Registration no: 398902/83/84
Tourism Licence No: 507
The 10-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek with Ice Lake and Thorong La Pass is an extraordinary alpine odyssey through one of the most geographically diverse and culturally rich trekking corridors on Earth.
Destination
Nepal
Accommodation
Accommodation Teahouse / Mountain Lodge
Walking Distance
~ 105 km
Duration
9 Nights 10 Days
Max. Elevation
5,416 m (17,769 ft) at Thorong La Pass
Meals Included
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Best Season
Spring (Mar–May), Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Grade
Strenuous
The 10-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek with Ice Lake and Thorong La Pass is an extraordinary alpine odyssey through one of the most geographically diverse and culturally rich trekking corridors on Earth. Starting from the subtropical foothills and ascending into the rain-shadow desert of the high Himalayas, this compressed 10-day expedition offers an epic traverse through deep river gorges, alpine forests, and high-altitude trans-Himalayan landscapes.
Beginning with an overland drive to Chamje or Dharapani, the trail follows the roaring Marshyangdi River through ancient Gurung and Manangi settlements. An excursion to the sacred high-altitude Ice Lake (Kicho Tal, 4,600 m) provides vital acclimatization alongside panoramic views of the Annapurna Massif (Annapurna I - 8,091 m, Annapurna II, III, IV), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), and the striking wall of Gangapurna (7,455 m). The defining achievement of the voyage is crossing Thorong La Pass (5,416 m)—one of the highest navigable trekking passes in the world—before descending to the revered pilgrimage site of Muktinath and returning overland directly to Pokhara.
Timing your journey ensures safe mountain passes, crystal-clear vistas, and favorable trail conditions across diverse climate zones:
· Autumn Season (September to November): The premier window for high-pass trekking. Post-monsoon atmospheric clarity yields unobstructed peak visibility, dry trails, and stable mountain weather with comfortable daytime walking temperatures.
· Spring Season (March to May): A vibrant time to trek as lower elevations burst into color with blooming rhododendron, magnolia, and wild orchids. Mild temperatures prevail, and snow lines on Thorong La retreat gradually.
· Winter Season (December to February): Characterized by crisp blue skies and quiet trails, but extreme cold and heavy snow accumulation can close Thorong La Pass. Requires specialized cold-weather gear and high mountain experience.
· Monsoon Season (June to August): Heavy rains affect the lower valleys leading to landslides, muddy paths, and leeches. However, the upper Manang and Muktinath valleys lie in the rain-shadow zone and remain dry.
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We leave Pokhara early, following the Prithvi Highway before turning onto the rougher mountain road at Besisahar, where the drive shifts into a private or shared 4WD jeep for the climb ahead. The road tracks the Marshyangdi Khola closely from here.
Waterfall-draped canyon walls and small agricultural hamlets like Tal mark the route as the valley steadily narrows and gains height. The change in scenery over just a few hours of driving is one of the more striking parts of the day.
By late afternoon we reach Dharapani, the official entry checkpoint for the Annapurna Circuit. The permit and paperwork stop here signals that the trekking, rather than the driving, begins in earnest tomorrow.
Dharapani → Bagarchhap → Timang → Chame
The trail climbs steadily through pine, oak and maple forest, tracking the Marshyangdi River as it carves through the valley below. We pass through Bagarchhap and Danaque, small villages still showing strong Tibetan-Buddhist character in their prayer walls and chortens.
A steep stone-step climb brings us up to Timang, and the effort is repaid immediately with a clear view of Manaslu (8,163 m) rising above the opposite ridgeline — one of the better surprise viewpoints on the early stages of the circuit.
We continue through pine-scented forest into Chame, the administrative headquarters of Manang district. Natural thermal hot springs sit just across the river here, a welcome option for anyone whose legs are already feeling the day's climb.
Chame → Bhratang → Upper Pisang
Dense pine forest gives way gradually to steep rock walls as we walk toward Bhratang, the trail hugging close to the river for most of the morning. A suspension bridge crossing offers our first proper look at Paungda Danda, a curved rock face rising some 1,500 meters directly above the trail.
