Short Annapurna Circuit Trek goes through subtropical forests, and you'll slowly ascend to alpine pastures and Thorong La pass (highest trekking pass in Nepal) before descending to Muktinath (3,800 m). Once you drop down from Thorong La, the short Annapurna circuit trip lets you enjoy varied landscapes, including the trans-Himalayan and drive past Kali Gandaki gorge to Pokhara. Kali Gandaki Gorge is the deepest in the world.
Trek within the Annapurna Conservation Area and explore the hidden corners of the Annapurna region on our Short Annapurna circuit trek for 9 Days. It is a 9-day journey in Nepal Himalayas that takes you close to the stunning western Himalayan Mountains and the tenth highest mountain in the world.
If you're seeking an unparalleled Himalayan experience, the Short Annapurna Circuit Trekking is your answer. Established in 1977 AD, this trek route has carved a special place in the hearts of adventure enthusiasts, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and physical challenge.
Annapurna is a classic trek that starts below 1,000 meters and takes you to the country's highest pass, Thorong La, at 5,416 meters (17,769 ft). The Short Annapurna Circuit Journey explores Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m), the tenth-highest mountain in the world.
Annapurna circuit trail is renowned for its length, often spanning 18 days or more. However, for those with time constraints, we've crafted a shorter itinerary that still captures the essence of this iconic trek. Our 9-day journey is designed to maximize your experience while ensuring your safety and comfort.
Walking past lush rhododendrons, oak, pine, fir, and bamboo forests, you will enjoy the most dramatic mountain panorama. Walking from one valley to another, you will spend eight nights in some of the most picturesque villages and come across stunning waterfalls and cold streams.
Prepare to be immersed in a tapestry of cultural diversity as you traverse the Annapurna circuit trail. From Tibetan-like Buddhist villages with white-washed houses to narrow gullies and spectacular mountains, each step reveals a new facet of this enchanting region.
The drive from Kathmandu to Dharapani is very long. Also, it leads to the starting point of the short Annapurna circuit Trekking journey.
You will follow the valleys of the Trishuli and Marshyangdi rivers. The road winds alongside verdant hills and terraced fields. On the way, you will witness beautiful waterfalls and occasional settlement areas.
The later part of the drive includes snow-capped mountain views, which makes the ride very therapeutic.
A low-key one of the best things about the short Annapurna circuit trip is the villages the trail passes by.
You'll not believe how beautiful these villages are and the scenery you see from each town. Chame, Pisang, Manang, and Yak Kharka are villages where you will stay overnights.
Annapurna Conservation Area is home to hundreds of flora and fauna. It protects the locals and all the natural elements inside the park.
The short Annapurna circuit venture starts inside this park and later joins the lower Mustang area (from Muktinath onwards). The trail has waterfalls, meadows, pastures, streams, and rivers.
On day 5 of our short Annapurna circuit trek program, you have an acclimatization day in Manang village, which is crucial to avoid altitude sickness.
You take this opportunity to hike to either Gangapurna Lake (3,525 m) or Cave Gompa (4,000 m). Both hiking options have impressive routes dotted with striking mountain views.
Unlike other parts of the Himalayas, the Annapurna region is home to people from different communities. On your way, you'll meet Chhetris, Brahmins, Magars, Gurungs, Thakalis, and many other ethnic groups.
These people have distinct languages, cultural practices, norms, and values, which make your holiday a unique cultural experience. You can visit ancient temples and monasteries, immersing yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Thorong La Pass is 5,416 meters (17,769 ft) above sea level and is located in the Damodar Himal, north of the Annapurna Himal. The pass connects Manang village (Manang district) in the east to Muktinath and Ranipauwa village (Mustang district) in the west, completing the Annapurna circuit.
Muktinath is a sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is a famous and influential pilgrimage site and is very important to Buddhists. The Muktinath temple is 3800 meters above sea level and has centuries-old legends and beliefs. Hundreds of pilgrims visit the site every year.
Short Annapurna circuit Odyssey ends at Muktinath. From here, we drive to Pokhara. The route goes along the deepest gorge in the world, Kali Gandaki Gorge, and passes by beautiful villages, such as Marpha and Kagbeni.
The ride offers a breathtaking mountain panorama and ends in Pokhara. You'll have the evening free to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of Phewa Lake.
