Trekkers approaching Thorong La pass on the Annapurna Circuit

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Itineraries

14-Day Annapurna Circuit
Day-by-Day Itinerary (2026)

Besisahar to Thorong La (5,416 m) and out via Poon Hill. Sleeping altitudes, walking hours, and where AMS risk actually concentrates.

10 min read|Verified for 2026

About this itinerary

This is the classic anticlockwise circuit compressed to 14 days using road transfers at both ends. Anticlockwise is non-negotiable: approaching Thorong La from the Manang side gives a far more gradual acclimatization profile over multiple days above 3,000 m. Crossing clockwise from Muktinath forces a single-day ascent of roughly 1,600 m with almost no prior altitude exposure - a reliable recipe for acute mountain sickness and, in serious cases, HACE.

The 14-day timeline is achievable for trekkers with reasonable fitness and no prior altitude problems. It includes a full acclimatization day in Manang (Day 7) and keeps the ascent to the pass distributed across three shorter days beforehand. Trekkers who feel any AMS symptoms should add a day rather than push the schedule.

Before you start

Four things to have sorted before you reach Besisahar:

Permit

ACAP only - TIMS is no longer required in the Annapurna region. See our full permit guide for costs and where to collect it. Permit guide.

Guide requirement

As of April 2023, solo foreign trekkers must be accompanied by a licensed Nepali guide. Groups of two or more foreign trekkers may trek independently.

Insurance

Must explicitly cover helicopter evacuation to at least 5,500 m. Verify this line item in your policy document - not all adventure travel policies include it.

Season

October to November and March to April are the standard trekking windows. The pass is usually closed December through February due to heavy snow.

The itinerary

Walking hours are moving time only and exclude stops and meals. Sleeping altitudes are listed for each night.

Day 1 - Kathmandu or Pokhara to Besisahar (760 m), jeep on to Bhulbhule (840 m)

Transport day. The jeep road from Besisahar to Bhulbhule is rough but passable. Arriving in Bhulbhule puts you a full walking day ahead for Day 2 and avoids the noise of Besisahar town. Sleep at 840 m.

Day 2 - Bhulbhule to Jagat (1,300 m) - approx. 6 h

The trail follows the Marsyangdi River through rice terraces and several suspension bridges. A steady day with no dramatic altitude gain. Sleep at 1,300 m.

Day 3 - Jagat to Dharapani (1,860 m) - approx. 6 h

The valley narrows and the landscape becomes more dramatic. You cross into Manang district at Dharapani - the checkpoint here is one of the first places your ACAP permit will be checked. Sleep at 1,860 m.

Day 4 - Dharapani to Chame (2,670 m) - 5-6 h

First big views of Annapurna II on clear days. Chame is the district headquarters and has better facilities than most trail towns - useful for last supplies before the high route. Sleep at 2,670 m.

Day 5 - Chame to Upper Pisang (3,300 m) - approx. 5 h

Tonight is your first sleep above 3,000 m. Watch for early AMS symptoms: a dull headache that worsens through the evening, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep. These are common at this altitude and usually resolve overnight. A headache that does not improve with water and rest is a reason to stay put. Sleep at 3,300 m.

Day 6 - Upper Pisang to Manang (3,540 m) via the high route - approx. 7 h

The high route through Ghyaru and Ngawal adds about 90 minutes compared to the valley path and is harder underfoot. Take it anyway. The extra daytime altitude exposure at 3,700 m aids acclimatization before Manang, and the views of Annapurna II, III, and IV from Ghyaru are the best on the entire circuit. Sleep at 3,540 m.

Day 7 - Acclimatization day in Manang (3,540 m)

This is not a rest day. The rule above 3,000 m is climb high, sleep low: day-hike to Ice Lake (4,600 m) or up toward Praken Gompa (3,980 m), then return to Manang to sleep. The extra altitude exposure during the day, combined with sleeping low, accelerates red blood cell production. This day decides whether the pass goes well. Trekkers who skip it and go straight to Yak Kharka have a markedly higher AMS rate on the pass. Sleep at 3,540 m.

Day 8 - Manang to Yak Kharka (4,050 m) - approx. 4 h

A deliberately short day. The sleeping altitude jumps 500 m - about as much as should be attempted in a single night above 3,000 m. The brevity of the walking day is the point: you arrive early, rest, and give your body maximum time to adjust before Day 9. Sleep at 4,050 m.

