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Trekking / Hiking in Annapurna CircuitNP
The classic Himalayan circuit over the 5,416m Thorong La, from subtropical valleys to the edge of the Tibetan plateau.
Why here
The Annapurna Circuit crosses Thorong La at 5,416m on its way from subtropical river valleys to the Tibetan-plateau edge of Mustang, the greatest ecological transect in trekking. Honesty requires the modern framing: road construction has touched much of the original route, and the road-free heart is now the high section around the pass, Manang to Muktinath, joined by the waymarked NATT trails that restore mostly road-free walking for those who choose them. Framed that way, a ten-to-fourteen-day NATT-plus-Thorong-La trek remains world class, cheaper and more accessible than Khumbu, with no flight required and teahouses the whole way. The pass day, 1,000 meters up and 1,600 down at altitude, is the exam.
Best months
March-April and October-November; Thorong La is snow-blocked in winter and cloud-wrapped in monsoon. The no-solo rule is enforced most strictly in Annapurna, with checkpoints at the trailheads: a licensed guide through a registered agency is mandatory. The ACAP conservation permit is the paperwork.
Getting there & around
Drive from Kathmandu or Pokhara to the roadhead; no flights involved. Ask specifically for NATT routing to stay off the road. Jeeps can shorten the exit from Muktinath through Jomsom.
Skill levels: intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
3 Sisters Adventure Trekking
OutfitterPokhara agency founded in 1994 by the Chhetri sisters, women-owned and training female guides through its nonprofit, running Annapurna treks for three decades.
Alpine Eco Trek
OutfitterLicensed Kathmandu agency selling the NATT road-free Annapurna Circuit routing explicitly, with licensed guides and permit handling.