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Annapurna Circuit (Annapurna Trek Himalayas Himalayan Nepal)
Hiking Trail
Hard
141.82 mi
51,861 ft
World-class trek linking remote Himalayan villages through gorges and over high passes of the Annapurna Range.
The Annapurna Circuit is a backpacking tour around one of the most imposing mountain ranges on Earth, The Annapurna Massif. This trek is part of Nepal’s history, etched as firmly in the cultural landscape as the 8,000-meter summit of Annapurna is erected on its physical one. For centuries, people have walked these valleys and slopes to visit relatives and ceremonial sites in the shadow of the mountains.
The age-old route became a global classic almost instantly when first opened to the international public in 1977, and endures as one of the world’s most renowned foot journeys. A generation of trekkers from around the planet have joined the Nepalese in pilgrimage to these heavenly peaks, and their timeless allure pulls just as strongly on today’s intrepid wanderers.
Beginning in Besisahar, climbing through precipitous gorges to the highlands at Thorung La Pass (5416m elev.), and ending in Pokhara, the Circuit covers an impressive spectrum of natural and cultural environments. From the dense, steamy forest of the lower elevations—through pine-forested uplands and high grasslands, to the barren tundra of the alpine, and back down. You will experience the Hindu villages of the foothills where rice terraces and banana plantations quilt the hillsides. You will hike to the Buddhist communities of the plateau, to drink homemade yak-milk tea and turn traditional prayer wheels against a postcard-perfect Himalayan backdrop. Along the way you will stay in traditional teahouses, where the affordable price of a night’s stay includes meals, a bed, and friendly host company.
The general route from Besisahar to Pokhara is much the same as it’s always been, but it’s a living trail that changes with the development of the region over time. The 20+ days of roadless hiking are a thing of the past, as motor roads encroach up the valleys, but for the locals these are a welcome contribution to trade between towns, building on the economy that trekking has brought to the region, and further supporting livelihoods.
Today, the traditional route is typically followed in about 17 days, and alternate routes that parallel the roads (Natural Annapurna Trekking Trails) still allow for a nearly roadless journey throughout.
Doing the Annapurna Circuit requires two separate permits (Annapurna Conservation Area Project [ACAP] and Trekkers’ Information Management Systems [TIMS]) which you should buy in Kathmandu upon arrival in Nepal. A guide is not required for the trek, but many are available. You can hire a guide, porter, porter-guide, or some combination depending on the services you prefer. If you want to follow the Natural Annapurna Trekking Trails (NATT) rather than the more obvious roads, a guide is definitely recommended, though self-guiding publications for the NATT are available as well.
An advantage of the road system is allowing various itineraries and modes of travel. You can abbreviate the Circuit to travel only the remaining roadless stretch from Manang to Muktinath. Another option is to ride mountain bikes on the road sections (popular on the downhill beginning in Muktinath or Jomsom). Side trips, like those to Ice Lake or Tilicho Lake, can extend the roadless days and scenery you get to experience.
Note: The track as mapped follows a generic version of the Circuit, utilizing both roads and trails based on which is more direct. The track ends at the highway in Nayapul, rather than continuing to Pokhara, because most trekkers travel by transit to Pokhara from there.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
The Annapurna Circuit is a backpacking tour around one of the most imposing mountain ranges on Earth, The Annapurna Massif. This trek is part of Nepal’s history, etched as firmly in the cultural landscape as the 8,000-meter summit of Annapurna is erected on its physical one. For centuries, people have walked these valleys and slopes to visit relatives and ceremonial sites in the shadow of the mountains.
The age-old route became a global classic almost instantly when first opened to the international public in 1977, and endures as one of the world’s most renowned foot journeys. A generation of trekkers from around the planet have joined the Nepalese in pilgrimage to these heavenly peaks, and their timeless allure pulls just as strongly on today’s intrepid wanderers.
