Annapurna Circuit Trek

Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the special treks in Nepal because it is a mix of adventure with cultural emersion and diverse landscapes. You are presented with a chance to see stunning views of mountains, meet new people, and learn about their culture and traditions. Several reasons make the Annapurna Circuit trek so special, so let’s get into them.

Different Culture Experience

One thing that makes trekking to the Annapurna region and exploring the Annapurna Circuit Trek special is the chance to meet different people and experience various types of culture and traditions. In the Annapurna, different castes from Gurungs, Magars, and Chettri inhabit the low-altitude region, whereas Sherpas and the Buddhist communities are in the high-altitude settlements. Each community has its own way of speaking, traditions, and customs. You will take breaks for food and rest in local villages, interact with the people there, and learn about their culture.

Majestic Views

Another reason to experience the Annapurna Circuit Trek is to see the stunning views of the mountains like Mount Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Fishtail, Hiunchuli, and Nilgiri mountains. The most amazing view of the region is visible from the highest pass of the trek, Thorong La Pass. 

Diverse Landscapes

Another reason to trek Annapurna Circuit Trek is to see an amazing diverse environment. The trekkers pass through different landscapes, from lush jungles to amazing waterfalls, rocky terrains, glacial moraines, and snowy mountains. The diversity is not only in ecology but also in wildlife, as trekkers have a chance to come across rare and endangered species of animals like snow leopards, red pandas, Himalayan Tahr, etc.

Annapurna Circuit Trek and Everest Base Camp Treks are popular but equally challenging treks in Nepal. Trekkers often debate which trek is more complicated: the ACT or the EBC trek. Different factors measure the trek’s difficulty, so let’s get into them.

Altitude

Regarding altitude, both trek reaches 5000m plus elevation, making both trek challenging in terms of altitude. However the overnight altitude at Everest Base Camp Trek is slightly higher than the Annapurna Circuit Trek. On Everest Base Camp Trek, you stay overnight at Gorekshep which is at 5140m, whereas on the Annapurna Circuit Trek, the maximum overnight altitude is 4,400m if you stay at Thorung Phedi and 4880m if you stay at Thorung high camp.

During the Annapurna Circuit Trek, the trekkers reach the maximum elevation of Thorong La Pass at 5416m. In contrast, the highest elevation of the Everest Base Camp Trek is 5364m at Everest Base Camp and 5545m at Kala Patthar. Despite the ACT’s higher pass, the EBC Trek is slightly more demanding due to the need to sleep at a higher altitude of 5,140m at Gorakshep.

Terrains

When comparing the difficulty of terrain, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is generally easier. Its trails feature more gradual ascents, with only the day of crossing Thorong La Pass involving a steep climb. In contrast, the Everest Base Camp Trek presents consistent challenges, with trekkers navigating frequent ups and downs nearly every day. The approach to Everest Base Camp is particularly demanding, as it involves traversing moraines, rocky sections, and uneven paths.

Annapurna Circuit Trek is considered challenging as the trek reaches a maximum altitude of 5416m, and the duration of the trek is about 10 days. You should expect to walk 6-7 hrs on average each day, and the day we cross the pass will be around 12 hours long. The trek passes through different landscapes, from barren lands to lush jungles. There are a few levels of difficulty that influence the trek’s difficulty. These are altitude, rough terrains, remoteness, dynamic weather, etc.

The best seasons for Annapurna Circuit Trek are Autumn (latter half of September till December) and Spring (latter half of March until mid-May). Mornings are usually clear in both seasons, with clouds building up in the afternoon and disappearing at night. The given temperature may rise or lower with the change in weather factors (Sunny, Snow, Rain, etc.)

Autumn/Fall

This is when the rain settles after the monsoon (July to mid-September)and the weather gets dry. Slightly colder than Spring but presents clear views of the mountains. The mornings are clear, providing the best mountain views; days are warmer, and nighttime will get cold and frosty. Temperatures will drop considerably as you ascend higher every day. The temperature during Autumn varies from the lowest -5 degrees Celsius at Thorung Phedi to the warmest 20 degrees Celsius at lower places.

Spring

Another weather window for trekking in Nepal comes during the months of March to May. The temperature will be relatively warmer during this period of time, but nights will still be cold and frosty at higher elevations. During the spring season, The trekking trails all over the country are filled with vibrant mixes of red, pink, and white floras, offering surreal experiences along the trek. The spring season offers warm temperatures, blossoming flora, and temperate days. The temperature during Autumn varies from the lowest -0 degree Celsius at Thorung Phedi to the warmest 25 degrees Celsius at lower places.

Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the most moderately challenging treks in Nepal. The trek is not ideal for beginners who don’t have proper training and have physical stamina. The trekkers planning to trek the Annapurna Circuit Trek have to focus on increasing their physical fitness by training before trekking. Here are some of the training you need for ACT.

Cardiovascular Training

Cardiovascular training is needed to improve cardiovascular conditions. Some training modules will help to increase the cardio level of the trekkers. You can participate in training exercises like hiking, running, swimming, and cycling. The most effective way to improve the core of your trek is by practicing hiking by carrying a small backpack.

Strength Training

Another training that trekkers need to improve on is their strength. The key is building the body through different weight exercises, push-ups, set-ups, planks, squats, etc. This will strengthen your hamstrings, quads, legs, etc, which will help trekkers to cover more distance and not get physically tired.

Travel insurance especially while trekking at high altitudes in Nepal is a must especially for the purpose of emergency medical evacuation. We advise you to get insurance that provides full coverage against medical evacuation, medical expenses, trip cancellation among all the other inclusions. For more information, please check: Travel Insurance for trekking in Nepal

Daily wake up calls will be between 6.00 am to 7.00 am while on the trek. The wake-up time and breakfast time will be decided a night before during the briefing time. The time table for each day will entirely depend on your walking duration for that particular day.

After a hearty breakfast, we set off on the day’s walk. Before breakfast, you are required to pack your duffel bag as it will be loaded by the porter while you are having your breakfast. After 3-4 hours of walk, we stop for lunch mid-day. The afternoon’s walk is generally shorter and we usually arrive at our destination in time for afternoon tea. The rest of the afternoon can be spent exploring the village, to wash your clothes or simply relaxing with a good book. On some days, we will arrive at our destination by lunchtime and the entire afternoon will be free. After dinner, the evening will often be spent playing cards and reliving the day’s adventures, before heading off to bed for a well-earned sleep.

Kathmandu

In Kathmandu, we stay at Kathmandu Guest House, a well-known hotel where many famous celebrities like the Beatles, Ricky Martin, Jeremy Irons, and others have stayed. Centrally located in Thamel, the hotel also boasts a beautiful garden to relax and enjoy the greenery. Breakfast will be provided in the hotel and your accommodation will be on a twin sharing basis and if you would like to have a single room, upon request you are required to pay a single supplement price as stated in the trip costing.

Our Address is in Pokhara (Hotel Dandelion); with a spacious and comfortable room, this hotel is a good place to chill and relax. The hotel is equipped with modern facilities and a swimming pool. Your accommodation will be on a sharing basis, and if you would like to have a single room, upon request, you are required to pay a single supplement price

During Trek

For accommodation on the trek, there are clean and friendly teahouses/lodges along the trail. Rooms are basic, usually just a bed with a pillow and blankets but with a wonderful view from your window. Due to the limited teahouses/lodges in this area, during the peak season time, even dining rooms are occupied for sleeping purposes. Your accommodation on the trek will be on a twin-sharing basis. All the teahouses/lodges have a spacious, warm dining room lounge.

The rooms are fairly basic. Blankets are generally provided by the teahouse, but we will provide a warm sleeping bag for everyone. Bathrooms are mostly shared, and toilets are squat type in most places. We will arrange for you and your group to stay in local lodges daily. Please remember that some are very basic, and a sense of adventure is necessary.

Our trip includes all meals during the trek, during the trek we provide Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Breakfast and Dinner will be at the teahouse/lodge where you will stay and lunch will be along the way. The lodges offer a decent varieties of meal on their menu.

Breakfast

The breakfast menus include Toast, Eggs, Porridge, Tibetan Breads, Pancakes, Breads etc.

Lunch

Lunch will be usually along the way as there are lunch stops along the way on each day. Lunch break are usually an hour to more long and it also provides time for rest and relaxation. The menu choices may get limited as we trek further up. Lunch choices usually include: rice, noodles, pasta, sandwich, potatoes, local food etc.

Dinner

After the hike, we check into the lodge and have dinner from by 7 p.m usually. The meals are served in a dining hall, which are heated by fire chimney. In terms of menus, lunch and dinner are somewhat similar. The primary meals for lunch and dinner are the local Nepali Dal, Bhat, and Vegetable curry, Momo, Noodles, Pasta, Pizzas, etc.

