Pisang Peak Ascent

5 - Excellent
TA-winner-badge

Pisang Peak Ascent 15 Days Kathmandu to Kathmandu, Adventurous

Pisang Peak Ascent (6091m) is a moderately difficult mountaineering expedition. But it combines well with the trail of the globally renowned Annapurna Circuit.

Pisang Peak Ascent Overview

Pisang Peak Ascent (6091m) is a moderately difficult mountaineering expedition. But it combines well with the trail of the globally renowned Annapurna Circuit. Therefore, it has been an attraction for aspiring mountaineers without a good climbing experience, who can have a taste of mountaineering in Nepal and superb trekking on a single trail. Generally, we follow the Annapurna Circuit Trek from Beshishahar to Pisang village to reach the peak. From this village, it is a day’s trek to reach the base camp (4400m). The camp is set up in a pastureland, called Kharka in Nepali because it serves as a seasonal grazing land for the livestock of the people living near it. From here we move up to the First High Camp (5400m) at a saddle in South-western ridge.

We make the final push up to the summit following the same ridge from this camp. The final leg of the ascent consists of steep inclinations of ice and snow. And also this is the most challenging part of the climbing. Once at the top, climbers enjoy outstanding views of Annapurna peaks like Tilicho, Annapurna II and IV, Gangapurna as well as the Glacier Dome. Then all the labor and effort involved in climbing vanish at once! Then we descend back to the base camp on the same day and make our return journey.

Coming back from the same path is not the good way to end your journey. Instead, combine the trek of Manang Valley over the highest pass of the world at Thorang La (5416m); come down to Muktinath and Jomsom and board a flight from there to Pokhara after the successful climbing. You will collect memories to last over your life and know that this is simply the superb way to end the journey.

Pisang Peak Ascent Day by Day Itinerary

Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu (1350m)

Elevation: 1350m

Outdoor Himalayan Treks will be waiting for you at the airport on your day of arrival. One of our office representatives will welcome you there as soon as you land and take you to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day for yourself to relax and freshen up. If all the preparations including the permits and documentation is done on this day, we will proceed on our journey immediately the next day. If not, you’ll have to spend another day in Kathmandu. In this case you can go on a guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu, which abounds with numerous magnificent monuments. You will be introduced with your team in Kathmandu before starting the journey.

Hotel Breakfast

Day 02 Bus Journey from Kathmandu to Beshisahar (85om)

Elevation: 85om 8 hours

A fun bus journey, taking about 8 hours, takes you to Beshisahar. As the road runs through several twists and turns in hilly terrain, you will also catch the glimpses of Nepalese villages. This includes scenery ranging from terraced farmlands cut into hills to farm works, from typical thatched roofed houses and villagers tending their flocks and hauling loads. In the evening, you’ll reach Beshishahar and stay in a good lodge.

Lodge B+L+D

Day 03 Beshisahar to Bahundanda (1310m)

Elevation: 1310m 6 hours

From Beshisahar to Bahundanda, is the defining terrain of Nepalese hills and mountains: streams and rivers, fountains and rice farms, forests and villages. You have to make several climbing ups and downs as it is not the trail over smooth lands. In normal condition, it takes approximately 6 hours to reach the final stopover at Bahundanda. The small village perched on an extended ridge takes its name from the Brahmins settling here (Bahun meaning Brahmin and Danda meaning hill in Nepali). We will spend the night at a tea house.

Tea house B+L+D

Day 04 Bahundanda to Chamje (1430m)

Elevation: 1430m

After breakfast, you’ll walk down the trail running beside terraced rice-fields, and further down a rocky drop-off towards Syange village. You’ll cross the Marsyangdi River over a suspension bridge and move along the riverside to a village called Jagat. One of the beauties of Annapurna Circuit Trek is the cultural diversity of the region falling in the trail. People of different ethnic groups live in the villages, so we can see myriad of culture during the trek. Before reaching Chamje, you’ll see a magnificent, huge fountain with that name. Walk further for short time and you’ll reach Chamje village for rest.

