Annapurna Circuit Yoga Trek

Duration: 10–14 days
Max altitude: 5,416 m (Thorong La)
Difficulty: Challenging
Best season: Mar–May, Sep–Nov (pass weather-dependent)
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What is the Annapurna Circuit Yoga Trek?

The Annapurna Circuit yoga trek is a 10–14-day guided journey around the Annapurna massif that crosses the Thorong La pass at 5,416 metres, with daily yoga and meditation woven into the walking days. The route climbs the Marsyangdi valley through Chame, Pisang, and Manang, rests for acclimatization among the monasteries of the Manang valley, then crosses the pass to Muktinath, a site sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

This is the most complete journey in the Annapurna region: alpine forest, high desert, a 500-year-old monastery at Braga, and one honest, hard pass morning. The practice schedule is built around the altitude profile, which is why the circuit suits experienced walkers who want their strongest trek to also be their deepest practice.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day	What happens
Day 1	Kathmandu or Pokhara to Chame. Drive to Besisahar, then by shared jeep up the Marsyangdi valley to Chame (2,710 m), the Manang district headquarters. Evening arrival practice.
Day 2	Chame to Upper Pisang. Pine forest and the huge Paungda Danda rock face on the way to Upper Pisang (3,300 m). Restorative session overlooking Annapurna II.
Day 3	Upper Pisang to Braga via Ngawal. The high route through Ghyaru and Ngawal, with some of the circuit's best views, down to Braga (3,470 m) beneath its cliff-side monastery.
Day 4	Braga monastery and on to Manang. Morning visit and guided meditation at Braga's roughly 500-year-old gompa, then the short walk to Manang (3,540 m).
Day 5	Acclimatization day in Manang. Rest day with an optional high walk toward Ice Lake or the Gangapurna viewpoint. Climb high, sleep low; afternoon pranayama session.
Day 6	Manang to Yak Kharka. A short, deliberate day to Yak Kharka (4,050 m). Gentle mobility practice only; the schedule protects your energy now.
Day 7	Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi. Steady climbing to Thorong Phedi (4,540 m) at the foot of the pass. Early dinner, kit check, and an early night.
Day 8	Thorong La to Muktinath. Pre-dawn start for the pass (5,416 m): slow, spaced, and watched by your guide. Short summit meditation, then the long descent to Muktinath (3,800 m).
Day 9	Muktinath. Rest morning at the temple complex sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, with an unhurried practice session and time among the shrines.
Day 10	Muktinath to Jomsom. Downhill through the wind-carved Kali Gandaki valley to Jomsom (2,720 m). Closing evening practice.
Day 11	Jomsom to Pokhara. Morning flight or drive to Pokhara and the return to Lakeside.
Day 12	Buffer day. A spare day held for pass weather or flight delays. If unused, it becomes a free day in Pokhara.

This is the typical shape of the route. Exact days vary by departure; each bookable listing shows its final itinerary before you request dates.

How hard is it, and how high?

This route is graded challenging and tops out at 5,416 m (Thorong La). Reasonable fitness and a little preparation go a long way.

Altitude & safety

Thorong La (5,416 metres) is serious altitude, and the circuit treats it that way. The itinerary holds a full acclimatization day in Manang (3,540 metres), caps sleeping-altitude gains through Yak Kharka and Thorong Phedi, and crosses the pass in a single early morning before descending 1,600 metres to Muktinath. Guides carry a pulse oximeter, watch every walker daily, and hold or turn the group if symptoms or weather demand it. Insurance must cover trekking to 5,416 metres with helicopter evacuation.

What fitness do you need?

Can you walk six to eight hours a day, day after day, for close to two weeks?
Have you handled multi-day hill walking or a previous trek above 3,000 metres comfortably?
Can you manage one very long day: a 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. start, roughly 1,000 metres of climbing, and a long knee-testing descent?
Do you have no heart, lung, or blood-pressure condition that a doctor has flagged for altitude?
Are you willing to take an extra rest day mid-route if your guide judges you need one?

