3 Annapurna Treks To Not Miss In 2026
The Annapurna region is not one trek. Annapurna Treks is a whole area with different routes for different people. Some people come here for a 7-day easy walk through Gurung villages and rhododendron forest. Some come for 13 days inside the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 metres surrounded by eight peaks above 7,000 metres. Some come for 16 days and cross Thorong La Pass at 5,416 metres, the highest point on any standard trekking circuit in Nepal.
Three treks. Three completely different experiences. All starting from Pokhara.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek, 13 days, from $590. Annapurna Circuit Trek, 16 days, from $627. Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, 7 days, from $395. All include guide, porter, ACAP permit at $23, accommodation, and all meals. Which one is right for you depends on your days, your fitness, and what you actually want to come home with. I explain all three below, and I also explain how to choose at the end.
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What Makes the Annapurna Treks Different From Other Nepal Treks?
The number that tells you most about this region is 100,000. That is how many international trekkers come for Annapurna Treks every year. The number of travellers is more than Everest or Langtang Treks.
The reason is not that Annapurna is easier to market. The reason is what actually happens when you walk here.
In two weeks of trekking in the Annapurna region you pass through subtropical forest at 800 metres, rhododendron and bamboo at 2,000 to 3,000 metres, open alpine terrain near 4,000 metres, and on the Circuit trek, high-altitude Tibetan-style desert above 4,500 metres on the other side of Thorong La Pass. Four climate zones. One walk. No other trekking region in Nepal gives you this range.
The 7,629 square kilometre Annapurna Conservation Area also holds some geography that surprises people when they learn it. The Kali Gandaki gorge, which the Circuit trail follows for several days, is the deepest river valley in the world. Dhaulagiri at 8,167 metres on one side and Annapurna I at 8,091 metres on the other. You walk along the river at the bottom with two of the ten highest mountains on earth on either side. And Machapuchhre, the Fishtail peak at 6,993 metres, is visible from Annapurna Base Camp, has never been officially summited. Nepal closed it to climbers in 1957 because local belief holds that Lord Shiva lives on that summit. When you stand at base camp looking up at it, that knowledge changes what you see.
The communities change as you gain altitude. Gurung and Magar villages in the lower sections have stone paths worn by decades of foot traffic and teahouse families who know this business well. In Manang Valley the Manangi people carry centuries of trade history with Tibet and their culture reflects it in the architecture, the food, the way they speak. In the Kali Gandaki gorge, Thakali families run the food stops and experienced trekkers know to plan their walking days around those meals. The dal bhat quality in that section is genuinely better than anywhere else on the trail.
Trekking in the Annapurna region started commercially in 1977. The infrastructure has been building for almost 50 years. Teahouses are reliable, trails are maintained, and Pokhara is an easy access point with direct flights from Kathmandu.
13 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek Starting From $590
Route at a Glance
| Day | Where You Go | Altitude | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Kathmandu | 1,350m | — |
| 2 | Drive Kathmandu to Pokhara | 900m | — |
| 3 | Jeep to Ulleri | 1,950m | — |
| 4 | Tikhedunga to Ghorepani via Ulleri | 2,850m | 5 to 7 hrs |
| 5 | Poon Hill sunrise, trek to Tadapani | 2,600m | 6 to 7 hrs |
| 6 | Tadapani to Chhomrong | 2,170m | 5 to 6 hrs |
| 7 to 8 | Chhomrong through gorge to Dovan | 2,300m | 5 to 6 hrs |
| 9 | Trek to Machhapuchhre Base Camp | 3,700m | 5 to 6 hrs |
| 10 | MBC to Annapurna Base Camp, return to Bamboo | 4,130m | 6 to 7 hrs |
| 11 to 12 | Descent via Jhinu Danda | 1,400m | 2 to 3 hrs |
| 13 | Drive to Pokhara, depart | — | — |
Chandra on 13 Days Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The thing I always tell people about the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is this. The destination is not just a base camp. It is a glacial bowl at 4,130 metres where the mountains go all the way around you.
