Overview

Trip introduction

Thorong Peak Climbing in the Annapurna Region of Nepal is an exclusive experience to be included on the bucket list for adventure seekers around the globe. At an altitude of 6,144m above sea level, the peak is one of the most technical and challenging peaks to climb in Nepal.

However, in comparison with other peak climbing expeditions in Nepal, it is less arduous. And can be the first peak that you climb with prior experience and proper knowledge of equipment usage. Along with additional training from a well-experienced organizer like Nepal Mountain Trekkers.

Annapurna Circuit Trail

As the trail up to Thorong Peak encompasses the classic routes of one of the best treks in Nepal, or say, one of the best trekking in the world, Annapurna Circuit Trek, this is not going to be just an adrenaline expedition but it would rather be an enthralling and noteworthy experience of your life. Also recognized as the Annapurna Round Trekking, or Round Annapurna, Annapurna Round, and several similar titles, the trekking route is very much adored and appreciated by travel enthusiasts around the world.

Overview of Thorong Peak Climbing

Our journey starts after you enjoy some sightseeing around the culturally rich Kathmandu Valley. Initially, we take a drive from Kathmandu up to Dharapani. And then the trekking starts as we ascend from Dharapani towards Chame. The trail passes through the Annapurna conservation area surrounded by picturesque mountains with a vast glacial plateau in the center.

As we gain altitude, the vegetation around us slowly changes from dense forests to small shrubs; finally, we arrive at a point similar to a Tibetan plateau called Manang. There we can get insights into Tibetan-influenced culture and traditions and also acclimatize for a day.

Thorong La Pass and Muktinath

We will then cross Thorong La Pass at an altitude of 5,416 meters. Thorong La Pass blesses us with stunning views of Annapurna, Kali Gandaki Valley, Dhaulagiri, and other peaks as never been seen before. From Thorong La Pass after we prepare for our climbing, we make it up to the summit of Thorong Peak. Well, it is going to be an achievement of a lifetime to reach that elevation. And from the Thorong Peak Summit, glorious mountain sceneries including the Nilgiri Peak, Tilicho Peak, Dhaulagiri Range, and Annapurna Range along with the beautiful scenery of the Mustang region and beautiful Kali Gandaki Valley make all effort worthwhile. 

The trail further leads us to Muktinath as we descend from the summit and continue the journey. Muktinath is the pilgrimage site where we can see a perfect amalgamation of Hinduism and Buddhism. We then visit the Red Monastery at Kagbeni where we can view the golden book of the Dalai Lama. From Kagbeni, we will head toward Jomsom and take a flight back to Pokhara the next morning. We will explore the beautiful sightseeing places in Lake City Pokhara before we come back to Kathmandu and end our Thorong Peak Climbing trip in Nepal.

Best Season and Prior Experience

Thorong Peak Climbing is best fitted during the months of Autumn and Spring season. As the weather will be vivid and the trail will offer better sceneries at that time. As well as we shall faceless obstacles that occur due to natural phenomena. The climbers should be aware of the technical challenges during the climb. And they must be well-equipped with the required climbing gear before the expedition.

Also, it is most important to choose a well-experienced expedition-organizing company like Nepal Mountain Trekkers which could provide you with an experienced climbing guide licensed by the Government to enhance your safety and satisfaction. We also provide all the required gear and equipment on hire for our clients.

Overview

Detail Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival Kathmandu. (1,350m/4,428ft):

As soon as you arrive at the capital city, Kathmandu, you will be met by a representative from Nepal Mountain Trekkers at Tribhuvan International Airport terminals and he will take you to your respective hotel. After checking into the hotel, you can enjoy your free time relaxing in a cozy room or stroll around the tourist hub Thamel area until the end of the day.

Day 2 : Kathmandu Sightseeing & Preparation for the Climbing:

After having our early meal, we start our day with a visit to the Nepal Mountain Trekkers office at Thamel. After being introduced to our team including the tour guide, trekking leader, and director of operations, we head for necessary trekking preparations, getting needed equipment with the initiation of Kathmandu sightseeing around world heritage sites. Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath temple, and Boudhanath Stupa are UNESCO world heritage sites that we explore till sunset. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kathmandu. B included.

