Annapurna Circuit Trek 8 Days

1 / 7

4.9

90+ Google reviewsrated 4.9 by 90+ travellers on Google5+ years guiding5+ years guiding in the Himalaya30+ countriesGuests from 30+ countriesLocal-born guidesBorn-and-raised local guides

Trek at a Glance

Price From

Contact for pricing

Duration

8 days

Trip Grade

Challenging

Max. Altitude

5,416m

Best Season

Mar-May, Sep-Nov

Group Size

1-12 pax

Region

Annapurna

Accommodation

Tea houses

Meals

Varies by package

Start / End Point

Pokhara / Pokhara

Permits

ACAP, TIMS card

Annapurna Circuit Trek 8 Days Overview

Itinerary designed by Rohit Timilsina, Co-Founder & Lead Guide Verified local guide

The shortest Annapurna Circuit we run: jeep from Pokhara to Chame, walk the high route through Ghyaru and Ngawal to Manang, take a full acclimatisation day, then cross Thorong La at 5,416m and drive back to Pokhara. Eight days, Pokhara to Pokhara.

This is the Annapurna Circuit cut down to the part most people come for. The road now reaches Chame, so instead of spending the first few days walking up the lower Marsyangdi valley, you drive to Chame (2,670m) on day one and start walking among pine forest and big mountain views. Every walking day after that is spent between the treeline and the pass.

Be clear about the trade-off. The lower valley, with its rice terraces and waterfalls, is lovely, and you will not see it on foot. What you keep is the high trail through Ghyaru and Ngawal, which has the best views of Annapurna II, III and IV in the whole valley, a full acclimatisation day at Manang, and the crossing of Thorong La at 5,416m. What you give up is the slow build-up through the lower villages and any spare day in the schedule.

Eight days is the minimum we will run for the Circuit, not the length we recommend. It keeps the acclimatisation day at Manang, because an itinerary that reaches the pass without one is not a quicker trek, it is a riskier one. If you can spare ten days, the Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake gives you a better altitude profile and a second high objective. This version exists for trekkers whose leave is fixed and who still want to stand on the pass.

High Pass Crossing

Thorong La Pass

5,416 m / 17,769 ft

The reason the trek exists. A pre-dawn start from High Camp or Thorong Phedi, a long climb in thin air to the prayer flags at 5,416m, then a 1,650m descent into the rain shadow with Muktinath and the Mustang hills opening up below.

Annapurna Circuit Trek 8 Days Highlights

Cross Thorong La Pass (5,416m), one of the highest trekking passes in the world
Walk the high route through Ghyaru (3,730m) and Ngawal, facing Annapurna II, III and IV
A full acclimatisation day at Manang, with an optional hike towards Ice Lake (4,620m)
Descend into the Mustang rain shadow to the temple complex at Muktinath
Drive out down the Kali Gandaki valley through Jomsom and Marpha
Pokhara to Pokhara in eight days, with the lower valley covered by road

Annapurna Circuit Trek 8 Days Itinerary

Day	Itinerary	Max Altitude	Duration
Day 1	Drive Pokhara to Chame (2,670m) via Besisahar	2,670m / 8,760ft	9-11 hours drive
Day 2	Chame to Upper Pisang (3,300m)	3,300m / 10,827ft	5-6 hours
Day 3	Upper Pisang to Manang (3,540m) via Ghyaru and Ngawal	3,540m / 11,614ft	6-7 hours
Day 4	Acclimatisation day in Manang (3,540m)	3,540m / 11,614ft	Acclimatisation hike
Day 5	Manang to Yak Kharka (4,050m)	4,050m / 13,287ft	3-4 hours
Day 6	Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4,450m) or High Camp (4,880m)	4,450m / 14,600ft	3-4 hours
Day 7	Cross Thorong La (5,416m) and descend to Muktinath (3,760m)	5,416m / 17,769ft	7-10 hours
Day 8	Drive Muktinath to Pokhara (820m)	820m / 2,690ft	6-9 hours drive

