annapurna trek difficulty

10 things I wish I knew before hiking the Annapurna Circuit

It’s one of the world’s classic long-distance hiking trails, and still one of Nepal’s most popular treks.

The Annapurna Circuit , a 12 to 21-day route that begins in the lush green villages of the Himalayan foothills. Taking trekkers over the 5,416m Thorong La Pass and down to the Tibetan-influenced temples and communities of the Mustang Valley.

If you want to experience a little bit of everything Nepal has to offer, this is perhaps the best trek to set off on, but it’s certainly no easy feat. The circuit is very tough at times, and the high altitude and unpredictable weather of the Annapurna mountain range can make crossing the Thorong La Pass a dangerous task – particularly if you’re not prepared.

Thankfully, I’ve got your back! So, here are ten things you should really know in order to complete the amazing Annapurna Circuit safely and with a smile on your face.

Check out Intrepid's Annapurna treks

1. Plan the time of year right

Photo captured by Annapurna Mellor

Like with many of the treks in Nepal, there are certain times of year when the weather conditions are ideal. For the Annapurna Circuit, October and November or April and May are widely considered to be the best times for trekking. The weather during these two seasons is generally clear and dry, and so it’s not too cold when heading into high altitudes. These two seasons are also the busiest times to be on the trail, with many other trekkers from across the world heading into the Himalayas.

You can also trek at other times of the year, but you will need to be a little more prepared for adverse weather conditions. The winter season, December to March, can also have clear skies and spectacular views. But it can be incredibly cold at higher altitudes, with thick snow on the ground that can often cause the Thorong La Pass to close at short notice. If you decide to trek during the winter season, make sure you have extra layers, a thick sleeping bag suited to temperatures of at least -20°C and crampons, which can be bought in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

GO NOW: EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ON THIS 16-DAY ADVENTURE

2. Bring only what you need, leave the rest behind

When trekking on the Annapurna Circuit with Intrepid, Nepalese porters will carry 10kg of your gear. Anything extra will need to be carried on your own back, so packing as lightly as possible is essential. There are some things you need, such as a good quality sleeping bag, warm jackets, medicines, thermal layers and a head torch. But leave your jeans, laptop and makeup back in Kathmandu. You really don’t need them on the trail, and your back will thank you for it!

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3. The altitude should not be underestimated

Altitude sickness can happen anytime above 2,500m. It doesn’t matter how fit you are, it can affect anyone and does so randomly. You can stay prepared by taking Diamox, an altitude medication, but aside from that just take it slow, drink lots of water and listen to your body. Before you set off on the trail, read up on the symptoms of altitude sickness so you’re aware of them if you start to feel the effects. Your guides will also be very knowledgeable about altitude and can be an essential source of help if you aren’t feeling well. The Annapurna Circuit reaches over 5,000m, that’s seriously high, and almost everyone will experience some mild symptoms like headaches or difficulty sleeping.

RELATED: ANNAPURNA OR EVEREST? YOUR DEFINITIVE TREKKING GUIDE

4. Be prepared for all weathers, whatever the time of year

While certain times of the year have much more suitable trekking weather (see point one), it is vital to be prepared for all possible conditions, no matter when you decide to go. High in the Himalayas, the weather is unpredictable, and snow, rain or storms can happen at any time. Climate change also means that weather patterns have become even more erratic over the last few years. Even if you’re trekking in October, be prepared for snow or storms on the trail. Pack enough warm clothing, make sure your boots are waterproof and don’t forget your sun cream or a sunhat.

GO NOW: DISCOVER THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ON THIS 16-DAY ESCAPE

5. Eat well and look after your body

One of the best things about the Annapurna Circuit is the food and hospitality you will receive in the teahouses. Each evening, after a long day of trekking, you will be delighted to sit down in front of a roaring fire and tuck into a plate of dal bhat (a traditional Nepali meal of rice, lentils, vegetable curry and pickle). The food is delicious and very filling, and your body will be grateful for it the next day when you feel revived and ready to head out on the trail again. Other common offerings in guesthouses include garlic soup, a local remedy for altitude sickness and much better than it sounds. As well as, fried potatoes, spaghetti with local vegetables and of course apple pie – which is the Annapurna Circuit’s desert of choice due to the apple orchards growing in many of the villages along the trail. For snacking, I recommend stocking up in Kathmandu, as the cost of items like chocolate bars can get very high on the circuit.

RELATED: 8 NEPALI DISHES YOU HAVE TO TRY

6. It’s good to have a way to purify water

Plastic is a big problem on trekking routes across Nepal, as most of these small villages have no waste disposal system. This is leaving mountainsides cluttered with discarded plastic bottles, which is really not how we want to be treating these areas of striking natural beauty! You can’t drink the tap water in Nepal, and you really do need to be drinking a lot on the trail as you are walking long distances at high altitudes.

I recommend getting a steel reusable water bottle in Kathmandu. Along the trail, there are many villages with purified drinking water stations. Here you can refill your bottle and it actually works out much cheaper than buying bottled water. You can also use water purification tablets or buy a steripen. During the evenings, we would often order pots of hot water or tea and drink that, you can also fill up your bottle with any remaining in the pot and it’ll still be good to drink the next day.

TAKE ME THERE: EXPLORE OUR FULL RANGE OF ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT BREAKS

7. Learn some cultural respect

For many people, trekking in Nepal is about mountain views and hiking. But this is also a cultural trail, and it’s important to respect the people that call these villages their home. I recommend learning a little more about the cultures you are passing through. Speak to the families running the teahouses and go visit local gompas or temples. Opening your eyes to the cultures, religions and heritage of the trail will make it a much more enjoyable and meaningful experience, and it also means a lot to the local people when trekkers take an interest in their lives.

RELATED: MY INCREDIBLE MEETING WITH A HERMIT ON A NEPAL MOUNTAIN TREK

8. Don’t run out of cash

Once you leave Besisahar, there are no cash machines on the Annapurna Trail until you reach Jomsom after the Thorong La Pass. So, you need to be prepared and carry all the money you will need for the journey. While food and drinks in the teahouses can be cheap in the lowlands, they increase significantly as you increase in altitude and the road disappears. In Kathmandu, dal bhat is likely to cost you around 200 rupees, but this can grow to around 800 when you get above 3,500m. Western food such as burgers, pasta and burritos (yes, all food you can get on the trail), also tends to be very expensive as you get higher. I would recommend taking at least $20 per day for the trek, and if you’re a big eater or want to drink alcohol, $30-$40 per day is better.

GO NOW: TACKLE ANNAPURNA AND EVEREST ON THIS 31-DAY EPIC

9. Prepare yourself for the Thorong La Pass

Crossing the Thorong La Pass was probably the hardest day of my life! Waking up before sunrise and heading over narrow ridges in thick snow. Then climbing continuously for hours before finally reaching the prayer flags on the pass, breathless and completely relieved. Ok, maybe I’m not selling it so well. But it is essential to be prepared for this day, which will really push even the fittest hiker to the limits.

As long as you’re prepared, wearing enough warm clothes and have acclimatised enough to ensure your body comfortably makes the journey, then reaching the Thorong La Pass is going to be one of the most joyous moments of your trekking trip! Plus, once you’ve reached the top, you get to descend 1,600m to Muktinath, where the air is thick in oxygen and there are even hot showers to look forward to.

GO NOW: LIMITED ON TIME? OUR 5-DAY WALKING TOUR THROUGH THE ANNAPURNA RANGE

10. Be positive, take it slow and enjoy the journey!

Travelling is meant to push you and challenge you in so many ways and trekking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal will certainly do just that. While this is a difficult trek at times, it is also an incredibly enjoyable journey and one that can be completed by people of all ages and all fitness levels. The most important thing throughout the trek is to stay positive. Even when your body aches and you’re craving a hot shower, positivity will drive you on and it won’t be long before a breath-taking Himalayan panorama makes you remember why you’re here pushing yourself to the limit. It’s these incredible views, the wonderful hospitality of the local people and the company of your trekking buddies, which really make this a journey you will remember for the rest of your life!

RELATED: WHY CHALLENGING YOURSELF IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRAVELLING

Think you’re ready to take on the Annapurna Circuit? Take a look at our selection of trekking tours that’ll take you there . Already tackled it and looking for a new challenge? Check out our range of walking and trekking holidays from around the world.

Annapurna Mellor

Annapurna Mellor is a photographer, writer and storyteller. Her travels have taken her across Asia, Northern Africa, along the Trans-Siberian Railway and around Europe - always taking the road less travelled and always aiming to go a little deeper into the heart of local culture and people. Her photography work has been featured in National Geographic Traveller Magazine, Lonely Planet Guide Books and in campaigns for many travel brands around the world. Although she is usually dreaming about adventures afar, she is based, most of the time, in Manchester, England.

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Ace the Himalaya

Trekking in Nepal, Peak Climbing, Mt Biking and Tours in Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet

• Everest Base Camp Trek - 14 Days
• EBC Trek with Helicopter Return - 12 Days
• Everest Base Camp Luxury Trek - 14 Days
• Everest Base Camp with Island Peak - 19 Days
• Everest Three Passes Trek - 20 Days
• Annapurna Base Camp Trek - 13 Days
• Annapurna Circuit Trek - 19 Days
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• Gokyo to Everest Base Camp Trek - 17 Days

How Difficult is Annapurna Circuit Trek?

From altitude to terrain, discover the factors influencing the Annapurna Circuit trek difficulty. Prepare accordingly for a successful and enjoyable adventure.

Amidst the variety of treks that Nepal features, the Annapurna Circuit trek is one of the most iconic and popular one and for all the right reasons as this trek is an adventure painted with varied landscapes and colossal mountain views.

It is an epic journey circumnavigating the Annapurna massif while taking you to the highest accessible mountain pass in the world. You can find lots of reasons why Annapurna Circuit trek should be your next adventure.

However, a hint of doubt arises once the difficulty level of the Annapurna Circuit trek comes in picture as with its adventures comes the challenges which might not be tackled by everyone.

In this blog, we answer your questions regarding how difficult is Annapurna Circuit trek to prepare you for your dream adventure.

What is the overall difficulty level of Annapurna Circuit trek?

The Annapurna Circuit trek is considered a moderately difficult trek. However, the number of challenges you will face is subjective and can verge on easy or strenuous based on the trekking conditions.

Trekkers are subjected to long hours of walking while covering 8 to 15 kms per day for 5 to 6 hours so that they can cover the distance of 160 to 210 km (depending on your itinerary) within 2 to 3 weeks of time.

Taking you to 5,416 meters, the trek also presents a high-altitude challenge with several challenges like altitude sickness while also challenging your physical and mental health.

However, the Annapurna Circuit trek is not just for elites and every trekker dreaming of the Annapurna adventure can conquer it with thorough preparation, training, a suitable itinerary, and guidance from a local guide or a local trekking agency like Ace the Himalaya .

Factors determining the Annapurna Circuit Trek difficulty

The difficulty level of the Annapurna Circuit trek is multifaceted and is determined by a combination of several factors that should be considered by the trekkers for a safe and enjoyable experience.

These factors include things like terrain, length of the trek, duration, climatic conditions, food and accommodation on the trek, availability of emergency services, and much more.

In this section, we will break down all these factors and their effect on the difficulty of the Annapurna Circuit trek.

Terrains on the Annapurna Circuit trek are a tricky factor as the kind of terrains you will come across during your trek depends solely on the choices that you make as a trekker, the major one being whether to avoid the dirt road or not.

Popularity has its downfalls and the same is the case with the Annapurna Circuit as the trek now features a full-fledged dirt road that runs parallel with the trekking trail, acting as a boon for some while being a bane for some.

These dirt roads have given most people with the knack of Annapurna exploration an option to shortcut their trek and walk for only a shorter segment while enjoying the views from their jeep for the most part of the journey.

However, a section of trekkers has been bothered by this, and the need of the hour for them has become avoiding these dirt roads at any cost as these roads, despite boasting the same view, are full of dust and vehicle noises.

Coming to your experience, if you are walking for a short segment of the trek, you will mostly be walking only at high altitudes while crossing the Thorong La Pass. Thus, you will be crossing a rugged and dramatic terrain full of rocky paths and high plateaus.

This makes your experience a little challenging and requires a good amount of physical fitness. However, the challenge will be short-lived, so it won’t be as difficult.

If you are walking through dirt roads, the terrains you will come across won’t be challenging but they will be full of dust and traffic.

But if you are a true trekker wanting to avoid dirt roads, the terrains of the trek become exciting as well as challenging as you will be crossing varied landscapes ranging from verdant valleys to dramatic mountain passes.

The trail features steep ascents and descendant slogs in many sections which demands strong leg muscles and good cardiovascular health. You might also come across uneven and rocky trails in some sections of the trek.

Be careful as the trails get slippery, especially during monsoon or after snow, where there might be chances of slippage. These sections add a hint of difficulty to the trek.

Carrying proper hiking boots and additional support like trekking poles while being mindful about your footing and adapting your pace according to the terrain can be helpful.

Distance and Duration

The distance of the Annapurna Circuit trek is one of the most significant challenges of the trek as it covers anywhere between 160 km to 210 km (100 to 145 miles) depending on your itinerary and the detours that you make along the way.

However, the availability of dirt roads and easily accessible transportation options also allows you to shorten your trekking distance if you want so it can just be around 5 days of walking with everything else being covered in a vehicle.

On foot, the Annapurna Circuit trek takes around 14 to 21 days to complete (around 2 to 3 weeks) which might seem okay at a cursory glance, but it is an extremely challenging adventure.

The trek requires you to walk for 5 to 6 hours every day on average to cover anywhere between 8 to 15 kilometers. This can be testing for your physical strength and endurance.

People with higher physical fitness and prior experience can cover slightly more distance every day, but you can’t go overboard as altitude is a factor too. Therefore, you must maintain a gentle pace.

Besides that, the length and duration of the trek can be mentally testing too as you will be in completely unfamiliar surroundings with no familiar faces and the tiredness combined can make you feel discouraged, making the trek much more difficult.

Therefore, physical and mental preparation well in advance before the trek along with gentle ascent and good bonding with fellow trekkers and locals is an important aspect of completing the trek.

Altitude is another factor that makes up a big part of the difficulty of the Annapurna Circuit trek as the high-altitude trekking conditions present lots of significant challenges for the trekkers.

The Annapurna Circuit trek goes as high as 5,416 meters and takes you to the highest accessible mountain pass in the world, reaching its zenith at the Thorong La Pass which is not a small feat.

As you go higher in the trek, you enter the realm of thin air and the levels of oxygen start dropping forcing your body to manage with lower oxygen intake. It exerts lots of pressure on your cardiovascular system while walking and ascending.

In such cases, the chances of altitude sickness become much higher, and you might experience symptoms like nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, loss of sleep, headache, and fatigue.

These symptoms can get much worse if ignored and can force you to descend or call off the trek completely. It can be even life-threatening sometimes.

The best way to prevent altitude sickness during the Annapurna Circuit trek is to ascend gradually and set aside enough days for proper acclimatization as you gain altitude at spots like Manang.

Take a walk around your acclimatization spot to apply the ‘climb high sleep low’ principle. Continue your hike only once you feel completely fine. Meanwhile, stay hydrated and focus on eating a nutritious diet.

The weather in the Annapurna region is highly unpredictable, and although it is predicted based on seasonal patterns, it can significantly change at any given time during the trek.

Consider the weather in the Annapurna Circuit to be like mood swings as they can shift from sunshine to heavy rainfall within a matter of minutes and feature snow, rain, winds, and scorching sun all in an instant.

Although less in winter, sudden downpours are a significant part of your trek, especially in the months of monsoon (June to August) when you will be experiencing heavy rainfalls even leading to less visibility.

This leads to slippery trails and also obstructs the views of the mountain ranges which is one of the major highlights of the trek that nobody would want to miss. Also, the rainfall leads to trails that are infested with leeches.

Therefore, monsoon is not the best time for your Annapurna Circuit adventure. However, you should be prepared for sudden downpours even during other seasons.

Winters (December to February) on the circuit can be equally challenging as you will come across freezing temperatures.

While the average daytime temperature is 5 degrees celsius, during nighttime, it can get as low as –20 degrees celsius which is truly a challenge.

Along with the temperatures comes the snow. The trails, especially at high altitudes, will be blanketed in snow making it slippery and tricky for you to complete your trek. Ice cleats, microspikes, crampons, and trekking poles can be your saviors against the snow.

The months of autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are much less challenging for the trekkers as they feature balanced climatic conditions with clear skies and high wildlife activity too giving you the best experience on the circuit.

Accommodation

Although the accommodation options on a trek do not impact the difficulty level directly, they play a significant role in your overall trekking experience and are a big part of ensuring comfort and rest throughout the trek.

The Annapurna Circuit features a wide range of accommodation options, especially on lower altitudes as this trek experiences a huge influx of trekkers. These options include teahouses, lodges, as well as guesthouses.

You can find options of private rooms with amenities like attached washroom, hot showers, wi-fi and more depending on your location of stay. But the most prevalent options are usually basic rooms with twin sharing and shared bathrooms.

As you ascend higher, the amenities start thinning out and at certain remote locations like Thorong Phedi, option of attached bathrooms, wi-fi, western toilets, hot showers, and other familiar luxuries might not be available at all.

Nevertheless, the accommodation is comfortable and keeps you cozy amidst the challenging conditions of the trek allowing you to rest well.

The availability of the facilities also depends on the season when you are trekking as sometimes the lodges might be booked out due to peak season, especially during spring and autumn.

So be prepared for basic facilities and a limited menu at certain sections while enjoying all the comforts along with an extensive menu in big stops along the trek.

Lack of Preparation

Another factor that makes the Annapurna Circuit trek much more challenging than it should be is the lack of preparation in terms of physical fitness, packing the right gear, as well as gaining some insights about the trek.

For any category of trekker, the Annapurna Circuit trek can be demanding. Therefore, one needs to have at least a basic level of fitness for embarking on the trek.

Long hours of walking can be tough on your legs and cause issues like sore muscles, pain, blisters, and even twisting of ankles sometimes. Therefore, you should start exercising well in advance.

Focus on exercises to strengthen your legs, calves, lower back, core, and shoulders to be able to trek with the weight comfortably. Also focus mainly on cardio exercises like swimming, running, cycling, jumping, and more.

These exercises help you to build your cardiovascular stamina and help you to trek comfortably in the low oxygen region.

Go on leisurely walks and hikes at least once a week to stimulate conditions similar to the trek and prepare for walking for long hours. Get up and down the stairs of a tall building to prepare for the taxing ascents and knee-jarring descents.

Another thing making your trek difficult is the lack of the right gear and clothing while on the trek which causes challenges when it comes to tackling the freezing temperatures or the sliding trails of the trek.

To prevent these issues, make sure to create a solid packing list for Annapurna Circuit and pack all the right items while not overburdening your luggage with unnecessary items.

Research about the trek, the trail conditions, and the local culture to make your trek more comfortable and not face any challenges with the locals.

Prior Experience

How difficult is the Annapurna Circuit trek going to be for you also depends on your prior hiking or trekking experience.

If you are someone who has been on similar high-altitude treks like the Everest Base Camp trek or any other, this trek becomes much less challenging for you.

People with prior trekking experience are likely to have a better stamina and endurance along with overall general fitness. Besides that, they are familiar with the dreaded soreness that follows after a long day of walk which makes it easier to deal with.

The risk of injuries is decreased too as they have tackled similar terrains before and are aware of factors like proper footing. Another advantage is that you might have a better cardiovascular health and acclimatize easily as your body has faced this challenge before.

Even if it doesn’t aid with acclimatization, it can definitely help you in recognizing the symptoms of altitude sickness allowing you to take timely action. You are also much better prepared for crisis management in case of emergencies.

People with prior trekking experience are also familiar with the kind of accommodation and food habits along with the challenging climatic conditions prevalent in the high-altitude areas which allows them to blend in easily.

Having said that, it is not true that people without experience cannot embark on this trek as it is one of the beginner-friendly treks of Nepal.

Yes, the trek will be slightly more challenging for beginners, but with the proper preparation one can enjoy the trek thoroughly.

Beginners should put in more efforts when it comes to exercising, researching, and preparing for the trek. Try to go for short hikes as often as possible.

Mental Endurance

Along with causing physical exertion, a long day trek such as the Annapurna circuit trek can also be mentally demanding and end up taking a toll on the determination of the trekkers.

You are amidst an unfamiliar environment away from your family and some days might be tougher than others leaving you tired and in pain due to all the walking. At such times, you might want to give up.

To not come across these situations, building mental grit is also an important aspect of preparing for the Annapurna Circuit trek.

You should engage in mindfulness practices and visualize yourself emerging on the other side of the Thorong La Pass as you successfully complete the trek. This will give you the much-needed push on your bad days.

Engaging in yoga and meditation also improves your physical and cardiovascular health. You can carry some books or card games to keep yourself distracted while on the trek or even take a journal and write down your experiences.

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ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREKKING GUIDE

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ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

The Essential Guide

In this guide to the Annapurna Circuit we’ll cover everything you need to know to plan the perfect trek, including a suggested itinerary, budget breakdown, practical details, and more. We’ll also outline the best Annapurna Circuit side trips and add-on treks for those looking to extend their Himalaya adventure.

The Annapurna Circuit is a classic Nepal trek. It traverses wonderfully varied landscapes, from lush lowlands to the high-altitude Thorong Pass, with the majestic Annapurna Massif a near constant companion. A string of trekking lodges and clearly marked trails make this an easily accessible trek for both independent hikers and guided treks. It’s also a great option for experienced trekkers looking to tackle an epic Nepal trek on a budget, as the permit fees are low and a guide is not compulsory.

Spectacular scenery abounds, but alas, the Annapurna Circuit is not without flaws. Extensive road building over the last few years has changed the nature of this trek dramatically. Few days are now spent solely on trekking trails. But, armed with the right advice and useful tips for getting ‘off-road’, this is still a standout Nepal trek.

Want to know more about the Annapurna Circuit Trek itself? Check out our day by day account . You can also watch our complete Annapurna Circuit Instagram Stories , plus our video below!

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Read through the guide or jump ahead to a particular section by clicking on the links below.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ITINERARY  | ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK MAP | WHERE TO START AND END | HOW LONG THE TREK TAKES | WHEN TO GO | ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK DIFFICULTY | TREKKING INDEPENDENTLY | TREK WITH GUIDE/PORTER | CHOOSING A GUIDE/TREKKING AGENCY | TREK ON A GUIDED TOUR | ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT PERMITS | ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT BUDGET | MONEY ON ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT | ACCOMMODATION  |  FOOD AND DRINK | DRINKING WATER | INTERNET AND CHARGING | WHAT TO PACK | ALTITUDE AWARENESS | TRAVEL INSURANCE | ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT SIDE TRIPS | ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ADD-ONS | HIGHLIGHTS/LOWLIGHTS | WHAT WE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY | GETTING TO/FROM THE TRAIL | GETTING TO NEPAL | TOURIST VISAS | EXTRA RESOURCES

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ITINERARY ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK MAP WHERE TO START AND END HOW LONG THE TREK TAKES WHEN TO TREK THE CIRCUIT TREK DIFFICULTY TREKKING INDEPENDENTLY TREK WITH GUIDE/PORTER CHOOSING A GUIDE/AGENCY TREK ON A GUIDED TOUR ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT PERMITS ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT BUDGET MONEY ON THE TRAIL ACCOMMODATION FOOD AND DRINK DRINKING WATER INTERNET AND CHARGING WHAT TO PACK ALTITUDE AWARENESS TRAVEL INSURANCE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT SIDE TRIPS ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ADD-ONS HIGHLIGHTS/LOWLIGHTS WHAT WE’D DO DIFFERENTLY GETTING TO/FROM THE TRAIL GETTING TO NEPAL TOURIST VISAS EXTRA RESOURCES

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ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK ITINERARY

Below is a possible Annapurna Circuit trek itinerary for a full 21 day trek. This is not set in stone, just a suggested route. Some people stay in alternative villages along the way or cut days off the start or end. We feel this route takes in the best scenery and highlights along the way and ensures ample acclimatisation opportunity on the approach to Thorong La (5416 m).

Distances and trekking times are approximate.

*Days 3-5 could be done over 2 days instead of 3 if you prefer to cover more distance in a day. Overnight at Timang, Thanchowk, Koto or Chame between Tal and Upper Pisang.

**Add 3 days here for a Tilicho Lake side trip.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREKKING MAP

Below you’ll find our Annapurna Circuit Trek map with key points marked, possible side trips, and trek practicalities. You can also  download this map for offline use  with Maps.me. Be sure to download the Maps.Me app first ( iOS / Android ). Tap the menu button at the top left for more details, to toggle layers on and off, and to switch between satellite and terrain view. You can save this Google map by tapping the star.  This is a useful online version of a popular paper trekking map of the region, with the NATT trails shown in red.

WHERE TO START & END THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

Following the construction of dirt roads at the traditional start and end points of the Annapurna Circuit, there is no definitive answer to this question. Fifteen years ago most trekkers would have started at Besisahar and ended at Beni around 3 weeks later. These days, the road extends from Besisahar to Manang and from Muktinath to Beni. That leaves a 30 km, 3 day trekking trail between Manang and Muktinath. Hardly the Annapurna Circuit Trek of yore.

But it’s not all bad news. While the roads were literally built over the original trekking trails, many New Annapurna Trekking Trail (NATT) sections were created, offering alternative ‘off-road’ routes. Combining these new trails with what’s left of the original ones makes for a different, but still largely enjoyable experience. However, it makes the simple question of where to start and end much less clear cut.

Reaching Ghyaru (3700 m) on one of the NATT trails. The old trail (now road) lies far below, and Annapurna II marks the skyline behind

One thing most people agree on is that it’s best to tackle the Annapurna Circuit in an anti-clockwise direction , as the ascent towards Thorong La is more gradual and this aids acclimatisation.

You can access the various trailheads at the start of the trek from Kathmandu or Pokhara, with Pokhara being closer. Pokhara is also much closer to the various end points of the trek and it is advisable to travel to Pokhara first before returning all the way to Kathmandu. Note that if you plan to leave excess baggage in a hotel, it may be best to start/end in the same city. For this, Pokhara is the ideal choice.

WHERE TO START THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

Technically, you can start the Annapurna Circuit Trek anywhere between Besisahar and Manang. However, we wouldn’t recommend starting anywhere beyond Chame (2670m) for acclimatisation reasons.

Purists and those with no time limit will want to start at Besisahar or Bhulbhule, 7km up the busy road and accessible by public bus. If you are short on time, you could skip the first one to two days walking and start at Jagat (1300m) or Chamje/Chyamche (1430m), or skip four days walking and start at Chame (2670m). You can reach all of these points by shared jeep from Besisahar (Jagat/Chamje approx 1000 Rs/4-5 hours, Chame approx 2000 Rs/7-8 hours).

As we were linking the Annapurna Circuit Trek with Manaslu Circuit , we joined the trail at Dharapani (1860m), approx half way between Chamje and Chame.

WHERE TO END THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

Technically, you can end your Annapurna Circuit Trek anywhere between Muktinath and Beni, with Jomsom and Tatopani being quite common endpoints. Nayapul, Kande and Phedi are also popular endpoints, and trekking this far is certainly more of an actual ‘circuit of the Annapurnas’.

If you have time, our suggested route is to carry on all the way to Kande or Phedi via Ghorepani (plus Poon Hill), Ghandruk and Tolka. In our opinion Kagbeni (between Muktinath and Jomsom) is an absolute must visit place, so we would suggest ending your trek no earlier than at Jomsom. Marpha (just south of Jomsom) is also very nice. Ghandruk is a beautiful Gurung village with wonderful views and distinct architecture, so if you have time we certainly recommend extending your trek as far as here.

SEE WHAT THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK IS ALL ABOUT

READ OUR DAY BY DAY ACCOUNT

HOW MANY DAYS IS THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK?

As you may have gathered already, the length of your Annapurna Circuit Trek will depend entirely on where you decide to start and end your journey. As a bare minimum it would take 6 days to trek from Chame to Muktinath, including 2 nights in or around Manang for acclimatisation purposes. A more standard schedule is about 16 days from Bhulbhule to Tatopani, or 18 days finishing at Nayapul. Ending at Kande would take about 20 days. Add 3 days if you want to include a side trip to Tilicho Lake. See our full trek itinerary outline above  to plan your ideal route.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS FOR THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

6 Days : Chame to Muktinath

12 Days : Bhulbhule to Jomsom

15 Days : Bhulbhule to Tatopani

19 Days : Bhulbhule to Kande

WHEN TO TREK THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT?

Ultimately it depends on what you are looking for. With the best weather comes the biggest crowds, and with fewer crowds come freezing conditions or a complete lack of mountain views. Shoulder season can be a good compromise.

If it’s dry weather, clear mountain views, and little chance of snow at high altitude you want, then October it is. The downside is that the trail is at its busiest. October is considered peak trekking season on the Annapurna Circuit, but September and November can be good alternatives .

