Annapurna circuit - the plan

note: 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.

note: 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

Highlights: Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, great mountain vistas

Facilities: farmacy, hot showers, many guesthouses, hot springs

Facilities: cider/apple plant, not many guesthouses

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
• trail between Lower and Upper Pisang.

Notes:

• Ghyaru is high (3700), steep 420m climb, might experience first altitude sickness
• many of the tours go by jeep to Lower Pisang then start the circuit from here

Facilities: hospital, old bakery, sauna @ Himalayan Lodge

Facilities: medicine, doctor (Himalayan Rescue Association), high altitude sickness Trails

class: mandatory side trek to Tilicho lake (4920m) for acclimatization or to Manang lake (4000m )

Highlights: 2 teahouses

Highlights: 2 teahouses + another one after 20 mins

Facilities: hydro power Note: only 3 guesthouse but better than Letdar

Facilities: high and low camp

Highlights: bakeries and real coffee, Windhorse restaurant and lodge to socialize

note: leave at 2am and climb over the pass from here

Highlights: very steep up, sunrise viewpoint

Facilities: only one lodge

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???

Notes:

• steep descent, might be snow
• teahouses at the bottom

Facilities:

• hospital, hydro power all the way to Pokhara

Highlights:

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

Notes:

• road starts from here

Facilities:

• hospital

Highlights:

• Kagbeni is charming, in a medieval Tibetan fashion
• hidden alleyways and European like charm
• MUST STAY
• 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

Notes:

• 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

• NTC has better coverage
• Ncell works in major centres

• very scarce

• most teahouses have solar power
• some places with hydro power
• queue to get charged, cost: sometimes 200 Rs / charge or hour