Annapurna Circuit
Description
- Name Annapurna Circuit
- Length of trail 250 km, 155 miles
- Length in days 18 days
- Start of trail Nayapul
- End of trail Besi Sahar
- Traildino grading SW, Strenuous walk, mountain trail
- Hut tour grading T2, Mountain walk
18 days.
The classic trek, hiking around the Annapurna Circuit, “The Best Trek in the World”, may soon be a thing of the past. Even in 2007 some 70.000 hikers registered at Jomsom. This was coming close to the number of 76.000 reached in the year 2000, before the communist uprising.
But now, there is a road into the valley of the Kali Gandaki up to Muktinath, below Thorung La pass. In the Manang valley, on the other side of the Annapurna massif, a road is under construction. Although the road is not asphalted, walking is very dull and tiring along a wide dusty stretch with passing jeeps. Nevertheless it will cause the old pathways to fall into disuse eventually. Possibly, sufficient good alternatives will remain. Also the trek to Annapurna Sanctuary, the climb to Poon Hill, and for the toughest hikers the circuit between Thorung La and the 5000 m high Tilicho Lake, will continue to attract hikers.
Trekking the Annapurna Circuit takes about 18 days. Starting point is Pokhara, a peaceful hippie-town on the shores of pictur-esque Phewa Lake, with a view on the snow-capped Himalaya. From there most hikers catch a bus to the town of Besi Sahar, and start hiking up the deep valley of the Marsyandi. In a week's time you will gain over 5000 m in altitude, and pass through all kinds of biotopes, from rice growing villages of the Gunung to Tibetan barley fields. Along the way you will see lovely villages, pass countless mule caravans and forests of rhodondendron. As you enter deeper into the valley, you will get a better view of the Annapurna III and the Gangapurna. There are alternative trails higher up along the slopes: be sure to take these for superb views.
The valley ends in a wild alpine environment, and for many hikers the climb across Thorung La (5416 m) will be their metaphorical 'high'. Climbing across is exciting, but not without danger, and above all exhausting. In October 2014 dozens of people died when they got trapped in a blizzard while descending from Thorung La to Muktinath.
After reaching the western side of the massif, the trail leads through the Tibetan style towns of Muktinath and Kagbeni into the valley of the Kali Gandaki. It ends with yet another 3 day hike to Poon Hill, from where you can enjoy a final overview of a large portion of the Himalaya. Finally you will reach the main road near the village of Nayapul, at about an hour's drive by bus or taxi to Pokhara.
Some practicalities: the hike is technically easy, but requires a lot of stamina. Finding a place for the night is easy, as there is a wide choice of lodges. However, it does get busy in October, and also in November and April. During the monsoon in June, July and August hikers are few. The majority of hikers set out on the Annapurna Circuit in an anti-clockwise direction. The reason is, from the eastern side there are more lodges, enabling you to cut the climb up Thorung La pass into several short stretches. Starting from Muktinath on the west side is also possible, but implicates a single stretch climb of 1600 m, starting at an altitude of 3800 m.
Opinions

- patacon February 2014
- Rate 10
- Positive Logisticly very easy to acces and hike. confortable because you dont have to bring a tent or cooking gear (which I actually missed at the sametime). Incredible landscapes sourrounded by the highest mountains in the worl!

- Helen November 2003
- Rate 8
- Positive Great variety in landscape and villages along the way. Crossing Thorung La was a huge achievement.

- Henk Nouws December 2008
- Rate 8
- Positive Colorful. Crossing the Thorung La pass is unforgettable. Wild mountain scenery. Kind people.
- Negative The road ...

- Traildino December 2008
- Rate 8
- Positive Incredible mountain scenery. The crossing of Thorung-la - 5.400+ - is spectacular. The people are very kind and interesting. At the end of December one is virtually alone.
- Negative The new road is great for the villagers, but not for walking. In places, one can still find the old path, but it's withering away. Thorung-has no road of course.
Map
Hike Reports

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Annapurna circuit
- Patrick Mahaffey February 2009
- I hiked for 4 weeks with my teenaged daughter along the classic 'Annapurna Circuit' trek. It was one of the best hikes in the world between huge Himalyan mountains and past charming medieval stone villages. Sadly, a road had been completed along...