Day 9 - Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4,540 m) - 3-4 h, or High Camp (4,880 m) if symptom-free

Thorong Phedi is the standard stop. Continuing to High Camp reduces the pass-day ascent by about 340 m and is worth it only if you feel completely symptom-free: no headache, normal appetite, normal sleep the night before. Do not push to High Camp if you have any doubt. Sleep at 4,540 m or 4,880 m.

Day 10 - Cross Thorong La (5,416 m), descend to Muktinath (3,800 m) - 8-10 h

Start between 4 am and 5 am. Wind builds on the pass from mid-morning and can make the final approach dangerous in the afternoon. The ascent from Phedi to the pass (876 m gain) takes 4-5 hours. The descent to Muktinath is 1,600 m of loose trail and takes 2-3 hours on tired legs. This is the longest and highest day. No shortcuts. Sleep at 3,800 m.

Day 11 - Muktinath to Jomsom (2,720 m) via Kagbeni - 5-6 h

Down into the Kali Gandaki gorge - one of the deepest valleys on earth and a dramatic contrast to the snowfields of Day 10. Kagbeni is worth a detour for its medieval fort and gompa. Jomsom has an airport with flights to Pokhara if anyone needs an early exit. Sleep at 2,720 m.

Day 12 - Jomsom to Tatopani (1,190 m) by bus or jeep

The road south from Jomsom follows the Kali Gandaki. Most trekkers take the jeep or local bus rather than walk the road section. Tatopani has natural hot springs - a well-earned reward after ten days of climbing. Sleep at 1,190 m.

Day 13 - Tatopani to Ghorepani (2,870 m) - approx. 7 h

The stone-staircase day. The trail climbs roughly 1,700 m of stone steps through rhododendron forest. It is a hard day by any measure, made harder by cumulative fatigue from the circuit. The steps are well-maintained and the gradient is consistent rather than technical. Sleep at 2,870 m.

Day 14 - Poon Hill sunrise (3,210 m), descent to Nayapul, drive to Pokhara

Rise at 4:30 am for the 45-minute climb to Poon Hill. On clear mornings the panorama includes Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machhapuchhre. Descend to Tikhedhunga or Nayapul (3-4 h) and take a taxi or bus to Pokhara (1.5-2 h). The circuit ends in Lakeside, where most trekkers feel a hot shower is one of the better experiences of their lives.

Where AMS risk actually concentrates

AMS safety - not medical advice

The danger window on this itinerary is Days 5 through 10 - everything above Upper Pisang. Three rules to follow rigorously in this window:

Above 3,000 m, do not raise your sleeping altitude by much more than about 500 m per day. This itinerary is built around that rule.
A headache that worsens overnight rather than improving is a red flag. Do not go higher until you have slept a full night without symptoms.
Manang is the decision point. If you are symptomatic in Manang - persistent headache, nausea, fatigue beyond normal tiredness - take a second acclimatization day rather than pushing to Yak Kharka on schedule. The pass will still be there.

EkTrek's AMS Safety Loop runs this exact logic offline: a daily Lake Louise symptom self-check, ascent-rate warnings against your planned itinerary, and a descend-now decision gate before the pass. It does not replace a guide or a doctor but it surfaces the right questions at the right altitude.

This is general guidance, not medical advice. Consult a travel medicine professional before your trek and verify conditions locally. Individual responses to altitude vary significantly.

Budget and logistics

Costs below are indicative for 2026. Prices rise with altitude - a meal at Thorong Phedi costs roughly twice what the same meal costs in Bhulbhule. Verify current rates locally before you rely on any figure here.

NPR 2,000-3,500

Daily on-trail cost

per person per day (room NPR 300-1,000 + meals NPR 450-1,100; rises with altitude)

NPR 3,000

ACAP permit

non-SAARC nationals (verify current rate at NTB before your trek)

Cash only

Cash

past Besisahar. Last reliable ATMs in Pokhara and Besisahar. Withdraw generously.

NPR 500-2,000

Jeep and bus legs

Besisahar to Bhulbhule, Jomsom to Tatopani. Bookable on the spot at the vehicle stands.

Budget figures are approximate and based on conditions as of 2026. Prices change seasonally and with altitude. Verify locally.

EkTrek for Annapurna

Every stage above, offline.

All 14 stages, sleeping altitudes, tea house waypoints, permit checkpoints, and the AMS Safety Loop. Downloaded before Pokhara. Works from Besisahar to the pass with zero signal.

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