Dry weather and clear mountain views on a sunny October morning

March and April are considered to be the next best season to trek the Annapurna Circuit. The weather is generally clear although a little colder, particularly at higher altitudes. Mornings are sunny and flowers are in bloom. There is however a higher chance of rain, or snow at higher altitude, and melting ice increases the chances of landslides or avalanches – something we experienced trekking to Annapurna Base Camp in April.

In winter, from December to February , temperatures at higher altitudes can plunge to -20℃ or colder at night. Daytime temperatures are more tolerable, but you will certainly need extra warm gear, crampons for trekking in snow and ice, and extra UV protection as the sun is at its harshest. The trails are much quieter at this time of year, with December the busiest of the three months. The skies are generally clear, making for fantastic views, but deep snow could make crossing the Thorong La difficult or impossible.

May to August is to be avoided . The monsoon is responsible for warm and wet weather, with cloud and mist making visibility extremely poor. We can testify to this. Our very first trek in Nepal (Annapurna Base Camp) was in June – we got soaked through on a number of days and hardly saw a mountain. Additionally, leeches are a big problem at lower elevation and there is increased risk of landslides.

OUR RECOMMENDED TREKKING AGENCY

We partnered with  Himalayan Masters for our Langtang Valley, Gosainkunda, and Everest Three Passes treks, and found them to be professional and committed to a high level of service

To enquire about booking your own trek, get in touch via email at [email protected] and mention the code HOGG5 to get a 5% discount off the cost of your trip

TREK DIFFICULTY

The Annapurna Circuit is a moderately difficult trek and is challenging for two main reasons. First, it’s a relatively long trek. Most people cover up to 230km over 14-18 days or more. Second, it’s a high altitude trek. There are a number of days spent at 3500m or higher, including a 5416m pass crossing. Trekking at altitude is more demanding than trekking at lower elevations, requiring extra time and care to ensure your body acclimatises properly.

The trails are generally in good condition and straightforward to navigate. However, some sections are trickier underfoot due to landslides or loose scree. You’ll trek for an average of 6-7 hours a day, with plenty of up and down along the way. Weather conditions can affect the difficulty of the trek, with mud, snow or ice making it more challenging.

Most trails on the Annapurna Circuit are easily manageable, although some like this landslide crossing before Thorong Phedi require extra care

Most trails on the Annapurna Circuit are easily manageable, although some like this landslide crossing before Thorong Phedi need extra care

HOW MUCH WEIGHT WILL YOU CARRY?

The difficulty of the trek will also depend on how much weight you are carrying. If you are trekking without a porter, you will need to carry all your gear. A 15 kg backpack will feel much heavier at altitude, tiring you out and slowing you down. You don’t need to carry camping or cooking gear as trekking lodges (also called teahouses) are found regularly along the way, providing food and rooms. These are generally very comfortable and the meals filling.

YOUR EXPERIENCE

For trekking newbies, the Annapurna Circuit may prove challenging due to its length and the effort required to trek at altitude. If you have experience trekking for multiple days and are moderately fit then you will likely find the trek very manageable.

For any trekker, experienced or not, altitude sickness is one of the biggest concerns on the Annapurna Circuit. Be prepared in advance with a well stocked medical kit, do your research so you know how to prevent altitude sickness, what symptoms to look out for, how best to treat them and what to do if you or someone else develops HAPE or HACE. The Himalayan Rescue Association Aid-Post in Manang holds a free talk on altitude awareness at 3pm every day and it is very informative and worthwhile attending.

SEE MORE OF NEPAL ON THE LANGTANG VALLEY TREK

PLAN YOUR LANGTANG VALLEY TREK WITH OUR COMPLETE GUIDE

DETAILED TRAIL NOTES AND OTHER INFO FOR THE LANGTANG TREK

TREKKING THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT INDEPENDENTLY

UPDATE – The Nepal Tourism Board announced in March 2023 that as of April 1 2023 all international trekkers in Nepal are required to hire a licenced trekking guide and obtain the TIMS card through an authorised trekking agency registered with the government of Nepal. In reality, this change doesn’t seem to be getting enforced on the ground, with independent trekkers being issued ACAP permits and passing through permit and police checkpoints along the route without a TIMS card. We suggest checking the Annapurna Circuit Trek Facebook Group for on-the-trail updates as the situation evolves.

With the correct permits in hand, you can set off on the Annapurna Circuit independently. You may be trekking solo, with a partner or friend, or group of people you already know. Trekking independently means carrying all your own gear, navigating, and route planning. You will need to sort out all the logistics like permits, transport, and accommodation by yourself. But it doesn’t mean you’ll be alone. There are many independent trekkers on the Annapurna Circuit so you’re practically guaranteed to meet people and make friends along the way, unless you’re trekking in the quieter off-season.

Resting at the end of a suspension bridge on the trail between Manang and Yak Kharka, the jagged peak of Chulu West rising behind

Resting at the end of a suspension bridge on the trail between Manang and Yak Kharka, with the jagged, icy peak of Chulu West rising behind

Below are some of the pros and cons of trekking independently, to help give you a sense of what to expect. And if you plan to organise your own trek, just keep reading this guide. We cover everything you need to know, including permits, packing lists, trail maps, money matters, transport to/from the trailheads, and more.

PROS AND CONS OF INDEPENDENT TREKKING

This is the cheapest way to trek the Annapurna Circuit. You won’t have anything extra to pay for above and beyond your daily food and accommodation costs, permit fees, and transport to/from the trailhead. 

You have complete freedom and flexibility. You can choose how long to trek for each day, what route to take and where to stay. If you like somewhere, you can choose to stay an extra day without having to consult anyone else or consider their needs. 

It is easier to enjoy a bit of ‘alone time’ on the trail. If you are trekking with a guide or group it can be harder or more awkward to branch out and enjoy walking alone with your thoughts. 

Engage more with fellow trekkers along the way. You tend to interact more with others when not in an already established group. This can mean making more friends, having a wider variety of conversations, or exchanging a broader spectrum of thoughts and opinions. 

You’ll likely have more interaction with locals. If you are trekking with a guide it is common practice for them to deal with everything at the lodge and act as a go-between. It’s normal for your guide to take your order, bring out your food, and settle up the bill on your behalf, which means you may have little interaction with the owner or staff yourself. But you’ll be doing all of that if you trek independently.

With freedom and flexibility comes the need to do more research, preparation and daily planning. You will need to spend time organising things both on and off the trail. 

You are more vulnerable in an emergency situation or if you get sick. This is especially true if you are trekking solo. You should prepare as best you can with a comprehensive medical kit, emergency contact numbers at the ready and ideally an emergency communication device like the InReach Explorer . 

In peak trekking season you may find it harder to get a room. Trekking lodges prefer bigger groups with organised companies and will give preference to them over solo trekkers or those in small groups. If you find this is a problem you can adjust your itinerary to stay in less busy villages or lodges along the way. Another workaround is to group together with other independent trekkers and approach lodges as a group of say 8 or more.

Carrying 15kg day in, day out for two weeks or more can take its toll. And that weight will feel even heavier at altitude. It will certainly make the trek more challenging. 

You miss out on all the insights a knowledgeable, English speaking guide can offer. Your understanding of the region, and Nepal in general, may be much broader after spending 2-3 weeks in the company of a Nepali guide rather than going it alone.

TREKKING THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT WITH A GUIDE AND/OR PORTER

While trekking Annapurna Circuit with a guide and/or porter isn’t mandatory, many people still choose to do so, and there are plenty of good reasons to consider it. If you’re an inexperienced trekker it’s a sensible choice – an experienced guide can be invaluable when it comes to your safety. Hiring a guide can also enrich your experience on the trail, giving you the opportunity to learn much more about the history, culture, and geography of the land. Hiring a porter to carry your bag will put less strain on your body, making your trek much easier. Finally, hiring a guide and/or porter also provides jobs and supports the trekking tourism economy.

Trekking the Annapurna Circuit with a guide and/or porter can provide you and the local economy with a variety of benefits

If you want to trek the Annapurna Circuit with a guide there are a couple of approaches you can take.

Firstly, arrange a guide (and/or porter) but organise everything else yourself (transport, trekking permits, pay-as-you-go for food and lodges, etc). This allows for greater choice and flexibility along the way, but you still have the benefit of trekking with a knowledgeable and experienced guide.

Secondly, book an inclusive package with a trekking agency or tour operator. This will cost one lump sum, with local transport, trekking permits, accommodation, meals and your guide and/or porter all included. This is ideal if you want to just turn up and have everything taken care of. You won’t have to worry about any of the logistics or decision making along the way.

Next is a rundown of the various options, followed by an outline of how best to choose a guide/trekking agency.

TREKKING WITH A GUIDE

If you’re relatively fit and can keep the weight of your bag to a sensible level (around 15 kg), then you may want to trek with just a guide. You can expect them to have a good level of English, know the trail and places on it well, and be knowledgeable about the history, culture and geography of the area. Professional guides are licensed in Nepal, so be sure to check this before settling on a guide. A guide costs around $20-30 USD per day , although some individuals or trekking agencies may charge more.

TREKKING WITH A PORTER-GUIDE OR PORTER

If you don’t want to carry all your own gear then it’s possible to hire a porter-guide or porter. Generally speaking, a porter is hired as part of a trekking crew alongside a guide. If you are an experienced trekker who needs nothing more than someone to carry your bag, then hiring a porter only is possible, but can lead to complications along the way. A porter-guide rolls two jobs into one, with that person carrying less than a porter normally would, and being less experienced than a guide.

Porter-Guide

Porter-guides tend to be trainee guides who will also carry your gear, usually up to 13 or 15kg. You can expect them to have better English than a porter, although not as good as a guide (although this may vary with experience). They are likely to have poorer communication skills than a guide and limited first-aid knowledge. A porter-guide costs around $25-$30 a day .

You can expect very little from a porter other than that they carry your bag. Porters can carry up to 30 kg (maximum, but less is better), so you generally only need one porter for every two trekkers. Porters usually have very basic English skills and will often go ahead rather than trek alongside you. Porters generally cost $18-25 a day .

TREKKING WITH A GUIDE AND PORTER

If you want a knowledgeable guide with good communication skills and experience, as well as someone to carry your bag, then hiring a separate guide and porter is the best option.

This setup is most cost effective when you have a group with an even number of trekkers, as you generally only need one porter for every two trekkers. Most agencies allow up to five people per guide with the total cost shared by the group.

Porters on the trail to Yak Kharka, dwarfed by the surrounding mountains

CHOOSING A GUIDE/TREKKING AGENCY

The trekking industry in Nepal is huge and there are no shortage of registered trekking agencies and accredited guides competing for business. As such, it can seem a bit of a minefield when it comes to finding and choosing a guide, especially when looking online.

Finding a guide in Kathmandu or Pokhara

If you have a few days in Kathmandu or Pokhara and are comfortable not having anything pre-booked, it is definitely advantageous to shop around in person. It is much easier to get a sense of a trekking company and a guide when you meet them face to face. There are many trekking agencies in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, and along the main Lakeside drag in Pokhara.

Organise a guide before travelling to Nepal

If you want to organise a guide before you go, a recommendation from someone you know and trust goes a long way. Just make sure you get a guarantee of who your guide will be. We’re aware of people arranging with a particular company for a certain guide, only to arrive and discover that they have a different guide. As the guide is the person you’ll be spending all your time with, they (not the company) are the most important factor.

Guide Only (Pay-As-You-Go)

If you don’t have a recommendation but still want to organise a guide before you go, you can browse guide profiles here and here . Both sites outline the guides’ daily rate, experience and contact details so you can get in touch directly and discuss options with them.

Inclusive Package

An internet search will throw up numerous Nepal-based trekking agencies who tend to offer inclusive packages as opposed to guide only options. Do your research, compare different options, check independent reviews and ask lots of questions before finalising an agreement with one company. Be wary of any trekking agency requiring full payment up front. It should be possible to make a deposit and finalise payment when you get to Kathmandu/Pokhara.

Our Recommended Trekking Agency

Our recommended local trekking agency is Himalayan Masters , who w e’ve partnered with on two major treks in Nepal, Langtang Valley/Gosainkunda and Everest Three Passes. They can arrange a guide only service, or inclusive packages for an Annapurna Circuit trek from $1200 USD.

The company is professional, committed to a high level of service, and competitively priced. They are the third agency we’ve trekked with in Nepal, and we can honestly say that Himalayan Masters provided us with the best guided experience we’ve had. What’s more, having met numerous other Himalayan Masters guides on the trail, and getting feedback from the trekkers with them, we’re confident that our positive experience with the company is one shared by others.

To enquire about a trek with Himalayan Masters just contact them via email at [email protected] to discuss your plans, and quote our referral code ‘HOGG5’ for a 5% discount off your trip cost.

You can also browse and book inclusive package tours via Tourradar , many of which are with Nepal based operators. Some of these are group tours, some are not. You can check exactly what is and isn’t included in the tour details for each, or ask Tourradar for more info.

Trekking high above the Manang Valley on the way to Ngawal (3660 m)

Trekking above the Manang Valley on the way to Ngawal (3660 m)

Finding Trekking Partners

If you’re a solo trekker and want to hook up with others to share the costs of a guide, then take a look at this page . You can post a trip yourself, or look at existing trips and join one.

Female Guides

If you would like to hire a female guide, there are a few companies out there who can help with this. 3Sisters Adventure Trekking is an agency based out of Pokhara and comes very highly regarded.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A GUIDE

Whether getting organised ahead of time or finding someone in Kathmandu/Pokhara, here are the main things to keep in mind when choosing a guide or deciding on a trekking agency.

Talk to as many guides/agencies as possible to compare prices and services

Ask about the guide’s experience with the trek

Have a conversation to gauge their level of English

Ask if they have had any safety training and ask to see the certificates if they say yes. Ask how they would handle an emergency situation

Ask whether they will drink alcohol on the trek (not necessarily a deal breaker, just use your judgement)

After you’ve found someone you’re happy with, here are a few things to remember when finalising your arrangement.

Check that they are properly licensed and insured (ask to see proof)

Agree on the daily rate and number of days, or total price if booking an inclusive package (check exactly what is included/excluded)

Agree on who pays for your accommodation and food – you’ll likely pay-as-you-go yourself if hiring a guide only, whereas this will likely be included if you’re booking a full package

Confirm that the guide and/or porter covers their own food and accommodation along the way (this is usual regardless of whether you are hiring a guide only or booking a package)

Confirm whether you can choose which lodge to stay in, or if the guide will choose – if you are organising a guide only then we recommend that you agree beforehand that you make the final decision. If you are booking an inclusive package, your guide will likely choose

If you’re booking an inclusive package, check the exact inclusions and exclusions carefully. Ask about the following:

Transport : How will you be getting to and from the trail (private jeep or public bus?)

Groups : Is it a group tour with others, or only for you/the people you are booking with?

Accommodation : Will you be sharing a room, and if so with how many people? Will you have an attached bathroom where possible?

Food : Can you order what you like or are your choices limited?

Drinks : What drinks are included and how many a day?

Permits : Are all permits included in the cost and will these be organised for you?

Transport How will you be getting to and from the trail (private jeep or public bus?)

Groups Is it a group tour with others, or only for you/the people you are booking with?

Accommodation Will you be sharing a room, and if so with how many people? Will you have an attached bathroom where possible?

Food Can you order what you like or are your choices limited?

Drinks What drinks are included and how many a day?

Permits Are all permits included in the cost and will these be organised for you?

MAKE SURE YOUR GUIDE/PORTER IS WELL EQUIPPED

Make sure your guide (and porter) have everything they need prior to setting off on your trek. If you’re hiring an experienced guide through a long established agency, then chances are they will be well prepared for conditions on the trail. However, this isn’t always the case. And younger, more inexperienced guides often don’t have the equipment they need. Porters too can sometimes lack what we would consider to be basic trekking necessities. We’ve seen some young porters with trainers on their feet that were practically falling off.

Check that your guide and porters have the following:

Warm clothing for higher altitudes (down jacket, gloves, hat, etc.)

Proper boots in good condition

Suitable waterproofs

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Trekking the annapurna circuit on a guided group tour.

Trekking the Annapurna Circuit as part of a guided group tour is also an option. There are a number of international companies who run fully inclusive small group tours with set departure dates. These are often guaranteed to depart as soon as one person books, which is ideal if you are limited on time or have fixed dates that you can travel.

These tours tend to include everything from your arrival in Kathmandu to your departure, meaning all of the logistics are taken care of and all you really need to do is organise your travel insurance, international flights and packing. International tour companies work with the very best local trek operators, so you can expect professional service and highly experienced guides. It certainly takes the hassle and uncertainty out of finding reliable and experienced guides or trekking agencies yourself.

You can book onto the tour as a solo traveller or with others, knowing that you’re guaranteed a group of trekking buddies to share the journey with. Naturally, all of this expertise, organisation and ease of booking comes at a price, with this option being the most expensive way to trek the Annapurna Circuit.

Porters carrying bags for an Intrepid group tour take a roadside rest near Dharapani

RECOMMENDED ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT GROUP TOURS

Two of our recommended international small group tour operators are Intrepid Travel and Exodus . Generally speaking, Exodus appeals to a slightly older market than Intrepid, with a few extra inclusions and the option to add on international flights from London.

Intrepid ’s 15 day Annapurna Circuit Trek itinerary starts in Kathmandu and ends in Pokhara, which includes about 11 days trekking between Besisahar and Jomson. It’s a good value tour, departing regularly between September and May.

Alternatively, Exodus has a 22 day Annapurna Circuit itinerary which takes the high route to Upper Pisang and Ngawal, and visits Kagbeni and Marpha, which is a definite bonus in our opinion. Departures are a few times a year, operating during the best weather windows in March – April, and October – December.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT PERMITS

In order to trek the Annapurna Circuit, there are two separate permits required per person. Here we’ll outline what they are, how much they cost, what you need to get them, and where to get them. If you’re booking an inclusive package or group tour, your trekking agency/tour company will likely sort these for you. If you are trekking independently, each trekker needs to go to the office in person to apply (you cannot have one trekker apply on behalf of others).

ANNAPURNA CONSERVATION AREA PROJECT PERMIT (ACAP)

This permit covers the entire Annapurna Conservation Area and is valid for one entry and one exit. It covers everywhere on the Annapurna Circuit Trek, and if you plan to carry on to Poon Hill, Annapurna Base Camp or Upper Mustang, it will also cover you for these treks (as long as you don’t exit the area in between). There is no time limit on the permit.

ACAP PERMIT COST

3000 NPR per person (payable by cash in local currency)

An example of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit (ACAP)

Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit (ACAP)

TREKKERS’ INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CARD (TIMS)

You’ll need to show this, along with your ACAP permit, at multiple checkpoints along the way. It is for your own safety.

TIMS PERMIT COST

2000 NPR (independent trekkers) 1000 NPR (trekking with a guide) (payable by cash in local currency)

An example of the Trekkers’ Information Management System Card (TIMS)

WHAT YOU NEED TO GET YOUR TREKKING PERMITS

Copy Of Your Passport

Passport Photos x 4

5000 NPR in cash

Completed Form x 2 (available at the office, come prepared with the following info):

Estimated Entry/Exit Dates Entry/Exit Points Trekking Route Outline Travel Insurance Policy Details Emergency Contact Details Address in Nepal

WHERE TO GET THE ACAP PERMIT AND TIMS CARD

You can apply for both at the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or Pokhara. The permits are issued on the spot. You might get your photo taken for free at the office, but take passport photos just in case.

Nepal Tourism Board Kathmandu

Pradarshani Marg, Kathmandu 44617

GPS: 27.7020, 85.3169

Open 10am – 5pm Daily

(arrive at least 1 hour before closing)

Nepal Tourism Board Pokhara

Lakeside Rd, Pokhara 33700

GPS: 28.1988, 83.9690

CHALLENGE YOURSELF ON THE EVEREST THREE PASSES TREK

PLAN YOUR TREK WITH OUR GUIDE

TRAIL NOTES AND OTHER USEFUL INFO

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT BUDGET

The total cost of trekking the Annapurna Circuit will largely depend on how you choose to do it. The cheapest option is to trek independently, carrying all of your own gear. The most expensive option is to book a group tour with an international company. Trekking with a guide and paying-as-you-go, or booking an inclusive package with a local trekking agency will fall somewhere in between. In this section, we’ll give a ballpark figure for each approach, plus a detailed breakdown of all the costs involved so you can compare the various options.

APPROXIMATE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT COSTS

Independent Trekker 18 Days $470-600  (solo trekker, approx. $30-35 less if sharing a room)

Trekking With A Guide 18 Days $830-$1140 (solo trekker) $650-$870 (two trekkers sharing guide)

Trekking With A Guide and Porter 18 Days $1154 – $1590 (solo trekker) $812 – $1095 (two trekkers sharing guide/porter)

Inclusive Package 14-18 Days $900 – $1400  (solo trekker)

International Group Tour 15-22 Days $1400 – $2300 (solo trekker)

PERMIT COSTS

The combined cost of the ACAP and TIMS permits are 5000 NPR (4000 NPR if trekking with a guide), approx $41 USD .

ACCOMMODATION BUDGET

The average price for a twin room is 400-500 NPR, approx $3-4 USD per night . The price is generally the same regardless of whether the room is used by one or two people.

Some lodges along the Annapurna Circuit are quite up front about offering free rooms as long as you buy 2-3 meals a day. If somewhere is freely offering this, then by all means take them up on the offer. BUT, please don’t expect this, or ask lodge owners to give you a room for free if they are not openly advertising this. Perpetuating the cycle is bad news for local lodge owners and trekkers alike, as it lowers income and results in little incentive to provide good service. On other treks in Nepal, such as the Manaslu Circuit, lodge owners have agreed a standard price for rooms and food in each community, but unfortunately this practice doesn’t seem to have taken hold along the Annapurna Circuit yet.

We spent a total of 3800 NPR (approx $31 USD) on accommodation. That was for two people sharing a room for 10 nights between Dharapani and Kagbeni.

The cheapest we paid for a room was 400 NPR (in Ngawal and Thorong High Camp), and the most expensive was 900 NPR (in Muktinath).

We got 3 free nights’ accommodation, two in Manang and one in Yak Kharka. In Manang the lodge openly had a policy of not charging for the room as long as 3 meals a day were eaten in the restaurant. In Yak Kharka we didn’t even realise until we were handed the bill that the room was free of charge.

This large room in Manang was free of charge when staying 2 nights and eating 3 meals a day

FOOD AND DRINK BUDGET

Food and drink costs can vary widely from person to person. This depends on how much you consume and how often you treat yourself to real coffee, a slice of apple pie, and so on.

We spent an average of 2700 NPR per person per day (approx $22 USD) on food and drinks, including treats like apple pie, coffee, and a couple of beers along the way. Without these treats we spent an average of 2350 NPR per person per day (approx $19 USD) .

We usually ate porridge or an omelette with Tibetan bread for breakfast, dal bhat for lunch and dinner, and had the odd shared snack in the afternoon (momos, veg pakora or such like). We splashed out on a hummus platter in Muktinath, indulged in coffee and cake in Manang, had the odd desert, and Del drank copious amounts of tea on a daily basis.

A thermos (small pot) of tea at the Windhorse Restaurant in Thorong Phedi (4525 m)

Compared to the Manaslu Circuit, we spent approx. 700 NPR/$6 USD more per person per day on food and drink. This was mostly because the option for treats like fresh coffee, cinnamon buns or apple pie were more prevalent and too good an opportunity to pass up! We also had shorter trekking days in general, so the temptation to order an extra pot of hot chocolate or an afternoon snack was greater.

We suggest a food budget of 2400 – 2700 NPR (approx $20 – 22 USD) per person per day .

MISCELLANEOUS COSTS

Most lodges, especially higher up, charge around $2-3 for a hot shower (gas or solar heated). If you want to use electricity to charge your phone, camera batteries, etc., this is usually $1-2 per item or hour .

TRANSPORT BUDGET

Transport costs vary widely depending on whether you travel by local bus or private jeep, and whether you fly from Jomsom to Pokhara or go by land from your end point. The absolute cheapest option is starting at Besisahar/Bhulbhule and ending at Nayapul/Kande/Phedi, using local transport to and from these points.

Taking a local bus to and from the main trailheads should cost no more than a total of $10 – $20 per person , depending on whether you are travelling to/from Kathmandu or Pokhara.

A local shared jeep from Besisahar to Chamje at the start of the trek should cost no more than a maximum of $30 per person , with tourists often being charged more than locals (who might pay around 1000 NPR).

This would bring total transport costs to around $50 or less per person if you are taking local buses and shared jeeps.

Private Transport Costs

A private car between Kathmandu and Besisahar would cost anywhere from $110-180 . 

A private jeep all the way to Chamje could be around $300 . 

A private jeep from Besisahar to Chamje is likely to be around $180 . These costs are per vehicle, not per passenger, so the cost can be shared amongst a group.

A private jeep between Jomsom and Pokhara could be $300 – $450 for the vehicle. 

A flight between Jomsom and Pokhara is approx $125 per person. 

A taxi from Kande/Phedi to Pokhara is around $15-20 .

GUIDE & PORTER COSTS

You can expect to pay around the following:

$20-30 per day for a guide

$18-25 per day for a porter

$25-30 per day for a porter-guide

The cost of a guide can be split between a group, usually up to 5 trekkers. A porter can carry around 20-25kg (absolutely no more than 30kg) so the cost can be divided between two. A porter-guide will carry around 13-15kg, so the cost can be shared between two trekkers if you are both travelling light or carry some of your own gear.

Tipping Guides & Porters

Tipping your trekking guides and porters isn’t compulsory, but it is recommended and is a good thing to do. You’ll need to factor the cost into your overall budget and be sure to have enough money with you to give the tip at the end of your trek. The following figures are generally accepted guidelines:

INDIVIDUAL TREKKERS

Guides – 5 USD per day

Porters – 3 USD per day

Guides – 10 USD per day

Porters – 5 USD per day

The costs are covered by everyone in the group, hence they tend to be higher when there are more people.

Additionally, if you are trekking as part of a large group tour with a head guide (and maybe an assistant guide), they are usually given 10-15% of their daily rate from the group as a whole. In these situations, it’s worth finding out the total number of guides and porters in your group beforehand, as well as the number of fellow trekkers, so you can budget accordingly. You won’t necessarily know their daily rate, but someone experienced enough to be working for an international company will likely be at the higher end of the scale. You can ask the company or head guide for advice.

Trekkers and their guide following the trail to Ngawal on the Annapurna Circuit

Trekkers, guides and porters on the trail from Manang to Yak Kharka

How good was the service?

While it is good practice and expected to tip, if you’re unhappy with the level of service then it’s entirely up to you whether you tip less, or maybe even not at all. This could be anything from poor communication to bad advice, or perhaps even drunkenness. On the other hand, if your guide or porter has gone above and beyond, then by all means tip more.

MONEY ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

The amount of money you need to take on the Annapurna Circuit Trek will depend on whether you’re paying as you go, or on an inclusive prepaid package. If you are on an inclusive tour then you’ll just need money for any food or drinks over and above what’s included in your package. If you are paying as you go, then you’ll need to have enough cash to cover all costs: accommodation, food, drink, etc. ( see budget section ).

On the trail, everything is payable in the local currency, Nepalese Rupees (NPR) .  Take plenty of small denomination notes as change isn’t always readily available, particularly at higher altitudes. If you have a few days in Kathmandu or Pokhara beforehand, pay for things in big notes to build up your supply of small ones. Also beware that ATMs have max withdrawal amounts, and your bank may have a max daily withdrawal limit, so you may not be able to withdraw the total amount that you need all in one day. Plan ahead.

There are ATMs in Besisahar, Jomsom and Nayapul, however it is best to withdraw your cash in Kathmandu/Pokhara instead of relying on these local ATMs. A few of the more expensive places to stay do accept card payments, but there is often a hefty fee. Generally speaking, you must pay in cash for everything.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

Accommodation on the Annapurna Circuit is in lodges/guesthouses, sometimes called teahouses. These lodges are often clustered together in local villages, or settlements that have sprung up specifically to cater for trekkers. They are basic but comfortable, and provide all your meals. Accommodation is similar to what you find on other teahouse treks, although the standard is generally a bit higher than on something like the Manaslu Circuit, for example. Places do vary in size, decor and state of repair, but most things are pretty standard.

Guesthouses clustered around the trekking trail in Yak Kharka (4050 m)

Rooms usually have two single beds and a small window. Sometimes there’s a table, too. Some places will have rooms with extra beds which can be handy if you’re travelling as a trio or quad. Pillows and blankets are always provided but a sleeping bag is recommended (don’t expect the blankets to be particularly fresh or clean). Think of the blanket as supplementary to your sleeping bag when it gets cold.

 It’s best to assume that you will have shared bathroom facilities, although many lodges do have some rooms with attached bathrooms. These usually cost around 200-300 NPR more than a standard room.

Shared bathrooms may be inside the main building or in an outhouse. They can have a western style flushing toilet or a squat. They usually have a sink for washing your hands, cleaning your teeth, etc. Things tend to become more basic in places at higher altitude. You’ll need to have your own toilet paper and soap isn’t always provided so make sure you have hand sanitiser too. Generally speaking, used toilet paper goes in a bin (battered old metal can or such like) next to the toilet. You flush the squat toilet by scooping water out of the nearby bucket with whatever receptacle is provided.

