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Annapurna Regionथोरोङ ला

Thorong La

The 5,416 m pass between Manang and Muktinath, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit.

Plan a trip here
Prayer flags and a small stone hut at the Thorong La, with patches of snow on grey scree under a blue sky.
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0)
Altitude
5,416 m
Best months
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Type
Mountain pass
District
Manang, Mustang, Gandaki
Permit
Permit required

Why go

The Thorong La is a high pass at 5,416 m in the Damodar Himal, north of the Annapurna massif, on the border of Manang and Mustang districts. It links the upper Manang valley with the Muktinath valley and is the high point of the Annapurna Circuit, part of the wider Annapurna region.

Most trekkers cross from east to west: a pre-dawn climb of 4-5 hours from Thorong Phedi or 2-3 hours from High Camp to the prayer-flagged top, where a seasonal tea stall sometimes operates, then a long and steep descent of about 1,700 m to Muktinath. Crossing from the west is much harder, because it means climbing more than 1,200 m in a day without acclimatisation. Views take in Khatung Kang and Yakawa Kang beside the pass and the Dhaulagiri range to the west.

History and culture

The pass has long been used by herders, traders and pilgrims travelling between Manang and the temple at Muktinath, which is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. In October 2014 a blizzard brought by the remnants of Cyclone Hudhud dropped heavy snow around the pass within hours; dozens of trekkers, guides and local people died, and hundreds were rescued by helicopter. The disaster led to better weather warnings and more caution about crossing in poor conditions.

Things to do in Thorong La

  • Cross from Thorong Phedi to Muktinath

    Leave around 4-5 am, climb steadily to the pass and descend to Ranipauwa, usually 7-9 hours in all.

  • Visit Muktinath after the crossing

    Rest in Ranipauwa and visit the temple with its 108 water spouts the following morning.

Weather and the best time to visit Thorong La

Weather in Thorong La

Forecast for 5,416 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.

Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.

Best time to visit

Mar-May, Oct-Nov

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Good month: Mar
  4. Good month: Apr
  5. Good month: May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Good month: Oct
  11. Good month: Nov
  12. Dec
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
October and November usually give the most stable weather for crossing.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
December to February brings snow and extreme cold; the pass is often closed and crossing is dangerous.
Spring (Mar-May)
March to May is the second season; snow can remain on the trail in early spring.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
June to August is drier than further south, but cloud, rain and fresh snow are possible and views are often hidden.

Where to stay

No overnight stays

There is no accommodation on the pass; sleep at Thorong Phedi or High Camp before it and at Muktinath after it.

No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.

Getting there

Reached only on foot, from Thorong Phedi or High Camp on the Manang side.

Nearest hub: Manang

  • trekFrom Thorong Phedi, about 4-5 hours of ascent; from High Camp, about 2-3 hours.
  • trekFrom Muktinath, about 6-8 hours of steep ascent; not recommended without prior acclimatisation.
Mount Everest 8,848.86Kangchenjunga 8,586Dhaulagiri I 8,167Manaslu 8,163Annapurna I 8,091Thorong LaKathmandu
Boundary: Government of Nepal, Survey Department (2020). Peak data: Wikidata.

Permits and fees

Permit required

Inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, so an ACAP permit is required.

  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Required throughout the conservation area; checked at trail checkpoints.
  • TIMS card: Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
  • Guide rule: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; check the current rule.

Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against National Trust for Nature Conservation (ACAP).

On the trail

On the Annapurna Circuit.

Previous stop:
Thorong Phedi or Thorong High Camp
Next stop:
Muktinath (Ranipauwa)
A typical day:
From Thorong Phedi, about 900-1,000 m of ascent at high altitude followed by about 1,700 m of descent, 7-9 hours in total.

Practical tips

  • At 5,416 m the air holds about half the oxygen of sea level. Anyone with worsening headache, vomiting, confusion or breathlessness at rest should turn back and descend. This is general information, not medical advice.
  • Do not cross in a storm, whiteout or after heavy fresh snow; ask lodge staff about conditions and go with others.
  • Carry warm gloves, a down jacket, a headlamp, water and snacks; microspikes help on ice.
  • There is no reliable mobile signal on the pass.

Questions about Thorong La

How high is Thorong La?

About 5,416 m, the high point of the Annapurna Circuit.

How long does it take to cross Thorong La?

Usually 7-9 hours from Thorong Phedi to Muktinath: about 4-5 hours up and 3-4 hours down.

When is Thorong La closed?

Heavy snow can close it at any time, most often from December to March. Check conditions in Manang and at Thorong Phedi.

More in Annapurna Region

All of Annapurna Region
Manang village in the upper Marsyangdi valley with Annapurna III and Gangapurna behind.

Town or village · 3,519 m

Manang

A high stone village in the upper Marsyangdi valley below Annapurna III and Gangapurna, where Circuit trekkers stop to acclimatise.

Snow-covered ground and lodge roofs at Annapurna Base Camp below Annapurna I and its neighbouring peaks under a deep blue sky.

Trek stop · 4,130 m

Annapurna Base Camp

Lodges at about 4,130 m in the glacial basin of the Annapurna Sanctuary, below the south face of Annapurna I.

Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range above forested ridges, seen from Australian Camp.

Trek stop · 2,060 m

Australian Camp

A grassy clearing at about 2,060 m above Kande with a wide view of the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre, an easy walk from the road.

Trek stop · 2,310 m

Bamboo

A group of lodges in the bamboo forest of the Modi Khola gorge, the first overnight stop above Chhomrong on the way to Annapurna Base Camp.

Chhomrong village spread across a steep hillside, seen from Lower Sinuwa across the valley.

Trek stop · 2,170 m

Chhomrong

The last permanent Gurung village before the Annapurna Sanctuary, built on a steep staircase facing Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre.

Trek stop · 1,650 m

Dhampus

A Gurung hill village above Phedi with views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas, close to Pokhara.

Trek stop · 3,420 m

Dobato

A small high lodge stop on the ridge between Tadapani and Khopra, the base for sunrise at the Muldai viewpoint.

Nearby

Trek stop · 4,540 m

Thorong Phedi

The lodges at the foot of the Thorong La, where Annapurna Circuit trekkers sleep before the pre-dawn climb to the pass.

The pagoda-roofed Muktinath temple behind its stone-lined sacred pools.

Temple, monastery or heritage site · 3,762 m

Muktinath

A high temple complex below the Thorong La, sacred to Hindus as Mukti Kshetra and to Buddhists as Chumig Gyatsa.

Trek stop · 4,018 m

Yak Kharka

A cluster of lodges in high yak pasture above Manang, the usual first stop on the climb towards Thorong La.

The Kali Gandaki valley at Jomsom in Mustang, with bare mountains above the town.

Valley or region

Mustang

A trans-Himalayan district along the Kali Gandaki, from Thakali villages and apple orchards to the walled towns of the old Kingdom of Lo.

Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Thorong La, Wikipedia, Annapurna Circuit, Wikivoyage, Thorong La, OpenStreetMap