The Annapurna Circuit trek - a 2023 guide
The Annapurna Circuit trek is one of our favorite routes in Nepal. We've done several different hikes including the famous Everest Base Camp, Poon Hill, and some lesser-known like Mardi Himal and Langtang trek. In this post, you can find a lot of information that will help you to plan the Annapurna Circuit trek independently.
For a detailed day-by-day itinerary with distances, elevation profiles, and stops along the route read our Annapurna circuit trek itinerary post.
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An important 2023 update for the Annapurna Circuit trek
According to the new regulations that will take place on the 1st of April 2023, it's compulsory for all international trekkers to have a licensed guide for hiking most routes in Nepal including the Annapurna Circuit. The change was made just a couple of weeks before the start of the season. This decision will cause a lot of confusion among hikers. You can try to organize a guide once you're in Nepal just make sure you find a reliable guide with the license.
Booking the Annapurna Circuit through a company is an easier option because they'll arrange a guide for you and plan your entire trip. We've never used any company for trekking in Nepal so I can't recommend it from our experience but I've found a couple of tours with good reviews.
- 12D11N Annapurna Circuit Trek
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Annapurna Circuit trek overview
- Distance - 260 km/161 mi (if walking the complete route)
- Days - 15-18 days
- Cost - US$30-35 per person per day
- Permits - TIMS card and Annapurna Sanctuary permit
- Guide - compulsory
- Starting point - Bhulbhule (7 km after Besisahar)
- Finishing point - Nayapul
- Highest point - Thorong La Pass (5400 m/17 716 ft)
- Total elevation gain (over 15 days) - 11 685 m/38 336 ft
- Total elevation loss (over 15 days) - 11 358 m/37 263 ft
- Walking on the road - 68 km/42 mi out of 260 km but only about 24 km/15 mi are on a road with significant traffic.
- Accommodation - guesthouses
- Food - Nepali, Indian, Chinese, and Western food
Travel insurance for the trek
The Annapurna Circuit is a high-altitude trek through remote and difficult-to-access areas of Nepal. Travel insurance is a requirement for getting a hiking permit. Nobody has ever asked us to show our insurance but when you fill out the form they ask you to provide the name and the phone number of your insurance company.
World Nomads travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers, with coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.Annapurna Circuit trek distance
The distance of the route varies depending on where you start and finish.
- The full Annapurna Circuit trek (starting in Bhulbule and finishing in Nayapul) is 260 km/161 mi. Nowadays not many hikers walk the full circuit.
- The standard route that most groups and individuals choose (starting in Jagat and finishing in Jomsom) is 136 km/84 mi.
- The shortest route (starting in Manang and finishing in Muktinath) is 34 km/21 mi. The only trekkers we met doing this route were organized Chinese groups. In my opinion, I wouldn't recommend this option as it gives you no time to acclimatize for walking over Thoron La Pass.
How long does it take to hike the Annapurna Circuit trek?
The standard Annapurna Circuit trek itinerary (from Jagat to Jomsom) takes 9 to 11 days to complete. To complete the full circuit (from Bhulbule to Nayapul) you'll need 15 days. The number of days required will depend on where you start and finish the circuit. I would recommend following the standard itinerary and starting walking from Jagat.
Where does the Annapurna Circuit start?
Theoretically, you can start anywhere between Besisahar and Manang. By bus, you can get only as far as Ngadi from there your choice is to walk or take a jeep. Jeeps go all the way to Manang.
We started our Annapurna Circuit trek in Bhulbhule which is 7 km from Besisahar.
Many people take a jeep to Syange which we reached by the end of our first hiking day and start walking from there.
Jagat is one of the most popular places to start the Annapurna Circuit trek. We reached Jagat at the beginning of the second day. If you start there you’ll skip only one walking day.
