Our Nepal Trekking Itinerary - Nov. 2007
Annapurna Circuit and Sanctuary
New Hotel Karma in Chame
Muktinath
(Click on images for larger one)
Last Day, looking back
toward Machhapuchhre
We got into a routine of eating breakfast at 7am and hitting the trail sometime between 7:30 and 8am. On one very long day, we started at first light, 6:20am, reached the Throng La at 10:30 and arrived in Muktinath at 4:30pm. Generally, we stopped for tea a couple of times per day, had "lunch" at 11 or 12 and arrived at our destination hotel sometime between 3 and 5pm. We ate early dinners (6 pm) and were in bed by 9pm ( a few times as early as 7pm!). Note: There are many villages and places to stay - you do not need to follow this itinerary. In fact, you can hang out at one place for a few days or stop early (perhaps at noon) if you find a special place like Tal or Marpha. Don't rush through your trek. We found the scenery especially beautiful on the first part of the Annapurna Circuit trek. (Bahuandanda to Throng Pedi). Altitude was measured with an altimeter daily (shown in meters). Some values are estimates The first number is how many meters we climbed during the day. The second is how many we descended. This will give you a better idea of the ups and downs during the course of the day. Links on villages will take you to pictures for that area.
Day / Date |
Starting village Altitude (meters) |
Ending village Altitude (meters) |
Altitude gain / loss per day |
Notes |
| 1 - 11/11/06 | Kathmandu |
NA |
Bus ride - 7 hours | |
| 2 - 11/12 | Besisahar |
Bahundanda 1310 m |
700 m / 200 m |
Hired a porter (Poon) in Bhulbhule. Nice view of Lamjung Himal. Stayed at Superb View Hotel (Bahundanda) |
| 3 - 11/13 | Bahundanda 1310 m |
Chamje 1430 m |
640 m / 520 m |
Had lunch in Jagat (good place to overnight), had to pay Maoists just before Chamje, stayed at Hotel Chymche. Lots of up and down today. |
| 4 - 11/14 | Chamje 1430 m |
Dharapani 1900 m |
823 m / 350 m |
Had lunch in Tal (a good place to overnight) Stayed at "3 sisters" aka Tibetan hotel in upper Dharapani. |
| 5 - 11/15 | Dharapani 1900 m |
Chame 2670 m |
945 m / 175 m |
Lots of vertical today. Stopped at Timang Shanta Restaurant 10:15 am for lunch. Stayed at New Hotel Karma in Chame |
| 6 - 11/16 | Chame 2670 m |
Pisang 3300 m |
713 m / 83 m |
Ate lunch at Hotel Annapurna and restaurant in Dhukure Pokhari. Stayed at the New Tibetan Guest House |
| 7 - 11/17 | Pisang 3300 m |
Manang 3540 m |
866 m / 626 m |
We chose the high route - You go up to 3670 m then down to 3540. TAKE THIS ROUTE! The views are awesome. Lunch in Nagawal at the Peaceful Hotel. Stayed at the Throng La Hotel |
| 8 - 11/18 | Manang |
day hike 400 m up to glacier |
Layover day to acclimatize. Moved to a better hotel, the New Yeti Hotel. | |
| 9 - 11/19 | Manang 3540 m |
Churi Ledar 4200 m |
814 m / 154 m |
Mostly up today. Lunch at the Yak Hotel in Yak Kharka. Stayed at Hotel Churi Lattar (arrived at 2 pm). It was windy and cold. |
| 10 - 11/20 | Churi Ledar 4200 m |
Thorung Phedi 4450 m |
480 m / 230 m |
Short day today (8:30 am - 11am). Helps with acclimatizing. Stayed at Hotel New Phedi. Very windy! We will start early tomorrow for the pass! |
| 11 - 11/21 | Thorung Phedi 4450 m |
Muktinath 3800 m |
945 m / 1524 m |
Lots of up then lots and lots of down! I would not want to be going the other way. 0620 - the top at 10:30 (winds of 65 Kph at top ) then reached North Pole Hotel in Muktinath at about 4:30 pm. |
