Few treks change as much from start to finish. The Annapurna Circuit begins in green, terraced valleys and climbs through pine forest and Tibetan-Buddhist villages like Manang, before crossing the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m and dropping into the arid Kali Gandaki gorge.
Road building means many trekkers now skip the lowest sections by jeep, but the heart of the route — Manang, the climb to Thorong Phedi and the crossing to the temple town of Muktinath — remains a superb walk. Side trips to Ice Lake or Tilicho Lake are worth extra days.
Spend at least one acclimatisation day in Manang before the pass, and start the crossing before dawn. An Annapurna Conservation Area permit is required.
