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Annapurna circuit trek

Country
Nepal

Duration
16 days

Maximum altitude
5416m / 17764ft

Activity
Trekking

Difficulty
Moderate/Difficult

Best Season
October, November, December, February, March, April

Accomodation
Hotel / Mountain Lodge

Meals
Excluded

Start/End Point
Beshisahar / Nayapul

Trek Overview

Trek Overview

The Annapurna Circuit trek trail is among the world’s greatest hiking experiences. The trail passes through the stunning Annapurna ranges located in Nepal. The renowned Himalayan trekking experience exposes trekkers to various environments, including forested tracks and arid mountain zones. The trekker will have to climb the challenging Throng La Pass with an elevation of 5,416 meters (17,769 feet) above sea level. This makes the Annapurna Circuit a favorite among adventure-seekers worldwide.

The meaning of the term "circuit" is that it is a loop trail that surrounds the peaks of the Annapurna ranges, giving trekkers sights of the world’s highest peaks. The Annapurna Circuit trekking path is more than a trekking trail; it’s an experience of a lifetime because it passes through remote villages and old trading routes that have remained the same even after the passage of centuries. This trek makes trekkers connect with the locals and experience their daily lives at the peaks of Nepal.

Before you embark on a hiking adventure yourself, the Annapurna Circuit might appear frightening if you are a beginner. This definitive guide will tell you everything that first-time hikers should know: the physical preparations required, equipment choices, handling the challenges of the high-altitude terrain, and the need to adapt according to the local culture. As first-time hikers have their set of concerns, too, we have crafted this guide with the specific purpose of resolving them step by step.

Through discussions with dozens of other trekkers and independent research, we’ve come up with common issues and simple solutions. Altitude sickness may very well affect you; we will give you tips on how to adapt gradually and identify potential danger signs early on. Mountain weather conditions might just go unexpectedly south on you; we’ll give you the lowdown on the seasons and alternative adventure itineraries. Preparing physically matters greatly; we will introduce tried-and-true training sessions based on your fitness levels. Permit requirements may throw you off; we will walk you through simple instructions on obtaining the proper documents. Last but certainly not least, being well-prepared with mountain guesthouse expectations will make sure that you come up with the right packing list and set the right expectations regarding daily comforts during your adventure.

The average period required for the Annapurna Circuit Trek ranges between 12-21 days and spans a distance of some 160-230 kilometers (100-143 miles), based on the trail that trekkers take. The Annapurna Circuit Trek begins at Besisahar or Bhulbhule and passes through verdant forest ranges and agricultural land on the slopes of the mountains. Notably, the landscape varies greatly as trekkers ascend higher up the mountain ranges until the final zone near Thorong La Pass that lacks moisture due to the strong winds.

There are several points of interest on the Annapurna Circuit trek that must be considered. Manang Valley is an essential point that requires trekkers to spend an additional day acclimating to the height while appreciating the glacier scenery. Thorong La Pass marks the highest and most challenging point of the trek; passing through this region gives a feeling of great accomplishment. Muktinath Temple offers the chance to observe natural gas emanating from the earth’s surface; this region is considered holy by both Hindus and Buddhists. Kagbeni marks the beginning of the restricted region called the Upper Mustang; this region offers a distinct environment that appears like a desert. Finally, the final point of the treks ends at Jomsom; trekkers usually conclude their journey and take a short flight back to Pokhara instead of walking the final distances.

Our research revealed interesting points regarding the Annapurna Circuit Trek that might aid in better preparations. Trekkers who have an additional day to acclimate at Manang have a 40% chance of completing the trek successfully. This clearly validates the significance of not rushing and allowing the body time to acclimatize. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the seasons that enable 80% of trekkers to complete the trek successfully due to favorable climatic conditions and mountain scenery.

