Gandaki Province, Nepal
Besisahar Travel Guide
The district headquarters of Lamjung and the classic trailhead of the Annapurna Circuit — a busy roadhead bazaar in the green middle hills where the Marsyangdi valley road climbs toward Chame and Manang.
Besisahar is the district headquarters of Lamjung and the classic trailhead of the Annapurna Circuit, a busy roadhead bazaar set at around 760 metres on the Marsyangdi River in Nepal's green middle hills. For most travellers it is a gateway rather than a destination — the place where the highway ends and the great mountain loop begins — but the bustling valley town has real energy and a handful of genuine sights worth a pause.
The heart of town is Besisahar bazaar, strung along the Marsyangdi, where jeeps load up for the hills and the market hums with trekking and hill-country trade. From the edge of town the Annapurna Circuit trailhead sends walkers up the valley toward Bhulbhule and Khudi, the first villages on the route. The Marsyangdi itself is one of Nepal's great whitewater runs, and Marsyangdi River rafting draws paddlers to its big, continuous rapids.
Above the bazaar sits the historic Lamjung Durbar, the old palace of the Lamjung kingdom from which the Shah dynasty rose, while on clear mornings the Lamjung Himal and Gangapurna viewpoint reveals a wall of Annapurna-region peaks. From here the rough jeep road to Chame and Manang climbs deep into the mountains toward the high villages of Manang.
Set north of Dumre and within easy reach of Pokhara, Besisahar earns its place among the best places to visit in Nepal for its setting and its access to the high Himalaya. Start with our pick of the top things to do in Besisahar and the Annapurna Circuit from Besisahar collection, then sort the practicalities with our guides to where to stay, how to get there and the best time to visit. Read up on the Annapurna Circuit trek and altitude sickness in Nepal before you head up the valley.
Where to stay in Besisahar
Sights & attractions in Besisahar
Trekking & treks in Besisahar
What to do in Besisahar
Rafting & rivers in Besisahar
Getting around in Besisahar
Plan your trip in Besisahar
Frequently asked questions
Is Besisahar worth visiting?+
Besisahar is more a gateway than a destination in itself, but it's a lively and useful stop. The bustling Marsyangdi-valley bazaar, the historic Lamjung Durbar above town and big views of Lamjung Himal and Gangapurna make it a worthwhile pause, and it's the classic starting point for the Annapurna Circuit and Marsyangdi rafting.
Where is Besisahar?+
Besisahar is the headquarters of Lamjung district in Gandaki Province, set at around 760 metres in the green middle hills on the Marsyangdi River. It lies northwest of Kathmandu and north of Dumre on the Prithvi Highway, where the road turns up the Marsyangdi valley toward Chame and Manang.
What is Besisahar famous for?+
Besisahar is famous as the trailhead of the Annapurna Circuit — the place where most trekkers begin the great loop around the Annapurna massif. It is also known for Marsyangdi River rafting, the historic Lamjung Durbar, and as the roadhead where jeeps load up for the rough drive to Chame and Manang.
How many days do you need in Besisahar?+
Most travellers spend half a day to a night in Besisahar as a transit stop — enough to see the bazaar, catch the mountain views and organise onward travel. Trekkers usually overnight here before walking out toward Bhulbhule and Khudi or taking a jeep up the Marsyangdi valley.
How do you get to Besisahar?+
Besisahar is reached by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara via Dumre on the Prithvi Highway, then a short drive north up a paved road. Direct buses and jeeps run daily, and from Besisahar the rough mountain road continues up the Marsyangdi valley to Chame and Manang.