Annapurna Massif (Round Annapurna) Trek

A 5 hour bus ride takes us to the starting point of the trek: Besisahar (900 m), the capital of Lamjung District. Two and a half hrs gentle walk will take us to Ngadi, to avoid the crowded town of Besisahar. Also, it is a nice walk and a better way to experience village life in Nyadi from the first day. There are great mountain views!

Following Ngadi, the trail rises steep to Bahundanda. After Bahundandi, the trail drops steeply and we continue walking through terraced rice fields before arriving in Ghermu (1130m).

The trail slowly rises uphill to Jajat. The trail then drops almost to the riverbed and then rises up to Chamje. After crossing one more suspension bridge, the trail rises up to Tal (tal means lake in Nepali). The village was once a lake and therefore it is called Tal (1700 m). It is Buddhist and it is the first village in the Manang district.

Tal is a paradise along the Marsyandi River and we can see beautiful waterfalls from the hotel. A Buddhist shrine called a chorten is located in front of the waterfall and according to the villagers the shrine protects the villages from natural disasters. Today's destination is Danagyu (2300 m).

The trail continues through pine and rhododendron forests with spectacular view of Manaslu. The lower route is faster, but is not as scenic as the higher route. We continue to follow the river and reach Chame (2670 m). This village is famous for its hot springs – perfect for soothing our aching limbs! The village of Chame is the district headquarters of the Manang district.

We walk through juniper and pine forests and reach Pisang (3200m). We can visit the Tibetan monastery from where we have a beautiful view of Annapurna II, III and IV, Pisang and Tilichu.

A steep climb up through a desert-like landscape takes us to Ghyaru (3673m). Following along the ridge we have a magnificent view of Pisang, Annapurna and Chulu and avalanches can be seen. After Ghyaru we reach Ngwal from where the trail drops down to the river. The trail now continues to Braga, a very old and traditional village with a historical monastery. (For adventurous trekkers an extra day can be added to the itinerary here. One night can be spent in Braga with a 6 hour trip to Ice Lake for panoramic mountain views. This is strenuous trek and there is no teahouse along the route so a packed lunch is necessary.) From Braga the trail continues for half an hour to reach Manang (3540m).

There is a Manang day hike those who want to do an easy hike for acclimatization in Manang. We take a side trip to Gangapurna Glacier and hike around the crystal clear lake. We can then visit Bhraka Gompa; here the lama sometimes conducts a puja for trekkers for a safe crossing of the Thorung La pass. At 03.00pm we visit the HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) for a lecture on how to recognize the symptoms of altitude sickness and to take appropriate action.

We now leave the Marsyangdi River and follow an easy trail to Yak Kharka (3968m). Yak Kharka means ‘yak pastures’ and we will definitely spot many yaks grazing in this area.

Today we climb up to Phedi (4450 m) at the foot of the Thorung La pass. If we are lucky we will spot a herd of blue sheep. In the afternoon, we stroll to a higher altitude and return to stay in Thorong Phedi for acclimatization. After an early supper we retire to our sleeping bags – full of anticipation for the next day.

We have an early rise at 04.30am. After 4 breathtaking hours we reach the Thorung La pass (5416 m), one of the worlds highest passes. It is an exhilarating moment! We then start our steep descent to Muktinath (3800m) which is a pilgrimage centre for Buddhists as well as Hindus.

Muktinath is a pilgrimage site for Hindus & Buddhist – we can visit the Buddhist gompa and the Vishnu temple of Jwala Mayi. Many pilgrims make a pilgrimage to Muktinath, especially in spring season. From here, mountains such as Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche peach, etc can be seen. The trail is downhill all the way, passing through the traditional village of Jharkot. We then reach Kagbeni (2895m), a Tibetan-influenced settlement surrounded by a patchwork of fields and fruit trees.

The trail follows the Kali Gandaki river bed. It is a relatively easy walk. However, after 10:00am serious winds blow from the north making the hike difficult at times. Marpha (2670m) is a very traditional and fascinating Thakali village which is known as the kingdom of apples. Marpha is famous for its apple brandy and apple pie. In the afternoon we can visit an old Tibetan monastery,

The trail is similar to the previous day and goes from Marpha to Kalopani (2530m). Kalopani is a very beautiful village. Mountains such as Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri glacier can be seen.

After Kalopani we walk downhill through pine forests by the Kali Gandaki River until we reach Ghasa (2530m). We now leave the Mustang district and enter Myagdi district. We walk along the deepest gorge in the world. On the way to Tatopani we stop at Rupse Chahare, the gorgeous waterfall. Tatopani (1190m) is on the west bank of the Kali Gandaki river and is reached after 6 hours. Tatopani means ‘hot water’ and once again we may sooth our aching limbs in the hot springs. Today's trail downhill all the way to Tatopani.

After crossing the bridge in Tatopani, we continue to climb steeply uphill until we reach Ghara. We now see tropical vegetation along the way. Rhododendron and Magnolia forests give way to the terraced fields of Shika (1935m).

From Shika to Ghorepani (2855m) we pass through several small villages on our way up to Chitre. After Chitre we pass through Rhododendron and Oak forests on our way to Ghorepani. Ghorepani is a beautiful village settlement of the Pun ethnic group.

in the early morning, a steep hike leads to Poon Hill for sunrise. Poon Hill is famous for its 360 degree panoramic mountain view. Afterwards, we descend back to the hotel. After breakfast, a gradual downhill hike leads to Banthanti through Rhododendron and Oak forests. From Ulleri to Hille (1430m) the trail drops steeply down. Today we leave the mountains behind us with an downhill hike to Nayapul (1070m) via the village of Birethanti. A one and half hour taxi from Nayapul drive takes a us back to the relaxing Lakeside of Pokhara.