You have Annapurna I at 8,091 metres directly in front. Annapurna South at 7,219 metres, Machapuchhre at 6,993 metres, Hiunchuli at 6,441 metres closing in from the sides. You are not standing outside looking at them like a photograph. You are inside the ring they form. That feeling is specific to this place and I have seen many trekkers go quiet when they first arrive there. Not because they are tired. Because they did not expect it to feel like that.
The trail to get there is also very good. Chhomrong at 2,170 metres is the last proper village before the gorge. After Chhomrong the trail narrows, the forest gets dense, and it gets more serious. Bamboo sections, steep drops to the Modi Khola river below, rhododendron trees above. The gorge section is what separates the people who prepared from the people who did not. If you trained before coming, you enjoy it. If you did not train, you find it hard.
And on day 12 coming back, we stop at Jhinu Danda at 1,400 metres. Natural hot springs right at the riverside. Stone pools, warm water, and if the sky is clear you can still see Annapurna South above the tree line. After 10 days of walking, I do not need to explain why this matters. Every trekker who does this stop says it is one of their best moments on the whole trip. We always include it.
Details: 13 days. 110 to 120 km. Group from $590, private from $670. Guide, porter, ACAP permit, all meals and accommodation. Group size 2 to 10.
16 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek Starting From $627
Route at a Glance
| Day | Where You Go | Altitude | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Kathmandu | 1,350m | — |
| 2 | Drive to Ngadi | 860m | — |
| 3 to 4 | Bulbule to Jagat to Dharapani | 1,860m | 6 to 7 hrs |
| 5 to 6 | Dharapani to Chame to Pisang | 3,245m | 6 to 7 hrs |
| 7 | Pisang to Manang via Ghyaru and Ngawal | 3,540m | 7 to 8 hrs |
| 8 | Rest day in Manang | 3,540m | Optional hike |
| 9 to 10 | Manang to Yak Kharka to Thorong High Camp | 4,900m | 3 to 5 hrs |
| 11 | Thorong La Pass crossing to Muktinath | 5,416m | 8 to 9 hrs |
| 12 to 13 | Muktinath to Tatopani via Jomsom | 1,200m | 4 to 5 hrs |
| 14 to 15 | Tatopani to Ghorepani, Poon Hill sunrise | 3,210m | 5 to 6 hrs |
| 16 | Drive Pokhara, depart | — | — |
Chandra on 16 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek
The Annapurna Circuit Trek is not like any other Annapurna trek. Other treks go in and come back the same way. The Circuit goes all the way around the Annapurna massif. You start at 860 metres in subtropical lowland and 16 days later you finish in Pokhara after crossing a 5,416 metre mountain pass. The landscape, culture, and altitude change almost every single day.
Annapurna Circuit trekking started in 1977. I think that tells you something about how good this trail is. It has been running for almost 50 years and it is still one of Nepal’s most requested routes.
Day 8 in Manang is a rest day and I want to be direct about this. Do not skip it. Many trekkers feel fine at 3,540 metres and want to push forward. I understand that feeling. But Thorong La Pass on day 11 reaches 5,416 metres. If you arrive there without proper acclimatization, altitude sickness becomes a serious risk. On the rest day we take you on a short hike to Gangapurna Lake above Manang. This is not just a leisure activity. It is altitude testing. If you feel okay on that hike, you are ready for the pass. If you feel symptoms, we know and we plan accordingly.
Day 11 is the one most people talk about for years after. You leave Thorong Phedi at 4 in the morning. Dark and cold. The climb takes four to five hours and above 5,000 metres you feel the thin air very clearly. But when you reach the summit at 5,416 metres, something remarkable happens. On the other side, the entire landscape changes. The green valleys and forests disappear. The Mustang plateau opens up, flat and wide and brown. A completely different world from everything behind you.
