By Yogesh Kunwar – Founder & Trekking Guide

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is more than just a trail—it's a journey through some of Nepal’s most stunning landscapes, vibrant mountain villages, and spiritual moments. I’ve done this trek many times as a guide, but every 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.

🚙 Day 1: Jeep Ride to Dharapani

We started with a long but scenic jeep ride from Kathmandu to Dharapani, the starting point of our trek. It’s always a bit bumpy, but full of excitement knowing that the mountains are calling.

🪶 Day 2: Dharapani to Chame

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

🍏 Day 3: Chame to Upper Pisang (via Bhartang Apple Farm)

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)—honestly, the best I’ve ever tried!As a guide, I always stop here with my groups. After that refreshing break, we continued to Upper Pisang, a village with magical views of Annapurna II and the surrounding peaks.

🌾 Day 4: Upper Pisang to Manang

This part of the trek is my favorite—breathtaking landscapes, Tibetan-influenced villages, and towering cliffs. 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 meat snack) and momos. Sukuti, especially from yak meat, is smoky, chewy, and full of flavor. If you’re in Manang, don’t miss it!

🏔️ Day 5–6: Acclimatization in Manang

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.

⛰️ Day 7: Manang to Ledar (4,200m)

Now the trail begins to rise. We trekked slowly to Ledar, enjoying the alpine landscape. The mountain air gets thinner, but the views become even more dramatic.

🏥 Day 8: Ledar to High Camp

Originally, we planned to stay at Low Camp, but since the whole group was feeling good, we hiked 1 hour more to High Camp (4,900m). It’s a bit tougher, but this gave us a head start for crossing the pass.

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

We woke up at 3:00 am, packed our breakfast, and started walking at 4:00 am with headlamps on. It took us about 3 hours to reach Thorong La Pass, the highest point of the trek. 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 photos, we began the long descent to Muktinath, which took around 6 hours. Tired but proud, we stayed the night in this sacred town.

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

Early morning, we visited Muktinath Temple, bathed under the 108 holy taps, and offered our prayers. After breakfast, we took a jeep ride to Pokhara, reaching by 5:00 pm. We enjoyed a peaceful evening walk along Phewa Lake—a perfect way to end a long trek.

🌄 Day 11: Exploring Pokhara

This was our relaxing day in Pokhara. We visited:

Pumdikot Shiva Statue

World Peace Pagoda

International Mountain Museum

Boating for 2 hours on Phewa LakeIn the evening, we walked the Lakeside area, found a nice restaurant for lunch, and ended the day with a pizza at Godfather Pizzeria.

✈️ Day 12: Return to Kathmandu

After breakfast, we took a short flight back to Kathmandu, bringing home incredible memories and the feeling of accomplishment. Another successful journey!

✅ Final Thoughts

As a trekking guide, this was one of the most enjoyable and smooth Annapurna Circuit treks I’ve ever done. 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.