Showers, if available, are usually in a separate room to the shared toilet. If you have an attached bathroom it will likely have a shower head, too. The shower head may or may not actually attach to the wall. While many places advertise ‘hot showers’, the chances of it actually being hot depend on whether it is gas or solar heated. Gas showers are more reliably hot, but of course that gas bottle has to be brought from somewhere and it is often more important for cooking or heating. For a hot solar heated shower you need to time it just right in the late morning/early afternoon, and of course it needs to be a sunny day.

Either way, there is often a shower charge of $2-3, and chances for a hot shower dwindle the higher you go. Water pressure isn’t always great and you might need to hold the shower head low to the ground for the best results. Between Manang and Muktinath it can be so cold that the thought of getting undressed in a freezing cold room to stand under a lukewarm piddle of water isn’t too appealing anyway. Best to be prepared to keep yourself clean with wet wipes.

DINING ROOM

There’s always a dining room where meals are served, and it’s a good place to hang out and get to know your fellow trekkers. The higher you go, there will usually be a fire in the central stove around dinner time, although this is by no means guaranteed. Take advantage of it when you can.

Getting the fire started early on a cold afternoon at the Kamala Hotel in Dhukur Pokhari (3200 m)

COURTYARD/GARDEN

Many guesthouses have a courtyard or garden. These can be big or small, full of static wooden benches and tables or moveable plastic ones. These usually make for a nice place to eat lunch in the sun.

Sunny gardens like this one at Thanchowk (2700 m) are popular places for lunch

Gardens like this one at Thanchowk (2700 m) are popular places for an outdoor lunch

BUSY TREKKING SEASON

In the busy trekking season you may find it harder to get a room if you are trekking solo or in a small group. Lodge owners tend to prefer large groups trekking with guides as this means lots of business and less hassle dealing with individual trekkers (guides often act as go-betweens and sort out all the bills, food orders, etc). If you find this to be an issue, opt for less popular overnight stops along the way, or group together with other independent trekkers and approach lodges as one large group.

During the busiest of trekking periods it is also possible that lodges (especially in smaller settlements) may be full and it isn’t unheard of for trekkers to have to sleep in the dining room. Saying that, this isn’t a problem we encountered while trekking in October.

‘FREE ROOMS’ ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

As previously mentioned in the budget section, there is a practice of offering free rooms in return for eating all your meals at certain lodges on the Annapurna Circuit. It is normal (and an expectation) for trekkers to eat their meals at their chosen guesthouse anyway, so there really isn’t a need for lodge owners to offer this. But, some do. By all means, take them up on the offer if they are freely advertising this. But please don’t use this as an excuse to demand free rooms everywhere you stay. It does little to encourage good service and denies locals much needed income.

On other popular treks in Nepal, lodge owners have made a stand against this and introduced standardised pricings across all lodges in each village. Unfortunately, this is yet to happen on the Annapurna Circuit.

FOOD & DRINK ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

Food and drink on the Annapurna Circuit is similar to what you find on Nepal’s other popular treks, however options are definitely more varied compared to treks like the Manaslu Circuit or Upper Mustang. ‘World cuisine’ like pizza, pasta, fried rice, noodles, burritos, tacos, pakora or burgers are commonly on offer alongside Nepali staples like dal bhat, soups and momos. That’s not to say the standard of said ‘world cuisine’ is up to much, but if you are fed up with eating the same thing day in, day out, there are choices to be had. Prices rise and fall depending on the altitude and ease of supply, and food is always more expensive than in Pokhara or Kathmandu.

POINTS TO NOTE

You’re expected to eat dinner and breakfast at your guesthouse. Lunch will generally be at a different place somewhere along the trail unless it’s a short day and you arrive at your destination earlier

Try to order the same as the people you’re trekking with. Your food will usually arrive more quickly and less fuel will be needed to cook it

Think carefully before ordering meat. Refrigeration, storage and kitchen standards mean that eating veggie is the safest option. Yak meat is likely the freshest

Dal Bhat is the classic trekking dish. A combination of dal (lentils), rice, veg curry, pickle and vegetables, this staple of the Nepali diet is a great option. It comes with a guaranteed refill of rice and curry, and usually some extra dal too. The fresh vegetable component varies, and pretty much disappears at high altitude until after the Thorong La.

It’s usually ready pretty quickly – great if you’re stopping for lunch and don’t want to wait an hour. Dal Bhat is what all guides and porters eat so it’s constantly being prepared, unlike more western style dishes which always have to be made to order. And as the whole cooking process requires less energy, this means that it’s better for the environment too.

Although it sometimes seems a more expensive choice, the option for free refills makes it worth it, and this meal will give you all the energy you need. Dal Bhat ranges from about 450 – 800 NPR on the Annapurna Circuit. We eat it twice a day every day when trekking in Nepal, and love it.

Note that while free refills are totally normal and acceptable, it’s not OK to order one dal bhat to share between two people. The thought had never even occurred to us until we saw some lodges with signs up stating this, so clearly some trekkers had attempted to save money by doing this…

Breakfast options range in price from about 300 – 500 NPR and include porridge, muesli, pancakes, omelettes, boiled/fried eggs, and various breads (fried Tibetan bread, buckwheat bread, chapatis, and so on). Often you can get them with jam or honey, sometimes with apples. You can order these dishes any time of day, and it’s common to place your breakfast order the night before.

LUNCH & DINNER

Besides the ubiquitous dal bhat, lunch and dinner dishes include soups, pasta, fried rice, momos (a kind of dumpling), pizzas, spring rolls, and plenty more. The variations usually revolve around veg, cheese, tuna, tomato, or ‘mixed’, with most of these ingredients coming out of a can. Pasta dishes usually come fried rather than  boiled.

A bowl of vegetable noodle soup, not too heavy but filling enough for a light meal

Bigger settlements like Manang or Muktinath have greater variety, including yak burgers and steaks, Tex-Mex or Israeli dishes. The quality and interpretation of meals can vary greatly when it comes to non-Nepali dishes. Have a subtle nosey around the dining room to see what looks good before ordering to avoid any nasty surprises!

Prices range from 350 – 800 NPR for a main meal, depending on what you get and the altitude you’re at.

Sweet treats on offer include the likes of pancakes, rice pudding, custard pudding, apple pie, apple fritters and Mars or Snickers Spring Rolls (deep fried chocolate bars). Thought you could only get that in Scotland, didn’t you? Prices range from around 250 – 500 NPR.

Hot drinks are on the menu at every guesthouse, with an often huge range of options stretching from regular black tea and instant coffee to masala tea, lemon ginger honey tea, and hot chocolate. Prices range from 50 – 150 NPR per cup, depending on altitude and the drink ordered. ‘Pots’ (thermal flasks) of various sizes are also always available, which is sometimes good value and sometimes not – one guesthouse’s medium pot is another one’s small. Take a look at the size of the pots before ordering if you want to make sure! You can also order just hot water.

Chocolate bars, packets of biscuits and other snacks are usually available to buy from lodges, and shops in bigger places like Chame, Manang, Muktinath and Jomsom are well stocked. If you want things like granola bars, trail mix or such like, it’s better to stock up in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

DRINKING WATER ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

The Annapurna Circuit is physically demanding and drinking plenty of water is a must. The first few days at lower altitudes can be hot, so expect to need a lot of water. At colder, higher altitudes you might feel less thirsty, but drinking lots of water helps you acclimatise. Planning to have at least 3-4 litres of water a day is a good place to start.

WHERE TO GET WATER

Filling up water is easy. Taps in, at or outside guesthouses mean there are plenty of places to fill up your bottles and/or water bladders. This can be at the place you’re staying, a lunch stop, or a communal tap used by locals. If you find yourself empty on the trail, there are often streams of cold, clear water that do the job nicely.

It’s a good idea to fill up water bladders and bottles before bed. This is handy for two reasons: one, it will save you time in the morning; and two, water sources can sometimes be frozen first thing in the morning, especially at higher altitudes.

Probably the fanciest water taps on the trail, right next to the apple farm and equally fancy coffee shop at Bhratang

STERILISATION

Use an effective sterilisation method to make sure your water is safe to drink. Our preferred method is the Steripen Ultra . It uses ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and treats one litre of water in 90 seconds. The bulb has a lifetime of around 8,000 treatments, making the initial cost (about $100 USD) seem cheap when you realise how many litres of water that is. If you happen to use up the bulb, the company will replace it for free. We use our Steripen in conjunction with a filter to keep any weird floaty bits out. It’s quick and hassle free, especially when compared to using purification tablets, and the Ultra model is rechargeable via USB.

Other popular means of sterilisation are Lifestraw , Grayl , Water-To Go , a squeeze filter system , and of course water purification tablets (we always have a few strips of these as a backup). Personally, we like the versatility of the Steripen . It allows us to sterilise water in 1L Nalgene bottles before filling up our water bladders for use with our backpacks.

BOTTLE OR WATER BLADDER?

A combination of both works well for us, but it’s totally down to personal preference.

We’ve used water bladders/reservoirs for many years. Having 2-3 litres in your backpack at the start of the day makes drinking water on the go easy. No stopping to get your bottle out, just drink from the handy tube. These days we use the excellent Hydrapak Shape-Shift Reservoir .

We always have our Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth 1L bottles with us too. They’re great for using at the guesthouses or when wandering around the villages, and for sterilising 1L of water at a time for the bladders. They work well in conjunction with Steripen’s wide mouth bottle filter , perfect for getting rid of any particulates in the water.

BOTTLED WATER

Bottled water is not as widely available to buy along the Annapurna Circuit as it once was, a positive step in the right direction. Where it is available, we encourage you not to buy it for a number of reasons:

First | With the sterilisation methods outlined above, there is absolutely no need to buy bottled water, in the mountains of Nepal or virtually anywhere

Second | All plastic waste is supposed to be carried out of the mountains, but in reality, this doesn’t always happen. Instead, the environment is polluted either by burning plastic or unsustainable waste disposal

Third | As if those reasons aren’t enough, think about your wallet. As well as creating a huge amount of unnecessary waste, you’ll also spend a fortune if you buy bottled water each day (one bottle can cost over 300 rupees at altitude)

First With the sterilisation methods outlined above, there is absolutely no need to buy bottled water, in the mountains of Nepal or virtually anywhere

Second All plastic waste is supposed to be carried out of the mountains, but in reality, this doesn’t always happen. Instead, the environment is polluted either by burning plastic or unsustainable waste disposal

Third As if those reasons aren’t enough, think about your wallet. As well as creating a huge amount of unnecessary waste, you’ll also spend a fortune if you buy bottled water each day (one bottle can cost over 300 rupees at altitude)

WIFI, SIM CARDS AND STAYING CHARGED

The Annapurna Circuit is fairly well connected, especially when compared to neighbouring Manaslu Circuit, but don’t rely on speedy WiFi or 3G throughout.

WiFi is available at the majority of guesthouses. There is normally a charge once you reach higher altitude lodges – around 200 NPR or more. It can be pretty slow though, especially if it’s peak season and loads of people are trying to connect. If you need to check a couple of things it usually does the job, but don’t expect to be sitting on your phone browsing freely. Besides, you’re surrounded by epic mountain scenery, why would you want to?!

NEPAL SIM CARDS

4G sim cards and packages can be bought at the airport, or from numerous vendors in the Thamel area of Kathmandu, or from shops in Pokhara. Data connection works very well in the city but as soon as you leave the coverage is patchy.

Some recommend Nepal Telecom for 3G/4G coverage, while others recommend Ncell. It’s safe to say that in the mountains, neither are really any good. We had Ncell sim cards during our Annapurna Circuit Trek and managed to connect to 3G or E occasionally, particularly in Manang, but again it was so slow that we didn’t bother using it.

Heads up – we bought a 60 day SIM card package from a tourist shop in Kathmandu to cover our 40 day trek. We paid what we later realised was a ridiculously inflated price. After 30 days, our data allowance ran out. We later discovered that Ncell don’t sell packages for longer than 30 days and we had been conned. Returning to the shop in Kathmandu, we got our money back after threatening to involve the police. Something to bear in mind if you’re going to be in Nepal for longer than a month.

You’ll probably have some kind of wifi connection at your guesthouse in Manang but there’s also plenty to see out and about

STAYING CHARGED

Access to electrical sockets for charging phones, camera batteries, etc. is pretty widely available and usually free of charge until you reach Thorong Phedi/High Camp. You’ll likely have sockets in your room, otherwise you can charge stuff in the dining room.

For cameras in particular, it’s always advisable to have a spare battery or two. And if like us you’re toting around multiple cameras, video cameras, and other electrical items, then a power bank never goes amiss. Keep your phone on flight mode to conserve battery, and beware that freezing temperatures and high altitude can really affect the longevity of your batteries. They will drain super fast, so try to keep them warm with your body heat. Rubbing your dead camera batteries might bring them back to life for a bit.

Another option is to pack a lightweight solar panel . We’ve been using one for a few years now, and in sunny conditions, it really is amazing how quickly it can charge things.

WHAT TO PACK FOR THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

There are two things to keep in mind when packing for your trek: one, only take what you really need, and two, make your bag as light as possible.

Beyond that the season will also play a part. You can expect to need extra warm clothes in the colder months. Also, crampons may be needed if there’s ice and snow at higher altitude and on the Thorong La. You can likely buy these in Manang if you don’t want to carry them all the way or get caught out with unexpected snowfall, but there are no guarantees.

Note that it’s very common to leave excess baggage for free at hotels and guesthouses in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Try to keep your bag as small and light as possible (more like the 50 litre one on the right). Your body will thank you for it on the trail!

Attempt to keep your bag as small and light as possible (more like the 50 litre one on the right). Your body will be thankful for it on the trail!

PACKING LISTS

Below you’ll find our packing lists for the Annapurna Circuit Trek. The first outlines the clothing you should take and the second is a list of equipment we recommend for the trek. Not everything is essential but all of it is useful.

You need to be prepared for all weather conditions and eventualities. Quality gear and the right materials will make a big difference to your enjoyment and how much/little you need to pack.

Layers are important – you need a baselayer (like this ), a mid-layer (like this ), an insulating layer (like this ), plus a top shell (like this ).

Merino Wool

Avoid cotton clothing as it will quickly become smelly and be very difficult to dry when wet – particularly at higher altitudes. Opt for merino wool instead. It keeps you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cool, and amazingly won’t stink even after days of wearing it. It will dry relatively fast too. When trekking we wear merino wool underwear, socks, t-shirts, thermals, buffs, everything! Icebreaker do a great range.

Separate Evening Clothes

Make sure you have a separate change of clothes for the evening/sleeping in and get out of those sweaty clothes as soon as you arrive at your guesthouse. Changing your clothes, including your socks, will keep you much warmer.

Hiking Boots

Break in your hiking boots before you trek! Blisters and hot spots can ruin your hike. Pack Compeed just in case. And yes, you do need proper hiking footwear for this trek. No trainers/sneakers. Waterproof Gore-Tex boots with a decent amount of ankle support are ideal. We both wear Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX boots ( his / hers ) these days and love them.

Getting an insole specific to your foot shape is also a worthwhile investment. It will help keep your foot in place, in turn reducing the chance of blisters or hot spots developing.They also reduce foot fatigue, improve shock absorption and will stop you pronating, which can lead to knee or hip ache over the course of a multi-day hike. We really love our superfeet insoles and wish we’d started using them earlier.

CLOTHING LIST

Merino T-Shirts x 3 His / Hers

Merino Thermal Baselayer His / Hers

Merino Thermal Leggings His / Hers

Merino Underwear x 3 His/ Hers

Sports Bra x 2

Fleece His / Hers

Down Jacket His / Hers

Rain Jacket/Shell His / Hers

Waterproof Trousers His / Hers

Quick Drying Hiking Trousers (preferably with zip-off shorts) His / Hers

Trousers to wear in the evening (Lightweight, similar to above)

Trekking Socks x 3 His / Hers

Warm Socks to wear at night x 1

Gloves Liner & Waterproof Outer

Sunglasses (plus a spare pair)

Hiking Boots His / Hers

Waterproof sandals / Crocs (for evening)

Belt You might lose weight on the trek!

EQUIPMENT, GEAR & MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

As the Annapurna Circuit is a ‘teahouse trek’, you don’t need much in the way of specialist gear or equipment. There are however a few items which are essential.

Most obviously you’ll need a good backpack. Osprey backpacks with their Anti-Gravity (AG) back system are the most comfortable and easy to carry we’ve ever used. We highly recommend them. Look for a backpack capacity between 40-70L, depending on how much you plan to carry and how long you’ll trek for. If you’re joining an inclusive tour or trekking with a porter, you’ll need a comfortable  day pack for your water, snacks, camera, warm layers, etc.

Sleeping Bag

There are always blankets but we recommend taking your own sleeping bag. We used these 3 season Rab down sleeping bags on our Nepal treks along with these silk liners . Down sleeping bags offer the best warmth to weight ratio, and can really pack down small. Using a compression sack will save even more space in your backpack.

Hiking Poles

Hiking poles are a huge help on the Annapurna Circuit, particularly if you’re carrying your own bag. There is a fair bit of ascending and descending over gravelly landslide areas, where hiking poles make a big difference. Cork handles are by far the best when it comes to hot sweaty palms and carbon fibre will help you keep the weight down.  These poles have done us proud on countless treks.

Everything Else

For a comprehensive list of everything else you might need or want for the trek, click on the drop down menu below.

EQUIPMENT, GEAR & MISCELLANEOUS LIST

Backpack His / Hers

Day Pack (if you have a porter)

Eye Mask  &  Earplugs

Travel Towel

Water Bottle / Bladder

Scrubba & Suds (portable washing machine)

Washing Line

Travel Adapter

Solar Panel

First Aid Kit

Sunscreen (lips)

Lightweight Padlock (just in case your room has no lock)

Hand Sanitiser

Toilet Paper

Toiletries (soap, toothpaste, etc.)

WHAT TO PACK FOR TREKKING IN NEPAL

ALTITUDE AWARENESS

The Annapurna Circuit is a high altitude trek, taking you to a max height of 5416 m at the Thorong La. Trekking at this kind of elevation is no easy feat and you must allow your body time to fully acclimatise before attempting the crossing.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS

  Altitude sickness becomes a concern at altitudes of around 2500 m and above. It can affect anyone and everyone, regardless of age, sex or physical fitness. Just because you’ve been unaffected at altitude in the past, does not mean you’ll be unaffected every time. On the other hand, if you have a history of suffering from altitude sickness, chances are you’ll be affected again. The higher you go, the higher the risk. Ignored, or left untreated, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can progress into HAPE or HACE, both life threatening conditions.

ASCEND SLOWLY

The best approach when trekking at altitude is to ascend slowly. The general rule of thumb at higher altitudes is not to sleep more than 300 – 500 metres higher than the previous night. It’s a good idea to ‘climb high, sleep low’ to help your body acclimatise better. This means you should ascend to higher altitude, but return to sleep at an altitude that is no more than 300 – 500 metres higher than where you slept the previous night. Doing a day hike to the Ice Lake (4600 m) from Braka or Manang (3540 m) and back is a good example of ‘climb high, sleep low’.

Beginning the descent from Thorong La, the highest point of the trek at 5416 m

RESEARCH AND PREPARATION

You will encounter many opinions in Nepal about how best to deal with altitude acclimatisation, or what the best cures are for symptoms of altitude sickness. The best approach? Do your own research beforehand. Consult your doctor if you’re considering taking preventative medication like Diamox, and have a clear understanding of the correct way to take it. Don’t rely on guides or porters to know the facts, no matter how confident they sound. And don’t believe any nonsense about garlic soup or other supposed remedies. Stock your medical kit with plenty of paracetamol and ibuprofen in advance.

The Himalayan Rescue Association Aid-Post in Manang holds a free talk on altitude awareness at 3pm every day and it is very informative and worthwhile attending. You can also speak to a doctor and buy medication here should you need to.

As we said, the best way to be confident at altitude is to know the score before getting there. There’s a lot of misinformation and contradictory advice flying around the trail, so knowing the facts will ensure you react smartly to any symptoms instead of potentially endangering yourself.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Getting the right travel insurance cover is essential preparation for your Annapurna Circuit Trek. It’s important to check exactly what is and isn’t covered under the policy.

TREKKING AT ALTITUDE

Not all policies will cover trekking at altitude. You will need cover for trekking above 4500m. This isn’t usually covered as standard, but many travel insurance policy providers will have activity pack add-ons that you can pay extra for to be covered for trekking at this height. It’s also wise to ensure you have Search and Rescue and Medical Evacuation cover included. Always check the exclusions of your policy carefully.

TREKKING IN NEPAL

Some travel insurance companies have specific exclusions or conditions when it comes to trekking in Nepal. The excess for helicopter evacuation, for example, may be considerably higher for Nepal than elsewhere. This is due in part to a scam in recent years whereby trekkers who become ill are pressured or encouraged into flying out of the mountains by helicopter for medical attention. Unscrupulous guides, doctors and even some trekkers have profited from this. The result has been more expensive insurance policies, with some insurers threatening to no longer provide cover unless the government takes action.

TRAVEL INSURANCE PROVIDERS

Whether you are already travelling or not, two travel insurance policy providers that you can get cover with for trekking in Nepal are World Nomads and True Traveller (UK/EEA residents only). Both have activity pack add-ons to cover you for trekking up to the required altitude, and can cover you for search and rescue. Get a quote and see what suits you best. Having used World Nomads for a while, we opted for True Traveller for our last Nepal trip as they were significantly cheaper when factoring in the adventure activities we needed cover for.

For the full lowdown on choosing a travel insurance policy check out this post .

GET A QUOTE

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT SIDE TRIPS

The best Annapurna Circuit side trip is to Tilicho Lake , a brilliant blue lake sitting at 4920 m (one of the highest in the world). You’ll need to factor in an extra 3 days to your overall itinerary to make the side trip safely and without rushing. Not only is it a stunning side trip to take, but great for acclimatisation before heading over the Thorong La. Another great acclimatisation side trip is to the Ice Lake (Kicho Tal) at 4600 m, a day hike from Braka or Manang.

SIDE TRIP TO TILICHO LAKE

A side trip to Tilicho lake starts from Manang and you can walk straight to Yak Kharka on the final day, there’s no need to return to Manang. You retrace your steps between Shree Kharka, Tilicho Base Camp and Tilicho Lake.

TILICHO LAKE ROUTE

Manang (3540 m) → Lower Khangsar (3734 m) → Shree Kharka (3900 m) → Tilicho Base Camp (4150 m) → Tilicho Lake (4920 m) → Tilicho BC (4150 m) → Shree Kharka (3900 m) → Upper Khangsar (4130 m) → Yak Kharka (4050m)

     Manang (3540 m) → Lower Khangsar (3734 m) → Shree Kharka (3900 m) → Tilicho BC (4150 m) → Tilicho Lake (4920 m) → Tilicho BC (4150 m) → Shree Kharka (3900 m) → Upper Khangsar (4130 m) → Yak Kharka (4050m)

There is a section between Shree Kharka and Tilicho Base Camp that involves walking across a landslide area for around 45 minutes. This section can be dangerous. The trail cuts across a sloping rock face, with loose rocks falling from above, and a drop down to the river below. It is strongly advisable to cross this section early in the morning . As the day goes on, the wind picks up and the sun heats the rocks, increasing the chances of falling rocks. Walk across this section with a significant gap between people (it is easier to move out of the way of falling rocks if you have space in front/behind) and keep a careful eye on rocks falling from above.

From Tilicho Base Camp you make a return trip to Tilicho Lake and back (approx 4 hours 30 minutes). The weather is much more likely to be better in the early morning than the afternoon.

TILICHO LAKE SIDE TRIP ITINERARY

For the above reasons, the safest and most rewarding approach is to follow this itinerary:

Day 1 : Manang – Khangsar (6 km / 2 hours) – Shree Kharka (3 km / 1 hour)

Day 2 : Shree Kharka – Tilicho BC (6 km / 2.5 hours)

Day 3 : Tilicho BC – Tilicho Lake – Tilicho BC  (11 km / 4.5 hours return)

Day 4 : Tilicho BC – Shree Kharka (6 km / 2.5 hours) – Yak Kharka (10 km / 2.5 hours)

This way, you will cross the landslide section early in the morning on the way to/from Tilicho BC, and you can visit Tilicho Lake in the morning also

If you have less time but are still keen to make the trip, you can follow this itinerary:

Day 1 : Manang – Khangsar (6 km / 2 hours)  – Shree Kharka (3 km / 1 hour)

Day 2 : Shree Kharka – Tilicho BC (6 km / 2.5 hours) – Tilicho Lake – Tilicho BC (11 km / 4.5 hours return)

Day 3 : Tilicho BC – Shree Kharka (6 km / 2.5 hours) – Yak Kharka (10 km / 2.5 hours)

This shortened side trip itinerary still allows you to cross the landslide section early in the morning, however you will visit Tilicho Lake in the afternoon, when the weather may not be good

This shortened side trip itinerary still lets you cross the landslide section early in the morning, however you will visit Tilicho Lake in the afternoon, when the weather may not be good

Outside of the peak trekking season it is advisable to ask around in Manang or Khangsar to check that the lodges at Shree Kharka/Tilicho BC are open. Tilicho Lake itself is likely to be frozen over December – January, and icy until April/May. It’s not advisable to attempt this side trip in poor weather or snowy/icy conditions.

SIDE TRIP TO ICE LAKE

This is a popular day hike from Braka or Manang that is great for acclimatisation before crossing the Thorong La. The lake (not usually icy outside of winter!) sits at 4600 m, meaning it’s a 1100 m climb from the Manang valley. It takes around 4-6 hours return (approx 16km from Manang/12 km from Braka) so make sure you have plenty of water and a packed lunch. You’ll reach a smaller lake first but be sure to carry on another 10-15 minutes to the actual Ice Lake. If you’re staying in Manang, retrace your steps back to Braka to start the climb.

Looking down on the Marsyangdi River from above Manang

Looking down on the Marsyangdi River from the trail above Manang

OTHER SIDE TRIPS FROM MANANG/BRAKA

There are a number of shorter hikes you can do around Manang, all of which are good for acclimatising. Praken Gompa is perched above Manang at 3945 m, a 2 hour return hike. You can get a blessing for 100 rupees from the daughter of former monk Tashi Lama. Gangapurna Lake is a short 1 hour return hike from Manang, or climb higher to Chongkor Viewpoint , a steep 1 hour climb above the lake. Milarepa’s Cave is around 4 hours return hike from Braka and sits at 4000 m. It is said to have been home to a 11th Century Buddhist monk, who meditated here and survived on stinging nettles which supposedly turned him green. You can visit the cave and there is a small gompa, too.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT ADD-ON TREKS

If you are looking to extend the Annapurna Circuit into a longer trek, there are numerous add-on treks that will have you traversing the Himalaya for a month or more. Some you can do independently, others require restricted area permits and a compulsory guide.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT EXTENSIONS FOR INDEPENDENT OR GUIDED TREKS

Extensions for independent or guided treks, annapurna circuit + poon hill.

This is a popular addition to the Annapurna Circuit trek for those already carrying on to Tatopani. It adds an extra 2-3 days onto your itinerary. Doing a sunrise hike from Ghorepani to Poon Hill is a classic experience, offering wonderful views over the Annapurna Massif.

POON HILL SUGGESTED ROUTE

Tatopani → Ghorepani → Poon Hill (sunrise ascent) → Nayapul

POON HILL ROUTE

     Tatopani → Ghorepani → Poon Hill → Nayapul

Annapurna Circuit + Annapurna Base Camp (ABC)

This is a great option for extending your Annapurna Circuit trek by an extra 8 days or so. After circling the Annapurna range, you’ll ascend into what feels like the very heart of the mountains, with 360 degree mountain views from within the Annapurna Sanctuary (Annapurna Base Camp).

ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP (ABC) SUGGESTED ROUTE

Tatopani → Ghorepani → Poon Hill (sunrise ascent) → Tadapani → Sinuwa → Deurali → Annapurna Base Camp → Dovan/Bamboo → Ghandruk → Pitam Deurali → Kande

    Tatopani → Ghorepani → Poon Hill → Tadapani → Sinuwa → Deurali → Base Camp → Dovan/Bamboo → Ghandruk → Pitam Deurali → Kande

Annapurna Circuit + Mardi Himal

This short ridge trek runs roughly parallel to the ABC trek. It offers wonderful views over Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) Peak and Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp and the entire Annapurna Range. It adds on an extra 4 days from Landruk to Mardi Himal Base Camp, back to Landruk, ideal for those planning to finish the AC at Nayapul, Kande or Phedi.

MARDI HIMAL SUGGESTED ROUTE

Tatopani → Ghorepani → Poon Hill (sunrise ascent) → Tadapani → Ghandruk → Forest Camp → High Camp → Mardi Himal BC → High Camp → Landruk → Pitam Deurali → Kande

MARDI HIMAL ROUTE

      Tatopani → Ghorepani → Poon Hill → Tadapani → Ghandruk → Forest Camp → High Camp → Mardi Himal BC → High Camp → Landruk → Pitam Deurali → Kande

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT EXTENSIONS FOR GUIDED TREKS ONLY (RESTRICTED AREAS)

Extensions for guided treks only (restricted areas), annapurna circuit + nar phu valley.

