Annapurna Round Trek - 18 Days

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Once you arrive at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, you need to accomplish your entry/visa formalities. You will then be received by a representative from Marron Treks and transferred to your designated hotel in Kathmandu. At the hotel, welcome drinks will be served and we will have a short orientation regarding the trip and itineraries. You can then spend the time relaxing and unpacking. The evening is on your own; stroll around the vicinity of the hotel in see how Kathmandu treats you. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 02: Kathmandu city sightseeing (1400m)

After breakfast, hop in to our transport vehicle and head off for a guided tour to the renowned historical and cultural landmarks of Kathmandu. You will be visiting the sites like- Pashupatinath Temple (the most revered Hindu shrine), Kathmandu (Basantapur) Durbar Square and the Boudhanath (the Maha Stupa). All these sites have been listed in the UNESCO world cultural heritage list. After the entertaining and informative tour, we drive back to the hotel. You can spend the rest of the time as you wish or probably preparing for the next day’s long drive to Besisahar. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar (760 m/ 5 - 6 hrs)

After a refreshing breakfast at the hotel, we meet our crew members and then set off for drive to Besisahar on our reserved vehicle along the Prithivi Highway (which connects Kathmandu with Pokhara), following the Marshyangdi river all the way. As you glace at the beautiful terraced fields at the distant hills, feel the refreshing wind gusting right at your face; the only thing you could complain about, is your hair getting disheveled! Passing along the beautiful landforms, rivers and rivulets, we finally get to Besisahar, the headquarter of Lamjung district. Enjoy the food and warm hospitality of the locals. Overnight at teahouse in Besi Sahar; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 04: Trek from Besisahar to Nagdi (930 m/ 6 hrs)

Let’s begin our trek, advancing northwards from Besisahar. We descend towards the Pawa Khola (river) and proceed to a beautiful village at the bank of Khudi River, dwelt by the people of Gurung community. We will take a short steep ascent along an old trail and then continue walking for about four hours until we reach Bulbule (840 m). Relishing the view of Himal Chuli (7893m) and Nagdi Chuli (7853 m), we make a move along the edge of Marshyangdi River finally arriving at the Nagdi Village. Overnight at teahouse in Nagdi; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 05: Trek from Nagdi to Jagat (1300 m / 6- 7 hrs)

Crossing a big suspension bridge over Nagdi Khola, we walk for about and 2.5 hrs and arrive at Bahundanda, a cluster local tea shops. Advancing further for another two hours or so from here, we will find ourselves in a steep landscape, overlooking the terraced paddy fields. We are now at Sangje. How about taking some time to enjoy the magnificent view of waterfalls and hot springs? There are also few lodges adjacent to the river. By and by, we will reach Jagat after walking for the next two hours from Syanje. Overnight at teahouse in Jagat; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
 

Day 06: Trek from Jagat to Dharapani (1900 m/ 5 - 6 hrs)

The route from Jagat to Dharapani, offers an enticing walk along the narrow river valley frequented by waterfalls and heterogeneous vegetation. We resume our trek crossing a long suspension bridge over Marsyangdi River and then gradually make an ascent, which steepens as we move ahead. The valley that seemed to be wild, now turns into a narrow gorge with a thundering river passing through it. We continue the steep climb for about an hour and find ourselves in Chamje. From here, we head on to yet another ascent for three hours to reach a wide valley of Taal, which was once said to have been a Lake that gradually silted up, subsequently causing the river to spread across the valley, looking less impressive than it would have been on a narrow channel and steeper gradient. Taal is the district border between Lamjung and Manang. Majority of the inhabitants here have Tibetan ancestry and follow Buddhist religion. One thing that would perhaps raise your eyebrows is that you actually needn’t buy a bottled mineral water in this region. 

The locals have set up a scheme to provide purified mountain water to the trekkers/walkers on much lower price. This is a good way to save your cash and simultaneously contribute towards the local revenue. This area receives less rainfall and maize, barley and potato are the main produce here. The houses here have flat roofs and are made up of thatch. That’s it, we’ve had a lot of information on Taal. Let’s proceed to Karte now and from there we will head northwards and reach Dharapani, which is akin to Jagat in many ways, but the river gorge here is even narrower and the village faces the rock façade rising above it. We will spend the night in this place. Overnight at teahouse in Dharapani; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 07: Trek from Dharapani to Chame (2620 m / 5 hrs)

We wake up early morning. What’s for breakfast? Probably, Nepali omelet, chapatti and a thermos full of hot tea! We head westwards along the trail for about an hour to reach Bagarchhap. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal. Let’s continue along our trail through pine and fir trees until we arrive at Lata Marang. From here we walk for another two hours and get to Koto Qupar. Before we continue any further, we need to make an entry at the check post. As we move ahead, we will gradually notice the stone walls of Chame welcoming us. There is this large gate with corrugated iron roof. Chame is noticeably bigger than Dharapani. Overnight at teahouse in Chame; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 08: Trek from Chame to Pisang ( 3300m / 5 - 6 hrs)