Past Bhratang, the alpine terrain begins turning noticeably drier, tree cover thinning with every kilometer of altitude gained. It's a clear signal that we're leaving the wetter, forested lower valley behind for good.
We climb the final stretch into Upper Pisang, rewarded with views of Pisang Peak and the long wall of Annapurna II filling the skyline ahead — a strong preview of the high mountain terrain still to come over the next several days.
Upper Pisang → Gyaru → Ngawal → Braga → Manang
We take the scenic high route today rather than the shorter valley trail, climbing toward Gyaru for both the acclimatization value and the views — the ascent opens onto a clear line across the valley floor to Annapurna II and Annapurna IV.
From Gyaru, a high balcony path leads to Ngawal, threading through ancient stone villages that feel distinctly more Tibetan than the lower valley settlements passed earlier in the trip. Mani walls and prayer wheels line much of the trail here.
We descend past the weathered Braga monastery, its prayer walls set dramatically against the surrounding cliffs, before arriving in Manang — a Tibetan-style settlement of stacked stone houses sitting directly beneath the glaciers of the Annapurna range.
Manang → Braga → Ice Lake → Manang
Rather than resting completely, we spend today's acclimatization climbing — starting from Braga and following a steep, zigzagging trail north toward the glacial Ice Lake. The gain in altitude is significant, but the pace stays deliberately slow.
As the trail rises through open alpine meadow, the views expand steadily: the full Annapurna Massif, the Gangapurna Glacier, and Tilicho Peak all become visible in turn, each appearing a little closer than the last viewpoint offered.
Reaching Ice Lake itself, a still, ice-fringed pool set against bare rock and glacier, provides exactly the kind of physiological adaptation this high on the circuit calls for. We return to Manang by mid-afternoon, legs tired but properly acclimatized for the days ahead.
Manang → Ghunsang → Ledar
Leaving the main Manang valley behind, we climb through alpine scrub and scattered juniper alongside the Jar Sang Khola, the terrain growing steadily more exposed with every passing hour. The pace stays measured, matching the thinning air.
We pass Ghunsang, little more than a scattering of stone buildings where yak herds graze freely on the dry mountain slopes surrounding the settlement. It's one of the quieter, more remote-feeling stretches of the entire circuit.
A wooden bridge crossing brings us onto the final gentle rise toward Ledar, our stop for the night. With Thorong La now only two trekking days away, the mood among the group shifts slightly — more focused, less chatty, as the altitude asserts itself.
Ledar → Thorong Phedi → Thorong High Camp
Today's walk stays short in distance but demanding in altitude gain. We traverse high, open terrain above the riverbank, keeping half an eye out for blue sheep (bharal) and the occasional Himalayan lammergeier riding the thermals overhead.
A suspension bridge crossing brings us to Thorong Phedi, where most trekking parties pause for tea before tackling the steepest section of the day — a roughly one-hour climb up a loose scree slope.
We reach Thorong High Camp by early afternoon, deliberately positioning ourselves as close to the pass as comfortably possible. The rest of the day is spent resting, rehydrating and preparing gear for tomorrow's early start over Thorong La.
Thorong High Camp → Thorong La Pass → Muktinath
We set off under starlight, usually between 3:30 and 4:00 AM, climbing the icy trail steadily to beat the fierce midday winds that regularly sweep the pass. Headlamps and hot breath are about the only signs of life on the mountainside this early.
Reaching the summit of Thorong La Pass, marked by weathered strings of Tibetan prayer flags, is the trip's defining moment. On a clear morning, the view stretches out toward Tibet on one side and Dhaulagiri on the other — a rare, wide-open high-altitude panorama.
After tea and a short rest at the top, we descend roughly 1,600 vertical meters into the dry Mustang region, arriving at the sacred village of Muktinath by afternoon, tired but well past the trip's hardest physical stretch.
Muktinath → Jharkot → Jomsom
We start the morning at the Muktinath Temple complex, its 108 water spouts and eternal natural gas flame drawing pilgrims from both Hindu and Buddhist traditions — a calm, reflective way to begin the day after yesterday's demanding pass crossing.
From the temple, we walk (or take a short local jeep) down through the old stone alleyways of Jharkot, its aging gompa still watching over the village from a low rise above the trail.
