Skip to main content
Travel Himalaya Nepal
Ghandruk village with Annapurna South behind — Annapurna Region, Nepal

Our Home Region · Est. 1998

Annapurna Region
Travel Guide

23 Routes7,629 km² ACAPFrom 4 to 20 daysMax 5,416mBest: Oct–Nov & Mar–Apr

Why Annapurna

The World's Most Trekked Region — For Good Reason

The Annapurna Conservation Area covers 7,629 km² of the central Himalayas — the largest protected area in Nepal. It is home to 8 of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000m, over 1,200 plant species, 101 mammal species including snow leopards and red pandas, and more than 478 bird species.

For trekkers, Annapurna offers unmatched variety. You can walk for 4 days on the classic Poon Hill circuit through rhododendron forests and Gurung villages, or spend 20 days on the Grand Annapurna combining the full Circuit with Tilicho Lake and the Annapurna Sanctuary. The trails range from 820m in Pokhara to 5,416m at Thorong La Pass.

What makes Annapurna different from Everest is density — the cultural richness of the Gurung, Magar, Thakali, and Tibetan communities along every route. Every night you sleep in a family-run tea house. Every meal is cooked by someone who was born on the trail you walked that day.

Conservation Area7,629 km²
Annual trekkers177,000+
Highest pointThorong La — 5,416m
Lowest startPokhara — 820m
Number of routes23 itineraries
Shortest trek4 days (Poon Hill)
Longest trek20 days (Grand Circuit)
Permit requiredACAP + TIMS

In-depth trek guides for the Annapurna Region

Go deeper on each trek in this region — itinerary, cost, difficulty and permits.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Guide

The sanctuary trek — itinerary, cost and difficulty.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Guide

Thorong La pass, full itinerary, cost and how to skip the jeep road.

Explore the Region

Interactive Annapurna Map

All four major routes plotted on a topographic map. Click any marker for altitude, type, and local notes. Scroll to zoom, drag to explore.

Loading map…

— ABC / Sanctuary Route— Poon Hill Loop— Annapurna Circuit- - Mardi Himal Trek

Complete Route Index

All 23 Annapurna Routes

Every itinerary we run in the Annapurna region — from 4-day village walks to 20-day grand circuits. All can be customised for your dates, group size, and fitness level.

Annapurna Circuit Trek

From $460

14 days
Moderate
5,416m
Annapurna Base Camp Trek

From $300

11 days
Moderate
4,130m
Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake

From $540

16 days
Challenging
4,919m
Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek

From $400

7 days
Moderate
4,130m
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

From $350

9 days
Moderate
4,130m
Mardi Himal Trek

From $200

7 days
Moderate
4,500m
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

From $200

5 days
Easy
3,210m
Poon Hill Trek

From $100

4 days
Easy
3,210m
Annapurna Circuit Short Trek

From $400

10 days
Moderate
5,416m
Khopra Danda Trek

From $320

6 days
Moderate
3,660m
Annapurna Circuit (Fly out Jomsom)

From $430

12 days
Moderate
5,416m
Khopra Danda & Annapurna Base Camp Trek

From $500

13 days
Challenging
4,130m
Khumai Danda Trek

From $290

5 days
Moderate
3,245m
Kapuche Lake & Sikles Trek

From $340

5 days
Moderate
2,546m
Kori Danda Trek

From $420

5 days
Moderate
3,800m
Muldai View Point Trek

From $490

6 days
Moderate
3,637m
Panchase Trek

From $420

4 days
Easy
2,500m
Ghandruk Village Trek

From $245

3 days
Easy
2,012m
Royal Trek

From $390

4 days
Easy
1,730m
Dhampus & Australian Camp Trek

From $245

3 days
Easy
2,060m
Tilicho Lake Trek

From $560

11 days
Challenging
4,919m
Jomsom Muktinath Trek

From $699

7 days
Moderate
3,800m
Dhaulagiri Base Camp Trek

From $1,850

13 days
Challenging
4,750m

* Year-round with caveats — monsoon season (Jun–Aug) involves wet trails and leeches below 2,500m.

See All Annapurna Packages & Prices

When to Go

Month-by-Month Conditions

The two prime seasons are October–November (post-monsoon) and March–April (spring rhododendron bloom). All other months are possible with the right expectations.

Jan

Cold & clear

CrowdsLow
SnowAbove 3,500m

Feb

Warming up

CrowdsLow
SnowAbove 4,000m

Mar

Rhododendrons bloom

CrowdsHigh
SnowMinimal
Peak Season

Apr

Peak spring

CrowdsPeak
SnowNone
Peak Season

May

Pre-monsoon haze

CrowdsMed
SnowNone

Jun

Monsoon begins

CrowdsLow
SnowNone

Jul

Heavy rain

CrowdsMinimal
SnowNone

Aug

Full monsoon

CrowdsMinimal
SnowNone

Sep

Clearing up

CrowdsLow
SnowNone

Oct

Crystal clear

CrowdsPeak
SnowNone
Peak Season

Nov

Excellent

CrowdsHigh
SnowAbove 5,000m
Peak Season

Dec

Cold, clear

CrowdsLow
SnowAbove 3,500m

The Route

Key Villages & Waypoints

Ordered by altitude — from Pokhara to the highest points across all Annapurna routes.

