Hiking / Nepal

Bhulbhule to Jagat: Day Two On The Annapurna Circuit

Read on for a detailed account of our second day on the Annapurna Circuit. Today, we trekked from Bhulbhule to Jagat, covering a distance of 16km in around 7.5 hours. It was time to enjoy some great views of the trek and get away from the road for a while.


The second day trekking the Annapurna Circuit gave us a great idea of what we could expect going forward. Today’s route would take us from Bhulbhule to Bahundanda, from Bahundanda to Ghermu and finally from Ghermu to Jagat. Starting at just 840m, we would ascend to 1300m by the end of the day.  It’s a 16km and around 7.5 hours walk from Bhulbhule to Jagat including all stops.

Read on for my experiences, tips and advice from day two hiking the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Hikers walking across a suspension bridge towards a Nepalese village

Day Two: Bhulbhule to Jagat on the Annapurna Circuit

Bhulbule (840m) – Bahundanda (1310m) – Ghermu (1130m) – Jagat (1300m)

Distance: 16km

Time: 7 hrs 35 minutes (08:15 – 15:50)

Bhulbhule to Bahundanda

Bhulbhule (840m) – Bahundanda (1310m)

Distance: 8km

Time: Around 2 hrs 15 mins.

While you could consider day one as “easing in” to the trek, there were no such luxuries on day two! We set off after breakfast and crossed the river via a suspension bridge (one of many on this trek!). Continuing along the road, we passed a small village of Ngadi. This flat section is wide and easy to follow. We passed small waterfalls and a hydropower station, which our guide told us are in important source of energy in Nepal.

We continued on for a while before coming across a fork in the road. The signs read “Off Road MANANG” and “Trekking Trail MANANG”. It’s pretty self-explanatory. Here, most vehicles take the route on the left bank of the river while hikers continue on the quieter trail. We opted for the latter, following the red and white markers indicating the main Annapurna Circuit trail. Seeing these means you’re always on the right track. You’ll also sometimes come across blue and white markers – these show alternative routes or side trips.

As we climbed higher, beautiful views of the valley, river and the surrounding mountains opened up. The path continued heading up past corn fields and terraces with local women tending to crops in the morning sun while men worked in nearby villages. We passed through some of these as locals waved to us and kids ran alongside us to ask us where we were from and show off their English skills. There is still technically a road that connects some of these villages but it’s not busy. We finally left the road and followed a tiny path which zigzagged up the hillside. We had to use our poles to haul ourselves up steeper sections.

Terraced fields and forested slopes of mountains between Bhulbhule and Bahundanda
Views of the terraced fields on the way to Bahundanda
Hikers climbing a path towards a viewpoint in the village of Bahundanda
Arriving in Bahundanda

Bahundanda to Ghermu

Bahundanda (1310m) – Ghermu (1130m)

Distance: 5km

Time: Around 2 hours

Soon after we reached Bahundanda (1310m) where we stopped to refill our water bottles and take a break. The climb to the village was actually pretty tough especially in the morning heat. It was too early for lunch but we enjoyed some cold drinks and a breather. We saw a local man struggling with some pipes he was carrying and gave him a hand. Bahundanda was actually the highest point of the day’s trekking and after taking in the views the trail took us back down into the valley. It snaked past more fields and villages with cows, goats and chickens roaming around. We were getting a good flavour of rural Nepalese communities and an insight into what life was really like in this part of the country.

Our route took us along the “old” trail instead of the road which we could see across the river. This was a harder but definitely more scenic route plus offered some shade during the day while the road was exposed to the elements. We climbed steep stone steps and followed the trail along the side of a cliff with a precipitous drop on the other side.

This section was definitely a challenge as the path kept going up and down before levelling off just as we reached Ghermu. We stopped at Rainbow Restaurant Hotel & Lodge for a long lunch. There were beautiful views of the twin waterfalls from the terrace. It’s possible to spend the night in Ghermu which some people choose to do.

A small barn with a tin roof next to a newly sowed field on the trail from Bhulbhule to Jagat
Passing a barn between Bahundanda and Ghermu
A hiker using a narrow path between a cliff and a big drop down to a river
Taking the trekking path to Ghermu
Hikers walking past a fence near the village of Ghermu with mountains in the background
Arriving in Ghermu

Ghermu to Jagat

Ghermu (1130m) – Jagat (1300m)

Distance: 3km

Time: Around 1 hour

After filling up on dhal bhat and coffee, we continued on. It’s possible to continue avoiding the road by following the blue/white markers to Jagat but we opted to rejoin the road. The walking trail is significantly longer (7km+ vs 4km) and steeper than the road section and it really depends on how much time you have and where you are stopping for the night. The markers are pretty easy to follow though if you do want to take the longer route.