Starting the Annapurna Circuit in Chame is another popular option that some trekking companies offer not many independent trekkers go that far by jeep. We reached Chame on the fourth day of our trek. Chame is located at 2726 m/8943 ft above sea level which is 2000 m/6561 ft higher than Besisahar or Pokhara some people might start having slight symptoms of altitude sickness as a result of getting there too fast.
Some groups (mainly Chinese) get by jeep all the way to Manang and start walking the Annapurna Circuit trek from there. If you do it this way you get in a couple of hours from 700 m/2296 ft to over 3500 m/11 482 ft which increases your chances of getting altitude sickness.
In my opinion, starting the Annapurna Circuit in Jagat is the best option. It gives you enough time to acclimatize, you don't miss out on the scenery, and you skip a part of walking on the dirt road.
Where does the trek finish?
Just like with the starting points, there are several options for where to finish the Annapurna Circuit. Technically you can finish it anywhere after going over Thorong La Pass.
Muktinath is the first place after the pass from where you can take a bus or a jeep, many trekkers finish the Annapurna Circuit trek there. You can take a bus or a jeep to Jomsom, Tatopani, or Pokhara.
Jomsom is another popular place to finish the Annapurna Circuit trek. There you have three options for getting back to Pokhara: flying, taking a bus, or taking a jeep. After Jomsom, we saw very few hikers.
Many groups and solo trekkers take a bus from Muktinath or Jomsom to Tatopani. Some want to split a long and exhausting bus trip to Pokhara. Some continue walking from there to Ghorepani.
In my opinion, if you don’t have time to walk to Tatopani or Nayapul rather finish the Annapurna Circuit in Jomsom and take a flight back to Pokhara. We saw the road from Muktinath to Tatopani and in some places, it looked quite bad. It takes many hours to drive sometimes buses and jeeps get stuck and need help to get out of the mud.
From Tatopani, some hikers walk to Ghorepani, where the route here overlaps with the Poon Hill trek.
How difficult is the Annapurna Circuit trek?
The Annapurna Circuit is a challenging high-altitude hike. I'd say it's one of the most difficult treks out of the 7 multi-day treks we've done in Nepal. I would compare the circuit to the Everest Base Camp trek itinerary. The length of the routes and the average altitude are about the same.
The main challenges of the Annapurna Circuit are
- High altitude
- Remote location
- Many steep ascents and descents
- Unpredictable weather
Is the circuit suitable for beginners?
Yes, the Annapurna Circuit is fine to walk if you don't have previous hiking experience but it's advised to go with somebody who's done high-altitude hikes before, hire a guide, or join a tour. I wouldn't recommend hiking the circuit alone if you have no previous high-altitude hiking experience even if you're fit. Trekking high up in the mountains is very different from hiking at sea level or running.
Is the Annapurna Circuit still worth it?
Many people (including us) wonder if it's still worth walking the Annapurna Circuit trek. The main reason for doubt is the road that was built several years ago. After completing the trek I can say that the circuit is still worth it. The scenery is spectacular. The road did spoil some parts of the trek but definitely didn't ruin it entirely.
We've walked the full Annapurna Circuit and made notes to get the exact distance of walking on the road. Out of 260 km/161 mi, we walked, 68 km/42 mi were on the dirt road. Some parts of the road were very quiet with little traffic, some parts were quite busy. I’d say out of 68 km of walking on the road only 24 km/15 mi were on a road with significant traffic.
To make your planning easier I've split the route into four sections to show how much walking on the road you get on each part. So you can decide which sections of the circuit to omit.
The first part of the Annapurna Circuit trek from Bhulbhule to Manang has a lot of walking on the road. The road was quite busy only in the beginning. We tried to avoid the road everywhere we could on this stretch. In the last part from Chame to Manang, the road wasn't busy at all. There are alternative routes that go away from the road but you should keep in mind that those routes are usually longer.
From Manang to Muktinath there is no road only a trekking route which is great as you finally can get completely away from cars and construction vehicles.
