Annapurna circuit - the plan

• notes: Gongabu Bus Park, a station around 2.5km north of Thamel (30-45 mins walking) but are often parked a few minutes walk away on the Ring Road, outside BG Mall.

• trail: road only
• highlights: hydro dam

• highlights: Ngadi has good views of the snow-capped mountains in the early morning

• note: Ghermu sits in an open valley and is therefore a more pleasant place to spend the night than Jagat. Jagat is a dirty, congested village that sits in a narrow chasm.
• highlights: nice terrace at Rainbow Restaurant

• trails:

  • walking trail marked blue/white markers to Jagat (longer 7km vs. 4km on road)
  • road variant is marked with red/white markers

• highlights:

  • stunning waterfalls, boulders, rock formations along the way
  • Tal is a nice place to stay, sitting in an open valley on a naturally dammed section of the river

• highlights: excelent side trek to Bimthang
• note: Dharapani is a good place to stay with good views up both canyons
• ACAP checkpoint so make sure to check in with the authorities.

• trail: suspension bridge at the end of the Dharapani village way to Thoche

• highlights: Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, great mountain vistas

• trail:

  • a bit confusing: after waterfall, sign for Manang and stairs up to Timang
  • checkpoint in Koto
• note: Koto is small, clean and quiet as compared to the hustle and chaos of Chame.

• facilities: big village with farmacy, hot showers, many guesthouses, hot springs, ATM

• highlights: cider/apple farm, sauna, cafe

• highlights:

  • views along the upper trail are the best of the whole circuit (MUST DO)
  • Upper Pisang: Tibetan Buddhist Monastery for the Sunset and Sunrise chants

• facilities:

  • many guesthouses along the trail
  • Upper Pisang: large selection of guesthouses, some are well-insulated with attached bathrooms
  • hospital

• trails:

  • blue/white trail: drops directly to Humde
  • red/white: high plateau, nicer
  • a trail between Lower and Upper Pisang.

• notes:

  • many of the tours go by jeep to Lower Pisang then start the circuit from here

• facilities: hospital, old bakery, sauna @ Himalayan Lodge

• highlights: main centre on AC, Tilicho Hotel with bakery, real coffee, Yak Burger
• facilities: medicine, doctor, high altitude sickness class, laundry, ATM
• trails: acclimatization side treks to either Tilicho lake (4920m) or to Ice lake (4000m)

• facilities: 3 guesthouses?

• WARNING: landslide area marked with signs before Phedi

• facilities: high and low camp
• highlights: bakeries and real coffee, Windhorse restaurant and lodge to socialize

• highlights: very steep up, sunrise viewpoint
• facilities: only one lodge?

• note:

  • leave at 2am and reach the pass at sunrise, breakfast at High Camp
  • single-file affair, limited space to pass people
  • marked by yellow/white metal poles and flags

• highlights: little trail at the top that leads to stunning views
• facilities: two teahouses along the way that serve hot drinks: one after 45min, one at the top of the pass???

• trails: very steep descent, might be snow
• facilities: teahouses at the bottom

• facilities: hospital, hydro power all the way to Pokhara

• highlights:

  • few Hindus/Buddhist temples
  • otherwise desolate place, no stay

• notes:

  • celebratory drinks is Hotel Bob Marley
  • road starts from here

• facilities: hospital

• highlights:

  • Kagbeni is charming, in a medieval Tibetan fashion
  • hidden alleyways and European like charm
  • high trail: fantastic views of the surrounding mountains

Notes:

• hike windy valley (all the way to Kalopani) and jeep traffic
• maybe get a jeep?

Facilities:

• ATMs to get money - fee: 400 NPR, max 10k NPR

Notes:

• flights to Pokhara: 20 mins for $100
• multi-legs drive to Pokhara: 6h-10h for $20

Facilities:

• hospital

Highlights:

• monastery worth visiting.

Notes:

• 3h via NATT

• facilities: hospital

• facilities: hospital

• facilities: hospital

• facilities: hospital

• trails: route to the left (red/white, NATT??) to steep inclide away from the road

• highlights: hot springs - 150 NPR

• facilities: hospital

• highlights:

  • Poon Hill viewpoint (might be crowded)
  • alternative viewpoint, other on the other side, stone marker and shop snacks/drinks

• trail: some maps will show a path along the south side of the valley, but this path is old, unused and wrecked by landslides, stick to the northern side.

• trail: take the upper path 40 minutes to a monastery and a further 20 minutes
• highlights: two teahouses, another teahouse about 20 minutes after Shree Kharka

• highlights: 2 teahouses

• highlights: 2 teahouses + another one after 20 mins

• facilities: hydro power
• note: 3 guesthouse but better than Letdar