Stepping out of Chame, you could just see people opening up their shops, sweeping and setting out goods. We pursue the route alongside the Marsyangdi river to Bharatang. Here you can see the apple orchards and also few lodges. Sticking to the same trail, we move ahead and cross a bridge over the river and then making a gradual ascent, we reach Dhukur Pokhari, a village that overlooks the Pagauda Danda. The Pagauda Danda is a massive sloping rock face, about 5000 m above the trail. Mind you, it’s not just a mere slope of rock; the locals have unique belief clung to it. They reckon that upon death, the soul actually begins its journey after life, flowing through the Marsyangdi river and then finally reaches the top of the rock, referred as the Swarga Dwar or the Gateway to Heaven. Ok now, let’s talk about where we are. Dhukur Pokhari offers a scintillating view of the Paguada Danda, especially the sight of the sunrays propagating along the slope of the rock is awesome. Admiring this beauty for a moment, we now trail along the plain route for about an hour and get to the lower Pissang (3240 m). Adhering to the phrase “climb high and sleep low” we then hike up to the upper Pissang (3300 m) for overnight stay. Overnight at teahouse in Pisang; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 09: Trek from Pisang to Manang (3540 m / 5 - 6 hrs)

We descend to lower Pissang. From here, there are two routes to Manang- the main trail which follows the valley floor and the upper path through the village of Ghyaru. To save our time and energy, we take the main trail as it’s shorter and a lot more palpable. As we move ahead ascending through the forest, we see the village of Ghyaru almost teasing us from 400 m above. After we walk till the highest part of the route, we get an easy stroll beholding the prayer flags, bastions and a shrine. After about 2 hrs, we reach Humde. Humde has a remote airstrip and the longest prayer wheel in the region. We trail ahead passing by Sabjikhola (river) and the Nepal Mountaineering School till we finally arrive at Manang. Overnight at teahouse in Manang; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 10: Rest and excursion day in Manang; Visit Praken Gompa (3945m ) and back to Manang (3540m )

Resting at Manang is important in the sense that it avoids discomfort and potential hazards that accompany high altitude travels scheduled in the days ahead. It is recommended to be motile even on the rest day as eating, drinking and lying flat alone do not mean acclimatizing. We can go for hike to Praken Gompa, located at a cliff to the north of Manang. An excursion to Ngawal Lake could be another good option. It offers magnificent views of Gangapurna, Annarpurna II, III & IV. Make sure that you are geared up well, as this area is prone to abrupt weather changes, especially in the afternoon. Overnight at teahouse in Manang; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 11: Trek from Manang to Ledar (4200 m / 4 hrs)

Shortly after breakfast, we head on for a 30 minutes’ walk to reach Tengi, a spot that offers basic accommodation to the trekkers. It is from this point that our walk toughens up a bit for another hour or so till we arrive at Ghunsang. From here, enjoy the captivating views of Gangapurna and Annapurna III across Manang valley. We then ascend for about an hour to reach Yak Kharka, a yak pastureland. Trailing along the meadow occupied by grazing yaks for another hour, we find ourselves in Ledar, a small and sparsely populated village. Overnight at teahouse in Ledar; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 12: Trek from Ledar to Thorong Phedi (4450 m / 3 - 4 hrs)

On this day, the trek continues towards Thorong Phedi. Although the trek duration is short, the climb is marginally challenging. Thorong Phedi is at the foot of the Thorong La pass (the most popular mountain pass in Nepal). We will spend the rest of the day here for acclimatization in order to get accustomed to higher embarkations ahead. Sleep low but sleep tight as we have a tough day lined up tomorrow. Overnight at teahouse in Thorong Phedi; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
 

Day 13: Trek from Thorong Phedi to Thorong La Pass (5416 m / 6 - 7 hrs ) to Muktinath (3800 m / 3- 4 hrs) Total trekking span could be between 10 -12 hrs