Photo Albums

More photos albums…
Links
Facts
- Annapurna Circuit
Excellent introduction and trail description by YetiZone.
- A New Annapurna Circuit? | Gadling.com
About this road ... and alternatives.
- Annapurna - Peakware
The mountain on Peakware.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project
Nature conservation projects of KMTNC
- Annapurna trekking in nepal, circuit and sanctuary
Informative website of many aspects of the Annapurna Trek.
- SummitPost - Annapurna I -- Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering
Facts for Climbers.
- Trekking in Nepal: Change on the Horizon
Memories from William L. Pohl. Good overview.
Reports
- 2008 December « The Daily Explorer
Recent blog from The Daily Explorer. Lots of pictures.
- Annapurna Circuit
Lengthy diary, trip made in April 2009.
- SummitPost - Annapurna Circuit
A trip report, hike in 2005.
- A Visit to Nepal
A trek back in 1994
- Annapurna
A brief journal and some photographs.
- Annapurna Circuit trek Photo Gallery by Piotr Zycki at pbase.com
Trek made in 2005.
- Annapurna Circuit Trek, a 20-Day Journey in the Nepalese Himalaya
Trip report, with some video's too. Travel story by Vagabonding.com
- Annapurna Circuit Trek/Nepal Himalaya
Lots of practical tips and very good pictures in this report
- Annapurna Circuit trekking – photo gallery, photos of Nepal
A big big photo gallery
- Annapurna Runde 2008 (German)
Diary of the complete circuit. Pretty picture gallery ("Bildergalerie")
- Birding trip report - Nepal - (Annapurna circuit)
List of bird observations
- Nepal - Trek Around Annapurna - Photo Gallery
Gallery from a trip back in 1994.
- Nepal Annapurna Trek photo gallery - 129 high quality pictures of The Annapurna Trek, stock photos
Beautiful pictures, and a very thick layer of snow on Thorung La pass.
- Nepal Trip
Trip Diary.
- Nepal Trip Report
This trip report is from 1995.
- topicwise.com: Hiking: The Annapurnas, by Jill Lundmark
A month in Nepal ... Here is the trail journal with all the details of the journey, 2009.
- Travelers Tales: The Annapurna Circuit
Short report
- [Nepal] Entre Annapurna et Dhaulagiri (French)
Not exactly the Annapurna Circuit, but a variant heading west to Dhaulagiri. Trip diary and fine pictures.
- Steve's 2006 Annapurna Circuit Journal
Trailjournal at trailjournals.com.
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
- Mount Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The Mount Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Nepal starts from Hille. After the jeep journey from Pokhara trekkers start their walking trip from Hille to Ulleri.
- Trekking Adventure in Nepal Himalayas
Find detail information of Trekking routes, trails on Mt. Everest Trek, Annapurna and Manaslu trekking with other popular non tourist hiking destination of Nepal
GPS
Other
Books

United Kingdom
- The Great Himalaya Trail N5
- The Annapuma & Mustang Section Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Annapurna and Mustang
- Annapurna and Mustang area in the Newgrove Consultants’ series covering the course of Great Himalaya Trail High Route at 1:100,000 on nine maps printed on light, waterproof and tear-resistant plastic paper. The map is double-sided, with a very generous overlap between the sides, and covers the GHT High Route between the Niwar Pass, across the... Read more

United Kingdom
- Dolpa
- Dolpa region in the Newgrove Consultants’ series covering the course of Great Himalaya Trail High Route at 1:100,000 on nine maps printed on light, waterproof and tear-resistant plastic paper. The map is double-sided, with a very generous overlap between the sides, and covers the GHT High Route between Nengla Bhanjyang in the Shey-Phoksundo... Read more

Netherlands
- The Gurung Heritage Trail
- Trekkers wishing to meet few other foreigners will enjoy The Gurung Heritage Trail. Village panoramas with a Himalaya backdrop offer unparalleled beauty, and the cultural interaction can be even more rewarding than the views. This book provides the essentials for entering the heart of Gurung country and an inroad to the lifestyle of Nepal s... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- The Gurung Heritage Trail
- Trekkers wishing to meet few other foreigners will enjoy The Gurung Heritage Trail. Village panoramas with a Himalaya backdrop offer unparalleled beauty, and the cultural interaction can be even more rewarding than the views. This book provides the essentials for entering the heart of Gurung country and an inroad to the lifestyle of Nepal s... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium

Netherlands
- Outside Adventure Travel
- Follow in the footsteps of early twentieth-century explorers on twenty treks spanning six continents that range from Everest Base Camp to a pilgrimage across the Pyrenees. They include: the mysterious Ruwenzori mountains in the heart of Africa; five classic Himalayan tours, including the Annapurna Circuit and seldom-visited Snow Lake; an... Read more

