Upper and Lower Pisang: A Guide to remote villages in Annapurna Circuit trek

Annapurna Circuit Trek excites you and is worthy of giving you an amazing view of the Himalayas, yet at the same time, living the rural and remote lifestyle in the trekking villages on the way, What a wonderful way to hike up to the Himalayas! Do you also want to explore a strange land—the rural, remote one—where you do not need to rush out to see things and where pause is beautiful?

Upper and Lower Pisang Trek: Is it all about walking?

Upper Pisang is a remote and enchanting village along the iconic Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal's Gandaki Province. The quaint towns in the Manang district of Nepal are raised at 3,310 meters (10,860 feet) above sea level.

On your trek, you have the option either to choose a higher location, Upper Pisang for a night off, or a local picturesque village with more greenery in Lower Pisang, that's around 3200 meters above sea level.

Lower Pisang located at the base of Manang Valley, is an essential stopover on your Pisang peak-climbing journey. Bhotias, Tibetan descendants, and some of the Musahar community (those who eat rat meat) widely inhabit the region.

Although there are limited teahouses in the Pisang villages, upon request from the villagers, you can arrange teahouses and food. The serene destination comes after a steep ascent and descent.

What are the highlights of Lower and Upper Pisang?

As you step over the Lower Pisang village and hike for 40 minutes, you reach Upper Pisang, which is surprisingly just 100 m higher, and the surrounding area is the total opposite. The Lower Pisang is all about the sparse red, green, and yellow vegetation, as Daniel Mcbane explains through his quick conversation.

1. Traditional Way of Living

Trekkers can get a chance to learn about the traditional way of life of the communities living in Pisang village. A night in Upper Pisang unfolds the direct view of Annapurna II, located at 7,937 m. It's a clearer picture than ever on the Annapurna Circuit Trek route.

2. Buddhist Monastery- protector of the land

Deities of historical Buddhist monasteries like Ghyaru Gompa and Barge Monastery have been said to protect the holy land, their traditional practices, and their rituals. The famous Gyaru gompa in the village of Manang is locally known by its alternative (main name), which is Ogyan Thekchhok Ling Ki Gongba.

3. Getaway to Pisang Peak

Starting your Annapurna Circuit trek with Besisahar, you never knew what a happy night stay at Pisang would look like. The Pisang village at the base of the Pisang peak in the Manang district of Nepal is a good stopover.

4. Minimalistic architecture

Not only do you get a chance to gaze at the surrounding mountain peak, but you will also be fond of the minimalistic architecture of the village, which is subtle, beautiful, and one that feels home, with the decorative touches in the rooms.

5. Rich Buddhist heritage (Mani walls)

The whole village is adorned with prayer flags, reflecting their authentic and rich heritage and their belief in mantras. Especially the long prayer wall (Mani wall), chortens, and 2 small stupas at the end of the villages, which take you from Lower to Upper Pisang, with exceptional views of Mt. Chulu, Annapurna II (the unlucky mountain, as the villagers cite), and Pisang Peak.

6. A small green lake in Pisang

The small green lake above the village of Lower Pisang is just a short step away to be explored. This must-visit lake near Manang, on the way to Tilicho briefly in the periphery of Lower Pisang, is worth exploring, sharing its boundaries with pine and oak forests just beneath the hill slopes and in between the road passes.

7. Marshyandi river views

Follow off-road from Dhikur Pokhari to Pisang to reach here, which is just a short ride away, while trekking in this region can be equally fun. As you take a turn, you notice the Marshyangdi river is flowing throughout the Annapurna Circuit trek, on your left when you are on Pisang, just to refresh the aura and spirit of the remote villages.

Hotels in Lower Pisang

Lower Pisang is one of the most preferred night stay points just before you reach Manang. The place is rich in hospitality, with the warm smiles of locals greeting you on every booking. There are several hotels in Lower Pisang, you can consider staying at, these include,

• New Hotel Utse
• Eco Cottage Lodge
• Bob Marley Hotel
• Yak Hotel
• Pisang Peak Guest House
• Dragon Hotel and Restaurant
• Hotel Bajra
• Hotel Maya
• Putali Hotel

And the best thing is that the deals start at as little as USD 3 to stay in one of the best hotels in Pisang. What an offer for amazing village life amenities and 4g/5g network connectivity. You get free Wi-Fi, hot showers, and cozy rooms, targeted especially for local and international tourists, based on their preferences and budgets.

