Annapurna Circuit Trek Latest Updates (November 2026)

Yes, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is fully open as of 5 November 2026. You can walk the whole route from Besisahar (760 m) through Chame (2,670 m) and Manang (3,540 m), over Thorong La (5,416 m), and down to Muktinath (3,800 m).

The circuit closed briefly after a heavy storm in late September 2026. Snow blocked Thorong La, and landslides cut the roads on both sides of the Annapurna massif. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) started issuing permits again in early October, and trekkers returned quickly. In the two weeks to 22 October, ACAP in Jomsom counted 772 foreign trekkers crossing Thorong La into Mustang.

We update this page whenever conditions change and at least once a week during the trekking season. Our updates come from ACAP notices, local news from Manang and Mustang, and our own guides on the trail.

Yes, the Annapurna Circuit is safe right now for trekkers who prepare well and walk at a steady pace. November gives you dry trails and settled weather, which is the main reason it is one of the best months on the circuit.

Altitude is still the biggest risk, so gain height slowly. Above Manang, sleep no more than 300 to 500 m higher each night, take the acclimatization day in Manang, and drink plenty of water. If you get a bad headache, nausea or dizziness, stop climbing and tell your guide or lodge owner. If the symptoms get worse, go down.

Plan each day so you reach your teahouse early, ideally by mid-afternoon. Wind picks up after midday, temperatures drop fast once the sun goes behind the mountains, and the sun sets around 5 pm in November. Do not walk after dark, especially between Yak Kharka, Thorong Phedi and the pass, where a wrong turn on frozen ground is easy to make and there is no phone signal.

Yes, Thorong La Pass is open and trekkers are crossing it daily. The last closure ran from 30 September to about 6 October 2026, when heavy snow buried the trail between Thorong Phedi and Muktinath. A team of about 20 people, organised by the Muktinath Hotel Association, cleared the snow and reopened the pass for trekkers. The trail over Thorong La is clear and well used, with frozen ground and icy patches near the top in the early morning.

The Annapurna Circuit weather in November is clear and dry, with sunny days and cold nights. Mornings usually bring the clearest views of Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Gangapurna and Dhaulagiri. Cloud and wind build after midday, and the wind on Thorong La can be strong and bitter by late morning. Daylight gets shorter through the month, so late to November trekkers have less time to finish each day's walk.

November Temperatures by Altitude

Temperatures drop by roughly 6 to 7°C for every 1,000 m you climb, so the same week feels very different in Chame and at Thorong Phedi.

Jomsom figures come from the Jomsom weather station's long-term averages, and Jomsom gets only about 5 mm of rain in November. The other villages have no weather station, so their figures are estimated from Jomsom by altitude. Real nights at Thorong Phedi and High Camp can feel colder because of wind.

Weather Outlook for December

December is colder, quieter and less predictable on the Annapurna Circuit. Expect day highs and night lows of about 13°C and −1°C in Chame, 7°C and −6°C in Manang, and 1°C and −12°C at Thorong Phedi.

Skies are often still clear, but a single snowfall can drop deep snow on Thorong La and close the pass for days. For that reason we rate December as an "OK" month, not one of the best. It suits experienced trekkers with flexible dates, a warm sleeping bag rated to about −15°C, and the patience to wait in Manang if the pass closes. Fewer trekkers on the trail is the main reward.

Both roads into and out of the Annapurna Circuit are open, but they are slow after the autumn storm damage. Regular flights between Pokhara and Jomsom are suspended, so the road is now the main way out.

Besisahar to Chame and Manang Road

The road from Besisahar to Chame and Manang is open, and jeeps now drive past Manang to Khangsar. Most trekkers take a tourist bus from Kathmandu to Besisahar (176 km, about 7 hours), then a jeep up the Marsyangdi valley to Chame (about 65 km, 5–6 hours) through Ngadi, Jagat, Tal, Dharapani and Koto.

This jeep road was blocked for six days by landslides at Khotro near Koto and reopened on 3 October 2026. The section between Chame and Bhratang was also damaged and is still rough, so expect bumps and short stops. Above Manang, the road now reaches Khangsar (3,734 m), the last village before Tilicho Lake. The drive from Manang to Khangsar takes about 30–60 minutes, compared with about 2 hours on foot.

Muktinath to Jomsom and Pokhara Road

The road from Muktinath to Pokhara is open again, but it is a long and rough day. Jeeps cover about 183 km through Jharkot, Kagbeni, Jomsom, Marpha, Ghasa, Tatopani and Beni.

The late-September floods and landslides damaged the Beni to Jomsom road at 46 places. Road crews built temporary sections, and the road reopened on the evening of 9 October 2026. Traffic still slows at the repaired points, so plan for 7–9 hours from Muktinath to Pokhara rather than the usual 7.

Jomsom to Pokhara Flights

Regular Jomsom to Pokhara flights are suspended. Tara Air and Summit Air stopped their scheduled flights from 19 and 21 October 2026, reportedly for about five months. Charter flights still run but cost much more.

In normal times the flight takes only 20 to 25 minutes and runs in the morning, because strong afternoon winds in the Kali Gandaki valley stop flights. The flight was never part of our package price. For now, the jeep from Muktinath or Jomsom is the default way back to Pokhara.

The trail to Tilicho Lake (4,919 m) is open, but expect some snow on the upper section. Heavy snow blocked it in early October 2026, and it was reported passable again by 27 October. Ask the lodges in Khangsar or Shree Kharka about snow before you set off. For our clients, we always coordinate with the local teahouses and analyze weather forecast before planning next day walk.

You need only one permit for the Annapurna Circuit: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). It costs NPR 3,000 for foreign trekkers and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and it covers the side trip to Tilicho Lake.

You do not need a TIMS card for the Annapurna Circuit, and you do not need a licensed guide. The Nepal Tourism Board announced a licensed-guide rule in 2023, but it has not been implemented on Annapurna routes. A good guide still makes the trek easier and safer, especially on Thorong La day, and our packages include one.

Teahouses along the Annapurna Circuit are open and busy this autumn. After Everest, this is Nepal's busiest teahouse trek in October and November, and the few lodges at Thorong Phedi and High Camp fill up first. Arrive early in the afternoon at these two stops, or ask your guide to call ahead from Manang.

Plan your cash before you leave Kathmandu or Besisahar. Besisahar has the last reliable ATM on the east side. Manang has an ATM, but it often stops working because of power or network faults, and the next one is in Jomsom on the way out.

Budget NPR 2,500to 4,500 per person per day on the trail. The lower figure covers three simple meals such as dal bhat, tea, boiled water and phone charging. The higher figure adds hot showers, Western food, Wi-Fi and snacks. Prices rise as you climb, so carry enough cash for 2 to 3 extra days in case a road blockage or snowfall keeps you on the trail longer.

The Annapurna Circuit is a good choice right now if you plan around the cold and the transport changes. Add one spare day to your itinerary so a short snow closure on Thorong La does not cost you the pass. Buy your ACAP in Kathmandu or Pokhara to avoid paying double at Besisahar. Withdraw all your trek cash in Kathmandu or Besisahar, because the Manang ATM is unreliable. Plan to leave by jeep from Muktinath to Pokhara, since regular Jomsom flights are suspended. Pack a sleeping bag and down jacket for nights around −10°C at Thorong Phedi.

This log lists every change on the Annapurna Circuit this season, newest first.