Train for eight to twelve weeks: weekly long walks with height gain, back-to-back walking weekends, and steady cardio. The circuit rewards endurance built slowly; nothing about it requires speed.

How is altitude managed?

The route earns its altitude gradually: roughly a week of walking separates the trailhead from the pass, sleeping gains above 3,000 metres are kept moderate, and Manang (3,540 metres) holds a dedicated acclimatization day with an optional high walk. Thorong La itself is crossed on a same-day push from Thorong Phedi (4,540 metres), so the highest point is never a sleeping altitude.

Everyone on the trail should know the early signs of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Tell your guide as soon as you notice any of them. The safe response is to stop climbing, rest, and descend if they do not settle:

A headache that does not ease with rest and water
Nausea or a loss of appetite
Dizziness or light-headedness
Unusual tiredness or weakness on easy ground
Broken or difficult sleep
Feeling more breathless than the effort warrants

How acclimatization schedules work, what AMS symptoms mean, and what breath work can and cannot do for you: our guide to altitude on yoga treks covers every route's numbers in one place.

For the full picture, read our month-by-month season guide and the deposit-after-confirmation booking model.

What the yoga is actually like

Practice follows the altitude profile. Below Manang the mornings are full sessions; above 3,500 metres they shorten into mobility and breath work, because that is what the body can honestly use. The still points are deliberate: guided meditation inside Braga monastery, a short silent sit on Thorong La, and an unhurried closing practice at Muktinath among the shrines.

When to go

Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the two safe windows, and October–November gives the most stable pass weather. Thorong La is the gatekeeper: fresh snow can close it in any month, and winter crossings are for mountaineers, not retreat groups. Monsoon reaches the lower Marsyangdi valley with rain and leeches, though the trans-Himalayan stretch past Manang sits in rain shadow.

What to pack

Four-season layering: base layers, fleece, down jacket, and a windproof shell
A warm sleeping-bag liner plus a cold-rated bag for high camps
Broken-in trekking boots and spare trail socks
Head torch with spare batteries for the pass morning
Sun hat, glacier-rated sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen
Refillable water bottles and purification tablets or a filter
A light daypack; your yoga mat and duffel are usually carried for you
Warm hat, insulated gloves, and a buff for wind on the pass
Personal first-aid basics and any regular medication

The full layer system, what operators provide, and the leave-at-home list live in our guide to what to pack for a yoga trek.

Which trek should you pick?

The circuit asks roughly twice the commitment of the Annapurna Base Camp yoga trek: more days, more altitude, and one genuinely hard morning. Choose Base Camp if 7–11 days and 4,130 metres already stretch your calendar or your fitness; choose the circuit if you want a full crossing, the Manang monasteries, and Thorong La as the summit of your practice rather than just your trek.

Booking & FAQs

Do I need trekking experience for the circuit?

Strongly recommended. A previous multi-day trek, ideally above 3,000 metres, tells you how your body handles altitude before you commit to a 5,416-metre pass. First-time trekkers are better served by Poon Hill or Mardi Himal.

What happens if Thorong La is closed by snow?

Safety decides. The itinerary carries a buffer day to wait out weather; if the pass stays shut, your guide reroutes or turns the group back down the Manang side. If an operator has to cancel a departure, your deposit is refunded in full.

How are the walking days at altitude structured?

Short and deliberate. Above Manang the itinerary moves 500 metres or less of sleeping altitude per day, with the pass crossed on a same-day push so you never sleep at the maximum height. The acclimatization day in Manang is fixed, not optional.

Are permits, guide, and porters included?

Yes. ACAP and TIMS permits, a licensed guide, and porterage are arranged by the verified operator, and each listing shows exactly what the price covers. Insurance to 5,416 metres with helicopter evacuation is the one thing you must bring yourself.

Can I join solo?

Yes. Departures are small groups, so solo travellers are common and welcome, and the shared pass morning bonds a group quickly. Private departures can be requested.