In the part of the circuit from Muktinath to Tatopani, there is not much road walking. The biggest part of the road we got on the way from Muktinath to Jomsom. The last 7 km are on the dusty road. From Jomsom to Tatopani we walked all the way on the new trekking route that goes on the other side of the river, opposite the road. We could see the road most of the time but never walked on it.
The last part from Tatopani to Nayapul was partly on the road with very few cars except for the last bit from Hile to Birtethanti where we got several tourist jeeps but no buses or trucks.
How to get permits for the trek?
For the Annapurna Circuit trek, you need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the TIMS card. The same permits you need for other hiking routes inside the Annapurna Nationa Park e.g. Annapurna Base Camp trek, Poon Hill, or Mardi Himal trek.
The TIMS card and the permit can be obtained at the Tourist Information Center in Pokhara (about 1,5 km from Lakeside) or at the Tourism Board Office in Kathmandu (Pradarshani Marg). Both offices are open Mon-Fri and Sun (closed on Saturdays) from 10am to 5pm.
The total cost is NPR 5000/US$43 per person.
To get a TIMS card (trekkers information management system card) and a permit you'll need your passport, travel insurance, a contact person in Nepal (we usually give our hotel details), and 4 photos (they can be taken at the office free of charge).
The TIMS card and the permit are valid only for a single entry to the park every time you exit you’ll have to get a new TIMS card and a new permit to enter the park again.
To get the TIMS card;
- First, fill out the form that you get at the counter (name, insurance number, passport details, address in Nepal, contact information, etc.)
- Second, take a photo. No need to bring your own photos they take them right there at the office and it’s included in the price of your TIMS card.
- Third, give the filled form, and two photos and pay NPR 2000/US$15 pp. (paid only in cash in Nepalese Rupee) at the counter.
- Forth, get your TIMS.
To get the Annapurna Sanctuary Permit;
- First, after getting your TIMS card go to the next-door room and get a paper form
- Second, fill in the form
- Third, hand the form, passport, two photos, and NRP 3000/US$22 per person (paid only in cash in Nepalese Rupee) at the counter.
- Forth, get your permit.
If you don't get a permit before the trek you can get it at the first checkpoint but it'll cost you almost double what you pay in Pokhara or Kathmandu. You can't get a TIMS card at checkpoints.
When is the best time to hike the Annapurna Circuit?
For trekking in Nepal, the best months are March, April, October, and November. We've never trekked in Nepal in autumn only in winter-spring (between the end of February and the beginning of May). We've heard that October is the busiest month with many people on the trekking routes. For this reason, we try to skip the peak season. March is our favorite month for hiking in Nepal. We did the Annapurna Circuit in March and it was good; not too cold, with little rain, and not too busy.
From May to September is monsoon season in Nepal, so it's not a good time for hiking. December to February is the winter months which means lower temperatures and a lot of snow. Thorong La Pass is often closed as well as some guest houses at higher altitudes.
What is the accommodation like on the trek?
All guesthouses have more or less similar facilities. There are no fancier hotels to stay on the route like in Pokhara or Kathmandu. Rooms are basic usually they have two single beds, blankets, and sometimes a table and a chair. Most of the time hikers sit in the dining area it's the warmest place in a guesthouse.
We were surprised by the facilities of the guesthouses on the Annapurna Circuit trek. Most places we stayed had electricity, a hot shower, and wi-fi (at no extra cost). These were almost standard things for a guesthouse to have. It was great that we could charge all our devices every day. We packed a power bank but never used it.
All guesthouses have blankets you always can ask for an extra one or two if it's really cold. We had light summer sleeping bags but most of the time slept without them under the blankets. Even at Thotong Phedi where it was very cold, we slept in our warm clothes under two blankets.
The facilities at higher altitudes e.g. Thorong Phedi and High Camp are more basic; no power outlets in the room, no or very poor wi-fi signal, no hot shower, etc. For charging your phone or using wi-fi you pay extra.
