Lately, there has been extensive road construction (KATHMANDU TO POKHARA )on Prithvi Highway, causing traffic congestion and air pollution. The journey that used to take around 6-7 hours now takes roughly 8-9 hours. We appreciate your patience.
The Nepal Hiking Team brings you one of our popular treks: the Annapurna Circuit Short Trek. The Annapurna Mountains were named after the Hindu goddess Annapurna, goddess of food and nourishment. Goddess Annapurna is also known as the manifestation of Parvati, which is why faith and spirituality have been associated with the mighty Himalayas.
On this Annapurna Circuit Short Trek, you’ll witness distinctive geographical formations like the Kali Gandaki and towering peaks like Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, etc. You’ll also get to view the mesmerizing sunrise atop Poon Hill with the sunlight coming over the Himalayas.
This unique combination of rugged landscapes and rich culture has made the Himalayas a premier destination for trekkers all over the globe. We at the Nepal Hiking Team have thoughtfully developed an itinerary to excel your wildest imaginations.
Your adventure starts when you arrive at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA). One of our team members will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel close to a tourist hub. After a short briefing, you can rest or explore the nearby local markets.
After Kathmandu, you’ll drive to Dharapani, where your hike starts in Chame. Furthermore, you’ll trek to Pisang, passing along beautiful landscapes and villages. As you continue, you’ll reach Manang, where you’ll acclimate for a day. Then, you trek to Yak Kharka, passing along small brooks and streams. You’ll also climb up Marshyangdi Valley, pass along Ghunsa Village, and pass through a grazing Yaks and Horses pasture.
From there, you trek to Thorong Phedi, where you’ll rest before climbing to High Camp. From there, you head toward Muktinath, passing along Thorong-La Pass at 5416 meters—the top offers 360-degree views of the snow-capped mountains and Kali-Gandaki gorge. Then, you steeply descend to Muktinath, where you can feel the positivity and the spiritual vibes. You stay overnight at Muktinath and move on to Pokhara the next day. From Pokhara, you take a flight back to Kathmandu, where your tour will end when we drop you off at the airport. You started your trek at Dharapani and concluded at Muktinath, covering almost everything.
We are dedicated to ensuring that your trip becomes an unforgettable memory. So feel free to contact the Nepal Hiking Team with your needs, and we’ll handle all the details to make your journey stress-free.
Once you arrive at the TIA, you’ll be received by our member from the Nepal Hiking Team at the arrival gate. Then you’ll be transferred to your hotel, which is conveniently located in the tourist hub. Here, you’ll be briefed about your itinerary and plans for the trip. Since there are no plans for the evening, you can either rest in the hotel or stroll around the local street market.
From Kathmandu, you take a scenic but very long drive to Dharapani. The road is filled with natural beauty, and you’ll experience the true essence of Nepal’s countryside. Going through several forests and villages, you will reach Dharapani. This is a great way to interact with the locals up in the mountains, away from the bustling cities.
The trekking trail continues on from Dharapani to the village of Chame. The trail is essentially a mule track that ascends through fir forests and continues alongside a beautiful river. Higher grounds will be covered today as you follow the trail through oak and maple trees accompanied by the majestic views of the Annapurna Himals. The Himalayan peaks form a dazzling horizon against the green beauty of the land.
Your day starts by walking on winding woodland trails decorated by nature all the way. Along the way, you can witness the incredible Pisang Peak and the spectacular Annapurna range. This part of the trek is filled with natural richness with stunning landscapes. After trekking for a while, you’ll reach Pisang where you stay overnight.
Today, you take an upper route to Manang via the Ghyaru-Ngawal-Mungji trail, where you’ll trek to the beautiful valley of Manang. This valley is full of natural diversity, local wildlife, and towering peaks, which accompany your journey.
Panoramic views of peaks like the Annapurna range, the Gangapurna, and the Pisang Peak make this trek worthwhile and pleasant. Finally, following this trail, you reach Manang. You’ll visit the Barge Monastery, one of the largest monasteries in Manang, and stay overnight there.
Today is set aside for your acclimatization. You’ll do so by strolling around local monasteries and gumbas. You can also interact with the locals to observe their lives and visit the local market. You can also visit the Gangapurna Lake and also the Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic.
Today, the trails are gorgeous, with streams and brooks intersecting occasionally. You will reach the village of Tenki, a dainty village of Limbu people above Manang. Further down, you’ll trek to the Marshyangdi Valley and walk northwest up to the valley of Jarsang Khola.
This trail is a peaceful one, filled with incredible biodiversity, where you can be close to nature. The trail then gradually climbs up and reaches the village of Ghunsang (3950 m), a small settlement of flat mud-roofed houses.
Then, you continue through grazing yaks and horses, pass by ancient Mane stone walls and wooden bridges, and reach Yak Kharka village, where you’ll stay for the night.
You make your way from Yak Kharka and move towards the foot of Thorong Phedi. This small yet busy settlement caters to the amenities for trekkers and climbers. You’ll rest at this place and stop for the day. You’ll stay overnight at Thorang Phedi and rest for a challenging trek tomorrow.
You will have an early start as the trail is very steep initially, and you need to be fresh. Once on top of the peak, the trail becomes soft and slushy because of the melted snow. When you arrive at the top of Thorong La Pass (5416 meters), you can see a 360-degree view of the snow-capped peaks, including several peaks of the Annapurna ranges and Kali Gandaki.
Your trail then descends and reaches Muktinath. This is a pilgrimage site for both Hindu and Buddhist people. Visit inside the temple and witness its religious significance, where hordes of devotees come every year during special occasions. You stay overnight at Muktinath.
The drive back to Pokhara would be very interesting for you because the roads are beautiful. You’ll look back on the mountains you just viewed up close. You’ll drive through stunning landscapes and reach Pokhara, where you stay overnight.
You’ll catch a flight back to Kathmandu, where you can glimpse the mountains one last time. Once you land at the airport, you’ll be transferred to the hotel.
Today, a representative from the Nepal Hiking Team will take you to the airport for your departure.
Start Dates refer to your arrival date in Nepal. End Dates correspond to your return date from Nepal.
The Annapurna Circuit Short Trek set departure dates are tailored for the group joining option. If the 12 days Annapurna Circuit Short Trek departure dates don’t fit your schedule, we can include alternative dates that better suit your needs.
Annapurna Circuit Short Trek Photos
Read our genuine feedback from past travelers with Nepal Hiking Team sourced from TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook, and Trustpilot.
There is a good reason Nepal Hiking Team is number 1 on most review platforms! After hearing good reviews, we selected them for our 2-week Annapurna Circuit trek.
Our guide, Shyam, could not have been better. He was so knowledgeable, so attentive to our needs, and made our trek the best it could have been. Our porter Robben was an absolute machine, carrying our bags and speeding off every day like a mountain goat!
The team makes sure you’ve slept well, eaten well and feel fit and healthy along every section of the trek.
The trek itself was stunning - the range of landscapes was so impressive and made every day different. The pass was tough at altitude, but so rewarding. Shyam, Uttam, Gokhul, and Robben had us dancing to Nepalese tunes at the top and made sure our pace over the pass wasn’t too strenuous. Our whole group (Brits, Americans & Nepalese) got on so well - we were trekking with friends the entire way.
If you’re thinking about booking this trek with Nepal Hiking Team, we could not encourage you more to do it!
