This 12 day Annapurna Circuit plan walks you from the Marsyangdi Valley to the Kali Gandaki gorge and over Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m in about two weeks.
The loop around the Annapurna range is a legend in Nepal trekking. The route climbs from the Marsyangdi side, crosses Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters, and drops into Mustang before ending near Jomsom. A tight 12 day schedule keeps the core of that loop — Manang, Yak Kharka, Thorong La, Muktinath — while skipping long lowland days by using jeeps and local flights. You still get giant peaks, tea house life, and the high pass photo, but you don’t need most of a month off work.
12 Day Annapurna Circuit Itinerary Overview
The fast version usually starts around Dharapani or Chame on the Marsyangdi side and wraps up in Jomsom on the Kali Gandaki side. You still cross Thorong La, one of the highest trekking passes most hikers will ever step on. Most walking days run 4–7 hours. The pass day is longer: 8–10 hours from high camp to Muktinath.
| Day | Route & Sleep Elevation | Hiking Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive Kathmandu / Pokhara → Besisahar → Dharapani (~1,860 m) | Travel day |
| 2 | Drive to Chame (~2,670 m) | 3–4 hr jeep |
| 3 | Chame → Pisang (~3,115 m) | 5–6 hr walk |
| 4 | Pisang → Manang (~3,540 m) | 5–6 hr walk |
| 5 | Acclimatization in Manang (~3,540 m), side hike to Ice Lake / ridge | 3–4 hr side hike |
| 6 | Manang → Yak Kharka (~4,050 m) | 4–5 hr walk |
| 7 | Yak Kharka → Thorong Phedi / High Camp (~4,525 m) | 4–5 hr walk |
| 8 | High Camp → Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) → Muktinath (~3,760 m) | 8–10 hr walk |
| 9 | Muktinath → Jomsom (~2,743 m) | 5–6 hr walk |
| 10 | Drive Jomsom → Tatopani (~1,190 m hot springs) | Travel day |
| 11 | Drive Tatopani → Pokhara (~820 m lakeside city) | Travel day |
| 12 | Ride or fly back to Kathmandu (~1,350 m) | Travel day |
The jeep assist trims the humid rice field section near Besisahar, and ending in Jomsom trims the long downhill slog back toward the highway. Those two shortcuts are how the classic loop fits inside two weeks.
Why This Short Circuit Works For Most Trekkers
Many visitors only have 14–16 days total in Nepal. This schedule still hits the headline spots: Pisang’s broad valley, Manang and its bakeries, Yak Kharka’s high pasture, the prayer-flag saddle of Thorong La at 5,416 m, and Mustang’s dry canyons on the far side. Guides on this route say most reasonably fit hikers who follow this plan and pace themselves clear the pass with smiles.
The layout is also smart for thin air. You gain height fast by road, then pause one full day in Manang around 3,500 m before you sleep above 4,000 m. That pause — plus a light pack hike toward Ice Lake or another ridge — lets your body adapt. Walk high, sleep lower. Skip that pause and you risk a pounding head at Thorong Phedi and an expensive rescue. Take it, and you’re far more likely to roll into Muktinath tired but fine.
Daily Breakdown And What To Expect
Days 1–2: Road Push To Chame
You ride from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Besisahar, then bounce up the Marsyangdi gorge by jeep. The dirt road clings to cliffs above a loud river. By dusk you’re in Dharapani or Chame, already past 2,500 m without burning a week on the lower approach.
Days 3–4: Chame To Pisang, Then Manang
The trail runs under Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal. You cross prayer flag bridges, pass apple orchards, and watch the valley open. Pisang sits in a basin of pale cliffs and hanging ice. Next stop is Manang. You now sleep above 3,500 m. A dull head or fast breathing on stairs is normal. Drink water, eat carbs, and ease up on caffeine late so you can rest.
Day 5: Acclimatization Day In Manang
This is not a lazy rest day. Guides send you on a light pack hike toward Ice Lake or a ridge above town. You touch 4,500 m, grab views of Gangapurna and Tilicho Peak, then drop back to sleep at 3,500 m. That single move often decides whether the pass day feels doable or awful.
Days 6–7: Manang To Yak Kharka, Then Thorong Phedi / High Camp
By now you’re past 4,000 m, so every uphill feels longer. Yak Kharka is a tight lodge cluster with ice cold taps and a sky full of stars. Then comes Thorong Phedi around 4,525 m. Some hikers stop there. Others climb one slow extra hour to High Camp to shorten the pass push. Watch for danger signs: pounding head, queasy stomach, clumsy steps. If that hits, drop down. No summit is worth a helicopter bill.
