Chulu East Peak Climbing & Annapurna Circuit
General Information
Key informations that define this iconic adventure
6,584m
Maximum Altitude
19 Days
Days Duration
Best Season
Grade 5
Difficulty Level
No additional content available
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A detailed breakdown of your adventure
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu
Touchdown at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You will be met at the arrival gate and transferred directly to the team hotel. Spend your afternoon resting from your flight, picking up any technical climbing gear in Thamel, and meeting your climbing guides for a comprehensive gear check and expedition briefing.
Day 2: Drive Kathmandu to Dharapani via Besisahar
We depart Kathmandu early for a long, scenic drive along the winding Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers, passing vibrant terraced hillsides. At Besisahar, we switch into robust four-wheel-drive vehicles to navigate the rugged, canyon-carved mountain road that leads into the Annapurna region, arriving at the village of Dharapani.
Day 3: Trek Dharapani to Chame
The trek begins. The trail climbs steadily through pine, oak, and rhododendron forests, tracing the roaring Marsyangdi River. We cross suspension bridges and pass through the traditional villages of Bagarchhap and Timang. On a clear day, the snow-capped peak of Mt. Manaslu ($8,163\text{m}$) breaks into view. We finish the day in Chame, framed by Lamjung Himal.
Day 4: Trek Chame to Pisang
The landscape transforms dramatically as we enter the rain shadow. We walk through a narrow, forested valley before crossing a bridge beneath Paungda Danda—a seamless, curved wall of solid rock rising 1,500 meters smoothly out of the riverbed. The valley opens up wide as we reach the dry alpine air of Pisang, sitting directly beneath the Chulu massifs.
Day 5: Trek Pisang to Julu (Chulu East Base Camp Trail)
Leaving the main Annapurna Circuit trail behind, we turn north into the wilderness toward the Chulu peaks. We follow a lesser-traveled path that climbs steeply out of the valley floor, passing stone-walled alpine pastures and summer yak herding settlements to reach the pristine valley of Julu, near our approach to Base Camp.
Day 6: Trek Julu to Chulu East Base Camp
We make a steady, slow ascent along a rocky ridge line, crossing alpine moraines and glacial streams. As we push past 4,000 meters, trees vanish entirely, replaced by stark boulders and sparse juniper. We set up our Chulu East Base Camp in a dramatic bowl, looking up at the staggering walls of rock and ice we will soon climb.
Day 7: Acclimatization & Climbing Training at Base Camp
A mandatory safety day to rest your lungs and prepare for the alpine terrain. Your climbing guides will conduct a thorough training session on the surrounding ice slopes. You will practice walking on fixed lines, using ascenders (Jumars), rappelling, knot-tying, and ensuring your crampons and harness are perfectly fitted.
Day 8: Move Base Camp to High Camp
We pack up camp and make a steep, demanding climb up a rugged, rocky ridge line to reach Chulu East High Camp. The route climbs over loose scree and rocky slabs, requiring focused footing. High Camp is pitched on a spectacular high mountain shelf, offering a jaw-dropping, close-up look at the Annapurna massif across the valley.
Day 9: Summit Day: Chulu East & Descend to Base Camp
The ultimate test. We wake up around midnight, gear up in the bitter cold, and hit the glacier by 2:00 AM. We navigate snow slopes, crevasse fields, and a final, technically challenging technical ridge line requiring fixed ropes and ice axe placement. Stepping onto the sharp summit of Chulu East rewards you with an unmatched, front-row look at Annapurna I, II, III, IV, Gangapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu. We celebrate briefly before carefully descending back down to High Camp, packing up, and dropping to Base Camp.
Day 10: Contingency / Weather Buffer Day
An essential buffer day built into the expedition schedule. High-altitude mountain weather can be highly unpredictable; if high winds or heavy snow prevent a safe summit attempt on Day 9, this day is utilized to ensure you still get your shot at the peak.
Day 11: Trek Base Camp down to Manang
Leaving our mountain camps behind, we descend back down the alpine ridges to rejoin the classic Annapurna Circuit trail. Walking into the wide valley floor, the thicker air makes breathing feel effortless. We make a pleasant walk into the large, medieval Tibetan-style outpost of Manang to enjoy a well-deserved bakery treat and a comfortable bed.
Day 12: Trek Manang to Yak Kharka
We resume our push towards the Thorong La Pass, making a gentle, slow climb out of the Marsyangdi valley. We pass through sparse alpine shrubbery and expansive pastures where herds of yaks and Himalayan blue sheep graze, completing a shorter day at the settlement of Yak Kharka.
Day 13: Trek Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi
A brief trekking day designed to rest your muscles and conserve your energy for the upcoming pass crossing. We trail along a gentle path cut into the mountain face, descend to cross a wooden suspension bridge, and pass through a narrow valley section to reach the base camp outpost of Thorong Phedi.
Day 14: Cross Thorong La Pass (5,416m) down to Muktinath
Our second major pass crossing. We start before dawn, pacing ourselves up the steep switchbacks in the biting cold. Guided by headlamps, you will cross a vast alpine landscape of rock and snow. Reaching the crest of Thorong La Pass (5,416m) amidst thousands of fluttering prayer flags is an incredible milestone. We enjoy a hot drink at the pass before making a long, steep descent into the arid, desert landscape of Mustang, arriving at the holy site of Muktinath.
Day 15: Trek Muktinath to Jomsom via Kagbeni
After exploring the sacred 108 stone waterspouts of the Muktinath Temple, we walk through the stark, wind-swept desert fields of the Mustang valley. We drop into the ancient, narrow stone alleyways of Kagbeni—the historic boundary to Upper Mustang—before following the wide, flat, and breezy Kali Gandaki riverbed down to the market town of Jomsom.
Day 16: Fly Jomsom to Pokhara
We catch an early morning mountain flight out of Jomsom, weaving directly through the Kali Gandaki Gorge—the deepest canyon in the world—with the massive walls of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri rising straight up on either side of the wings. Touch down in lakeside Pokhara for a blissful afternoon of resting, lakeside dining, and massage therapies to recover from the climb.
Day 17: Drive Pokhara back to Kathmandu
We board our private vehicle or tourist coach for the return drive along the Prithvi Highway back to Kathmandu. The route winds along the white-water rapids of the Trishuli River. Arriving in Kathmandu by late afternoon, check back into your hotel for a long-awaited hot shower.
Day 18: At Leisure in Kathmandu
A vital buffer day built into the schedule to safeguard against weather-related flight delays in Jomsom. If everything goes smoothly, this serves as a fantastic free day to explore Kathmandu's legendary UNESCO world heritage sites like Boudhanath Stupa or Swayambhunath, followed by a grand celebratory farewell dinner with your climbing crew.
Day 19: Fly Home
Your epic climbing expedition officially comes to a close today. We provide a private, scheduled transfer to take you directly to Tribhuvan International Airport for your international flight home.
Plan Your Adventure
Ready to embark on your next mountain expedition? Contact our expert team to start planning your adventure.
Our Office
Rayamajhi Marg, H 337/50, Kathmandu
Call Us
01-4955366 / 4955866 / 9851029385 (24/7)
Email Us
info@nepalskylineadventures.com