Trekker at the Thorung La pass - highesr point of Annapurna circuit in Nepal

13-day Annapurna Circuit by road

Name: 13-day Annapurna Circuit by road
Brand: Follow Alice
SKU: 1302472214
Price: 1590 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

Trips/Annapurna Circuit

13 days

The Annapurna Circuit is known around the world for its beautiful, varied landscapes and diverse cultures. This exciting itinerary is an affordable option as you travel to the Annapurnas and then back to Kathmandu by car. On the trek you can look forward to hiking through pretty forest, walking thrilling contour paths among towering peaks, and finally crossing the famed mountain pass Thorung La.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu

Our local leader meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and drives you to the hotel in Thamel, a vibey district of Kathmandu. If you arrive early enough, you may wish to spend the rest of the day exploring Thamel or wider Kathmandu a little. There are many iconic landmarks to appreciate, including the fifteenth-century Hindu temple Pashupatinath and the enormous Buddhist stupa Swayambhunath.

young couple at Durbar Sqaure in Patan city, Nepal

Day 2: Drive to Jagat (9-11 hr)

The adventure begins in earnest today as you hop into your private vehicle and drive northwest to reach the tiny village of Jagat (1,410 m). There's nothing quite like a road trip to give you a sense of a country. During the first portion of the drive you pass hills and farmlands, towns and villages, rivers and waterfalls. After about six hours of driving, you start wending your way up into the majestic Annapurna Mountains, and the going becomes slower. Your destination for the night is the traditional village of Jagat, whose inhabitants are mostly Gurung or Tibetan in ethnicity. Jagat sits perched high above the Marsyangdi River, so you get to end the day with a beautiful view of the steep and rugged valley walls rising up on either side.

Jagat Village, Marsyangdi River valley, Annapurna Mountains, Nepal

Day 3: Drive to Pisang (3 hr)

In the morning you drive even deeper into the mountains. And while it's sad to have to leave Jagat, you're heading towards another postcard-worthy mountain settlement: Pisang. Pisang is actually a village in two parts, with a long suspension footbridge separating the lower and upper portions. This being the case, you say goodbye to your driver in Lower Pisang and then cross the Marsyangdi River and climb to Upper Pisang (3,540 m), where you spend the night. Once again, you end the day with a breathtaking view, this time of half a dozen of the region's most notable peaks, including Annapurna II (7,937 m), Annapurna IV (7,525 m) and world-renowned Manaslu (8,163 m).

Vehicles on dirt road in lower temperate Annapurna Mountains

Day 4: Trek to Manang via Nyawal (6 hr)

You start trekking today! The trail leads you further up the Marsyangdi Valley, and the peaks of Annapurna II and IV remain your companions throughout the day. We take you along the high route, and so you pass through the historic village of Nawal (also spelled Nyawal or Ngawal), where you can visit the Guru Rinpoche Cave, an important site for Tibetan Buddhists. You end the day's hike in Manang (3,519 m), a regional hub. Manang has a distinctly Tibetan population and culture. Similarly to Jagat, the village's position on a cliff above the Marsyangdi River affords a great vantage point for incredible views in all directions.

Stone stairs through forest on Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Day 5: Day hike to Kicho Tal (6 hr)

You don't move on from Manang today as your body needs time to acclimatise. But a great way to acclimatise is to hike high during the day and then sleep low at night. So today you have the option of doing a challenging but highly rewarding roundtrip day hike to Kicho Tal (4,620 m), which sees you gain over a kilometre in elevation. Kicho Tal translates as Ice Lake, which is very appropriate as this glacial lake is often frozen over. You have a fantastic view of several peaks from the lake, including Tilicho Peak (7,134 m), Annapurna III (7,555 m) and Gangapurna (7,455 m).

Yaks by Kicho Tal (Ice Lake) near Manang, Annapurna Mountains, Nepal

Day 6: Acclimatisation day in Manang

Today is a rest day in Manang. Even those who don't feel tired will benefit from another acclimatisation day, as after this it's an all-out push for Thorung La mountain pass. You can visit the Himalayan Rescue Association’s clinic to learn about their stellar safety efforts and daring rescues. You could also walk the roughly 3 km trail to neighbouring village Braga, which is most memorable for the Tibetan Buddhist monastery that overlooks it from a high hill. The monastery welcomes visitors, who can admire its traditional architecture, intricately carved woodwork, various thangkas (Buddhist paintings), and impressive collection of religious artefacts.

