Nepal · Annapurna · Trek
Annapurna Circuit Group Trek
Thorong La crossing, Manang to Muktinath
- Duration
- 15 days
- Group size
- 4–12
- Difficulty
- Demanding · 4/5
- Highest point
- 5,416 m
Is this your kind of journey?
The published itinerary covers 5 of the 15 days in detail, typically 5–7 hours of walking a day, with lodge, twin-share accommodation. Read the day-by-day route and preparation information below to judge whether this journey suits you.
Explore fitness and preparation ↗The journey
More than a destination.
A journey through Annapurna.
The Annapurna Circuit group trek starts in the sub-tropical Marsyangdi gorge and finishes in the high desert of Mustang, crossing the Thorong La at 5,416 m on the way. We drive to Chame to skip the road section and start walking where the valley narrows.
A rest day in Manang, with the Ice Lake side-walk, sets up the pass crossing. From Muktinath a jeep runs down to Jomsom for the morning flight to Pokhara, where the trip ends with a lakeside night.
- ✓Kathmandu–Chame private jeep
- ✓Muktinath–Jomsom jeep
- ✓Jomsom–Pokhara flight
- ✓Pokhara–Kathmandu tourist bus
- See all inclusions and exclusions ↗
Highlights
- •Thorong La pass at 5,416 m
- •Manang and the Ice Lake acclimatisation walk
- •Muktinath temple and the 108 water spouts
- •Jomsom to Pokhara flight along the Kali Gandaki
- •Two nights in Pokhara at the end
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive Kathmandu
Airport pickup and transfer to Thamel. Group briefing in the evening and a chance to hire any missing gear nearby.
Meals: Dinner. Overnight: City hotel, twin-share.
Day 2Drive to Chame
A long jeep day up the Marsyangdi valley through Besisahar and Tal. Waterfalls and the first views of Lamjung Himal in the afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Lodge, twin-share.
Day 3Chame to Upper Pisang
The valley opens after Bhratang and the great slab of Swargadwari rises across the river. Upper Pisang sits above the trail with a small gompa and Annapurna II filling the window.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Lodge, twin-share.
Day 4Upper Pisang to Manang via Ghyaru
The high route climbs steeply to Ghyaru and Ngawal for the best views on the circuit, then drops to Braga and the last hour into Manang.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Lodge with bakery downstairs.
Day 5Manang rest day
Walk up to the Ice Lake at 4,600 m or, for an easier day, the Gangapurna lake and glacier viewpoint. Afternoon at the Himalayan Rescue Association altitude talk.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight: Lodge with bakery downstairs.
Full day-by-day detail for all 15 days is in the itinerary PDF we send with every inquiry.
Route map
Route map is sent with the itinerary PDF.
Dates & prices
| Dates | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 2026 – 23 Nov 2026 | 12 seats | $1,650 | Book |
| 12 Mar 2027 – 26 Mar 2027 | 12 seats | $1,650 | Book |
| 15 Apr 2027 – 29 Apr 2027 | 12 seats | $1,650 | Book |
| 6 Oct 2027 – 20 Oct 2027 | Guaranteed | $1,650 | Book |
Prices per person, twin-share. Single room supplement $260. 25% deposit at booking; balance due 60 days before departure.
What's included
- ✓Kathmandu–Chame private jeep
- ✓Muktinath–Jomsom jeep
- ✓Jomsom–Pokhara flight
- ✓Pokhara–Kathmandu tourist bus
- ✓Airport transfers in Kathmandu
- ✓Two nights in Kathmandu, twin-share, breakfast
- ✓All meals on trek
- ✓Lodge accommodation on trek, twin-share
- ✓Licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- ✓One porter between two travellers (15 kg limit)
- ✓Trekking permits and national park fees
- ✓Guide and porter insurance, wages and equipment
- ✓Group first-aid kit and pulse oximeter
- ✓Annapurna Conservation Area permit
Not included
- –International flights
- –Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days, on arrival)
- –Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover
- –Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
- –Personal trekking gear
- –Hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging in lodges
- –Tips for guide and porters
- –Anything not listed under included
Travel information
Best time to visit
October and November for stable weather on the pass; March and April for warmer valleys. The pass can close in heavy snow between December and February, so we don't run winter departures.