The main inconvenience we had in most guesthouses is the toilet. Most places don't have a Western sit-down toilet but an Asian hole toilet that you flush with a bucket of water. More expensive rooms have an attached bathroom which is very nice, especially at higher altitudes because you don't have to go out every time you want to use it.
What is the food like on the circuit?
The menu is quite diverse and usually includes Nepalese, Chinese, Indian, and Western food. The typical dishes you can find everywhere on the Annapurna Circuit are pasta, noodles, rice with vegetable/chicken/cheese and tomato sauce, omelet, and fried, boiled, or scrambled eggs with potato/cheese/vegetable. Dal Bat (rice, roasted vegetable, chapati, and lentil soup) is the most typical local food. Momos (local dumplings), all sorts of soups (chicken, vegetable, garlic, tomato, noodle, etc.), pizzas, pancakes, different types of bread (chapati, Tibetan bread, toast), porridge, muesli, etc. Overall the food on the circuit is similar to the food in the Everest Base Camp trek and other trekking routes in Nepal.
There is a huge variety of hot beverages; different teas (lemon, ginger, Masala, milk, mint, etc.), instant coffee, etc. Some bigger places like Manang, Chame, and Jomsom even have Mexican dishes, burgers, wood-fired pizzas, and real Espresso coffee.
As you can see there are really many options. You don't have to eat the same food, you can try something different every day. If you're vegetarian, vegan, or follow a certain diet you'll be able to find suitable food. Our main problem was a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, especially at higher altitudes.
The best value-for-money food on the Annapurna Circuit trek is local Dal Bhat. It's usually bottomless, you can ask for extra rice, dal, or vegetables again and again. If you're on a tight budget it's the best dish to order. We really like local soups they're always good. To make a meal more filling you can order Tibetan bread or chapati with it. For breakfast, we usually ate an omelet, fried eggs, or porridge.
Many villages and towns have small water purification stations where you can get safe drinking water it's cheaper than buying 1l plastic bottle and much better for the environment. We never bought water because we had our LifeStraw bottles that we refilled from taps, streams, and rivers. It was a great money-saver on the Annapurna Circuit trek. We never had any stomach problems the filter worked perfectly.
Do you need a guide for the Annapurna Circuit trek?
Yes, according to the new regulations (in force from 1st April 2023), all international trekkers need a licensed guide for hiking the Annapurna Circuit.
Hiking in a group
Pros
- It’s easy no need to worry about route planning, finding accommodation, logistics, packing light because you have to carry your own backpack, etc.
- If you’re lucky to find a knowledgeable guide who speaks good English you can learn a lot about local culture, food, lifestyle, etc.
Cons
- It’s more expensive
- You have to stick to your group even if the itinerary doesn’t suit you well or you'd like to stay somewhere longer or walk further and faster.
Hiring a guide or a porter
You can hire a guide or a porter (or both) yourself which will be cheaper than doing a tour and easier than walking on your own. We never hired a guide or a porter but we asked around in Pokhara to find out the price, to hire a guide you'll pay around US$25 per day and for a porter US$20 per day. A porter can carry 15 kg so you can split one porter between 2 people.
How to get to the Annapurna Circuit?
Getting to the trek from Pokhara
If you're deciding where to stay before and after the Annapurna Circuit I'd definitely suggest Pokhara. It's much better than Kathmandu. Lakeside is a nice area with many hotels, restaurants, gear shops, and tour agencies you can buy and book here whatever activity you want to do in Nepal. The area around the lake is beautiful with not much traffic. You can walk around, enjoy the views, rent a boat, etc. There are many things to do in and around Pokhara including a couple of easy hiking trails e.g. a route to World Peace Pagoda that you can combine with the Panchase trek or the Sarankgot trail.
You can get to Besisahar from Pokhara or Kathmandu. Buses from Pokhara leave from the Old bus terminal. It's better to take a morning bus in order to arrive earlier in Besisahar. The price is NRP 400/US$3, it can take anything between 4 and 6 hours. A taxi from Lake Side to Old Bus Terminal is around NPR 400/US$3.