We crossed the river and followed the road. There were very few vehicles and we had it pretty much to ourselves. There was another punishing stair climb which served as a “shortcut” to avoid the zigzagging section of road. The stunning views of the mountains and a glimpse of our final stop of the day were worth it though! The road hugged the cliff with big drops all the way to the rushing river below as we neared Jagat.

We arrived exhausted and sweaty to our accommodation in Jagat and no sooner than we did, the skies opened up. It was an epic shower which we avoided by mere minutes. We watched the rain fall before having an amazing hot shower and relaxing in the common area before having a huge dinner to make up for all the calories lost during an epic day of hiking!

A sign pointing out two alternative ways between Ghermu and Jagat along the Annapurna Circuit
Two men walking along the road from Bhulbhule to Jagat
Taking the road to Jagat

Bhulbhule to Jagat Key Notes

  • The first full day of the Annapurna Circuit! It’s tough in places but a great introduction to the trek.
  • Ghermu is the most sensible place to stop for lunch.
  • Take the walking route whenever possible. It’s more challenging than the road but the views are beautiful and it’s quieter.
  • The walking trail from Ghermu to Jagat adds around 3km and around an hour of walking time. It has tough, steep sections. Consider this when planning your day

Staying in Jagat: Paradise Hotel, Jagat

The guesthouse is along the main path through the village and hard to miss. There is a main house section as well as some simpler rooms towards the back of the place. Our rooms were in one of these wooden huts, overlooking the back yard and close to the bathrooms. The yard is spacious and there are chicken coops, a plant and vegetable garden and simple bathrooms. The solar showers were one of the best of the trip. No Western toilet though! The views from the yard are great as it backs pretty much straight onto a mountain side!

There is an extensive menu with loads of Nepalese staples as well as Western dishes. I plumped for a huge bowl of fried noodles, a plate of momos and a Tibetan-style bread. It’s fried, slightly sweet and very very delicious. I washed it all down with a bottle of Everest beer. Drinking alcohol at higher elevations is not recommended as it can exacerbate effects of altitude sickness but at just 1300m, this isn’t an issue. There is a covered terrace which is great for relaxing, reading and socialising. A few other groups of mostly French trekkers stayed at the guesthouse as well but it didn’t feel too busy.

We played cards and wrote in our diaries before heading to bed. It’s been a long day of trekking that saw us walk from Bhulbhule to Jagat. It was now time to head higher into the mountains!

Up Next: Jagat to Dharapani on the Annapurna Circuit – Day 3

A chicken coop in front of some rooms at a guesthouse in a village
Three plates of fried noodles, momos and fried bread on a table
Dinner at Paradise Hotel, Jagat

Check out my other Annapurna Circuit posts

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A pinnable image of a hiker walking along a path towards a village in the mountains
About Author

Hi! I’m Lexx and I love travel, fitness and anything active. 48 countries and very much counting. Partial to a craft beer and a good bakery.

5 Comments

  • Jamie Williams
    March 15, 2020 at 12:35 pm

    Hey, thanks so much for this blog it’s super descriptive and helpful. I’ve just arrived at Bhulbhule, took me about two hours from Besisahar, so not far off your estimations. Impressed with the views and the ease of the directions so far – it helps that the locals keep pointing me in the right direction also! I’m looking forward to reading more of your tips, especially for the pass later on. Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Travel Lexx
      March 18, 2020 at 5:53 pm

      Thanks Jamie! The estimations are always a little difficult to do because pace can vary so much, especially if you take regular stops! I try and be conservative with it but as I have readings from my watch/camera meta data, I also use those! Fantastic! It’s great that you’re finding these useful! I have published all the way to Muktinath now so that should keep you going for a while! Very jealous of you trekking while we are about to go on lockdown here in London! Do shout if you have any questions!

      Reply
  • Jamie Williams
    March 16, 2020 at 12:50 pm

    Took the blue alternate route today. Damn!! It was indeed tough. Great views though and the eventual arrival to Jagat made it so worth it!

    Reply
    • Travel Lexx
      March 18, 2020 at 5:51 pm

      Hi Jamie! I would have loved to have taken it. The views must have been incredible! It’s a pretty long day isn’t it?!

      Reply
  • Dil
    September 4, 2020 at 4:45 pm

    Lovely article with stunning photo galleries.

    Reply

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