820
PokharaTrek start / end — lakeside gateway
820m
1.1
NayapulTrailhead for ABC, Poon Hill, Circuit
1,070m
1.5
TikhedhungaStone staircase village
1,540m
1.9
GhandrukFinest Gurung village — panoramic views
1,940m
2.2
ChhomrongLast major village before ABC
2,170m
2.3
BambooDeep jungle camp
2,310m
2.7
MarphaApple orchards and distilleries
2,670m
2.7
JomsomCircuit end — airport for Pokhara
2,720m
2.9
GhorepaniPoon Hill base — rhododendron forest
2,860m
3.2
DeuraliMBC approach, high altitude begins
3,230m
3.5
ManangCircuit acclimatisation stop — 2 nights
3,519m
3.7
Khopra DandaViewpoint ridge — Dhaulagiri panorama
3,660m
3.7
MBCMachhapuchhre Base Camp — Fish Tail views
3,700m
3.7
MuktinathSacred Hindu-Buddhist pilgrimage site
3,710m
4.1
ABC360° Annapurna amphitheatre — the destination
4,130m
4.5
Mardi Himal BCHidden gem — close-up Machhapuchhre face
4,500m
4.9
Tilicho LakeHighest lake variant — breathtaking detour
4,919m
5.4
Thorong LaHighest point on the Circuit
5,416m

Before You Go

Permits & Costs

All Annapurna treks require two permits. If you book a guided package with us, we handle both — no queuing required.

ACAP — Annapurna Conservation Area Permit

Obtained at: NTB office, Pokhara or Kathmandu

NPR 3,000

~$22 USD approx.

Included in our packages

TIMS — Trekkers' Information Management System

Obtained at: TAAN office, Pokhara or Kathmandu

NPR 2,000

~$15 USD approx.

Included in our packages

Full step-by-step breakdown of ACAP + TIMS — costs, where to apply and what to bring.

Annapurna permit guide

Ready to Book?

Our Flagship Annapurna Treks

Two ready-to-book departures with confirmed dates, included permits, and local guides.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek — 9 Days

Into the 360° sanctuary beneath the Annapurnas.

View trek

Annapurna Circuit Trek — 13 Days

The classic loop over Thorong La (5,416m).

View trek

Logistics

Getting to Pokhara & the Trailhead

Recommended

Kathmandu → Pokhara by Air

25 minutes$80–130 one-way

Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, and Shree Airlines fly multiple times daily. Book 2+ weeks ahead in peak season (Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr). Views of the Himalaya from the right window seat are exceptional.

Budget option

Kathmandu → Pokhara by Bus

6–8 hours$10–25

Tourist buses depart from Thamel daily at 7am. Comfortable enough but the road can be slow. Local buses are cheaper and slower. Not recommended if your schedule is tight.

We handle this

Pokhara → Trailhead

1.5–3 hoursIncluded in our packages

Most treks start from Nayapul (ABC, Poon Hill, Circuit), Phedi, or Kande. We arrange private jeep or tourist bus transfers from your Pokhara hotel to the trailhead as part of every package.

Reviewed June 2026 by the Travel Himalaya Nepal guide team.

On the Trail

See it in motion

All videos

From the Blog

Annapurna Trekking Articles

ABC Trek

The Ultimate Guide to the Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Read article Cost & Budget

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Cost 2026: Full Breakdown

Read article Cost & Budget

Annapurna Circuit Trek Cost 2026: Daily Budget

Read article Itinerary

Annapurna Circuit Day-by-Day Itinerary 2026: Full Route

Read article Route Options

Annapurna Circuit & Tilicho Lake: The Best Side Trip

Read article Trek Comparison

ABC vs Annapurna Circuit: Which Trek Is Right for You?

Read article Gear & Packing

What to Pack for Annapurna Base Camp: Complete Gear List

Read article Adventure

Paragliding in Pokhara 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Read article Wellness

Yoga Retreat Nepal 2026: Pokhara Studios & Trek Combos

Read article Short Treks

Short Treks from Pokhara 2026: 3–5 Day Annapurna Options

Read article Trek Comparison

Poon Hill vs Mardi Himal: Which Trek to Choose in 2026?

Read article Permits

Annapurna Permits 2026: ACAP, TIMS & How to Get Them

Read article Hidden Treks

Nar Phu Valley Trek Guide 2026: Nepal's Hidden Gem

Read article
All trekking articles

Ready to Trek Annapurna?

We've Been Based Here Since 1998

Lakeside, Pokhara is our home. Every guide on our team grew up within 3 hours of these trails. Nobody knows Annapurna better.

All Annapurna PackagesDesign My Trek