Mini Annapurna Circuit Trek

Before jumping out to Annapurna region, we are going to take you a one day sightseeing tour which will let you visit some of the most iconic historical and religious places of Kathmandu city. So, after having your breakfast, you get inside a tour vehicle which is going to transport you to the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The first place we stopover is the magnificent Swayambhunath Stupa or also referred to as The Monkey Temple due to its large population of monkeys. Atop the stupa, you get a very scenic view of the entire Kathmandu city being surrounded by lush green hills and snowcapped mountains which truly is a sight worth remembering. Next is the holy Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath which is believed to be a very important site for the devotes of Lord Shiva. Similarly, Boudhanath stupa will be our next stop. This stupa with its very large central dome and several fluttering prayer flags is the largest Buddhist monastery in Nepal. Not only that but its unique mixture of touristic cafes and market areas make it one of the best touristic places in the city. Last but not the least, a short detour around the historical heritage site of Kathmandu Durbar Square where the ancient kings of the valley used to live will mark the end of our sightseeing tour.

A short pre-trek meeting will be arranged in the evening before your return to your hotel rooms for the night. You get to meet and interact with your trekking guide who will accompany you entirely during your trek and he will make sure that no complications/issues arise. Stay overnight at Kathmandu.

Accommodation: Kathmandu Hotel – Included Meal: B

Keeping our schedules tight, we now make a move towards Besisahar which is a small local town located in the western region of Nepal. We wake up early, have our breakfast and then make swift approach towards our transport vehicle for a scenic drive following a popular highway alongside beautiful rivers and hills. Passing through several villages, towns and after crossing many bridges, we arrive at the famous lake side city of Pokhara where tourism flourishes vibrantly everywhere. As soon as we reach Pokhara, we are greeted with a very picturesque view of the Himalayan mountains reflecting in the tranquil Phewa Lake. Moreover, green farmlands and villages await our arrival as we head towards Besisahar. After reaching Besisahar, we make a last hour drive to Syange by following a trail alongside Marshyandi River. If Syange has a stable weather condition then trekkers from there can see a wide range of mountains majestically standing up in the northern skyline. Himalchuli, Ngadichuli and Manaslu mountain range are some of the best seen mountains from Syange village. Stay overnight at Syange village.

Driving Time: 7-8 hrs - Accommodation: Local lodge - Included Meal: B, L, D

Leaving away Syange village we now head towards our next destination of Dharapani. Further ahead, the Marshyangdi valley starts getting narrower and narrower but is filled with more vibrant vegetation. The trail gets accompanied by beautiful green forests and numerous waterfalls tend to occupy our sight which either fall over the outskirts of our trails where as others fall directly over our trek route which adds more to adventure. Landscape dramatically alters with deep gorges and complimentary views of the Himalayas. One of the first places we come upon is a village called Tal which is situated at a plateau surrounded by hills and also consists a huge waterfall. Here we have our lunch and then start heading further for few more hours to arrive at Dharapani village. This village is the place where the Manaslu Circuit trail adjoins with the Annapurna Circuit trek trail. Stay overnight at Dharapani.

Walking Time: 6-7 hrs - Accommodation: Local lodge - Included Meal: B, L, D

With amazing views of Mt. Manaslu and Annapurna range, we leave Dharapani as we need to reach Chame today. Initially after walking for about 2 hours, trekkers reach a village called Danakyue but before that we pass through Bagarchap village which is on our way to Chame village. After here, we now climb our way up to another village called Temang where the spectacular views of the gorgeous Manaslu range can’t be held back. The trail is mostly covered with fir and pine trees but nonetheless it will be a remarkable journey as we move our way up towards Thanchok village which is just between Temang and Chame village. As the sun starts to set, we reach our final destination of Chame village with in 1 hour from Thanchok village. Stay overnight at Chame.

Walking Time: 5-6 hrs - Accommodation: Local lodge - Included Meal: B, L, D

Marching our way ahead, we now have to leave Chame after having proper breakfast. Our trail today takes us further north and up to Pisang village. But before that we have to cross a suspension bridge over the Marshyangdi River and enjoy the beautiful scenery of forests filled with pine trees. One of the first places that we reach today is Brathang village which holds great historical value as it once served as a place for refugee Tibetans to fight against the ongoing takeover of Tibet by China. But since then this place has changed a lot as it now is a place widely known for its locally grown apples and other marketed apple products. As we hike higher and higher, we now can see that the number of waterfalls starts decreasing. Here onward, the trail gets even more steeper but it shall be a very refreshing experience for you while you make some final attempts to reach Pisang village. Later after walking for about 6 hours we arrive at Pisang village where we put away our luggage for the rest of the day and just relax for the time being. Enjoy local delicacies and then go to bed as we have yet another day full of adventure lined up tomorrow. Stay overnight at Pisang.

Walking Time: 5-6 hrs - Accommodation: Local lodge - Included Meal: B, L, D

Today we continue through the drier upper part of the Manang district, cut off from the full effect of the monsoon by the Annapurna Range. People of this region herd the yaks and raise crops for a part of the year. Leaving Pisang, we have alternate trails form the north and the south of the Marshyangdi River which meets up again at Mungji. The southern route by Hongde, with its airstrip at 3,325m, involves less climbing than the northern route via Ghyaru and Ngawal villages. For better views we take the northern route, i.e. through upper Pisang that follows the northern bank of the river. We come across a very picturesque village clinging on to a cliff side where the houses appear to be stacked on top of each other. Its Bragha village dominated by the oldest monastery of the region which is more than 500 years old. Upon reaching Manang, The rest of the day can be spent walking around the village and visiting the monastery and enjoying the view from the lodge and acclimatizing.

