Annapurna Circuit Trek — 14 Days

The Annapurna Circuit is one of the world's great long-distance treks — a 14-day loop around the entire Annapurna massif that crosses the highest motorable pass in the world, traverses one of earth's deepest river gorges, and passes through a cultural landscape of remarkable diversity: Hindu villages in the subtropical lowlands, Gurung and Magar communities in the middle hills, and Tibetan-Buddhist Manang and Mustang cultures above 3,500 m.

This 14-day itinerary takes the northern approach (bus/jeep from Besisahar) and exits via Jomsom mountain flight, covering the classic high sections while avoiding the jeep-road segments below Jagat that have diminished the lower circuit. The centrepiece is the Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) — the highest trekking pass in the Annapurna region — crossed in the pre-dawn cold before dropping 1,600 m to the ancient pilgrimage town of Muktinath, with its 108 waterspouts and eternal flame shrinking from the pass's icy grandeur. The Manang Valley acclimatisation day includes the Tilicho Lake side-trip option (4,919 m) for those wanting one of the world's highest lakes.

The Kali Gandaki gorge descent from Muktinath to Tatopani passes the ochre cliffs of Nilgiri (7,061 m) rising sheer from the riverbed, and the twin 8,000 m peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna facing each other across the valley — a geological and visual spectacle without parallel on earth.

What Has Changed on the Annapurna Circuit?

The lower sections of the circuit (Besisahar to Chame, and Muktinath to Beni) have been partially replaced by a rough vehicle track. Our 14-day itinerary is specifically designed to start above Chame by jeep and exit from Jomsom by flight, so the trail you walk is the highland circuit at its best — the high Manang valley, the Thorong La crossing, and the Mustang upper gorge — with zero time wasted on dusty jeep road. The trail above 3,000 m is intact, spectacular, and carries nowhere near the traffic of the Everest region.

Best seasons: October–November and March–May. Thorong La: Closed in heavy snowfall (December–February); our itinerary includes weather contingency. Max altitude: Thorong La 5,416 m.