of the Manang village, where you can observe the snow-clad mountains, including Annapurna III (7555m), Annapurna II, Gangapurna (7454 m), and others.

You can observe the Grand Barrier and Tilicho in the west and the east, respectively. Similarly, there are two stunning peaks, including Chulu West and Chulu East. During this acclimatization process, we will climb a Khangsar (3756m) hill nearby.

    The trail in the region will take you to the beautiful destination of Yak Kharka. The magnificent uphill trek takes around 3 to 4 hours. From there, you will reach Yak Kharka, where you can find the fields of yaks grazing. There we will find the teahouse near the Thorong Khola. You will stay in Yak Kharka for the night.

    • Max. Altitude:4000m
    • Duration:5-6 hrs

    The trails will lead you through the beautiful destination and the serene terrains of the region. You will traverse through significant landmarks of the hilly landscapes to reach Thorong Phedi. You will climb uphill from Yak Kharka and retrace to Ledar.

    After a quick break, you will climb uphill in the region to arrive at your destination. You observe the snowy mountains along the trail. You will cross the suspension bridges along the path to reach a landslide-prone area. You will arrive at Thorong Phedi after trekking for some time, where you will rest at a teahouse.

    • Max. Altitude:4450m
    • Duration:5-6 hrs

    On this day, you will trek from Thorong Phedi to Muktinath, passing through the Thorong La Pass. We will cross the beautiful terrain of the region, passing through the serene landscapes. During this trek section, you will pass through the majestic Thorong La Pass (5416 m).

    The trail on this day is quite challenging as you will have to trek through some stunning terrains. On this day, you will gain the maximum altitude of the trek, 5416m. At Thorong la pass, you can explore around and take incredible pictures.

    After trekking for 8 hours, you will arrive at Muktinath, the holy temple of the region. Both religions worship the Muktinath area. You can observe the silver mountains and then rest in the teahouse.

    • Max. Altitude:5,416m
    • Duration:8 hrs

    The trail of this section of the trek will climb uphill to reach the destination of Marpha. The holy temple visit and exploration are generally at the dawn of the day. You will visit the 108 stony taps, Saraswati Kunda, and others.

    The trekking journey will then take you to the destination of Marpha. Marpha is a beautiful destination from where you can observe the snow-clad mountains. It is also famous for the apples and apples of the region. There you can explore before finally resting.

    • Max. Altitude:2670m
    • Duration:4-5 hrs

    The trails of the Round Annapurna trek will take you to Kalopani on this day of the walk. You will need to traverse the uphill path to reach your destination. The trekking journey on this day is around 7 hours, passing through the scenic terrains. You can then rest in the teahouse.

    • Max. Altitude:2530m
    • Duration:7-8 hrs

    The trail on this trek will take you through Kalopani to Tatopani. The beautiful Tatopani is a natural hot water spring where you can relax at the hot water dip. You will arrive at the destination after 6 hours through some of the most remote landscapes of the region.

    • Max. Altitude:1190m
    • Duration:6-7 hrs

    You will start your trek early from Tatopani. You will pass through scenic uphill terrains to arrive at Ghorepani. The green hills of the region remain filled with wildflowers. After arriving at Ghorepani, you can acclimatize and rest.

    • Max. Altitude:2810m
    • Duration:6-7 hrs

    The trail on this day of the trek starts early as you take an early morning hike to Poon hill. There you can get a majestic Himalayan sunrise. You will explore, click some pictures and then return to Tikhedhunga, which takes around 6 hours.

    The trail to Tikchendunha is quite scenic, with incredible green hills and colorful wildflowers. You will trek through some constant uphill and downhill terrain to arrive at your destination of Tikhedhunga.

    • Duration:7-8 hrs

    On this day, you will pass through the beautiful terrain on the last stretch of the trek. You will trek for around 3-4 hrs hours to Nayapul.

    You will then continue the trek in the region, observing the snow-clad mountains. You will then drive to Pokhara, which takes around 1 hour from Nayapul. After arriving at Pokhara, you can explore before resting overnight.

    • Max. Altitude:1010m
    • Duration:3 hrs

    On this day, you will get to explore the beautiful sightseeing experience of Pokhara. You will get to explore the various sightseeing points like the world peace pagoda, devis falls, and others in the region. Other sightseeing spots include Begnas Tal, Chamero Gufa, Mahendra Gufa, etc. finally, you can rest and relax in the beautiful area and spend the night in the hotel.

