Annapurna Circuit: Acclimatization Day Trips in Manang
Manang is the best place on Annapurna Circuit for day trips and proper acclimatization. This travel guide covers top day trips from Manang (or Braga), such as Ice Lake Hike, Praken Gompa and Gangapurna Lake, which are essential to prevent altitude sickness before heading to Thorong La Pass. Includes itinerary and trail descriptions.
Manang is one of the most well-known destinations along the Annapurna Circuit. This hiking adventure takes two to three weeks, but you won't find a better place where to take a rest than in Manang.
First of all, this village high in the Himalayan mountains is accessible by car, so the selection in the stores is quite good (it is the last place on the trail where you can restock), and secondly, the location is perfect for acclimatization.
It is still not that high, but for many, the elevation of 3519 meters is crucial as it is possible to foresee how your body will react.
Most importantly, Manang is surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks and glacial lakes, so it makes sense to spend here two or three nights and make a few one-day trips that will help you with acclimatization. You will also have a chance to enjoy the scenery to the fullest.
In this travel guide, we share tips on the best things to do in Manang, including tips on best day-trips.
We will also talk more closely about acclimatization because proper acclimatization is absolutely essential to stay safe and to finish the Annapurna Circuit as you plan it.
ACCLIMATIZATION IN MANANG
Acclimatization when trekking Annapurna Circuit is essential, especially once you reach the elevation of 3500 meters and higher.
Until this point, you can adjust pace according to your plan and level of fitness. And that's what we did on the way from Besisahar to Chame and from Chame to Manang.
But when you get to the 3500 meters line, you should not climb more than 300-600 meters per day, and it is always better to sleep a bit lower than was your highest hiking point that day.
Also, you should allow yourself a couple of free days at this point to make a few acclimatization trips just to make sure your body is adjusting to the elevation.
Listen to your body as every single person reacts differently to high altitudes.
We met a few people along the road who had to return from Manang, and some of them had to pay for a jeep to get to the lowlands only because they did not follow the instructions on how to acclimatize properly.
One of the biggest mistakes can be getting to Manang by car, but there are many small details a traveler should think about to ensure the trip will be successful.
Just in case, it is always better to have a backup plan in case your body won't let you finish the Annapurna Circuit.
Spending a few days in Manang is actually a great way to increase your chances to conquer Thorong La Pass.
Honestly, it isn't worth the risk of saving the day or two and put your health in danger.
Except for making a day-trip from Manang to a higher altitude, it is imperative to stay hydrated. There is only one tiny problem. Tap water is not drinkable in Nepal.
In order to lower your plastic consumption, we recommend you to carry either your reusable water bottle and refill it at drinking ACAP stations along the way, or you can invest in SteriPen.
DAY BY DAY ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ITINERARY
Part 1: Besisahar to Chame
Part 2: Chame to Manang
Part 3: Acclimatization in Manang Area
Part 4: Tilicho Lake Side Trip
Part 5: Tilicho Base Camp to Thorong Phedi
Part 6: Crossing the Thorong La Pass
Part 7: Ranipauwa to Jomsom
MANANG
Fortunately, the Manang area is mesmerizingly beautiful, and staying here for a few days to acclimatize is not an obstacle.
You can choose from many side trips and enjoy town Manang, which is a favorite stop on every itinerary.
Manang offers everything you could think of and actually even more. You can buy here food, hiking gear, there's a bank machine, a doctor's office, and even a cinema!
We decided to stay 25 minutes walk before Manang in a smaller village called Braga, and we started our acclimatization trips from there.
Why we chose Braga over Manang?
It is a quieter place than Manang, which suited us well. You can also find in Braga one of the oldest monasteries in the region, and last but not least, it is an arguably better starting point for the Ice Lake hike.
PRAKEN GOMPA
The hike to Praken Gompa was our first try to get closer to the 4000 meters line and the first acclimatization trip from Manang.