Day 01: Drive Pokhara to Chame (2,670m) via Besisahar
2,670m / 8,760ft
Duration9-11 hours drive
Altitude2,670m / 8,760ft
The one long day in a vehicle. Four to five hours on tarmac to Besisahar (760m), then four to six hours up the Marsyangdi valley in a 4WD on a rough mountain road. Allow nine to eleven hours door to door, and longer if a landslide has slowed the road.
Chame is the district headquarters of Manang and a comfortable first night, with a hot shower, a decent meal and your first proper look at the high peaks.
Day 02: Chame to Upper Pisang (3,300m)
3,300m / 10,827ft
Duration5-6 hours
Altitude3,300m / 10,827ft
Elevation Gain+630 m
Five to six hours through blue pine and fir forest, passing below Paungda Danda, a curved face of bare rock rising most of a kilometre above the river. We stay at Upper Pisang rather than the village on the valley floor. It is a better night's sleep, and it sets up the high route tomorrow.
Day 03: Upper Pisang to Manang (3,540m) via Ghyaru and Ngawal
3,540m / 11,614ft
Duration6-7 hours
Altitude3,540m / 11,614ft
Max Elevation3,730m
Elevation Gain+240 m
The best walking day on this side of the pass. A steep zig-zag climb to Ghyaru (3,730m), then an almost level traverse to Ngawal with Annapurna II, III and IV filling the view to the south, before the trail drops into Manang.
You reach 3,730m and sleep at 3,540m, which starts your acclimatisation the right way. Six to seven hours, and worth every one of them.
Day 04: Acclimatisation day in Manang (3,540m)
3,540m / 11,614ft
DurationAcclimatisation hike
Altitude3,540m / 11,614ft
Not a day off. Depending on how the group is moving, your guide takes you up to Praken Gompa (about 3,950m), out to Gangapurna Lake, or, if everyone is strong, up towards Ice Lake at 4,620m. Whichever you choose, you come back down to sleep at 3,540m.
This is the day that makes an eight-day Circuit workable, and we will not trade it away to shorten the trip.
Day 05: Manang to Yak Kharka (4,050m)
4,050m / 13,287ft
Duration3-4 hours
Altitude4,050m / 13,287ft
Elevation Gain+510 m
A deliberately short day of three to four hours, climbing out of Manang through juniper scrub and open yak pasture. Keeping the height gain modest here pays off on the pass.
Day 06: Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4,450m) or High Camp (4,880m)
4,450m / 14,600ft
Duration3-4 hours
Altitude4,450m / 14,600ft
Elevation Gain+400 m
Another short day of three to four hours to Thorong Phedi. If the group is going well and there are beds free, you can continue for roughly another hour to High Camp, which makes the pass day considerably shorter.
High Camp is also 430m higher, so your guide makes that call on the day, based on how everyone is actually feeling rather than on what the plan says.
Day 07: Cross Thorong La (5,416m) and descend to Muktinath (3,760m)
5,416m / 17,769ft
Duration7-10 hours
Altitude5,416m / 17,769ft
Elevation Gain+966 m
The day the trek is built around. You leave before dawn in the cold and dark and climb steadily to the prayer flags on the pass at 5,416m. Then comes roughly 1,650m of descent into the Mustang rain shadow, hard on the knees, down to the temple complex at Muktinath.
Allow seven to nine hours from High Camp, or eight to ten from Thorong Phedi. Thorong La closes in bad weather, and your guide will turn the group around if conditions or anyone's health make the crossing unsafe.
Day 08: Drive Muktinath to Pokhara (820m)
820m / 2,690ft
Duration6-9 hours drive
Altitude820m / 2,690ft
Elevation Gain-2,940 m
Six to nine hours by jeep down the Kali Gandaki valley through Jomsom, Marpha and Tatopani, rough as far as Beni and then on tarmac to Pokhara. A long day but a spectacular one, and it ends with a shower and a bed in Lakeside.

