Annapurna Circuit Trek 14 Days

The Annapurna Circuit is a loop around the Annapurna massif. You travel it counterclockwise, which means you climb to the pass gradually along the Marsyangdi Valley and come down the steeper western side afterwards. That direction is easier on your body and helps with acclimatization.

You walk for five days between Chame and Muktinath and take a rest day in Manang. Everything else, including the trip to Chame and the journey from Jomsom onwards, is by road. On the map below, the solid line shows the trekking sections, and the dashed line shows the road transfers.

The table below combines the 14-day itinerary with daily walking or travel times and overnight sleeping altitudes. The route climbs from Chame through Upper Pisang and Manang to Thorong Phedi, crosses Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m, then descends to Muktinath and continues through Jomsom and Tatopani to Pokhara before returning to Kathmandu.

Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m is a daytime crossing on Day 8, not an overnight stop. Thorong Phedi, at 4,450 m, is the highest place you sleep on this itinerary.

14-Day Route and Daily Sleeping Altitude

Both hikes are optional and take place on your rest day in Manang. Here is how they compare:

Your guide recommends one, or neither, on the morning, based on how you feel and the weather. Resting is a perfectly good choice, especially with Thorong La three days away.

Yes, for this itinerary. Because it uses road transfers at the start and end, 14 days gives you five walking days, a rest day in Manang, the pass crossing and time to see Muktinath, Jomsom and Kathmandu.

Walking the full traditional circuit takes considerably longer. If you want to walk more of the route, add Tilicho Lake or build in extra buffer for weather at the pass, a longer plan is the better choice. Ask us about a custom itinerary.

The 14-day Annapurna Circuit Trek starts at US$750 per person for groups of six or more. The price depends mostly on how many people are in your group and how much space and flexibility you want. The route, the permits and the quality of the lodges stay the same for everyone, and the price covers the services listed under "What's Included."

Price by Group Size

We can set up private departures on dates that suit you. Contact us with your preferred dates and group size for a quote, or if you want upgrades such as better hotels in the cities.

These are small costs paid in cash along the way. Prices are typical and rise with altitude.

Plan on roughly US$250 to 400 for the whole trek, depending on how often you treat yourself.

The trek is moderate to challenging. Most days are five to seven hours of walking, which is manageable for anyone with decent fitness. Thorong La is the exception, because it's long, cold and steep from start to finish.

What makes it harder than it looks on paper is altitude, not distance. The air gets thinner every day, the nights get colder, and the descents are rough on the knees. You don't need climbing skills, and previous trekking experience helps but isn't essential.

If you can walk uphill for a few hours with a daypack and recover well the next morning, you are in good shape. See the training plan below.

This itinerary gains height quickly in places. On Day 2 you drive from Kathmandu (1,400 m) to Chame (2,670 m), a gain of about 1,270 m, though still below 3,000 m. Above 3,000 m, the usual advice is to add no more than about 300 to 500 m of sleeping altitude per night, and two days on this plan slightly exceed that:

• Day 3: Chame (2,670 m) to Upper Pisang (3,300 m), a gain of about 630 m.

• Day 6: Manang (3,540 m) to Yak Kharka (4,110 m), a gain of about 570 m.

The plan balances this with a rest day in Manang, a gentle Day 4 (about 240 m of gain) and a short Day 7 (about 340 m). On Day 8 you cross the pass and sleep much lower, at Muktinath (3,800 m).

Our guides keep the pace slow and check oxygen levels and symptoms each morning and evening. If you want a gentler profile, ask us about adding a night on the way up.

The main trekking seasons are spring and autumn. Conditions vary with altitude, snowfall, rainfall and the year's weather, so no month guarantees clear skies or an open Thorong La Pass.

Spring (March to May)

Spring generally offers milder conditions at lower elevations, longer daylight hours and increasingly colorful landscapes. Higher sections can remain cold, and snow may affect the pass early in the season.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn is a popular season because the weather is often relatively stable after the monsoon, with good mountain visibility on many days. October is particularly busy, so book accommodation and transport early.

Winter (December to February)

Winter brings colder temperatures and a greater risk of snow and ice at high elevations. Heavy snowfall can make Thorong La unsafe or temporarily inaccessible. Attempt a winter crossing only with up-to-date local information and a qualified guide who can assess conditions.

Monsoon (June to August)

The monsoon can bring rain, muddy trails, landslides and road disruption, especially on lower and exposed sections, and landslides on the road to Chame can continue into September. The upper Manang and Mustang areas can be relatively drier because of the Himalayan rain-shadow effect, but conditions remain variable. Allow flexibility for delays and check the forecast and road situation before traveling.

Spring and autumn are generally the most practical choices. Your final decision should account for your dates, tolerance for cold, expected crowds, and the latest trail, road and weather reports.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is required for foreign trekkers entering the Annapurna Conservation Area. The permit supports conservation efforts and is checked at checkpoints along the route.

TIMS Card and Guide Requirement for the Annapurna Circuit

Every Trip Highland departure includes a licensed, English-speaking guide. Rules for TIMS cards and licensed guides have changed several times since 2023, and sources still disagree on how they are applied on this route. We confirm the current requirements before your departure and arrange the paperwork for you.

Your guide also takes care of things you'd otherwise have to sort out yourself: permit checkpoints, lodge bookings, trail conditions, and the switch between walking and road sections.

Nepal Visa

A tourist visa costs US$ 30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, and US$125 for 90 days. A 15-day visa covers this 14-day trip with very little margin, so if weather or road delays could affect your plans, the 30-day visa is safer. You can get it on arrival at the airport or pre-apply online. Check eligibility and current fees with the Department of Immigration before you travel.

