The Short Annapurna Circuit Trek - 10 Days is the quickest trek in the Annapurna Circuit, which follows a traditional Annapurna Circuit trek route starting from Dharapani and ending in Jomsom after crossing Thorong La Pass at the height of 5,416 meters. Trekking cross through Chame, Pisang, Manang, Yak Kharka, Thorong Phedi, Muktinath and Jomsom where transportation is provided from Kathmandu to Dharapani and Jomsom to Pokhara. The itinerary includes one acclimatization day in Manang at an altitude of 3,540 meters and involves walking along the changing scenery of the Marsyangdi Valley and Mustang.
Trip Highlights
- Drive from Kathmandu through Besisahar to Dharapani, skipping lower road-walking days and entering the Marsyangdi Valley.
- Hike the main trekking trail from Dharapani to Chame at 2,670 m, where the terrain takes on a more serious Himalayan feel.
- Walk through Chame, Pisang and Manang, seeing the scenery turn progressively drier as you near the high-altitude valley.
- Spend a dedicated acclimatization day in Manang at 3,540 m before heading towards the 5,000 m region.
- Trekking above 4,000 m through Yak Kharka and Ledar opens up a more exposed, alpine landscape.
- Sleep at Thorong Phedi at 4,420 m, after what is sure to be the most challenging day of your 10-day itinerary.
- Cross the Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m, the highest point on your hike and the true test of the Short Annapurna Circuit.
- You'll finish your long descent from the pass at Muktinath, a holy place for both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims at 3,800 m.
- Continuing on through Jhong and Kagbeni to Jomsom, you'll see the dry Mustang landscape stretch out before you.
- Complete your high-altitude trekking itinerary with a side benefit of seeing the contrasting greenery of the Marsyangdi Valley and the trans-Himalayan dryness of Mustang in a single compact route.
Short Annapurna Circuit Trek 10 Days Overview
The Short Annapurna Circuit Trek 10 Days is the itinerary of Mountain Rock Treks that drives you to Dharapani on Day 1, walks you through the main mountain section, reaches the 5,416 m altitude of Thorong La, and ends in a long road transfer from Jomsom to Pokhara on Day 10.
We do not pretend it is the full classic Circuit; instead, we run our own time-limited version that omits some of the lower road-access areas and instead focuses on trekking Dharapani to Chame, to Pisang to Manang to Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi to Muktinath, then on to Kagbeni, and finally Jomsom. We sleep in Manang at 3,540 m, on Day 5 spend the day there acclimatising, then walk to approx. 4,040 m at Yak Kharka and up to 4,420 m at Thorong Phedi, before walking over the pass.
We include an acclimation day in Manang and avoid selling a 9-day package that sounds better (and is easier to sell) but is not responsibly sustainable from a health perspective.
The two most significant committed trekking times on our programme are measured in length: between 7 and 8 hours from Thorong Phedi to Muktinath on Day 8 and between 6 and 8 hours from Muktinath to Jomsom on Day 9, respectively. The other days' treks run between 4 and 5 hours. They should therefore only be undertaken by people who are realistic about training adequately for sustained, full days of trekking in the mountains, especially if they know that these two days on either side of the pass could involve consecutive long treks. In terms of accountability, one of our trekking guides is named.
Jit Kumar Nachhiring started his career as a porter before earning his government trek and climbing guide qualifications, and he has been working with Mountain Rock Treks since 2020. The Annapurna Circuit is listed in the National Trekking Routes of the Nepal Tourism Board, which currently requires guides working this trek to be licensed.
We are accountable in two other named areas. As detailed in our published package specifications, your departure will be guaranteed irrespective of the number of participants once the trek is confirmed, and we offer unlimited deferrals of your booking for a future date in accordance with our policy. And, we do not guarantee passage over the Thorong La Pass. If conditions make crossing it unsafe – be it because of the weather, snow, road disruptions or your physical altitude fitness - we will modify the route rather than push a trekking guest towards danger simply to meet the demands of the advertised route.
Why Choose Mountain Rock Treks for the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek?
We have been operating in the adventure travel sector since 2011, and our tourism license is public: 94028/2068/2069. That being said, for the 10-day hiking tour, it is essential to mention that our experience in the local adventure industry makes us a good fit for the task. We understand that the Short Annapurna Circuit trek is not just a sightseeing expedition, as you have to reach an altitude of 3,540 m in Manang and 5,416 m in Thorong La.
Our staff members are also experienced. Our Managing Director, Dipak Pande, started his career as a porter, guide, and team leader. Ramesh Thapa Magar has been in the trekking business since 2012 and is trained as a trekking guide by the Government of Nepal and a first-aid provider by the Nepal Red Cross. Jit Kumar Nachiring began his career as a porter, progressed to a trekking and climbing guide, and has been a part of our team since 2020.