All geared up for the toughest faction of the trek, we set off piercing the predawn darkness with our headlamps and torches. Once we cross the last tea house at Thorung Phedi, we make a steep ascent right away. But as we begin to gain the elevation, the route gradually loses its steepness. We pass by many cairns built by the past travelers as a path-mark for the upcoming ones and cross a small valley ahead of a stream. We then trudge up the route for some 6 or more hours and arrive at a large Chorten. Making our way ahead through the prayer flags, we set our feet on the icy Thorung La Pass, a vantage point to behold the magnificence of Mt. Yakawa Kang (6482 m) to the north, Mt. Khatung Kang (6488m) to the south, standing dauntingly tall, like handsome twin brothers! The excitement does not end here; you can also relish the seemingly fathomless sight of the beautiful Kali Gandaki valley. Common, you got to pat yourself on the back for having stood at the most popular mountain pass in Nepal. Don’t let this zeal die down as we still have a lot more to accomplish! After that hype of excitement, we gradually steer along a downhill route towards Muktinath. The descent catches momentum and becomes steeper along the 50 metres massive glacier. Continuing on the steep trail, we pass by a yak herders’ camp and then cross a stream to arrive at a cluster of huts. We then make our way through the meadows and eventually arrive at the Muktinath, which happens to be a pious Hindu pilgrimage site. We must’ve already gotten too weary and jaded to think about anything but a square dinner and tight sleep. We have a rest day tomorrow at Muktinath, which will hopefully rejuvenate us. Overnight at teahouse in Muktinath; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 14: Free day in Muktinath

Well, let’s not recall the tills and toils we had yesterday, rather, let’s be happy and proud about having accomplished it! We have a brand new day to explore this highly visited pilgrimage site; of course if you are not too lethargic to move out. We can pay a visit to the Muktinath temple complex and offer our prayers. It is a temple dedicated to the Hindu diety- Lord Vishnu (regarded as a Preserver and has 10 incarnations). Every year, a flock of Hindu as well as Buddhist pilgrims visit the site. Overnight at teahouse in Muktinath; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 15: Trek from Muktinath to Jomsom (2710 m/ 5 - 6 hrs)

Wake up creaking and cracking the knuckles. After launching on the much awaited breakfast at Muktinath, we set off on our footy journey to Jomsom. Most often than not, the routes are downhill through the meadows. A gradual 3 hrs descent from Muktinath, along the banks of the Kaligandaki river brings us to Kagbeni (a settlement of mud houses in upper Mustang). Trailing ahead, we pass through the settlements of Ranipauwa and Jharkot. We then walk through the barren fields for about 2 – 3 hrs before we finally arrive at Jomsom, a village that boasts of splendid vistas and the best collection of trekking hotels and lodges. Overnight at teahouse in Jomsom; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 16: Flight from Jomsom to Pokhara (820m ) and Flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu (1400m/ 25min)

We board on a 20 minutes’ scenic flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, getting engrossed in the tantalizing mountainous panorama of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range. Once at Pokhara, we can either find a connecting flight (25 mins) or drive (6 -7 hrs) all the way to Kathmandu. Upon your arrival a representative from Marron Treks will receive and transfer you to your designated hotel. You have just gotten back from a long trip, so you would probably want to groom yourself and relax. Try out the herbal spa and do away the trekking fatigue. You have an extra day at Kathmandu tomorrow. Overnight at  hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

Day 17: Free day in Kathmandu
This would be the day when you would probably want to indulge yourself in some souvenir shopping. Thamel is your hot spot for shopping. Hoard anything that strikes you but make sure you portray yourself as a bit shrewd when it comes to bargaining. Once you are done, get back to the hotel and do some packing. We have the last bit of fun still in store for you. In the evening, Marron Treks will host a dinner program featuring a range of traditional Nepali cuisines and cultural show. Cut loose but sleep tight. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.
 

Day 18: Final departure to your homeland

Unless you would want to extend your trip and try out some of our other adventurous packages like Bungy Jumping, Mountain Biking, Jungle Safari, White Water Rafting, Golfing & Paragliding etc., this will be your last day in Nepal. A representative from Marron Treks will escort you to the airport for the final departure to your homeland. It is advisable to reach the airport, 3 hrs prior to the flight schedule.Have a safe flight back home. Please let us know about your desire for trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements.



 

  Important  Snippets  

The itinerary prescribed above is the standard template of the trip plan offered by Marron Treks which can be readily customized to match the guests’ preferences. However, the guests are expected to understand that the execution of the trip plan might be circumvented by an array of uncontrollable factors like bad weather, political turmoil, strikes, blockades and other unforeseen contingencies. Besides, the domestic flights in Nepal could be subjected to delays or cancellations owing to adverse weather conditions or technical glitches. It is worth mentioning that the flights cannot be operated in the condition where the visibility is less than 1600 meters. Under such abnormal circumstances, the trip plans might undergo slight or sharp alterations, taking into consideration, the best interest of the clients. Wherever the changes are made, Marron Treks cannot be held responsible for the consequences. Nevertheless, we shall endeavor our level best to make sure that the trip is carried out with respect to the original trip specifics.

Accommodation

During Annapurna Round Trek we will accommodate you in 3 star or 5 star hotels like Hotel Royal Singhi (3 star), Hotel Manaslu (3 star), Radisson (5 star), Yak & Yeti (5 star) or similar in Kathmandu City. 

