Chame Retreat
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
8 days, planned by Kestrel High Routes
A road now runs most of the way to Manang. Most trekkers jeep to Chame rather than walk three days beside traffic, and this itinerary does the same.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Besisahar |
| Marsyangdi valley |
| Chame |
The Paungda Danda is a 1,500 m curved rock slab beside the trail, and it is the strangest thing on the circuit.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Paungda Danda |
| Upper Pisang |
| Annapurna II |
The upper route climbs 400 m more and is worth every metre — it is also better acclimatisation than the valley floor.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Ghyaru |
| Ngawal |
| Manang |
| Annapurna III |
The Himalayan Rescue Association runs a free altitude talk in Manang every afternoon in season, and everyone should go.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Ice Lake |
| Gangapurna Lake |
| Himalayan Rescue Association post |
Short and slow. From here every day gains as little height as the itinerary can manage.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Gunsang |
| Yak Kharka |
Phedi means "foot of the hill". Sleep here rather than High Camp — it is 400 m lower and the difference shows in the morning.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Ledar |
| Thorong Phedi |
| High Camp |
Five thousand four hundred and sixteen metres, then 1,600 m of descent in the same day. The wind on the pass gets up by nine, which is why you leave at four.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Thorong La |
| Muktinath temple |
| Jharkot |
The Kali Gandaki runs between two eight-thousanders and is, by that measure, the deepest gorge in the world.
| LANDMARKS |
|---|
| Jomsom |
| Kali Gandaki gorge |
| Tatopani |
| Pokhara |
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners across 8 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 8.
20 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
“Himalayan trekking with a fixed guide ratio and no offloading surcharge”
Started by two IMF-qualified leaders who were tired of watching groups of thirty share one guide. Ratios are written into the price and are not negotiable downward.
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. No hesitation recommending them.
Annapurna in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. Good value for what's included.
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. The cooking was a genuine surprise — better than most places we'd have picked ourselves. Good value for what's included.
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
Did this over 8 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Worth every rupee.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Worth every rupee.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb.
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Good value for what's included.
It has changed it. Jeep roads now reach Chame on one side and Jomsom on the other, so the classic 21-day walk is largely gone. What remains — Chame to Muktinath over Thorong La — is still the best of it, and this itinerary walks exactly that.
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →