Annapurna Circuit Trek Distance: Day to Day Distance Breakdown
- Wednesday May 6, 2020
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Regarded by numerous adventurers as one of the premier long-distance treks globally, the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal is a must-experience journey. Every year, thousands of trekking enthusiasts flock to Nepal to embark on the incredible adventure that this trek provides.
Starting from the modest hills of Chamje at 1430 meters in the Marshyandi River valley, the trek ascends to an awe-inspiring altitude of 5416 meters at Thorong La, finally culminating in the scenic city of Pokhara.
Depending on your trekking route and the mode of transportation, the Annapurna Circuit Trek distance varies accordingly. Thus, the total distance of the Annapurna Circuit trek ranges from 160 km to 260 KM.
Some parts of the trekking trails have been turned into roads resulting in short trekking distances in recent years. However, the total trekking distance depends on whether you trek through the roads or drive.
Annapurna Circuit Trek is a complete package with spectacular views of the majestic mountains, various climate zones ranging from stunning tropical to snowy alpine zones, and rich biodiversity and cultural diversity.
And the total distance covered in this Annapurna Circuit is worth every second for what it offers to the trekkers.
It takes you to one of the world’s highest passes, Thorong La Pass, 5416 meters above sea level. The religious Muktinath temple and the natural hot spring at Tatopani are significant highlights of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
The total Annapurna Circuit Trek distance is worth every inch because of the all-rounder trip you get from this 15-day Annapurna Circuit Trek Itinerary.
Day-to-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek Distance Breakdown
Day 1: Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
After you land at Tribhuwan International Airport, our company representative will wait at the arrival gate for your warm welcome. The representative will guide you to the allocated hotel at Thamel, Kathmandu.
Day 2: Kathmandu to Chamje
Total Distance: 209 KM
Estimated time: 10-11 hours
Max Altitude: 1430 m
Today, you will cover more distance than any other day on the entire Annapurna trek. You will reach the starting point of the trek today.
You will be driving from Kathmandu to Besisahar via a tourist bus which will take around 7-8 hours to reach. Upon your arrival at Besisahar, you must change the vehicle to get to Chamje, another 3-hour ride.
Chamje is the starting point of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. From Besisahar to Chamje, the road crosses many villages, terraced rice fields, beautiful huts, river gorges, and cliffs. If the weather favors you, you can get beautiful views of mountains like Manaslu and Himalchuli.
Day 3: Chamje to Dharapani
Total Distance: 14.8 km
Estimated time: 5-6 hours
Max Altitude: 1860 m
The 14.8 KM trek from Chamje to Dharapani takes 5 to 6 hours. The trail is filled with uphill and downhill. You will trek along the Marsyangdi River. Crossing many suspension bridges, beautiful waterfalls, and rock cliffs, we arrive at the village of Tal, from where Manang Districts start. After having lunch, we will continue toward Bagarchap.
After around 5-6 hours of walking, we will reach Dharapani.
Day 4: Dharapani to Chame
Total Distance: 15.7 km
Estimated time: 5-6 hours
Max Altitude: 2160 m
Dharapani to Chame is one of the enthralling and enchanting parts of this Annapurna Circuit Trek. The trekking distance from Dharapani to Chame is about 15.7 KM, taking around 5 to 6 hours of walking.
The trails go through a rocky path until Tyanja; from there, we will walk through a forest trail. After crossing the Kapar River at 2590 meters, we will continue our trek to Chame. Chame is the headquarters of the Manang District.
Day 5: Chame to Pisang
Total Distance: 13.6 km
Estimated time: 5-6 hours
Max Altitude: 3,250m
Reaching the village of Pisang from Chame will take 5 to 6 hours. The trail from Chame to Pisang is mostly uphills that go through the lush green forests. After crossing the settlements of Bhratang and Dhukur Pokhari, we will arrive at Lower Pisang, and with a short uphill, we will reach Upper Pisang.
Initially, the path is quite simple, but it gets pretty challenging. You can get a majestic view of the Annapurna II mountain from Pisang.
Day 6: Pisang to Manang
Total Distance: 17.2 km
Estimated time: 6-7 hours
Max Altitude: 3540 m
The trek from Pisang to the famous village of Manang is around 17.2 KM long and takes 6 to 7 hours to reach. We should know about altitude sickness because we are well above 3000 meters. Today, we will be trekking in the dry region of Manang.
From Pisang, first, we will get to Ngawal, which takes around 4 to 5 hours, and with 2 to 3 hours of walking, Ngawal will take us to Manang village via Ghyaru.
Day 7: Acclimatization day in Manang.
Today, we will take a day’s rest at Manang Village for acclimatization, which is very important to adjust our body to the altitude.
We will explore Manang village, and if you wish, we can take a short hike to Gangapurna Glacier (3800m) or even hike up to Tilicho Lake, which is at an altitude of 4919 meters.
Day 8: Manang – Yak Kharka
Total distance: 10 km
Time duration: 5-6 hours
Max. altitude: 4,018m
The trek from Manang to Yak Kharka is around 10 km long, taking 5-6 hours. Today’s trek is comparatively more accessible than other trekking days, with some steep ascends here and there. You will experience unbelievable views of the mountains as we reach the maximum height of 4,018m.
Day 9: Yak Kharka – Thorong Phedi – High Camp
Total distance: 6km
Time duration: 4-5 hours
Max. altitude: 4,540m
Today’s trek section is among the most challenging in this Annapurna Circuit Trek. The trekking distance from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi is about 6 KM, but it takes 4-5 hours to complete. The trail takes us through harsh terrains and steep ascents, which can be quite hard for first-time trekkers.
Day 10: Thorong Phedi – Thorung La Pass – Muktinath
Maximum altitude: 5,430m (Thorung-La Pass) & 3,800m (Muktinath)
Total distance: 16.4 km
Time duration: 6-7 hours
This is the most challenging trek section as we cross the legendary Thorung La Pass at 5,430m.
The trail is very steep to reach Thorong La Pass, which will take around 4 to 5 hours. We must cross the pass before 10 a.m. as the wind speeds up and the climate is unpredictable.
After crossing the Thorong La Pass, we will descend to the holy shrine of Muktinath, which will take another 3 to 4 hours.
Day 11: Muktinath – Tatopani, Natural hot spring via Jomsom.
Total Distance: 78.4 km
Estimated time: 3-4 hours
Max Altitude: 1190 m
From the religious Muktinath, we will drive to Tatopani via Jomsom. After a scenic ride from Muktinath to Tatopani for 3-4 hours, you will arrive at the natural hot springs of Nepal. Bathing in the hot spring is believed to cure the trek’s pain and stress. Do give it a try but be careful not to burn yourself.
Day 12: Trek down to Ghorepani
Total Distance: 13.1 km
Estimated time: 7-8 hours
Max Altitude: 2850 m
The total distance of today’s trek is about 13.1 km which takes around 7 to 8 hours to finish. Ghorepani is famous for its awe-inspiring sunrise views and the Annapurna mountain range.
Initially, the trail is a steep uphill that passes through terrace farmland and beautiful Gurung settlements. After crossing a few suspension bridges and a beautiful lush green forest, we arrive at Chaitre. From there, the trails get relatively easy. After 7-8 hours of trekking, we arrive at Ghorepani.
Day 13: Early morning hike to Poon Hill, descend to Tikhedhunga, and drive to Pokhara.
Total Distance: 3 km & 35 km(drive)
Estimated time: 5-6 hours
Max Altitude: 3210 m
Today is the last day of the Annapurna Circuit trek. We will end our Annapurna Circuit Trek with an hour’s hike to Poonhill, which offers an incredible panoramic sunrise view overlooking the entire Annapurna range.
After spending some time at Poonhill, we will descend back to Ghorepani and trek down to Tikledunga, where we will drive back to Pokhara, which will take us around 2 to 3 hours to reach Pokhara.
You can enjoy the lakes and sightseeing in Pokhara for the rest of the day and experience the nightlife in Pokhara.
Day 14: Pokhara – Kathmandu
Total distance: 200 km
Time duration: 6-7 hours drive
Maximum altitude: 1,400m
Annapurna Circuit trek concludes with a drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara. The total distance from Pokhara to Kathmandu is around 200 km, which will take 6 to 7 hours to cover. The scenery provides you with green landscapes and a view of the snow-capped mountains.
Day 15: Final Departure
It is the last day of your most memorable trek. Our representative will manage and guide you to the Tribhuwan International Airport 3 hours before your departure.
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Best time for Annapurna Circuit Trek
Before going on any Nepal trek, you know the best time to visit the destination. Annapurna Circuit Trek is a daring and high-altitude trek; you must be well-prepared.
The best time for the Annapurna Circuit Trek is during autumn and spring. Although each season has something unique to provide to the trekkers, trekking in the best season will offer the best trekking conditions with an excellent view of the surrounding mountains.
Learn more about why these seasons are considered the best time to set on the Annapurna Circuit Trek below:
1. Autumn Season (September to November )
Autumn is the peak season for trekking in Annapurna Circuit. Since the autumn season begins at the end of the monsoon season, the weather and temperature are perfect for trekking.
Days are consistently bright and sunny with clear blue skies. Thus, you can enjoy a picturesque view of the massive Himalayas and mesmerizing landscapes. In addition to that, there is very little chance of rainfall during autumn.
However, if you are trekking in early September, you may experience occasional rainfall. The temperature is mild during the day but can drop below zero at night.
2. Spring Season (March to May)
Spring is the second-best time for Annapurna Circuit Trek. Spring is also known as the season of colors. The vegetation during spring is in full blossom. You will walk through a beautiful lush forest with colored wildflowers and Rhododendron blossoms.
The weather and temperature during spring are just as good as in autumn. Days are bright and sunny with low white clouds making the sky look even more beautiful. The weather and temperature also remain stable for the long day span.
Trekking during the best season helps you cover the Annapurna Circuit Trek distance with minimum effort.
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Is Distance a Major Factor for Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty?
Annapurna Circuit Trek is a moderately challenging trek in Nepal, and the trekking distance is an essential factor determining the trek’s difficulty. You will have several uphill and downhill climbs and steep and narrow ridges.
Besides altitude, weather, duration, and temperature, distance plays a significant role in determining the difficulty of the Annapurna circuit trek. Longer distance means the treks are more extended, thus increasing the trek’s overall difficulty.
To complete the total Annapurna Circuit Trek distance, you must walk 6-7 hours daily for 12 to 13 days. If you are a first-time trekker, you may find it challenging to trek continuously. Hence, trekking distance is a significant factor in the trek’s difficulty.
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- A Complete Guide to Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek Packing List
- How to prepare for the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
Conclusion
Although this 15-day Annapurna Circuit Trek is demanding, this trek will let you experience the most magical moment of your life. Successfully covering the Annapurna Circuit Trek distance and seeing the glorious mountain gives you a one-of-a-kind experience.
So, if you are searching for a trekking destination that gives you the experience of a lifetime, then Annapurna Circuit Trek is the one for you. Feel free to contact us with further questions or queries regarding this trek.
