Short Annapurna Circuit Trek

Welcome to Nepal. An Amigo Treks & Expedition representative will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. After checking in, take some time to rest following your flight.

We will arrange a briefing with your trekking guide to discuss the route, daily walking schedule, accommodation and the Thorung La crossing. Your guide will also check your equipment, including your boots, warm layers, waterproof clothing, sleeping bag and daypack. This is a good time to ask about anything you are unsure of and buy or rent any missing items.

Because we leave for Chame early the following morning, we recommend arriving with enough time for the briefing and equipment check. Pack the things you will need during the drive separately: a warm layer, drinking water, personal medication and other essentials should remain within reach.

If your flight arrives late, we will adjust the briefing arrangements. Any preparation that cannot be completed before departure may require an adjustment to the schedule.

We leave Kathmandu early in a private jeep. The first part of the journey follows the highway toward Dumre, with river valleys, terraced fields and roadside settlements along the way. At Dumre, we turn toward Besisahar, the gateway to the eastern Annapurna Circuit.

Beyond Besisahar, the journey becomes slower as we enter the Marsyangdi Valley. The mountain road has narrow bends, rough sections and stretches where passing vehicles requires care. We travel through the lower valley toward Dharapani, then continue through villages including Bagarchhap and the Timang area before reaching Chame.

We stop for meals and breaks along the way. Keep drinking water and any travel-sickness medication you normally use in your day bag. Although some journeys are quicker, this should be treated as a full travel day; roadworks, traffic or damaged road sections can extend the drive.

Chame is the administrative centre of Manang District and our starting point for the walking section. On arrival, we check into a lodge, have dinner and rest. If we arrive with daylight to spare, you can take a short walk around the village.

After breakfast, we begin walking up the Marsyangdi Valley. The route passes through forest and the Bhratang area before continuing toward Dhukur Pokhari. Some stretches follow established footpaths, while others run close to or along the road. Your guide chooses the practical walking route according to current trail conditions.

One of the day's most striking landmarks is Paungda Danda, the enormous curved rock face rising above the valley. As the valley opens, the surroundings begin to change: the forest becomes less dense, the air feels drier and the mountains occupy more of the skyline.

From Dhukur Pokhari, we continue to Lower Pisang, where we settle into our lodge. When the weather is clear, the area offers impressive views toward Annapurna II and nearby peaks.

If you feel well and there is enough time, your guide may suggest a gentle afternoon walk toward Upper Pisang. Its traditional houses and monastery offer a different view of the valley. This walk is optional; after the previous day's long drive and today's first trek, rest may be the better choice.

Today we follow the lower valley route toward Manang. This itinerary uses the route through Humde rather than the longer, steeper trail through Ghyaru and Ngawal. The upper route can be arranged with a revised walking schedule, but it should not be described as the same five-hour day.

The landscape becomes more open as we enter the drier upper Marsyangdi Valley. We walk past fields, stone houses, mani walls and small settlements, with mountain views whenever the weather allows. Near Humde, we pass the valley's airstrip before continuing toward Braga.

Braga is known for its hillside settlement and monastery. We may stop to look around if time, access and your energy allow. A monastery visit depends on it being open and should be approached respectfully.

A final stretch brings us to Manang, where we will spend two nights. After checking into the lodge, have a relaxed afternoon. A short village walk is enough for today; save the longer exploration for tomorrow.

Tell your guide if you develop a headache, nausea, unusual tiredness or dizziness. These symptoms need attention at this altitude, even if you have managed the walking comfortably.

This acclimatization day is an important part of the itinerary because tomorrow we begin moving above 4,000 meters, followed by High Camp and the crossing of Thorung La at 5,416 meters.

However, an acclimatization day does not mean spending the whole day sleeping.

After breakfast, your guide will normally arrange a moderate hike based on the weather, trail condition and how the group is feeling.

Possible walks around Manang include a hike toward a viewpoint above the village, the Gangapurna area, nearby monasteries or another suitable acclimatization route chosen by your guide.

The basic principle is simple: walk higher during the day and return to Manang to sleep at the same altitude for a second night.

From the hills around Manang, clear weather can provide excellent views of Gangapurna, Annapurna III, Tilicho Peak, the Chulu peaks and the surrounding Manang Valley.

After the hike, we return to the village for lunch and have a relaxed afternoon.

Leaving Manang, we climb toward Tanki and continue above the main Marsyangdi Valley. The trail gradually takes us into open grazing country, where trees give way to low shrubs, grasses and rocky slopes.

