10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, Annapurna Circuit Trek is the greatest trekking trail on the earth. The amazing circuit trail around the heavenly Annapurna Region has been a top trek since the start. With time, several Annapurna Circuit Trek itineraries were introduced. One of them is the 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek, a quicker form of a trek.

10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek is a shorter version of the standard trek that usually lasts 15-18 days. Thus it is an itinerary handmade for those with less time. In ten days, you will briefly see what others see in at least half a month. Isn’t that special?

The rewards of 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek are one too many. As the trek begins in the outskirts of the scenic city of Pokhara, you’ll start experiencing beauty. You’ll progress by sliding via the golden paddy fields, aligned terrace fields, lucrative houses, and cheerful people.

Then you will walk via forested trails inside Annapurna Conservation Area, hearing and viewing enriched flora and fauna. Similarly, natural freshwater streams, rivers, and waterfalls will cheer you on the journey ahead. You will trek up to the alpine zone from the tropical zone and landscapes. In between, you’ll experience the beautiful transition in landscapes, vegetation, and temperature.

You’ll enjoy all kinds of terrains, from green hills to deserted mountain ridges. The iconic peaks such as Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, II, III, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, and Pisang Peak are visible on this trek. View-wise, you will never get enough of the views, especially the mountains. For that, you’ll climb Thorung La Pass(5,416m), the pinpoint of the trek.

Moreover, the 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek is an eventful trek for culture lovers. Throughout the trek, you’ll exist with diverse people of diverse communities and ethnicities. In this trek, the major tribes you’ll come across are Gurungs, Thakalis, Magars, Rais, Brahmins, and Chhetris. You’ll have a whole lot of people to meet and talk to. Also, you will trek by numerous gompas, monasteries, prayer wheels, and temples. One of them is Muktinath Temple, a sacred temple in the foothills of Annapurna.

Altogether, Ten Days Annapurna Circuit Trek is an excellent trail to hit in Nepal. This trek gives you ten days to experience the limitless beauty and magic of the Annapurna Region. On this voyage, you’ll have an exploration of nature, people, culture, and yourself.

Major Highlights of 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek

• Do one of the best treks in the world in a short span of ten days.
• Travel to western Nepal to start the trek.
• Commence the trek from the traditional villages and terraced fields.
• Head into the woods abundant in diverse flora and fauna.
• See the whole landscape changing from one to another.
• Meet the native people of the region and learn their unique wisdom and lifestyle.
• Cross the dramatic Thorong La Pass(5,416m).
• Get incredible panoramas of Annapurna Massif, Mt Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Pisang, Nilgiri, and more.
• Reach various famous hamlets of the region such as Jomsom, Marpha, Pisang, and Manang.
• Witness the semi-deserted but attractive landscapes of the Mustang Region.
• Pay visits to various monasteries, gompas, and temples.
• Enjoy and relax your body at Tatopani’s natural hot spring.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Dharapani(1,960m)

Altitude Gain: 1,960m(Dharapani)

Drive Duration: 6-7hrs

After arriving in Kathmandu and preparing for the trek, we’ll leave Kathmandu. It will take around 6 to 7 hours on the Prithivi Highway. The long drive will allow us to watch Nepal’s landscapes, villages, markets, rivers, hills, and more from the windows of our vehicle.

En route to Dharapani, we’ll pass the tourism capital of Nepal, Pokhara. Instead of the city, we will directly head to Dharapani, the starting point of our trek. After arriving in Dharapani, we’ll find a teahouse to rest. Overnight in Dharapani.

Day 02: Trek from Dharapani to Chame(2,710m)

Altitude Gain: 2,710m(Dharapani)

Trek Duration: 5-6hrs

Finally, we shall begin our trek from Dharapani in the morning. The delicious breakfast will give us great power to start the trek. Our trek ahead through villages will see us the iconic houses of the place and their farm fields. We will cross several settlements along the day.

At times, we’ll also cross woods full of greenery and life. Progressing through the uphills, we’ll have the first visions of the Annapurna mountains. After the trek of 5-6 hours, we’ll arrive in Chame. The stop has two hot springs where we’ll relax our bodies and mind. Overnight in Chame.

Day 03: Trek from Chame to Pisang(3,300m)

Altitude Gain: 3,300m(Pisang)

Trek Duration: 5-6hrs

We’ll open our eyes to a striking morning in Chame. Then having our breakfast, we’ll leave for Pisang, the next stop. Pisang is not too far from Chame. So we’ll trek slowly, enjoying everything that comes in front. We’ll pass over several sounding rivers of the region. And mountains of the region will keep us hooked.