Elevation Profile

Highest point: 5,416m (Day 7)Start: 2,670mEnd: 820m

Your Trek Is Prepared & Led by a Local Guide

Govt. License #1497

Rohit Timilsina

Co-Founder & Lead Guide · 6K Nepal Treks

Hi, I'm Rohit Timilsina

I started 6K Nepal Treks to give travellers the trek I would want myself: small groups, honest prices and a guide who actually knows the trail. I have guided across the Annapurna, Manaslu and Everest regions for over five years, and I design every itinerary on this site personally.

“Whether it is your first teahouse trek or your tenth Himalayan expedition, I want you back home telling everyone it was the best trip of your life.”

Govt. License #14974.9★ from 90+ reviews30+ countries guidedHighest guided: 5,416m

Meet the full team

Annapurna Circuit Trek 8 Days Cost & What's Included

Here is exactly what this guided package covers. We price it per departure, so ask us for a quote for your group size and dates.

What is included in this trek package?

Accommodation

Twin-sharing accommodation in tea houses or local lodges throughout the trek
Hotel accommodation on nights before and after the trek where applicable (breakfast included)

Meals & Drinking Water

All standard meals on the trail (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with one hot drink per meal
Purified drinking water throughout the trek (filter or purification tablets)
Seasonal fruits when available

Transportation

All ground transfers by private or shared tourist vehicle as per the itinerary
Domestic flights where explicitly noted in the itinerary

Guide and Staff

Experienced, first-aid trained, government-licensed, English-speaking lead guide
Assistant guide for groups of 7 or more
One porter per two trekkers for carrying main luggage (up to 10 kg per person)
Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, and insurance for all trek staff

Permits

All required trekking permits and conservation-area fees for the route
TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card where applicable
All permit paperwork arranged before the trek starts

Safety and Support

Comprehensive first aid kit including pulse oximeter for daily altitude checks
Emergency oxygen on treks above 4,000m
24/7 operational support from our Pokhara office
Trip completion certificate

What is excluded in this trek package?

Flights & Visa

International flights and airport departure tax
Nepal entry visa (USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, USD 125 for 90 days, on arrival at Kathmandu airport)

Insurance & Personal Gear

Travel insurance with high-altitude and emergency helicopter evacuation coverage (mandatory)
Personal trekking gear, clothing and footwear

Meals Outside the Trail

Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu or Pokhara before and after the trek
Any beverages including alcoholic drinks, bottled and boiled water

Other

Tips for trekking staff and drivers (recommended but not included)
Hot showers, WiFi, and charging fees at tea houses
Any personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, or souvenirs
Any additional costs caused by natural disasters, political disturbances, or flight delays
Any items not explicitly listed in the Price Includes section

Private departures, your dates

We run this trek as a private trip on the dates that suit you. Tell us when and we will confirm availability.

Email us WhatsApp

Annapurna Circuit Trek 8 Days Reviews

4.9★ from 90+ Google Reviews

Trekkers guided from 30+ countries.

No published review names the Annapurna Circuit Trek 8 Days yet.

See reviews from all our treks

Why Book With 6K Nepal Treks

Licensed & Insured

Registered with Nepal Tourism Board, TAAN and NMA. Fully insured for trekking, climbing, and high-altitude emergencies.

Expert Local Guides

Every trek is led by a licensed, first-aid trained Sherpa or Gurung guide, born and raised in these mountains.

Safety First

Pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen carried on all high-altitude treks. Helicopter evacuation protocol on standby.

Small Groups

Maximum 12 trekkers per group, and one porter per two guests whenever porters are part of your package. You are a person, not a tour number.

Fair & Transparent Pricing

No hidden fees. Every quote itemises exactly what your package covers and what it does not, so nothing lands on you at the trailhead.

Responsible Travel

Fair wages for all staff, eco-friendly practices on the trail, and direct support for the mountain communities we work with.

Know Before You Go

The 8-day Annapurna Circuit is graded Challenging. Nothing on the route is technical and you never need a rope, but the schedule is tight and the altitude is real. Walking days run three to seven hours, apart from the pass day, which is seven to ten hours with a pre-dawn start, a long climb above 5,000m and roughly 1,650m of descent.