Documents to Carry

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond your trip, with a few passport-size photos for permits

• Printed copy of your travel insurance policy

• Emergency contact details for Trip Highland and your own family

• Paper and digital copies of every document, kept apart from the originals

Travel insurance is not included, and you should buy it before you fly. Your policy must cover trekking up to at least 5,500 m, emergency medical treatment and helicopter evacuation. Check the policy wording for altitude limits, because some standard policies stop at 3,000 m or 4,000 m.

Your guide carries a first-aid kit and an oximeter and checks symptoms every day. If anyone needs evacuation or urgent medical care, your guide contacts our office and you contact your insurer's emergency line. Keep a printed copy of your policy number and the insurer's 24-hour number with you.

During the trekking section, you stay in local teahouses or mountain lodges. Rooms are usually simple, with twin beds, basic furniture and shared bathrooms. Facilities vary by village, lodge and season, and availability can be limited during busy periods.

At higher elevations, expect fewer facilities and colder nights, and don't assume private bathrooms or heated rooms. Hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging may cost extra. In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you stay in hotels with breakfast included.

Teahouses generally offer dal bhat, noodles, rice, soups, potatoes, eggs, porridge and other local dishes. Menus get shorter at higher elevations, and prices rise as supplies become harder to transport. Eat regular meals and drink enough safe water.

Tell your guide about any dietary needs on day one so they can pass them on to each lodge. Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara are not included.

Altitude sickness can affect anyone, however fit or experienced. On this trek, the highest point is Thorong La at 5,416 m, so the key is to go up gradually and be honest about how you feel.

Early Signs of Altitude Sickness (AMS)

Acute mountain sickness is common above 3,000 m, and there's nothing embarrassing about it. The first signs are headache, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite and poor sleep. Tell your guide at the first hint. Do not keep climbing with symptoms. Mild AMS usually settles with rest and a night at the same altitude. Never go on toward the pass just to complete the itinerary.

Serious Altitude Sickness: When to Descend

If symptoms get worse instead of better, it can become high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) or pulmonary edema (HAPE). Warning signs include confusion, stumbling, extreme drowsiness, breathlessness at rest and a persistent cough. Both are emergencies, and the only reliable treatment is to go down immediately, day or night.

Rules to Follow Above 3,000 m

• Don't climb higher if you have symptoms

• Aim to keep your sleeping altitude gain to 300-500 m a day

• Drink 3 to 4 litres of water daily

• Skip alcohol and cigarettes

• Walk slowly, even when you feel strong

• Tell your guide how you really feel, every day

Diamox (acetazolamide) is a prescription medicine some trekkers use to help acclimatize. It's not a replacement for going slowly, so talk to your doctor before you travel. The Himalayan Rescue Association runs a clinic in Manang during the main trekking seasons, with free talks on altitude, and your guide will point you to it. A pulse oximeter is useful, but it can't rule out altitude sickness on its own.

Pack for changing conditions, from mild temperatures in the lower valleys to freezing conditions at Thorong La. Your porter carries the duffel (limit 15 kg per trekker), and you carry a daypack with the essentials.

Clothing

• Moisture-wicking base layers and thermal layers

• Warm fleece or insulating mid-layer

• Down or synthetic insulated jacket

• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers

• Trekking trousers and comfortable walking shirts

• Warm hat, sun hat and gloves

• Trekking socks and spare underwear

Footwear and Equipment

• Broken-in trekking boots with good grip

• Comfortable camp shoes or sandals

• Trekking poles

• Backpack and rain cover

• Headtorch with spare batteries (essential for Day 8)

• Water bottles or a hydration system

• Sunglasses with suitable UV protection

Health and Personal Items

• Personal medication and a small first-aid kit

• Blister plasters

• Toiletries and hand sanitizer

• Water purification tablets or a filter

• High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm

• Power bank and charging cable

Luggage and Sleeping Bag

Pack your main gear in a waterproof duffel, which the porter carries. A sleeping bag rated to about -15°C is recommended for Thorong Phedi [or note if Trip Highland provides one]. Kathmandu and Pokhara can be warm, but the pass is freezing, so pack for the cold.

Start about eight weeks before you travel. The aim is endurance for consecutive walking days, strong legs for the climbs and the long descent, and familiarity with your daypack.

Practise downhill walking too, since the descent from Thorong La is long and steep. If you have health concerns or take regular medication, talk to a doctor before you travel, and don't rely on fitness alone to prevent altitude sickness. Good preparation helps, but it cannot guarantee a safe pass crossing. Weather, altitude response, and trail conditions must still guide the final decisions.

You can extend your trek with a side trip to Tilicho Lake (4,919 m), spend extra time in Pokhara, or combine your journey with another region of Nepal. The best option depends on your time, fitness and interests.

The Tilicho Lake side trip branches off near Manang before you continue toward Thorong La. It involves challenging high-altitude walking and exposed sections, so allow extra time and follow your guide's advice on trail and weather conditions. A visit to Upper Mustang needs a separate restricted-area permit and advance arrangements.

Tell Trip Highland how many extra days you have and what you want to experience, and we'll adjust the itinerary.

For more than 16 years, Trip Highland has been guiding trekkers through Nepal's mountains. We're a local team based in Pokhara, so we know the trails, the teahouse owners and how the weather behaves, and you can talk to the people who'll actually be on the trail with you.

• 16+ years of experience: Knowledge of Nepal's trekking routes, mountain conditions and local communities

• Local Himalayan expertise: Guidance rooted in local experience of villages, trails and cultural landmarks

• Safety-conscious planning: An itinerary with a rest day for acclimatization and daily altitude checks

• Personalized plans: We adjust dates, pace and extras to your fitness and budget

• Authentic Nepali hospitality: Warm local communities and traditional mountain life

• Responsible travel: Respect for local communities and the mountain environment