Trip Overview
Embark on the fantastic Annapurna Circuit Short Trek that takes you to one of Nepal’s most popular trekking regions in a short period. The 12-day adventure passes through the subtropical jungle in the lower reaches all the way to the high-altitude plateau of the Himalayas.
Highlights of Annapurna Circuit Short Trek
- Witness the different side of Annapurna surrounded by mist-shrouded valleys, wild mountain landscapes, remote communities, and diverse cultures.
- Stand at the summit of Thorong La Pass, the world’s highest mountain pass, located at 5,416 meters.
- Visit one of Nepal’s significant pilgrimage sites — the Muktinath Temple.
- Gaze upon some of the world’s most spectacular mountains, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Gangapurna.
- Opportunity to stay in the cozy local teahouses and experience the rustic lifestyle of the remote mountain communities.
- Explore one of Nepal’s most happening tourist destinations, Pokhara.
This trek is a shorter version of the classic Annapurna Circuit Trek. Hence, it offers just about everything you’d expect from a high-altitude trek — from spectacular mountain views to mist-shrouded valleys, remote communities, and ancient monasteries.
On Annapurna Circuit Short Trek, you’ll be crossing over the world’s highest pass, Thorong La Pass, at 5,416 meters. You’ll also be rewarded with close-up views of the mountain peaks, including Annapurna Massif (Annapurna I-IV), Dhaulagiri, Gangapurna, Tilicho Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, and Thorong Peak. Besides that, this trek takes you through some of the most popular mountain villages, including Manang, Chame, Pisang, and Yak Kharka.
Annapurna Circuit Short Trek offers the perfect blend of nature and culture. Home to Gurung, Limbu, Tamang, Magar, and Rai people, the Annapurna region provides you the opportunity to be a part of their rural lifestyle and experience their local culture. Moreover, you’ll be visiting the Muktinath Temple, one of the world’s holiest shrines for both Hindus and Buddhists.
The Annapurna Circuit Short Trek begins with a 12-hour drive from Kathmandu to Dharapani. After that, you’ll follow the densely-forested uphill trail to Chame. Enjoying the majestic view of the surrounding landscape, Annapurna Range, and Pisang Peak, you’ll head over to Pisang and later follow the upper route to the village of Manang.
At Manang, you’ll have an acclimatization day to adjust your body with the high altitude to reduce the risk of altitude sickness. On this day, you’ll spend time visiting the local monasteries and the serene Gangapurna Lake.
After the acclimatization day, you’ll continue your journey towards the small settlement of Yak Kharka and then to Thorong Phedi. The next day, you’ll start early and make a steep ascent to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain pass — Thorong La — at 5,416 meters. The summit offers a magnificent 360-degree panorama of the Annapurna range along with the beautiful gorge of Kali Gandaki.
After crossing the pass, you’ll descend steeply towards the sacred land of Muktinath. Here, you’ll visit a significant pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On the following day, you’ll drive to the ‘Tourism Capital of Nepal’, Pokhara, from Muktinath, to conclude the trek.
Keep in mind that the Annapurna Circuit Short Trek demands top-level physical and mental fitness. Since you’ll be crossing a mountain pass over 5,000 meters, the risk of altitude sickness is considerably higher on this trek. If you think the Annapurna Circuit Short Trek is a bit on the challenging side for you, you should consider Annapurna Base Camp Trek or Annapurna Panorama Trek.