These are the list of some of the mountains you get to see on this adventurous Short Annapurna Circuit Trek- Mt. Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Annapurna II (7,937 m), Annapurna IV (7,525 m), Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Mt. Nilgiri (7,061 m), Mt. Fishtail (6,993 m), Mt. Gangapurna (7,455 m), Mt. Hiunchuli (6,441 m), Tilicho Peak (7,134 m), Pisang Peak (3,250 m), Chulu Peak (6,059 m), Gundang (5,312 m), and Khatungkang (6,484 m). These stunning views will leave you in awe and inspire you to keep trekking.
Then comes the never-ending landscapes that motivate you to keep walking and rejuvenate your soul.
Today, we have a long journey to the starting point of the Trek. After a warm breakfast, we leave Kathmandu and drive following green hills, rivers, and terraces. The drive will be smooth for the most part. Passing by Besisahar, we'll continue the drive to Dharapani, enjoying the view peaks.
We'll begin trekking today. The trail climbs and descends to the west towards Bagarchhap village. From here, we ascend through pine and fir forests. After crossing a few bridges, we walk high through oak and maple trees. The waterfalls along the way are enchanting, too.
We will reach Chame, the headquarters of the Manang district, and you will see views of Mt. Annapurna IV, Lamjung Himal, and Annapurna II.
The trail from Chame ascends through dense forests. On the way, a 1,500-m-tall rock rises from a river. From this point, the vegetation gets thin. Trekking across a river, we cross several suspension bridges and enter a U-shaped valley, Manang. Enjoying snow-capped mountain views, we'll ascend to Pisang village.
We have two routes to reach Manang. Taking the upper trail, which is much more scenic, we pass by Ghyaru village. The view is phenomenal in the western Himalayan Mountains, such as Pisang Himal, Annapurna, Nilgiri, and Gangapurna.
We'll walk past Ngawal village and gradually ascend to Manang.
We will spend a rest day in Manang village, acclimatizing and exploring. Manang village has a lot to offer. We will hike to Gangapurna Lake (3,525 m) or Cave Gompa (4,000 m) in the morning. The views of mountains like Chulu Peak, Thorong Peak, Pisang Peak, Annapurna, Tilicho Peak, etc., are stunning on both hiking routes.
The trail advances towards Yak Kharka. We have left the tree line behind and most walk in meadows. You will walk across a stream, and the route ascends to Tenki village. From here, we walk out of Marsyangdi Valley and Trek northwest to Jarsang Khola Valley.
Trekking via scrub of juniper trees, we pass by a small village of Ghunsa. From here on, there are meadows and wooden bridges to Yak Kharka.
The route from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi is challenging. We ascend north and cross a suspension bridge. The trail goes to Ledar village and continues to Thorong Phedi, following a steep, rough trail. Along the way, the views of Mt. Annapurna III, Syagang, Gundang, and Khatungkang are stunning. Thorong Phedi is the last settlement before Thorong La pass.
Today is the most challenging day of the Short Annapurna circuit trek. Early in the morning, we will leave Thorong Phedi and follow an abrupt trail. The trail gradually ascends toward the top of Thorong La Pass. It is steep and rocky, with some loose boulder sections.
From the top of the pass, the views of the mountains are excellent. Later, the trail descends to Muktinath temple for the night stay.
Before leaving Muktinath, we will visit the temple and receive blessings. We will explore the premises since non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple. After breakfast, we hop on the jeep/bus and begin our bumpy, scenic ride to Pokhara. We will drive along the Kalli Gandaki gorge and numerous villages, enjoying the views of snowy mountains and green hills. The trip ends today in Pokhara.
We suggest you to hire a porter to carry your bag pack while on trek, trekking with a light day pack is much easier and you enjoy your trekking holidays to the fullest. A trekking porter carries about 20-22 Kg (about 10-11 Kg from each of you), and we suggest to hire a porter in between of two trekkers.
There are options to upgrade the transportation from Kathmandu to Dharapani to a private jeep instead of a local bus and about six people can drive in one jeep.
Altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness) is inevitable during the Short Annapurna Circuit trek. Travelling at a high altitude (over 2,500 meters) carries the risk of altitude sickness. To avoid this, we have acclimatization days in Manang village and have carefully planned the itinerary to ensure that you ascend no more than 500 meters daily.
Likewise, the Short Annapurna circuit trek itinerary balances the climb-high and sleep-low aspects, further ensuring your safety during the Trek from altitude sickness. Our crew will be with you trekking, help you if you feel discomfort while walking, and monitor your health.
