Ultimate Annapurna Circuit: Trek, Bike & Raft - 18 Days
MOUNTAIN BIKING – RAFTING – TREKKING
The Adventure Tour “Ultimate Annapurna” is one of our most exhilarating adventure trips. This tour is a fantastic way to discover Nepal, and gives an exciting mix of adventure and culture.
Immerse yourself in the Nepalese culture and sleep in local teahouses, meet the Thakali families and experience the warm Nepalese hospitality, cross impressive suspension bridges swinging high over rivers and enjoy breathtaking vistas and spectacular views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna South, Mt. Fishtail, Mt. Manaslu, Annapurna II and many other peaks.
The Annapurna trek is one of the most famous high altitude treks in the world. Engaging in a series of different adventurous activities is possibly the most unique way (if not the best!) to do the Annapurna Circuit.
The trip covers:
- Seven days of trek, from Dharapani to Muktinath via Thorong La Pass (5416m),
- Three days of exciting mountain biking from Muktinath to Maldhunga,
- And three days of rafting on the deepest canyon in the world – the Kali Gandaki.
Day 01. WELCOME TO NEPAL | TREK BRIEFING
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our friendly representative will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign displaying your name. He will then drive you to your hotel. At the hotel, you will receive a short pre-departure briefing.
Depending on your time of arrival, you are free to relax or explore the city.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 02. TRAVEL TO DHARAPANI (1960m)
Early in the morning, we will drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar via Dumre by private vehicle. Then, we will drive to Dharapani, starting point of our trek, by local jeep. It will be a very long drive before reaching Dharapani, but we will enjoy our journey and admire the beautiful views from Nepalese villages where we'll stop by along the way.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Dharapani.
Day 03. TREK TO CHAME (2710m) | ≈ 6 hours
Our first trekking day. We will trek from Dharapani to the lovely village of Chame through the beautiful pine forest, following the Marshyangdi river up to the Manang valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Chame.
Day 04. TREK TO UPPER PISANG (3310m) | ≈ 6 hours
We will continue our trek from Chame to Upper Pisang. We will walk through the valley and witness the stunning view of the beautiful Paungda Danda rock face. We will stop for lunch at Dhukur Pokhari before reaching Upper Pisang.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Upper Pisang.
Day 05. TREK TO MANANG (3540m) | ≈ 7 hours
We will continue our trek through the upper part of the Manang District, from Upper Pisang to Manang. The landscape will change and we will see clear panoramic views of the Annapurna range.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Manang.
Day 06. MANANG
The key to a successful trek is a proper acclimatization. Today, we will stay in Manang. Short hike to the Gangapurna Lake and visit of a Buddhist Gompa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Manang.
Day 07. TREK TO YAK KHARKA (4020m) | ≈ 4 hours
We will trek from Manang to Yak Kharka and enter the Jarsang Khola Valley.
Trekking route: Manang up to Tenki village then to Ghunsang and finally Yak Kharka.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Yak Kharka.
Day 08. TREK TO THORONG PHEDI (4540m) | ≈ 3-4 hours
Short hike today (3-4 hours). We will trek from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi via Letdar. The surreal beauty of the path from Letdar to Phedi makes this a great trail to follow. This region is very beautiful. Please do bring your camera, so you can capture some exceptional snapshots. We will rest in the afternoon in order to be ready for tomorrow's challenge: crossing the "Thorong La Pass".
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Thorong Phedi.
Day 09. TREK TO MUKTINATH (3710m) VIA THORONG LA PASS (5416m) | ≈ 8-10 hours
We will cross Thorong La Pass, the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit (5416m) and the most challenging part of our trek. Exceptional vistas on the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs and Mustang high altitude deserts.
Then, we will continue our trek down to Muktinath. Temples and religious shrines are the major attractions of this holy place. Muktinath is an important pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. In Muktinath, if you have the courage to do so, you can follow Hindu devotees and take a holy bath under the 108 chilled fountains (Muktidhara).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Muktinath.
Day 10. MOUNTAIN BIKING TO TUKUCHE (2580m) | Ride distance: 32km
After breakfast, we will first check our bikes and then, we will start our mountain biking journey from Muktinath to Tukuche through a desert-like landscape. We will cross the Lupra valley before reaching the main road to Jomsom. Then, we will continue our ride down to Tukuche, an important Thakali village in Lower Mustang.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Tukuche.
Day 11. MOUNTAIN BIKING TO TATOPANI | Ride distance: 42km
Today, we will continue our descent from Tukuche to Tatopani along the Kali Gandaki, the deepest canyon in the world. We will pass through Kalopani and the beautiful Rupse Chahara waterfall. In the afternoon, we will enjoy Tatopani's natural hot springs. Don't forget to bring your swimsuit!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight in Tatopani.
Day 12. MOUNTAIN BIKING TO MALDHUNGA | Ride distance: 34km
We will be cycling on a mostly flat trail from Tatopani to Maldhunga, starting point of our rafting trip.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight: Camping along the river.
Day 13. KALI GANDAKI RAFTING
Rafting (day 1) on the Kali Gandaki River, the world's deepest canyon:
Before hitting the rapids, we will prepare our rafting equipment and you will receive a briefing about safety procedures and paddling techniques. Then, we will start our rafting adventure. We will hit few famous rapids of Class III and Class IV, including "Big Brother" and "Small Brother". We will set up our camp on the Modi Khola's river bank.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight: Camping along the river.
Day 14. KALI GANDAKI RAFTING
Rafting (day 2) on the Kali Gandaki River, the world's deepest canyon:
After breakfast, we will float down the river and tackle the "Good Morning" rapid and some Class III+ and Class IV rapids. We will set up our camp in Purti Ghat.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Overnight: Camping along the river.