Places to stay in Pokhara
- Budget | Gauri Shankar backpackers hostel | Pokhara Youth Hostel |
- Middle price | Hotel Middle Path & Spa | Hotel Lake Shore (we stayed here several times) |
- High-end | Temple Tree Resort & Spa | Glacier Hotel & Spa |
Getting to the circuit from Kathmandu
A bus from Kathmandu to Besisahar will cost about NRP 600/US$5, the journey takes between 6-7 hours. Buses leave in the morning between 6am and 7am from New Bus Terminal in Kathmandu. The easiest way of getting to the right bus stop is to tell your taxi driver that you're going to Besisahar, he'll know where to take you. A taxi from Thamel to the bus station is around NPR 500/US$4.
Places to stay in Kathmandu
There are a couple of hotels on the street we stayed at Aryatara Kathmandu Hotel for quite a while. It's a very nice place, with big rooms, comfortable beds, good breakfast (included), a nice hot shower, AC, wi-fi, TV, etc. We stored our extra luggage here every time we went hiking for free without any problem.
- Budget | Hotel Yala Peak | Om Tara Guest House |
- Middle price | Oasis Kathmandu Hotel | Hotel Blue Horizon |
- Luxury | Fairfield by Marriott Kathmandu |
Getting back after the trek
There are several points where you can finish the circuit, the main ones are Muktinath, Jomsom, Tatopani, and Nayapul. From all these places you can take a bus/a jeep back to Pokhara or Kathmandu. A bus ride to Kathmandu from Muktinath or Jomsom will be extremely long and exhausting. It can take up to 20 hours. It might be better to go first to Pokhara and stay there for a couple of days and then go to Kathmandu.
Bus prices vary depending on the distance. A bus from Nayapul to Pokhara is NRP 400/US$3, and a bus from Muktinath to Pokhara is NRP 1650/US$13. Jomsom is the only place on the Annapurna Circuit from where you can fly to Pokhara. The flight takes less than 1 hour compared to more than 10 hours by bus but it's much more expensive around US$125 one way.
The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
Thank you so much for your awesome, super helpful guide! I'm just devouring it!
I write because I'm taking my 17-year-old daughter on the trek in April. I'm not worried about her physical stamina, but a little concerned that a full 13-day adventure on the circuit might be too much.
If we were to shave off a day or two, it sounds like you might suggest starting at Jargat instead of Nagdi. (Our current plan is to trek from Nagdi-Chamje-Bagarchhap-Chame-Pisang-Manang- Ledar-Throng Phedi-Muktinah-Marpha, then drive to Tatopani, trek to Ghorepnai and Poonhill, then drive to Pokhara). If you were to shave off another day, do you have a suggestion? Thanks for any/all advice!
Hello Letitia. Thank you for the comment. If you want to make your Annapurna Circuit trek a bit shorter I can suggest skipping the first two days and starting in Tal. Tal is still far under 2000 m it shouldn't make any difference to your acclimatization. It's relatively easy to get there by jeep/bus from Besi Sahar. After the pass, you can take a bus from Muktinath and go straight to Tatopani or walk to Jomsom and from there take a bus to Tatopani. If by then you realize that you've had enough you can always catch a flight from Jomsom to Pokhara or Kathmandu. I'm not sure if you've seen our Annapurna Circuit itinerary post but here it is https://stingynomads.com/annapurna-circuit-trek-itinerary/. It might be helpful in your planning
Cheers
How's the public transportation between towns? Say I'd like a rest day but because I have limited time, I can't stay in the same town so I'd just skip a leg i.e. taking a bus/jeep to the next town instead of walking.
Hello Genkei. There are buses and jeeps between the towns on the Annapurna Circuit. I'm sure you'll be able to find a ride. Just make sure you don't gain elevation too quickly.
