Annapurna Circuit And ABC Combined Trek

We will start our adventure by driving from Kathmandu to Besisahar in the morning with the regular bus departing from Kathmandu Buspark at Machhapokhari. The route usually takes around 6 to 8 hours, depending on the road conditions and traffic. Upon reaching Besisahar, we will switch the transport and take the shared jeeps heading toward Dharapani. From Besisahar to Dharapani, the roadway is off-road and bumpy, which might take another 3 to 4 hours. We will spend the night at Dharapani.

Today, we will begin our trek with an early breakfast in Dharapani. We will commence our hike with a walk through the lush forest of pines, oak, and maple trees, passing by several villages. If the weather is clear we can relish the mountain views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna IV, and Annapurna II. After approximately 6 hours of trekking, we will reach Chame, where will stay overnight.

After breakfast, we will collect our belongings and begin our journey to Upper Pisang. The scenery is stunning as we are in the mountains. The trail passes via forests, bridges, and rivers. The path is shared by mule trains that have jingling bells. The Upper Pisang village is dotted with traditional homes and prayer flags. The inhabitants are Buddhists, and it is common to see elderly people wearing meditation beads or little prayer wheels on their wrists. The Himalayan Mountains appear to be within reach. When we get to Upper Pisang, we go to a nearby teahouse to relax and enjoy a well-earned break.

We will stay an additional day in Manang to explore the community and acclimate to the high elevation. There are several side hikes we may start on. We must travel high and sleep lower to acclimatize. We may make the ascent to Gangapurna Lake and enjoy the day appreciating Tilicho, Pisang, Annapurna III, and Chulu Peaks' breathtaking magnificence. Additionally, we may climb up to the surrounding famous Ice Lake. We will have acclimated to the elevation and be ready for the next day after spending the day in the mysterious Manang village relaxing.

On the way to Yak Kharka, we'll see more breathtaking views of the mountains Gangapurna and Annapurna. Blue sheep, yak, and Himalayan tahr herds graze on the bushes and alpine grass. In some places, horses are still often used for transportation. We can see a few teahouses at Yak Kharka, a former yak herder camp. We travel to one of them, where accommodations have been reserved for us and check-in.

The pass we have been hoping to cross since beginning our journey, Thorong La, is growing closer to you. One of the riskiest parts of the trail is the one that leads to Thorong Phedi. The gravel route, which is prone to landslides, is constrained and follows the edge of a desolate hill. Up here, well above the tree line, it's windy and dusty. Our overnight stop, Thorong Phedi, is encircled by sheer cliffs. As the highest overnight stop, this is at 4525 meters.

We get up early and hike up to High Camp. As the day goes on, the weather can be worse, so we need to get going early. Thorong La Pass must be traversed before it becomes too windy and cloudy. We start our ascend in the dark by using a headlamp. We rest and warm up in High Camp before continuing our walk. As a result of the thin air, breathing is challenging during the climb. Once we get to the pass, snap selfies and photos of the breathtaking mountain views. The Tibetan peaks are rising on the horizon in the distance. We spend a good amount of time admiring the colorful prayer flags adorning the snow-covered pass before continuing to Muktinath.

After breakfast, there is a beautiful drive to Tatopani. The path travels through lush tropical rainforests and grassy pastures. Compared to the desert-like scenery of the previous several days, we will have a wonderful change. The humidity and temperature difference are there as we go lower in the air. Before reaching Tatopani, our destination for the night, we will pass through the checkpoint through Ghasa. Tatopani, which in Nepali means "hot water," is well for the hot springs. We can see travelers coming from around the world to take a dip in the hot springs' healing water.

The route to Ghorepani is marked and stone-paved. We can see the signs pointing towards the direction of Ghorepani. It is a difficult hike through rhododendrons and oak trees till you reach Ghorepani taking the uphill and downhill paths. The town was known as Ghorepani since it was a well-liked resting place for traders riding horses to Tibet.

We will hike to Poon Hill's hilltop observation point before sunrise. Poon Hill, which gives a breathtaking panoramic view of the Annapurna Massif, Gangapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Hiunchuli, is the most well-known Himalayan sunrise viewpoint inside the Annapurna Region. A sight to recall is the beautiful sunrise over the snow-capped mountains. After admiring the scenery and snapping photos, we will trek down to Ghorepani to gather our belongings before continuing to Tadapani. Through a dense rhododendron forest, taking a track that goes up and down, we can find one of the largest rhododendron woods in the world along this path. The trail is lined with blooming trees in the spring. After passing through Deurali and Birethanti, we will eventually reach Tadapani.

Tadapani is where we start our journey to Chomrong. We can see Mt. Macchapucchre and the magnificent Annapurna South from the route. Chomrong is a little town surrounded by green hills, yet it is stunningly beautiful. It is the starting place and a well-liked rest break for the hikes to Annapurna Base Camp. Chomrong is bustling with stores, inns, and eateries.

This morning, we set out early to complete a lengthy walk distance. As we hike, we will take in the vistas of Chomrong Khola. We will soon arrive at Sinuwa, a little settlement standing on a hill. As we ascend higher to Bamboo village, the scenarios enhance even more. We will hike to Dovan from Bamboo. Oak, bamboo, and rhododendron woods are everywhere along the trail. To get to Dovan, we need to traverse several wooden bridges. From Dovan, we will climb for a few more hours until we get to the Himalaya Hotel.

We will leave early in the morning for our major trekking destination, Annapurna Base Camp. We pass via the Machhapuchhre Base Camp. We will not experience the pain associated with hiking at such a higher elevation since our body is acclimated to the high altitude. From the Annapurna Base Camp, we will take in close-up perspectives of the Annapurna Massif.

We will get up early and head out to continue our trek. The trek is in a glacier basin surrounded by the peaks of Gangapurna, Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, and Annapurna I, the tenth-highest mountain in the world. We will take in the view of 8000 and 7000 meters high peaks. After taking photographs, descend to your teahouse.

To get to Matque, we will descend to Bamboo. Along the way, you'll pass through the villages of Chhomrong, Sinuwa, and Jhinu Danda. Your last hike route passes through typical Nepalese scenery, with farms and terraced fields. When we get to Samrung, crossing the long bridge after Jhinu Danda, we will take a vehicle headed for Pokhara.