As we trek, we’ll walk past Swarga Dwari and Dhukur Pokhari. The trek will make us cross several hanging bridges on the trail. Then, we’ll reach a vibrantly green pasture from where our trek is quite easy. The beautiful trek of 5 to 6 hours will bring us to Lower Pisang, a scenic village in the foothills of the Annapurna Region. We’ll call it a day with striking views of white mountains and colorful hills. Overnight in Pisang.

Day 04: Trek from Pisang to Manang(3,519m)

Altitude Gain: 3,519m(Manang)

Trek Duration: 6-7hrs

We’ll wake to yet another beautiful morning in Pisang. With mountains in the backdrop, we’ll eat our breakfasts. Then we’ll join the trail to Manang. It will be a slightly longer trekking day.

We’ll have two routes to enter Manag to trek, the upper and the lower. The upper one is demanding, but it offers more mountain views. And the lower one is easier and offers limited pictures of peaks. Both ways, you will enjoy the charm of the Manang region.

While walking on today’s trail, we’ll walk into classic hamlets of the Manang Region. The last one will be Braga, a Tibetan village in the foothills. Our trek for the day will finish in the village. While it’s still daylight, we’ll enjoy the village’s uniqueness. Overnight in Manang.

Day 05: Acclimatization and Exploration in Manang

We’ll have a free day in Manang’s Braga Village for acclimatization. Waking up on time, we’ll take our breakfast and start exploring more of the village and its surroundings.

We’ll have optional hikes to do and make the day worthwhile. The first option is to hike up Gangapurna Lake. Another one is a walk to Ice Lake. Or else, we can just stay in the village to explore its sites and see the locals living their usual lives. By all means, the day in Manang will be a rewarding one.

Day 06: Trek from Manang to Yak Kharka(4,100m)

Altitude Gain: 4,100m(Yak Kharka)

Trek Duration: 3-4hrs

Following a remarkable day in Manang, we’ll move toward Yak Kharka. It is a short hike but a bit more dramatic than earlier. We have to cross a rough track to pass along and find Yak Kharka, the pasture ground of Yak. While passing through the valley, we’ll have good views of the peaks of the Annapurna Region. When reaching Yak Kharka, we’ll watch a breathtaking view of the whole region with the pasture right in front. Overnight in Yak Kharka.

Day 07: Trek from Yak Kharka to Thorong High Camp(4,800m)

Altitude Gain: 4,800m(Thorong High Camp)

Trek Duration: 3-4hrs

From Yak Kharka, we shall move higher towards Thorong High Camp. Firstly, we’ll walk across Ledar, a place with a few teahouses. The trail then continues on the riverbed of Thorong River. As we move ahead, we’ll have mountains and snowy terrains all around us. A little later, we will use a hanging bridge to cross the river to start a climb towards Thorong Phedi. Soon we’ll reach the Duerali stop for a short break.

Next, passing by the landslide-prone area for a while, we’ll reach Thorong Phedi. The distance between Thorong Phedi to Thorong High Camp is approximately 1 km, but it will take us around 2 hours to complete that. We have to climb a steep section gaining 400m altitude. This way, we will reach Thorong High Camp to cherish mouth-opening visions of surrounding peaks and terrains.

Day 08: Trek from Thorong High Camp to Muktinath via Thorong La Pass, then, Drive to Jomsom | 5-6hrs and 2 h

We’ll wake up to a striking sunrise view in Thorong High Camp. Eating our breakfast, we’ll strive towards Thorong La Pass(5,416m). The climb will happen on rugged terrain. We will have a hard time for a while to reach the top. Once we reach the top, the view of the entire Annapurna massif and the rest of the peaks will take your breath away.

After enjoying the view, we’ll descend slowly towards Muktinath Temple. This will take not too much to reach the pilgrimage site. We’ll stop for a while to explore the sacred site. And then we will take a drive to Jomsom from Muktinath. While on the road, we’ll catch bewitching views of the deserted landscapes of the region and villages scattered. Overnight in Jomsom.

Day 09: Early morning flight to Pokhara

We’ll have a scenic flight to Pokhara in the morning from Jomsom Airport. It will take around 20 minutes to land in Pokhara. After the arrival, we’ll transfer to our hotel in Pokhara. And we’ll use the rest of the day to explore the picturesque city. Overnight in Pokhara.

Day 10: Drive to Kathmandu

We’ll get ready to join a drive to Kathmandu on the last day of the tour. The drive will happen on the Prithivi Highway, which we used at the start of the tour. We will reach Kathmandu after 6-7 hours of the scenic drive. And this will bring an official ending to 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Best Time For 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek

You do not know anything if you have no hint about the weather in Annapurna Circuit Trek. The weather is the most important thing to look at. It helps you to do a trek at the right time. If you have no idea about that, here is a detailed guide about the best time for the 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek.