Difficulty & fitness
Grade 4. The pass day is the crux: a 4 am start, 1,000 m of ascent from Thorong Phedi to the pass and 1,600 m of descent to Muktinath, around 9 hours. The rest of the trek averages 5–6 hours a day.
Accessibility & dietary needs
Lodges on this route have the best food in Nepal's trekking areas; vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free are easy. Not suitable for mobility-impaired travellers.
Health & safety
The itinerary follows the standard rule of no more than 500 m sleeping-altitude gain per day above 3,000 m, with dedicated rest days. Your guide checks oxygen saturation each evening and carries a first-aid kit. Helicopter evacuation is arranged through your insurer; carry the policy number with you. Drink treated or boiled water only.
Local etiquette
Manang and Mustang are Buddhist; walk clockwise around chortens and mani walls. Muktinath is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike: remove shoes, no photography inside the temple.
Travel documents & permits
Passport valid six months beyond your return date. Nepal issues a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport (USD 50 for 30 days, cash or card). We arrange the trekking permits and park entry cards and hand them to your guide before the first walking day.
Packing list
Everything we recommend bringing for this trip.
- Broken-in trekking boots
- Trail shoes or sandals for evenings
- Down jacket rated to −10 °C
- Waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Fleece or mid-layer
- Base layers, two sets
- Trekking trousers and shorts
- Warm hat and sun hat
- Gloves, liner and insulated
- Sunglasses, category 3 or 4
- Sleeping bag rated to −10 °C (hire in Kathmandu)
- Head torch and spare batteries
- Two 1-litre water bottles or bladder
- Water purification tablets or filter
- Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm
- Personal first-aid kit and blister care
- Trekking poles
- Daypack 25–30 litres
- Duffel bag 60–80 litres for porter
- Passport, two photos, insurance printout
Questions about this trip
How hard is the Thorong La crossing on the Annapurna Circuit Group Trek?
It is a long day rather than a technical one: around nine hours with 1,000 m up and 1,600 m down, starting before dawn. Everyone in the group crosses together with a guide at the front and one at the back, and we carry a spare oxygen cylinder.
Why does the Annapurna Circuit Group Trek start in Chame?
The road now reaches Chame, and the walk below it follows the jeep track. Starting at Chame keeps every walking day on trail and gives an extra rest day in Manang instead.
What is the food like on the Annapurna Circuit trek?
Lodges here serve everything from dal bhat and momos to pizza and apple pie, and Manang has bakeries. Vegetarian and vegan options are on every menu. Prices rise with altitude, but all trek meals are included.
Can I join the Annapurna Circuit Group Trek as a solo traveller?
Yes; most people on this departure come alone. You'll share a twin room with another traveller of the same gender unless you add the single supplement.
What is included in the price of the Annapurna Circuit Group Trek?
Everything from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu: transport, the Jomsom flight, lodges, all trek meals, guides, porters and permits. International flights, insurance, your visa and Kathmandu meals outside the hotel are not.
What happens if snow closes Thorong La during my trek?
The guide waits up to two days in Thorong Phedi or Manang for the pass to reopen. If it stays shut, the group returns down the Marsyangdi valley by jeep and continues to Pokhara by road, and we refund the unused flight.
Reviews
★★★★★
A proper journey
The change from jungle to desert over two weeks is unreal. Ice Lake day nearly finished me but it made the pass feel easy. Great group, great guides.
★★★★★
Organised without being rigid
We had a slow walker and the guides never made it an issue. Jomsom flight worked first time. Pokhara at the end was a lovely way to finish.
You might also like
Nepal · 14 days · Demanding
Everest Base Camp Group Trek
The classic 14-day Everest Base Camp trek in a group of no more than 12, with rest days at Namche and Dingboche and a dawn climb of Kala Patthar.
Nepal · 10 days · Moderate
Langtang Valley Group Trek
A ten-day trek to Kyanjin Gompa with an optional dawn climb of Tserko Ri (4,984 m), in a valley rebuilt by its Tamang villages since 2015.
Tibet · 8 days · Gentle
Lhasa to Everest North Base Camp
Three days in Lhasa, then overland via Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse and Shigatse to Rongbuk monastery and the north side of Everest at 5,200 m.