Beginning in Besisahar, climbing through precipitous gorges to the highlands at Thorung La Pass (5416m elev.), and ending in Pokhara, the Circuit covers an impressive spectrum of natural and cultural environments. From the dense, steamy forest of the lower elevations—through pine-forested uplands and high grasslands, to the barren tundra of the alpine, and back down. You will experience the Hindu villages of the foothills where rice terraces and banana plantations quilt the hillsides. You will hike to the Buddhist communities of the plateau, to drink homemade yak-milk tea and turn traditional prayer wheels against a postcard-perfect Himalayan backdrop. Along the way you will stay in traditional teahouses, where the affordable price of a night’s stay includes meals, a bed, and friendly host company.
The general route from Besisahar to Pokhara is much the same as it’s always been, but it’s a living trail that changes with the development of the region over time. The 20+ days of roadless hiking are a thing of the past, as motor roads encroach up the valleys, but for the locals these are a welcome contribution to trade between towns, building on the economy that trekking has brought to the region, and further supporting livelihoods.
Today, the traditional route is typically followed in about 17 days, and alternate routes that parallel the roads (Natural Annapurna Trekking Trails) still allow for a nearly roadless journey throughout.
Doing the Annapurna Circuit requires two separate permits (Annapurna Conservation Area Project [ACAP] and Trekkers’ Information Management Systems [TIMS]) which you should buy in Kathmandu upon arrival in Nepal. A guide is not required for the trek, but many are available. You can hire a guide, porter, porter-guide, or some combination depending on the services you prefer. If you want to follow the Natural Annapurna Trekking Trails (NATT) rather than the more obvious roads, a guide is definitely recommended, though self-guiding publications for the NATT are available as well.
An advantage of the road system is allowing various itineraries and modes of travel. You can abbreviate the Circuit to travel only the remaining roadless stretch from Manang to Muktinath. Another option is to ride mountain bikes on the road sections (popular on the downhill beginning in Muktinath or Jomsom). Side trips, like those to Ice Lake or Tilicho Lake, can extend the roadless days and scenery you get to experience.
Note: The track as mapped follows a generic version of the Circuit, utilizing both roads and trails based on which is more direct. The track ends at the highway in Nayapul, rather than continuing to Pokhara, because most trekkers travel by transit to Pokhara from there.
Sources:
Written by Jesse Weber
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Padmaarga Climb | 0.82 mi | 600 ft | 13.8% |
| Unnamed Road Climb | 0.21 mi | 151 ft | 13.5% |
| बेसीसहर चामे राजमार्ग Climb | 0.25 mi | 269 ft | 20.3% |
| Annapurna Padmaarga Climb | 0.37 mi | 144 ft | 7.1% |
| Annapurna Padmaarga Climb | 0.38 mi | 203 ft | 9.7% |
| Ghyaru climb | 0.90 mi | 1,152 ft | 24.1% |
| Start of the altitude climb, deep breaths | 6.25 mi | 1,680 ft | 4.8% |
| Menang to Teahouse | 2.31 mi | 1,145 ft | 9.2% |
| तिलिचो पदमार्ग Climb | 0.27 mi | 226 ft | 15.4% |
| watch ya footing, deep breathing as well | 2.20 mi | 771 ft | 6.6% |
| Short climb before Thurong Pedi | 0.08 mi | 98 ft | 23.3% |
| Tilicho Padmaarga Climb | 0.91 mi | 1,115 ft | 23.1% |
| Muktinath Sadak Climb | 2.53 mi | 3,150 ft | 23.5% |
| Tilicho Padmaarga Climb | 0.70 mi | 430 ft | 11.4% |
| High Camp - Top | 2.41 mi | 1,768 ft | 13.9% |
| Down to Thorung Lha Teahouse | 3.87 mi | -4,009 ft | -19.6% |
| Kaagbeni Sadak Climb | 0.32 mi | 157 ft | 9.1% |
| Kaagbeni Sadak Climb | 0.19 mi | 141 ft | 13.8% |
| Jomsom Sadak Climb | 0.26 mi | 161 ft | 11.6% |
| Jomsom Sadak Climb | 0.29 mi | 285 ft | 18.0% |
| Poon Hill Marga Climb | 1.36 mi | 1,191 ft | 16.5% |