After the pass you descend to Muktinath Temple at 3,710 metres. This place has been a pilgrimage destination for both Hindus and Buddhists for over a thousand years. There is a natural gas seep inside the temple that burns as an eternal flame. There are 108 water spouts from a natural spring that pilgrims bathe under. People come from India, Nepal, Tibet specifically to reach this temple. And the Circuit trail goes directly through it.
Then the trail follows the Kali Gandaki river south through the world’s deepest river gorge. Dhaulagiri at 8,167 metres on your left and Annapurna I at 8,091 metres on your right. I have walked this section many times and I still notice it every time.
Details: 16 days. Group from $627, private from $985. Guide, porter, ACAP permit, acclimatization day in Manang, all meals and accommodation. Group size 1 to 15.
7 Days Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek Starting From $395
Route at a Glance
| Day | Where You Go | Altitude | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Kathmandu | 1,350m | — |
| 2 | Drive to Pokhara | — | — |
| 3 | Nayapul to Ghandruk | 1,950m | 5 to 6 hrs |
| 4 | Ghandruk to Tadapani via Bhaise Kharka | 2,630m | 4 to 5 hrs |
| 5 | Tadapani to Ghorepani via Banthanti | 2,850m | 5 to 6 hrs |
| 6 | Poon Hill sunrise, trek to Ulleri, drive Pokhara | 3,210m | 5 to 6 hrs |
| 7 | Drive to Kathmandu, depart | — | — |
Chandra on 7 Days Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
When someone contacts us with one week available and no trekking experience, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is what I suggest. Seven days, 40 kilometres, maximum altitude 3,210 metres. You walk 4 to 6 hours per day. No technical sections, no altitude sickness risk for most people at this height, no prior experience needed. Families with children as young as 10 do this trek and finish well.
But let me be clear about one thing. Short does not mean the views are less. Poon Hill at 3,210 metres is one of the best sunrise viewpoints in the whole Annapurna Treks. You leave Ghorepani at 4:30 in the morning and climb stone steps for about 45 minutes. At the top you wait. Then the sky changes colour and the light comes. Dhaulagiri at 8,167 metres appears first, then the full Annapurna range. Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Annapurna III, Machapuchhre. All at once from one viewpoint. Many trekkers tell me later that this sunrise was one of the best moments of their entire Nepal trip. And they came on the 7-day trek.
Ghandruk village on day 3 is also very good. It is one of the largest and best-preserved Gurung villages in the Annapurna region. Stone houses, narrow slate alleys, prayer flags across the street. There is a Gurung Museum there with traditional tools and agricultural history and it is worth an hour of your time. The teahouse families in Ghandruk have been hosting trekkers for 30 and 40 years. They know what tired legs need. Dal bhat is home-cooked and the portions are honest.
And if you come in March or April, the rhododendron forests between Ghorepani and Ghandruk are in flower. Red and pink at different levels depending on the altitude and the week. I always tell people that the Poon Hill Trek in spring is something special and different from autumn.
Details: 7 days. About 40 km. Group from $395, private from $620. Guide, porter, ACAP permit, all meals and accommodation. Group size 1 to 10.
Are Annapurna Treks Beginner-Friendly?
Many trekkers ask me this. And I give the same answer every time. It depends on which trek you choose.
| Basis | Poon Hill | ABC Trek | Circuit Trek |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max altitude | 3,210m | 4,130m | 5,416m |
| Daily walking | 4 to 6 hrs | 5 to 7 hrs | 5 to 9 hrs |
| Difficulty | Easy | Moderate | Challenging |
| Distance | ~40 km | 110 to 120 km | ~122 km |
| Experience needed | None | Some preparation | Prior altitude time |
| Best for | First-timers, families | Moderate fitness | Experienced trekkers |
Poon Hill is beginner-friendly. Genuinely. If you walk regularly and can manage hills for a few hours, you can do this trek. I have guided people in their 60s and 70s on Poon Hill and they finished well.