Praken Gompa is an isolated religious building hidden from sight in a mountain wall towering above Manang in elevation of 3945 meters.
The trip is a steady climb from Manang town, and the path ascends the hillside from its eastern end.
Few meters above Manang stands a stupa, and from here, you will walk up the narrow path, which is lined by sea buckthorns bushes. We had a fair share of delicious sea buckthorn juice drinks when hiking Annapurna Circuit, but the best one we had was here in the Manang area.
Lama, a Buddhist monk who achieved enlightenment, lives in Praken Gompa and will bless you to cross Thorong La safely for a small donation.
The views from this place are incredible; you can see Annapurna IV, Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tarke Kang.
ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TRAVEL INSURANCE
If you plan your trip to the Himalayas in Nepal, there are several things to consider.
First of all, the trails are challenging, weather can change rapidly, and you'll be hiking at a high altitude - and unfortunately, mishaps happen. Plus, the highest point on Annapurna Circuit is 5416 meters above sea level.
When it comes to travel insurance, we never travel without it. It is not just us who think that travel insurance is important. The Nepalese government requires having insurance.
For your safety, it should cover sports activities and climb above 5000 meters.
Having a travel insurance number is even compulsory when filling out the form in order to get Annapurna Circuit Trekking Permits - TIMS and ACAP.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
GANGAPURNA LAKE
The trip to Praken Gompa did not take us more than three hours roundtrip, so after lunch in Manang (fried rice again), we decided to walk to Gangapurna Lake.
We had to descend several steps among the houses from the main street and cross the bridge.
After fifteen minutes, we reached the bank of Gangapurna Lake, which owes its creation and beautiful color to the process of melting the Gangapurna Glacier above. It is worth mentioning that the sun is getting stronger with the elevation.
These two trips took us almost all day, and we still had to walk a few kilometers back to our hotel in Braga. We were quite tired that day and decided to go to bed early to beat the headache.
We only hoped these Manang day-trips would help us to acclimatize.
ICE LAKE - KICHO TAL HIKE
The toughest and the most spectacular climb from Manang is a long day hike to Ice Lake.
Consider leaving this one for the second day of your acclimatization. On the other hand, if you planned only one acclimatization trip in Manang, we recommend making this one as it is a good test of your abilities.
You can hike to the lake from Manang or Braga, but as we heard and read, the majority prefer Braga's trail because the path is wide, well-marked, and not that steep as the one from Manang.
You'll see a sign to Ice Lake on the Braga's main dusty road, follow the arrow, and cross the meadow up to the old settlement.
It is nice to walk in a maze of stone buildings; the white painted marks on the walls will lead you out of the village.
From now on, the trail is easy to follow as you are above the tree line.
Although the trail ascends steeply, it is not hard to forget the exertion with the views like this.
Good weather guarantees you look-outs to Annapurna (8091 m), part of Manang Valley and Pisang Peak, you can also see the village of Braga, Manang and far-right is visible the trail leading to Tilicho Lake.
After you reach a plateau with a small stone tea house on your right, you must cross a rocky meadow and climb a little bit further, but the end is in sight.
First, you'll see lower Ice Lake, and after another 10 minutes, you'll arrive at today's destination, Ice Lake. Ice Lake sits at 4620 meters above sea level, and the air here is notably thinner.
When we got there, the lake was still mostly frozen at the beginning of April.
You can expect snow almost any time of the year, but the path should be without snow during two main trekking seasons, though.
Views of the lake and surrounding mountains are incredible, and you can walk around the lake before setting on the way back.
A big advantage of this trek was that we could keep our stuff in the lodge, and we climbed only with an ultralight packable daypack containing a water bottle, food, sunscreen, and extra clothing such as water and rain jacket, down jacket, and gloves.
It was time to get back to Braga, so we slowly descended back to the sleepy village.
We followed all the acclimatization tips for trekking the Annapurna Circuit so far, felt pretty good, had some extra time, so we decided to make a detour to Tilicho Lake in the next few days.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