You should already be comfortable walking six hours a day, several days in a row, on steep ground. Previous experience above 3,000m helps a lot, because this itinerary has no spare day to absorb a slow start. Good boots with ankle support and trekking poles make the long descent from the pass far easier on the knees.

The route needs two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the TIMS card. We arrange both in Pokhara before you set off, and you carry them through the checkpoints on the trail. Whether the permit fees are part of your price depends on the package you choose, and your quote spells it out.

Sleeping altitudes on this itinerary run Chame 2,670m, Upper Pisang 3,300m, Manang 3,540m (two nights), Yak Kharka 4,050m, then Thorong Phedi 4,450m or High Camp 4,880m, before the pass at 5,416m and a night at Muktinath, 3,760m.

Two things keep that profile workable in eight days: the high route through Ghyaru on day 3, which takes you to 3,730m before you sleep lower, and the full acclimatisation day at Manang. If you have never slept above 3,000m, we would steer you towards a longer itinerary. No schedule removes the risk of altitude sickness, it only manages it. Our guides carry an oximeter, check everyone daily, and descend with anyone whose symptoms get worse.

The eight days run from Pokhara back to Pokhara. Around them you need time to fly into Nepal, a day to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu by road or on the short flight, and a day to get back to Kathmandu before your flight home. For many international visitors that makes the whole trip roughly two weeks door to door.

We strongly suggest adding one buffer day. Thorong La closes in bad weather however fit or well acclimatised you are, and an eight-day itinerary has nothing spare to absorb a delay. If your flight home is fixed, build the extra day in when you book.

This itinerary works best for trekkers with a hard limit on leave who still want to cross the pass, for people who have been to altitude before and know how they respond, for walkers already fit from regular hill days, and for anyone who has walked the lower Marsyangdi valley before and would rather spend every day high.

If that does not sound like you, take the extra days. The 10-day Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake adds a 4,919m lake and a stronger acclimatisation build-up, and our longer Annapurna Circuit over Thorong La finishes through Ghorepani and the Poon Hill sunrise.

The following is a solid starting point for most multi-day treks we run. Adjust for the season and the maximum altitude of your specific route. Shorter, lower-altitude hikes need far less than this full list. For the key insulation items (down jacket and four-season sleeping bag) we offer rental in Kathmandu or Pokhara for USD 35 each.

General

Four-season (zero degree) sleeping bag (rental available: USD 35)
Insulated down jacket (rental available: USD 35)
Daypack, 30 to 45 litres, with rain cover
Sleeping bag liner

Head & Face

Sun hat or cap
Beanie or knitted hat for colder mornings and evenings
Buff or neck gaiter
Sunglasses with full UV protection
Headlamp with spare batteries

Upper Body

Technical base layer shirts, two
Technical long-sleeve shirts, two
Fleece or synthetic mid-layer
Waterproof and windproof shell jacket

Lower Body

Hiking pants, two pairs
Technical base-layer leggings for cold mornings
Waterproof or windproof outer shell pants
Comfortable pants for evenings in the teahouse

Hands

Lightweight liner gloves
Insulated outer gloves for high altitude or winter conditions

Feet

Waterproof trekking boots with ankle support, broken in before the trip
Hiking socks, three to five pairs
Liner socks if prone to blisters
Comfortable shoes or sandals for evenings
Microspikes recommended November to March on routes above 4,000m

First Aid & Medications

Personal prescription medications
SPF 50+ sunscreen and SPF lip balm
Blister care, plasters, and antiseptic cream
Electrolyte sachets or tablets
Note: our guides carry a comprehensive group first aid kit with pulse oximeter

Other Essentials

Passport, two passport-sized photos, and photocopies of travel documents
One-litre reusable water bottle or hydration bladder
Trekking poles (strongly recommended)
Small toiletry kit, quick-dry towel, and toilet paper
High-protein snacks for the trail (bars, nuts)
Waterproof dry bag for documents and electronics

We provide a free duffel bag at your pre-trip meeting, used for luggage carried by the porter. The duffel stays yours afterwards.
One porter is assigned per two trekkers. The duffel bag should weigh no more than 10 kg / 22 lbs per person.
Always carry your own daypack with essentials: cash, documents, water, camera, rain gear.
Non-trekking luggage can be stored securely at your hotel in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Down jacket and four-season sleeping bag are available for rent at USD 35 each. Loss or damage reimbursement is USD 100 per item.