ABC needs honest preparation. Four to six weeks of cardio training before you come, specifically uphill walking. You reach 4,130 metres and some people feel the altitude effects above 3,500. The gorge section is steep. But there is no climbing, no technical gear. Most people who prepare properly finish without major problems.
The Circuit is not for first-timers. I am direct about this because I have seen people attempt it without experience and it becomes dangerous above Thorong La. Attempt the Circuit after you have done at least one major Himalayan trek with altitude experience.
One important update. Since April 2023, all foreign trekkers must hire a licensed guide in the Annapurna region. Solo trekking without a guide is not permitted. And from March 2026, TAAN removed the two-person minimum. One person traveling alone with a licensed guide is now fully legal on all routes. Our team provides licensed guides for solo travelers and all group sizes.
On altitude sickness. Above 3,000 metres, Acute Mountain Sickness can affect anyone regardless of how fit they are. Signs are persistent headache, nausea, loss of appetite. Our guides know these signs and they monitor trekkers every day. Please also get travel insurance that covers helicopter evacuation before you travel. For ABC and Circuit this is not optional.
What Is the Best Time for Trekking Annapurna?
| Season | Months | Conditions | Mountain Views | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Oct to Nov | Dry, stable | Best of the year | Most popular. Book 2 to 3 months ahead. |
| Spring | Mar to May | Warm, some wind at altitude | Very good | Rhododendrons bloom. March best for Poon Hill. |
| Winter | Dec to Feb | Cold, snow above 3,500m | Moderate | Poon Hill okay. ABC harder. Circuit not advised. |
| Monsoon | Jun to Sep | Rain daily, leeches below 2,500m | Poor | Avoid for ABC and Circuit. |
October and November are the best months. That is the simple answer. Monsoon finishes by late September, the sky clears fast, trails dry out, and the mountain views are at their best all year. These months are busy so our availability fills up early. Book two to three months ahead for October and November.
March is the best month specifically for Poon Hill Trek. The rhododendron forests between Ghorepani and Ghandruk flower from late February through April and it makes the whole walk different. Many clients who have done Poon Hill in both seasons tell me they preferred March.
Thorong La Pass on the Circuit clears of deep snow by mid-March in most years and is fully open through October. Winter is the dangerous window for the pass. We do not run the Circuit in January and February.
One thing worth knowing. Upper Mustang, north of Annapurna, sits in a rain shadow and stays relatively dry even during monsoon. If June to August is your only available window, the Circuit through Upper Mustang is still workable. But it is not the full Circuit experience and we advise against it unless you have no other option.
How To Choose the Right Annapurna Trek For You?
Look, this is what I ask every person who contacts us about Annapurna trekking.
How many days do you have? 5 to 8 days: Poon Hill. 10 to 14 days: ABC. 15 or more: Circuit.
What is your fitness level honestly? Walk regularly, no trekking background: Poon Hill. Hike regularly, can go uphill for 6 hours: ABC. Experienced with some altitude time: Circuit.
What do you want most from this trip? Sunrise views from a ridge with the full range visible: Poon Hill. Standing inside the ring of 8,000 metre peaks: ABC. Crossing a 5,400 metre pass and walking four climate zones in one journey: Circuit.
If you are choosing between ABC and Poon Hill, I explain it this way to every person who asks me. Poon Hill puts you outside the mountains looking at them. ABC puts you inside the mountains looking up. Both are worth doing. The question is which experience you want.
If you have two weeks and want both, we can combine them into one itinerary. We have done this combination many times. No extra planning charge.
We have guided trekkers from over 40 countries on all three Annapurna routes. Our team knows where altitude hits hardest on each trail, which teahouses have working heat in November, and how to read each person’s pace so the acclimatization works properly. You will be in good hands with us.
WhatsApp +977 9851193013. Tell us your dates, your fitness, and your budget. We will match you to the right Annapurna treks.