Day 15. KALI GANDAKI RAFTING
Rafting (day 3) on the Kali Gandaki River, the world's deepest canyon:
We will continue our rafting trip towards Seti Beni. We will pass black rocks worshipped by Hindus as the manifestation of Lord Vishnu (Shaligram). We will end our rafting trip in Mirmi. From Mirmi, we will head to Pokhara by bus.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
Overnight in Pokhara.
Day 16. FREE DAY IN POKHARA
We kept this additional day as a contingency day in case of unforeseen circumstances. If everything goes well, then you will have some free time to rest, do some shopping or visit Pokhara.
Meals: Breakfast.
Overnight in Pokhara.
Day 17. KATHMANDU
Meals: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner.
Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 18. DEPARTURE
After a fun-filled trip, our journey ends. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed your trip. We will take you to the Tribhuvan International Airport. If you have time and would like to extend your stay in Nepal, we would be happy to offer our recommendations.
Meals: Breakfast.
This itinerary is intended to be a guideline; local conditions and weather may necessitate slight itinerary variations. The mountain weather in Nepal is always unpredictable. We strongly advise allowing 1 to 2 contingency days in case of bad weather.
- Rucksack.
- Swimsuits.
- Outdoor clothing: Outdoor clothing should be tough and comfortable. Wearing several thin layers is better than a few thick layers. Jeans should not be worn, as they are slow to dry, clinging and cold.
- Mountaineering / trekking boots.
- Sport sandals.
- Gaiters.
- Crampons.
- Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder with Water Purification Tablets. We recommend LifeStraw, an advanced water filter bottle.
- Daypack.
- Trekking Pants & Shorts.
- Down jacket.
- Gloves.
- Padded cycling gloves.
- Elbow and knee pads.
- Scarf.
- Sun hat and knit cap.
- Sunglasses.
- Trekking poles.
- Sunscreen.
- Flashlight.
- Wash kit and towel.
- Sleeping bag.
- Camera.
- 1 waterproof jacket. Check the weather forecast before you go.
- Medicine (in particular, diarrhea medication): Isotonic Powder/ Basic First Aid Kit/ Diamox/ Oximeter / Ibuprofen for general aches and pains/ Imodium or Pepto Bismol capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea.
- Copies of important documents (passport, vaccination certificates, travel insurance) & extra passport photos.
- Padlocks.
- Power adapters.
- Little trash bags to carry your waste during your trek.
*This list is not exhaustive.
What’s included
- Pre-departure support.
- Airport pick-up & drop-off.
- All ground transportation as mentioned in the itinerary.
- All activities as mentioned in the itinerary with a professional trekking guide, professional rafting guides and a professional mountain biking guide/ mechanic.
- Porter service (2 members: 1 porter) during the trekking and mountain biking period.
- Mountain bike hire and helmet on Days 10, 11 & 12.
- Quality rafting and kayaking equipment, including boats, kayaks, helmets, paddles, PFDs, dry bags and Pelican boxes.
- Conservation entrance fees.
- Accommodation on twin sharing basis: 3-Star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, tea houses during the trek and mountain biking trip, and camping during rafting.
- For camping (rafting trip): all necessary facilities including tents, shelters, mats and sleeping bags, etc.
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary.
- All necessary permits.
- First aid kit/s carried by your leader including a pulse oximeter to monitor your oxygen during your trek.
- Little trash bags to carry your waste during your trek.
- Farewell dinner.
- All government taxes, VAT and service charges.
What’s NOT included
- International flights and domestic flights.
- Tips for guides & others.
- Mountain bike damages.
- Personal expenditures, all bar bills, laundry, telephone calls.
- Medical examination (if required) & vaccination costs.
- Optional trips.
- Visa fees & Travel insurance.
- Anything else not specified in the ‘what’s included’ section above.
Accommodation:
- Kathmandu (2 nights): Carefully selected 3-Star hotel.
- Pokhara (2 nights): Carefully selected 3-Star hotel.
- During trekking and mountain biking (From Day 02 to Day 11): Local tea houses. The rooms in the tea houses (or guest houses) on the Annapurna Circuit are fairly basic; the quality varies and the comfort becomes more rudimentary as you ascend in altitude. Hot water for showers are sometimes available at an additional cost. At high altitude, hot showers often mean a bucket of warm water. Most of the tea houses have basic access to electricity (power outages are common at high altitudes) and WiFi is not always available (you'll have to pay a fee to have access to the WiFi and plug your devices). The rooms do not have heaters; bring a sleeping bag with you for the nights at high altitudes. Toilets (often squat toilets) are most of the time outside the rooms; tea houses do not always provide toilet paper (at least, not for free); do not forget to bring a couple of rolls with you.
- During rafting (From Day 12 to Day 14): Camping.
Meals:
- Day 1: N/A.
- Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 6: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 7: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 8: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 9: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 10: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 11: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 12: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 13: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 14: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
- Day 15: Breakfast & Lunch.
- Day 16: Breakfast.
- Day 17: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner.
- Day 18: Breakfast.
Excellent level of fitness and passion for adventure.
We require at least a minimum of 6 travelers for this adventure tour.
You are required as a condition of booking to have an adequate travel insurance.
Please note: Before your arrival, we will send you a complete detailed brochure regarding Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and how to prevent it. Please read this brochure carefully.
Our local trekking guides are highly experienced in preventing, recognizing and treating altitude sickness. They will monitor your health closely during your trek. A proper acclimatization is not only essential but also a necessary life-saving measure.