Dhikur Pokhari to Upper Pisang Distance

As the Google map suggests, the Dhikur Pokhara lies in Baglung, from which it takes around 8 hours and 39 minutes (207.2 km) to reach Pisang. For this, you need to come from Baglung Highway, join Pushpalal Highway, and continue to Besisahar and Chame Road. You will find Pisang in the southeast direction from Dhikur Pokhari.

But there is yet another Dhikur Pokhari in Manang itself; it's just the borderline villages between the high desert country of Manang town and the villages of Pisang. On day 8 of trekking in the Annapurna Circuit trek, you can unfold the roadside beauty of Pisang and take your main steps, crossing suspension bridges and cascading waterfalls in this region.

How do I reach Upper Pisang from Chame?

Pisang is a small village along the bank of the Marshyangdi River. The beautiful quaint village, both Upper and Lower Pisang, is home to beautiful coniferous forests, alpine meadows, and small settlements of friendly mountain people.

As you take a left from Chame to Upper Pisang, you continue the trekking route of around 13.7 kilometers or 8.5 miles, taking 5 to 6 hours to reach Upper Pisang by foot.

Distance from Lower Pisang to Manang

The trekking distance from Lower Pisang to Manang is about 20 km, which you can cover in 2 days with 5 to 6 hours of trekking at a comfortable pace.

If you are good at it and want to make it quick to Manang, 8.5 hours of trekking can just take you there. It is where the views of mountains come more clearly than ever, but with no signs of greenery as in the earlier villages because Manang is a deserted terrain.

The trekking route from Lower Pisang to Manang is quite interesting. It takes you to the raw beauty and scenery of Manang villages like Ghyaru, Ngawal, and Braga. These days on the Annapurna circuit trek can be challenging, but you can feel the efforts to explore the untamed beauty of Pisang are irresistible.

1. Lower Pisang to Ghyaru (5 km, around 2 hours)

Starting with Lower Pisang, you trek for around 1 hour to reach the quaint village of Ghyaru at an altitude of 3,730 meters, which is a pretty exhausting and steep climb.

2. Ghyaru to Ngawal (around 1 hour and 35 minutes)

After crossing Ghyaru monastery, you head your path toward a pass, the highest point of the day in the Ngawal village, after 1 and a half hours of trekking.

3. Ngawal to Braga (8 km, around 3.5 hours)

As you descend from the Ngawal, you now pass through a forest area, to reach the village of Braga, which is around 8 km away.

4. Braga to Manang (2 km, around 30 minutes)

The final steps from Braga take you to the mesmerizing river stream, the Marsyangdi River, which is an easy 30-minute walk. The journey to Manang greets you with amazing views of the Annapurna Sanctuary from an altitude of 3,540 meters in the deserted landscapes of Manang.

Annapurna Circuit Trek with Pisang Peak Climbing

Several trekking routes take you to the main trail of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. And what is more amazing than blending this lifetime adventure with another thrilling climb into the lesser-known trekking peak of Nepal, Pisang Peak?

The route to the base camp of Pisang Peak goes through the Upper Pisang. But make sure you take time for your body to adjust to such a climatic condition. The trek will take around 4 hours along the main trail to reach the tented camp at a height of 4,380m.

After you stay and acclimatize at the base camp of Pisang Peak, you now trek to the high camp of Pisang Peak. The next destination for the day to reach 5,400m above sea level at the high camp is about 4 to 5 hours of trekking away.

On your second day of base camp stay, we now take the journey to summit Pisang Peak. On the next day, the journey is a total of 8 hours long. With basic mountaineering skills, you conquer the height of Pisang Peak at an altitude of 6,091 meters. Inquiry for more details or you can join with us through make my payment.