The Annapurna Circuit is the trek that defined Himalayan trekking for a generation. Sixteen days, two countries’ worth of landscape changes, and the iconic crossing of the Thorong La pass at 5,416 metres.
The Big Picture
You start in subtropical rice paddies near Besisahar, climb through pine and rhododendron forest to Manang, cross the high desert pass, and descend into the orchards of Marpha and the deep gorge of the Kali Gandaki. It’s the most varied trek in Nepal — and arguably the most photogenic.
Permits and Insurance
You need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and a Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card, both available in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Insurance that covers trekking above 5,000m with helicopter evacuation is essential — not optional.