We have no issues with flexible planning. As mentioned in our Short Annapurna Circuit package, we guarantee a trek on a daily basis regardless of the group size once booked. Moreover, we provide a limitless deferral of the booking under our published terms and conditions. We will not force you to continue the trek if the client, under the influence of weather, road, or personal circumstances, cannot proceed. We believe that reaching the summit of Thorong La pass is not more important than personal safety.
Finally, our porter policy covers personal welfare and safety during the expedition as we believe they are a part of the team, not just employees.
Is 10 Days Enough for the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
Yes, 10 days is enough to complete the core experience of the Annapurna Circuit, but not enough to complete the full classic route at a leisurely pace. The traditional Circuit commonly takes 15 to 21 days, whereas this short itinerary substitutes the lower road-connected parts of the trek for transport and retains the high altitude trekking section.
For our 10-day route, you still trek from Dharapani to Chame, Pisang, Manang, Yak Kharka, Thorong Phedi, Thorong La at 5,416 m, Muktinath, and Jomsom. We also retain Day 5 in Manang at 3,540 m for acclimatization purposes. We consider this day to be essential because the itinerary then climbs up above 4,000 m before the crossing of the pass.
However, there is a trade-off. You should be prepared to do consecutive days of 4 to 5 hours trekking followed by a 7 to 8 hour day of crossing Thorong La and a 6 to 8 hour day trekking from Muktinath to Jomsom. You also spend Day 1 and Day 10 on long road transfers.
Our honest recommendation is that 10 days is enough for trekkers with good endurance and limited time only, whereas if you want to complete the traditional Circuit at a relaxed pace, include extra hikes and have more leeway with acclimatization, you should choose a longer itinerary. We would rather recommend extra days than lie about how beneficial it is for every trekker to do the route as fast as possible.
What Do You Actually Skip on the Short Annapurna Circuit?
10-day Short Annapurna Circuit does not include the entirety of the classic Circuit. You save anywhere between 5 and 10 days on the Short Annapurna Circuit in comparison to a traditional Circuit, which mostly comprises roadside walking on the lower reaches and the western extension beyond Jomsom. You do still get the high altitude heart of the Circuit which includes Dharapani, Chame, Pisang, Manang, Yak Kharka, the Thorong La at 5,416m, Muktinath, Kagbeni and Jomsom.
You Skip the Lower Marsyangdi Valley Walking Before Dharapani
A more classic, longer trek usually starts in Besisahar or Bhulbhule and winds through the villages of Bahundanda, Chamje, and Tal to Dharapani. Our itinerary skips this leg and heads straight to Dharapani the first day, shortening the trip considerably. But you miss out on the gradual transition from lower subtropical villages to the higher altitude Manang region.
You Skip the Longer Western Descent After Jomsom
This is probably the biggest sacrifice in terms of sights and activities on our trekking itinerary. Our itinerary calls for driving back to Pokhara after Jomsom, while a longer trek would see you hiking the lower Kali Gandaki Valley to Tatopani, Ghorepani and Poon Hill. This is a worthwhile detour if you have the time, as it adds another 4-5 days in the midst of apple-growing villages, hot-spring resorts, rhododendron forests, and offers the popular Poon Hill sunrise.
You Do Not Include Tilicho Lake or Extra Manang Side Hikes
Our 10-day schedule does not include the Tilicho Lake extension at 4,919 m, requiring extra days. Additionally, you have less time for longer side hikes around Manang, including the Ice Lake. We have reserved Day 5 for acclimatization rather than an alternate day for another bigger destination.
What You Still Get Matters Most
You still get to do the part of the trek that defines the Annapurna Circuit: the gradual approach of Manang, acclimatization day at 3,540 m, a high altitude walk to Thorong Phedi, the Thorong La crossing and the descent to Muktinath and the Mustang side of the Himalaya.
Our recommendation is clear: pick the 10-day option if Thorong La and high Circuit are a priority, and a longer itinerary if you want the full transition of sights and village culture, more time in villages, Tilicho Lake, Tatopani or Poon Hill. We would rather tell you exactly what you lose on a shorter trek before describing a shorter trek as a complete alternative to a 15- to 21-day Circuit.
Your 10-Day Short Annapurna Circuit Trek Route at a Glance
The tour starts with a 5 to 6-hour drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar, followed by another 3 to 4-hour drive to Dharapani. From there, we walk through Chame (2,670 m), Pisang (3,300 m), and Manang (3,540 m) while spending the night in the latter on day 5 for acclimatization purposes instead of heading back to lower altitudes.