| 12 - 11/22 | Muktinath 3800 m |
Muktinath 3800 m |
day hike to Vishnu temple |
Plan to spend an extra day here if possible. There is lots to see and you are likely whipped from the day before. (North Pole Hotel) |
| 13 - 11/23 | Muktinath 3800 m |
Kagbeni 2800 m |
? / 1000 m |
Mostly downhill and a short day today (about 4 hours). Great town. Stayed at the New Asia Trekkers Home (highly recommended). |
| 14 - 11/24 | Kagbeni 2800 m |
Jomsom 2710 m |
61 m / 90 m |
If you like fossils, get a black rock "saligram" on the trail here. They come from the Kali Gandaki River valley. Stayed at the Majesty Hotel |
| 15 - 11/25 | Jomsom 2710 m |
Tukuche 2590 m |
213 m / 333 m |
Passed through Marpha. Should have allowed an extra day to stay here - very nice place. Stayed at the High Plains Inn (another fine place) in Tukuche. |
| 16 - 11/26 | Tukuche 2590 m |
Ghasa 2010 m |
268 m / 848 m |
Stayed at the New Florida Guest House |
| 17 - 11/27 | Ghasa 2010 m |
Tatopani 1190 m |
260 m / 1080 m |
Stopped for tea at Saino restaurant in Kopchepani. Stayed at the Dhaulagiri Lodge in Tatopani - Hot showers! |
| 18 - 11/28 | Tatopani 1190 m |
Ghorepani 2750 m |
1828 m / 268 m |
This was one of the hardest days on the trek. Relentless huge vertical day. Maybe should have stayed in Tadapani. At Ghorepani (8 hr day) stayed in Hungry Eye Hotel |
| 19 - 11/29 | Ghorepani 2750 m |
Ghandruk 1939 m |
946 m / 1757 m |
Did the sunrise trek to Poon Hill - great view but also a great view on the ridge above Ghorepani. Values at left include Poon hill. Stayed at Himalaya Lodge. Great view of Annapurna south and Hiun Chuli |
| 20 - 11/30 | Ghandruk 1939 m |
Ghandruk 1939 m |
NA |
The Himalaya Lodge was by far the best place we stayed in on the trek. They cater to groups but will let "outsiders" in when there is room. Even had high quality toilet paper in the bathroom! |
| 21 - 12/01 | Ghandruk 1939 m |
Chomrong 2170 m |
823 m / 592 m |
Late start 0935. Lunch at Kimrong Khola. Arrived in Chomrong about 3 pm. Stayed at The Excellent View Top Hotel & Restaurant |
| 22 - 12/02 | Chomrong 2170 m |
Himalaya 2920 m |
1250 m / 500 m |
A suprisingly tough day. Started with a long run downhill then lots and lots of up. Lunch in Bamboo. Arrived at Himalaya Hotel at 3:15 pm |
| 23 - 12/03 | Himalaya 2920 m |
ABC 4130 m |
1326 m / 116 m |
Uphill, uphill, uphill but great scenery so it wasn't noticed that much. Had lunch at MBC about noon. Reached ABC about 3 pm. Stayed at Annapurna Guest House. Clear, great views! |
| 24 - 12/04 | ABC 4130 m |
Bamboo 2335 m |
146 m / 1931 m |
The reverse, downhill, downhill, downhill. Stayed at Buddha Guest House - Truly hot showers! |
| 25 - 12/05 | Bamboo 2335 m |
689 m / 1774 m |
Big uphill on many steps from the Chromro Khola river crossing to Chomrong (see day 22). Then huge downhill to Jhinu Danda and New Bridge (Kalpana Guest House). Best to keep going another hour to (Siwai?) - there are better hotels. | |
| 26 - 12/06 | New Bridge 1250 m |
Birethanti 1050 m |
152 m / 352 m |
Short day out. Started at 7am. Eluded the Maoists at Birethanti, hit the pavement at 12:30 pm. Took a taxi to Pokhara. |
They say that when you finish your trek you will long for a hot shower and good food.
But they also say that after a day or so in "civilization", you will long to be back...... It's true!
Our Itinerary |
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