Annapurna Circuit in Nepal trek allows you to pass through several climatic regions, and the vegetation changes accordingly. You will pass through paddy fields, subtropical forests, glacial zones, and rural farmlands. In the highlands, you might encounter high-altitude animals, such as blue sheep, snow leopards, and yaks. The natural hot springs bring diverse people to enjoy the warm baths together. Similarly, Muktinath Temple, as a sacred site between Hindus and Buddhists, brings two religions together.

Another vital part of Annapurna Circuit trekking is Thorong La Pass (5,416m/17769ft), one of the highest passes in the world. The views from the Thorong La Pass are mind-blowing. The major part of Annapurna Circuit’s difficulty lies in crossing the Thorong La Pass.

The trek starts from Jagat (1,300m/4,265ft) and ends at Dharapani (1,860m/6,200ft) on the second day. The third trek starts from Dharapani to Chame (2,610m/8,890ft) – the headquarters of the Manang district. From the way, you will get to enjoy incredible views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna III. After spending a night at Chame, you will head to Pisang (3,115m/10,200ft), through the trial that lets us see the Paungda Danda Rock face.

The fifth-day journey takes us from Pisang to Manang (3,540m/11,300ft). From the path, you will see Tibetan-style settlements and giant high peaks, including Gangapurna, Tilicho, and Pisang Peak. You will spend a day in Manang acclimatizing and then head to Siri Kharka (4,060m/13,320ft) the next day.

On our eighth day, from Siri Kharka, you will trek to Tilicho Base Camp (4,150m/13,583ft)and spend the night there. The next day will be special as you will reach majestic Tilicho Lake, also called “The Great Ice Lake” itself. From Tilicho Lake, you can enjoy the fantastic views of pristine lake water and superb snow-capped high mountains that are incomparable to anywhere in the world. Tilicho Himal, Annapurna Range, and Nilgiri Himal surround Tilicho Lake as if they are hiding nature’s gems. After reaching Tilicho Lake, you will return to Siri Kharka to spend the night.

The following morning you will wake up at Siri Kharka and start the trek to Yak Kharka (4,060m/13,020ft) – the destination for this day. Yak Kharka is famous for its blue sheep, and if the time is right, you can even see a snow leopard. You will spend a night at Yak Kharka, and on our eleventh day, you will reach Thorong Phedi – a small settlement optimally placed for a successful Thorong La Hi-Pass (5,416 m/17,756 ft) crossing. If the situation is favorable at Thorong Phedi, we might trek to High Camp for the night.

To prepare for the Thorong La Hi-Pass crossing, we wake up very early at Thorong Phedi and push against the icy air and high-altitude fatigue to reachThorong La Pass. From the Thorong La Pass, you will see the Himalayas stretch up north to Tibet and the Annapurna mountains to your south. You will cross the Thorong La Pass and descend to Muktinath(3,760m/12,623ft) – a Buddhist and Hindu holy site. By the time you reach Muktinath, you will be tired, so we will be spending the night at Muktinath.

After a night at Muktinath, we will take local transport to Tatopani (1,200m/3,940ft). On the way, you will pass Jomsom – a bustling market in this region. Tatopani means hot water in Nepali, and at Tatopani, you will get a chance to take a dip in the naturally warm water.