Tea house B+L+D

Day 05 Chamje to Dharapani (1950m)

Elevation: 1950m

You will cross the Marsyangdi River again after starting from Chamje, and follow it up to Tal, a scenic little village at the bottom of a huge waterfall. With several ups and downs passing through farmlands that grow potatoes, corn and barley; and forests with rhododendron and pine trees, you reach Dharapani. The last leg of the trek is a little tougher, consisting of steep upward walk. You will reach Dharapani late in the afternoon and spend our night at a lodge.

Lodge B+L+D

Day 06 Dharapani to Chame (2630m)

Elevation: 2630m

In terms of time, today’s trek is similar to that of yesterday. The landscape also gradually changes , with the welcoming views of some Himalayan peaks on the pleasant side and some landslides on the unpleasant side. As you move higher and higher, you’ll see villages bearing heavy influence of Tibetan culture and lifestyle. It becomes evident from the village named Bagarchhap. You’ll see apple orchards and pinewoods as you move through Dhanaqi, Ratamang, and Koto villages. The final stopover is Chame, the district headquarters of Manang district. The place lends good views of Annapurna peaks, and you can even go to a natural hot-spring. You’ll stay at a hotel at night.

Hotel B+L+D

Day 07 Chame to Upper Pisang (3,700m)

Elevation: 3,700m

You leave the main Annapurna Circuit Trek trail and head towards our destination: the Pisang Peak. The route passes through pine forests, surrounded by peaks. As you near the destination village, you get wonderful view of Manang valley, a U-shaped tract of flatland lying between Himalayan peaks. The end consists of an unpleasant steep ascent for less than an hour, but you’ll spend the night pleasantly, as you’ll be nearing Pisang Peak. The village bears more and more influence of Tibetan culture, architecture, customs and traditions. Upper Pisang also houses a magnificent monastery and offers marvelous scenery of Annapurna Himalayan range. As usual, a lodge will serve for our food and accommodation for the night.

Lodge B+L+D

Day 08 Upper Pisang Acclimatization Day (3700m)

Elevation: 3700m

You will spend a day in this scenic village, which not only helps beat the fatigue of trekking but also acclimatizes the body in growing altitude. During the day, take some hike around the village to get the marvelous views of Annapurna, Tilicho, and Gangapuran peaks. You can also visit the monastery to enjoy peaceful moment filled with culture.

Lodge B+L+D

Day 09 Upper Pisang to Pisang Peak Base Camp (4380m)

Elevation: 4380m 4 hour

It is only about 4 hours hike today, up from the village via thin woods of high altitude and alpine pastureland. But, it is desirable because of the considerable altitude gain. The camp is set up in the flat space of the pastureland, where we spend the night at the tent for the first time.

Tented camp B+L+D

Day 10 Base Camp to High Camp (5400m)

Elevation: 5400m 5 hour

Within five hours after setting up from the base camp, you’ll reach a saddle on the south-western ridge of Pisang Peak and set up the camp there. This place is covered in thick snow during winter.

Tented camp B+L+D

Day 11 Summit to the Peak and back to Base Camp (6,091m)

Elevation: 6,091m

You’ll finally be standing at top of the peak this day. For this you will follow the ridge until reaching a steep incline of ice leading to the summit. This is the technical part of the climb, requiring you to use climbing gears like the ropes. After negotiating the difficulty, you will stand at the summit and enjoy an undreamt-of panorama of Annapurna Himalaya. Then you will come down to the base camp.

