Our trek was roughly 155 miles (250 km) from Chamje to Birethanti, including Tilicho Lake. We spent 20 nights on the Annapurna Circuit: 18 days of hiking and two rest days during the hike. 

Download the Google Earth version of this map to zoom in on the actual route.

Daily hike time and distance varied. Our shortest hike was 4 miles between Shree Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp. The longest stretch was 15 miles between Kalopani and Tatopani. A rule of thumb to avoid altitude sickness is not to sleep at an elevation more than 2500 feet (750 meters) higher than the previous night. This was an important factor for us when planning our route. 

We spent 20 days on the Annapurna Circuit. Adding in flight time to Nepal plus travel time in and out of the Annapurna Conservation area, planning a little over three weeks seems ideal to us. But we met adventurous people spending much longer, as well as flash-packing groups rushing to finish in under two weeks.

"Trekking the Annapurna Circuit" by Andrees de Ruiter and Prem Rai is a reliable guidebook to help find a route that fits your schedule. Be sure to get an up-to-date edition that includes the new NATT trails that avoid the dusty dirt road.

Our Annapurna Circuit Itinerary

• Day 1 March 23, 2018: Chamje (1430m) to Dharapani (1860m), distance: 9.25 miles, duration: 5h 30m, elevation gain: 430m, ascended: 2811 feet, descended: 1309 feet

• Day 2 March 24, 2018: Dharapani (1860m) to Chame (2650m), distance: 12 miles, duration: 7h 30m, elevation gain: 790m, ascended: 3710 feet, descended: 1259 feet

• Day 3 March 25, 2018: Chame (2650m) to Upper Pisang (3300m), distance: 9.5 miles, duration: 4h 50m, elevation gain: 650m, ascended: 2611 feet, descended: 698 feet

• Day 4 March 26, 2018: Upper Pisang (3300m) to Ngawal (3680m), distance: 7 miles, duration: 4h 35m, elevation gain: 380m, ascended: 2020 feet, descended: 770 feet  2ND MOST SCENIC SECTION

• Day 5 March 27, 2018: Ngawal (3680m) to Braka (3470m), distance: 5.75 miles, duration: 4h 30m, elevation gain: -210m, ascended: 1125 feet, descended: 1620 feet  MOST SCENIC SECTION!!

• Days 6 & 7 March 29-30, 2018: Braka (3470m) to Tilicho Base Camp (4200m); distance: 11 miles, duration: 6h 55m, elevation gain: 730m, ascended: 3284 feet, descended: 1210 feet

• Day 8 March 31, 2018: Tilicho Base Camp (TBC 4200m) to Tilicho Lake (5200m); distance: 6 miles, duration: 5h 30m, elevation gain: 1000m, ascended: 2303 feet, descended: 2746 feet

• Days 9 & 10 April 1-2, 2018: Tilicho Base Camp (4200M) to High Camp (4870m); distance: 15.75 miles, duration: 10h 0m, elevation gain: 670m, ascended: 5264 feet, descended: 3060 feet

• Days 11 & 12 April 3-4, 2018: Thorong High Camp (4870m) to Muktinath (3710m), distance: 8.75 miles, duration: 6h 15m, elevation gain: -1160m, ascended: 1702 feet, descended: 5272 feet

• Day 13 April 5, 2018: Muktinath (3710m) to Kagbeni (2804m), distance: 9 miles, duration: 4h 45m, elevation gain: -906m, ascended: 666 feet, descended: 3018 feet

• Day 14 April 5, 2018: Kagbeni (2804m) to Marpha (2650m), distance: 11.5 miles, duration: 5h 15m, elevation gain: -154m, ascended: 902 feet, descended: 1269 feet

• Days 15 & 16 April 6-7, 2018: Marpha (2650m) to Kalopani (2430m), distance: 12.5 miles, duration: 5h 45m, elevation gain: -220m, ascended: 1446 feet, descended: 1774 feet

• Day 17 April 8, 2018: Kalopani (2430m) to Tatopani (1200m), distance: 15.5 miles, duration: 7h 15m, elevation gain: -1230m, ascended: 1223 feet, descended: 5121 feet

• Day 18 April 9, 2018: Tatopani (1200m) to Ghorepani (2874m), distance: 10 miles, duration: 9h 30m, elevation gain: -1674m, ascended: 5767 feet, descended: 704 feet

• Day 19-20 April 10-11, 2018: Ghorepani (2874m) to Deorali Pass (3000m) to Birethanti, distance: 13 miles, duration: 6h 45m, elevation gain: -1723m, ascended: 1367 feet, descended: 7001 feet