Cheers
Hello! Amazing article, I was wondering about booking accommodation during the trek, if it's better to book ahead online or if it's better to book when you arrive on the trail. I'll be doing the trial in March
Hello Tristan. Thank you for the comment. March is the beginning of the season there won't be too many people on the Annapurna Circuit trek. I don't think trying to book accommodation ahead is necessary. We walked the circuit in March and never had any problem finding accommodation. It's quite difficult to book in advance anyway because very few places can be booked online.
Good luck
excellent and very practical informantion.
If one is going without a guide how does one go about deciding which tea house to stay ?
The corollary is , is it okay to let the guide decide !
Hello Ajay. Thank you for the comment. The facilities and prices of guesthouses on the Annapurna Circuit trek are very similar. You can choose whichever you like and stay there. It's really not difficult to find a place to sleep on the trek. There are many guest houses.
Cheers
Hey guys!
Great info! Thanks so much! Thinking of doing the hike in mid/late February into March. Wondering how much snow you see on the trail, if crampons are a must, or if normal low cut hiking shoes are fine even that time of year. Most of the photos seem to be great paths with no snow so having a hard time gauging the range of weather/conditions. Cheers guys!
Hello Raleigh. Thank you for the comment. We walked the Annapurna Circuit trek end of February - beginning of March and we got a lot of snow between Yak Kharka and Thorong La Pass. We used our crampons to go over Thorong La Pass (on the way down) without them it would be very difficult. We were told it was unusual for that time of the year so maybe you're lucky and there won't be much snow. I would suggest asking around once you're in Manang. If there is a lot of snow you can buy crampons there. At the beginning of the Annapurna Circuit trek it was hot even at night, in Manang it was relatively warm especially during the day once you're over 4000 m it gets cold especially at night. You need a range of clothing to match the weather conditions.
Good luck
Hi guys, this is an amazing write up, thank-you for your effort. I have two questions:
Would first two weeks of May be too close to Monsoon season?
Did you fly straight into Pokhara or Kathmandu first and then bus it to Pokhara?
Thanks
Gerard
Hello Gerard. Thank you for the comment. May is the beginning of the monsoon season it might start later nobody knows. We hiked the Annapurna Circuit trek in March and got very little rain at lower elevations. We hiked the EBC trek the first time end of April - beginning of May and on the way down got a lot of rain. You might be lucky and get little rain or unlucky and got a lot of rain.
We always fly to Kathmandu from wherever we are and then take bus to Pokhara.
Cheers
Thank you so much for your information.
How easy and convenient to hire a porter and guide to do the trek by yourself at your own pace
Hello JLo. Thank you for the comment. We didn't use guides on the Annapurna Circuit trek but I'm sure you can hire one in Pokhara. I would recommend hiring through a local company with a permanent office to make sure your guide has a license. There are many tour agencies' offices in Lake Side in Pokhara where you can inquire.
Cheers
Thank you so much for sharing details, i'm planning to visit in the month of September
Wouaaa with my husband we are panning the Annapurna circuit for April, and your page answers all our questionsss ! Thank you so much. It's amazing I have found your page, I am very grateful you shared your experience, and it very well detailed.
Hello, Charlene. Thank you very much for the comment. We're glad our post is helpful for your Annapurna Circuit planning. Enjoy the trek.
All the best.
Hi Campbell and Alya,
Thank you so much for sharing such detailed guide. It is very helpful and well written! I really like how you breakdown the Annapurna Circuit by most popular route options, most popular starting / finishing points and how much walking on the road we get. When I started to read about AC, I got so confused by so many different length of the trek, but you helped me to understand the differences. We are doing the Annapurna Circuit Trek in October or November 2022 so hopefully we will not be disappointed by the crowd! 🙂
All the best to you,
Jana
Hello, Jana. Thank you very much for the feedback! We were quite confused as well when we started planning the Annapurna Circuit by different starting/finishing points and distances that's why we decided to explain the route in the best way we could. October - November are great months for walking the circuit I'm sure it'll be an amazing experience.