The Nar Phu valley is a remote area northeast of Pisang/Ngawal, home to medieval Tibetan villages, monasteries and the 5320 m Kang Pass. It sees relatively few trekkers and offers a completely different trekking experience to the Annapurna Circuit (AC) alone. You leave the AC at Koto (2 km before Chame), trekking for 6-8 days before rejoining the AC at Ngawal. As this is a restricted area, special permits are required ($90) and you must trek with a guide.

NAR PHU VALLEY SUGGESTED ROUTE

(leaves AC) Koto → Meta → Phu → Nar Phedi → Nar → Ngawal (rejoins AC)

NAR PHU SUGGESTED ROUTE

     Koto → Meta → Phu → Nar Phedi → Nar → Ngawal (AC)

Manaslu Circuit + Annapurna Circuit

Combining the Manaslu Circuit and the Annapurna Circuit creates a trek of 25 – 30 days. The Manaslu Circuit trek starts at Soti Khola, best accessed from Kathmandu, and joins the AC at Dharapani around 12 days later. The scenery is fantastic and extremely varied.

Trekkers beginning the descent from Larke La; the pass is the highest point on the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Trekkers beginning the descent from Larke La; the pass is the highest point on the Manaslu Circuit

It follows a steep sided valley along the mighty Budhi Gandaki river, climbing to high altitude Tibetan influenced villages before eventually crossing the stunning Larke Pass (5106 m). It’s one of our favourite treks in Nepal and an excellent addition to an AC trek. The restricted area permit costs up to $100 and you must trek with a guide.

MANASLU CIRCUIT SUGGESTED ROUTE

Soti Khola → Machhakhola → Jagat → Dyang → Namrung → Lho → Samagaun → Samdo → Dharamsala → Bimthang → Dharapani (joins AC here)

MANASLU CIRCUIT ROUTE

     Soti Khola → Machhakhola → Jagat → Dyang → Namrung → Lho → Samagaun → Samdo → Dharamsala → Bimthang → Dharapani     (joins AC here)

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DAY BY DAY ACCOUNT

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Annapurna Circuit + Upper Mustang

Dropping down to Muktinath after crossing the Thorong La, you’ll notice a distinct change in landscape. The Mustang region is dry, dusty and utterly beautiful. Bizarrely shaped mountains shot through with red, orange and grey form a unique backdrop to this once ‘hidden kingdom’.

The otherworldly mountainous landscape of Upper Mustang

The otherworldly landscape of Upper Mustang

From Kagbeni it’s possible to add on a 10 – 11 day trek north to Lo Manthang and back , visiting historic villages, caves and monasteries. You’ll stay in traditional Mustang homes, far more characterful than the trekking lodges of the AC. The restricted area permit for Upper Mustang is $500(!) and you must trek with a guide.

UPPER MUSTANG SUGGESTED ROUTE

Muktinath → Kagbeni via Jhong → Chele → Syangboche → Ghemi → Tsarang → Lo Manthang → Yara → Tangge → Chuksang →   Muktinath via Gyu Pass → Jomsom via Lupra

UPPER MUSTANG ROUTE

    Muktinath via Jhong → Kagbeni → Chele → Syangboche → Ghemi → Tsarang → Lo Manthang → Yara → Tangge → Chuksang via Gyu Pass →   Muktinath via Lupra → Jomsom

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK HIGHLIGHTS & LOWLIGHTS

Highlights of the annapurna circuit.

A couple of last minute route changes (after speaking to fellow trekkers) happily resulted in two of our favourite days on the Annapurna Circuit. We also really liked the small-town community vibe of Manang, and the atmospheric medieval town of Kagbeni. In addition to the below, we should also mention that the entire walk from Manang to Muktinath is very impressive, and the Thakali village of Marpha is also a must-see if continuing beyond Jomsom.

The High Route To Manang

The first of our favourite days was trekking the high route trail from Dhukur Pokhari to Manang via Upper Pisang, Ghyaru, Ngawal and Julu . Actually, we trekked this over two days, staying in Ngawal in between. The whole journey was almost entirely on trail (not road!), which genuinely restored our faith in the AC after a couple of road-heavy days. The scenery along this route is spectacular and the villages are full of attractive stone houses complete with countless colourful flags fluttering in the wind. Be sure to take the scenic high route between Ngawal and Manang, via the Lhopelling Monastery and Julu village, instead of descending directly to the road on the valley floor.

Amazing sunrise views of Annapurna III (left) and Gangapurna (right) from Ngawal (3660 m)

Muktinath to Kagbeni via Jhong

The second of our favourite days was walking from Muktinath to Kagbeni via the villages of Chongur, Jhong and Puthak . These villages were completely different to any others we had encountered on the Annapurna Circuit (although very similar to those awaiting us in Upper Mustang!). Walls are painted with white, grey and red/orange stripes, a common sight in the Sakya Buddhist villages of Upper Mustang. There is an old fortress in Jhong and wonderful open views up the Kali Gandaki gorge as you make your way to magical Kagbeni. Our guide had planned on taking us down the busy road to Kagbeni. Thank goodness some fellow trekkers advised us otherwise!

The village of Puthak clinging to the hillside among autumn leaves, while far above, Thorong La is still seen through the haze

While some trekkers will consider Manang to be far too ‘touristy’ and opt to stay in quieter Braka or Khangsar, we really enjoyed our two days here. After trekking for nearly 3 weeks (we started on the Manaslu Circuit), we really appreciated having a rest day where we could hang out in coffee shops selling REAL coffee and homemade cakes, catch up with friends we’d made along the trail, and watch a film at one of the quirky projector halls.

Wandering the backstreets of Manang early in the morning

Wandering the backstreets of Manang

The town has a real community feel, with trekking lodges sitting alongside local homes, plus shops, cafes and the HRA Aid-Post. We enjoyed wandering the streets and simply people watching. Manang feels a bit like a frontier town, and we could get a sense of what trekking the Annapurna Circuit 20 years ago would have been like, with some of the original lodges still standing and old signs dotted around.

It’s easy to assume that all the villages, towns and settlements along the Annapurna Circuit will be much the same. And for the large part, they kind of are. Which is why entering the streets of Kagbeni is such a surprise and delight.

A traditional courtyard among mud brick houses in the heart of Kagbeni

This medieval village, picturesquely situated at the confluence of the Jhong and Kali Gandaki rivers, once sat at the crossroads of four vital trade routes coming from Tibet, Manang, Dolpo and India. Dark, narrow lanes wind their way past ancient mud and stone houses, some still with barns for animals on the ground floor and living quarters at the top of rickety wooden stairs. Cows, goats and sheep parade through the streets on their way to and from pasture, residents fetch water from shared courtyard taps, and a striking 15th Century Tibetan-style monastery rises high above the Kali Gandaki.

The rich colours and textures of the Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling Gompa in Kagbeni

Rich colours and textures of the Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling Gompa in Kagbeni

Ghost Eaters (quite obviously male and female statues) guard the original entry and exit gates of the town. The whole place is utterly beguiling and your one night stay may easily turn into two or three.

LOWLIGHTS OF THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

There’s no denying that the road sections of the Annapurna Circuit are the lowlight of the trek. It possibly hit us extra hard having come from 10 days trekking purely on trail on the Manaslu Circuit. Plus, we certainly had an outdated vision of what the AC trek was like (we had done zero up-to-date research and all our knowledge was based on pre-2010 experiences). If you are mentally prepared and fully aware of what to expect (which you will be as you are clearly doing research) then you will likely deal with the road situation better than we did.

The (Anti-Climatic) Big Day

Crossing the Thorong La is THE big day everyone is working up to on the Annapurna Circuit. But in all honesty, we found it pretty anti-climatic. The trek up to the pass was not as scenic as what we experienced crossing the Larke La (Manaslu Circuit), and it was so bitterly cold that we struggled to enjoy it. But mostly, the main buzz-kill was descending to Muktinath and finding ourselves in the middle of a bustling metropolis (as far as remote Himalayan mountain towns go).

We found the scenery to be a bit colourless compared to the lichen covered orange and white rocks of the Larke Pass

We found the scenery to be a little bit colourless compared to the lichen covered orange and white rocks of the Larke Pass

Muktinath is tourist central. Not just trekking tourists but a large number of pilgrims who come by road to descend on the sacred temple of Muktinath (actually, the town isn’t even officially called Muktinath, but Ranipauwa). Having spent a week building up to crossing one of the highest mountain passes in the world, being spat out in a town buzzing with motorbikes, horses, and street vendors was quite jarring. The multiple construction sites featuring concrete highrise hotels didn’t help either. The jarring effect was compounded when we compared it to our tranquil two day descent from the Larke La to Dharapani, a journey and destination of a different kind.

I believe we arrived during a busy holiday period, but even so the big hotels and road access are there to stay and it seems a terribly disjointed end to what should be a memorable day. If you feel the same about Muktinath, you may prefer to carry on to a guesthouse in Jharkot or across the river in Jhong.

THINGS WE WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY

Tilicho lake side trip.

First and foremost, we would have made absolutely sure that we had enough time to include the side trip to Tilicho Lake. In the end, we couldn’t go because we didn’t have enough time to comfortably and safely make the trip, while still making it to Kagbeni in time for our fixed entry date into Upper Mustang. We’d been under the impression that we did have time when setting the overall itinerary with our guide/agency, but when the specific details came to be sorted, it became clear that we didn’t. So, make sure you factor in 3-4 days for Tilicho Lake if you want to make the side trip.

Day Hikes From Manang

We really enjoyed Manang and if we did the trek again we would spend an extra day there and hike to the Ice Lake.

Leave Thorong High Camp Later

It seems like it’s a bit of a thing, like an unwritten rule, to leave at 4-5am (in the dark) to trek up and over the Thorong La. It was the same when we crossed the Larke La on the Manaslu Circuit. The reasons are somewhat sensible – the weather is usually best in the early morning so you want to ensure you reach the pass and start the descent as early as possible. You also want to allow plenty of time in case of complications or delays given that you are trekking at such high altitude. This absolutely paid off for us when I got sick on the Larke La and it took us 12 hours instead of 8-10 hours like expected.

Leaving so early meant we had to wait quite a while for those mountain views to reveal themselves

Leaving so early meant we had to wait a while for those mountain views to reveal themselves

However, it is also bitterly cold at this time of the morning, usually well below freezing, and this in itself can be dangerous. It is also dark, meaning you have to trek with a head torch and completely miss the views until daybreak. If you have an accurate weather forecast, are well acclimatised and confident in your own capabilities and speed, you likely don’t need to leave this early. We certainly could have left Thorong High Camp 1-2 hours later (being well acclimatised already) and perhaps would have enjoyed the whole experience more.

TRANSPORT TO/FROM & ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT

Most people start their journey in Kathmandu or Pokhara and end in Pokhara, returning to Kathmandu after a few days of well deserved feasting and rest.

BUS TO/FROM KATHMANDU

Local buses for Besisahar leave from Kathmandu Gongabu Bus Park (27.7330, 85.3083 ). You’ll probably want to take a taxi from your accommodation in Thamel to get here (10 – 15 mins / 400 – 500 Rs). Tourist buses between Kathmandu and Pokhara arrive/depart from Sorhakhutte Bus Stop , just outside Thamel (27.7190, 85.3095) .

BUS TO/FROM POKHARA

Local buses from Pokhara to Besisahar leave from the Old Bus Park (28.2078, 83.9864) . Buses between Pokhara and Phedi/Kande/Nayapul/Beni run to/from the Pokhara Baglung Bus Park (28.2319, 83.9830) . Tourist buses between Kathmandu and Pokhara arrive/depart from the Tourist Bus Park (28.2010, 83.9725) . You can take a taxi from your accommodation at Lakeside in Pokhara to/from any of the bus parks.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TRANSPORT

The below transport options are all based on taking local buses, unless stated otherwise. Prices and journey times given are approximations. Tourists are often charged more than locals so these prices can vary, and road conditions on any given day can affect journey times significantly.

Kathmandu – Besisahar 500 Rs / 8+ hours Pokhara – Besisahar 270 Rs / 4+ hours

Besisahar – Bhulbhule 200 Rs / 30+ minutes Besisahar – Chamje (jeep only) 1000 Rs / 3+ hours

Muktinath – Jomsom 350 Rs / 2+ hours Muktinath – Tatopani 1200 Rs / 7+ hours Muktinath – Pokhara 1500 Rs / 12+ hours

Jomsom – Tatopani 900 Rs / 4+ hours Jomsom – Pokhara 1300 Rs / 10+ hours Jomsom – Pokhara (flight) $142 / 20-30 minutes Jomsom – Kathmandu 1700 Rs / 18+ hours

Tatopani – Beni 350 Rs / 2+ hours Beni – Pokhara 400 Rs / 5+ hours

Nayapul – Pokhara 300 Rs / 2+ hours Kande – Pokhara 200 Rs /  1.5+ hours Phedi – Pokhara 100 Rs / 1+ hours

Taxi from Phedi/Kande/Nayapul to Pokhara $15-25 / 30 mins – 1.5 hours

Kathmandu – Pokhara (Tourist Bus) 800 Rs / 7+ hours Kathmandu – Pokhara (flight) $125 / 1 hour

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TRANSPORT

Buses, shared jeeps & taxis.

Public buses and shared jeeps usually depart when full, rather than sticking to a schedule, so you may need to wait a while before you leave.

For long distance buses, it’s best to leave early in the morning (7-8am) as departures tend to dwindle as the day goes on. It is not advisable to travel in the dark and overnight buses are not common.

At the start of the Annapurna Circuit trek you can reach as far as Ngadi by local bus. You must take a shared or private jeep beyond here (possible as far as Manang). The road is rough.

The road between Muktinath/Jomsom/Tatopani and Beni is also rough. Journey times can be delayed significantly if the road is muddy or damaged by landslides. Travelling by jeep is more comfortable than bus, and somewhat safer. Beni is a common transfer point on route to/from Pokhara.

Beni, Nayapul, Kande and Phedi are all on the same main road route running west from Pokhara. Local buses are regular on this route, and run throughout the day until mid-late afternoon. There are also taxi stands at each of these trailheads.

Private Transport

Hiring a private car or jeep to travel to/from the trailheads is significantly more expensive, but is quicker and offers more flexibility to travel when you like. The total cost can be shared amongst a group. For current prices and bookings, ask at your accommodation or at travel agencies in Thamel (Kathmandu) or Lakeside (Pokhara). We’ve added some approx costs for various routes in the budget section.

Flights between Pokhara and Jomsom are subject to weather conditions and only ever operate in the morning. All scheduled flights stop around 11am as it gets too windy. Cancellations are common. Baggage is limited to 15 kg. You can check fares and book flights through Skyscanner , or through a local travel agency. You usually get a full refund if the flight is cancelled.

GETTING TO NEPAL

The easiest way to get to Nepal is by flying and this is how the vast majority of people arrive. A number of different airlines operate flights out of the country’s only international airport, Tribhuvan International Airport on the outskirts of Kathmandu. However, there are very few long distance flights so you can expect to stop and transfer somewhere in Asia or the Middle East, depending on your direction of travel.

Get your flights organised at the earliest possible opportunity. During busy times, such as the peak trekking season from September – November, flights are often fully booked.

CHECK OUT FLIGHT OPTIONS HERE AND NOW

The other option is to arrive overland from India, crossing the border at Sunauli. Take a look at this post on Seat 61 to learn how to go about it.

NEPAL VISAS

Tourist visas are available on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and at all land border crossings that are open to foreign travellers.

In order to get a visa on arrival you’ll need four things:

• A passport valid for at least six months
• At least one blank page in your passport
• The visa fee in cash (US Dollars is best)

There are three different visa options and prices:

• 15 Days – 30 USD
• 30 Days – 50 USD
• 90 Days – 125 USD

While this is available for most foreigners, citizens of some countries are required to get a visa prior to arrival, while those from SAARC countries can get their visa free of charge. See this for more details.

MAPS & GUIDEBOOKS

There are plenty of shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara selling detailed trekking maps of the Annapurna Circuit. You can easily buy one on arrival.

For planning in advance, this online version of the Himalayan Map House map is a great resource. And if you want to dive a little deeper, Cicerone’s Trekking Annapurna and this Annapurna Circuit NATT Trails guidebook are ideal. For a more general guide book check out Lonely Planet’s Nepal Guide .

Using a mapping app on the trail is a great way to get an appreciation of where you are, distances travelled, elevation gained, etc.

Maps.me ( iOS / Android ) is particularly good for this. You can download maps for the area beforehand and use it offline with the GPS on your phone. It also has lots of useful information marked and includes the hiking trails too.

You can download our bookmarks for the Annapurna Circuit Trek here , with the main villages, sights, permit offices, etc., marked along the way. Just be sure to download the app first.

Save any online resources you find useful (like this guide!) for offline reading so that you can reference them any time, even without the internet. You can also take screenshots.

THANKS FOR READING!

If you’ve found this guide helpful, please consider leaving us a small tip. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps cover the costs of running this blog.

Kim and Del Hogg

If you’ve found this guide helpful, please consider leaving us a small tip.

Your support is greatly appreciated and helps cover the costs of running this blog.

That’s it for our essential guide to the Annnapurna Circuit Trek. We hope you found it useful.

Don’t forget to check out our Annapurna Circuit itinerary and day by day account .

Have you trekked in Nepal before? If not does this sound like something you’d love to do? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

ORGANISE YOUR TRIP

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10 Leave a Reply

Wow, great article.

A complete information on the amazing trekking routes of Nepal. Honestly a helpful blog for travel planners. Thanks

Great!!! what a deep and detail information about Annapurna circuit Nepal.Thank you for sharing such great information and Articles about Nepal. I enjoyed to read so much.

Amazing information with including most popular trekking trails in Nepal. Thank you very much for promoting Nepal.

thank you for the informative post, will definitely comeback for more.

You’re very welcome. Glad you found it useful.

A comprehensive and detailed guide to Annapurna circuit trek guide. Thank you for promoting Nepal

Thanks for reading and appreciating our work. Cheers! Kim

Thanks for informative guide. I believe that you have spent a lot of time to write this post. However, I think it will be better to break this post to many shorter posts.

Thanks for your feedback!

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Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal: The Ultimate Guide

Jackson Groves

Posted on Last updated: October 20, 2023

Categories NEPAL , HIKING

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the most popular expeditions in the Himalayas of Nepal. While Everest Base Camp may be the most well-known trek in Nepal, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is definitely a close second! I’ve done both the EBC and the Annapurna Circuit Trek among many other routes in Nepal.

BEST TREKKING COMPANY IN NEPAL

Interested in trekking in Nepal or doing the Everest Base Camp Trek? I recommend booking your trek with Himalayan Masters , which is the company I use for all of my treks in Nepal. Use my code  JACKSON5  when you book to receive a 5% DISCOUNT .

In this guide, I will share with you my experience on multiple routes throughout the Himalayas to help prepare you for your trekking experience. Overall I would rate the Annapurna Circuit as the most scenic trek in Nepal from the first day to the last.

We looked at 7000m and 8000m peaks from the first to the last day, had amazing tea house locations, and were blown away by the scenery every single day. However, there are some negatives that modernization and commercialism have brought to the Annapurna Trekking Circuit with roads, infrastructure, and pollution. I’ll cover all aspects of this route to give you an honest insight into what to expect and why you may want to choose this route for your trip.

In this blog post, I will cover everything you need to know about the logistics of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. I’ve also created guides for the following treks and climbs in Nepal if you are interested to check those out as well.

• Manaslu Circuit Trek
• Everest Base Camp Trek
• Makalu Base Camp Trek
• Langtang Valley Trek
• Island Peak Climb
• Yala Peak Climb
• Ama Dablam Climb
• Manaslu Climb
• Makalu Climb

TRY THE 3 BEST TREKS IN NEPAL

Manaslu Circuit : My personal favorite 2-week trek through Tibetan villages and stunning scenery. Less crowded and more authentic.

Annapurna Circuit : The most beautiful & scenic 2-week trek in Nepal although can be crowded at times.

Everest Base Camp Trek : The most iconic 2-week route reaching the famous (EBC) Everest Base Camp at 5,300m.

Table of Contents

A GUIDE TO THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

In this guide, you will find all of the valuable information you need to plan your trek as well as my personal experience on the entire trek including the detour to Tilicho Lake

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK DETAILS

• Distance : 130km or 80 miles
• Days required : 10-13 days
• Total Incline : 8000 meters
• Total Decline : 7000 meters
• The highest point on the trek : The two highest points on the trek are Tilicho Lake (4,919m) and the Thorong La Pass (5,416m).
• Difficulty : The difficulty of the Annapurna Circuit Trek depends a lot on how many days you have. If you break it up over 12-14 days, it will be similar to the difficulty of EBC. However, we took only one acclimatization/rest day in Manang and the itinerary was quite tough for us given we squeezed into Tilicho Lake. Many days were about 20km of distance with 1000m of incline.
• Permits : You will need a TIMS card and Park Entrance Permit, both can be purchased when entering the park.
• Guide: A guide is not required on this trek. However, the guide manages all of the logistics, distances, directions, and tea houses for your group. I used maps.me to navigate from tea house to tea house and found the paths easy to follow. If it’s your first time trekking in Nepal, I would suggest having a guide.
• Accommodation: Guest Houses, also known as Tea Houses, are available along the way where you will sleep in a comfortable bed and have access to showers (at extra charge) and restaurant facilities. It was very comfortable accommodation and great after a long day of hiking.

KEY POINTS ABOUT THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

• This circuit is less crowded than Everest Base Camp Trek but still quite busy. Especially around Tilicho Base Camp as many locals just come to trek to the Lake and don’t do the full circuit.
• There are teahouses in each village along the way so each night you get a great sleep in a bed with blankets, have access to showers, eat great meals in a restaurant, and can charge your electronics and cameras.
• The trailhead can be reached by car so there is no need to pay for expensive domestic flights.
• The road reached all the way to Khangsar, which means it isn’t quite as remote, peaceful and natural as you may be expected until the latter stages of the hike. There are side trails most hikers take for better views and to avoid the cars but nonetheless, it can be demoralizing to see a car full of tourists drive past as you eat their dust.

TOP 3 PLACES TO STAY IN KATHMANDU

• Ultimate Luxury: The Dwarika’s Hotel – Luxury, Spa-service, Pool
• Best Value : Aloft Kathmandu Thamel – Swimming Pool, Gym & Great Restuarant
• Budget Choice: Hotel Jampa is easily the top cheap hotel in Kathmandu

BOOKING A GUIDE FOR THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

The Annapurna Circuit Trek doesn’t require a guide but it’s great to have a guide managing the logistics such as directions, tea houses, distances, medical issues, and the overall organization. I’d say 80% of trekkers go with a guide. I did the trek with Himalayan Masters which is one of the top trekking companies when it comes to the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

The trek costs around $1400 USD with Himalayan Masters as of 2022 and includes all transfers, accommodation, meals, drinks, permits, and even the hotel stay before and after the trek at a high-quality hotel. I honestly had a great time on this trek and I can wholeheartedly recommend Himalayan Masters.

You can use my discount code ‘ JACKSON5 ‘ for 5% off the total price of your trek with Himalayan Masters which is a pretty handy saving.

Email: [email protected]

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK PACKING LIST

I packed pretty light and managed to wash most of my clothes each afternoon/night for the first half of the trip. In the latter stages of the trip, it was pretty cold so we weren’t sweating as much and we wore our warm gear basically nonstop while at the teahouses. There was no real need for multiple outfits.

This is just a guide and it worked quite well for me with no complaints from my set-up. You won’t need a sleeping bag as there are blankets in each guesthouse and when it got cold I just wore my down jacket to bed. This meant I didn’t have to carry a sleeping bag for the entire trek.

• 1 pair of pants that maybe convert to shorts
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 Warm or thicker pair of hiking pants
• 1 Long sleeve quick-dry shirt
• 1 Long-sleeve thermal shirt
• 2 Short-sleeve t-shirts
• 1 Thermal long underwear
• 4 pairs of quick-dry underwear
• 1 Lightweight down jacket
• 1 Heavy-duty summit down jacket
• 1 Neck Buff
• Hiking boots
• 1 pair of warm summit socks
• 2-3 pairs of regular socks
• Trekking poles
• Water filter

All of this should fit into a backpack no bigger than 50L and should be less than 14kg.

What are my favorite pieces of hiking gear?

There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a hike. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Here are my hiking essentials.

• Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket : This is my go-to rain jacket. It’s super light, folds down into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one never leaves my backpack.
• Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots : For the best ankle support, waterproofing, and durable exterior I’m a fan of tough but light hiking boots like these Salomons for my adventures.
• Black Diamond Head Torch : I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve arrived back from a hike unexpectedly late. I always keep this lightweight but strong headtorch in my bag for the unexpected.
• Darn Tough Socks : These are the most comfortable hiking socks I’ve ever worn and last for years. They also have a lifetime warranty and you just send them in with a hole and they replace it no questions asked.

WIFI/ELECTRICITY AVAILABILITY ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

• Wifi: Costs anywhere from $0 to $4 to use wifi at the guesthouses. Buy an NTC Sim before you go. It worked in some spots but after Pisang, the service dropped and it was mostly WiFi until we got across the pass to Muktinath.
• Electricity:  You will have to pay anywhere from $0 at low elevations to $5 to charge your power banks, cameras, and phones. I found that most rooms had free electricity powerpoints in the room. The key is to get a big power bank. Pay to charge it then charge everything from your power bank. My power bank lets me charge my phone and four camera batteries before it dies. Most of the places we stayed let us charge our gear for free but when it is busy they usually charge a fee as many teahouses run off gas or solar.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK ITINERARY

The below itinerary was the exact journey I did but I would suggest adding in an extra day or two to account for rest days or being able to break up the day when you get up to Tilicho Base Camp. This was quite a strenuous activity. I also recommend not hiking to Dharapani from Besishar as the road is full of trucks and vehicles. Similarly, once you reach Muktinath, I suggest driving to Jomsom as it is quite built up from there with main, paved roads.

• Day 1: Drive Kathmandu to Dharapani (1,960m)
• Day 2: Trek to Chame (2,710m) Duration: 5-6 hours trek
• Day 4: Trek to Pisang (3,300m) Duration: 5-6 hours trek
• Day 5: Trek to Manang (3,500m) Duration: 6-7 hours
• Day 6: Acclimatization Day at Manang
• Day 7: Trek to Tilicho Base Camp (4000m) Duration 6-8 hours
• Day 8: Trek to Tilicho Lake & Trek to Shreekharka (4080m) Duration 10 hours
• Day 9: Trek to Thorong Phedi (4600m) Duration 6-7 hours
• Day 10: Trek to Thorong La & Trek down to Muktinath
• Day 11: Drive to Jomsom
• Day 12: Fly to Pokhara

INSURANCE FOR THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

Nepal can be a dangerous place for trekking or hiking because the high altitude can lead to many illnesses, weakness in trekkers, and misjudgments. There is also a risk on trails for falls, avalanches, or other mishaps. Your regular travel insurance probably won’t cover you at high altitudes and won’t cover a helicopter evacuation. There is a solution though .

Need extra protection?

Regular travel insurance is great but won’t cover you for high altitude hikes or for helicopter evacuation. Each year, I purchase a Global Rescue Subscription .

For less than $500 per year or $100 per expedition, you can purchase a Global Rescue subscription and be covered no matter how extreme the hike or how high the climb is.

DRINKING WATER ON THE ANNAPURNA VALLEY TREK

I use the Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier and it is a game-changer for hiking in Nepal, making this super easy and cheap. The Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier removes 99.9999% of viruses of disease-causing bacteria. The best thing about it is it only takes 15 seconds and one press to purify water from any fresh water source. You don’t need to buy bottled water at every tea house contributes to large amounts of plastic waste and costing you $4+ per day.

Along the Annapurna Circuit Trek, we filled up tea houses, rivers, and local village taps. Unlike aqua purification tablets which require you to wait 30 minutes before drinking, you can have rehydrated yourself immediately with the Grayl Ultralight Water Purifier .

GrayL Water Purifier

• Never pay for water on the trek
• Save 3-4 plastic water bottles a day
• Turns any water into drinking water

BEST TIME AND SEASON FOR THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

The peak season for the Annapurna Circuit Trek is March to April and October to November. The time to avoid this trek is during the rainy season from June to August . Having said that, I often found that off-season or shoulder seasons have been my best (uncrowded) trekking experiences in Nepal

During the winter from December to February, this region gets very cold and there will be snow cover in the higher parts of the trek. Many of the guesthouses actually close up for the winter and re-open in late February to March.

I hiked the Annapurna Circuit Trek in late October/early November and we had 12 days of constant sun. Not a single day with clouds and no chance of rain. Lucky us.

HOW TO GET TO THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

There are two main ways to reach Dharapani, which is the small town at the starting point of the trek. Despite the distance from Kathmandu to Besishar only being 125km, the journey takes a long time due to the traffic and quality of the road.

Jeep: We went by private Jeep organized by our tour company Himalayan Masters. It costs about $180 to hire the vehicle out for the drive so can be split between your group. It’s not cheap but much less brutal than the lengthy bus journey.