    • Max. Altitude:3,210m
    • Duration:7-8 hrs

    You will drive to Kathmandu from Pokhara, which takes around 6 hours. You can go on a short sightseeing tour or rest at the hotel.

    • Max. Altitude:1350m
    • Duration:6 hrs

    As the Round Annapurna trek ends, you will depart from Kathmandu to your next destination. 

      Essential Information

      Best Time for the Round Annapurna Trek

      Spring (March-May)

      The ideal time for the Round Annapurna Trek is the Spring season. This season from March to May generally has better weather and climatic conditions. The trails of the trek are ideal in the peak season due to the stable weather condition it offers with a pleasant climate. You will travel in a temperate climate, providing a great time in the region.

      The Annapurna region has clear blue skies this season with stunning vistas of the snow-clad mountains. The area has wildflowers and colorful trails, making the journey quite beautiful. Hence, trekking the beautiful Annapurna region and its major landmarks in a great atmosphere makes Spring perfect.

      Autumn (September-November)

      Autumn from September to November is another ideal time for the Round Annapurna Trek. The beautiful weather in the Autumn season will allow you to observe scenic vistas. You can watch Silver Mountain and trek in favorable weather conditions.

      The scenic landscape of the region will enchant you along the trail. Autumn is also quite a festive region; you can observe the positive atmosphere. This offers you great cultural and natural exploration opportunities in the area.

      Off season

      The Round Annapurna Trek can get quite challenging in the off-season due to weather-related challenges. In the winter, the region has highly chilly weather, with thick inches of snow at high altitudes.

      In the monsoons, the trail gets wet, humid, and weather-related challenges like landslides, soil erosion, avalanches, etc., are common.

      The Difficulty of the Round Annapurna Trek

      The high-altitude Annapurna region has many weather-related challenges. You will pass through high-altitude terrains where the weather is unpredictable. Hence, you should remain prepared with trekking gear and equipment during this challenging round Annapurna trek.

      Extreme weather conditions, including freezing, thick snow, etc., are standard. The weather remains chilly in the region throughout the year, and temperatures drop from day to night. Hence, trekkers need to carry warm clothing gear.

      The trail takes you to a high altitude in a few days, making trekkers prone to altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is quite a problem; you must acclimate along the trail to tackle that. Symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headache, insomnia, lack of appetite, etc., are expected at high altitudes. You should drink liquids, sleep, and rest regularly to tackle altitude sickness.

      There are long treks where you must trek 6-7 hours daily for more than two weeks, making the walk quite challenging. The trek route also passes through the region’s major rugged and remote terrains. Hence, trekkers need to be in their best shape physically and mentally to complete the round Annapurna trek.

      The other challenge of this trek is that you will have to stay in tea houses where you do not get high-end facilities. You will generally share a room with twin beds, mattresses, pillows, and blankets. The toilets are usually located outside of the houses and are of squat style, which means you will have to compromise in this regard.

      Hence, these are the various difficulties you may face while trekking in the remote Himalayan foothills of the Round Annapurna Trek.

      Trekking Route

      The itinerary of the round Annapurna trek starts as you arrive at Kathmandu. After a day of sightseeing and preparation, you will drive to Syange via Besisahar. The trail will then lead you to Tal. You will pass through the hilly terrains of Dharapani from Tal. You will then pass through Chame, Pisang, and other small settlements to reach Manang.

      You will then explore and acclimate in the settlements of Manang. You will pass through Yak Kharka and Thorong Phedi village settlements as you arrive at the dry terrains. You will pass through the majestic Thorong la Pass.

      From there, you will trek to the spiritual landmarks of Muktinath. You will pass through the holy Muktinath Temple, worshiped by Buddhists and Hindus. Muktinath is one of the most sacred temples in the world, with 108 water spouts.

      You will trek through the settlements of Marpha to arrive at Tatopani. There you can jump in the hot water spring and relax. You will then walk through the Kalopani to reach Ghorepani. The early morning hike to Poon Hill provides majestic views of the snow-clad mountains.

      You will trek to Tikhe Dhunga from Poon hill and then reach Nayapul. Finally, you can drive to Pokhara and then to Kathmandu.