You’ll read about the four seasons in Nepal and the Annapurna Region. We’ll talk about both peak and low seasons for Annapurna Circuit Trek. And you’ll be able to easily pick the time for 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek. Let’s start.

Spring(March-May)

Spring beckons colors, greenery, and ambiance in Nepal. The season begins in March and continues until May. During this time, you’ll see the famous streets of Kathmandu and Pokhara full of travelers.

Spring is about stable weather, undisturbed mountain vistas, enhanced greenery, and colorful flowers. People around the globe know about this and hence visit Nepal in Spring. The famous trekking trails of Nepal, including the Annapurna Circuit Trek, are ample for trekkers. Spring entirely favors adventure lovers looking for adventures to do in Nepal.

Annapurna Region’s exploration during Spring is just perfect. The higher areas’ temperature averages around 8 to 0 degrees during the daytime. You can expect the lower areas to be much warmer. However, the night and first few morning hours are still cold. Thus, Spring is a great time to visit Nepal in terms of temperature.

As said earlier, you’ll have unobstructed views of mountains in Spring. Not to forget, Spring is a time of colorful flowering flowers. The woods of Nepal are mainly overwhelmed with flowers of Rhododendron. You’ll experience this part of Spring in Nepal. Collectively, Spring is an unparalleled time for doing Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Autumn(September to November)

The next on the list is Autumn, another high time to visit Nepal. The season starts in Nepal around September and remains until November. Autumn is a good time to visit Nepal for the steady weather conditions and fantastic scenery. The world knows that, and thus we see many people arriving in Nepal.

Moderate temperature, low chances of rainfall, blue skies, and the festive season are some of the perks of Autumn in Nepal. In the high altitudes of the Annapurna Region, the temperature stays around 10 to 20 degrees. But, as expected, the nights and mornings are slightly colder. You will have an amazing experience in the region during this season.

Moreover, Nepal’s skies in Autumn are all clear and blue. There will be no waiting game to watch mountains in the days of Autumn. On Annapurna Circuit Trek, you’ll catch transparent glimpses of the region’s mountains. So view-wise, Autumn will not dissatisfy you.

Plus, you will experience the festival season of Nepal. The greatest festivals, Dashain and Tihar, occur during this season. That means the aura of Nepal will be joyful. You will be part of that happening ambiance.

In sum, Autumn is as good as Spring for Annapurna Circuit Trek. Or it may be better than Spring. If you are not available for Spring, Autumn is an unmatched option for you.

Monsoon(June to August)

Monsoon is okay for trekking in Nepal. But you have to deal with slippery trails, obstructed mountain views, frequent rainfall, etc. If you are okay with all of these, Monsoon is a possible season.

This season embarks with the departure of Spring and lasts from June to August. The temperature around Nepal ranges from around 10 to 23 degrees. The temperature in Monsoon is warm. However, the temperature increases post rainfall, especially at high elevations.

Similarly, Monsoon or Summer may not be a good span for mountain lovers. Due to the frequent rain clouds, mountains may not be visible all day long. Also, the trekking trails are wet and slippery during this season. If you love such adventures, Monsoon is a doable time.

But we guess very few people like to trek on wet trails to watch mountains once in a while. That is why it is off-season in Nepal. And the trekking activities are lower during this season than in Autumn and Spring. So it is up to you to pick this season or not. We cannot recommend this season like Autumn and Spring.

Winter(December to February)

Winter is the coldest time of the year in the Himalayas of Nepal. The season, which runs from December to February, showers a lot of snowfall in the mountains. But still, some adventure lovers like to trek this season. If you also like taking on hard things, this season is perfect.

The doers of Winter season treks get the best views of mountains. Due to the high snowfall in the peaks, they look whitish and shine brightly. The whole landscape in the higher parts of Nepal turns into a white desert during this season. So winter trekking is such a treat to your eyes.

Moreover, the season can be a peaceful time in a popular trek like Annapurna Circuit Trek. Most of the visitors prefer Autumn and Spring. That is why it is quite less crowded in winter.

However, the temperature around Annapurna Circuit Trek can be any low up to -10 degrees. The cold weather is the hardest part of the Winter trek. If you are someone with enough trekking experience in Winter, you are eligible for this. Otherwise, it is a hard time for a newbie. So select this season according to your expertise.