Public Bus: The bus costs about $12 USD and can take anywhere from 7-12 hours depending on the traffic and if there are any roadworks or landslides recently. The bus station in Kathmandu is called ‘ New Bus Station ‘.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK

Throughout this section of this guide, I will share my experience with each part of this trek and give my thoughts on the increased level of infrastructure and road access throughout the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

TREKKING FROM DHARAPANI TO MANANG

After surviving the bumpy ride along the cliff-side roads to Dharapani, we spent the night in a small teahouse before beginning our trek the next morning. Dharapani is actually where the Manaslu Circuit Trek finishes, so I had been in this small river-side town on several occasions previously. The trail for the Annpurna Circuit doesn’t overlap with that route at all and actually follows a road for the opening parts of the journey.

The first few days of the Annapurna Circuit Trek, are not the most peaceful or remote. Trekkers will find themselves being overtaken by Jeeps full of tourists driving deeper into the circuit or being dropped closer for a quick summit attempt at Tilicho Lake. I always hate when cars can drive past me while I’m working hard trekking but it’s unfortunately just part of this route now.

Despite trekking on a road for a fair portion of the first day, there are many side trails that quickly immerse you into the natural surroundings. We found ourselves on steep stairs in the forest and walking through small villages as we wound our way on and off of the road throughout the days. The highlights when it came to views early on in the trek was that from the very first morning, we had views of Manaslu (8,163m). This qas quite nostalgic for me and actually pretty incredible to have Manaslu as a constant backdrop given that I’d stood atop the mighty mountain a year earlier.

Chame was our first stop for the night and was probably my least favorite town of the lot. This is often to be expected when you are just getting started on the trail. The second night in Upper Pisang, we had a direct view from the tea house looking towards Annpurna II. They call it the unlucky mountain as it just misses out on being one of the 14 revered 8000ers. At 7,937m, it is an imposing peak, providing an unbelievable view right from the doorstep of the tea house.

Manang was the first town that felt quite remote and had a bit of atmosphere. In Manang there were several bakeries, religious sites, sacred lakes and monasteries. We spent two nights in Manang, as do many trekkers, and used the ‘rest’ day to head up to Chonggen Viewpoint for more incredible views over Manang and the surrounding mountains.

The scenery alongside the trail had become incredible by day three. While cars can still access to Manang, there was much less traffic and that rural, remote feeling had replace the chaotic, touristic vibe from the early moments of the trek.

TREKKING TO TILICHO LAKE

After a rest day in Manang, it was time to put in a few ‘big effort’ days as we head some serious distance and elevation gain ahead of us. Many groups head from Manang to Yakharka and continue on to the pass. However, it is possible to make a two-day or preferably three-day detour with a mission of hiking up to Tilicho Lake.

The lake is marketed as the highest lake in the world although given some research, you will find that there are about twenty different lakes that are higher than it such as Lake Titicaca. Others claim it is the highest glacial lake in the world but just across the border at 6,216 meters above sea level is the Changtse Pool in Tibet.

Despite being a bit over-hyped and falsely advertised to pull in more tourism, the lake is an incredible natural site. You might curse me for the extra few days of effort to get there but I think it’s well worth making the detour for a few reasons.

The trek into Tilicho Base Camp was one of the best sections of the entire trail. The vegetation faded away and the terrain began to evolve into an outer-space, moon-like scene. Huge slops of gravel were segregated by rock archways and sharp ridgelines. It was like no other part of the trail.

Once you reach Tilicho Base Camp, you’ll find that it isn’t a town and is an opportunistic collection of tea houses set up to meet the demand of those on a mission to reach the high-altitude lake. Hundreds of trekkers wake early to attempt to climb 900m of vertical gain to almost 5000m for a viewpoint at the rim of the lake. It’s pretty steep and a consistent set of switchbacks make the path a tough route, especially after just a few days at high altitude.

After a few hours, trekkers reach the lakeside to find a small teahouse serving coffee and tea. Taking a seat on the stone wall, it’s truly incredible to look out across the vivid blue water completely surrounded by snowy peaks and ridges.

The tough part about trekking to Tilicho Lake is that it is a 12-kilometer round trip journey with 900 meters of incline to get to the lake and back to base camp. Most itineraries dictate that you will quickly eat lunch and then walk another few hours to Shreekharka. It could be a suggestion to stay another night at Tilicho Base Camp to ease the difficult of the trek itinerary.

TREKKING ACROSS THORONG LA PASS

The long day up and down from Tilicho Lake and then from Tilicho Base Camp really took it out of us. However, the show must go on and we made a big effort to push all the way through from Shreekharka to Thorong Phedi. This is the base camp for the Thorong La Pass, which is the penultimate point and highest elevation of the trip.

The views continued to be immense on the journey to Thorong Phedi, but a third straight day with a vertical kilometer of incline and 20km of distance took its toll. We arrived late to Thorong Phedi, just before the sunset as you can see in the first image below.

The tea house at Thorong Phedi was buzzing, packed to the rafters. Many groups set off as early as 2:30 am on their quest to cross the path. We decided to bring up the rear and set off an hour before sunrise at around 5 am after a quick breakfast in the tea house.

The journey across the path begins with about 500m of elevation gain while ascending up relentless switchbacks. You can see the switchbacks from the tea house in the image below. After about 1.5 hours, trekkers reach the ‘high camp’, which is actually where many people stay on their approach to Thorong La Pass. It will make the pass day shorter but the prior day longer. It’s all about preference.

After the high camp, the scenery turns from rock to snow. We are now in a white, winter wonderland as we cross the 5000m mark on our journey across the pass. Up a seemingly never-ending slope, we wind our way around each corner.

Secretly, we are hoping to see the prayer flags of Thorong La but they never come. What we do find is a tea house serving overpriced but highly necessary instant coffee and tea. Here we recharge for half an hour before making our final push to the pass.

About an hour further and we make it up to the pass after about six hours of trekking. My dad and his mates are gassed but glad to be at the highest point of the trip. We hang out, take a few photos and even witness a huge avalanche from the seracs on the right side. Luckily it dispersed down to the side of the mountain and not toward us.

The journey down from Thorong La Pass should be straightforward and is only about eight kilometers. However, with icy conditions and slippery rocks, it was slow-going. It is highly recommended to bring micro spikes for this descent and for the descent from Tilicho Lake. Even though you will only use them twice, they are worth bringing along.

Late in the afternoon, we roll into Muktinath after crossing over into the Mustang region from the Annapurna Sanctuary side. It’s beautiful scenery but we are all just glad to make it to the hotel. It was a pretty tough ‘summit’ day all things being said.

Many trekkers will walk one more day to Jomsom before flying to Pokhara. However, we decided to take a Jeep for about $15 per head. It’s only an hour’s jeep ride to Jomsom.

I’d advise taking the Jeep as the trek looked like it went alongside the road in hot, exposed, dry terrain for twenty kilometers. It’s a brutal and unnecessary section of trail to walk but some purists may like to complete the old ‘original’ circuit. If that is you, make sure you walk all the way to Pokhara, and don’t cheat with any planes from Jomsom!

We spent the night in Jomsom and celebrated with a couple of beers. The next morning, we watched as the light planes flew into the airport. It’s a unique landing strip with an amazing backdrop of mountains on all sides. The planes take off and do a full U-turn immediately before flying up and out of the valley with views of Dhaulagiri (8,167m) on the right.

After a few nights in Pokhara, we flew back to Kathmandu to wrap up an incredible journey on the Annapurna Circuit with Himalayan Masters .

I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal and have a great experience yourself! To finish up, here is a photo from the epic Jomson airport. Not a bad way to end the trip.

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER NEPAL BLOGS?

I’ve been lucky enough to have many awesome adventures in Nepal, which you can check out below where I’ve listed some of my favorite blog poss from Nepal.

• The Most Iconic route: Everest Base Camp Trek
• The Most Scenic Route: Annapurna Circuit Trek
• My Favorite Trek in Nepal: Manaslu Circuit Trek
• An Easy Nepal Trek: Langtang Valley Trek
• A great beginner peak: Island Peak Climb (6,165m)
• My Favorite Climb in Nepal: Climbing Ama Dablam (6,812m)
• My first 8000er: Climbing Manaslu (8,163m)
• My toughest climb in Nepal: Climbing Makalu (8,463m)
• Where to stay: 16 Best Places to Stay in Kathmandu

Sunday 12th of May 2024

Hi, Jackson Groves, the photography showcasing the grandeur of the Annapurna region is best. The layout was clean and intuitive, with easy navigation allowing me to delve deeper into the content with a mere click.

"Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal: The Ultimate Guide" descriptions of the trekking routes and elevation profiles to practical advice on gear selection and acclimatization strategies, every aspect of the trek was meticulously covered.

this guide apart was the personal touch woven into its narrative. Reading through the guide felt like embarking on a journey alongside a knowledgeable and enthusiastic friend.

Reading this post every new trekker will be inspire to be part of this moment to explore the breathtaking beauty of the Annapurna region.

Sunday 11th of June 2023

Hi, I noticed a news that Nepal treks should only be allowed only with a guide, starting from April 2023. Your article seems to be from June 2023. Does it mean that Annapurna Circuit has an exemption? Thanks a lot!

Sunday 2nd of July 2023

Thanks, honestly, this is a reason for me not to even think about Nepal and consider e.g. Patagonia

Sunday 18th of June 2023

Anything above 3000m I believe you need a guide now

Thursday 9th of March 2023

Please tell me more about your photography set up. Camera, lens, gear etc Thank You! :)

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Annapurna Circuit Trek

Annapurna circuit trek | 2024.

• Trip Duration: 12 Days
• Altitude: 5,416 m / 17,769 ft
• Best time: Feb-May, Sep-Dec
• Grade: Challenging
• Trek Type: Tea House
• Meals: Included
• Accommodation: Hotel & Tea House

Overview of the Annapurna Circuit Trek

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary and unparalleled experiences a trekker can avail themselves of. With an extensive length of 160–230 km that covers four distinct districts, comprising Lamjung, Myagdi, Manang, and Mustang, this trekking route stands out as the most preferred circuit through the diverse natural vegetation, cultural beliefs, landscape, altitude, trail, pristine little settlements, culturally affluent tribal groups, and religious sects.

The trek begins in Jagat. As we gain altitude, the landscape and vegetation change, and rugged alpine terrain appears. The challenge of the trek is to cross the highest pass, Thorong La (5,416 m). The splendid snow-capped Himalayan views from the peak of the Thorong La Pass are just amazing and beyond expectation. Then we follow the trail to Muktinath temple, the temple of God Vishnu, the god of preservation. And the windy Jomsom, and just ahead we pass through the deepest gorge along the Kaligandaki River between Mt. Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. We then trek to the famous Gurung village, Ghorepani, and the famous Poon Hill viewpoint.

Highlights of the Annapurna Circuit Trek

• One of the most classic and oldest treks in Nepal, 
• Thorang La Pass is the highest navigable pass (5,416 m) in the world, 
• Descend into one of the deepest gorges in the world, the Kali Gandaki,
• Poon Hill is a hill station, 
• Traditional Gurung, Tibetan, and other ethnic villages,
• Muktinath is a holy temple of God Vishnu,
• The natural hot spring of Tatopani.

Outline Itinerary of the Annapurna Circuit Trek

KTM ) Arrival in Kathmandu city, transfer to the hotel

Day 01 ) Drive to Jagat (1,300 m) (8/9 hours)

Day 02 ) Trek to Dharapani (1,860 m) (5/6 hours)

Day 03 ) Trek to Chame (2,620 m) (6/7 hours)

Day 04 ) Trek to Pisang (3,200 m) (6/7 hours)

Day 05 ) Trek to Manang (3,540 m) (5/6 hours)

Day 06 ) Acclimatization Day

Day 07 ) Trek to Yak Kharka (4,018 m) (6/7 hours)

Day 08 ) Trek to Thorong Phedi (4,560 m) (5/6 hours)

Day 09 ) Trek to Muktinath (3,767 m) via Thorang-La Pass (5,416 m) (7/8 hours)

Day 10 ) Drive to Jomsom and Tatopani (1,190 m) (6/7 hours)

Day 11 ) Trek to Ghorepani (2,874 m) (6/7 hours)

Day 12 ) Early morning hike to Poon Hill, trek to Ulleri (2 hours) and drive to Pokhara (3 hours)

PKR ) Drive or fly back to Kathmandu

KTM ) Departure to your home

Not satisfied with this itinerary?

Annapurna Circuit Trek: Detailed Itinerary

Ktm) arrival in kathmandu city, transfer to your hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel
• Altitude: 1,400 m, Kathmandu

At Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be received by a Himalayan Odyssey Nepal Trek guide/staff and transferred to your hotel. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 01) Drive to Jagat from Kathmandu via Besisahar (1,300 m) (8/9 hours)​

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation: Lodge
• Altitude: 1,300 m, Jagat

We take a drive from Kathmandu to Besisahar by tourist bus. We have breakfast and lunch on the way. The route takes us out of the Kathmandu valley along the picturesque Trishuli River to Besisahar. As we reach Besisahar, we drive towards Jagat by Jeep, following the Marshyangdi River. We will pass several beautiful villages, green paddy fields, and forests until we reach Jagat. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 02) Trek to Dharapani (1,860 m) (5/6 hours)

• Altitude: 1,860 m, Dharapani

We are walking on a rocky path next to the Marsyangdi River. We see beautiful waterfalls, green plants, and animals. The path goes up to a village called Tal. We keep going up the valley, using stone stairs, until we get to Dharapani. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 03) Trek to Chame (2,620 m) (6/7 hours)

• Altitude: 2,620 m, Chame

The path goes up along a river called Marsyangdi, going through trees like pine and fir. We’ll get to see great views of the mountains Annapurna II (7,937 m), Mt. Manaslu (8,156 m), and other peaks before reaching Chame. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 04) Trek to Pisang (3,200 m) (6/7 hours)

• Altitude: 3,200 m, Pisang

After breakfast, we will follow the Marsyangdi Trail to Bharatang. We will see Annapurna II (7,937m) up close from there. Next, we will climb a steep hill where we will see many oak, fir, pine, hemlock, and maple trees. We will have a great view of the Pangida Danda. Then, we will cross a suspension bridge, go up for a while, and then down to the valley floor. We’ll see dry, grazing land and reach Dhukure Pokhari. After walking for about half an hour, we will reach Pisang. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 05) Trek to Manang (3,540 m) (5/6 hours)

• Altitude: 3,540 m, Manang

We will start our day by walking on a dry trail where there is little rainfall and many beautiful landscapes. Two paths will take us to Mungi. We can take either of those two. The path that goes through Ghyaru, or Hongde, Ghyaru village on the harder path is especially attractive because of its lovely stone houses surrounded by fields of wheat, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, and beans. We will continue our journey to Ngawal, a village that has an old building called a gompa and ancient juniper trees. Next, we will follow a trail that will take us down to Mungji, where we will meet the other path. From there, we will go to the famous village called Manang. Enjoy looking at the beautiful Annapurna mountain range. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 06) Acclimatization Day

Today is the acclimatization day for our body to cope with gaining altitude and avoid any kind of high-altitude sickness. We will take a higher-elevation hike either to the ridge near the Gangapurna glacier or walk up to the cave above Manag village. We will visit the village and native people and gain insight into their lifestyle and culture during our acclimatization day. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 07) Trek to Yak Kharka (4,018 m) (6/7 hours)

• Altitude: 4,018m, Yak Kharka

The day starts with an ascent to Tengki, which is the last permanent settlement below the pass. We will walk upward until we reach Gunsang. The trail then turns northwest towards Jharsang Khola Valley. We walk on scrub juniper and alpine grass, which brings us to Yak Kharka. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 08) Trek to Thorong Phedi (4,560 m) (5/6 hours)

• Altitude: 4,560 m, Thorong Phedi

After having breakfast, we move towards the Thorong Phedi. We walk for about an hour and reach Churi Leder. We then descend to the river and cross it over the wooden bridge. The trail then becomes challenging as you climb upstream of Jharsang Khola on the ridge of the cliff and finally reach Thorong Phedi. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 09) Trek to Muktinath (3,767 m) via Thorang-La Pass (5,416 m) (7/8 hours)

• Altitude: 3,767 m, Muktinath

Today, we will walk through the highest point of the entire Annapurna Circuit. We will head towards the Thorong-La Pass (5,416 m) early in the morning and begin the ascent. The trail is steep and narrow, but if we walk uphill for about 4/5 hours, we’ll get to the top, which is 5,416 m. From there, we can see beautiful mountain ranges like the Annapurna range and the Dhaulagiri range. There are also some chortens and colorful flags that celebrate our hiking success. After taking some photos and enjoying the scenery, we will walk downhill over a rocky area and then through some green fields until we reach a place called Muktinath. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 10) Drive to Jomsom and Tatopani (1,190 m) (6/7 hours)

• Altitude: 1,190 m, Tatopani

In the morning, we’ll go to Muktinath Temple and then take a local bus to Tatopani. The ride might be bumpy because the road goes through deep gorges. We’ll go from dry land to green forests. Tatopani is well-known for its hot springs. The hot spring water is believed to be helpful for skin problems. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 11) Trek to Ghorepani (2,874 m) (6/7 hours)

• Altitude: 2,874 m, Ghorepani

Today is a long day of walking to Ghorepani. After continuously descending for some days, you will climb today. The trail first crosses the bridge over the Kaligandaki River, which leads us to the junction where we can follow the trail either to Beni or Ghorepani. We will follow the trail, as our destination is Ghorepani. Ghorepani, being a popular destination for both national and international tourists, offers spectacular views of Dhaulagiri and Manaslu Himalayas and the opportunity to hike the most famous viewpoint of the entire Annapurna Region, Poon Hill. Stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 12) Early morning hike to Poon Hill, trek to Ulleri (2 hours) and drive to Pokhara (3 hours)

• Altitude: 822 m, Pokhara

Today is the last day of the trek. We will hike to Poon Hill early in the morning to have magnificent 360-degree panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges with a splendid sunrise view. After spending some time on the hilltop, enjoying the fabulous moments, and keeping a lifetime memory, we will retrace our steps back to the lodge at Ghorepani. After having breakfast, we will head towards Nayapul, which brings the end of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. We will take a vehicle service from here to reach Pokhara, where you can hang around the lakeside area to enjoy your evening. Stay overnight at the hotel.

• Airport pickup and drop-off for arrival and departure
• A total of two nights’ accommodation in Kathmandu (Bed and breakfast) after the arrival and after the trek
• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) fee
• Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card fee
• All government, local taxes, and official expenses
• A government-licensed, experienced trek leader (guide), an assistant trekking guide for 8 or more trekkers, and porters to help trekkers with luggage ( *1 porter for two trekkers; the maximum luggage limit per trekker is 14 kg. )
• Guides and porters costs, which include meals, insurance, salary, lodging, transportation, and other necessary equipment
• One-night accommodation in Pokhara (Bed and breakfast) after the trek
• Kathmandu to Besisahar by tourist bus or microbus 
• Private transportation: (From Besisahar – starting point of the trek) (From the ending point of the trek – Pokhara)
• All accommodations during the trek
• Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) during the trek
• Arranging rescue operations in cases of complicated health conditions (funded by travel insurance)
• International flight airfare
• Domestic flight airfare (Pokhara-Kathmandu)
• On Arrival Visa Fee at Entry Points: [15 days: USD 30, 30 days: USD 50, 90 days: 125 USD]
• Extra nights’ accommodation and meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara due to early arrival, late departure, or an early return from the trek
• Lunch and dinner in Pokhara
• Personal expenses (shopping, snacks, bottled water or boiled water, hot (tea, coffee) and cold drinks, hot shower, alcohol, Wi-Fi, telephone call, battery recharge fee, extra porters, etc.)
• Personal clothing and gear
• Tips for guides and porters
• Additional costs due to delays caused by circumstances outside company control like landslides, weather conditions, itinerary modifications due to safety concerns, illness, changes in government policies, strikes, etc.

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[natural habitats of the annapurna region].

Flora found in the Annapurna region

Row 01: Canna lily, Rhododendron, Iris Row 02: Yellow primrose, White orchid, Marijuana Row 03: Juniper bush, Stellara, Caragana brevispina

Fauna found in the Annapurna region

Row 01: Bharal (Blue sheep), Snow leopard, Himalayan wolf Row 02: Gray langur, Leopard, Jungle cat Row 03: Red fox, Himalayan marmot, Red giant flying squirrel

Birds found in the Annapurna region

Row 01: Hume's leaf warbler, Black redstart, Impeyan pheasant Row 02: Rosy pipit, Stripe-throated yuhina, Chestnut-tailed minla Row 03: Rock eagle owl, Crested serpent eagle, Ultramarine flycatcher

Travel Information

All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to the Himalayan Odyssey Nepal Trek before starting the trek.

[Note:] The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation, including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes.

Trekking permit requirements Two permits are required for the  Annapurna Circuit Trek : 1)  a  TIMS  (Trekkers Information Management System) card 2) an entry permit for the  Annapurna Conservation Area Project  permit

The difficulty of the Annapurna Circuit Trek is challenging (grade IV). While you’ll start the Thorong La Pass Trek at around 1,000 m above sea level, you’ll reach as high as 5,416 m at Thorong La Pass. That’s pretty high. There is a chance of getting altitude sickness.

Safe drinking water is easily available during the trek. You should carry a water bottle so you can refill the water that is available in every lodge. It will be better to bring purifying tablets for safe drinking during the trek.

Coughs and headaches are normal in the mountains. However, if you suffer from a high-syndrome illness, you have to make your way backward. Visit our Altitude Sickness page for more information. 

Yes, cellular networks can be found on the trekking trails of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. However, in some places, there might not be reception available. 

The standard length of the Annapurna Circuit Trek is about 160–260 kilometers. It could take 10 to 21 days to complete the circuit, but the distance can differ depending on your itinerary or where you start and end the trek.

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Trekking map of annapurna circuit trek: 12-days itinerary.

Nar Phu Valley Trek

Duration: 9 Days

Tilicho Lake Trek

Duration: 11 Days

Thorong-La Pass Trek

Duration: 12 Days

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Duration: 7 Days

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The best Annapurna treks

An expert guide to trekking the annapurna region.

Stuart Butler

Bradley Mayhew

• In this guide
• Remote treks
• Challenging treks
• Everest treks
• Annapurna treks

Upper Mustang treks

• Langtang Valley treks
• Manaslu treks
• Dolpo treks
• Far Western Nepal treks
• Makalu treks
• Kanchenjunga treks
• What to eat in Nepal
• Best Annapurna treks
• Need to know

Annapurna trekking: overrated routes & hidden gems

For lots of visitors, trekking in Nepal = trekking in Annapurna, in particular either the Annapurna Sanctuary or the Annapurna Circuit trek. They’re both spectacular and more than deserve their hype but, in my opinion, they’ve been let down by the tourism industry’s tendency to over-market the already popular highlights at the expense of any hidden gems.

What's more, the Annapurna Circuit trek – for many years described as the single best trek on earth – has suffered so much encroachment from road construction that I’m not sure I could even recommend doing the original route (the new alternative route is excellent however.)

Fortunately there is much more to trekking in Annapurna than these two blockbuster routes. From simple walks in the flowery foothills, to hidden valleys that feel like Tibet and require special permits to visit, there's a huge variety of Annapurna treks that don't make it into the mainstream tourism marketing.

But whatever trek you choose, one thing is for sure: the mountain scenery will blow you away. Standing in the heart of the cirque at the end of the Annapurna Sanctuary trek could move you to tears, and the wilderness around Tilicho Lake will probably be the best mountain scenery you’ll ever lay eyes on

There’s the added advantage that most treks are simple to organise, trailheads easy to reach on public transport, and accommodation and facilities abundant and of a very high quality. So forget the glory of Everest , Annapurna is where it’s at!

Ready to go? Here's my expert guide to the best Annapurna treks.

Get the digested read

Where to begin? When to go? How to plan? So many questions, so little time. That's why we've asked leading Nepal trekking expert Stuart Butler to answer your most frequently asked questions in this handy four-part email series.

The classic view of Annapurna I

The most famous routes and some hidden gems

Annapurna Region

Road-free annapurna circuit.

• Best trek for: Classic scenery, good facilities
• Difficulty: Moderate to hard
• Trek duration: Nine to 18 days
• Max. elevation: 5,416m
• Accommodation: Trekking lodges
• Start/end point: Dharapani/Jomsom or Naya Pul

This, one of the world’s classic treks, takes you through virtually the whole range of Nepalese landscapes: From sub-tropical valleys where banana plants and gushing, murky jungle rivers are the defining features, through gorgeous woodlands, and across Alpine meadows and conifer forests, to the rock and ice wastes higher up.

Sadly, in the past few years road construction has affected up to 75% of the original Annapurna Circuit route. Life’s too short to trek on roads, so my advice is to avoid the original route and follow the new road-free route instead . If you’re set on walking the Annapurna Circuit, be sure to follow the New Annapurna Trekking Trails (NATT) route that take you away from the road traffic and onto quieter and more scenic side trails – in many cases these new trails offer even more impressive scenery than the original routes. NATT routes are waymarked with signs painted in blue and white, instead of the red and white of the main Annapurna Circuit route.

The high point is the often snow-covered Thorung La Pass (5,416m) with its utterly sensational mountain views. From here you drop rapidly down towards the fascinating Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site of Muktinath and then into a drier, region of eroded river gorges, lush oases and castle-like monasteries around Kagbeni and Jomsom (look out for ammonite fossils in the Kali Gandaki river bed — evidence that the top of the world was once at the bottom of a prehistoric ocean).

Many people finish the trek at Jomsom (there are jeeps and buses to Pokhara or scheduled daily flights), but for the devoted, the new alternative trail winds slowly downhill through the dramatic Kali Gandaki valley into warmer, greener and lusher countryside. The sense of satisfaction of walking the entire circuit is second to none.

Facilities along the Annapurna Circuit are excellent with comfortable trekking lodges and good, varied food. Many lodges have hot showers and wi-fi. It’s busy during high season and the demand for beds can exceed supply. You can avoid the problem by joining an organised trip, and miss the crowds by overnighting at midway points between the major stops. See here for our recommended itinerary.

Annapurna North Base Camp

Best trek for: Expedition style camping

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: Five to six days

Max elevation: 4,050m

Accommodation: camping

Start/end point: Tatopani/Sandhi Kharka

New trek routes always get my pulse racing, especially when they follow in the footsteps of a famous old expedition route. This particular trek follows the expedition route of Maurice Herzog’s epic 1950 ascent of Annapurna I (8,091m), the first ever ascent of an 8,000m peak, and it takes you up to an amazing mountain amphitheatre ringed with 7,000m peaks.

Unlike the busy base camps of the popular Annapurna Sanctuary trek, this ‘alternative’ Annapurna Base Camp trek is a true hidden gem that sees only a trickle of well-informed trekkers, largely because you need to camp and be self-sufficient. There are no lodges here and definitely no apple pie.

The trek starts at Tatopani, veering off the Annapurna Circuit to make a dramatic, sphincter-tightening jeep ride up the wild, sheer-sided gorge of the Mristi Khola. The walking starts at the hydroelectric plant at Hum Khola Dovan (2,880m), with overnights at Sandhi Kharka and Bhusket Mela (3,550m), until you finally set up camp in the astounding glacial basin of Narchang Lake (4,050m). This secret spot, surrounded by Annapurna I, Fang, Tilicho and Nilgiri peaks and walled off by the Great Barrier of the Annapurnas, is a classic mountain cul-de-sac, surrounded by glaciers, waterfalls and vertical rock walls.

The opportunities for day hikes here are fabulous, with faint trails leading to Annapurna North Base Camp, Advanced Base Camp and Nilgiri Base Camp via some epic glacier viewpoints. Bring a copy of Maurice Herzog’s classic 1951 Annapurna, and spend the evenings reading his account of the groundbreaking ascent and even more harrowing descent. It’s a day’s walk back to Sandhi Kharka and then half a day to meet your jeep and make the wild ride back.

Annapurna Sanctuary trek

• Best trek for: The most popular Annapurna trek
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Trek duration: 10 days
• Max. elevation: 4,130m
• Start/end point: Naya Pul or Dhampus

Rivalling Everest Base Camp for the title of most popular trek in Nepal, the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is a 10-day extravaganza of non-stop mountain vistas culminating in a great cirque of massive mountain peaks seven to eight kilometres high.

If you’re looking for a short, relatively easy and simple-to-organise trek that doesn’t venture too high (max elevation is 4,130m), and with unusually comfortable accommodation, then the Annapurna Sanctuary ticks all the boxes.

The straight there and back route starts in the lush subtropical hills to the north of Pokhara, taking you through oak, birch, rhododendron and bamboo forests before hitting the Alpine zone on day five around Machapuchare base camp (which is actually a collection of trekking lodges — for religious reasons it’s forbidden to climb Machapuchare).

From here to the Annapurna Sanctuary the views get more stupendous with every corner passed. Once you reach the Annapurna Sanctuary there are a few viewpoints above the lodges which reward with views over glaciers, moraine fields and an amphitheatre of peaks including Machapuchare (6,993m), Annapurna South (7,219m), Annapurna III (7,555m), Gangapurna (7,454m) and, just poking up behind the others, Annapurna I (8,091m), the first 8,000m mountain ever climbed (in 1950 by legendary French climbers Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal).