Day 8: Thorong La Pass To Muktinath
Alarms ring near 3 a.m. You sip tea, layer up, and start under headlamp. Thorong La is a rock saddle draped in prayer flags and a board that reads 5,416 m. You grab the photo and begin a downhill of more than 1,500 vertical meters into Mustang. By late afternoon you’re in Muktinath eating hot food in thicker air. Most trekkers call this the hardest and best day of the trip.
Days 9–12: Jomsom Exit
The trail widens toward Jomsom. Wind often blasts up the Kali Gandaki after lunch, so leave early. Jomsom has an airstrip, coffee, bakeries, and hot showers. From here you either fly to Pokhara when weather allows or bounce out by jeep and bus past Tatopani’s hot springs. Pokhara is the classic place to wash gear and sleep in a soft bed before heading back to Kathmandu. That wraps the loop inside two weeks and keeps you from walking the same ground twice.
Weather, Best Season, And Safety On The Pass
Two trekking windows stand out: spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Spring brings clear mornings and rhododendron bloom near Chame and Pisang. Autumn brings dry air, long views of Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri, and crisp mornings that feel cold but manageable. Monsoon months (June to August) turn lower trails slick with leeches. Deep winter (December to February) can load Thorong La with snow and sometimes shut the pass.
Altitude is the main health risk. Once you sleep above 3,000 m you’re in the danger zone for acute mountain sickness. Red flags are pounding head, loss of appetite, queasy stomach, or clumsy steps. The Manang pause is built to cut that risk. Drink water, eat steady carbs, and walk at a pace where you can still chat. If you feel drunk and unsteady at High Camp, drop lower right away. A fast descent is the only dependable fix. Travel insurance that covers helicopter lift is normal for this loop, and your licensed guide will know who to call in an emergency.
Permits, Costs, And Rules You Can’t Skip
This high route sits inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. Two documents are mandatory: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Trekkers’ Information Management System card (TIMS). ACAP funds trail work. TIMS registers you at checkpoints for safety tracking. Both come through Nepal Tourism Board counters in Kathmandu and Pokhara or through a registered trekking agency. ACAP is around 3,000 Nepalese rupees (about 25 USD) for most foreign visitors, and TIMS sits near 2,000 rupees (about 16 USD) for foreign trekkers.
Nepal now expects international trekkers on this high route to hire a licensed, TAAN-certified guide and get the TIMS card through that guide or agency. The goal is safety, rescue coordination, and better tracking in remote high passes.
Most hikers budget a guide rate around 20–30 USD per day, plus about 15 USD per trekking day for extras not in the base meal plan: hot drinks, snacks, Wi-Fi cards, warm showers, desserts, and tips. Road transfers, flights out of Jomsom, and travel insurance sit on top of that daily spend.
| Item | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACAP Permit | ~NPR 3,000 (≈25 USD) | Entry to Annapurna Conservation Area |
| TIMS Card | ~NPR 2,000 (≈16 USD) | Trekkers’ safety / registration log |
| Guide | ~20–30 USD per day | Licensed guide now expected on this loop |
| Personal Spend | ~15 USD per trek day | Snacks, coffee, Wi-Fi, desserts, tips |
For official wording, the TIMS card page by Nepal Tourism Board explains TIMS fees, the QR code permit system, and where to apply in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Long-running trekking outfits also share an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit fee chart with ACAP cost breakdowns that match what trekkers pay at checkpoints.
What To Pack For The High Pass Crossing
Thorong La sits above 5,000 m. Sunrise up there can feel like standing in a freezer with wind. Pack light, but don’t skimp on warmth. Core kit looks like this:
- Broken-in boots with ankle hold and good tread.
- Base layers that wick sweat, plus fleece and a small down jacket.
- Windproof shell and waterproof pants for sleet or spindrift.
- Warm hat, buff or balaclava, and liner gloves under thicker mitts.
- UV sunglasses and high SPF lip balm for glare near 5,000 m.
- Headlamp, a hard bottle or insulated flask you can open with gloves on, and any altitude meds cleared by your travel clinic at home.
Carry cash in small Nepali rupee notes. ATMs past Besisahar and Chame can be empty or offline, and tea houses charge extra for Wi-Fi, hot showers, and bakery treats. Keep passport, ACAP, TIMS, and insurance details dry and easy to show at checkpoints.