Guide & Porter Services

Every trek is led by a government-licensed, English-speaking lead guide who is also trained in first aid and high-altitude emergency response. For groups of seven or more we add an assistant guide. Porters are assigned one per two trekkers, each carrying up to 10 kg of your main luggage so you only carry a daypack. All staff wages, accommodation, meals, gear, and insurance are fully covered in the package price.

Accommodation Bookings

We pre-book every night's accommodation before you start, so you never arrive at a full teahouse during peak season. Nights before and after the trek are in 3-star hotels in Kathmandu or Pokhara with breakfast included. On the trail you stay in tea houses or local lodges on a twin-sharing basis, with the best available rooms in each village. Private rooms and en-suite bathrooms are available where offered, usually at lower altitudes.

Transportation Arrangements

All ground transfers are arranged by private or shared tourist vehicles as specified in the itinerary. Airport pick-up and drop-off are included. Where a domestic flight is required (for example, Kathmandu to Lukla for Everest, or Jomsom to Pokhara for Mustang routes), the round-trip fare is covered in the package. We monitor flight and road conditions daily and adjust logistics proactively when weather or landslides affect the schedule.

Equipment Rental

A four-season sleeping bag and an insulated down jacket can be rented in Kathmandu or Pokhara at USD 35 per item for the duration of the trek. Trekking poles, microspikes, and additional layers are also available on request. We supply a 75-litre duffel bag for you to keep at your pre-trip briefing. A full packing checklist is sent after you book so you can pack with confidence.

Insurance Requirements

Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for every trek we operate. Your policy must explicitly cover trekking at the maximum altitude of your route and include emergency helicopter evacuation, medical treatment, and trip cancellation. Please send us a copy of your policy at least two weeks before departure. We cannot start the trek without confirmation of valid coverage. This is for your safety and ours.

Good to know. Arrive in Pokhara at least one day before departure so there is time for your pre-trip briefing and any last-minute gear hire. We can store spare luggage while you trek.

FAQs for Annapurna Circuit Trek 8 Days

It is the shortest schedule we will run, and only because it keeps a full acclimatisation day at Manang and takes the high route through Ghyaru at 3,730m. If you have never slept above 3,000m, choose a 10-day itinerary instead. No itinerary removes altitude risk, it only manages it, and your guide will turn back with anyone whose symptoms get worse.

The road now reaches Chame, so the first days of the classic route can be driven rather than walked. That is what makes an eight-day Circuit possible. You start walking at 2,670m, high enough that the acclimatisation day at Manang matters.

Plan for nine to eleven hours: four to five hours from Pokhara to Besisahar on tarmac, then four to six hours up to Chame on a rough mountain road in a 4WD. Landslides during and after the monsoon can make it longer.

It is the longest and hardest day of the trek: a pre-dawn start, a steady climb to 5,416m in thin, cold air, then about 1,650m of descent to Muktinath. Expect seven to nine hours from High Camp, or eight to ten from Thorong Phedi. There is no technical climbing, but the altitude and the long descent make it demanding even for fit trekkers.

Yes, we recommend one. Thorong La closes in bad weather regardless of fitness or acclimatisation, and an eight-day itinerary has no slack to absorb a delay. If your international flight is fixed, add a spare day before it.

Not within eight days. The Tilicho detour adds two days and replaces the Manang rest day, which is exactly what our 10-day Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake does. Tell us before you book and we will plan the longer version.

The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the TIMS card. We arrange both in Pokhara before you start. Whether the fees are included depends on your package, and your quote lists it.

We quote this itinerary per departure. Send us your dates and group size on WhatsApp or through the enquiry form, and we will confirm the per-person price and exactly what it includes, in writing.