page_title: Annapurna Circuit
section_title: Standard trek duration
hierarchical_section_title: Annapurna Circuit / Standard trek duration
caption_attribution_description: NOTE: This image is a panorama consisting of multiple frames that were merged or stitched in software. As a result, this image necessarily underwent some form of digital manipulation. These manipulations may include blending, blurring, cloning, and colour and perspective adjustments. As a result of these adjustments, the image content may be slightly different from reality at the points where multiple images were combined. This manipulation is often required due to lens, perspective, and parallax distortions. Boarisch&#160;| български&#160;| dansk&#160;| Deutsch&#160;| Zazaki&#160;| Ελληνικά&#160;| English&#160;| Canadian English&#160;| British English&#160;| Esperanto&#160;| español&#160;| eesti&#160;| suomi&#160;| français&#160;| hrvatski&#160;| magyar&#160;| italiano&#160;| 日本語&#160;| 한국어&#160;| македонски&#160;| മലയാളം&#160;| Nederlands&#160;| polski&#160;| português&#160;| русский&#160;| sicilianu&#160;| slovenščina&#160;| svenska&#160;| Türkçe&#160;| українська&#160;| العربية&#160;| 中文&#160;| +/− English: Annapurna massif panorama near Manang village, NepalFrançais&#160;: Panorama du massif de l'Annapurna, à proximité du village de Manang, au Népal.Русский: Массив Аннапурна около деревни Мананг, Непал
context_page_description: The Annapurna Circuit is a trek within the mountain ranges of central Nepal. The total length of the route varies between 160–230 km, depending on where motor transportation is used and where the trek is ended. This trek crosses two different river valleys and encircles the Annapurna Massif. The path reaches its highest point at Thorung La pass, touching the edge of the Tibetan plateau. Practically all trekkers hike the route anticlockwise, as this way the daily altitude gain is slower, and crossing the high Thorong La pass is easier and safer.
  In addition to the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Annapurna Seven Passes Trek or Annapurna Seven Hills trek is also popular in the region. However, this is less traversed and is off the beaten path trek in the region.
  The mountain scenery, seen at close quarters includes the Annapurna Massif, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, and Paungda Danda. Numerous other peaks of 6000-8000m in elevation rise from the Annapurna range.
  The trek begins at Besisahar or Bhulbhule in the Marshyangdi river valley and concludes in the Kali Gandaki Gorge. Besisahar can be reached after a seven-hour drive from Kathmandu.
context_section_description: The Annapurna Base Circuit trek usually takes about 15–20 days, leaving from Kathmandu with a stopover in Pokhara before returning to the capital. The trail is moderate to fairly challenging and makes numerous river crossings over steel and wooden suspension bridges. Tea houses and lodges along the circuit are available for meals and accommodations. Some groups may opt for tents but these are typically only used for side trips away from lodges such as climbing a peak.
  Outline Itinerary
  Day 01 - From Kathmandu, travel west to Besisahar [820m/2690 ft] via private vehicle or public bus, taking six to seven hours.
  Day 02 - Trek to Khudi [790m/2592 ft]
  Day 03 - Trek to Bahundanda [1310m/4298 ft]
  Day 04 - Trek to Jagat [1290m/4232 ft]
  Day 05 - Trek to Dharapani [1920m/6299 ft]
  Day 06 - Trek to Chame [2630m/8629 ft]
  Day 07 - Trek to Upper/Lower Pisang [3190m/10466 ft]
  Day 08 - Trek to Manang [3520m/11549 ft]
  Day 09 - Rest day in Manang [3520m/11549 ft]
  Day 10 - Trek to Letdar [4250m/13944 ft]
  Day 11 - Trek to Thorung Phedi [4500m/14764 ft]
  Day 12 - Trek to Muktinath [3800m/12467 ft], crossing the Thorung La en route
  Day 13 - Trek to Marpha [2665m/8743 ft]
  Day 14 - Trek to Lete [2470m/8104 ft] (now often with car or mountainbike)
  Day 15 - Trek to Tatopani [1160m/3806 ft] (now often with car or mountainbike, day 14)
  Day 16 - Trek to Ghorepani [2775m/9104 ft]
  Day 17 - Trek to Birethanti [1050m/3445 ft] and travel to Pokhara
  Day 18 - Return to Kathmandu [1400m/4593 ft]
  
  Depending on the speed of the trekkers, number and length of side trips and rest days taken, acclimatization, weather and where the trek is finished, hiking the Annapurna Circuit can take anything from 8 to 25 days. Many trekkers short on time choose to fly out from Jomsom Airport, which shortens the trek by 6 days compared to the original AC.
  It is also possible to continue from Ghorepani to Tadapani, Ghandruk, Landruk and then to Phedi, which follows the old Annapurna Circuit from the time when the road was not yet extended to Beni. This more faithful variation takes three days instead of the shorter one-day exit from Ghorepani to Pokhara outlined above. A popular addition to the AC is a visit to Annapurna Base Camp, ABC (also called Annapurna Sanctuary). This trail turns to the north from Tadapani and rejoins the old AC at either Ghandruk or Landruk. A visit to the ABC adds about 5 days to the duration of the Annapurna Circuit, slightly less than the normal trek duration to ABC, as trekkers coming from the AC are already acclimatized and "trail hardened".
  It is recommended that trekkers take the high trail from Pisang via Ghyaru and Ngawal to Manang, as the views are spectacular and the two villages along the route are some of the best preserved samples of Tibetan style villages still in their original state. Sleeping in either of these villages assists with acclimatization, as they are located already higher than Manang. Another side trip gaining popularity is the visit to Tilicho Tal, a lake. There are now lodges along the trail and near the lake at so-called Tilicho Base Camp, so tents are no longer required. If one wishes to cross to Jomsom via the Tilicho route, outdoor camping (and thus a tent) is required. At certain times of year, snow conditions can make the crossing dangerous or prevent it altogether.
  In October 2014, Seth Wolpin achieved the fastest known time in 72 hours and 4 minutes. He started in Besisahar and finished in Naya Pull, following all New Annapurna Trekking Trails.
  It is reported that time has been recently surpassed by Greek athlete and philanthropist Lefteris Paraskevas, who, in May 2017 completed the classic route of the Circuit, from Besisahar to Nayapulin, in 68 hours and 22 minutes.
caption: View of Annapurna massif near Manang, Nepal.
exif: {"Image XResolution": "240", "Image YResolution": "240", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.4.1", "Image DateTime": "2011:08:19 00:20:08", "Image Artist": "Dmitry A. Mottl", "Image ExifOffset": "182", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "450", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "6975", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/40", "EXIF FNumber": "9", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "200", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0230", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2011:05:04 18:24:10", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2011:05:04 18:24:10", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "665241/125000", "EXIF ApertureValue": "126797/20000"}