Difficulty Level of Annapurna Circuit Trek

Annapurna Circuit Trek is a moderate trek. Moderate means it is tough for newbies and normal for skilled trekkers. As said in the overview, Annapurna Circuit Trek normally is a 15-20 day long plan. However, the 10 Days Circuit Trek is a shortened plan. That means you will do a trek in just 10 days. So there will be some challenges. Let’s unknot them.

The first difficulty of this trek is its altitude. You on this trek will cross Thorung La Pass(5,416m). Going above 5000m+ altitude is not an ordinary task for someone from sea level. It can be a regular thing for the locals but not you. Thus the altitude can be a difficulty of the Annapurna circuit trek.

Other than altitude, the weather of the region might test you. Annapurna Region ranges from tropical to the alpine zone. You will experience temperature changes each day. The higher you reach, the colder the climate gets. And it is even harder during night hours. So the weather is another challenge of this trek.

Similarly, the roughness and nature of the trail can be another problem for you. You will walk on one of the world’s adventurous trails. Along the trail, you have to cross steep and rough sections. Sometimes, you have to pass through a slippery and loose path. This diverse nature of Annapurna Circuit Trek is thus a hassle for trekkers.

Nevertheless, Annapurna Circuit Trek 10 Days is not an impossible job. If you have good training and experience, you are ahead in the game. And if you are not, you might get into trouble. Thus, make sure to train yourself for this amazing circuit.

Packing List For 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek

The packing list for a trek depends on the time you are trekking. So make sure to add clothes and gear as per the season. The standard packing list for the trek is as below:

Head

• Cap or Sun hat.
• Warm hat.
• Headlight and extra batteries
• UV-protected glasses.

Hands

• Light gloves
• Warm winter gloves.

Body

• Trekking shirts
• Full-sleeved shirts
• Rainproof jacket
• Fleece jacket
• Trekking pants
• Layers
• Instant dry T-shirts
• Sweater
• Waterproof pants

Foot

• Comfy trekking shoes
• Trekking socks
• Warm socks

Extra

• Sunscreen
• Basic toiletries
• Water purification pills.
• Trekking poles
• Sleeping bag
• Water bottles(Thermal)
• Sanitizer
• Basic first aid kits

Frequently Asked Questions of 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek

What is the highest point of the 10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Thorong La Pass(5,416m) is the highest point of the circuit trek. So that height is the maximum elevation gain of the trek.

How many hours of trek will be done each day?

On the trekking days of Annapurna Circuit Trek, you will need to walk around 6-8 hours per day.

How can I prepare for the Annapurna circuit trek?

You can do various cardio exercises and training for the trek. Regular swimming, jogging, walking, hiking, running, and cycling will boost your cardio physical endurance level.

Will I get altitude illness during the trek?

Walking in high elevations, there is always a fear of altitude sickness. This trek goes above 5000m, so it has chances of mountain sickness. But do not worry, an acclimatization day and your precautions will help you avoid it.

How can I avoid altitude sickness?

Proper acclimatization is a must to avoid mountain sickness. The other ways to prevent it are drinking enough water, trekking slowly, and resting. Not taking alcohol or dehydration helps your body fight the sickness.

How challenging is the Annapurna circuit trek?

10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek is a moderate trek to attend. During the trek, you will face steep trails, extreme weather, high altitude, and rough terrain. So it is a comfortable walk for experienced trekkers and a hard one for novices.

When is the best time to do Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Annapurna Circuit Trek is possible all year round. But the best times for the trek are the Autumn and Spring season. Other than that, Winter is also okay for the trek. However, it is a little unfavorable during the Monsoon season.

What are the starting and ending points of Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Annapurna’s 10 Days Circuit Trek starts from Dharapani and ends in Jomsom.

You will reach the starting point from Kathmandu-Pokhara- Dharapani. And you will return to Kathmandu via Jomsom-Pokhara.

Can I do a solo Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Yes, you can. But it is less confusing and demanding while traveling through a local agency. You do not have to find and fix anything on the trek. All you will do is walk and enjoy the tour. It is better to go in a group through a local travel company.

What are the necessary permits for Annapurna Circuit Trek?

TIMS(Trekkers’ Information Management System) Card and Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit are the two permits needed for the trek.

Is it possible to do Annapurna Circuit Trek in Summer?

Yes, it is possible. But you should be ready to take on any challenges. The trails are wet and slippery; the weather is also crispy. It is pretty hard to trek when it is showering. So it is possible but difficult.

Should I hire a guide and porter for Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Hiring a guide is not compulsory, but it is good to have one. Make sure you have an experienced, licensed, and local guide. That type of guide can only give you the best guidance. Likewise, a porter is a must if you have a heavy backpack to carry on the trek. The porter will carry your load, and you will enjoy the trek.