Belgium
- Outside Adventure Travel
- Follow in the footsteps of early twentieth-century explorers on twenty treks spanning six continents that range from Everest Base Camp to a pilgrimage across the Pyrenees. They include: the mysterious Ruwenzori mountains in the heart of Africa; five classic Himalayan tours, including the Annapurna Circuit and seldom-visited Snow Lake; an... Read more

Netherlands
- Getting High
- What is the best way for the average person to authentically experience the world's greatest mountain range--the Himalayas? Fortunately, there is now a good answer. The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal is the most popular footpath in Asia. Its genius lies in its design. Trekkers wind their way around and along some of the world's greatest peaks,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Getting High
- What is the best way for the average person to authentically experience the world's greatest mountain range--the Himalayas? Fortunately, there is now a good answer. The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal is the most popular footpath in Asia. Its genius lies in its design. Trekkers wind their way around and along some of the world's greatest peaks,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2017
- Annapurna
- An essential guidebook to the Annapurna region - the most popular trekking area in Nepal. Fourteen diverse treks are described including the classic Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Sanctuary as well as treks in the lesser known Machhapuchhre area, the foothills of Lamjung Himal and restricted areas - Mustang, Damodar and Nar-Phu. Read more

Belgium
2017
- Annapurna
- An essential guidebook to the Annapurna region - the most popular trekking area in Nepal. Fourteen diverse treks are described including the classic Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Sanctuary as well as treks in the lesser known Machhapuchhre area, the foothills of Lamjung Himal and restricted areas - Mustang, Damodar and Nar-Phu. Read more

Netherlands
2017
- Wandelgids Annapurna - A Trekker's Guide - Nepal | Cicerone
- A comprehensive trekking guidebook to the Annapurna region - the most popular trekking area in Nepal. Fourteen diverse treks are described including the classic Annapurna Circuit and the Annapurna Sanctuary as well as treks in the lesser known Machhapuchhre area, the foothills of Lamjung Himal and restricted areas - Mustang, Damodar and Nar-Phu. Read more
Maps

United Kingdom
- Annapurna
- Annapurna region at 1:100,000 in a series of detailed topographic maps of selected trekking areas of Nepal originally prepared by E. Schneider and now edited by the German Scientific Association of Comparative High-Mountain Research (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für vergleichende Hochgebirgsforschung). The map covers the whole of the Annapurna Circuit,... Read more

United Kingdom
- Around Annapurna (100K)
- The whole of the Annapurna Circuit highlighted on a map at 1:100,000 from Nepa Maps, with alternative variants via the Tilicho Lakes or Naar, treks to the Machhapuchhre and South Annapurna Base Camps, climbing routes to the Chulu Peaks, Pisang Peak and Singu Chuli (Fluted Peak), etc. Coverage extends from Pohkara to Muktinath and Kagbeni in the... Read more

United Kingdom
- Tilicho Hidden Lake
- Tilicho Lake on the northern slopes of the Annapurna massif at 1:50,000 in the Nepa Maps series which provides extensive coverage of trekking areas of Nepal on detailed contoured maps with trekking routes and hiking trails, huts and camp sites, local places of interest and other tourist information.The map covers the trekking route from... Read more

United Kingdom
- Annapurna Trekking Atlas
- Trekking Atlas of the Annapurna region from the Kolkata/Calcutta based Milestone Books, combining 15 maps at scales from 1:50,000 to 1:82,000 and an overview map of the whole Annapurna Circuit at 1:125,000. The main Annapurna circuit via Muktinath and Jomson is presented on 12 pages, with three more pages covering the eastern approaches to the... Read more

United Kingdom
- Biking Around Annapurna
- Annapurna Cycling Circuit from Nepa Maps, shown on a series of panels at 1:75,000 with detailed information of the difficulty of the terrain indicating sections where the bike has to be carried or pushed, overnight stops, altitude profiles, etc.A general map at 1:227,000 with relief shading shows the whole of the Eagle’s Loop biking circuit... Read more

United Kingdom
- Around Annapurna (125K)
- The whole of the Annapurna Circuit prominently highlighted on a map at 1:125,000 from Nepa Maps with alternative variants via the Tilicho Lakes or Naar, treks to the Machhapuchhre and South Annapurna Base Camps, climbing routes to the Chulu Peaks, Pisang Peak and Singu Chuli (Fluted Peak), etc. Coverage extends from Pohkara to Muktinath and... Read more

United Kingdom
- Pisang Peak
- Trekking routes to the Pisang Peak from the northern part of the Annapurna Circuit presented on a contoured and GP compatible map at 1:50,000 from Nepa Maps with a vivid presentation of the region’s mountainous terrain. The Annapurna Circuit is clearly highlighted on the map, which covers it from Thoche east of Chame, past Manang, to Ledar... Read more

