Annapurna Circuit Trek (Self-Launched)
15 days · Nepal
White Hill Adventure Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd charges £1,100
No-markup version: ~£397 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 15-day Annapurna Circuit from Kathmandu to Pokhara. You follow exactly the same route as the guided operator — Besisahar, Jagat, Dharapani, Chame, Pisang, Manang, Yak Kharka, Thorong High Camp, over Thorong La Pass (5,416m), Muktinath, Jomsom, Marpha, Lete, Tatopani, Ghorepani and Poon Hill — but independently, staying in the same network of teahouses, buying your own permits (ACAP + TIMS), and taking local buses and shared jeeps instead of a private vehicle. Figures are rough per-person estimates in GBP at typical 2026 backpacker rates; costs vary with season, bargaining and how much you splurge on hot showers, wifi and apple pie.
Day-by-day
Kathmandu to Besisahar to Nagdi Village
Besisahar / Nagdi
Sort your permits in Kathmandu first: ACAP (about £25/NPR 3,000) and TIMS card (about £8/NPR 1,000) from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Bhrikutimandap — bring passport photos. Then take an early tourist bus from Kathmandu's Kantipath/Sorhakhutte area to Besisahar (about 5-6 hours, roughly £6-8), usually departing 07:00. From Besisahar take a shared jeep a short way up the road and walk 1.5-2 hours to Nagdi village (about £2 for the jeep). Overnight in a basic teahouse.
🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu-Besisahar (~£7) + shared jeep (~£2)
🛏Teahouse in Nagdi (twin room, shared bathroom)
- →Kathmandu permit office visit
- →Bus to Besisahar
- →Walk to Nagdi village
Nagdi to Jagat
Jagat
Trek to Bahun Danda, then descend to Syange along the Marsyangdi River and continue to Jagat village. About 6-7 hours walking on a mix of road and trail. Dal bhat (unlimited refills) is the value meal of choice at ~£3-4.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse in Jagat
- →Trek Nagdi to Bahun Danda
- →Descend to Syange
- →Trek to Jagat
Jagat to Dharapani
Dharapani
Walk to Chamje, cross the Marsyangdi to the eastern bank, head through forest to Tal Besi and on to Dharapani. Roughly 6 hours. First big views of the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges open up.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse in Dharapani
- →Trek Jagat-Chamje-Tal-Dharapani
- →River crossings and forest sections
Dharapani to Chame
Chame
A long day (7-8 hours) via Bagarchap, Danque, Timang and Koto to Chame, the district headquarters of Manang. Mt Manaslu dominates much of the walk. Teahouses in Chame are comfortable with hot showers (small extra charge).
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse in Chame
- →Trek via Bagarchap, Danque, Timang, Koto
- →Manaslu views
Chame to Lower Pisang
Pisang
Climb through alpine forest along the Marsyangdi to Bhratang, then up through woodland with lunch at Dukuri Pokhari (a lake viewpoint) before dropping to Lower Pisang. About 6 hours. Annapurna II, III and Gangapurna come into view.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse in Lower Pisang
- →Marsyangdi valley walk
- →Lunch at Dukuri Pokhari
- →Mountain viewpoints
Pisang to Manang
Manang
Take the high route via Hongde if you feel good (better views), or the lower route if not. Visit the 500-year-old Braga Monastery with its old thangkas (small donation), then continue to Manang village. About 5 hours — deliberately easy ahead of acclimatisation day.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse or guesthouse in Manang
- →High or low route from Pisang
- →Visit Braga Monastery
- →Arrive Manang
Manang acclimatisation day
Manang
Rest day to help acclimatise — essential before the pass. Wander the village, walk to the glacial lake (about 2-3 hours round trip), or tackle the steep optional hike to Ice Lake (4,600m, 4-5 hours) for a proper altitude test. Manang has bakeries, a small hospital and good coffee; use the day to stock up on snacks for the pass.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse or guesthouse in Manang
- →Explore Manang village
- →Manang glacial lake walk
- →Optional Ice Lake hike
- →Snack and supply shopping
Manang to Yak Kharka
Yak Kharka
A short 4-hour day via Ghunsang, climbing steadily to Yak Kharka with a stream crossing near the end. Keep the pace gentle and drink plenty of water — you're above 4,000m tomorrow.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse in Yak Kharka
- →Trek Manang-Ghunsang-Yak Kharka
Yak Kharka to Thorong High Camp
Thorong Phedi / High Camp
Trek along the riverbank to Thorong Phedi, then the steep climb to High Camp (4,850m). High Camp puts you 700m closer to the pass — worth it if you slept OK the previous night. Ask your teahouse owner about a 4:30-5:00am start tomorrow; most people walk in the dark to reach the pass before the wind picks up. Buffet dinner and early night.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse at Thorong High Camp (very basic, dorm-style common)
- →Trek to Thorong Phedi
- →Steep climb to High Camp
Thorong High Camp over Thorong La to Muktinath
Muktinath
The big day. Leave by 5am with a headtorch, climb slowly to Thorong La Pass (5,416m) in about 3-4 hours, then descend a long 1,600m to Muktinath (about 3 hours more). Watch for AMS symptoms — headache, nausea, dizziness — and turn around if they worsen. In Muktinath, visit the temple complex. The famous Bob Marley Hotel mentioned by past travellers is a good-value option with hot showers and apple pie.
