Featured Activities

One on one with one of the highest walkable passes and lakes

With an unmatched diversity, this classic trek around the Annapurna Massif is one of the country's finest, and made even better with the addition of a difficult side trip to the 'real' heart of the Annapurnas, a closely concentrated series of high peaks on a ridgeline known as the Great Barrier, below which is the stunning Tilicho Lake, at 4,930m, purported to be the highest in the world. This side trip takes us off the main trail into a more sedate atmosphere which allows you to commune with the mountains on a more personal level.

Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Kathmandu (1,330m)
Day 2 In Kathmandu, sightseeing Kathmandu Valley
 Day 3 Drive to Besisahar and on to Bulbule (840m); commence trek across forested ridges to Ngadi (930m)
 Day 4/8 Slowly ascend Marsyandi Valley through Hindu settlements to the trading village of Manang (3,540m)
 Day 9 Acclimatisation and exploration in Manang
Day 10/11 Follow Khangsar valley along difficult landslide trail to Tilicho Lake BC (4,140m)
Day 12/13 Excursion to Tilicho Lake (4,930m) and return to the old trail to Thorung La at Yak Kharka
 Day 14/15 Cross the mighty Thorung la (5,416m) to Muktinath (3,800m), a place of pilgrimage
Day 16 Trek through the world's deepest gorge along Kali Gandaki Valley, to Jomsom (2,710m)
 Day 17 From Jomsom take the spectacular mountain flight to Pokhara; afternoon free in Pokhara (820m)
 Day 18 Fly Pokhara to Kathmandu
 Day 19/20 At leisure in Kathmandu
Day 21 Trip concludes

Trip profile
21 Day Trip
14 days point-to-point trek
5 nights Kathmandu
1 night Pokhara
Accommodation 6 nights Hotels, Guesthouses
Trek accommodation14 nights Teahouses
TransportPrivate bus, planes
Type TeaHouse
Style Discovery
When to VisitSep to Nov, May
Altitude Max 5,416m/ 17,765ft (Thorung Pass)
Altitude Avg 3,100m/ 10,170ft
Grade D/ STRENUOUS
-Involves trekking of up to 6-7 hours a day at a steady pace (on difficult terrain at  altitude, as we approach  Manang)
-Trail to the Tilicho BC hotel is narrow and steep and crosses a few unstable  scree slopes
-Tilicho Lake: risk of getting holed up in case of a freak snow storm
-Crossing of the high Thorung La Pass (5,416m) is difficult and is usually  snowbound from mid-Dec to mid-April,  although navigable
-Downhill section of Thorung Pass to Muktinath is very steep and could be  treacherous in case of snowfall
-Risk of exposure and altitude problems at or below ThorungLa

Highlights
-Kathmandu's ancient temples and markets
-Scenic drive to Besisahar and to Kathmandu through  deep river valleys
-Incredible geographic and cultural diversity
-Indigenous people of various ethnic groups: Gurung,  Manange, Tibetan, Thakali, etc
-Mule caravans reminiscent of olden times
-Ancient Buddhist monasteries and old villages
-Try the potent Seabuckthorn juice, said to have vitamin  content higher than any other fruit or vegetable
-Trading town of Manang
-Quiet trail from Khangsar valley
-Turquoise coloured Tilicho Lake, claimed to be the  world's highest lake
-Great view of what Maurice Herzog called the Great  Barrier, a concentration of greater bulk of Annapurna  massif, from Tilicho
-Cross 5416m Thorung La Pass, one of the world's  highest navigable passes
-Fantastic mountain panorama from the pass
-Sharing trail with pilgrims on their way to Muktinath  Temple, one of Hindu's most revered sites
-Walk through the world's deepest river gorge flanked by  Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri (both above 8000m)
-Walk on the historic trade route and explore the trading  villages
-Try the famous apple pie and very potent apple brandy  at Jomsom
-Jomsom-Pokhara, one of the world's most beautiful  mountain flights
-Beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara
 

Inclusions
-All meals except main meals in Kathmandu;
-All ground transport, including airport transfers, and  flights as mentioned;
-All accommodations;
-Sightseeing in Kathmandu;
-All applicable permits and entrance fees;
-Full trek staff arrangements including a Trek Leader  and Sherpa guides;
-Porters or pack animals to carry personal and group  equipments;
-Use of Trek Pack;
-Group medical kit;
-All major group equipments, etc.
-All trekking permit

.
Exclusion
-Presonal expansc
-Tip & Donation
-Drinks
-Air fare..

Comments
-This route boasts of some of the finest teahouses in Nepal except basic teahouses at Khangsar Valley and  Tilicho BC hotel
-Please note that the prosperous town of Jomsom (at the Kali Gandaki Valley) is being connected by road and  there are a lot of constructions going on below Jomsom as part of Nepal's drive to bring road networks to major  villages. We ask you to experience this trek before it's too late as there is another road construction in the  pipeline on other sections of the trekking trail. Given the circumstances, flying out of Jomsom sadly appears to  be the better option than to do the entire Circuit route.
-It is important to have 2 spare days in Kathmandu as cushion for any flight delays or cancellation at the remote  mountain airstrip of Jomsom