Good luck
Useful information! Keep it up!
Hello, Silu. Thank you very much for the feedback. Enjoy the Annapurna Circuit, it's an amazing trek!
Cheers
thanks for the details, very useful indeed. may I know what month did u do the Annapurna circuit?
Hello, Terry. Thank you for the comment. We walked the Annapurna Circuit in March it was good not too many people, not much rain. Overall we prefer trekking in Nepal just out of the peak season before it gets very busy.
Good luck
Hi guys, I did the Circuit in 2019. I hiked independently, BUT hired a porter for 3 days, from Manang up to Thorong La pass, where I re-shouldered my backpack. I possibly didn't need a porter, but it was a great assist on the final climb up to the pass. My hotel in Manang arranged it.
I hiked all the way to Tatopani. If you have time and inclination, don't short shrift the backside of the Circuit. Marpha is an apple growing village, and has European-style charms. Tukuche is like a wild west town. There are many side trails I should have explored, kicking myself for not going up to Titi Lake. Lots to explore past Jomsom. The only downside is the damn road. Find trails, when possible. Walk on side of the river opposite the road.
Hello, Tom! Thank you for your input. We didn't shorten the circuit anywhere, we hiked all the way from Besi Sahar to Nayapul and didn't walk on the road at all. We have a detailed Annapurna Circuit itinerary where we describe our route.
Cheers!
First of all, kudos to you guys. You are amazing and thank you so much for sharing this to the world. Being a Nepalese, I really felt proud of how you have written your experience with a complete honesty. I have only been to ABC but not have trekked to the whole circuit, which I definitely have made my mind to do soon, especially after reading your blog. Hope you guys do more and more in future. Best wishes.
Hey guys,
Thanks a lot for your work on this page. I'm doing Annapurna Circuit in late March/April and your blog is really helpful.
I have the low Salomon X Ultra 3 (not holding the hankle like yours). Would you say it's enough or not for a 15 day trek like this ?
Thank you,
Mickael
Helo, Mickael! Thank you for the comment! We've hiked in Nepal in both high-ankle and lowe-ankle Salomon shoes and both were fine. We definitely prefer our new Salomon X Ultra GORE-TEX shoes we just finished EBC trek in them but I'm sure your low-cut shoes will be fine for trekking end of March-April there won't be much snow on the trek and it won't be very cold.
We're going to Pokhara in two days maybe see you around!
Cheers!
Thanks a lot. Unfortunately my trip is cancelled because of the coronavirus. You guys enjoy and take care !!
Hi guys! You have been, by far, the most helpful for us to plan out our trip. The only question we have, is how do you get from Kathmandu to Besisahar?
Hello, Jennifer! Thank you for the comment! You get to Besisahar to Kathmandu by bus, it takes 6-7 hours. There are local buses that leave from New bus station (Naya bus park) and minivans that leave from Ring Road (in front of MG Mall) both places are not far apart. It's better to be there early in the morning if you want to catch a minivan from what I've read they leave at 6.30 am. We didn't do this journey we went to Pokhara from Kathmandu as we didn't several hikes around Annapurna and were based in Pokhara for a month.
Cheers!
Hello guys,
firstly I'd like to thank you, your guide is SO helpful, we're planning a lot based on it. 🙂
Just wanted to ask (maybe a stupid) question - how skilled do you think we should be to do the complete track? Anything we should be aware of before we go there?
Thanks a lot in advance.
Zu
Hello, Zu! Thank you for the feedback! You don't need any special skills it's not a technical route we met some people on the trek that have never done any long-distance hiking before. Just keep in mind altitude, don't push too hard if you start getting even slight symptoms of altitude sickness, stay for an extra day at the same elevation don't go higher and drink a lot of water.
Safe travels!