🚌On foot
🛏Guesthouse in Muktinath (e.g. Bob Marley Hotel or similar)
- →Sunrise ascent to Thorong La Pass (5,416m)
- →Descend to Muktinath
- →Muktinath temple visit
Muktinath to Marpha
Marpha
Descend the Kaligandaki valley — the world's deepest gorge — via Jomsom and on to Marpha, an attractive whitewashed Thakali village (about 6 hours). Alternatively, hitching or a shared jeep from Muktinath to Jomsom is cheap (~£2-3) if the knees need a break. Try Marpha's famous apple brandy, cider and dried apples in the evening.
🚌On foot (optional shared jeep Muktinath-Jomsom)
🛏Thakali guesthouse in Marpha
- →Kaligandaki gorge walk
- →Jomsom town
- →Apple product tasting in Marpha
Marpha to Lete
Lete
Walk through rhododendron forest via Tukuche and Kalapani to Lete village, roughly 6-7 hours. Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri frame the whole day. You can shortcut by taking local/wild jeeps along the road for stretches (~£3-6) if you want an easier day.
🚌On foot (optional local jeeps on road stretches)
🛏Teahouse in Lete
- →Rhododendron forest trek
- →Tukuche village
- →Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri views
Lete to Tatopani
Tatopani
Long day (7 hours) between the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges via Ghasa to Tatopani. Many trekkers now take a local jeep for the road stretches here — perfectly acceptable and cheap (~£4-7). End the day soaking in Tatopani's natural hot spring pools (small entry fee).
🚌On foot (optional local jeep ~£5)
🛏Teahouse in Tatopani
- →Trek through Ghasa
- →Kaligandaki valley
- →Hot springs at Tatopani
Tatopani to Ghorepani
Ghorepani
Tough climbing day: cross the Kaligandaki bridge, then up terraced hillsides via Chitre to Ghorepani (about 7 hours, plenty of stone steps). Arrive before dark, get an early dinner, and set your alarm for the Poon Hill sunrise.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse in Ghorepani
- →Bridge over Kaligandaki
- →Climb through terraces and forest to Chitre
- →Arrive Ghorepani
Poon Hill sunrise, descend to Pokhara
Pokhara
Pre-dawn hike (about 45 minutes) to Poon Hill for sunrise over Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and the whole range — the classic photo of the trek. Descend via rhododendron forest, Ulleri's steep steps and Tirkhedhunga, then through villages to Nayapul. Shared jeep or local bus from Nayapul to Pokhara takes about 1-1.5 hours (~£2-3). Finish on Lakeside with a cold drink; you can check out of the circuit with a Pokhara guesthouse room from ~£10-15.
🚌On foot + shared jeep/bus Nayapul-Pokhara (~£3)
🛏Guesthouse on Lakeside, Pokhara
- →Poon Hill sunrise
- →Descend via Ulleri and Tirkhedhunga
- →Jeep to Pokhara
Self-launched vs. White Hill Adventure Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | White Hill Adventure Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£397 | £1,100 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £703 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more White Hill Adventure Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£397
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Annapurna Circuit Trek (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £397 per person for 15 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with White Hill Adventure Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd?+
Yes — White Hill Adventure Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd charges around £1,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £397 — a saving of roughly £703 (64%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, budget trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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