We pass the Gunsang area and continue toward Yak Kharka. The name refers to yak pasture, and grazing animals may be seen around the settlement. Blue sheep also live in this mountain environment, although sightings depend on the day. In clear weather, there are broad views back toward Gangapurna and the Annapurna range.

Today's walk is shorter than some earlier stages, but the altitude makes even modest climbs feel harder. We take regular breaks and keep a comfortable pace rather than trying to reach the lodge quickly.

On arrival, have lunch and spend the afternoon resting. If you feel well, a short, easy walk nearby may be possible. Yak Kharka has simpler facilities than Manang, so expect a basic mountain lodge and cold conditions outside the dining room.

We leave Yak Kharka and continue through Ledar toward Thorung Phedi. The route crosses a river and traverses exposed mountain slopes. Some sections are susceptible to falling stones, so follow your guide's instructions and avoid stopping in exposed places.

At Thorung Phedi, approximately 4,450 metres, we pause for food and assess the next step. The trail to High Camp is a sustained, steep climb. It is considerably more demanding than its distance suggests because of the altitude.

High Camp is the planned overnight stop only if acclimatization and conditions allow. Moving directly from Yak Kharka to High Camp raises sleeping altitude by nearly 800 metres, exceeding the usual recommendation of no more than 500 metres per night above 3,000 metres. We may instead stay at Thorung Phedi or add another night before proceeding.

If we continue to High Camp, the afternoon is reserved for rest and preparation. Facilities are basic, nights are cold and the shared dining room may be busy during the main trekking seasons.

Before dinner, your guide will discuss the following morning's departure, weather, clothing and food arrangements. Prepare your headlamp, warm layers, gloves and water before going to bed.

This is the longest and most demanding walking day of the trip. We normally start before sunrise, with the exact departure time decided by the guide according to weather, trail conditions and our overnight location. The first section may be walked by headlamp.

From High Camp, the trail climbs through a broad, exposed mountain landscape. Progress is slow at this altitude, and several rises can make the pass feel closer than it is. Keep a steady pace and follow your guide's instructions. Snow or ice may make the crossing more difficult.

Thorung La, at 5,416 metres, is the highest point of the trek. In clear weather, the pass offers extensive views of the surrounding mountains. We take a short break for photographs when conditions permit, then begin the descent; a long stop in the cold and wind is unnecessary.

The descent toward Muktinath is lengthy and can be hard on the knees. Trekking poles are useful, particularly on loose ground. As we lose altitude, the landscape opens into the dry hills of Mustang.

We finish in the Muktinath/Ranipauwa area and settle into our lodge. Depending on our arrival time and how tired everyone feels, the temple visit can take place this afternoon or the following morning.

After breakfast, we begin the road journey down the Kali Gandaki Valley. The route passes through the Marpha area and continues toward the lower valley through settlements such as Ghasa, Tatopani and Beni before reaching Pokhara.

This is a day of changing scenery. The dry upper valley gradually gives way to greener hills, cultivated land and warmer surroundings. We stop along the way for food and breaks, with sightseeing stops depending on the road conditions and the time available.

Some road sections are rough or narrow, and roadworks can slow progress. Treat the arrival time as an estimate: rainfall, landslides or traffic restrictions may extend the journey.

In Pokhara, we transfer to the hotel. If we arrive early enough, you can take an easy walk around Lakeside or find a restaurant overlooking Phewa Lake. After several nights in mountain lodges, this is a welcome chance to rest before the final drive.

We leave Pokhara after breakfast in a private vehicle and follow the Prithvi Highway toward Kathmandu. The journey passes roadside towns, river valleys and cultivated hills, with stops for lunch and comfort breaks.

Although the route is on a major highway, traffic and roadworks can make the journey slow. Congestion approaching Kathmandu may also affect our arrival time, so we keep the day available for travel.

On arrival, we transfer you to your hotel. The remaining time is yours to rest, collect any stored luggage or do some last-minute shopping. We will confirm the following day's airport transfer according to your flight schedule.

Your Short Annapurna Circuit Trek concludes today. Depending on your flight time, you may have a little time for breakfast or a final walk near the hotel.

An Amigo Treks & Expedition representative will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight. We arrange the pickup to allow for traffic and your airline's check-in requirements; for most international departures, plan to reach the airport around three hours before departure.

If you would like to stay longer in Nepal, speak with us before your trip so we can arrange any additional accommodation or activities around your travel plans.