The facilities for trekkers are as good as anywhere in the Nepalese mountains. Most lodges have varied menus, some form of heating, separate rooms, electricity, hot showers and even wi-fi. However, this combination of unsurpassed mountain scenery, great facilities and easy access means that tens of thousands of trekkers can walk this trail each year, causing local culture to be overwhelmed by international trekking culture. Lodges can be booked out in the high season. Try to get to the night stop early, or join an organised trekking tour and avoid the worry of finding a bed. If you’re looking for something quieter, the new Annapurna North Base Camp trek might be for you.

To avoid this being a straight there and back trek, do the Poon Hill trek first and then on day four link on to this walk. That would give a total of about 12 comfortable days of walking. Or alternatively add on the Mardi Himal trek for a similar duration.

Poon Hill trek

• Best trek for: Easier-going route with classic sunrise views
• Trek duration: Five to six days
• Max. elevation: 3,210m
• Start/end point: Naya Puk/Phedi

Mixing heart-stirring mountain views with enchanting villages and beautiful forests with a thousand blooming rhododendrons, this is a good introduction to trekking in Nepal.

The highlight is Poon Hill itself, an hour’s walk above the village of Ghorepani. Watching the sunrise from here is an almost obligatory Nepalese experience. As the first beams of light shine across a panorama that includes Dhaulagiri I (8,167m), South Annapurna (8,091m) and Nilgri (6,940m), it’s hard not to be moved, despite the often noisy crowds

The trailheads are only about an hour’s drive out of Pokhara and there are excellent trekking lodges along the route plus some luxury hotels. The trek can be done clockwise or anti-clockwise and it makes a good add-on to the more challenging Annapurna Sanctuary trek. It’s also an ideal first time trek for families and those who don’t want to go too high. But do keep in mind that there’s a lot of steep up and downs.

Nar-Phu trek

• Best trek for: Getting well off the beaten path
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
• Trek duration: Seven to nine days
• Max. elevation: 5,320m
• Accommodation: Camping and basic trekking lodges
• Start/end point: Koto/Ngawal

Most Annapurna Circuit trekkers heading through the village of Koto won’t know that a trail off to the east leads to a magical, hidden world. The Nar and Phu valleys were closed to tourism until 2002 and when they finally opened up the first trekkers discovered a landscape of narrow gorges, 7km high mountains, timeless stone villages festooned with prayer flags, and a distinct local culture based on yak herding and trade with neighbouring Tibet.

Still rarely trekked (a restricted area permit and camping gear is required), the route follows a dark, deep and shady gorge up to the mediaeval village of Phu, which consists of around 40 or 50 mud and stone houses and red painted monasteries huddled together on the top of a hill. Entry to the village is via a spectacular old gateway.

It’s worth allowing a couple of nights in Phu to explore the upper valley. To leave, you have to retrace your steps halfway back down the valley before veering west up the Nar valley, over yak pastures to the large traditional village of Nar where there are four gompas (Buddhist monasteries) worth visiting. Independent trekkers relying on lodges will probably have to turn back here and retrace their steps to Koto, but camping groups and acclimatised trekkers can make the exciting crossing of the Kang La (5,320m) down to Ngawal back on the Annapurna Circuit.

This trek works well either as an add-on to the Annapurna Circuit or as a short, stand-alone trek in its own right. For adventurous trekkers with all the correct permits on fully-organised camping treks, it’s possible to take a wild, difficult and very rarely walked route from the village of Nar into Upper Mustang via the taxing Teri La Pass (5,595m).

Khopra Ridge trek

• Best trek for: Quieter, less-crowded route
• Max. elevation: 3,660m
• Accommodation: Camping and limited trekking lodges
• Start/end point: Ghorepani/Tadapani

Also known as the Khopra Danda trek, this is well off the standard Annapurna trekking routes and offers a low-key, peaceful trek to lofty viewpoints on the flanks of Annapurna South. There are a number of different route variations but my favourite branches off the Poon Hill trek at Tadopani and climbs to lodges at Bayeli (with its amazing Mulde viewpoint), Chistibang and then Khopra Danda, before descending to Swanta and Ghorepani

The trails pass through charming villages with simple private and community lodges and lots of pretty forests. Khopra Ridge itself is an impressive dome with an exposed trail running along it that feels much higher than it really is (especially when covered in snow). The views across to Dhaulagiri I (8,167m) are unforgettable. From the ridge it’s possible to make a very long and challenging 10-hour day trip to the high altitude Khayer Lake (4,600m). Given the 1,000-metre height gain in a day, plus the beauty of the lake, it’s much more advisable to go on an organised camping trek and sleep on the lake shore.

Mardi Himal trek

• Best Trek For: Short trek with great views
• Max elevation: 4,250m-4,500m
• Accommodation: simple lodges
• Start/end point: Khare (Kande)/Sidhing or Landruk

Do you want a taste of the Annapurna region – forests, hillsides of rhododendrons, airy ridge walks and close-up views of big peaks – but can’t afford more than a week? If yes, then I think the Mardi Himal trek might just be for you.

It’s very accessible (less than an hour by bus or taxi from Pokhara), well signed, and the trail will take you past everything from Gurung villages to high Alpine ridges. Not so many foreign trekkers make it here but the lodges are decent (though not as comfortable as other parts of the region). It’s popular with Nepali trekkers, though, so avoid weekends if you can.

The first day or two take you past Australia Camp and the village of Pothana up through the forests of Pitam Deorali to teahouses at Forest Camp, but before long you’ll find yourself above the treeline at Low Camp (2,985m) and then High Camp (3,550m), where the views of fish-tailed Machapuchare, Himchuli and the Annapurnas really open up. Pray for good weather for the amazing final hike from High Camp up to Mardi Himal ‘Base Camp’ West for views of peaks that seem within reach, before returning to Low Camp. From here return to jeep access roads at Sidhing, Galel or Lwang, or hike from Forest Camp to the road at Landruk.

If you are fit (and, crucially, acclimatised) the trek can be done in four days, though five to six is more likely. For an excellent 10-11 day trek link Mardi Himal with the Annapurna Sanctuary route via Landruk.

Tilicho Lake trek

• Best trek for: Short but challenging route
• Trek duration: Four to five days
• Max. elevation: 5,005m
• Start/end point: Manang/Manang or Yak Kharka

The short, but challenging hike to Tilicho Lake, one of the highest large lakes in the world, is one of the most impressive Annapurna treks.

It’s a four or five-day round trip detour off the main Annapurna Circuit trail starting from Manang and heading rapidly upwards, firstly through pine forest and then across scree slopes before a final climb to a pass (5,005m) overlooking the lake. Pushed right up against the great wall of the Annapurna range, and with glaciers crashing down into it, the lake is frozen over for months on end and can be a bleak and scary place.

When it is ice-free (normally June to early November), the astonishing turquoise colours of the water clash with the dark rock and white glaciers behind it. For sheer high mountain drama, I find it hard to beat. However, the route up to the lake is not for the faint-hearted.

The path rises very steeply from Manang and altitude-related problems are very common. Also, a large part of the trail is high up on an almost sheer shale slope where rock falls and avalanches are almost daily occurrences. Needless to say it can be very dangerous, especially after rain. People suffering from vertigo will probably not enjoy this trek. Although there are a number of decent trekking lodges along the trail to the lake there’s nowhere reliable to stay on the lake shore. By coming on an organised camping trek you can spend a magical night camping along the lake’s northern edge with only snow leopards for company.

After reaching the lake it’s best to turn back the way you came rather than going all the way back to Manang though you can take a small shortcut that will get you directly to the lodges at Yak Kharka.

Note that many maps and some trekking agencies talk about a route directly from Tilicho Lake to Jomsom via the Mesokanto pass. No matter what any map, sign or trekking agency tells you, this is not a route to be taken lightly. It involves ice-climbing down two huge, vertical glacier walls followed by a hair-raising and utterly exhausting climb up a loose scree slope which makes those you crossed on the way up to Tilicho seem like child’s play. Do not attempt this route without mountaineering experience, ropes, ice-axes and crampons as well as a guide who knows the route — very few do.

Annapurna luxury lodge trek

• Best trek for: Soft trekking in style
• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: Six days
• Max elevation: 2,015m
• Accommodation: luxury lodges
• Start/end point: Lumle/Phedi

If you shudder at the idea of overnighting in a wooden room no larger than a prison cell, with the single shared toilet located down a hallway echoing with the thunderous snores of a two-dozen unwashed trekkers (or even worse; a tent!), then you might want to consider a luxury trekking itinerary in the Annapurna foothills. You’ll avoid the discomfort of high altitude and can focus on lovely days spent wandering village trails, safe in the knowledge that a hot shower and happy hour awaits you at the end of the day.

Ker & Downey operates a string of lodges in the foothills north of Pokhara, allowing you to link the Gurung villages of Dhampus, Ghandruk, Majgaun, Landruk and Birethanti in a five or six day loop, with fine views of iconic fish-tailed Machapuchare never far away. This is trekking in style.

Panchase Trek

• Duration: Three to four days
• Max. elevation: 2,500m
• Accommodation: Teahouse lodges
• Start/end point: Pokhara

This is one of my favourite alternative treks in the Annapurna region. Don't worry if you've not heard of it – most visitors haven’t, which means you’ll enjoy largely crowd-free trails while ascending to magnificent viewpoints at a maximum altitude of just 2,500 metres.

A highlight of this route is the way it begins: you’ll depart directly from the lakeside in Pokhara, boarding one of the city’s colourful boats to reach the opposite shore of Phewa Lake. Your destination on this four-day route is the hill station of Panchase, and you’ll pass through a number of charming Himalayan villages to get there. All told, this is a great Annapurna trek where you won’t have to worry about a long haul on dusty roads. I often recommend it for an acclimatisation trek before embarking on one of the longer and higher altitude main routes.

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Comfort trekking staying in luxury lodges, road-free annapurna circuit itinerary, a new alternative to the classic route, annapurna trekking: need to know, everything you wish you'd known before you booked.

Think twice about the Annapurna Circuit

The Annapurna Circuit consistently tops lists of the world’s best treks – and rightly so. Or rather, it used to be rightly so.

The problem is that these lists are often written by desk-bound editors who’ve never been out there and are rehashing info that's over a decade old. The sad reality today is that road construction has eaten up three quarters of the old Annapurna Circuit trail. The sublime cliff-side paths and mule tracks that I and many others hiked two decades ago are now cloaked in jeep fumes and dust.

My enduring memory of a recent trip to the circuit was seeing a long line of grim-faced trekkers trudging along a dirt road through clouds of jeep dust. It didn’t look like fun, let alone the world’s best trek.

So is the Annapurna Circuit dead? Well, no, not exactly. By choosing smart ending and starting points and following a series of side trails called the New Annapurna Trekking Trails (NATT; with markers painted in blue and white, instead of the red and white of the main trail) you can avoid most of the roads, while soaking up the same astonishing Himalayan views, high-altitude lakes and traditional trading villages that have drawn trekkers here for half a century now.

There’s no denying that the nature of the walk has changed. I still rank the lodges and food along this route as some of the best in Nepal, but many of these are now on the road, and so cater to a different clientele. And while the NATT trails are infinitely better than hiking on the road, they aren’t perfect; you still have to walk some sections on the new road and other dirt roads are eating away even at these detours.

Do your research, stick to side trails and you’ll be a much happier trekker.

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Forget about Poon Hill

I’d argue that Poon Hill is the most overrated viewpoint in the Himalaya.

Pokhara trekking agencies and guides love it because it’s relatively quick, easy and cheap to get to, but it’s just way too busy a spot to provide the ‘sunrise over the Himalaya’ spiritual epiphany you were hoping for. Get better and quieter views of the Annapurna range at Mohare Danda on the Khopra Ridge trek or from Mardi Himal Base Camp, or opt for equally dramatic views of 8,167m Dhaulagiri from the east bank of the Kali Gandaki valley.

Don't neglect the side trips

The Annapurna Circuit and Sanctuary treks are undeniably busy, so I highly advise building in some spare days to your itinerary. Put the trekking poles down for a day and follow the Hindu pilgrims to the holy town of Muktinath. They’ve come from across the Indian sub-continent to bathe in the freezing spring waters and pray at the eternal flame which lies at the heart of the temple complex. A day’s walk further downhill is Kagbeni, a quiet desert oasis village that you can visit without an expensive permit.

Combine the Manaslu and Annapurna Circuits for a beyond epic trek

It’s hard to imagine a more spectacular trek than combining the best week of the Annapurna Circuit onto the end of the already fabulous Manaslu Circuit . You’ll cross two passes over 5,000m, visit three of Nepal’s most picturesque villages (Sama, Bragha and Kagbeni) and get a taste of traditional Tibetan-influenced culture in the valleys of Nupri, Manang and lower Mustang. This is 18 days of the best teahouse trekking you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Don’t skip acclimatisation days

Given the pressures of time and budget, I understand it can be tempting to skip those dull acclimatisation days, especially when you arrive at your destination at lunchtime and the itch to push on seems almost irresistible. Skip an acclimatisation day, however, and you’ll almost certainly create problems for yourself later on; you might even have to abandon your entire trek due to altitude sickness. I try to take advantage of acclimatisation days by exploring side trails or hiking higher than the overnight stop, before returning for the night, thus supercharging my acclimatisation by ‘climbing high and sleeping low’.

Don’t buy bottled water

Don't contribute to Nepal's huge trash problem by buying bottled water while trekking. Not only are these bottles ridiculously expensive but the non-recyclable plastic ends up strewn across teahouses, villages and trekking trails, giving mountain tourism a bad name. Invest in a water filter like a Lifestraw, UV-light sterilisation like a Steripen, or just pack some good old fashioned chlorine tablets and purify your own water. You’ll save a small mountain of plastic and you’ll have some extra money in your pocket for that extra slice of apple pie.

The stunning Annapurna range from Poon Hill

Annapurna trekking FAQs

Your questions, our expert answers, is there still an option for independent trekking in the annapurna area or do you have to have a licensed guide.

Aside from the Everest region then yes, officially, you do now need an officially recognised guide to hike inside any national park/protected area in Nepal. This would include most of the main Annapurna trails.

However, enforcement of the rule in the Annapurna region has been spotty so far. There are plans (in theory at least) to start enforcing the new rule in 2024.

I would say though that a guide is just a good idea anyway because a good guide (and getting a good one is key) will enhance your trek by giving background information, offering up interesting side routes, translating when required, opening cultural doors and, of course, providing a bit more safety. Not to mention that it gives much needed jobs to local people and in the big picture it costs very little.

What permits are required to trek in the Annapurna region?

All these treks require a TIMS permit (Trekkers’ Information Management System) and an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit. At the time of writing, individual permits cost R 2,000 per trekking route per entry, while group trekkers pay R 1,000 per person. Check the latest prices on the official Nepal tourism board website .

The Nar-Phu trek also needs a restricted area permit (seven days Sept-Nov/Dec-Aug US $90/75, additional days, US $10). You must be in a party of at least two trekkers and be accompanied by a guide.

When is the best time to trek in the Annapurna region?

The best time to trek in the Annapurna region (except for Nar-Phu) is between October and November, and from late February to April. Between late November and early February, it’s very cold at high altitude and the Thorung La Pass will probably be impassable due to snow. The routes to Tilicho Lake will also be snowed in at this time and lodges at higher elevations closed. There’s a real avalanche risk on the Annapurna Sanctuary and Tilicho Lake routes in spring. Avoid trekking most of this area during the monsoon (June-early-Sept)

Nar-Phu is unusual because it lies in the Himalayan rain shadow, and it’s possible to trek here during the monsoon — although you should still expect some rain and obscured mountain views. From November to early March, most valley inhabitants leave for lower and warmer climes and trekking lodges will be closed. The Kang La Pass will also be buried under snow and impossible to cross in mid-winter. This pass can also be complicated in spring with late and/or melting snow and ice. April-May and September-October are great times for Nar-Phu.

What are the Annapurna trekking accommodations like?

The Annapurna Sanctuary and Circuit, the two main Annapurna treks, have numerous trekking lodges of a very high standard., some bordering on luxurious. Hot showers, wi-fi, and international menus are common.

Nar-Phu and Khopra Ridge are earthier with limited and very basic homestay style lodges which fill up quickly. These areas are best trekked on a fully organised camping expedition.

How easy are the trailheads to access?

Access to trailheads for most Annapurna treks is fairly simple and all but Nar-Phu and Tilicho Lake start and end a short bus or taxi ride from Pokhara. An ever-expanding road network is changing routes in this region and many people skip the first couple of days of the Annapurna Circuit by driving up the valley.

An equally large number finish the trek at Jomsom from where there are regular buses and jeeps back to Pokhara as well as early morning flights. However, be warned that landslides can block the road for days on end and flights are frequently cancelled due to unfavourable (ie terrifyingly strong) winds. Allow an extra day or so in your schedule.

Can you recommend quieter alternatives to Everest or Annapurna?

Everest , Annapurna and to some extent Langtang are the favourites for first-timers. These three regions are convenient with easy access, plenty of lodges and good facilities. However, during the 'peak seasons' of mid-March to mid-May & October to November, these regions get very busy indeed.

My personal advice for someone looking for a quieter experience is to look at either the Manaslu or Kanchenjunga regions. The Manaslu Circuit trek has been hailed the "new Annapurna Circuit" and Kanchenjunga North offers some of the best views you'll get without straying into actual mountaineering. Until a decade ago trekking here used to be a full scale, high-cost camping expedition. These days there are some lodges on the routes but still far fewer trekkers, which makes them attractive if you're looking for true wilderness, unspoiled culture and quiet views.

Nothing takes away from the beauty of Everest or Annapurna, but for a different experience, Manaslu or Kanchenjunga get my vote.

Abhi Shrestha

What should i pack for a nepal trek.

My most important advice is – keep things light and minimal. When you’re slogging your way up to a mountain pass you will regret every extra kilo you’re carrying. The following is a list of recommended items, some of which are more essential than others.

Hiking boots

You’ll need boots. Not shoes or trail running shoes. Make sure they’re waterproof, very sturdy and above all, comfortable. Don’t buy a cheap pair. Make sure you break them in before leaving for Nepal. Whatever you do, don’t hire boots in Nepal as they probably won’t be up to scratch and will give you blisters. Nothing will ruin your trek more than blisters.

Winter jacket

A thick, warm, waterproof and breathable but lightweight jacket is another must. It needs to keep you warm as toast in sub-zero temperatures. These can be rented in Nepal but most are inferior knock-offs of respected brands. They’re okay for a one-off trip but if you’re likely to go mountain trekking again, it’s worth buying your own jacket.

Sleeping bag

It gets bitterly cold at night, even at comparatively low altitudes in winter, and the thin, gap-riddled walls of trekking lodge bedrooms provide little protection. Get the warmest yet lightest one you can afford. When a manufacturer says a sleeping bag can be used down to minus-10 degrees the reality is you won’t be comfortable in it below about plus-five. Aim for one that says it will keep you warm down to minus-20 or lower. A really good sleeping bag is expensive. Bags can be rented in Nepal but as with jackets, they’re very rarely of good quality.

Trekking Poles

If you’ve never trekked before then you might consider trekking poles as something that just old people use. Well trust us, if you don’t use them after a few days clambering up and down steep Himalayan slopes you’ll forever walk like an old person… Poles help save energy going up and take the strain off your legs on the way down. They also stop you falling and twisting ankles as much.

Water bottle

Take two of at least a litre each and refill whenever possible. Don’t rely on bottled mineral water. It’s often not available and it’s environmentally unfriendly, particularly up in the mountains where there’s little chance of recycling.

Water purification pills

Get enough to treat at least three litres of water a day. On more popular trekking routes some lodges provide pre-treated water but don’t rely on this always being available.

Two or three thermal tops of different thickness and even a pair of thermal under-trousers are worth their weight in gold.

Two fleeces, one thin and one thick, are vital.

Walking trousers

Don’t try to skip around the Annapurna Circuit in a pair of jeans (yes, we’ve seen people try. And fail). Get some comfortable walking trousers. Two pairs should be sufficient for the longest treks.

T-shirts/shirts

Many people recommend specialist quick-dry shirts designed for trekking. However, we’ve used a combination of these and normal shirts and T-shirts and never noticed much difference. Don’t over pack. You probably won’t change your shirt more than once in a two-week trek!

Specialist hiking socks are supposed to reduce blisters and are worth buying. However, changing your socks frequently seems to reduce blisters as much as any clever equipment. Take at least three pairs for a two-week trek. Also pack a thick, warm pair of ski socks to keep warm when you arrive at camp.

Most people appreciate being able to remove their boots at the end of the day and don some sandals (with or without thick ski socks, depending on how cold it is).

A sun hat is vital for hotter, lower elevations, and a winter hat or balaclava for up high.

Take a thick warm pair of skiing gloves and a thin, cotton pair of under gloves. You won’t be able to use your camera or eat properly with thick gloves but you can with the thin ones, and they’ll keep your hands warm for a few minutes.

Sun glasses

An essential bit of kit at all elevations. The sun reflecting off the snow can quickly frazzle your eyes.

Suncream and sunblock

Slap on lots of sun cream no matter what the weather or elevation. Use total sunblock on lips, nose and ears.

Keep this minimal as you won’t get much chance to wash. A small lightweight travel towel isn’t a bad idea.

A head torch is a must.

The evenings can be long. Bring a good book, not a tablet or Kindle as power sources can be erratic and batteries drain very fast at altitude. Don’t forget a guidebook. We recommend the Rough Guide to Nepal , which covers the country and gives details of the main treks. For specific trekking information try Lonely Planet’s Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya .

Even non-photographers will want photos of this stunning scenery.

Spare batteries

Bring spare torch, camera and phone batteries. Below a certain temperature and above a certain altitude (which vary from product to product), batteries drain very fast or don’t work at all. Above about 3,000m put the batteries in your sleeping bag at night to keep them warm and reduce drainage.

A few biscuits and chocolate bars might give you the energy boost you need to get over that pass.

To carry all this you’ll need a decent, comfortable trekking backpack. Don’t consider any other kind of bag. If you’re using a porter you’ll need a small backpack for your day gear and you’ll have to provide a bag for the porter to carry - a holdall is best.

Travel Insurance

You’d be utterly insane to go trekking in the Himalayas without a decent travel insurance policy. Make sure it covers trekking above a certain altitude and helicopter rescue.

Leave the gadgets at home

Don’t bother taking computers, tablets, etc. They get easily broken on the trail and the batteries probably won’t work at altitude. More importantly, most people don’t want to see fellow trekkers glued to their tablets in a lodge at night.

Now it's no longer possible to do the Annapurna Sanctuary trek solo can you recommend any licensed operators in Kathmandu who can help?

Although I always recommend using a guide, ending solo trekking is such a big change to the Annapurna trekking scene! I can understand why people are disappointed. I can't recommend any individual operator, but there is a list of licensed Annapurna trekking companies here .

We have around 8-10 days trekking in the Annapurna region, but want to avoid crowds. Can you recommend any quieter alternatives to the Annapurna Circuit?

There are lots of alternatives to the Annapurna Circuit in the Annapurna region . With eight to ten days you could combine Nar-Phu and Tilcho Lake. Getting to the Nar-Phu valleys would take about five to six days depending on where you started and how long you stayed in either Nar or Phu village. You could then scoot across to Tilcho Lake (you'd probably need to hop in a car for the short drive toward Manang village where the trail starts) for another four days trekking. This would give a great mix of traditional Tibetan villages in Nar-Phu and spectacular mountain scenery around Tilcho.

Another option is the new Annapurna North. I've not yet had the chance to walk this one myself (it's really only come onto the scene recently) but I have heard good things about it and it's certainly going to be very quiet. I'm not totally sure of the length but I think it fits with your timeframe. I know there are basic teahouses and they have set up an interesting community tourism project to ensure money gets distributed fairly between all villagers.

About the authors

Stuart is an award-winning travel journalist and guidebook author who has been visiting and trekking in Nepal for over thirty years. One of the world's leading authorities on Nepal trekking, he is the author of Lonely Planet’s Trekking in Nepal , the Rough Guide to Nepal , the Tibet chapter of the Rough Guide to China and the Bradt guide to Kashmir & Ladakh . He is also regularly published in The Independent , BBC , Time Out , The Telegraph , among many other UK and international publications.

Bradley is a travel journalist and guidebook author specialising in trekking in Central Asia, Nepal, Bhutan and elsewhere in Asia. He writes for Lonely Planet, Odyssey Guides, Insight Guides, among others.

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Trekking information, annapurna circuit trek difficulty.

However, the majority of folks are unaware of the Annapurna Circuit Trek difficulty level . Annapurna Circuit is a grueling though feasible and gratifying multi-week wander in a rugged Himalayan region.

The Annapurna Circuit has been crowned the popular adventure destination for trekking in Nepal. If you’re wondering about  Annapurna Circuit Trek  then you should proceed ahead and do it. Knowing about Annapurna Circuit Trek difficulties you can prepare your mindset and physics likewise. This will later help you deal with the obstacles you encounter on your way.

Excitingly, more than ten thousand adventure travelers visit Nepal annually to explore the Annapurna Circuit despite knowing how hard is the Annapurna Circuit hike. Not only Annapurna, but travel junkies will get to acclimatize in the wild glimpse of Annapurna Massif, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, and Paungda Danda.

Annapurna is home to a slew of myriads of the Himalayas with elevations ranging from 6000 to 8000 meters. In this region, not everyone will encounter the same problem. Some beginners find it smoother whereas others suffer and fall back on behalf. So, you’ll have to do a lot of muscle training because most of the elevations are long and demand muscular endurance.

A read of this blog till the end is fruitful for every trekking folk. This blog does not only focus on the potential post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that may occur during hiking but also lets trekkers know how to minimize it.

How hard is Round Annapurna Trek?

Several factors impact highly on the Annapurna Circuit’s difficulty level. Where the Annapurna Circuit Trek distance, altitude, and terrain fall on the natural factors and challenge everyone, your Annapurna Circuit Trek Budget, number of vacation days, and likewise affect each person accordingly.

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In general, the Annapurna Circuit journey is neither too difficult nor too easy which means it is moderate-grade trekking. The Circuit journey to Annapurna is lengthier than other hiking routes.

Also, it is somewhat arduous for amateur trekkers to finish as it may be physically and mentally demanding. However, as long as one maintains his/her determination and willingness with consistent normal daily exercise, no one can stop them from achieving their goals.

Please continue reading this difficulty level of the Annapurna Circuit Trek blog to know in detail about each factor that impacts the trek difficulty.

Factors Affecting Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty Level

Trekking duration of annapurna circuit trek.

If you have limited time on your hands for the completion of the trek, get ready to struggle more. The reason for this is the high trek distance you have to cover since the Annapurna Circuit length spans from 160 km-230 km.

If you are used to walking for a couple of hours every day, it will be simple for you. If you don’t, you’ll become tired soon and your plans will be disrupted. As a result, it is preferable to embark on a lengthy day excursion to thoroughly investigate the areas.

The expert from Mission Himalaya Treks and Expedition Pvt. Ltd. devised the 17-day Annapurna Circuit Trek itinerary program. On this excursion, you will traverse the unique terrain throughout the route in a balanced manner.

However, if you’re on a limited vacation, an itinerary specialist may help you minimize the period of the trip around Annapurna. Bear in mind that the fewer days you choose, the more strolling you’ll accomplish in a single day.

Type of trekker

The most important thing that is going to determine the difficulty of this trek is the physique of the individual. If the trekker is experienced then there won’t be any issues, but for the beginners, it will be hard because the route is lengthy. So, if beginner trekkers are thinking about this trip then the mental, as well as physical preparation, must be done several months before the trip.

Training required for Annapurna Circuit Trekking

The foremost point that makes your Circuit trek difficult is a lack of confidence and physical training. That means appropriate training is essential because you will be trekking up to the altitude of 5416m.

The Round Annapurna Trek is suitable for hikers of every skill level, even beginners. However, without preparation, it will be hazardous for you to attempt a mountain hike at a high altitude. In this way, you will be able to conquer the circuit trek to Annapurna with less difficulty if you boost your physical and mental strength.

Heavy exertion should be avoided entirely during the hike or the day preceding the hike. Focus on exercises that help you enhance your strength ability, particularly training that strengthens your arms and legs so you can participate in riding a bicycle, athletics, snorkeling, cardio exercise, and other beneficial activities. In addition, you may also go for 4–5 hours of daily running and strolling with a backpack.

The atmosphere while going to Annapurna Circuit Trek

Weather and temperature have played a great role in making your trek smooth or daunting. And Annapurna Circuit Trek weather and climate impact highly on the difficulty factor. You might have no idea but the atmosphere in Annapurna highlands is always changing resulting in a bad trip experience for you.

In the winter, the trail of Annapurna Circuit remains blocked by the bulk of snow. Also, it will be strenuous to find a usual trail. The accommodation will remain closed in the upper region because the temperature falls to the freezing point. No matter what make sure to acclimatize properly while proceeding on an exciting trek.

