Annapurna Circuit Trek

Grading: 5-6 (Challenging)

Annapurna Circuit Trek is considered challenging due to high altitudes and longer duration trek. The trail is relatively easier following good paths but due to the increasing altitude, it’s graded challenging. Please be prepared to walk for 6-7 hrs every day on average carrying your backpack, which will consist of your valuable items, water, extra fleece, snacks etc. Longer treks reaching up to an elevation of 5500m.

No previous experience of trekking is required but you should be moderately fit and must enjoy walking and adaptable to high altitude conditions. Having a previous experience is definitely beneficial but it is not a must to participate for this trip. All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. We strongly advise you to prepare yourself for the trip at least 3 months prior to your trip date by doing regular exercises, going on hiking, running or gym. The fitter you are, the more enjoyable you will find the experience of trekking. All our trip itinerary has been devised keeping every aspect in mind and allows ample time for acclimatization

Annapurna Circuit Trek is a premier adventure trek in Annapurna region that most ardent backpackers, hikers, and lovers of wild places aspire to. The trek is graded challenging and training yourself well ahead will definitely improve your performance during the trek. Answering this question can be a challenge because everyone is starting from a different base of fitness, age, lifestyle, and diet (what you eat on a daily basis).

Always consult with your doctor first to establish if you are healthy enough for the challenges of all-day trekking at high elevation for over a week. Once cleared for takeoff, so to speak, consulting with a qualified trainer, and a nutritionist may also prove beneficial, though many do not.

Read this to find out more about how to train for high altitude treks. This is an outline prepared to offer some guidance and tips as to how to begin training for himalayan treks.

The best seasons for Annapurna Circuit Trek are Autumn (latter half of September till December) and Spring (latter half of March until mid-May). On both seasons, Mornings are usually clear, with clouds building up in the afternoon and disappearing at night. The given temperature may raise 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 best mountain views, days are warmer and night time will get cold and frosty. Temperatures will drop considerably as you ascend higher every day. The temperature during Autumn varies from lowest -5 degree Celsius at Thorung Phedi to warmest 20 degree Celsius at lower places.

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

Read more about the best time: https://highlandexpeditions.com/best-time-to-visit-nepal/

Hotel: 4 Nights, Teahouse/Lodge: 14 Nights

Kathmandu: 
In Kathmandu, we stay at Kathmandu Guest House, a well-known hotel where many famous celebrities like Beatles, Ricky Martin, Jeremy Irons and others have stayed. Centrally located in Thamel, the hotel also boasts a beautiful garden where you can 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.
Regardless of whether you’re coming back from the mountains or touching base from the airport, come and unwind at the hotel beautiful garden, request some fine Italian espresso or a chilled Beer, and escape in the memorable surroundings of Kathmandu’s most adored guesthouse.

Pokhara:
Our Address 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 twin sharing basis and if you would like to have a single room, upon request you are required to pay a single supplement price

On Trek:
For accommodation on the trek, there are clean and friendly teahouses/lodges along the trail. Rooms are basic, normally 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 purpose. 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 to 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 of them are very basic and a sense of adventure is necessary.

Single supplement:
A single supplement will be charged if someone wishes to have their own room in Kathmandu. Especially when travelling in a group, we will always pair you with someone of the same sex and similar age to share the room with. If in case of a single by default, then clients don’t have to pay for the single supplement. Please note that on the trek, a single supplement is not available due to limited rooms

All meals are included during the trekking period (Day 02 to Day 17). We will provide three meals a day (B, L, D) during the trek and in Pokhara. The menus in the teahouses are varied, ranging from traditional Nepalese dhal bhat, Momo (Dumpling) to pizza and apple pie. During the trek, Breakfast and Dinner will be served at the teahouse/lodge where you stay and Lunch will be along the way. Despite the fact that meat is available in the teahouses, we prompt against eating it on the trek. The meat has frequently been conveyed in the warmth from lower elevations for a few days before arriving at the teahouses and can cause stomach upsets or disease.
If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know in advance and we will be sure to pass your message to your guide. For a gluten-free diet, we highly recommend you bring extra foods especially for breakfast as your options for the breakfast will be limited. Meals worth USD500-550 are included on this trip. In Kathmandu, only breakfast will be provided to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where what and with whom to eat for lunch and dinner.

We offer hot-boiled water for drinking purposes 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 for your convenience.

Our route to Annapurna Circuit/Thorung La Pass follows a careful approach with ample time for acclimatization and breathtaking sceneries along the way. Our itinerary involves a side excursion to Gyaru and Ngawal. We also have kept an acclimatization day at Manang.  The maximum elevation you will gain on this trip is 5,416m/17,770ft and the maximum overnight elevation is 4,400m/14,436ft. With over 30 years of experience in trekking and climbing in the Himalayas, we have carefully tailored each of our itineraries. We put a lot of care into all the details when it comes to executing any of your ventures. Safety is always a priority while travelling with Highland Expeditions and we have applied this strictly on our approach.