The route continues down the windswept Kali Gandaki River Valley to Jomsom, Mustang's district hub, where we rest up ahead of tomorrow's long overland return — the last real chance to relax before a full day on the road.
Jomsom → Tatopani → Beni → Pokhara
Our final day is entirely on wheels, boarding a direct vehicle or bus for the long descent back to Pokhara. The road follows the Kali Gandaki River canyon, sandwiched for much of the way between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs.
We pass through Tatopani, known for its riverside hot springs, and continue through Beni, where the terraced mid-hills return in full and the dry desert cliffs of Mustang feel like a different country entirely by comparison.
Joining the main highway near Nayapul, we arrive back in Pokhara by late afternoon or early evening, closing out a 10-day expedition that carried us from subtropical valley floor over one of the highest trekking passes on the planet.
|
Days |
Route |
Distance |
Walking Time |
Altitude |
|
Day 1 |
Pokhara ➔ Besisahar ➔ Dharapani (Drive) |
~160 km (Drive) |
0 hours |
1,860 m (Dharapani) |
|
Day 2 |
Dharapani ➔ Timang ➔ Chame |
~15 km |
5 – 6 hours |
2,670 m (Chame) |
|
Day 3 |
Chame ➔ Bhratang ➔ Upper Pisang |
~14 km |
5 – 6 hours |
3,300 m (Upper Pisang) |
|
Day 4 |
Upper Pisang ➔ Gyaru ➔ Ngawal ➔ Manang |
~19 km |
6 – 7 hours |
3,540 m (Manang) |
|
Day 5 |
Manang ➔ Ice Lake (Kicho Tal) ➔ Manang |
~10 km |
6 – 7 hours |
4,600 m (Ice Lake) |
|
Day 6 |
Manang ➔ Ghunsang ➔ Ledar |
~10 km |
4 – 5 hours |
4,200 m (Ledar) |
|
Day 7 |
Ledar ➔ Thorong Phedi ➔ Thorong High Camp |
~7 km |
4 – 5 hours |
4,880 m (High Camp) |
|
Day 8 |
Thorong High Camp ➔ Thorong La Pass ➔ Muktinath |
~16 km |
7 – 9 hours |
5,416 m (Thorong La), 3,800 m (Muktinath) |
|
Day 9 |
Muktinath Temple ➔ Jharkot ➔ Jomsom |
~12 km |
3 – 4 hours |
2,720 m (Jomsom) |
|
Day 10 |
Muktinath / Jomsom ➔ Beni ➔ Pokhara (Direct Bus/Jeep) |
~170 km (Drive) |
0 hours |
820 m (Pokhara) |
Let's customize this itinerary as per your time and budget, as you like.
Transportation
Accommodation
Food & Meals
Guide & Porter
Permits & Fees
Medical / Safety Assistance
Equipment
Other Included Services
Transportation
Accommodation
Food & Meals
Guide & Porter
Permits & Fees
Medical / Safety Assistance
Equipment
Other Included Services
International Flights
Nepal Visa
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Beverages
Hot Showers & Charging
Wi-Fi / Internet
Tips & Gratitude
Additional Expenses
International Flights
Accommodation not Included
Meals not Included
Supporter / Porter
Travel Insurance
Tips
Other Exclusions
| Group Size | Price / Person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | USD 980 |
| 2 persons | USD 850 |
| 3 – 6 persons | USD 800 |
| 7 – 12 persons | USD 780 |
| 13 – 20 persons | USD 750 |
Includes a licensed guide, required permits, tea house lodging, transportation, along with all daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and tea or coffee.
Covers your guide, permits, tea house lodging, morning tea, and transportation. Lunch and dinner are purchased out-of-pocket on the trail, giving you control over meal choices
| Licensed English-Speaking Guide | Includes the guide's insurance and daily expenses. | $40 / per day |
| Porter | Porter service for carrying trekking luggage. | $25 / per day |
| ACAP Entry Permit | Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit. | $25 / per day |
| Daily Meals (Trailside) | Approximately $30 per day, based on an average of $10 per meal. | $40 / per day |
Trip Info & FAQs for Annapurna Circuit Trek (10 Days) — Ice Lake & Thorong La Pass
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USD 980 per person
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