To prepare for a short Annapurna circuit trek, you can do day hikes and long walks wearing a backpack weighing 5 kg. If not, you can do other activities like swimming, cycling, and running. All these activities will help you build stamina and endurance. You can also do weight training and cardio. The main thing is to focus on building your core strength, stamina, and walking habits.
We provide a local expert trekking guide for the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek. There will be another assistance guide for groups of more than eight people. We have not included a porter in the package cost, and you can add a porter if you need one while making a booking, as it is optional.
We will have a pre-trip meeting at the hotel or our office around 5:00 p.m. the day before the Trek starts. Please have a copy of your travel insurance and two passport-size photographs. We need these documents to obtain trekking permits and other paperwork. We suggest you arrive a day earlier, as arriving late at night and starting the Trek the next morning with a long drive to Dharapani is challenging. We can also book hotels when you require them at a reasonable cost.
To do the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek, you need some trekking permits. The permits are the Annapurna conservation entry and TIMS. Once you book the Trek, we will apply and get all these permits.
The autumn (Sep-Nov) offers clear skies, plus the rains have washed away the bugs and dust. So, autumn season is the best time for the Short Annapurna circuit trek. Spring (Feb-Mid end of May) offers warmer temperatures, longer days, and rhododendrons bloom.
Forests are colourful, and spring is another good time for the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek.
However, it is possible to do the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek most of the year.
You must be physically fit and have moderate fitness to complete the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek, which involves daily walking/trekking between 4 and 9 hours on a mountain path. You reach an altitude of 5416m above sea level at Thorong La Pass. So, you had better have previous trekking experience and have good health, strong desire, and stamina.
Eight nights' accommodations are included in the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek Package Cost, and we provide simple lodge/teahouse accommodation on the trail. The rooms are basic; usually, there is just a bed with a pillow and blankets at the trekking lodge. A few have electric lights, and all have a spacious dining room—lounge. Some are very basic, and a sense of adventure is necessary.
Twenty-eight meals (eight breakfast, nine lunch, and eight dinners) are provided in the Short Annapurna circuit trek, and the meals are taken in lodges. You will have breakfast/dinner at the lodge, where we stay overnights, and lunch at the lodge available along the trail.
A wide variety of Nepali and Western meals and drinks, such as coffee, tea, milk, soft drinks, and beer, are also available. Note that drinks are not included in the cost. We suggest bringing water purification pills or medicine while coming for the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek. You get normal water for free, so you can use the medicine and drink or buy bottled/boiled/safe-to-drink water.
You need travel insurance while coming for the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek, and there is always some risk while doing the high-mountain Trek. We transfer you to the nearest hospital in case of sickness or injury. You will be entirely liable for all the expenses incurred in the evacuation/rescue. So, please make sure that your insurance policy covers these expenses.
We can complete the Annapurna Circuit Trek in 9 to 18 Days, depending on how much area you want to cover on your itinerary.
Short Annapurna circuit is a strenuous trek suitable for experienced trekkers. If you know the Himalayan trail and have been trekking before. In that case, you can level up your game by joining the Short Annapurna circuit trek with Outfitter Himalaya. Crossing the Thorong La pass (5,416 m) is no joke. It demands high physical fitness, patience, and trial knowledge. And for eight days, you'll walk on steep, rugged mountain terrain.
You begin walking early in the morning every day for 6 to 7 hours. The trail crosses landslide areas, slippery passages, and snowy paths. Then, there are the limited facilities that test your endurance and willpower. The short Annapurna circuit trek is an incredible venture. However, it has many setbacks, making it one of the most adventurous and challenging treks in the Himalayas.
Annapurna Circuit is safe, and many trekkers do it on their own. However, the trails are in high mountain terrain, so there is always a risk of acute mountain sickness or other accidents. We at Outfitter Himalaya recommend a guided Trek in the high Himalayas in Nepal.
No, we cannot see Everest from the Short Annapurna Circuit Trail as they are located in different locations. The Annapurna Circuit is in the western Himalayas, and Everest is in the eastern Himalayas.
Normally, we do not need crampons for the Short Annapurna Circuit trek in peak seasons such as autumn and spring. However, if you are trekking in winter, such as January and February, we recommend you have one to be safe.
I engaged in a month - long trip to Nepal with my mother. I started corresponding with Arjun from Outfitter Himalaya early in the year and his responses were always...
My wife and I recently did the short Annapurna circuit trek offered by Outfitter Himalaya, and we loved it. Even before we got to Nepal, Arjun always replied to our...