Thorong La Pass Trek

Thorong La Pass Trek Overview

The classic 14-day Thorong La Pass Trek, also commonly known as the Annapurna Circuit, traverses the 5416-meter-high mountain pass of Thorong La and is a unique trek that has long been so popular amongst trekkers. The Annapurna region is considered to be one of the world’s great treks. The Annapurna Mountain range of central Nepal has a total length of the route that varies between 160 and 230 km (100-145 mi), depending on where the motor transportation is used and where the trek ends. The trek rises to an altitude of 5,416 m on the Thorong La pass, touching the edge of the Tibetan plateau. The Annapurna Circuit trek route crosses two different river valleys and encircles the Annapurna massif, crossing Thorung La Pass (5416 m), the highest pass on this trail. Basically, all trekkers hike the route counterclockwise, as then the daily altitude gain is slower, and crossing the high Thorong La pass is easier and safer.

The mountain scenery, seen at close quarters, includes the Annapurna Massif (Annapurna I-IV), Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Gangapurna (7455 m), and Tilicho Peak (7134 m). Numerous peaks of 6000-8000m in elevation rise from the Annapurna range. Now in recent years, the trek starts from Dharapani in the Marshyangdi River valley and concludes in the Kali Gandaki River valley. Besisahar can be reached after a seven-hour drive from Kathmandu. And jeep rides to Dharapani or Chame are available in the dry season, and taking a jeep from Besishahar to Chame shortens the trip so this trek can be done within 10 days if you are a good walker in the mountains. The trail passes along paddy fields and into subtropical forests, several waterfalls, gigantic cliffs, and various villages.

Thorong La Pass, aka the Annapurna Circuit, has often been voted as the best long-distance trek in the world, as it combined, in its old full form, a wide variety of climate zones from the tropics at 600 m asl to the arctic at 5416 m asl at the Thorong La Pass and cultural variety from Hindu villages in the low foothills to the Tibetan culture of Himalayan Manang Valley and lower Mustang. Continuing construction of a road has greatly shortened the trail and altered the feel of the villages, so the "best trek in the world" cannot be said to hold true anymore, but one can still fully enjoy this trip.

The Annapurna area was opened to foreign trekkers in 1977 after the disputes between CIA-backed Khampa guerrillas operating from the area into Tibet and the local populace and the Nepal army were settled. The original Thorong La Pass trekking started from the market town of Dumre, situated on the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway, and ended in Pokhara and took about 23 days to complete. Road construction started in the early eighties, both from Dhumre to the north and from Pokhara to the west and then up the Kali Gandaki Valley. The road has now reached Chamje in the Marsyangdi River valley and Muktinath on the Kali Gandaki side. This means that out of the original 23 days, only 5 walking days of the trek are still without a motor road. There will be a road around the whole Annapurna Massif before 2017. In places, new trails and routes have been marked so that the road can be partly avoided. The existence of the road has nevertheless totally changed the area and the appearance and the atmosphere of the villages. Please note that this Annapurna circuit trekking itinerary is only for guidelines, so this trip can be personalized as per your requirements.