      Meals and Accommodation

      The higher altitude, the facilities for meals, and the place to stay are limited. Since you will be traveling on the remote rails, you will not find high-end facilities in the accommodations like teahouses and lodges. Therefore, you will need to manage these limited facilities during the trek.

      You will get a room with basic bed facilities, mattresses, clean sheets, and others in these teahouses. You need to bring toiletries along the trail, and the toilets are generally squat-style. Trekkers typically bring extra sleeping bags for cold conditions.

      Dal Bhaat is a famous dish containing rice, pulses, cereals, vegetables, lentils, pickles, etc. Momo, Chaumein, pasta, noodles, tea, coffee, etc., are famous. Snacks like dry fruits and chocolate, protein bars, etc., will help you get energized along the trail.

      Essential Tips for the Round Annapurna Trek

      • Trekkers need to arrive at the destination before it gets dark
      • Acclimatize and hydrate regularly to tackle altitude sickness
      • Rest properly with increased sleep during the trekking journey
      • Increase the intake of food as the calories burn faster in the high-altitude region
      • Carry water purification tablets to purify water during the trek
      • Carry snacks like dry fruits, chocolate bars, and protein bars to munch on and get instant energy
      • Get yourself a proper professional trekking guide to navigate
      • Get porters to carry your heavy luggage along the terrain.
      • Carry trekking gear and warm clothing for the trek
      • Book in advance all the necessary facilities.
      • Tip guides, porters, and other hotel service staff during the tour.
      • Trek at a gradual pace and do not rush around the trails.
      • Learn how to bargain in the shops.

      Packing List - Round Annapurna Trek

      Clothing

      • Thermal Underwear
      • Pair of Sandals
      • Waterproof trekking pants
      • Woolen gloves
      • Trekking boots
      • Full Sleeve shirts
      • Windcheaters
      • Warm hat
      • Down jacket
      • Umbrella/ Raincoat
      • Socks

      Toiletries

      • Shampoo
      • Soap
      • Sanitary pads/ Tampons
      • Toilet Paper
      • Wet wipes
      • Toothbrush
      • Quick drying towel
      • Toothpaste
      • Face towel
      • Hand Sanitizers
      • Moisturizer
      • Lip Balm

      First Aid

      • Diamox tablets
      • Anti-nauseant
      • Water purification tablets
      • Imodium
      • Mosquito repellent
      • Paracetamol
      • Antibacterial sanitizer

      Basic Accessories

      • Power banks
      • Solar chargers
      • Extra batteries
      • Playing Cards
      • Sunglasses
      • Books or Kindle
      • Sleeping Bag
      • High SPF sunscreen
      • Notebook and Map
      • Trekking Poles
      • Sunglasses

      Important documents

      • Passport
      • Permits
      • Travel Insurance

      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Round Annapurna Trek

      What is the length of the Round Annapurna Trek?

      The Round Annapurna Trek is approximately 160-230 kilometers long, depending on the itinerary of the trek.

      How long is the Round Annapurna Trek?

      The Round Annapurna Trek is 15-20 days, depending upon the route and the itinerary.

      When to go for the Round Annapurna Trek?

      The trek is suitable from late September to early November. Also, March to May is ideal for hiking.

      How challenging is the trek?

      The Round Annapurna Trek is a moderate to strenuous, challenging trek.

      Are you required to hire a guide for the trek?

      Yes, guides are a must for the trek. They will help you trek safely and navigate along the trail.

      What is the Round Annapurna Trek’sTrek’s cost?

      The Round Annapurna Trek’sTrek’s cost depends on the route, length, facilities, etc.

      What is the highest you will reach during the trek?

      The Thorong La Pass has a maximum altitude of 5,416 meters (17,769 feet).

      What trekking permits are essential for the Round Annapurna Trek?

      The TIMS card and ACAP permit are essential for this trek.

      What is the accommodation along the trail?

      Yes, there are tea houses and lodges along the trail.

      What are the meals along the trail?

      Yes, the meals along the trail include the Nepali staple dish of “Dal Bhaat” and other cuisines.

      Similar Trips
      See All Trips

      Ask a Question

      Kalpana Neupane
      Need assistance?Mrs. Kalpana Neupane (Travel Consultant)

      Call: +977 9851199586 or WhatsApp Chat: +977 9851199586

      We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

      Privacy Policy