The fact of the trek still offers moments of solitude to watch the sunrise over the Ice Lake, experience the winds at the Thorung-La Pass, or share an evening cup of tea with villagers at some remote mountain tea house with the other trekkers who come from various parts of the world, because this particular trail isn’t very crowded yet. The Annapurna Circuit trek stands out because of these moments of solitude with nature and the local culture of the mountain ranges of Nepal.

The Annapurna Circuit is so unique and special; it is not just the scenery of the mountain ranges but the experience of getting familiar with the culture of the region as well. This trekking trail takes you through the villages of the lower region that belong to the Hindu community and the higher region villages that belong to the Buddhist culture. What’s more interesting to know is that this trekking trail passes through the salt trading routes used by the Tibetans and Indians of earlier centuries.

Trekking the Annapurna Circuit still ranks as one of the finest hiking adventures on the planet, a journey that tests your endurance and character while inspiring and transforming your life. And with proper planning, a proper mindset, and the advice given below, you are more than ready to conquer this truly Himalayan adventure. Let’s never forget that the mountains are still there after we climb them; therefore, proper safety should at all times remain our utmost priority. Also, you should never forget that the Annapurna Circuit Trek adventure is more than just the climb up to Thorong La Pass.

Trek Highlights

Trek Highlights

Start your adventure on the Annapurna Circuit trek with an awe-inspiring seven-hour drive to Beshisahar. Pass through beautiful mountain landscapes, with terraced farms, villages, and valleys, showcasing what Nepal has to offer, before arriving at your destination, Besisahar.

Trek with breathtaking views of the Marsyangdi River valley, with glacial-fed streams cascading through deep gorges. Trek through lush forests, waterfalls, and cliffs to enjoy breathtaking views of one of Nepal's most beautiful natural routes.

Find out about an old monastery in Braga village, which is one among the oldest spiritual hubs in the Annapurna region. Discover the oldest Buddhist paintings, artifacts, and buildings while getting to immerse in the serene ambience in these old monasteries in the Himalayas.

Experience the intriguing mixture of Tibetan Buddhist and traditional Bon religion. See their fascinating customs, prayer flags, rituals, and other cultural patterns, now living in harmony together in these isolated regions for many years.

Overcome the difficult Thorong La Pass with an altitude of 5,416 meters (17,764 ft), which marks the highest point in your Annapurna Circuit Trek. Enjoy immense pride, coupled with breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains in the vicinity.

Visit the holy Muktinath temple, a sacred pilgrimage site revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Witness the eternal flames powered by natural gas and 108 water spouts, creating a spiritually powerful atmosphere in this high-altitude sanctuary.

Trek through the world’s deepest gorge, the Kali Gandaki valley, surrounded by the massive Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountains. Landscapes transform from high-altitude desert to valleys, while traversing traditional trade routes in spectacular geological formations.

Experience the warm hospitality for which Thakali people are renowned. Their welcoming nature, coupled with their fine food, is world-famous. Learn about their interesting culture, typical houses, and ways of life while having regional food in convenient tea houses.

Unwind your exhausted muscles in Tatopani's natural hot springs after tiring days of trekking. It is an ideal place to rest while taking in river views before moving on to other stages of your adventure.

Poon Hill viewpoint: Watch the breathtaking sunrise from Poon Hill. See the golden light spread over the mountains, including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, in Nepal’s most beautiful sunrise mountain scene.

Trek through breathtaking rhododendron forests, especially beautiful in spring with abundant displays of red, pink, and white blooms. These primeval forests establish entrance points to incredible, colored tunnels, housing varied fauna from the Himalayas during your entire trek.

