🏔️ My 12-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek Experience - A Guide's Personal Journey

By Yogesh Kunwar – Founder & Trekking Guide

The Annapurna Circuit Trek isn't just a popular trekking route. It's a life-changing journey through some of Nepal’s breathtaking landscapes, vibrant mountains, ancient villages, and spiritual moments. I’ve led this trek many times, but each time, it brings something new. Here, I’ll share my recent 12-day Annapurna Circuit experience, step by step—from Dharapani to Thorong La Pass, all the way to Pokhara.

1. 🚙 Day 1: Jeep Ride to Dharapani

We kicked off this trek with a long yet scenic jeep ride from Kathmandu to Dharapani. It's bumpy, no doubt, but the excitement of entering the mountains makes it all worth it. Dharapani marks the real beginning of the trek, surrounded by pine forests and the vibe of the mountains all around you. 

Tip: If you're booking with a local Annapurna Circuit trek agency, ask them to manage a comfortable jeep transfer. It makes a huge difference.

1. 🪶 Day 2: Dharapani to Chame

After a good night's sleep, we began our trek from Dharapani to Chame, the district headquarters of Manang. The trail passed through beautiful and dense pine forests, traditional houses, and peaceful Buddhist chortens. Food and accommodation in Chame were excellent—clean rooms, warm meals, and friendly local people.

1. 🍏 Day 3: Came to Upper Pisang (via Bhartang Apple Farm)
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After around 1.5 hours of walking from Chame, we reached Bhartang Village, famous for its apple farming. Here, I had fresh apple juice and apple cider (apple slider)—hands down the best I've ever had. As a guide, I always stop here with my groups. After that refreshing break, we continued to Upper Pisang, where the magical views of Annapurna II and nearby peaks literally stopped us in our track.

1. 🌾 Day 4: Upper Pisang to Manang

This stretch is my personal favorite part of the trek. The trail runs through breathtaking landscapes, Tibetan-influenced villages, and towering cliffs. The air starts to thin out, but the landscapes become more dramatic with every step. Manang sits at 3,540 meters and is one of the most charming places in the Annapurna region.

We stayed in a cozy teahouse, but I also explored small local restaurants where I had delicious yak sukuti (Nepali dried, smoky meat snack) and momos. Sukuti, especially from yak meat, is smoky, chewy, and full of flavor. For the real taste of Manang, yak sukuti is a must-try dish.

1. 🏔️ Day 5–6: Acclimatization in Manang

Proper acclimatization is key to avoiding altitude sickness. We spent two nights here for acclimatization. On our rest day, we hiked 500m uphill to a tea house with an amazing mountain view, had some tea, and came back down to visit the Gangapurna Lake—a glacial lake with stunning turquoise water.

1. ⛰️ Day 7: Manang to Ledar (4,200m)
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Leaving Manang, the terrain turns alpine and rugged. We moved slowly to Ledar, enjoying the alpine landscape. The climb isn't too harsh, but the air gets thinner, and the views become even more dramatic. Ledar was cold but peaceful.

1. 🏥 Day 8: Ledar to High Camp
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Although we initially planned to stop at Low Camp, everyone in the group felt strong, so we pushed on to High Camp at 4,900m after 1 hour of  hiking. It was a bit tough climb, but it paid off the next morning by giving us a head start on crossing the pass.

1. ❄️ Day 9: Thorong La Pass (5,416m) to Muktinath

This was the big day. We woke up at 3:00 am, packed our breakfast, and hit the trail with headlamps on. After around 3 hours of steady climbing, we reached Thorong La Pass, the highest point of the trek.  It was freezing cold but insanely beautiful. The sense of achievement up there is hard to describe. At 5,416m, with prayer flags fluttering and snow under our boots, it felt like standing on the roof of the world.

After a short break for the views and photos, we began the long descent to Muktinath, which took around 6 hours. While it was exhausting, the views and spiritual vibe of the town kept us going. We stayed the night in this sacred town.

1. 📟️ Day 10: Visit to Muktinath Temple, Drive to Pokhara

The next morning, we visited Muktinath Temple, bathed under the 108 holy taps, and offered our prayers. After breakfast, we took a jeep ride and reached Pokhara by late afternoon.

It felt amazing to walk along Phewa Lake that evening, a perfect way to end a long trek. 

1. 🌄 Day 11: Exploring Pokhara

This was a chill day in Pokhara. We visited:

1. Pumdikot Shiva Statue

2. World Peace Pagoda

3. International Mountain Museum

4. A 2-hour boating trip on Phewa Lake

We wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner at Godfather Pizzeria, a must-try if you are in town.

1. ✈️ Day 12: Return to Kathmandu

After breakfast, we took a short flight back to Kathmandu, bringing home incredible memories and the feeling of accomplishment. Every trek has its own magic and vibe, but this one was unforgettable.

Ready For The Trek of a Lifetime?

Let's make it happen together. It would be my pleasure to guide you personally through one of Nepal's most iconic trails, whether you are a solo traveler or in a group.

Need help planning your route, gears, or itinerary? Nepal Boundary Trekking Agency is here to help you make your Annapurna Circuit Trek unforgettable in 2025.

Conclusion

As a trekking guide, I can confidently say the Annapurna Circuit Trek in 2025 is still one of the best long-distance treks in the world. The landscapes, local culture, food, and, of course, my amazing group made it unforgettable.

If you’re planning the Annapurna Circuit Trek, I highly recommend this route. Take your time, stay hydrated, and don’t miss Bhartang apple juice, yak sukuti, or a peaceful moment in Manang.