The trail then ascends to either Yak Kharka or Ledar (4,040 m) and Thorong Phedi (4,420 m) prior to the circuit’s ultimate challenge of crossing the Thorong La Pass (5,416 m) and descending to Muktinath. From there, we walk to Jhong and Kagbeni and finally Jomsom (2,720 m), which marks the end of our hiking portion. The tour finishes with an 8 to 10-hour mountain road trip to Pokhara.
In short, this 10-day itinerary is not a shortened version of the Annapurna Circuit trek by skipping the high-altitude portions but a condensed one due to the use of vehicles for most of the time.
Why the Manang Acclimatization Day Is Important
We Keep This Day Even Though Removing It Would Make the Trek Shorter
Manang at Day 5 is at 3,540 m and is not an empty "rest day" inserted to fill the itinerary; it is the last full day before the route starts to climb toward Yak Kharka at 4,040 m, Thorong Phedi at 4,420 m, and Thorong La at 5,416 m. You could market the itinerary as an accelerated tour by removing the hike in Manang for acclimation, but we do not recommend that you do this because the Nepal Tourism Board recommends a rest day for every 1,000 m of altitude gain, and current high-altitude guidelines recommend controlled sleeping altitude gains above 3,000 m.
“Rest Day” Does Not Mean Staying in Your Room All Day
The useful principle of climbing higher during the day and returning to sleep at 3,540 m provides additional acclimation without increasing your sleeping altitude. CDC guidance specifically states that day hikes to higher altitudes followed by a return to a lower sleeping altitude are less stressful than not hiking to an even higher altitude.
Our Main Side-Hike Option: Ice Lake
For strong trekkers who feel well, Ice Lake (also called Kicho Tal) is the most strenuous side hike from Manang. Our published route information shows it at around 4,600 m with a return distance of approximately 14 to 16 km and around 6 hours 45 minutes walking. You return to Manang for the night.
However, we do not consider Ice Lake to be mandatory. If you have a headache, strange fatigue, nausea, or bad acclimatization, pushing toward 4,600 m in order to gather another viewpoint is a wrong choice.
Easier Options Around Manang
A shorter jaunt to Gangapurna Lake or Chongkor Viewpoint may be a better option when your body needs a gentler day. You can also explore Braga, visit local monasteries, or take advantage of the Himalayan Rescue Association's altitude information session (available when they're open for business).
The Real Test Comes the Next Morning
Our guide uses the Manang day to observe how you are actually reacting to 3,540 m, not to guarantee that you will be prepared for Thorong La. You simply cannot plan around fitness to avoid altitude illness. If symptoms persist, we do not consider Day 6 departure to be a given. Our rule of thumb is that the published itinerary is never a reason to ignore the trekker's condition.
Short Annapurna Circuit Trek 10 Days Cost 2026, 2027, 2028
Our Published Price Is Based on Group Size
For the Short Annapurna Circuit Trek 10 Days, our price changes depending on how many of you are going. We do not have an “from” price and a “then” price – here are our prices for 2026, 2027 and 2028:
- 1 Pax: USD 1,300 per person
- 2-4 Pax: USD 1,100 per person
- 5-10 Pax: USD 900 per person
The reason for this difference is simple: if you are the only one departing, all the operational costs (vehicles, guides, etc.) fall on you, whereas with a larger group, they can be distributed more evenly. Now let’s talk about what you get for this money.
What We Are Pricing Into the Trek
These prices include all the costs of running a 10-day itinerary, including Kathmandu to Besisahar and Dharapani transport, teahouses, a licensed trekking guide, porters, required trekking permits, and Jomsom to Pokhara transport. We make this the full package so you don’t have to worry about the mountain part yourself.
Why the Solo Price Is Higher
The reason for the high solo trekker rate of USD 1,300 does not imply that the services provided to such trekkers are different. It is primarily based on a cost-based pricing system for those opting for private tours with fewer number of people for sharing fixed costs. Thus, regardless of its high price, the solo trekker still gets excellent service with a personal guide and the same route (for example, the same Manang acclimatization day and Thorong La at 5,416 m).
What Changes When Your Group Gets Larger
The larger your group is (between 5-10 people), the cheaper it gets for every person, as the transportation and other costs can be distributed among the whole group. In case you want to go as a couple or as a small group, the price of USD 1,100 for 2-4 people is waiting for you.
Do not always go for the cheapest option, as some companies may not include certain types of costs (road transportation, permits, guides, porters, etc.) in their price. A USD 900 package may end up costing you more than our transparent and honest pricing.
Mountain Rock Treks’ pricing policy is simple: the larger your group, the cheaper it is for every person, as the costs can be distributed, but the included itinerary and mountain support remain the same.
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