Outline Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Price Table

Travelers Gold Silver
1 USD 2100 USD 1770
2 USD 1430 USD 1100
3 USD 1399 USD 1070
4 USD 1240 USD 915
5 USD 1320 USD 990
6 USD 1235 USD 910
7 - -
8 USD 1215 USD 885

Package Price

Package Price

  • Airport  to hotel pick up and drop by private vehicle
  • Three-night accommodation in Kathmandu at three-star hotel with breakfast
  • Kathmandu city tour
  • Pokhara city tour
  • Two night accommodation in Pokhara with breakfast
  • Accommodation in Mountain lodge run by local people during trek
  • Meal on full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) a cup of tea in each meals during trek
  • One highly experienced mountain Guide and porters (1 porter for 2 people),
  • Accommodation food, drinks, salary, insurance, transportation of both trek guide and porters
  • Group medical supplies (first aid kit)
  • All necessary papers works and Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit
  • TIMS Card (Trekker’s Information Management System card)
  • All additional government tax
  • Kathmandu / Beshisahar / Chame drive by private Jeep
  • Jomsom to Tatopani drive  by sharing Jeep / bus.
  • Pokhara to Kathmandu airfare
  • Transpotetion Pokhara hotel to Pokhara International airport
  • Other ground transportation

  • Nepal entry visa fee (USD 30 for 15 days/ USD 50 for 30 days from the date of issue) (You may easily get a Nepal visa upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu)
  • International airfare
  • Travelers Insurance
  • Sightseeing entrace fees
  • All kinds of drinks (Alcohol, hot and cold drinks)
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara (Approx 10-12 USD)
  • Bar bills, telephone bills, and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
  • Tips to guide and porter
  • All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. Personal illness, strike, etc.
  • Helicopter evacuation charge in case of emergency whilst trekking

  • Airport  to hotel pick up and drop by private vehicle
  • Three-night accommodation in Kathmandu at three-star hotel with breakfast
  • Kathmandu city tour
  • Pokhara city tour
  • Two night accommodation in Pokhara with breakfast
  • One highly experienced mountain Guide and porters (1 porter for 2 people),
  • Accommodation food, drinks, salary, insurance, transportation of both trek guide and porters
  • Group medical supplies (first aid kit)
  • All necessary papers works and Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit
  • TIMS Card (Trekker’s Information Management System card)
  • All additional government tax
  • Kathmandu / Beshisahar / Chame drive by private Jeep
  • Jomsom to Tatopani drive  by sharing Jeep / bus.
  • Pokhara to Kathmandu airfare
  • Transpotetion Pokhara hotel to Pokhara International airport
  • Other ground transportation

  • Nepal entry visa fee (USD 30 for 15 days/ USD 50 for 30 days from the date of issue)(You may easily get a Nepal visa upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu)
  • International airfare
  • Accommodation in Mountain lodge run by local people during trek
  • All Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during trekking
  • Sightseeing entrnce fees
  • Travelers Insurance
  • All kinds of drinks (Alcohol, hot and cold drinks)
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Bar bills, telephone bills, and other personal expenses (shopping/ laundry)
  • Tips to guide and porter
  • All expenses due to unavoidable events e.g. personal illness, strike, etc.
  • Helicopter evacuation charge in case of emergency whilst trekking

Trek Map

Map
Annapurna circuit trek map
Annapurna circuit trek Altitude chart

Detailed Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary
Transfer to hotel

Transfer to hotel

None
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Preparation

Preparation

None
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Bhaktapur durbar Square.

Bhaktapur durbar Square.

None
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Boudhanath Stupa..

Boudhanath Stupa..

None
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Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple

None
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Drive to Beshisahar.

Drive to Beshisahar.

None
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Drive  Beshisahar to Chame

Drive Beshisahar to Chame

None
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Chame to Pisang trekking

Chame to Pisang trekking

Included
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Trek Pisang to Manang

Trek Pisang to Manang

None
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Rest day in Manang

Rest day in Manang

None
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Optional hiking to Gangapurna Lake

Optional hiking to Gangapurna Lake

None
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Trek Manang to Yak Kharka

Trek Manang to Yak Kharka

None
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Trek Yak Kharka to Thorng Phedi

Trek Yak Kharka to Thorng Phedi

Included
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Trek Thorong Pedi to Muktinath via Throng-la pass (5416m/17764ft)

