Short Annapurna Circuit Trek

Our trekking guide will come to the hotel in the morning at 6: 00 to pick you with private transport to the bus station. Then you will drive to Besi Shahar (185km) which will take us about 5 to 6 hours along a scenic route. Along the journey you will witness rather stunning scenery of snowcapped mountains, green hills, rivers, and villages. And again drive Besisahar to Chame (2670m) by jeep or local bus for 3 to 4 hours through the Nagdi, Bhulbhule, Sange, Chamche, Tall, Dharapani, Bagarchha, Danakya, Timang, Thanchok, Koto from Timang (2,720m), can see wonderful Manaslu, Annapurna II scenery, and others majestic mountains. From here, the road leads us through pine forest to Thanchok and Koto, finally reaching Chame. This is the headquarters of the Manang district and we are rewarded with very fine views of Annapurna II, Manaslu and Lamjung Himal from Chame as well as two small hot springs. Stay overnight at the house.

The trail lead us along the bank of Marsyandi river, climbing up through pine forest to the Telekhu (2,840m) and continuing with a long enjoyable and mostly level walk through the forest to Brathang. After the trail rounds a bend to the rocky trail, the hissing sound of river arises coupled with mountains view. After a time we will cross back to the south bank of the Marsyangdi on a suspension bridge beneath Swaga Dwari (Haven Gate). Then we make a long and gentle climb over a ridge through blue pine forests to the Dhukur Pokhari and take the trail through the valley to Pisang.

After breakfast the trail slowly climbs up to through valley with pine and juniper forest to the with beautiful mountain scenery. After cross bridge at Khumi Khola, the trail goes step up making many turning to the Tibetan-styled village Ghyaru (3,670m). Ghyaru means Yak Horn in local language. This is beautiful place for the 360 degree mountain view like Lamjung Himal (6,983m), Annapurna II (7,937m), Annapurna IV (7,525m), Gandarbha Chuli (6,250m), Annapurna III (7555m), Gangapurna (7,544m), Glacier Dome (7,193m), Khangsar Kang (7,485m) and Tilicho Peak (7,134m, Khatunkang (6,484m), Syagang (6,026m), Chulu East (6,429m), Pisang Peak (6,091m). After having lunch at Ghyaru village the trail crossed wall boundary of Ghyaru village with beautiful gate and begins Ngwal territory. You will see water spanning Mane and many other Mane attached at Chhorten. Rest of the time walk around the village and visit the Monastery. Stay overnight at tea house. From here you can see century old fort and Marsyandi river valley including Humde airport and Pisang village below. This is enjoyable day with amazing mountain scenery and Marsyandi valley view through valley with pine and juniper forest. Now, the trail decent pleasantly through the pine forest to the Tibetan-styled village Bryaga (3,500m). Here we will see houses stacked one atop the other, each with an open veranda formed by a neighbor’s rooftop and the Gomba (monastery), perched on a high crag overlooking the village. You will catch main trekking trail at Munji or Minchhi. Then we continue through very arid countryside, dominated by weird cliffs of yellow rock, eroded into dramatic pillars alongside the trail to reach today’s destination - the Manang village. Here’re shops are unexpectedly well stocked with all sorts of things.

Today is a rest day for acclimation purposes. Please sleep in! After waking up late we hike up to the tranquil Gangapurna Lake and ascend up above the Gangapurna icefall, which often falls down like an avalanche in the spring. Take time to observe the wonderful ancient Manang village scene beneath you. Or you may hike to Ice Lake (4,600m)  or Milarepa Cave also. t is important to have a relatively restful day today to allow our bodies to acclimate to the higher altitudes and thinning air. It also gives us the possibility to wash some of our clothing and visit the Himalayan Rescue Association of Nepal.

After a hot breakfast, we will walk through the farm terraces to Tanki Manang and then gradually go up to Gunsang, which offers panoramic mountains scenery. We will pass a few meadows where horses and yaks graze. Nearby Yak Kharka we will see herds of blue sheep grazing the steep slopes as well. For the rest of the day, we will oversee the fascinating Himalaya beauty in Yak Kharka. From Yak Kharka we will continue to climb along the east bank of the Jarang Khola to Thorung Phedi, a rock-strewn meadow surrounded by upright cliffs at 4,420 meters. Blue sheep and even snow leopards can be sometimes seen in this area. Even, you may continue our trek to the High camp for an hour for the acclimatization proposes.

This is an adventurous and long day of trekking. Very early in the morning we take our breakfast and pack food. We will start the journey before sunrise. After 9 or 10 o’clock strong wind starts blowing in the high Himalayas, so it is better to leave around 5 in the morning to avoid the wind. We need to wear warm clothes for the freezing morning. The trails goes on a steep ascent to the High Camp through the treeless rocky desert and continue some ice frozen slippery trail offering tremendous mountain panoramas changing colors during the sunrise. At the Thorung La pass (5,416m), with its traditional prayer flags and stone cairn we will have outstanding views of Annapurna’s, Gangapurna and Khatung Kang, a heavily glaciated peak. Amazingly, there is a teashop here on top of the pass at 5,416 meter. From here we start to descend down about 1,600 meters to another valley with outstanding views of Dhaulagiri Mountains standing alone in the distance across the Mustang valley Muktinath. This is truly a place of nirvana and home to Hindu temples as well as several Buddhist monasteries. The Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has 108 waterspouts around it from which Holy water spouts. Additionally there is the Jwala Mai Temple with an eternal flame fed by natural underground gas. After having lunch, you will drive to Jomsom (2,710m) 45 Minutes to 1 Hours through the Kagbeni about  20 Kilometers. 

Early in the morning we fly to beautiful city Pokhara by small aircraft while enjoying the majestic mountain views above the world’s deepest gorge at Dana. The remining of the day you can be spent relaxing in the Pokhara. If you are up for it, feel free to wander around the Lake Side city with its fascinating mountains panorama views and charming nature around the Phewa Lake. Then you own destination.