Our emphasis is always on maintaining the small group so that it will be easy to coordinate and cooperate with each other. Our group size is small and we only take up to 12 pax in one group. If you opt to join our ‘fixed departure trip’, you are likely to be joining people from different countries of any age group except minors. The size of the group varies, the minimum no of persons required to operate the trip is 1 and the maximum is 12 people.

Each client will receive an individual duffel bag for packing their gear. Our duffel bags have an approximate capacity of 80 liters, and we kindly ask clients to ensure that their duffel bag weight remains under 15 kgs. The baggage allowance for Nepal’s domestic airlines is a total of 15 kg (10 kgs for the duffel bag and 5 kgs for the backpack) but we can offer additional baggage allowance. We request clients to keep the duffel bag weight under 15 kgs due to porter weight restrictions, allowing maximum of 30 kgs weight per porter. We provide 1 porter for every 2 participants.

During the trek, clients are required to carry only a day pack containing essentials such as a water bottle, camera, sunscreen, spare jacket, etc. This light load ensures a more enjoyable trekking experience. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we will provide clients with a duffel bag, and any additional luggage or items not needed during the trek can be stored at the hotel in Kathmandu.

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 timetable 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, washing 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.

We possess a deep passion for alpine adventure & the outdoors, and with the small professional group we have on board, we’ve notched up experience that spans almost 3 decades on some of the most isolated trails and highest peaks. We take great pride in calling ourselves a ‘high-altitude adventure specialist’ and all this is due to our diverse and qualified team of guides. Most of our guides were born in these parts & have relatives living in other parts of the regions where they were born in.

Your trip will be led by a qualified guide with 1 porter to every 2 participants and 1 assistant guide to every 4 participants.

It’s mandatory and highly recommended to get travel insurance before embarking on any adventurous trips in Nepal. We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers up emergency helicopter evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and leave a copy next to your kin. You must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved.

More information: Travel Insurance

Our trips are available on both fixed departure and private basis. If you are looking for a group to join this trip please check our departures section for availability, dates and price. If you would like to travel independently, or with your friends, families & colleagues you are invited to choose any of the trips at your convenient timeframe for any number of people. If you want to do something that is not included in our trip list, we are ready to tailor a trip to suit your exact requirements. In short, we will make every effort to get you on the trip you want, when you want.

Passport: All foreign visitors to Nepal must possess a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity beyond their planned departure date.

Visa: Nepal visa can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandu airport (Tribhuvan International Airport) or you can obtain Nepal visa prior to your arrival through the Nepalese embassies, diplomatic missions and consulates near your location. Nepal Visa is also issued at the entry points if you are entering Nepal by land.

Visa Fees: Nepal visa fees are listed below as per the duration.

Multiple entry 15 days – US$ 30 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 30 days – US$ 50 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 90 days – US$ 125 or equivalent convertible currency

Important Note: It is always advisable to verify the visa requirements upon booking your trip. Visa requirements may vary depending on where you are from and its also recommended to check the transit country requirements as well.

While we share this information in good faith, it is crucial for you to independently verify it and acknowledge that you bear full responsibility for your visa requirements.

The gear listed below is recommended for this trek. We encourage you to get all the equipment listed below for the trip and 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 in Kathmandu.

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
• 2 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 sanitiser/Antiseptic wipes
• Hygiene products
• Basic first aid kit (Pepto Bismol, Cipro (500mg tablets), Metronidazole, Hydration salts, Eye drops, Azithromycin (250mg tablets), Diamox (250mg tablets, approx. 35 total), and variety of standard painkillers including Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc)

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

Point of Arrival:
Your point of arrival should be Tribhuvan International Airport  located in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Meeting Instructions:
Your meeting point is at Kathmandu’s airport, Tribhuvan International Airport. Upon arrival at Kathmandu’s Airport, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), kindly pay your visa fee and proceed to immigration to apply for VOA (Visa On Arrival), customs clearing and then collect your luggage. Outside the arrival hall, please look out for our team member holding a placard stating ‘Highland Expeditions ’ and you will be escorted to your hotel for checking in.

Airport Pickup and Drop:
We will provide airport pickup and drop-off according to your flight schedule. Your airport transfers are organized based on the flight information you provide to us. If there is a change in your flight schedule, please inform us promptly, and we will adjust the transfers accordingly. Upon arrival, please be on the lookout for our team member holding a placard that reads ‘Highland Expeditions’ in the arrival area. You will be greeted and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Similarly, for your departure, we will take you to the airport in accordance with your flight schedule.

Emergency Contact for Airport Transfers: +9779860763929 (Dawa Sherpa)