Trek Thorong Pedi to Muktinath via Throng-la pass (5416m/17764ft)

None
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Trek Muktinath to Jomsom

Trek Muktinath to Jomsom

None
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Drive Jomsom to Tatopani

Drive Jomsom to Tatopani

Included
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Trek Tatopani to Ghorepani

Trek Tatopani to Ghorepani

None
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Hike to Poon Hill

Hike to Poon Hill

Included
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Trek Ghorepani to Hille

Trek Ghorepani to Hille

None
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Hille to Pokhara

Hille to Pokhara

None
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Drive Nayapul to Pokhara

Drive Nayapul to Pokhara

None
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Fly Pokhara to Kathmandu

Fly Pokhara to Kathmandu

Excluded
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Leisure time

Leisure time

None
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Transfer to the airport for your onward journey

Transfer to the airport for your onward journey

Included
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Trek FAQs

FAQs
You don't need to carry all your stuff which is not required for trekking. You can be left at your hotel or Himalayan Smile Treks office in Kathmandu. Nearly all hotels have a luggage deposit but we do not store clients valuables in our office. Also the hotel you will provide locker their you can store your valuables things. After you come back from trekking, we handover your luggage and other stuff to you.
We assign one of our officers to look after you, who constantly stay in touch with you during your stay in Nepal. We give you his mobile number. Or you may directly contact to our office number also.
In fact you don't need to be a mountaineer with rippling muscles to enjoy trekking. If you are reasonably fit, have a spirit of mountain journey and like walking, you are always qualified for any trekking in Nepal. You do not need any previous experience. However we suggest you some physical fitness programs such as running, swimming, hiking before you embark on journey.
If you're doing camping trek we offer standard meals as well as a vegetarian meal option. Just let us know if you want vegetarian meals when you book your trek. But we can't fulfill every trekkers requirement(i.e., dietary requirements or special meals ). Also tea house trekking you will get vegetarian meal. Please tell about your trekking guide about details of your food allergy.
If your solo trekkers we will provide you on single room in tea house. In peak season (October, November, December , March, April) you have to share room with a member of the same sex but it is rarely.
You will be served freshly cooked food during trekking. In all tea houses/ lodges along trekking trail Western, Continental and Nepali dishes are available. Three meals a day will be provided you in full board (Gold) package
Up to a maximum of 5-6 hours a day with lunch breaks along the trail. The maximum altitude is depends upon which trek you are going. In Nepal normally the maximum altitude of most of the trekking falls between 3500m to 5000m
To some trekkers when they go over 3000 m they may feel some affect of altitude sickness like shortness of breath and possibly a light headed which is fairly common. Sometime they may also get diarrhea as well as sprains and muscle aches. In such case our guide who is experienced in first aid treatment and high altitude sickness will advise you about any health requirements and also treat you. Altitude sickness is dangerous but it can be avoidable. If your follow a few simple rules you will not suffer from altitude sickness. Rules are trek slowly with your guide, drink at least two liters of water per day (not including beer or soft drinks), If you feel shortness of breath, a slight headache or dizziness, tell your guide and rest immediately. Lie down, drink water. If you are still feeling unwell you may consider going down a few hundred meters. Do not pretend you are okay, and do not go down alone. For further information of altitude sickness.
You must disclose at the time of booking any medical condition that could affect your ability to do the Himalaya trekking. The Himalayan Smile Treks advise to do trek who has with heart conditions, knee problems, severe asthma or pregnant should not participate in the trek. The Himalayan Smile Treks could not be responsible in Himalaya trekking due to the lack of the medical facilities any problems due to your special dietary requirements or medical condition
There is no government restriction on the age limit for the Nepal trekking. If the trekkers children under the age of 8 years old and adults over 70 years old. The Himalayan Smile Treks recommend to hire an extra porter(our package price including one porter for two people).
