Annapurna Circuit Trek

A representative from Bharal Adventure will pick up the guests at the airport and escort them to their hotel. They will be explained about the program for their journey, however, no activities are planned for the day. Nevertheless, an evening stroll could be arranged if the guests show an interest.

A guided tour around the historically and spiritually significant landmarks in Kathmandu will be scheduled after breakfast. These landmarks constitutes of Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath – the Monkey Temple, Boudhanath and Kathmandu Durbar Square where you could enjoy the artistic palace, art, culture, paintings and history of ancient medieval Nepal. In the afternoon, pre-trip discussion session will be arranged enabling the interaction between the guests, trek leader and crew members.

Soon after breakfast, we will head on a long drive to Beshisahar from where a local jeep will be hired to take us to Syange. This drive is a tremendous opportunity in understanding the lifestyle, culture and everyday life of the rural people. From Syange starts our trek to Jagat the night will be spent.

The trail up to Chyamje will be followed as soon as the breakfast ends. Crossing the suspension bridge, the trail is followed uphill through the dense oak forest proceeding further until the emergence of a valley. As we cross Kodo, the ascend to the village of Dharapani begins.

We begin the trek of the day after breakfast following the trail that descends until reaching the river and continues through a lush forest. Ascending further, we come across a sharp-edged cliff facing the riverbank. On the way, we will see Chyamje with a mesmerizing backdrop of Annapurna mountain range. Crossing a suspension bridge, we climb up a steep trail coming close to Sattale from where we descend to a grassy riverbank leading to Tal. As we walk away from Tal, the path becomes rugged and winding through which we approach steeply-forested village of Karte. We finally reach Dharapani after crossing a suspension bridge.

Following a steep and narrow path through a dense forest, we will come across a dramatic curved rock face rising 1500m from the river which probably is the steepest part of the Marshyangdi Valley as it is carved into a vertical rock. Passing through this last bit of rock, the valley opens up to majestic views of the Himalayas. At the opening of the valley, Paungda Danda welcomes us from where we walk further to lower Pisang.

Among the two routes going to Manang, we follow the trail that takes us to Upper Pisang through Geru. This trail rewards us with the excellent views of the beautiful landscape and the mighty mountains including Annapurna and Pisang. The mesmerizing contrast in the landscape and vegetation is noticeable from here. We will make a short visit to the largest monastery in the entire district, the Barge Monastery which will be one of the most memorable experiences of your journey.

This day is spent on acclimatization for which we will indulge in a short hike either to Bhojo Gumba or Gangapurna Lake. We can also hike to Vraga Village for a visit to Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic to learn about Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

The trail crossing over a stream and climbing to a village of Tenki above Manang is followed which continues to go up out of the Marshyangdi Valley turning northwest up the valley of Jarsang Khola. From here, the trail follows this valley northward passing a few pastures and a scrub of juniper trees as it steadily gains elevation passes further closer to the small village of Ghunsa, a cluster of flat mud roofs just below the trailhead. It now goes through the meadows where horses and yaks graze crossing gradually a small river through a wooden bridge and traversing through an ancient Mani wall in a pleasant meadow progressively reaching another small village of Yak Kharka where the trek ends for the day.

On this day, the trek to the foot of Thorong Phedi Pass, a small busy settlement catering to the needs of tired trekkers and climbers, is made. This point is used by some trekkers as a base camp. Although some trekkers attempt a hike to the High Camp on the very day of their arrival here, Bharal Adventure does not advice that because it understands that a sound sleep here is more important and helpful rather than a risky sleep in higher altitude at the High Camp.

The climb to the pass begins early in the morning. Although the ascend is very steep in the initial stage, the peak becomes sloppier as the climb proceeds through the rocky ridges up to the top of the pass at 5,416m. The 360 degree panorama of the snow capped peaks extending northwards into Tibet is a breathtaking sight along with the peaks of Annapurna range and the unfathomable Kali Gandaki gorge staring right in front of us. From here, the trail descends steeply down to Muktinath which is a reverent pilgrimage sight for both Hindus and Buddhists pilgrims at the same time being a home to many ethnic Tibetans and holy Buddhists.

An important pilgrimage site to both Hindus and Buddhists, Muktinath is one of the most popular destinations for trekkers along the Annapurna and Manang region. After our visit to this Vishnu Temple which also accommodates a Gompa, we will begin our descent from Ranipauwa village down through the steep and barren hillside. We move down toward Kagbeni and then to Jomsom finally arriving at Marpha. We trek along the plateau above Kali Gandaki River, the world’s deepest gorge. Marpha is also known as apple capital of Nepal where varieties of items made of apple are famous along with local apple brandy.

This day’s journey is mostly downhill in which the early part of the trek requires crossing a bridge at Ghasa. We come close to subtropical forests, lush with vegetation as we drop to lower elevations. We continue on our trail along Rupse Chahara (waterfall) and continue down the east bank from Kopchepani to a bridge at Dana via Garpar. A powerhouse for supplying electricity in the area is visible from Narchyang Besi. As we reach Tatopani, we can relax and relieve ourselves of the anxiety and tiredness of the trek.

Leaving the Kali Gandaki, the trail to Ghar Khola Valley is followed which leads through a terraced farmland surrounded by mountains on all sides. Passing through the villages of Shikha and Chitre the lush red and green rhododendron forest appears ahead. Further walk takes us to Ghorepani, a beautiful village located at the top of a ridge.

An early morning climb along the steep trial to the viewpoint in Poon Hill (2,310m/10,529 ft) will be rewarded with the sunrays glistening over the bravura mountains. One of the most popular trekking destinations of Annapurna Region, it is endowed with astonishing views of Mustang, Pokhara and more than twenty of the highest mountains including the up-close view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. It is a perfect spot for capturing the high mountains looming in the backdrop glistening with the morning light in the camera and beating the chill with some hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Breakfast awaits us as we follow the trail back to Ghorepani then trek  via Ulleri, Tikhedhunga and Birethanti to Nayapul  for 7 hours and drive to Pokhara for 1 and half hour.

The sixteenth day of the journey is the day we drive back to Kathmandu along the scenic highway in the company of Trishuli River. The six hours drive is accompanied by varied landscape, lush vegetation and sight of people preparing for or zooming along in their raft boats.

On this day, the Bharal Adventure team bids farewell to the guests and one of the representatives will escort the guests to the airport approximately three hours before their scheduled flight.