Day 3 : Kathmandu to Jagat (1,300m/4,265 ft):8-9 hrs (By Private Jeep):

We will head to Jagat via Private Jeep after our early breakfast to get started. The scenic drive via windy road, alongside the rivers, and several settlements will somehow make you familiar with the sort of experience we are about to gather during our trekking journey. It will give you an insight into the lifestyle and culture of the people in the rural villages of Nepal. Stay Overnight at Jagat.

Day 4 : Jagat to Dharapani (1,950m/6,396ft): 6-7 hrs:

Trekking ahead from Dharapani, we get an authentic understanding of the Annapurna Trekking. We will mark it up to Dharapani today which is the initiating location for the trekking. You can escape this day and the previous one if you are short of time as now the road is easily accessible up to Chame which we are going to head toward the next morning. Stay Overnight at Dharapani.

Day 5 : Dharapani to Chame (2,630m/8,628ft): 5-6 hrs:

Today we will start trekking with a moderate hike towards Chame – the district headquarters of the Manang region, passing through several suspension bridges and enjoying the blissful nature. We will walk through Pine and Rhododendron Forests and we can enjoy the mesmerizing view of Manasalu Mountain Ranges along the trail. Whereas, we can learn a lot about the Nepalese lifestyle while you pass through the typical villages with traditional houses. Overnight stay at the tea house.

Day 6 : Chame to Lower Pisang (3,200m/10,498 ft):5-6hrs:

This day begins with walking through dense forests, and narrow trails, and soon this greenery starts to disappear as we gain altitude. Here, we will be crossing numerous suspension and wooden bridges that open up the trails to spectacular snow-capped mountains. In this way at the end of the day, we finally arrive at Pisang where we will be staying overnight.

Day 7 : Pisang to Manang (3,550m/11,646 ft): 4-5 hrs:

Leaving behind Pisang, we head towards beautiful Manang Valley where we have two routes to follow and we recommend you to take the higher route passing Garu which offers great landscape and Himalayan views. From this point, we find a difference in landscapes, and alpine vegetation starts to appear. A quick visit to the local Barge monastery would give some cultural insights. From Manang, you will be blessed with views of Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Gangapurna, Tilicho, Chulu West, Chulu East, and other neighboring peaks. And we conclude our day after staying overnight at one of the tea houses in Manang.

Day 8 : Acclimatize Day:

Proper acclimatization is very important to complete this trek and today we take it as a rest day to make our body adapt to high-altitude surroundings. The upcoming two days will be a bit more challenging and rigorous, therefore today we will not just rest but go for a few altitude hikes up and descend at the end of the day. So, there would not be any acute mountain sickness issues. During the daytime, we visit a few monasteries and viewpoints. Overall explore Manang village. Finally, we stayed overnight at Manang.

Day 9 : Manang to Yak Kharka (4,110m/13,480ft): 3-4 hrs:

Today after breakfast, we start our day by crossing several small river streams to arrive at the village called Tenki, and heading northward from the trails, we follow the beautiful pasture lands and meadows where horses and yaks graze. Therefore, the name of the place is also ‘Yak Kharka’ implying Yak pasture land. We walk slowly and steadily in a gradual way as we don’t want to mess up with altitude sickness while gaining altitude. We stay overnight at Yak Kharka.

Day 10 : Yak Kharka to Thorong Pedi (4,600m/15,092ft): 4-5 hrs:

Today we will be leaving behind Yak Kharka and heading toward the foot of high-altitude Thorong la Pass (4,650m). It is a small place to get ourselves relaxed and ready for the next day. If you are super fit, you can also stay overnight at high camp, but a safety, we recommend you stay overnight at Thorong Phedi.

Day 11 : Thorong Pedi – Thorong la Top (5,416m/17,765ft): 5-6 hrs:

It is a rather demanding day today as we are about to ascend to the Thorong La Top and tackle the difficulties along the ascent, strong winds, and elevation. We will be staying in a tent camp today which is going to be a wonderful experience after a hard day. From Thorong La Top, the breathtaking views of mountain panorama and the sunrise and sunset view over the snow-clad peaks are just unexplainable in words. Stay Overnight at Thorong La Top with the principle of “Climb Higher, Sleep Lower”.

