The Annapurna Semi-Circuit Trek covers half of the classic and legendary Annapurna Circuit Trek. The only difference between the two treks is that the Annapurna Semi-Circuit Trek ends at Muktinath or Jomsom. From there, you either fly or drive to Pokhara. The trek offers a breathtaking blend of geographical diversity, natural beauty, and cultural immersion. It encircles the Annapurna mountain range, which includes Annapurna I (8,091m.), the 10th highest peak in the world. The trek leads you to Thorung-La Pass (5,416m.) and the Kaligandaki Gorge, the world’s widest pass and the deepest gorge. It offers diverse range of landscapes, from humid subtropical forests to dry Trans-Himalayan range. The trek follows two important rivers, the Marshyangdi and the Kaligandaki, and takes you to Muktinath, which holds religious and cultural significance. Similarly, eternal natural flames and hot springs are also important attractions of the trek.
The trek covers Lamjung, Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, and Kaski districts in the central region of Nepal, encompassing most of the Annapurna Conservation Area. In the past, people would start the trek from Besisahar, the headquarters of Lamjung. However, with roads now extending to remote villages, trekkers commonly begin from Dharapani or Chame. The duration of the trek varies from 14 to 21 days depending on the routes taken and any extension trips included.
WELCOME TO NEPAL, the land of the Himalayas!
Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will receive a warm welcome from the company representatives of Osprey Adventure, who will assist you with your luggage and guide you to the hotel. After checking into the hotel, the company representative will provide you with a comprehensive briefing about your upcoming trip, including inclusions and exclusions, safety precautions, cultural norms and other important information that will be useful during your stay in Nepal.
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Your city tour guide will arrive promptly at the hotel with a private vehicle and driver. After breakfast, you will process to visit the following religious and historical sites, all of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1979 AD.
Swayambhunath is situated atop an elevated hill station in the heart of Kathmandu city, standing 77 meters above the city’s level, providing panoramic views of the entire Kathmandu valley. It is also famously known as “Monkey Temple” among tourists due to the abundance of monkeys found on the site. While primarily a Buddhist pilgrimage site, you can also find a Hindu temple harmoniously coexisting alongside the main temple of Swayambhunath.
Kathmandu Durbar Square, situated in the heart of Kathmandu, is the former Royal Palace of Nepal. “Durbar” translates to ‘palace’ in Nepali. It stands out as one of three durbar squares in the Kathmandu valley. Today, it serves as a key attraction for tourists, renowned as the center of medieval art and architecture.
Within the Durbar Square, your tour will encompass visits to several historical landmarks, including the ancient palace museum, the temple of Kumari (the living goddess of Nepal), Hanuman Dhoka, the Kasthamandap Temple, and the statue of Kal Bhairav.
Boudhanath is the largest stupa in Nepal, situated 11km northeast from the heart of Kathmandu city. Its magnificent size and mesmerizing shape are sure to leave you stunned. Historically, it is believed to have been built in the early 5th century and now stands as a beacon of Buddhist belief. Surrounding the stupa, there are many terrace restaurants where you can enjoy a lunch break.
Pashupatinath Temple stands as one of the largest and most revered shrines for Hindus worldwide. Situated on the western bank of the holy Bagmati River, which flows through the center of the Kathmandu valley, it also serves as a popular cremation site for Hindus. The majority of Hindus who pass away in the Kathmandu valley are brought to Pashupati for cremation, so it is highly likely that you will observe open-air cremations during your visit. Entrance to the main temple is restricted to Hindus only. However, even if you are non-Hindu, you can still observe the main temple from the eastern bank of the river.
You will embark on a scenic journey through the heart of Nepal, passing through diverse landscapes and charming villages along the way. Initially, you will drive westward out of Kathmandu, following the Prithivi Highway (known as Kathmandu – Pokhara highway). After 5 hours of driving, the road diverges from the main highway and heads towards Besisahar for an additional hour. From Besisahar, the journey continues northwest, passing through rugged terrain and following the Marshyangdi River. After approximately 4 hours of driving from Besisahar, covering a distance of 80 km, you will reach Dharapani.
Today marks the first day of the trek. The breakfast will be served at 7:00 am, and the day’s journey begins right after. You will be given a briefing to pack your luggage before breakfast, which will remain your usual routine until the trek ends. The journey beings by following the trail along the Marsyangdi River on a gradually upward, easy path to Bagarchhap, a picturesque village with Tibetan-style houses. You will follow a similarly graded path until you reach Danakyu. From Danakyu, the path ascends through pine and rhododendron forests all the way to Timang, the highest point of the day. If the weather remains favorable, you can enjoy wonderful mountain views from there. From Timang, the trail continues straight on the road to Thankchock, where you will stop for lunch. From there, you will mostly walk through pine forests all the way to Chame, passing through Koto village. (FYI, Chame village is the headquarters of the Manang district).
It will be a pleasant day. The path will not be very difficult, and the journey will be enjoyable through the pine forests. You will cross the Marshyangdi River at Chame and continue following the river from the other side. The trail will be a little zigzag until Bhratang. After a short walk from Bhratang, you will cross the Marsyangdi River. The path will be slightly steeper for some time, and you will begin waking through the pine forest until you reach Dhikur Pokhari, where lunch will be served. From there, you can see a huge rock lying ahead. The trial is very straight in the meadow through pine forests until you reach Pisang.