United Kingdom
- Ghorepani - Ghandruk
- Trekking area north-west of Pokhara, around Ghandruk and Ghrorepani in the south-western part of the Annapurna Conservation Area, presented on a map at 1:50,000 from Nepa Maps. Coverage extends north to Tatopani and includes a section of the Annapurna Circuit, prominently marked to distinguish it from other trekking routes. The map also... Read more

United Kingdom
- Chulus
- Trekking routes to the Chulu peaks from the northern part of the Annapurna Circuit presented on a contoured and GP compatible map at 1:50,000 from Nepa Maps with a vivid presentation of the region’s mountainous terrain. The Annapurna Circuit is clearly highlighted on the map, which covers it from Thoche east of Chame, past Manang, to Ledar... Read more

United Kingdom
- Mustang Great Himalaya Trail Map
- Mustang, map no. 108, at 1:100,000 on a waterproof and tear-resistant trekking map from the Himalayan MapHouse in their series covering the whole of northern Nepal. The map shows the region north of the upper section of the Annapurna Circuit, beyond Jomsom/Jomosom and Muktinath, and highlights the route to Garphu, the Mustang to Phu trek, the... Read more

United Kingdom
- Nepal Adventure Map
- Nepal Adventure Map from the National Geographic presenting the country at 1:625,000 on light, waterproof and tear-resistant synthetic paper, with a large panel showing the main sights and facilities in the Kathmandu – Patan area.The map is double-sided, dividing the country east/west with a good overlap between the sides. Topography is... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
- Nepal
- Waterproof Tear-Resistant Travel MapNational Geographic's Nepal AdventureMap is the most authoritative map for touring the country. Each waterproof and tear-resistant map provides travelers with the perfect combination of detail and perspective, highlighting points of interest for those venturing outside city centers.This durable, folded... Read more

Belgium
- Nepal
- Waterproof Tear-Resistant Travel MapNational Geographic's Nepal AdventureMap is the most authoritative map for touring the country. Each waterproof and tear-resistant map provides travelers with the perfect combination of detail and perspective, highlighting points of interest for those venturing outside city centers.This durable, folded... Read more

Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart 3000 Adventure Map Nepal | National Geographic
- Nepal Adventure Map from the National Geographic presenting the country at 1:625,000 on light, waterproof and tear-resistant synthetic paper, with a large panel showing the main sights and facilities in the Kathmandu – Patan area.The map is double-sided, dividing the country east/west with a good overlap between the sides. Topography is... Read more

United Kingdom
- Damodar Himal
- Damodar Himal on the northern edge of the Annapurna Conservation area presented by Nepa Maps at 1:50,000 on a map extending from Phu northwards to the Gaurigi and Bhrikuti peaks and west to Muktinath and Ghiling (Geling). Contours are at 40m intervals, with heights for numerous peaks and colouring for the glaciated areas. The map highlights... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart CL812 Climbing Damodir Himal - Saribung | Himalayan Maphouse
- Damodar Himal on the northern edge of the Annapurna Conservation area presented by Nepa Maps at 1:50,000 on a map extending from Phu northwards to the Gaurigi and Bhrikuti peaks and west to Muktinath and Ghiling (Geling). Contours are at 40m intervals, with heights for numerous peaks and colouring for the glaciated areas. The map highlights... Read more

Netherlands
- Wandelkaart NP108 Mustang - Nepal | Himalayan Maphouse
- Mustang, map no. 108, at 1:100,000 on a waterproof and tear-resistant trekking map from the Himalayan MapHouse in their series covering the whole of northern Nepal. The map shows the region north of the upper section of the Annapurna Circuit, beyond Jomsom/Jomosom and Muktinath, and highlights the route to Garphu, the Mustang to Phu trek, the... Read more

United Kingdom
2016
- Nepal Reise Know-How
- Nepal on an indexed, waterproof and tear-resistant road map, ideal for locating the country`s numerous famous peaks, with topographic and tourist information, and enlargements for Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan regions, plus Bhaktapur. The map, published by Reise Know-How as part of their highly acclaimed World Mapping Project, is double-sided... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2016
- Wegenkaart - landkaart Nepal | Reise Know-How Verlag
- Nepal on an indexed, waterproof and tear-resistant road map, ideal for locating the country`s numerous famous peaks, with topographic and tourist information, and enlargements for Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan regions, plus Bhaktapur. The map, published by Reise Know-How as part of their highly acclaimed World Mapping Project, is double-sided... Read more