Hi Guys, Very nice post! The best instruction about AC I could find so far. We are planning to hike on our own without a guide (maybe with a porter), do you need to book an accomodation in advance? Or you can just walk in? And did you experience often that they were full?
Do you know if a porter walks with you all day, or does he go ahead? In the latter case, how does he know where to take your bag, if you haven't booked an accomodation yet and you don't know how far you are going to walk yet?
And what about altitude sickness? If we get it before the pass, is there an alternative route with less altitude? Or is the only option to go back?
Thanks guys keep up the great work!
Hello, Joris! Thank you for the comment! It's great to know our post is helpful! You don't book anything beforehand on 5 treks we've done n Nepal we've never booked anything and always could find a room everywhere. On the Annapurna Circuit, there are really many teahouses, even if the first place you go to is full (e.e. a big group is staying there) the next door teahouses will have a room.
We've never had a porter but from what I've seen they usually go ahead and wait for you at the final destination, I guess you can arrange with your porter whichever way is better for you if he walks with you, waits for you at every stop or goes all the way and waits for you at the end. They usually don't go to teahouses themselves (unless you agreed), they stop at the entrance to the village and wait for you.
The last biggish stop before the pass is Manang there is a clinic that deals with altitude sickness if you're not feeling well go there (even if you feel find just go there they have a talk every day about altitude sickness and different ways to prevent it). If you don't want to go over the pass from Manang you can take a different route to Jomsom through Tilicho lake the highest point here, Eastern Pass is 5340m which is a bit lower than Thorong La Pass (5416m). If you feel really bad and can't go higher from Manang (the last point you can get by jeep before the pass) you'll have to turn around and go back the same way. You don't have to walk back, there are many jeeps that drive between Manang and Besi Sahar.
We have another post with detailed itinerary for the Annapurna Circuit it might be helpful in your planning https://stingynomads.com/annapurna-circuit-trek-itinerary/.
Safe travels!
Thanks!!! 🙂
Good Morning. Did you have to buy a new permission or TIMS card on the route? Did you ever leave the circuit area? Thank you.
Hello, Adriana! No, if you do the whole circuit in one go you don't have to buy a new permit or TIMS card. We didn't leave the territory of the park from the beginning till the end of the route.
Safe travels!
Hi guys, I found your page searching for Camino options in Portugal.
Love the content!
Are you guys still in Nepal? I'm currently recovering in Pokhara after 6 weeks trekking in Lantang, Everest and Annapurna!
If you have time or energy, the Kopra Ridge trek is a really nice quite alternative to ABC/Poon hill.
Also, I do use maps.me, but I've found Locus Pro can be more useful (has detailed contour lines).
Cheers,
Sean.
Hi, Sean! Sorry for the late reply! Thank you for the comment! We're currently in Spain walking our 5th Camino de Santiago the Via de la Plata, about 200 km done still about 800 km to go. Thank you for the advise on the Kopra trek we didn't have enough time to complete more routes but are planning to come back to Nepal later this year so will definitely consider it. We did use Maps.me sometimes on the circuit though the route is marked quite well all the way. We'll check Locus Pro out for the future hikes.
Cheers and safe travels!
Hi Guys. Kudos for this informative blog. We are planning to go on AC trek in July. Can we go to tilicho lake before reaching the pass... Is there a direct route to pass from the lake.. We are thinking of doing lake from manang then pass then muktinath... Is it feasible in monsoon season... This is the only month I have in this year to attempt this trek.
Hi, Vinay! Thank you for the comment! There is no route from Tilicho to the pass, you have to go there from Manang and then to come back to continue the walk over the pass, it's 2 extra days. You can go through Tilicho Lake to Jomsom there is a trail but then you'll miss the pass. We've never been to Nepal in July the closest to the monsoon season we've been is May on Everest Base Camp trek and it was quite bad, a lot of rain every day, very muddy definitely not the best time for trekking.
Cheers!