In our trek packages one porter is including for two people. The one porter can carry 20-25 kg your luggage( per person 12 KG). If you're interested to hire extra porter we will recommend to hire in Lukla for Everest base camp trek. The porter cost approximately USD 15. If you want to hire a porter then please let us know at the time you make your trek booking. After Lukla it is very difficult to get porter. if your hire porter above the Lukla or Namche bazaar the porter cost USD 20 to 30 but they cannot always be reliable.
As general rule, it is hot enough during the days to wear an open-neck shirt with shorts and you will not be cold. During the evening, it gets cold so, long trousers and a warm jersey is essential.
Please consult your local doctor and follow his advice. However, if you are taking any particular medicines, it would be best to bring them with you.
There are trekking shops at Thamel, in Kathmandu, where you can easily rent or buy items like sleeping bags, down jackets, walking sticks, rucksacks, duffel bags and other equipments on reasonable price.
We will recommend you to rent or buy sleeping bags as low as -30 °C. This temperature is suitable for Everest base camp trekking(above 4000m). We will suggest to buy /rent sleeping bags and so you can try it out. Also you can rent /buy sleeping bag in Kathmandu trekking store.
If you are flying from a remote mountain airstrip like Lukla, Jomsom, Simikot, Taplejung and Dolpo, you should keep at least two spare days before your departure for home.
Trekking areas like Everest, Annapurna and Langtang, all most tea houses/ mountain lodges have telephone facilities. From there you can make international calls to your home and friends staying any part of the world.
Nepal is absolutely safe country to travel. Our staffs do take every precaution to ensure the comfort and safety of the trekkers. Before 2006 when Maoist movement was going on, there was a kind of fear in few trekking destinations. But today they have also come to peaceful political stream. So there is no more any fear and need to give donation for any party.
We offer you an experienced trekking guide. He is in charge of your overall trekking. This is the person you should go to with all problems, concerns and questions. He is well trained in all aspects of trekking, high altitude medicine, first aid and emergency procedure. He is selected in terms of his professionalism. Remember that trekking guides are local citizens and their English may be basic and limited to trek related topics. About porters, they carry your luggage. They are also local citizens. Normally one porter carries 20 to 25 kg of stuff. Normally we provide one porter for every two trekkers.
Our group size is minimum 2 and maximum 12 however we will start trek from One people. We can organize trek according to customer requested date.
In Everest region trekking we offer you accommodation in tea house (mountain lodge). A Tea House is the combination of guest house, restaurant, and social hang out. The rooms are spare with twin beds and very little additional furniture. Around 5000 m trekking you don't need crampons but if you're going cross the high pass like Larkya la pass(5,235 m), Throng la Pass(5216 m) and Cho La Pass( 5,420 m) it is recommended. We will provide clean sleeping bag during the trekking.
Most of the Tea Houses have running water facility. Many of them also available hot water for shower. The hot shower is bucket shower(not running hot shower) except Namche bazaar. Most bathrooms are shared and toilets can be either squat type of the western version.
In tea House serves the traditional Nepali meal Dal Bhat (rice and lentils), as well as a variety of different food items, such as rice, vegetables, noodles, potatoes and soup. In tea house your will get vegetarian food. Also we will recommend to eat Vegetarian food. Also in tea house has western food such as pizza, pasta and French fries. Soft drinks, snacks and beer are available in most of the Tea Houses and trail side restaurants

Trek Video

Trek Video

"Embark on an epic journey through the Himalayas with our EBC trek video. Witness stunning landscapes, towering peaks, and vibrant cultures along the way. Join us as we trek to Everest Base Camp, immersing ourselves in the awe-inspiring beauty and adventure of this iconic trail. Dare to dream. Dare to explore."

Trek Video Trek Video

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We offer expert advice, flexible options, and tailor-made itineraries. Not sure about trek prices or plans? Travel dates don't align? No problem! Contact us now - your unforgettable Himalayan adventure starts with one message!

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