Tented camp B+L+D

Day 12 Pisang Peak Base Camp to Manang Valley (3,450m)

Elevation: 3,450m

From the base camp, you return to Pisang village and continue your journey to Manang village. The initial part of the route as far as Hongdre village is a gentle downward course. Breathtaking views of Annapurna peaks enliven your journey all the way. You’ll walk past a village called Braga, which houses the largest and perhaps the grandest monastery of the entire Manang district, and also visit the monastery. Finally you’ll reach Manang, inhabited by Manangi people, an ethnic group of Nepal rich in customs and culture. You are back to Annapurna Circuit again, where you will be in a lodge at night.

Lodge B+L+D

Day 13 Manang to Yak Kharka (4,110m)

Elevation: 4,110m 5 hours

You’ll wake up in the morning, have breakfast and start your upward journey towards Thorong La. From Manang, the top of the pass is a massive 2,000m climb. Today’s trek, however, goes in a leisurely pace. It consumes about 5 hours at most under normal conditions. You pass several rivers and villages like Tenki Manang and Gunsang up the Marsyangdi valley. As you make it to the stopover early in the afternoon, you have an entire afternoon at your disposal. Go on some short hikes around, and if lucky, you may be able to see Himalayan Tahr, wild goats, and elusive snow leopard.

Tea house B+L+D

Day 14 Yak Kharka to Thorong Pedi (4,600m)

Elevation: 4,600m

The entire day goes on going up and up, and you can choose whether to break at the bottom of Thorong La or further up at High Camp (4860m). Starting from Yak Kharka, you reach Leadar after one hour, then climb up the eastern side of Jorsang Khola, cross it and walk further to reach the foot of the world’s highest pass. As you reach there early in the afternoon, you’ll have lunch here, and if in good health, climb to High Camp. From the High Camp, it is easier to reach the pass early in the morning to have great views.

Tea house B+L+D

Day 15 Cross Thorong La (5416m) in Morning and Descend down to Muktinath (3800m)

If you start from Phedi, it will be a long day. You’ll start quite early in the morning to reach the pass just in time to have sublime scenes. The vistas that this pass offers are fabulous by all standards: in the south will be gleaming the Annapurna range, to the west will be Kali Gandaki valley and to the north will be Thorungtse peak. The pass itself is marked by chortens and prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Then you descend all the way down to Muktinath on the other side of the pass. You now see the desert-like landscape of Upper Mustang. Muktinath is a holy place for both the Hindus and Buddhists.

Tea house B+L+D

Day 16 Muktinath to Kagbeni (2800m)

Elevation: 2800m 4 hours

A leisurely walk for about 4 hours takes you to Kagbeni. You will swiftly reach the floor of Kali Gandaki valley and walk on either side of the river to reach Kagbeni. There is a monastery over two centuries old near Kagbeni. You visit the monastery in the afternoon and spend the rest of the time exploring this old settlement.

Tea house B+L+D

Day 17 Kagbeni to Jomsom (2,800m)

Elevation: 2,800m

You will walk through the sandy banks of the Kali Gandaki river and look for fossilized rock called Saligram Hindus worship as the incarnation of Lord Bishnu. But you have to complete this before the afternoon winds start to blow in the riverbank. Then you’ll reach Jomsom, the headquarters of Mustang district. Mustang is inhabited by the Thakalis, another ethnic group of Nepal, who have their own unique customs and traditions.

Tea house B+L+D

Day 18 Jomsom to Pokhara (850m) flight

Elevation: 850m

Early in the morning, you’ll fly over the Himalayas from Jomsom to Pokhara. There are a lot of activities to engage our day in Pokhara, the tourist hub of Nepal. You can do boating in Phewa Lake or go on a hike to the world peace pagoda. Just hang around the market and along the bank of the Phewa Lake, taking in its serene view.

Hotel Breakfast

Day 19 Pokhara to Kathmandu

45 minutes flight

You can choose to fly or to drive to Kathmandu from Pokhara. While the flight takes about 45 minutes, the drive takes about 7 hours.

Hotel Breakfast

Day 20 Final Departure

We will drop you at the Tribhuvan International Airport and see you off there.

Booking Enquiry