Annapurna Circuit Trek - 16 Days

The Annapurna Circuit Trek typically takes 13-15 days, depending on the route and pace of the trek.

The highest elevation of the Annapurna Circuit Trek is Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters (17,769 feet).

The best months to trek the Annapurna Circuit are September to December and March to May.

While you can trek the Annapurna Circuit independently, many trekkers choose to hire a guide or a porter for safety and convenience.

Accommodation on the Annapurna Circuit Trek is typically in teahouses or guesthouses, which provide basic rooms and shared bathrooms.
 

Food on the Annapurna Circuit Trek is typically Nepali and Tibetan, with dishes such as dal Bhat, momos, and noodle soups.

You should be in good physical condition with moderate to a high level of fitness, able to walk for several hours a day and have no major health issues that would prevent you from trekking.

You will need TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) and ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) for the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
 

The best way to prepare for the Annapurna Circuit Trek is to start training several months in advance, with a combination of cardio, strength and endurance exercises.

Essential items to pack for the Annapurna Circuit Trek include warm clothing, hiking boots, a sleeping bag, a water filter, a headlamp, a first aid kit, and personal hygiene items.

See more: Trekking Packing Lists

The cost of the Annapurna Circuit Trek can vary depending on factors such as group size, duration, and level of service.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is considered a moderate to challenging trek with strenuous uphill and downhill sections.

It is possible to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek in less than 12 days, but it would be a fast-paced trek and not recommended for most trekkers. 

Some guesthouses along the Annapurna Circuit Trek have electricity, but it is not guaranteed. It is recommended to bring a power bank to charge your devices.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a challenging trek and it is recommended to have some prior trekking experience.
 

UPPER BODY

►Windproof/waterproof jacket. (1)

►Fleece jacket. (1)

►Shirts and t-shirts. ( 3/4 pairs)

►Down jacket. (1) (provided by Company)

►Raincoat. (1)

LOWER BODY

►Warm cotton long pants. (1/2 pairs)

►Waterproof pants. (1)

►Long thermal underwear. (2)

►Short underwear. (3/4 pec)

HEAD

►Sun hat or scarf. (1)

►Warm fleece hat. (1)

►Sunscreen sunblocks, and Lipbalms with UV protection.

►Sunglasses. (1/2 pairs)

FOOTWEAR

►Comfortable trekking boot.

►Thick shocks. (3/4 pairs)

►Light shocks. (3/4 Pairs)

►Camp shoes and sandals.

HAND

►Warm waterproof (gore-tex) gloves.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

►Basic First Aid Kit.

►Sleeping bag ( Provide by the company)

►Water Bottle

►Towel

►Day-pack or Backpack

►Swiss Knife

►Torchlight or Flashlight

►Hand Sanitizer

►Hiking Pole

►Smartphone or Compact Camera

►Power-bank

Travel Insurance

For everyone who will plan to Trek in Nepal, it is highly recommended that you get travel insurance that covers added expenses that might result due to various health issues, injuries or accidents (together with the ambulance, helicopter rescue, and other treatment costs). Your insurance policy should cover the entire activities that you are planning to accomplish throughout your stay in Nepal.

In addition to this, the policy should also cover death, misplaced luggage, theft and liability, cancellations, medical treatment (counting hospital charges, cost of the medicine, and doctor’s fees) as well as repatriation cost. Also, this trekking trail in Nepal takes you 5,000 m above the altitude, therefore, you also need to ensure that your insurance policy covers treks that go over 5,000 m. 

We suggested that you buy your insurance policy from your home country before joining us, as it is difficult buying a local travel insurance policy for foreigners in Nepal.

\Meals And Accommodation

While you’re in Kathmandu, your accommodation is at a standard hotel (Arrival time and departure time). Your accommodation is at the best local Lodge and Guest Houses where available. The Mountain local Lodges are clean and have comfortable beds. The Lodges are fairly basic and the room is spare with twin beds. Blankets are generally provided. There is a large dining hall and warm fitted with a chimney duct, in which a log fire is lit.

Eating is a big part of the Holiday. Travelling with Northern Trekking Team, you experience a vast array of wonderful Nepalese food, Italian, Thai, Chinese, and several local foods. While on the trek you will be on full board all 3 times meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, with Tea/Coffee) included in the package. Your guide will suggest delicious, hygienic special food during your trips. Generally, chosen menu items are Nepalese meals (Dal Bhat), Tibetan fried bread, various types of soups, Momo’s (steamed dumplings), boiled and fried potatoes, kinds of pasta and even pizza. So, overall you have a different choice of foods on the trek. During this trek, you will usually have breakfast and dinner at the same guest house.

Booking And Payment

You should book the service at least 15 days before the trek departure date. After you confirm your trip with us, you should be transferring us a photocopy of your passport or your personal information to info@northerntrekkingteam.com or WhatsApp at +9779842907439. The personal information you have to provide us is your first name, middle name, last name, passport number, date of birth, nationality, and gender. Importantly, you need to pay 20% of the total price in advance for the domestic flight tickets and hotel booking and permit process. You can pay the remaining balance before you start the trek.

Personal Expenses

How much money or cash you should be bringing with you depends on how you do the trip and the number of days you want to spend here in Nepal. Much also depends on your spending habits. Generally, you must have to take10 to 15 USD to spend your expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, snacks, camera, and mobile battery charging. How much you will be spending during your trekking depends on the standard of the package you have purchased. 

