Annapurna Circuit Trek with Upper Mustang Trek – 22 Days

Annapurna Circuit Trek with Upper Mustang trek takes you on a journey in the classic trails of the Annapurna Region. Annapurna Region also take you to the remote and isolated Hidden Kingdom of Lo Manthang, Upper Mustang. A perfect blend of popular and remote trekking experiences. The trail traverses through various ranges of altitude and microclimates, from sub-tropical wet hill forests to high alpine wilderness and dry arid semi-deserted landscapes, capturing your imagination.

Annapurna Circuit Trek with Upper Mustang is a perfect fusion of nature and culture. Visiting the place just might leave a right kind of mark on your soul. A big territory, with very few inhabitants surrounded by nature, in the middle of a wild and unspoiled landscape where generations live side by side sharing work and harvest. Explore the culture and lifestyle of communities of rare beauty, great strength, and extreme fragility.

Annapurna Circuit with Upper Mustang trek takes you on two different trekking routes of Annapurna. Annapurna Circuit and Upper Mustang traverse through the mysterious deep and rich wilderness, arid landscapes, high mountain pass, and numbers of deep Georges, ancient temples and monasteries, medieval settlements where stories of every destination come to life. The world races forward, erasing traditions and cultures at an alarming rate. But here, in this unique haven, time seems to stand still.

Annapurna Circuit with Upper Mustang journey begins with a drive from Kathmandu to the settlement of Dharapani. Dharapani is the starting point of your trek, from here you’ll be passing toward the village of Manang. After an acclimation day at the village of Manang, you’ll be heading towards high Himalayan pasture lands known as Kharka. From Kharka you’ll cross a high Himalayan pass of Thorang La pass at an altitude of 5416m. It offers an astonishing view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range and dry landscapes stretching for miles.

The challenging Thorang La pass awaits. Once you conquer this mountain passage, you’ll descend to Kagbeni via Muktinath. From there, your trek continues towards Upper Mustang, where the ancient village of Lo-Manthang awaits. Nicknamed “Little Tibet,” Lo-Manthang boasts a population with deep Tibetan roots. Their ancestry and culture reflect this heritage, with strong Tibetan influences in both language and customs.

Furthermore, after exploring the hidden kingdom of Lo-Manthang head back to Jomsom and catch a flight back to Pokhara. From Pokhara towards Kathmandu bringing back memories and sharing the experience with people.

Entry and Permits

The following permits are required for trekking to the Upper Mustang region:

• Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit for all foreigners: US $500 per person for the first 10 days and US $50 per person per day thereafter.
• ACAP entry permit fee for foreigners: 3,000 NPR (Approx. US $30)
• ACAP entry permit fee for SAARC nationals: 200 NPR

Note: All the trekking permits are handled by the Alpine Club of Himalaya. 

Preparation for Annapurna Circuit with Upper Mustang trek

In brief, the trail to Annapurna Circuit with Upper Mustang trek is dramatically harsh and brutal with lush, rich deep wilderness, high cliffs and dry mountain terrains which is why trekkers need to be more prepared. Besides, from weather to accommodation and physical fitness, they must take care of everything in advance.

In fact, it has one of the toughest trek routes filled with dry arid, rocks and sand and the trails to high sheer cliffs, high mountain passes and barren land with mountain climate which makes it tuff and exhausting to walk.

Thus, you must have strong physical and mental fitness, to withstand the difficulties in the trekking. In addition, train your body hard enough so that it can resist the pressure and frequently changing terrains. Therefore, following an intense fitness regimen and strict diet to improve physical stamina.

Travel Insurance:

All clients engaging in any activity must have smart travel insurance or emergency evacuation insurance. Alpine Club of Himalaya highly suggest you to obtain a comprehensive insurance plan from a reliable insurance firm that covers emergency evacuation insurance in high altitudes, personal injury, hospital expenditures, repatriation fees, helicopter rescue, and any other misfortune.

Passport and Visa:

Each client must be issued a valid visa with a six-month validity from the date of return by the Nepalese embassy in your country or the immigration office at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Meals and drinking water:

Along the Annapurna Region Trek, you’ll be provided with various Nepali, Tibetan ethnic cuisines and varieties of continental as well as western meals. Local inhabitants run a number of tea-houses along the trail, offering basic to luxury facilities. These tea-houses provide trekkers with the opportunity to taste various cuisines, something missing from most trekking trails in Nepal.

Annapurna Region is a plastic-free zone and has banned the use of bottled Mineral Water. The trek offers easy access to natural water sources from taps along the trail. However, this water is untreated, so drinking directly is not recommended. Instead, you can refill your water bottle with boiled or cold, filtered water from any of teahouses on the trail.

If you buy a water purification tablet, chlorine drops or utilize SODIS (sunlight assisted) filtration procedures for further assurance, saving money, and reducing plastic pollution.

Accommodation:

Tourist-friendly hotels, lodges, and local accommodations are available on trekking trails and, providing with basic accommodation to luxury and grandeur ones. Luxury hotel and teahouse are situated along the trail that suits your budgets providing comfortable beds with a pillow, electric blankets, hot and cold shower, free WIFI and many more.

Teahouse along Annapurna region provides you with hot shower, western attached bathrooms and the rooms mostly include twin sharing beds as well as a single bed, with hygienic and clean atmosphere, good mattresses, a pillow and blankets.

Campsites are also available along the trail providing a special opportunity for campers to sleep under the stars.

 Best Time to Visit?

The best season for trekking to Annapurna Region is during the season of autumn and spring.

The months of September, October, November, March, April, and May are the best time to visit. These months are better in terms of visibility and climate conditions.

Autumn season, the months of September, October, and November are one of the best times for trekking. As the weather is clear bringing great visibility of the endless mountain ranges and lush green forest with warm temperatures, the nights are clear and is a perfect opportunity for stargazing.

The spring season of March, April, and May is also the best time to visit the Annapurna Region, the end of the winter season brings a  change in the region, varieties of colorful blooming trees of the sub-alpine forest, high green pasture lands covered with wildflowers, mild temperatures, and clear weather. In this season you’ll witness herds of sheep and yaks grazing in the green high lands.

Monsoon season is not favorable as the weather gets harsh and it’s hard to get around the country, with frequent rainstorms and landslides. So monsoon season is mostly avoided by trekkers.

Winter season, Annapurna Region receives high snowfall covering most of trails and making it impossible to travel in this reason.