Meal Safety & Dietary

If you have any dietary requirements or allergies, please let us know at the time of booking and we will cater to your needs as much as possible. Meals at the lodges are freshly prepared and are safe but its always safe bet to avoid meats, bakery items, fried foods especially higher above Manang.

We offer hot-boiled water on our treks to minimize the environmental impact of single-use plastic bottles. Please remember to bring a reusable water bottle or Thermos that can withstand hot water, and feel free to ask our guides to refill it during meal times, particularly at breakfast and dinner.

While bottled water is available at lodges, prices may range from USD 1 to USD 3 as we ascend in altitude. Alternatively, you can bring water purification tablets or a filtration device.

The Annapurna circuit trek requires proper preparation, including obtaining permits, is essential for this trek, as many Himalayan trails in Nepal require them. The trekkers need two permits for the ACT trek: the Annapurna Circuit Trek permit and the TIMS card.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)

The permit is needed to control the influx of trekkers and tourists, which helps protect the wildlife and preserve the culture. No matter how many days you stay, the cost is Rs. 3000 per person for a single entry. You can get ACAP Permits in Kathmandu or Pokhara, and there are checkpoints along the trail to keep track of your records.

Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS card)

You need a TIMS permit to trek in Nepal. There are two types of permits: solo for NRs 2000/USD 18 and group for NRs 1000/USD 9. You can get these permits at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu.

Once you have signed up for the Annapurna Circuit Trek, rest assured that the trip cost will not be increased. It is our commitment to our clients that once they have signed up for the trip, we guarantee the same trip cost with no surcharges or hidden fees afterward.

The gear listed below is recommended for this trek. We encourage you to get all the equipment listed below for the trip. Kindly ensure you check and try every piece of equipment. You can also buy or hire the same in Kathmandu as they are available in the many trekking shops, from branded to local manufacturers.

Head gears

• Sunhat
• Warm hat (should cover head & ear comfortably)
• Buffs X 2
• Sunglasses (High-quality, UV-blocking sunglasses with good all-around protection)
• Headlamp with spare batteries (200-300 lumens output)

Upper Body

• Thermal or fleece base layer top X 2
• Short Sleeve Trekking shirts X 2
• Full Sleeve trekking shirts X 2
• Soft-shell jacket/fleece jacket X 2
• Light down jacket X 1
• Hardshell jacket with a hood X 1
• Insulated Down Jacket (provided by us at request)

Lower body

• Thermal or fleece base layer bottom X 2
• Trekking trousers/pants X 2
• Warm trekking trousers X 1
• Hardshell pants (Non-insulated and waterproof)
• Insulated down pants (optional)

Underwear

• 5 pairs of synthetic or wool fabrics only
•  Sports Bra for women

Footwear

• Waterproof Hiking Boots (GoreTex and Good Tread)
• Hiking socks X 4 pairs medium to heavy (synthetic and wool)
• Liner socks X 2
• Camp shoes to wear at the teahouse
• Gaiters
• Yaktrax / Microspikes

Handwear

• Softshell gloves X 1
• Heavyweight gloves X 1

Gears / Personal equipment

• Daypack 30-35 litres with rain cover
• Waterproof Duffel bag (provided by us at request)
• Down Sleeping bag (-15 C rated) (provided by us at request)
• One-litre capacity water bottle X 2 (Nalgene & Thermos)
• Trekking poles
• Camera with charger or spare batteries
• Personal snacks and energy bars (you can buy them during the trek too)
• Laundry bag to keep the dirty clothes
• Padlock (Optional)
• Rain Poncho
• Large plastic bags to keep the clothes dry
• Extra clothes to wear in Kathmandu when you come back from the trek.
• Sandals
• Ear plugs

Toiletries and hygiene

• Quick-drying towel
• Small face towel
• Toothbrush &Toothpaste
• Face mask
• Water treatment tools or tablets (Recommended: Aquatabs)
• Deodorants, Soap and Shampoo (Smaller bottle)
• Face and body moisturizer
• Sunscreen SPF30+ and Lip balm SPF 30+
• Hand sanitizer/Antiseptic wipes
• Hygiene products
• Basic first aid kit

Documents

• Passport with visa and validity of 6 months after your trip completion
• Credit cards in case of emergencies
• Driving ID or any other ID in case of loss of your passport
• Travel Insurance
• Flight tickets