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Manangपिसाङ

Pisang

Twin villages in the upper Marsyangdi, where the old stone houses of Upper Pisang look across to Annapurna II.

Plan a trip here
The upper Marsyangdi valley at Pisang, with village houses on the valley floor and the snow-covered Annapurna II massif behind.
Photo: Kondephy (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Altitude
3,300 m*
Best months
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Type
Trek stop
District
Manang, Gandaki
Permit
Permit required

Why go

Pisang is two villages in the upper Marsyangdi valley of Manang, at the point where the forest thins and the high, drier country begins. Lower Pisang sits by the river and the jeep road at about 3,200-3,250 m, and Upper Pisang climbs the slope above it at about 3,300 m, with a maze of stone lanes, flat-roofed houses and a monastery facing Annapurna II.

On the Annapurna Circuit, Pisang is the usual overnight stop after Chame. From here trekkers choose between the low route to Manang via Humde and the high route via Ghyaru and Ngawal, which climbs to about 3,700 m and is better for acclimatisation and views. Pisang Peak, a popular trekking peak, rises directly behind the village.

History and culture

Pisang belongs to the Nyeshang people of upper Manang, whose culture is Tibetan Buddhist and whose traders were long known for trade journeys across Asia. The monastery in Upper Pisang is still active and its morning and evening chanting carries across the valley; visitors are welcome if they remove shoes and ask before taking photographs. Prayer walls and chortens line both villages, which should be passed on the left, walking clockwise.

Things to do in Pisang

  • Visit the Upper Pisang monastery

    Climb through the old village to the monastery terrace for views of Annapurna II, ideally at the time of the evening prayers.

  • Take the high trail to Manang

    Climb steeply to Ghyaru, traverse to Ngawal and descend to Manang, about 6-7 hours, a good acclimatisation day.

Weather and the best time to visit Pisang

Weather in Pisang

Forecast for 3,300 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)
September to November is the main season, with the clearest skies in October and November.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
December to February is cold, with snow possible in the villages and frequent closure of the high passes.
Spring (Mar-May)
March to May is the second season, with milder days; early spring can still bring snow higher up.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
June to August brings rain and landslides on the road below Chame, although upper Manang lies in a drier rain shadow.

Where to stay

TeahousesLodges

Lodges in both Upper and Lower Pisang; Upper Pisang has more atmosphere, Lower Pisang is closer to the road.

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

Getting there

Walk up the Annapurna Circuit from Chame in a day, or travel by jeep from Besisahar up the Marsyangdi road.

Nearest hub: Pokhara

  • trekFrom Chame, about 5-6 hours and roughly 14 km via Bhratang and Dhukur Pokhari.
  • jeepBesisahar to Lower Pisang by jeep, a long day on a rough road; check current conditions.
Mount Everest 8,848.86Kangchenjunga 8,586Dhaulagiri I 8,167Manaslu 8,163Annapurna I 8,091PisangKathmandu
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, Tilicho Lake trek.

Previous stop:
Chame
Next stop:
Manang (via Ghyaru and Ngawal, or via Humde)
A typical day:
From Chame, about 5-6 hours and roughly 600 m of height gain through pine forest past Paungda Danda.

Practical tips

  • Altitude illness is possible above about 2,500 m: climb slowly, do not go higher with a headache or nausea, and descend if symptoms get worse. This is general information, not medical advice.
  • Mobile signal is usually available in Lower Pisang and patchy in Upper Pisang.
  • Walk clockwise around chortens and prayer walls, and ask before photographing people or monastery interiors.
  • Nights are cold from October; bring a warm sleeping bag.

Treks through Pisang

Deep-blue Tilicho Lake beneath the glaciated wall of Tilicho Peak and barren brown ridges

Annapurna Circuit Trek

A teahouse journey around the Annapurna massif, from the green Marsyangdi valley through Manang and over the Thorong La (5,416 m) to Muktinath and the dry Kali Gandaki valley.

Days
11 days
Maximum altitude
5,416 m
Difficulty
Strenuous
Turquoise water of Tilicho Lake reflecting the ice cliff of the Tilicho glacier and snowy slopes above it.

Tilicho Lake Trek

A side trek from Manang on the Annapurna Circuit to Tilicho Lake (about 4,919 m), a glacier-fed lake below Tilicho Peak, via Khangsar, Shree Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp.

Days
10 days
Maximum altitude
4,919 m
Difficulty
Strenuous

Questions about Pisang

Should I stay in Upper or Lower Pisang?

Upper Pisang has the old village, the monastery and better views, and sleeping slightly higher helps acclimatisation. Lower Pisang is easier to reach and closer to the road.

How high is Pisang?

Upper Pisang is about 3,300 m and Lower Pisang about 3,200-3,250 m, high enough for mild altitude symptoms in some people.

Which route should I take from Pisang to Manang?

The high route via Ghyaru and Ngawal takes about 6-7 hours and helps acclimatisation; the low route via Humde is shorter and easier.

More in Manang

All of Manang
Flat-roofed stone houses stacked on a barren hillside in the Nar Phu valley.

Valley or region · 4,150 m

Nar Phu Valley

A restricted high valley north of the Annapurna Circuit, with two old Tibetan Buddhist villages, Nar and Phu, reached through a narrow gorge from Koto.

Tilicho Lake with Tilicho Peak reflected in the water.

Lake · 4,919 m

Tilicho Lake

A glacial lake at about 4,920 m beneath the ice walls of Tilicho Peak, reached on a demanding side trip from Manang.

Trek stop · 2,670 m

Chame

The district headquarters of Manang, a road-head town in fir and pine forest where most Annapurna Circuit trekkers spend a night.

Trek stop · 1,900 m

Dharapani (Manang)

A Marsyangdi valley village where the Manaslu Circuit joins the Annapurna Circuit road.

Trek stop · 2,600 m

Koto

A small village in pine and fir forest on the Annapurna Circuit, just below Chame, and the start of the trail into the Nar Phu valley.

Trek stop · 3,660 m

Ngawal

A stone village high on the north side of the Manang valley, on the upper Annapurna Circuit route and at the foot of the Kang La from Nar.

Trek stop · 4,070 m

Shree Kharka

A small lodge stop in high pasture west of Manang, on the trail to Tilicho Base Camp and Tilicho Lake.

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.

Nearby

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.

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