Our Guides And Safety

Our guides are fully trained and licensed by Nepal Government Tourism Department, and certified by TAAN & Nepal Mountaineering Association.

All our Trekking Guides are professionals with decades of experience in this field of adventure. They are trained specially for specified and various trips, to cater for the flexible requirement of our clients from different nationalities, this will assure you that your trip will be enjoyable and in the safe hands of professional experts.

On every trip, will be one Trek leader and an assistant leader on each additional 7 people in the group on treks, this arrangement would ensure that even if any of our guide/ assistance guides gets sick or clients may get sick and need to be evacuated or staying behind from the walks, it wills still works smoothly and there would non-impact with our original trek plan. 

Every 7 trekkers will have one Sherpa helper for carrying their trekking bags.

Caring Porter

Our porter is fully strong, helpful and friendly. Their salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transportation, and Insurance on each trip with us. As you know that we are very trustworthy and polite, while on trek thus we make sure that our porter is fully prepared for the trip. We are closely working with the International Porter Progress Association for the welfare and benefit of trekking porters. 

The maximum load carried by our porter minimum 20 to 25 KG maximum so be sure that your trekking bag is not more than the above figure.

High Altitude

This is a high-altitude journey and elevation starts from low 1,300 m to 5,416 m high, where symptoms of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) might occur due to dry air, cold wind, and less oxygen. Generally, for The Annapurna region trip one needs to be in good physical with sound health to avoid other medical complications on the route journey, just follow our guide he will advice and suggestions which keeps and makes you feel secure to enjoy this fabulous adventure with us.

Best Time To Visit Nepal

Three best seasons for the trek to the Annapurna region. We suggest you join in at the right time of the year as far as possible.

1. High season- Autumn (September-November)
2. Shoulder-Spring (March-May)
3. Low season- Moonson (June-August)

Things To Know Before Trekking

The main flow of foreign visitors in Nepal is for trekking from moderate to adventurous or challenging treks, the most important is choosing the right trip as per your duration of holiday and fitness, for Annapurna Himalayan trekking adventure one needs to be in sound health and physically fit.

On booking our preparation of fitness required walking-jogging-Jumba-aerobic at least fifteen days before your departure from the home country.

Please send us your dietary list and medical history report so that we can arrange it well in advance respectively. Book the ticket from home for Kathmandu, Nepal to reach at least two days ahead and earlier from trek departure with much space in Kathmandu after the trek, this allows you more time in Nepal to enjoy the culture and heritage sites of Nepal.

If you are wondering about how to obtain a Nepal visa, then the easiest way to obtain it is at the Tribhuwan International Airport upon your arrival in Nepal or else at the immigration entry point if you are entering through the border of India or Tibet.

Note: There are a few countries namely Nigeria, Ghana, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Cameroon, Swaziland, Iraq, Ethiopia, Liberia, Palestine, etc. People from these countries do not get a visa from the immigration entry points of Nepal.)

Passport & Visa Information

What do you need to obtain A Nepal visa?

If you are thinking of taking a visa at the airport or immigration entry point, the following are your requirements:

• A valid passport (The passport should have a validity of at least six months)
• You should fill out the application form for a visa available at the airport or immigration entry points.
• Two passport-size photos
• Visa fees should be paid in cash.

Entry points to Nepal

• Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu
• Eastern Nepal – Kakarvitta, Jhapa
• Central Nepal – Birjung, Parsa
• Northern Border – Kodari, Sindhupalchowk
• Western – Rupandehi (Belhiya, Bhairahawa)
• Mid-western – Banke (Jamuna, Nepalgunj)
• Far western – Kailali (Mohana, Dhangadhi) / Kanchanpur (Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar)

Visa Fees

• USD 30 or equivalent convertible currency for 15 days.
• USD 50 or equivalent convertible currency for 30 days.
• USD 125 or equivalent convertible currency for 90 days.
• For the tourist of SAARC nationals, free visa for up to 30 days.
• Visa is not required for Indian nationals. However, if they enter Nepal via air, they will have to show a valid identification certificate (passport/ citizenship certificate). Children under the age of 10 do not need to show an identification certificate.

Visa Extension

• If you want to extend the visa for 15 days or less, the visa extension charge is USD 45 or the equivalent convertible currency
• If you want to extend the visa for more than 15 days, USD 3 will be charged per day after 15 days. However, the visa can be extended a maximum of up to 150 days in a visa year (Visa year refers to the year starting January to December.)

Transit Visa

When a foreigner has to get down at a Nepalese airport as a result of his/her transit point or due to any forced landing for whatever reason, the foreigner can obtain a transit visa for a day after paying USD 5 or any other currency equivalent.

Download Tourist VISA Form (.pdf)

Other General Information

• Entering Nepal or staying in Nepal without a valid visa is illegal.
• A tourist visa can be obtained either through the Nepalese embassy or consulate or other mission offices in your nation or at the immigration entry points in Nepal listed above.
• Visa once issued cannot be amended and the visa fees are non-refundable.
• You should pay the Nepal visa fees in cash. A credit card or cheque is not acceptable.
• Visa charges are not applicable for children under 10 years of age, however, they must obtain a valid visa.
• If you are obtaining a new passport or travel document, you are advised to contact the Immigration Department for the document transfer.
• Always carry your passport and trekking permit while trekking.
• Some of the areas are restricted for filming. Therefore, be careful not to do activities that are strictly prohibited.
• The culture, tradition, and sentiments of Nepalese people should be respected. Do not perform any activities that would hurt their sentiments.
• Do not perform any activities that would lead to moral turpitude.