Financial allocation for Annapurna Circuit Trek

Hiking in Nepal is cost-effective since goods and services are cheaper than in other nations. However, you may notice a significant pricing difference in merchandise between the lower and upper regions. Because, in the higher elevation, there are no adequate paths for motors. So, the traders have to rely on carriers and livestock for transporting goods and services.

As a result, the price of the product increases and you will also find it worth it as you travel to a higher altitude. So, in high-cost areas, financial management may be prohibitively expensive. Allocating more budget than needed is recommended before proceeding Annapurna Circuit hike.

Moreover, if you are a good financial keeper then hire a guide and porter. The hiring of a guide and porter course will increase your Annapurna Circuit Trek Cost but will minimize your trek difficulty level. Further, the Annapurna Circuit Trek guide and porter will give you good company to explore Annapurna and carry your loaded backpacks. Also, it will be good for you if you book a private vehicle rather than a local vehicle.

High altitude sickness

High-elevation sickness symptoms include fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and difficulty sleeping. The majority of visitors confront AMS as an Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty as the oxygen level drops by 11% at higher altitudes.

Whenever you notice these symptoms, inform your professional guide how you’re feeling instantaneously. They will assist you in overcoming the effects of altitude sickness.

If you’re walking alone and get extreme altitude sickness, fall back to the lower elevation and obtain plenty of rest. Sleep well and wait until you’re feeling better before starting your journey. Do not attempt to complete the hike in a hurry. Keep in mind, that if you contract a serious illness, the trek will be called off on your behalf.

Additionally, while on this walk, tobacco smoking and drinking alcohol should be avoided. Rather, drink lots of fluids and stroll.

First aid and Sanitary

While packing your luggage keep some space to carry first aid and sanitary for your journey. Mainly, We recommend all female travelers carry essential pads, tampons, or whatever else is preferable for them to use.  Because in the high area near Throng La pass , there will be a shortage of pads and you might suffer while you are in period.

Don’t forget to bring your water bottle, purification tablets, toiletries, towel, pads, and other personal hygiene kits. Also, pack your favorite foods to nibble on throughout the hike. It will make the ride less tedious and more enjoyable.

Pack the right gear

In terms of the Annapurna circuit’s difficulties, the backpack might make your trek simpler or more challenging. So while hiking, it is crucial to carry lightweight and just include what is usually needed for the excursion. Your trip may be tough if your bag is too hefty. As a result, seek to sustain your bag as light as possible.

Anyway, remember to carry your Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit and TIMS approvals. If you are a solo traveler, ensure you’ve packed everything necessary during the journey. For the routes and climate, solid trekking footwear, a thermal barrier jacket, and a sleeping bag with cover are foremost that must not be missed.

Though the route here is well established, it is highly recommended to carry the Annapurna Circuit Trek Map along with you to avoid possible risks of getting lost on the trail.

In addition, adding a longer trek such as the Annapurna Circuit Trek to your bucket list will require more gear than a short trek. In case, if you can’t carry your backpack by yourself, hire a porter so that they will carry your backpack up to 20kg.

Overcome stress

The level of difficulty of any trekker relies on the individual’s physical and mental strength. Some interested folks find trekking journeys exciting, while others find them tough. To be honest and encourage you, the Circuit trip to Annapurna isn’t that burdensome.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek will be daunting if you proceed without sufficient planning and physical training. To undertake the Annapurna Circuit, you must be moderately fit, with strength being more vital than speed abilities.

Wrapping Up About Annapurna Circuit Trek

So here comes the termination of the Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty list. This article has attempted to implement a list of the biggest barriers you might encounter on your exciting adventure.

Aw, you might have been feeling low and many questions might have arisen in your mind. But, there is nothing to worry about at all. If you feel ‘Is Annapurna Circuit still worth it?’ then feel free to connect with us.

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What is the Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty Level?

Trekking in the vast expanse of a mountain range can be both intimidating and awe-inspiring. Among the numerous trekking adventures in the Himalayas, the Annapurna Circuit Trek stands out as a physically demanding adventure. The Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty is a matter of concern for many trekkers contemplating this thrilling journey. 

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While all Himalayan treks offer an unforgettable experience, the Annapurna Circuit Trek provides an even more remarkable encounter. This expedition has been cherished by countless trekkers over the years and has gained immense popularity in Nepal. The Trek encompasses a journey around the majestic Annapurna range. 

Now, let us delve into the intricacies of the trek's difficulty and the requirements for a successful completion of this adventure.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty

The Annapurna Circuit Trek presents a significant level of difficulty due to its high-altitude nature. This trek involves navigating through rugged terrains and ascending to heights exceeding 5000 meters above sea level. Despite the initial ease of the journey at lower elevations, the trek progressively becomes more demanding as you climb higher. 

The combination of challenging landscapes, steep trails, and reduced oxygen levels at higher altitudes adds to the physical and mental strain of the trek. However, the awe-inspiring beauty of the mountains and the serene natural surroundings along the route help alleviate the perceived difficulty of the trek. 

In essence, while the Annapurna Circuit Trek poses various challenges, the overall experience is enriched by the breathtaking scenery and unique adventure it offers.

Getting Ready for the Trek

Preparing for the Annapurna trek requires thorough physical and mental readiness. Training your body and mind adequately before setting off on this challenging journey is crucial. Engaging in regular walking and cardio exercises will help build your endurance for the trek. Additionally, cultivating a strong mental fortitude is essential for navigating the high altitudes of the mountains. In addition to mental and physical preparation, it is important to gather all the necessary equipment well in advance to ensure a smooth trekking experience.

The Trek transforms into an Enjoyable Adventure

If the planning is executed smoothly, the Annapurna circuit trek will be a delightful experience. Despite the demanding terrain, every moment spent in the mountains will be filled with joy. The expansive Annapurna range, serene environment, and breathtaking surroundings combine to create an unforgettable trekking experience.

Here are some guidelines to ensure an enjoyable and secure experience while trekking the Annapurna Circuit.

Be ready for the trek ahead

Given that trekking involves high altitudes, it is essential to be well-prepared before starting your journey. While you don't have to be extremely fit to tackle this hike, a moderate level of fitness is necessary to navigate the rough terrain for multiple days.  Regular exercise and maintaining good physical condition will set you on the right path for this adventure. Additionally, mental preparedness is crucial, along with the determination to hike through the mountain wilderness.

Set a Comfortable Pace while Trekking

It is crucial to keep in mind that hiking in the mountains often means dealing with significant elevation changes. Hence, it is essential to maintain a relaxed pace while trekking through the mountainous terrain. Remember, the goal is not to hurry through the journey, but to savor the experience. By taking it slow and steady, you can fully immerse yourself in the stunning scenery and acclimate to the higher altitudes. A slower pace is more effective as you ascend the mountain.

Drink enough Water

It is crucial to maintain proper hydration levels, especially when at high altitudes. Ensuring an adequate intake of water is essential for maintaining good health and fully appreciating the breathtaking beauty of the mountains. Opting for plain water, tea, or soup can keep you hydrated. However, it is important to note that alcoholic beverages do not contribute to hydration; therefore it is advisable to abstain from consuming alcohol during your mountain trekking expeditions. Remember to drink ample amounts of water and savor your hiking experience.

Adapt to the Increasing Elevation

The Annapurna Circuit Trek allows for sufficient time for acclimatization during the journey. It is important to incorporate these acclimatization days into your itinerary to adjust better to the altitude changes along the trek. The planned route for trekking includes designated acclimatization days, which should be adhered to. 

Mountains possess a captivating allure, although they can also present challenges. As you embark on your mountain trek, take a moment to appreciate the thoughts that arise in your mind. Mountains are undeniably captivating. The local people are wonderful, and the adventure is extraordinary. Therefore, value and relish the surroundings you encounter, and your experience will leave a lasting impression.

We hope that this article will assist you in comprehending the nature of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Should you require further details regarding this thrilling expedition, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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Why is Annapurna so difficult to climb? Everything You Need To Know

• May 10, 2022
• PeakPromotion

Annapurna is well-known for being one of the most spectacular mountains to climb in the world. Regardless, Annapurna expedition is not only one of the most challenging expedition, but it also has a greater rate of fatalities than most other expeditions. Being said, although Annapurna means “full of food”, and represents the goddess of food and fertility, it should also be termed a “full of difficulties and deadly risks” and represented as the face of one of the most difficult mountains to climb.  

Annapurna is a mountain range that stretches for almost 60 kilometers. Annapurna I is the tallest mountain in the range, standing at 8091 meters. It’s usually the same peak that mountaineers scale. It’s lovely, majestic, and filled with all the challenges you can handle. Annapurna Expedition is a 56-day expedition that involves 36 days of core climbing and 13 days of core hiking, with the remaining days spent relaxing, moving around, or traveling. Aside from the main mountain and its various base camps, you’ll pass through communities like Marpha, Beni, Lete, Ghasa, and Jomsom on your route.

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Why is Annapurna so difficult to climb?

Annapurna is known for its inclement weather, rocky terrain, avalanches, and high elevation. The height rises between the base camp and the highest peak is significant, making climbing difficult in adverse conditions.

Here are the specific reasons why climbing Annapurna is so difficult:

Unpredictable Weather

Annapurna’s climate is defined by frigid temperatures ranging from 8 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and year-round snowfall. Furthermore, high-speed winds are common. Summer is when it rains the most, although it can rain at any time without warning. An overcast sky frequently results in poor visibility.

Mountaineers will find climbing Annapurna more difficult due to the current weather conditions. Hypothermia from low temperatures, slips and falls, and, worst of all, death are all potential hazards of bad weather. 

Difficult Terrain

Annapurna has one summit above 26000 feet, thirteen over 23000 feet, and sixteen over 20,000 feet. Not only that, but the mountain is riddled with cliffs, steep slopes, and crevasses (deep open cracks). Annapurna is one of the most challenging mountains to climb because of this combination.

The Annapurna 1 peak’s south face is particularly steep. It has a rock wall that is 9,800 feet tall. You may also come across icy walls, rock falls, or unstable ground, which can result in falls, injuries, or even death. Two climbers died in 2015 under mysterious circumstances.

High Altitude

An object’s altitude, usually known as its height above sea level, is its upward elevation. When climbing a mountain, you gradually increase your altitude. As you gain altitude, the amount of oxygen in the air decreases, causing you to struggle to breathe to take in more oxygen with each breath.

While the effects of altitude differ from person to person, the body may begin to react to an altitude of 6,900 feet and above. With all of Annapurna’s summits soaring beyond 20,000 feet, you can begin to imagine the high-altitude effect hiking Annapurna might have.

Altitude sickness symptoms can appear 8 to 48 hours after exposure. Nausea, headaches, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, and dizziness are some of the symptoms. Although altitude sickness can’t kill you, it is possible to die as a result of accidents or poor decisions caused by physical weakness, stress, or the loss of basic functioning due to altitude sickness. 

Frequent Avalanches

Avalanche refers to the rapid movement of snow down a mountain or hill. This occurs when snow accumulates in one location. If the underlying layer becomes too weak to hold, it eventually slides away, dragging the heaped snow behind it.

Avalanches can sweep away trees, boulders, and other objects, even climbers, from their path. Furthermore, depending on how sloppy the terrain is, they can go at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

Since Annapurna is snow-capped all year, it is prone to avalanches. This is especially true during the winter months (December-February) when there is a lot of snow. Furthermore, at an elevation of around 26,545 feet, it is clear that the avalanches are moving quickly.

Avalanches can result in serious injury or even death. In what was dubbed Nepal’s greatest trekking disaster, 43 hikers died in 2014 after numerous snowstorms and avalanches slammed Annapurna. In January 2020, another avalanche happened in Annapurna.

Lack of Local Support/Accessibility

The location is another feature that adds to the risks of Annapurna. It’s a 60-kilometer-long mountain range with numerous peaks, rather than a single peak. It includes fourteen peaks higher than 7000 meters and sixteen more above 6000 meters. Because this range is tough to approach and local backup is scarce, you’re basically on your own if something goes wrong.

When compared to Everest, which is easy to access and has an abundance of local resources nearby, it’s clear to see why even the most experienced mountaineers are hesitant to tackle any of the Annapurna peaks.

There are no Sherpas or fixed ropes here, so there is no one to aid you if something goes wrong or if you get stuck on a tough section of the climb. If you and your team are caught in an avalanche, you must dig yourself out if possible. This could take a long time and expose you to dangerous situations.

Also, no one will set up camp for you or cook your meals. You must carry all you require on your back and pray that you have packed enough. Tents, food, medical supplies, oxygen, crampons, and whatever else you need are included.

In addition, due to the lack of infrastructure in the area, you will have to begin your hike at a low height. You can go closer to base camp by driving, but not as close as you can get at Everest.

The Turnaround Time and the Elevation Gain

The turnaround time is the time at which you must turn around and descend the mountain, regardless of whether you have reached the summit. Many circumstances, including bad weather, high altitude, and rough terrain, might cause the turnaround time to be significantly delayed.

This is also true for the majority of the world’s highest peaks. However, the total height gain on Annapurna may have a greater impact on turnaround time than on most other mountains. The total elevation gain is the total height gained when climbing to the summit of the mountain. 

Let’s compare this between Mount Everest and Annapurna.

The elevation of Mt. Everest’s South base camp in Nepal is 17,900 ft (5,500m) while its highest peak is 29,029 ft (8848m). To get to the peak from the base, you experience an elevation gain of (29,029-17,900)= 11,129 ft (3392m)

On the other hand, Annapurna’s base camp elevation is 13549 ft (4130m) while its highest peak is 26,545 ft (8091m). The elevation gain, therefore, becomes (26,545 -13549) =12,996 ft (3961m)

From this example, despite Everest being taller, Annapurna’s total elevation gain is higher than Everest’s. You will, therefore, require more effort and more time to climb Annapurna. Unfortunately, the more time you spend up in the high altitude, the riskier it gets for you. Mt. Everest’s South Base Camp in Nepal is 17,900 feet (5,500 meters) above sea level, whereas its highest peak is 29,029 feet (8848m). A total elevation gain of (29,029-17,900)= 11,129 feet is required to reach the top from the base (3392m). Annapurna’s base camp is at 13549 feet (4130 meters), while its highest summit is at 26,545 feet (8091m). As a result, the height increase is (26,545 -13549) =12,996 ft (3961m).

Although Everest is taller, Annapurna’s total elevation rise is more than Everest’s. As a result, climbing Annapurna will take more work and time. Unfortunately, the longer you spend at a high altitude, the more dangerous it becomes for you.

Deaths in Annapurna due to its Difficulty  

Thousands of individuals have attempted to climb Annapurna to various heights, but only 191 have succeeded. So far, 61 individuals have died while attempting to climb Annapurna to the summit. A group of climbers was caught in an avalanche in January 2020, resulting in their fatalities.

Over 200 people were rescued by Nepalese officials while trekking a trail around Annapurna to have a great glimpse of the world’s tenth highest peak. Foreigners, including guides and tourists, made up the majority of those rescued. Seven persons were still missing and most likely died when the rescue attempt ended.

An avalanche swept away and buried parts of the Annapurna Base Camp , causing a calamity. It’s also worth mentioning that the base camp, dubbed ABC, is only 3,230 meters above sea level (10,597 ft). In other words, the camp lies over 4,800 meters (15,748 feet) below Annapurna I’s summit.e

Years before, in September 1991, a similar tragedy occurred. Seven individuals were killed in an avalanche that occurred after heavy snowfall along their trekking track, including two South Koreans, one Belgian, and Nepalese guides.

Another incident that was widely reported in the international media occurred in October 2012. Ivan Lobanov and Iljas Tukhvatullin, two well-known Uzbek mountaineers, died in an avalanche.

When a large avalanche slammed their track approximately 5,600 meters (18,372 feet) up the mountain, the two were killed. Ilja is credited with conquering several of the world’s highest peaks, including Everest, Kumbhakarna, K2, and Khan Tengri.

Aside from avalanches, people have died through falling while ascending Annapurna. In March 2015, Finnish Samuli Mansikka and Nepalese Pemba Sherpa perished while descending from the peak of the mountain. At a height of roughly 7,000 meters, the accident occurred (22,290 ft).

Climbers have also died as a result of colliding with crevasses. Martin Minarik, a Czech national, died in one of these incidents in April 2009.

There have also been fatalities in Annapurna due to weariness and sickness. Werner Burkli, a Swedish national, died on the peak in May 1982 of a heart attack.

HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) and frostbite are two more medical issues that have caused people to die when climbing Annapurna.

However, the causes of more than ten deaths on the peak are listed as “unknown.” Many of these incidents involve persons who attempted to ascend the mountain but became disoriented. Some of the bodies have never been found.

Annapurna is one of the world’s most dangerous mountains to climb. Thirteen percent of those who attempted to ascend the mountain have not returned. In reality, no bodies have been found. 

Why Is Annapurna So Deadly? 

Despite being the world’s tenth tallest peak, Annapurna remains one of the most challenging summits to climb. Certain areas of Annapurna are said to be even more difficult to climb than K2 and Everest. Not only that, but it is also one of the most dangerous mountains in the world, with a death rate of over 40%, the highest of any peak on the planet.

The changeable climate is one of the reasons why Annapurna is so dangerous. Annapurna remains chilly and snow-covered throughout the year, and it can get high-velocity wind and snowfall at any time of year, making hiking the peak difficult. Many climbers succumb to this climatic condition, which can lead to death.

Seracs, crevasses, jagged ridges, and other tough characteristics abound on Annapurna Mountain. Crossing these mountain ranges is difficult, if not dangerous. Avalanches and large chunks of ice and boulders falling from the mountain are always a possibility. These are just a few of the factors that might cause climbers to become seriously wounded or even die.

The Annapurna range, unlike many other mountains climbed by mountaineers, is solitary. As a result, getting treatment on time is difficult, especially if there is a health risk. Furthermore, whereas the inhabitants in other places, such as Everest, are quite active and constantly willing to help, the locals in the Annapurna are not as interested in climbing, making it impossible to acquire human help and support in times of need, such as medical issues.

Annapurna is regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous mountains to climb for the reasons stated above, as well as many others. Without a doubt, the climbing aspect is difficult, but the fact that there are several threats, both geographical and climatic, that the climber must avoid makes it even riskier. This should provide an answer to the question of why Annapurna is so dangerous.

Climbers on Annapurna dread harsh weather that could put the adventure on hold as winter approaches. They are terrified of sub-zero temperatures, which cause slurred speech and numbness in the hands.

Climbers find it difficult to navigate the trail, which is often snow-covered and requires them to skid repeatedly. Without crampons, getting a grip on the path leading to the summit is quite difficult.

As you ascend higher, it becomes increasingly difficult to withstand the cold temperatures and little oxygen. Similarly, severe snowfall causes havoc over the region during the winter, making travel difficult.

But Annapurna’s visitors suffer from much more than just this. They are gasping for air due to the high snow road and soaring cliffs. The mountain’s severe need for oxygen might be dangerous if not treated quickly.

Trekkers must hike through a knee-high snow route from the north base camp in the winter, which is rather annoying. The mountain can become lethal at any time due to the rapid changes in weather conditions, therefore you must be prepared for all conceivable situations.

Before climbing the mountain, hikers must keep track of the weather prediction, or they risk becoming stuck on the trail. Unseasonal snowstorms are common in Annapurna, slowing climbers’ progress and causing them to lose their way.

Annapurna has seen multiple fatal crashes, the majority of them were caused by snow slides and hurricanes. Trekkers will also have to pass through the death zone, which can be lethal if not passed through fast or for longer than necessary.

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Annapurna Sanctuary Trek – Get Up Close To The Annapurna Himal

Asia , Nepal

The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is one of the most popular treks in Nepal after Everest Base Camp . Its climate varies from sub-tropical to Alpine, so there is a wondrous selection of flora and fauna, and you will come across many ethnic groups.

This trek is somewhat strenuous but requires no prior trekking experience. Most people take between 10 and 16 days to carry out this trek.

On this page, you will find a comprehensive and impartial guide to the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is the best option if you would like to get spectacularly close to the Himalayas but have no time for the acclimatisation required of other treks such as the Annapurna Circuit  or the  Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek . The highest altitude attained is 13,550 feet which, although still high, is lower than most treks in the region.

The Annapurna Himal is a huge massif with several peaks above 23,000 feet. A section of this range forms an amphitheatre by the name of the Annapurna Sanctuary, containing Annapurna I, Fang, Gangapurna, Glacier Dome, Hiunchuli and Machapuchhare. With so many surrounding mountains, sunlight is restricted to only 7 hours a day in summer.

At 26,545 feet, Annapurna I is the tenth highest mountain in the world. It was the first of more than 26,000 feet to ever be summitted – in June 1950 by a French party led by Maurice Herzog. Herzog’s classic account of his summit went by the title of  Annapurna: The First Conquest of an 8000-Metre Peak  –  which we highly recommend.

The only entrance to the Sanctuary is a narrow pass between Hiunchuli and Machapuchhare. The sanctuary is regarded as the dwelling place of Shiva, the harvest goddess. It was not entered by outsiders until 1956, and only recently was the bringing of eggs or meat or the admission of women and Dalits – untouchables – permitted. The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek winds its way through the valley below the mountains. The route has been used by traders for centuries and you will share the trail with locals hefting bags of rice and crates of chickens.

Accommodation on the trek is usually in  tea houses . The teahouses are almost always family-owned and are usually of good quality. Toilets are usually housed in an outside structure and will sometimes be squatters. “Flushing” is effected by means of a bucket of water. Hot showers are usually available at additional cost.

The Kali Gandaki river is one quarter of a mile wide and ensconced by the world’s deepest gorge. In winter, it is virtually dry but during the monsoon in summer it is gorged with rainwater. Fossils can be found on the banks of the river.

Please Note: The trails on the trek are generally good, however, they can often be fairly steep and the path through the forest when you approach the sanctuary can be slippery. It is possible to trek without a guide.

You will meet many other trekkers along the way. A map and guidebook ought to be sufficient (see below for recommendations). 

Please remember to plan your day to avoid trekking after nightfall.

Annapurna Regional Map

The Sanctuary is located 29 miles due north of Pokhara, Nepal’s second city, 13,120 feet above sea level. See the map schematic below.

Recommended Annapurna Map

There are two maps for this region. We recommend Around Annapurna 1 : 125 000: Annapurna Conservation Area – Annapurna Sanctuary . It includes detailed trails, walking distances and altitudes.

We have also provided links and recommendations to new guides and maps below.

Typical Itinerary

Please be aware that there are several Annapurna Sanctuary trek itineraries that can be done. Below we have laid out the most popular version – 13 days, leaving from Kathmandu. If you want to make your own way to Pokhara then you could probably organise this with your operator or guide.

You will arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, where you stay overnight at a hotel. This is the 'City of a Thousand Temples', where every second day is a festival and there are several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

See more in our guide on good things about Kathmandu . 

There is a 30-minute flight to the lakeside city of Pokhara , then a drive of less than an hour to Nayapul. You will start your trek here. In 15 minutes or so, you will reach Birethanti, a large village featuring many shops and tea houses. The trail goes along the north bank of the Bhurungdi Khola, climbing steadily until Hille is reached. At the end of a short climb is Tikhedhunga where you will stay for the night.

After Tikhedunga, there is a steep climb to the large village of Ulleri. The ascent then continues, but more gently. You will pass through forests of oak and rhododendron before reaching Banthani. You will then continue to Nangethanti. An hour after that, you will come to Ghorepani where you will stay for the night.

You will rise early this morning and hike to Poon Hill. Here you will be presented with the best possible view of the fabulous Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. You will then return to the tea house for breakfast and walk to Tadapani.

At first, the trail leads sharply downhill through forests but later it eases as you approach the village of Gurjung. The walk to Chhomorung is fairly easy. You will stay at Chhomorung for the night. There are many chalet-style, wooden lodges in Chomrong (2210m) which have great views out toward the prominent Machhapuchhre (Fish-Tail Peak). A brilliant place to end the day!

Day 7 

The trail descends to Chhomorung Khola and then ascends to Khudighar where there is a checkpoint. In less than 2 hours of trekking, you will reach the village of Sinuwa where you will take a welcome break. From here, the trail continues to climb through terraced fields and then through forest of rhododendron and bamboo to the ridge crest at ‘Sinuwa Hill Top’ which you should reach after a further hour. You will stay the night at Bamboo.

You will begin the day by traversing the bamboo and rhododendron forests before arriving at Dovan where you will stop for lunch. You will stay the night at Hinko, or in particular, Deurali, which is on the ridge above.

This day, the trail rises on the way to Annapurna Base Camp. Here, the mountain scenery is at its most spectacular with towering mountains surrounding you.

Now, it is time to explore the Hidden Valley before returning to Dovan. You will have the option to walk from your camp to Annapurna South Basecamp (4130m) which is a distance of only 4 kilometres. Along the walk, you will witness increasingly impressive mountain views and jaw-dropping scenery. At South Basecamp, you will be rewarded with views of the entire south face of Annapurna.

You will trek to Jhinu Danda, where there is a hot spring in which you will doubtless spend time in the evening.

Trekking now takes you in the direction of Pothana via Landruk. Look out for the waterfalls along the way. Today is a relatively easy trek with a fairly level 2-hour trail.

Two hours are spent walking downhill to Phedi, which is fairly easy. At Phedi, the road links to Pokhara, a half hour drive away.

You will return to Kathmandu.

Annapurna Sanctuary Hike FAQ

How much does the annapurna sanctuary hiking cost.

The Annapurna Sancturary Trek costs anywhere between $2,000 and $3,500. Ideally, you should complete the trek using a top trekking agency in Nepal. However, you also have the cheaper option of completing the trek unsupported. which could be done for as little as $1,000.

Are permits required for hiking in the Annapurna Sanctuary?

Yes, both an Annapurna Conservation Area Project permit and Trekker Information Management System (TIMS for short) registration are required for the Annapurna Sanctuary trek.

If you are part of an organised tour group, these will be arranged for you, but if you are trekking unsupported, you will have to bring four passport-sized photographs and go to the offices of the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu to apply for permits.

We recommend bringing copies of your passport and insurance policy. The offices follow government working hours and days and are not open on Sundays.

When is the best time to trek in the Annapurna Sanctuary?

The best time to trek Annapurna Sanctuary is from September to May. June, July and August are the monsoon months.

In spring, forests erupt with white, red and pink rhododendron flowers.

September-November is generally the best time of year for trekking in Nepal . This is when there are few clouds and clear views.

There is less than half an inch of precipitation in November, but temperatures can get very cold in the Winter (Nov-Feb).

Is altitude sickness a risk on the Annapurna Sanctuary hike?

Yes, altitude sickness is a risk on the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek because it ascends to some high-altitude points. At its highest point, the Annapurna Base Camp, you will reach an altitude of 4,130 meters (13,550 feet). Fortunately, because of the trek's length, the opportunities for appropriate acclimatisation are good, and hence the prevalence of moderate or severe altitude sickness is low.

Even so, it is important to have a clear understanding of the risks associated with high altitude trekking and how the body acclimatises to high altitude. We recommend you  read our detailed article on Altitude Sickness and Acclimatisation .

How difficult is the Annapurna Sanctuary hike?

The Annapurna Sanctuary hike is of moderate difficulty. You will be trekking for 4-7 hours a day for over a week, so you will need to be relatively fit. The best way to prepare is to get as many miles under foot as possible on trails in your home country.

What gear do I need for the Annapurna Sanctuary trek?

You need a number of essential pieces of gear for the Annapurna Sanctuary trek. The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is long and moderately difficult, exposing you to a range of altitudes where temperatures fluctuate dramatically between night and day.

Much of your gear can be rented or bought in Kathmandu or Pokhara, but we strongly suggest bringing the most important pieces of equipment with you. To help you plan and prepare for your trek, we recommend reading our general hiking gear list or our Annapurna Circuit packing guide . 

What trekking insurance do I need for Annapurna Sanctuary?

Trekking insurance is very important in Nepal. This is particularly true on the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek which is very remote. 

If an accident or incident should occur that requires immediate medical assistance and evacuation, you will most definitely want adequate trekking insurance that can cover the costs of air ambulance and treatment.

Make sure you have insurance that covers you for any travel related risks, like lost, stolen, damaged or delayed baggage; interruptions and flight delays and tour operators default.

Please read our article on  Travel insurance for hiking in Nepal  for more information. 

Are there any recommended guidebooks and maps for the Annapurna Sanctuary trek?

Yes, there are a few guidebooks that we recommend for the Annapurna Sanctuary trek.

Books dedicated to the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek are  Trekking the Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary in the Nepal Himalaya  by Ian P Johnson and  Annapurna Sanctuary and Circuit   by Alonzo Lucius Lyons.

In terms of a single detailed map, we recommend the Himalayan MapHouse’s New Annapurna Trekking Trails Map , which can be bought in Kathmandu, Pokhara or on Amazon UK (unfortunately it is not on Amazon US yet).

You are also welcome to have a look at our recommended list of  Nepal books and guidebooks library for more options.