There are two routes you can follow to Manang. The lower route follows via Humde airstrip, which is much easier and takes less time. The upper route follows via Ghyaru and Nagwal, which is more difficult and takes longer to reach. However, it is suggested to follow the upper route. In terms of views and scenery, the upper route has no parallel to the lower one. That’s why almost everyone follows the upper route, even though it is harder. The walk will be very straightforward, through pine forests, passing Miring Tso (a small lake) for 45 minutes. After crossing a river, the path begins to ascend very steeply for one and a half hour to Ghyaru, from where wonderful mountain views can be observed. The trial is fairly straight with a slight ascend to a ridge. From there, the path begins to lower slightly until Ngawal, where the lunch will be served. From Ngawal, the path follows a slope downhill all the way to a place with a teashop, where path from the lower route joins. From there, path will be very straight to Manang, passing Braga village.
The rest day has been allocated not to remain idle in the hotel, but to follow the “Climb high, sleep low” principle of acclimatization. You can either hike to Gangapurna Glacial Lake nearby or can hike to Milerapa Cave or Ice Lake. The latter two take full day to complete the round trip.
After a short walk from Manang, the routes to Thorong La Pass and Tilicho Lake separate. You will follow the route to the right side. Now you are already in the treeless Trans-Himalayan region, where the air is dry and the wind is strong. The path begins to ascend passing houses, Buddhist chortens and mani walls. You won’t see many villages and tea shops from here. The lunch will be served once you reach Yak Kharka.
The trail follows straight in the beginning and slightly upward to Ledar (4250m) for an hour. From Ledar, the trail continues to climb along the east bank of the Kone Khola, then descends to the river. After making a short ascent on a good trail to a teashop, the route then follows a narrow path across a high, unstable slope all the way to Thorong Phedi. “Phedi” is a Nepali word meaning ‘foot of the hill’.
Departing from the usual morning routine, you will begin the day’s journey early, at around 2:00 am. It will still be dark, so you will need a headlight. The trail is steepest in the beginning for about an hour. However, once you reach High Camp, the path becomes much easier. It will take another four hours to reach the top from High Camp. Thorong-La Pass is the highest point of the trek, a wide ridge adorned with Buddhist prayer flags, from where you can observe spectacular views on both sides. From the top, the trail descends steeply for another three hours, all the way to Muktinath.
Today, you will drive to Pokhara. In the past, people used to trek to Tatopani to catch vechile, but since the road was constructed up to Muktinath, most people prefer to drive. The path follows Kaligandaki valley, tracing the Kaligandaki River all the way to Tatopai. You will also notice dramatic changes in vegetation as you descend from the Trans-Himalayan region to a sub-tropical temperate zone. There is a high possibility to finding fossils on the riverbank between Ekle Bhatti and Jomsom, remnants of the sea animals that lived under the Tethys Sea about 20 million years ago. The journey will be pleasant as the landscape changes. Jomsom serves as the headquarters of the Mustang district, with a small airstrip offering the option to fly out to Pokhara. You can also pass through the beautiful orchards of Marpha, a tradition village. From Kalapani, you can observe wonderful mountain views. You can also pass through a place, which is the deepest gorge in the world. By lunchtime, you will reach Tatopani. “Tatopani” is a Nepali word meaning ‘hot water’. There is a natural hot spring where you can enjoy a bath if time permits.
From Tatopani, it takes another four hours to drive to reach Pokhara, passing through popular towns such as Beni, Kusma, Nayapul and Naudanda.
After early breakfast, you will depart from the hotel at 6:00 am and drive to tourist bus station by a car or taxi, where you will board the bus for the 5 to 6 hours scenic journey back to Kathmandu.
Today is a leisure day. You can plan your activities as you wish. You can hire a taxi and explore your favourite places or go shopping. If you wish to arrange extension trips you can talk to your guide or contact Osprey Adventure.
Today marks your final day in Nepal. We will drive you to Kathmandu International Airport three hours before your flight time.
Note: If you would like to spend more time in Nepal, you can join our leisure or adventure extension trips such as City Sightseeing, White-water Rafting, Jungle Safari, Paragliding, Bungee Jumping etc.
Choosing the proper equipment for trekking in Nepal is crucial for a safe and enjoyable experience. Most trekking destinations in Nepal are remote, with few accessible markets. Even where markets exist, prices tend to be high. Therefore, it is essential to prepare all necessary equipment before starting your trek. Kathmandu, particularly the Thamel area, is the ideal place to acquire equipment if you haven’t brought it from your home country. Alternatively, Pokhara offers equipment at similar prices to Kathmandu.
Below is a list of general equipment. Not all items may be necessary depending on your destination. Consult your travel consultant or guide if assistance in selecting the appropriate equipment.
*Note: FYI, you can also rent a sleeping bag and a down jacket in Kathmandu. The cost varies from $2 to $3 per day for each item, depending on the quality.