In Pokhara City, we accomodate you in 3 star or 5 star hotels like Base Camp Resort (3 Star), Mt. Kailash (3 star) , Fishtail Lodge (5 star) , Shangrila Village (5 star) or similar.

Along the trekking route, there are many Tea House/ Lodges to stay. They provide good services. We will ensure you get the best of the services available so that you enjoy every bit of your trek. 

Meals

We arrange the best quality food during the trek as we are concerned about the health of the trekkers as well as the staff members. Basically, we opt for locally available food in the Annapurna Region so that you could a real sense of the culture, living patterns, simultaneously promoting the locally available resources of organic food and beverages. Other than, a wide range of Continental, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisines like Pizza, Spaghetti, French Fries, Soups, Breads etc are also available for your retreat.

Porter and Staff Care

We ensure that all the porters and other staffs going to high altitude conditions are provided with adequate clothing and equipments. They are the backbones of a trek.

Best Months

January - June & September - December are considered to be the best months for Annapurna Round Trek.

Any Experience Required ?

No former experience required. Physical fitness is the only key to accomplish this trek.

Difficulties

Crossing the Thorang-La Pass could pose a bit of a problem to the trekkers. This is obvious, because one has to make a move to the highest point of the trek, a staggering 5416 metres ! The best way to counter this oddity, is to walk gradually in an anti-clockwise direction. Apart from this, there is nothing much to worry about if you have no physical limitations.

Our Guides

Guides play a very active role during the trek. Marron Treks has experienced and helpful treking guides who make your trip enjoyable as well as productive. Our guides are literate, multilingual speakers, environment conscious and well acquainted to culture, language, location and every single detail pertaining to the Annapurna Region . This would help our trekkers make the most of their trip.

Travel Insurance

It is advised that you arrange your travel insurance before leaving your homeland. The main thing is to make sure that your insurance covers you for both medical and evacuation costs. In some places it is not necessary but it would be better if you have the travel insurance with you all the time. That would make your trip safe and hassle free.

For more queries, visit our FAQ section or contact us directly at  marketing@marrontreks.com

Starting Price: USD XXXX (On request) on twin sharing accommodation basis.

For other special requirements or bigger group deals, kindly mail us directly at: marketing@marrontreks.com

Cost Includes

• Airport pick-up and drop services.
• Guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city.
• Applicable domestic airfare as per the itinerary.
• Entrance and monumental fees during the sightseeing in Kathmandu as prescribed in the itinerary.
• Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara on “BB” basis as per itinerary.
• All ground transportation costs in accordance to the itinerary.
• All trekking accommodation costs on full board (B, L, D) basis as per the itinerary. The accommodation will be in the guesthouses/ lodges/ teahouses on twin sharing basis but occasionally in the common dormitory (esp. during peak tourist seasons).
• Four seasonal sleeping bag (to be returned after trip completion) duffel bag, t-shirt and Cap (provided as complimentary gears).
• A comprehensive medical kit (will be carried by the trekking guide).
• Salary to guide and porters for the trekking period.
• Personal insurance for crew members.
• All applicable tourist fees, conservation fees, "special permit" fees & TIMS fees necessary for trekking.
• All government and local taxes.
• Farewell dinner with live Nepalese cultural program.

Cost Excludes

• International airfare and departure taxes.
• Personal travel insurance.
• Lunch & dinner expenses incurred before or after the trekking period.
• Emergency rescue evacuation (to be covered by the client's travel insurance).
• Nepal entry visa fee – Visa can be obtained upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days costs US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days costs US $40 and $ 100 respectively. You will need a valid passport and 2 copies of your recent PP sized photos).
• Tips to the guide, porter, driver, hotel and tea-house staff (Tipping is expected).
• Bar bills, alcoholic drinks & beverages.
• Excess baggage charges (luggage allowance for domestic airlines in Nepal is 20 kgs.)
• Personal insurance and other expenses of personal nature (phone calls, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, hot shower etc.).
• Cost of personal trekking gears and equipments (kindly refer to our equipment lists: http://www.marrontreks.com/itineraries/186-25/annapurna-round-trek-18-days.html#equipment-list )
• Cost incurred due to the addition of extra days or change in the real course of the itinerary because of bad weather conditions, political turmoil or any other unforeseen contingencies.
• Garbage deposit fees (refundable).
• Any other expenses not mentioned in the 'Cost Includes' section above.

Departure Date

Marron Treks has calibrated fixed departure dates for all the trek packages. We operate group as well as individual/private treks. Please pick the most palpable date for you and book your trip now. If the dates below don’t fit your schedule, kindly contact us directly and let us know about your preference.