Continue browsing

See more information on  Nepal . Or check out these other Annapurna hiking articles:

• Annapurna Base Camp Trek
• Cost of Annapurna Circuit
• Annapurna Weather Guide
• Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
• Panchase Hiking Guide
• Jomson Muktinath Trails
• Highest Mountains in the World
• Best Thru Hikes
• Best Treks in the World

About the author 

Mark Whitman

Mark has trekked extensively in Asia, Europe, South America and Africa. He founded Mountain IQ in 2014 with the sole aim to be the best online information portal to some of the most popular mountain destinations around the world. When not writing for Mountain IQ, Mark is out exploring the outdoors with his wife!

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Trekking in Nepal

Annapurna Base Camp Trek – The Definitive Guide

By Suraj Katwal

Updated On Jul 14, 2023

Annapurna Base Camp Trek also known as ABC Trek is undoubtedly one of the best high-altitude treks in Nepal. The spectacular range of Annapurna mountain lies in the Annapurna region, which is the western region of Nepal.

Nepal is home to 8 of the world’s highest peaks in the world, and one of them is the majestic massif of Annapurna mountain. Standing tall at a height of 8,089m, Annapurna I is the world’s tenth tallest mountain.

Annapurna Base Camp has been a significant attraction among trekkers around the world.

Annapurna is a massif that comprises six prominent peaks, and they are Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna II (7,937m), Annapurna III (7,555m), Annapurna IV (7,525m), Gangapurna (7,455m), and Annapurna South (7,219m).

The striking Machhapuchhre peak is also the southern part of the Annapurna massif. Trekkers can enjoy both Annapurna Base Camp Long Trek and Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek. The long trek is 12 days long, and the short trek completes in a week, i.e., 7 days.

The Annapurna circuit takes you to the Annapurna Base Camp height of 4,130m. The circuit encircles numerous valleys, dense rhododendron forests, deep rivers, and mountain series.

The name of Annapurna mountain is derived from the name of the Hindu goddess ‘Annapurna’ which means ‘full of grains’ or ‘provider of food.’ Annapurna region has a thick settlement of Gurung and Magar ethnic groups.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Highlights

• Spectacular view of the Annapurna range, Machapuchare, Hiunchuli, and other high peaks
• Trekking across large waterfalls, rhododendron forests, bamboo forest
• Varieties of animal species and distinct flora and fauna at different altitude
• The local lifestyle of Gurung and Magar people
• The traditional architecture of houses and temples

Best Time for Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The best time to do the trek to Annapurna Base Camp is from March to May and from September to December. The weather during these months is stable and the views are amazing.

However, even during the best months, the weather can be unpredictable. It can be sunny in the morning and cloudy in the afternoon. It can also be the other way around. That’s why it’s important to be prepared for all kinds of weather.

Related:  Best Season to Visit Nepal

Short Annapurna Base Camp Trek 

ABC short trek completes in 7 days and is equally enthralling as the long trek. ABC short trek is a moderate trek to the lap of the Annapurna range.

The trek starts from Kimche where we will reach Pokhara after 3 hours of driving.

Check out the Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Video on YouTube.

From Kimche, we walk an hour and reach the beautiful village of Ghandruk. We follow a bamboo forest trail and reach Chomrong village, another lovely village with a breathtaking landscape.

The walk along the Modi Khola will take us to the Hinku cave. The trekking trail for the short trek then encompasses Machapuchare Base Camp and finally Annapurna Base Camp.

Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Cost

Among many reasons for the question of why choose ABC Trek, one of the accountable factors for adventure lovers to go for is the cost.

ABC trek is reasonable and every penny of yours will be worth the episodes. Your total Annapurna base camp trek price will range around $900 – $1500. The price fluctuates in peak seasons.

Annapurna base camp trek 7 days cost is comparatively cheaper than 10 days . The pay for the guides and porters may range from $20 to $30 per day.

It is cost-effective if you eat your meal where you stay. Dal Bhat is probably the cheapest meal and most filling option too. Around $25 will cover three meals per day, regardless of what you choose to eat, and adding hot beverages.

Annapurna base camp trek cost from Pokhara reduces the cost of the flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which merely costs NRs. 9,000 to 10,000.

It takes 30 minutes from Kathmandu to land in Pokhara. The tourist bus fare may take 800 to 1200 rupees, and a local bus may cost 400 to 600 rupees, but it will take you 5 to 7 hours to reach Pokhara.

First of all, you need to fill out and submit TIMS (Trekker’s Information Management) form and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) Permit form to receive the TIMS card and ACAP card.

These two forms will cost 5000 rupees, i.e., the TIMS permit costs 2000 rupees, and the ACAP permit costs 3000 rupees. Without a TIMS card and ACAP card, you won’t be able to enter Annapurna Conservation Area.

Accommodation

The accommodation costs around 200-400 rupees per room in teahouses. Solo travelers can plan 1500-2000 rupees expense each day while it reduces for group travelers.

The Annapurna base camp trek cost for Nepali and Indians is the same except for foreigners.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Difficulty

Regarded as a moderate trek in Nepal, Annapurna Base Camp Trekking does not require tough physical fitness as demanded by other adventurous treks in Nepal .

ABC Trek gives you an excellent opportunity to try various traditional cuisines of Gurung and Magar ethnic groups as well.

It’s lovely to see Annapurna mountain covered with a snow blanket and most importantly, the fantastic view of sunrise from the hill. The best time to enjoy the Annapurna Base Camp trek should be considered if you want the weather to favor you.

Related Reading: Why is Annapurna so Deadly Mountain?

Trekking Tips for Trekking ABC

1. Prepare yourself physically and mentally

Annapurna Base Camp is a moderate type of trek as it doesn’t demand a high level of physical fitness, but it does require a certain level of fitness and enduring strength to complete the trek.

You need to train your body so you can endure the high altitude. Intense training and exercise are recommended 3 months before you head for the trek.

Muscle strength will help you walk for long hours during the trek. Training continuously will also help you prepare mentally. Try to run small uphills nearby and train your breathing.

2. Keep yourself hydrated

Trekking for long hours will definitely make you dehydrated, so you should carry a water bottle with you and drink it frequently. High altitude may cause you to suffer from AMS.

Drinking enough water will prevent you from feeling nauseous. While you train, drink enough water. Keep yourself hydrated daily. Eat lots of fruits and avoid junk foods.

3. Carry Annapurna Base Camp Trek Detailed Map

It is better to be aware of the paths, villages, trekking trails, places, rivers, and temples of Annapurna Base Camp beforehand. So carry the Annapurna trekking route map with you, and you’ll be on track while trekking. You’ll know where to go, and there will be less chance of getting lost for solo trekkers.

Also Read: Kathmandu to Annapurna Base Camp

Essential Trekking Gears and Packing List

• Annapurna Base Camp Trek Route Map
• Spare battery, Power Bank
• A pair of gloves
• Warm clothes
• Down jacket, Down Pant
• Sunglasses, hat
• Few pairs of socks and underwear
• Trekking boots
• Energy bars and snacks
• First aid kit and essential medicines
• Toiletries, towel

Check out: Annapurna Base Camp Itinerary 10 days

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Altitude Profile

You start from the elevation of 1345m (from sea level) at Kathmandu. You fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara(820m) and trekking basically starts from Nayapul. The Chomrong village is at an elevation of 2170m. Machapuchare Base Camp is at an elevation of 3700m and finally, you reach an elevation of 4130m at Annapurna Base Camp.

That’s the highest elevation you’ll reach. After that, you’ll trek downhill to Bamboo at 2310m. Then, to Jhinu Danda at 1780m, back to Pokhara, and finally to Kathmandu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Annapurna Base Camp Trekking Frequently Asked Questions by Visitors. Here you can view a video or read about it.

How long is Annapurna Base Camp Trek?

ABC trek is designed in such a way that the trek embraces the beauty of the Annapurna region’s landscape, forest, and mountain series. ABC short trek can be completed in 7 days if you stick by the itinerary of the Annapurna Base Camp short trek. Annapurna Base Camp’s long trek can be completed in 12-13 days if there occurs no kind of delay in between. The altitude of 4130 m is the destination of Annapurna Base Camp. There are various trekking packages that you can choose according to your convenience.

How to go to Annapurna Base Camp from Pokhara?

If you want to go to Annapurna Base Camp from Pokhara, then it’s very easy. You can even apply for permits upon arrival in Pokhara. From Pokhara, we will take a ride to Nayapul, from where our adventurous trek begins to Annapurna Base Camp.

How difficult is the Annapurna base camp trek?

Annapurna Base Camp trekking can be categorized as a moderately easy high-altitude trek in Nepal . The Annapurna circuit is moderately difficult. The trekking paths are not offbeat making it one of the chosen trekking destinations among first-timers. First-time trekkers can garner a pleasant experience without much toil. ABC trek does not require tough physical fitness. Anyone with an average level of robustness can reach the base camp within the expected duration. The difficulty also depends upon which time of year you go for the trek. It might not be difficult for experienced trekkers. Annapurna Base Camp trek can be quite easy for experienced trekking lovers.

Is Annapurna Circuit dangerous?

Annapurna is one of the 8000s whose beauty attracts a vast number of trekkers every year. Trekkers choose Annapurna Base Camp to observe the heavenly beauty of Annapurna mountain and other striking mountains in the vicinity, but the rewarding destination costs lots of difficulties. Yes! You might encounter problems in the Annapurna Circuit while passing the dangerous Thorung La, which is the world’s highest mountain pass. The climate of Annapurna is a bit unpredictable. The climatic condition may bring difficulties at times. You should be well-equipped and Eveready to turn back if you see potential danger while crossing Thorung La (5416m). The bad weather, massive snowfall, or storms can block the Thorung La Pass. You don’t want to challenge your life at that time. It’s wiser to return to the lodge. Many trekkers might suffer from altitude sickness. The trekking trails might not be conventional for first-timers. The high altitude of Annapurna may cause Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), which brings difficulties in trekking. Once you elevate 3,500m, you’ll probably find difficulties in breathing.

Where is the Annapurna Base Camp?

Is the Annapurna Base Camp trek safe?

Yes, Annapurna Base Camp is safe depending on the climatic condition. ABC can be attempted independently as it is safe. It is popular among solo trekkers too. It is a personal preference to go for a solo traveling to Annapurna Base Camp but traveling in a group is recommended. Traveling with a group has more benefits than traveling independently. The climatic condition of Annapurna is uncertain, so the uncertainty may bring difficulties while trekking. During such situations, being alone in the absence of networks can be dangerous.

Are there ATMs available on the way to ABC?

No, there are no ATMs on the ABC trek route. There are many ATMs in Pokhara and Kathmandu city. You can withdraw and exchange cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu as credit cards won’t work in the Annapurna Base Camp route. Don’t forget to carry enough Nepali currency.

Are the internet and charging accessible at ABC?

Yes. You will have enough internet access in some places but would cost you Rs. 200 a day for internet access. It is uncertain whether internet access in towns will be available and fast. Internet access may be slow and might shut down if the electricity goes out. If you are making an Annapurna base camp trek blog or vlog, then you are recommended to carry spare batteries for the camera. Do not depend on the electricity at ABC.

Is it necessary to hire Guides for Annapurna Base Camp trekking?

If you stick to the Annapurna Base Camp itinerary from the start till the end, it might not be necessary to hire a guide, but it solely depends on you. Annapurna Base Camp trek without a guide is appropriate for experienced trekkers but not strongly recommended for first-timers. The trekking guide will be sharing lots of facts and information during the trek. It would be a fun and exciting trek with the guide, and you would have to worry less about getting lost. The guide will be there during a problematic situation. An experienced guide will take care of your adventurous trek very well.

What about Annapurna base camp solo trekking?

How much is Annapurna Base Camp Trek Budget? 

Annapurna base camp trekking price ranges from USD 1,000 to USD 1,200 for a 12-13 days trek. USD 500 might be enough for solo trekkers excluding other miscellaneous expenses. The price also depends upon the month you choose.

What are Annapurna Base Camp trek permits and cost requirements?

At last, we are going to share quick tips, Annapurna Base Camp trek can be the best choice to utilize your holidays with nature. Annapurna Base Camp is also the most preferred trekking in Nepal due to its unmatched beauty and adventure.

There are numerous trekking agencies in Kathmandu, Nepal that provide various ABC trek packages with various trekking routes and itineraries so one can get confused about finding the best trekking agency in Nepal.

Many trekking agencies have Annapurna base camp trek travel blogs on their website for your convenience. You can check out and solve some of your queries.

When choosing a travel agency in Nepal, do check their authenticity. Review their packages, accommodation facilities, budget, reliability, etc., and if you’re satisfied, only after then book the packages.

Be aware of the trekking map of the package you pick. You can contact travel agencies via telephone or other social media and gain information.

While inquiring, learn about the trek that you’ll be dealing with. You should feel comfortable and have a good rapport with them.

Moreover, if you are considering trekking at Annapurna Base Camp then this guide is definitely going to help you. Also, please leave a comment/feedback if you have any regarding ABC Trekking.

Happy Trekking and Traveling.

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Suraj Katwal

Suraj is a travel enthusiast who believes in finding solace in the heart of nature. He enjoys exploring new destinations, different culture, and encouraging people to travel.

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4 thoughts on “Annapurna Base Camp Trek – The Definitive Guide”

Very well explained. Thanks for wonderful and detailed blog.

Welcome and Thank you for visiting my blog.

I’m very glad to have found this blog! What a great blog. Thanks!!! Wish to see more in the coming days.

Nice blog, very informative. Thanks

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Annapurna Base Camp Trek Difficulty

If you are dreaming to go for ABC trekking, it is obvious to know about Annapurna Base Camp Trek Difficulty. Accessing the risk factors helps with perfect preparation. The associated risk for going the Annapurna trek is relatively very lower than mountaineering or peak climbing. Most of the sections have fine trails with proper steps. Physically, you might have to encounter minimum dangers. Check the weather forecast, hire an experienced trek guide, following acclimatization rules, walk steadily, and consume healthy meals, intake enough liquid are the helpful factors to cope with the associated risks.

How to prepare for Annapurna Base Camp Trek Difficulty

Get the proper physical preparations.

Annapurna Base Camp trek is an adventure high-altitude trek. It requires good physical condition to enjoy hiking. From the beginning, the trail includes stone stairs. Continuously climbing up and down the stairs gives exertion to your knees and foot muscles. Proper training to walk on a similar terrain helps to complete the trail without strains. The trail has thousands of steps special en route to Ghorepani and Poon Hill. Most of the part of the entire trail to Annapurna Base Camp is rocky with frequent ups and downs. It is a moderate trekking trail. However, requires training yourself before your trekking days.

Train on Stairs

Besides, jogging and running you need to train on steps up and down to prepare yourself for Annapurna Base Camp Trek.  The terrain of the Annapurna region is steep and filled with steps. Furthermore, you should train yourself by carrying a small backpack for proper practice. Carrying your weighted backpack on while training up and downstairs, will help to tighten your thigh muscles and knee joints. A regular workout is good for your physical fitness.

How Difficult is it to Trek Annapurna Base Camp?

The adventure journey to Annapurna Base Camp is a stunning hike. It goes around some of the world’s highest peaks. The trekking trails lead you through the famous Annapurna Sanctuary. Hiking the trail gives you a world-class mountain trek with an amazing mountain view at a relatively lower altitude.

You will spend most of your time below 3,000m/ 10,000 feet from sea level. The terrain is challenging offering the view of terrace fields. You will be walking continuously for hours through the stone-paved stairs.

Is it tough for me? Will I be able to make it successful?

You can make it happen. The trek surely demands good preparedness. But many hikers with physical disabilities have completed the trek in past.  The requirement is to go through proper training. You can develop your excellent leg strength, and balance by walking up and down long sets of stairs with a backpack on. Go through the training on a stair master with a weighted backpack at least four days a week. Incorporate a longer day hike with your weighted backpack to build your confidence. One must go for a couple of such hikes at least once a week before the trek. You should be ready for your adventure trip to Annapurna Base Camp.

You can leave a quick inquiry for any type of suggestion and guidelines. We will be happy to provide you with the free necessary trek information.

Getting the entry permits

You require to issue two types of permits to trek the Annapurna Base Camp trek. Since the entire trekking trail falls under the Annapurna Conservation Area, you should get your first entry permit from ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) counter in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Pay NRs 3000 per person for the permit. Similarly, get your TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System Card from the TAAN counter in Kathmandu or Pokhara beforehand of the trek commencement.

You can get your TIMS care for NRs 1000 (Packaged Trekker) and NRs 2000 (FIT). Packaged or Group trekkers are hikers who buy a trekking package from an authorized trekking company in Nepal. Both permits are valid for a single exit. Once you exit the check post, you should issue another for the next entry. The same entry permits work for all the trekking trails of the Annapurna Region. You should follow the same procedure to issue the permits for Ghandruk Trek, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, Mardi Himal Trekking,

What can I get to eat there? – Meal Options

Similar to the Mardi Himal Trekking route and surrounding trails of the Annapurna Region, Annapurna Base Camp Trek offers a variety of meal options in the menu. The Annapurna conservation area projects and the local management committee jointly monitor the food menus of the region. The lodges of the trail have a distinct menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Trekking can choose to order as per the menu. Generally, it contains items of bread, potato, eggs, and seasonal vegetables. Most domestic tourists prefer to eat Dal-Bhat, a local Nepali dish twice a day. Since the Dal-Bhat is served with seasonable vegetable curry and pickles, it is a heavy diet for hard workers. Trekking guides and porters prefer to eat Dal-Bhat instead of other meals.

Best season to trek Annapurna Base Camp

March-June and September-December is the perfect time to visit Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Some people prefer to visit the region around the year.

The maximum altitude I will get while on the Annapurna Base camp trek

We reach 4,130m altitude in Annapurna base camp trekking. Most of the hikers combine the Annapurna Base Camp Trek with the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking. It adds up the charm in your itinerary with the amazing sunrise view experience from the top of Poon Hill. Furthermore, it will train the hikers to acclimatize up to the altitude of 3200meters with a stressful stair walk beforehand the Annapurna Circuit trek.

What happens when it’s a fast group and I am the slow plodder of this trek?

Generally, 5/6 hours of walking is the average walking of each day during the trek. If the trekker could not pace for average walking, Oriental Journeys will provide a separate guide. And even you can customize the itinerary as per your physical condition, comfort level, and time availability.

Annapurna Circuit vs Annapurna Base Camp

While looking at Annapurna Circuit Vs Annapurna Base Camp trekking trails , we should know the related facts. Annapurna Circuit Trek and Annapurna Base Camp Trek hears similar but in reality, are two different trekking trails. They lead two different areas of the Annapurna Mountain region. Annapurna Circuit trek is often called Round Annapurna trekking. It is a long journey with a challenging hike. The Annapurna Circuit trek is relatively longer and more scenic. The Annapurna Round Trekk passes through the wonderful Manang valley along the Marshyangdi river. Then crosses Thorong La and enters the Mustang Valley. Often mentioned as the zone of salvation, Mustang is one of the greatest pilgrimage sites of Hindus. It crosses an altitude of  5,420m/ 17,782 feet over Thorong-La pass. The trail circumambulates the Annapurna massive from Northersied making a circuit. It is one of the most popular hiking trails in the world.

However, the Annapurna Base Camp trek reaches 4,131m/ 13,553 feet as the only highest point of the trek. Both trails offer wonderful experiences to take on. The trail to Annapurna Base Camp is similarly scenic and most of its section lies relatively under a lower altitude. Very few trekkers experience altitude sickness-related issues during the ABC trek.

Both of the trails require good preparedness physically and mentally.

Annapurna circuit  Vs Annapurna Base Camp Trek Difficulty

The Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Base Camp trekking trails hear similar. But Annapurna Circuit is different from the Annapurna Base Camp trek. Annapurna Circuit rounds Annapurna Massif and needs to cross Thorang La Pass (5416m) since Annapurna Base camp ends at 4130m elevation.

Risk – Is it dangerous to trek Annapurna Base Camp?

No, the Annapurna Base Camp trek is not dangerous. However, trekking and adventure tour is all about physical fitness and preparedness (logistic, physical and mental). Therefore, the trek can be easily done by people aged from 10 to 75 years. Since the trekking trail does not have a straight up and straight down path, it can be done by the first-time traveler.

Avalanche is one of the biggest risk factors while on the ABC trek . There are certain sections before the Annapurna Base Camp, where it is hard to detect a possible avalanche. You need to be more careful especially when there is rainfall or snowfall in the Annapurna Region. In the past few years, some trekkers have lost their life due to avalanches.

Is it a long and hard walk?

The Annapurna Base camp trek can be done from 10 to 12 days depending on the itinerary and pace of your walking. The total distance of the Annapurna base camp trek is 115 km from Kathmandu. You will be walking from 10 to 20 km each day for this trek. During trekking, 5 to 7 hours of walking are the average day’s walking. However, above 3500m elevation, the times will be the same but you will only cover 8 to 9 km. However, all our itineraries can be customized as per the geographical and physical conditions of the individual participant.

Charging your electric gazets

The charging facilities will be available in some hotel receptions, however; we have to pay for this service. Please do not forget to bring two or three-pin travel adapters with you while coming in trekking.

Does this package include a guide?

A package trip to Annapurna Base Camp trek includes guides throughout the trip. A well-experienced guide will accompany you throughout the trek. He will help you in every situation. Typically, there are 5-8 people in a group. But once you book, the trip is guaranteed to depart. Besides a guide, a package trip includes porters to carry your luggage.

Team: Your guide for ABC Trek

Oriental Journeys will assist you with a local English-speaking guide who is a government-licensed holder. If you like, we may also assign guides who speak French, Spanish, Japanese, German, or any other language. However, you must pay an additional fee for them. His/her English may not be perfect, but it is enough for conversation. Expect him/her to provide information on the path, local culture, lifestyle, and terrain. They are locals who routinely visit the region. Use the assistance of guides if you want to try something new on the path.

Cost: additional expenses

Annapurna Base Camp Trek’s cost depends on your interests and spending habits. While you stay in Kathmandu, you can allocate per person $50 to &70 for lunch and dinner in Kathmandu. You can allocate approximately $ 300 to 350 per person to buy meals and drinks during the Annapurna Base Camp trek. Besides, your expenses, you require to issue Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and Trekkers’ Information Management System Card to trek the Annapurna Region.

For an Annapurna Base Camp package trek, your handling company (operator) manages your permits. Whereas a Free Individual traveler needs to pay US$40 equivalent Nepalese rupees for the permits. On top of it tipping your guide and porter is expected.

A final Say

It is always better to access the risk and hazardous part of Annapurna Base Camp Difficulty during planning for the same trip. Trekkers should train themself for the rocky terrain hike and high altitude walk. Prepare with the necessary gear to keep yourself during the shared weather condition too. Physical preparedness including mental readiness is the most essential thing to accomplish any task. Adventure always needs courage with a thoughtful mind. Annapurna Base Camp Trek’s difficulty is not a hindrance for the hikers with strong determination and necessary preparation. We wish you the best of luck with your Annapurna Base Camp Expedition.

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Is Everest Harder than Annapurna?

When it comes to touring adventures, Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) and Everest Base Camp Trek (EBC) are two of the most iconic destinations in Nepal. Various individuals fantasize about vanquishing these marvelous paths, yet which one is really more earnest? How about we buckle under the correlation and find out.

Highlights of Everest and Annapurna:

Annapurna Base Camp Trek Highlights

• Stunning Views The Annapurna Circuit Trek offers panoramic views of the Annapurna mountain range, including peaks like Machapuchare (Fishtail). The different geographies along the way are truly stirring.
• Different foliage trampers can anticipate a rich variety of natural beauty, from rhododendron timbers to snow-covered peaks.
• Sunrise from Poon Hill One of the most famous print spots is the beautiful daytime view from Poon Hill. It’s a magical ride that ought not to be missed.

Everest Base Camp Trek Highlights

• Dramatic Views The Everest Base Camp Trek presents extra dramatic views of the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, along with skirting peaks like Lhotse and Nuptse.
• Sherpa Culture Climbers can discover the special Sherpa subculture in the Khumbu region. The location is stuffed with ample Sherpa townlets, including the normal experience.
• Kala Patthar Another iconic print spot is the panoramic outlook of Mount Everest from Kala Patthar. The rough quality of the Everest area is truly surprising.
• Both Mount Everest and Mount Annapurna are redoubtable pinnacles, yet they contrast in their difficulties. We should separate it.
• Everest is the tallest mountain on the planet, remaining at 29,029 feet ( 8,848 meters) over the sea..
• Annapurna is more limited, with a height of 26,545 bases( 8,091 measures).
• An advanced chance of rovers has failed while trying to peak Annapurna further than on any other peak.

Everest has two fundamental courses: the North Edge and the South Col. The North Edge is more customary yet intricate, while the South Col course is fresher and less muddled, however more perilous because of the Khumbu Icefall.

Annapurna offers three primary courses the Northwest Edge, the Southwest Edge, and the Southeast Edge, which are all viewed as muddled.

• Everest avalanches, crevasses, indurating temperatures, high winds, and lack of oxygen.
• Annapurna avalanches, rockfalls, falling ice, glaciers, and crevasses.

Terrain of Everest and Annapurna:

Everest Base Camp Trek

• Steep ascents and descents. Rocky terrain with some technical sections.
• The altitude reaches up to 3420 meters in Namche Bazaar on Day 2.
• Constantly surrounded by knife-like peaks.
• Gyoko Lakes and lesser-trekked passes at ChoLa offer great detours.
• Island Peak provides some of the most stylish views in the Himalayas.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

• Further gradational ascent and descent.
• Smaller, steeper climbs and gentler descents.
• The average altitude is much lower than that of Everest.
• Different geographies, including gorgeous rhododendron timbers.
• Colorful trail options, some not exceeding 2000 meters in altitude.
• The circuit route allows touring new terrain every day without retracing steps 12.

Best Time to move toward Everest and Annapurna:

Annapurna Circuit

Autumn (October and November) Extensively considered the stylish time for touring the Annapurna Circuit. During this season, the rainfall is generally clear and dry, with affable day temperatures ranging from 15 °C to 20 °C (59 °F to 68 °F) at lower elevations. It’s an excellent time to enjoy stunning mountain views and explore traditional village life.

Spring (April and May) Another great option. The rainfall remains stable, the skies are clear, and temperatures are comfortable. This season is also busy with pedestrians heading to Annapurna Base Camp.

Everest Base Camp

Autumn (October and November) is ideal for the Everest Base Camp journey as well. Clear skies, mild temperatures, and stirring mountain lookouts. You’ll need a minimum of two weeks for the journey to Base Camp and back. Consider adding redundant time to explore the quieter but inversely stunning Gokyo Valley.

Spring (April) Another good choice. analogous rainfall conditions as in the afterlife, but with smaller crowds. Keep in mind that breakouts to Lukla( the trailhead for Everest) can be grueling during the high season due to rainfall disruptions.

The key things that made Mount Everest difficult:

Heat, dust, cold, and shit: The trek itself is nearly two weeks long, and throughout that you’ll be exposed to wide variations in temperature (it can be hot during the day but it’s invariably cold at night) and an environment that’s dusty and where you’re almost certain to pick up an upset stomach at some point. Coping with that over an extended period of time is almost as hard.

Altitude and appetite: Stuff doesn’t taste as nice at altitude. Your taste buds are dulled. And the food that you’re going to eat is going to be carried in from somewhere on the back of a yak or a sherpa, so variety is at a premium. Forcing yourself to eat a rubbery omelet because you know you need the energy is almost the most grueling part of the trip. Take something with a strong flavor to liven things up.

Water. Acclimatization is basically the process of your body excreting buffering chemicals from your bloodstream so your blood doesn’t get too alkaline. It can only do this through your urine. You’ll need to drink 3 liters or more of water each day to acclimate properly; I was drinking 5, but then I’m huge. A good, insulated water reservoir system is a great idea (though on cold days, make sure you blow the water back into the reservoir so it doesn’t freeze in the tube), and I found that hanging it on my chest inside my jacket kept it from getting too cold.

The right kit goes a long way toward making life more comfortable. Good boots and socks, multiple layers (including merino baselayers), a down jacket, a good breathable waterproof, a range of hats for sunny and cold conditions, very warm gloves (down mittens if you can get them), a decent down sleeping bag and silk liner, a self-inflating sleeping mat, good sunscreen, and lots of alcohol hand gel will go a long way towards making the trip easier to endure.

Trekking. Beyond kit, the secret of successful trekking is simple: don’t stop. The temptation when walking at altitude is always to stop when you get out of breath. Don’t. You’ll waste energy stopping, starting, and warming up after you stop, and it will take longer. 

Find a pace, however slow, that you can maintain indefinitely, and aim to walk for about half an hour between stops. We got the weakest walker in our group to adopt this approach, and on one of the longest ascents, she went from the back of the group to very near the front.

While both treks offer unforgettable experiences, Everest Base Camp provides more dramatic views of Everest itself, while Annapurna Base Camp offers diverse landscapes and closer views of the Annapurna Range. Choose the one that resonates with your preferences and abilities!

Everest is taller and more complex, Annapurna is more deadly. If you’re unsure of your mountaineering abilities, Annapurna might be a slightly less taxing choice due to its lower average altitude and fewer steep climbs. Ultimately, both mountains require significant preparation, skill, and courage. 

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