Day 12 : Preparation Day for Climbing:

Now the most awaited moment is about to arrive and we have to be prepared to face the challenges and make it up to the top of Thorong Peak efficiently. Hence, we will take an entire day to get the technical know-how of equipment usage and the climbing guide will train you about the trail, the crevasses, and other obstacles and how to face them. Stay Overnight at Thorong La Top.

Day 13 : Summit to Thorong Peak (6,145m/ 20,160 ft) and back to Muktinath(3,760m/12,335): 9-10 hrs:

Ultimately, the most important day of our journey has arrived as today we will be making it up to the summit of Thorong Peak (6,145m/ 20,160 ft) and reward ourselves with the achievement of a lifetime. Breathtaking view of mountain ranges including the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Ranges makes the ascent worthwhile and heal all the tiredness that we face. After experiencing the natural wonder from the summit, we descend through the Chaharu, ruins of Yak herders’ hut and sand dunes, and through the narrow trail over the barren hillside, we reach the famous Muktinath. Muktinath, meaning ‘place of Salvation’, is a famous pilgrimage that hosts Muktinath Temple as well as several monasteries besides the Jwala Mai Temple with a natural spring and an eternal flame fueled by natural gas. The 108 waterspouts in the periphery of Muktinath Temple are another attraction. Overnight in Muktinath.

Day 14 : Extra Day for climbing due to bad weather or AMS:

It is just an optional contingency day that we might use in case of bad weather or AMS.

Day 15 : Muktinath to Jomsom (2,800m/9,184ft) via Kagbeni: 4-5hrs:

We wake up early in the morning, get a blessing from the holy temple, visit the nearby monastery, and slowly descend through Ranipauwa village to arrive at Kagbeni and proceed. We get to experience huge diversity in landscapes and topography. From alpine to deserted and forested lands, we walk through all. Jomsom is famous for its windy Trail, and the Thakali Culture and it is the gateway to the Tibet Border. Stay overnight at Jomsom.

Day 16 : Morning flight to Pokhara (820m/2,690ft): 25min flight:

We have concluded the climbing expedition and now we came to the end of our journey. Today, we will be heading to Jomsom Domestic Airport after breakfast and take a short flight to Pokhara Domestic Airport which shall not take more than 15-20 minutes. Today, you will be relaxing and recalling the journey at the hotel in Pokhara. You can also go for a short sightseeing in places of attractions in Pokhara like Peace Pagoda, Bindabasini Temple, Phewa Lake, Mahendra Cave, International Mountain Museum, and Devi’s Falls, etc. Stay overnight at Pokhara.

Day 17 : Fly / Drive to Kathmandu (By Bus 5-6 hrs and By Flight 35minutes):

In this way, finally, our amazing and adrenaline Thorong Peak Climbing comes to the conclusion and we either take a drive or you have an option to fly to Kathmandu. Upon arrival at Kathmandu, you will be met by our director of operations, Mr. Dhakal, and offer you a farewell dinner as a complimentary token of love from Nepal Mountain Trekkers Company.

Day 18 : Departure Day:

Today will be your final day in Nepal, as we drop you at the International Airport for your scheduled international flight towards your onward destination.

Price Includes

• Airport Pick up and drop
• 3 nights Hotel in Kathmandu(Hotel Green Horizon or similar standard)
• All accommodations and meals during the trek (Full Board)
• Domestic Flight (Trekking started and ended transportation from Pokhara)
• All require camping equipment
• An experienced and professional English-speaking trekking guide, porters to carry luggage ( required porter) including their salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food, and lodging
• Well-experienced ice climbing guide (Climbing service charge, insurance, food, personal equipment)
• Group Climbing gear fixed rope, main rope, ice axe, zoomer, harness, the figure of eight, carabineer
• Four seasonal sleeping bags, down jacket, Nepal Mountain Trekkers duffer bag, t-shirt, and trekking map (Note: down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion)
• Peak Permit and Royalty,  Annapurna Conservation Area Entrance fee
• A comprehensive medical kit
• 13% VAT and 10% service charges
• Farewell Dinner

Price Excludes

• Nepalese visa fee (Visa Information)
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Excess baggage charges
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara
• Extra night accommodation(s)
• Travel Insurance and rescue cost
• Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
• Personal trekking and climbing gears
• Tips for guides and porters

Trip Gallery

Equipments