Walking Time: 3-4 hrs. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B, L, D

We spend a day acclimatizing in Manang. It is recommended to stay active and take short walk to higher altitude is suggested to get acclimatized with the altitude. The whole day we spend doing some fine day walks and viewing the magnificent sights around the village. The upcoming next two days will be very demanding and tiring trek for us with swift gain in altitude. We should never be too confident with the altitude and should always be watchful. Bodzo Gompa or Gangapurna Lake is worth visiting sites from acclimatization point of view. Manang village houses Himalayan Rescue Association. Volunteer western doctors work here during the trekking seasons helping educate trekkers and researching on Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). An altitude talk is held here every afternoon, which is definitely worthwhile attending.

Walking Time: 3-4 hrs. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B, L, D

Continuing on from Manang we cross a stream and then the trail ascends by nearly 500m to Yak Kharka. We make the climb steadily through Tenki village. We descend as we head northward up the Jarsang Valley to cross the river then climb up to Yak Kharka. Herds of yaks and vegetations appear to thin out. We will feel noticeable difficulty breathing and other symptoms of altitude effects on us. We need to be more cautious from this point and drink a lot of water, walk slowly and steadily enjoying the views.

Walking Time: 4-5 hrs. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B, L, D

Today is a gentle climb enjoying the mountain views as we ascend to Throng Phedi. After about one hour into the walk we arrive to cross a bridge at Ledar, and a great view of the Chulu mountains. We can spot herds of Himalayan blue sheeps grazing in the slopes and we may also see herds of yaks too. The trail climbs steadily through Ledar and then drops down to cross the Jarsang Khola. After a steep climb and traverse of a scree slope we arrive at Thorung Phedi, a small busy settlement catering to the needs of tired trekkers and climbers. There will be an acclimatizing walk in the afternoon up the trail to the high camp; adhering to one of the golden rules of altitude “climb high and sleep low.” Sometimes depending upon the weather, season we may walk up to Thorung High Camp to make the next day easier.

Walking Time: 3-4 hrs. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B, L, D

Today is a long trek starting before sunrise at 4-5 am to reach the pass by 9-10am otherwise weather conditions (strong winds) will greatly affect the journey, particularly at the Thorung La Pass (5,416m). We climb steeply on a regular route which is quite easy to follow. However, some problems may arise due to the altitude and snow. It often causes terrible problems to cross the pass if it is covered by heavy snow. About four hours climb up to the pass marked by the chortens and prayer flags will reward you with stunning views from the top of the pass. The view that awaits us is a fantastic 360 degree panorama. As we turn back to appreciate the effort of the morning, looming straight ahead is Chulu West, following to the right are several of the Annapurnas that have been with us these last few days. The pass is nestled in between Yakgawa Kang (6481m) to the north and Khatung Gang (6484m) to the south. The Kali Gandaki Valley spreads out in front of us and rising from the valley floor some 2500m below are a whole new range of mountains. It is a gentle descent to start with but gets steeper as we get nearer the base of the pass. There are fantastic views of Dhaulagiri (8167m), Tukuche (6920m) and Nilgiri North (7069m) as we approach Muktinath. Muktinath is religiously significant for both Hindus and Buddhists and is a place of pilgrimage. You will see gompas, pagoda-style temples, and religious and culturally important architecture. Muktinath means place of Nirvana and is home to the Muktinath Temple as well as several monasteries. It is said that all sorrows you feel are relieved when visiting the Temple, which is a scared pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. The prime pilgrimage month is September. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has 108 waterspouts around it. Another attraction nearby is the Jwala Mai Temple which has a gorgeous natural spring and an eternal flame fueled by natural gas.

Walking Time: 7-8 hrs. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B, L, D

We will move through trail of Kagbeni to reach Jomsom. Today is comparatively easier downhill and level walk through through settlements of Jharkot and Eklebhatti settlements and then through wide Kali Ghandaki floodplains with fantastic views of Mustang valley, the Nilgiri Mountains and Dhaulagiri Ranges. Jomsom is a strong windy and a little cold valley but like the beautiful wet hills and the view of Tilicho mountain as well.

Walking Time: 4-5 hrs. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B, L, D

A 30-minute morning flight takes us to Pokhara from Jomsom. Once we arrive at Pokhara airport, we then drive to the hotel. In the afternoon either we relax in our hotel or may have a sightseeing tour around Pokhara valley, which covers Fewa Lake, Devi’s water fall, Museum, Tibetan refugee settlement and Gupteshower cave, etc.

Flight Time: 30 minutes. Accommodation: Pokhra Hotel. Included Meal: B

Note: You have the option to extend your trip with an extra day at Pokhara (Pokhara is a beautiful city to relax after a long trek), Chitwan jungle safari, rafting adventure, Bunjee Jumping, Kayaking, Canoeing, Kathmandu valley shopping tour, Bhaktapur and Patan sightseeing, scenic Everest flight, mountain biking and other activities.

We drive back to Kathmandu today. Try to get left pane of your vehicle to enjoy the greeneries, mountains, river gorges, villages and terraces during the drive. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.

Driving Time: 6 hrs. Accommodation: City Hotel. Included Meal: B

Your Mini-Annapurna Circuit Trek concludes today. Our airport representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu for your departure flight from Nepal. We hope beautiful Nepal, the magnificent Himalayan sceneries, and unique cultural experience you got along your Mini-Annapurna Circuit Trek will stay in your memory lifelong and you will go back home with a sense of achievement.

Included Meal: B