Prayer wheels in village of Manang, Annapurna Mountains, Nepal

Day 7: Trek to Yak Kharka (6 hr)

Today you say goodbye to Manang and continue up the Marsyangdi Valley to reach the remote mountainside hamlet of Yak Kharka (4,018 m). During the hike today look for herds of grazing musk deer as well as Tibetan gazelles, blue sheep, yaks, kiangs (Tibetan wild asses) and golden jackals. As to birds, in this region of the mountains you might be able to spy the likes of Himalayan and Tibetan snowcocks, rosefinches and accentors. The trail today has a relatively gentle gradient, but by and by you climb well above the tree line to a world where only hardy shrubs can grow. Wonderfully, the peaks of Annapurna II, III and IV as well as Gangapurna are visible for most of the day.

Seated woman in red jacket looking down over small village in barren uplands of Annapurna Mountains on the Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Day 8: Trek to Thorung Phedi (5 hr)

This morning you continue up the valley towards Thorung Phedi (4,450 m), your final stopover before the mountain pass of Thorung La. It's a relatively short trek today, but the rarified air and extreme cold make it a real challenge, so don't expect a dawdle! The paths at this stage of the trek are mostly narrow contour paths that snake through bare or snow-covered mountainsides. The remoteness of the area and your proximity to the grand peaks is thrilling stuff. Thorung Phedi exists primarily to service trekkers like yourself, and so there's not much besides the few hotels. It goes without saying that the views in clear weather are utterly sublime.

Girl with backpack stands on the edge of the mountain overlooking the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas on Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal. (1)

Day 9: Trek to Ranipauwa via Thorung La (7 hr)

Today you climb up and over the snowclad mountain pass Thorung La (or Thorang La), which clocks in at a dizzying 5,416 m above sea level. The view from the pass is incomparable; you can look back east over the valley and peaks of the Manang district, as well as into the drier landscape of the Mustang district, where you are headed next. In the distance to the west you can also see the white-topped Dhaulagiri mountain range. The descent from Thorung La is a long and steep one that sees you lose nearly two vertical kilometres. So look after those knees! When you reach the town of Ranipauwa (3,700 m), your driver meets you and whisks you away to the south to the airport town of Jomsom, where hot showers beckon.

Thorung La mountain pass, Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Day 10: Drive to Jomsom via Kagbeni

Today you drive southwest with your overnight destination being the airport town of Jomsom (2,743 m). The journey takes you through the dry and dramatic landscape of Upper Mustang, which is very different from the greener scenes you experienced earlier on in your adventure. Mustang is also a wonderful region to visit as a foreigner as it was closed to tourists from 1962 to 1992, which helped it to retain its Tibetan identity and authentic traditions. Excitingly, en route to Jomsom you stop at Kagbeni, an ancient farming village that sits on the valley floor alongside the Kali Gandaki River. The red walls and golden roofs of the new and old Buddhist temples make for appealing pictures as they exist in contrast to the bare mountainsides rising behind them.

Day 11: Drive to Pokhara (5 hr)

It's back on the road today as you drive through more spectacular and rugged terrain to reach the popular tourist destination of Pokhara. This pretty city is known for its tranquil Lake Phewa, vibrant markets, spas, temples and sporting activities (including a very long zipline). Perhaps most special of all are the exceptional views of the Annapurna Mountains which pretty much encircle the city. In the evening, why not take a canoe out onto the lake? Or perhaps book yourself a well-deserved spa treatment?

Colorful boats or canoes on on the Phewa Lake in Pokhara, Nepal

Day 12: Drive to Kathmandu (7 hr)

Today is about making the return journey to Kathmandu. So it's time stock up on snacks, get comfortable in the vehicle, and enjoy the rolling hills, rice paddies and villages that dominate the landscape during this, your final road trip. Return to Kathmandu by road. In the evening, once you've settled into your hotel in Thamel, why not head out for a final group dinner? There are so many inexpensive eateries serving up delicious fare that are more or less on your hotel's doorstep, so you really are spoilt for choice!

Paddy or rice field and primitive small houses in nepalese village beautiful landscape in Nepal Himalayas mountains, terraced fields

Day 13: Departure day

It's time to pack up your belongings as well as many indelible memories and head to the airport. We take you to the airport and wave you off, with the hope to host you in Nepal once again for another of the many incredible Himalayan treks on offer in this magical land of mountain giants.

Man and bird at Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal

Inclusions

Price Includes

Airport transfers

All road travel

All accommodation

Drinking water on trek

Experienced, English-speaking trek guide

Porter

Price Does Not Include

International airfares

Nepali visa

Traveller's insurance

All meals and drinks

Wi-Fi on trek

Trek guide and porter tips