Annapurna Circuit Treks are multi-day treks that loop around the Annapurna massif in central Nepal and cross Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m. The route climbs the Marsyangdi valley through Chame, Pisang and Manang, then descends to Muktinath and the Kali Gandaki valley. The trails pass Gurung, Manangi and Thakali villages, pine forest, dry high-altitude hills and apple orchards, with close views of Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Gangapurna and Dhaulagiri. Muktinath, the first stop after the pass, is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. The Short Annapurna Circuit Trek is the quickest way to make the full pass crossing in 8 days.
Choose the trek that fits your time, interest and appetite for altitude. The 8 day Short Annapurna Circuit Trek drives to Chame, has five walking days with a rest day in Manang, and ends in Pokhara. The 11 day Classic Main Route covers the same Chame to Muktinath section but starts and ends in Kathmandu with hotel nights and welcome and farewell dinners. The 15 day trek with Tilicho Lake adds Tilicho Lake at 4,920 m before the pass and flies you from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The 15 day trek with Poon Hill starts walking at Dharapani and adds a rest day at the Tatopani hot springs and a Poon Hill sunrise. The 18 day trek adds Mustang villages, Kali Gandaki rafting and a Chitwan National Park safari.
Thamel Travels and Tours offers Annapurna Circuit trek packages for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Every package page lists what is included and what is not, and every itinerary has a full rest day in Manang before the pass. Our local team plans the permits, teahouse stays and guides, and supports you from your first enquiry to your departure. Browse the treks below, check the best seasons (September to November and March to May), or contact us to talk through dates, route and pace.
What Makes These Treks Special
Cross Thorong La Pass and Reach Muktinath
You will cross Thorong La at 5,416 m on all five treks, starting before sunrise from Thorong Phedi or High Camp. You will then descend to Muktinath at 3,760 m to see its 108 water spouts and eternal flame.
Rest and Acclimatize in Manang
You will spend a full day in Manang at 3,540 m with Annapurna III and Gangapurna above the rooftops. You can walk to Gangapurna Lake, visit Braga Monastery or take an optional hike to Ice Lake.
Walk to Tilicho Lake
You will trek from Manang through Siri Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp to Tilicho Lake at 4,920 m, the world’s highest altitude lake, on the 15 day Tilicho Lake trek.
Enjoy Tatopani Hot Springs and Poon Hill Sunrise
You will rest in the natural hot springs at Tatopani beside the Kali Gandaki River, then climb through rhododendron forest to Ghorepani. From Poon Hill at 3,210 m, you will see Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and Annapurna I on the 15 day Poon Hill trek.
Combine Trekking, Rafting and Wildlife
You will walk the circuit, visit Kagbeni and Marpha in Mustang, raft the Kali Gandaki with two nights in a riverside camp, and finish with a jeep safari, canoe ride and elephant breeding centre visit in Chitwan on the 18 day package.
Package Highlights
Package | Grade | Route Highlights |
Short Annapurna Circuit Trek, 8 Days | Challenging | Drive to Chame, Upper Pisang, Manang rest day, Yak Kharka, Thorong Phedi or High Camp, Thorong La Pass, Muktinath, drive to Pokhara |
Annapurna Circuit Trek, Classic Main Route, 11 Days | Challenging | Chame, Upper Pisang, Ghyaru and Ngawal, Manang rest day, Thorong La Pass, Muktinath, Jomsom, Pokhara, return to Kathmandu |
Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake, 15 Days | Challenging | Chame, Pisang, Manang rest day, Siri Kharka, Tilicho Base Camp, Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass, Muktinath, Pokhara, flight to Kathmandu |
Annapurna Circuit Trek with Poon Hill, 15 Days | Challenging | Dharapani, Chame, Manang rest day, Thorong La Pass, Muktinath, Jomsom, Tatopani hot springs, Ghorepani, Poon Hill sunrise, Pokhara |
Annapurna Circuit Trek with Mustang, Rafting and Chitwan Safari, 18 Days | Moderate to challenging | Kathmandu sightseeing, Chame, Manang rest day, Thorong La Pass, Muktinath, Kagbeni, Marpha, Tatopani, Kali Gandaki rafting, Chitwan safari |
Permit and Visa for Annapurna Circuit Treks
Requirement | Who needs it | Cost | Good to know |
Nepal tourist visa, 15 days | Most foreign passport holders | US$30 | Valid for multiple entries. Enough for the 8 and 11 day treks. |
Nepal tourist visa, 30 days | Most foreign passport holders | US$50 | Better for the 15 and 18 day treks. It gives you a buffer if flights or mountain roads are delayed. |
Nepal tourist visa, 90 days | Most foreign passport holders | US$125 | For longer stays. |
Visa for Indian and SAARC citizens | Indian and SAARC passport holders | Indian citizens need no visa. | Other SAARC citizens, except Afghan citizens, get up to 30 days free on a first visit in a visa year. |
Visa extension | Anyone who stays longer | US$3 per day, with a minimum of 15 days | Done at the immigration offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara. |
Passport | Everyone | No fee | Valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date, with one blank page. |
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) | Every foreign trekker | NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals. NPR 3,000 is about US$23. | One fee covers the whole trek. Children under 10 are exempt. Included in all five of our packages. |
Licensed trekking guide | Foreign trekkers in the Annapurna Conservation Area | Included in our packages | Required since April 2023. |
