Annapurna Circuit trek permits
To do the Annapurna Circuit trek, you must have two permits: the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit and the TIMS Card. We have included both permits in our Annapurna Circuit trek package. Our team obtains them on your behalf, saving you 2 hours of legwork.
For the Annapurna Circuit trek, two permits are mandatory - the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and the TIMS Card. Our Annapurna Circuit trek package is inclusive of both permit fees.
After the trek confirmation, our team takes care of obtaining the permits. They will get them on your behalf. So, you do not have to visit the related offices.
The cost of both permits is:
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit cost for foreigners: NPR 3000 per person
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit cost for SAARC nationals: NPR 1000 per person
- TIMS Card cost for SAARC nationals: NPR 600 per person
- TIMS Card cost for individual trekkers: NPR 2000 per person
- TIMS Card cost for agency trekkers: NPR 1000 per person
The flora and fauna of the Annapurna Conservation Area
The Annapurna Conservation Area is spread over 7,629 km². Although you will only explore a fraction of the conservation area during the Annapurna Circuit trek, the diversity is unprecedented due to the changing elevation.
Starting the trek from subtropical forests and terraces, you will ascend to alpine forest and meadows. Then, the trail enters the glacial zone.
You will see a variety of plants and flowers while trekking. Encounters with wild animals are rare because they don't come near human trails. But you will see many birds, butterflies, and insects.
For your information, the Annapurna Conservation Area is home to wild animals such as the grey wolf, the Himalayan musk deer, red panda, Himalayan brown bear, and many species of birds.
Best time to do the Annapurna Circuit trek
The best time to do the Annapurna Circuit trek is the spring and autumn seasons. These seasons have great weather and climate conditions for high-altitude treks such as the Annapurna Circuit.
Spring brings the charm and color of rhododendrons and other wildflowers. Likewise, autumn has the zest of festivity in the air. What is common in both seasons is stable weather, pleasant climate, excellent visibility, and safe trail conditions.
Annapurna Circuit trek temperature in spring:
- Day high: 5°C to 10°C
- Night low: −10°C to 0°C
- Lower trails: 15°C to 22°C
Annapurna Circuit trek temperature in autumn:
- Day high: 3°C to 8°C
- Night low: −8°C to −3°C
- Lower trails: 14°C to 20°C
Annapurna Circuit trek in the off-season
The summer/monsoon and winter seasons are not that popular for trekking in the Himalayas due to additional weather challenges.
Summer/monsoon (June to August):
The Annapurna region is lush and green from June to August. If you are interested in exploring the rich biodiversity of Annapurna Conservation Area and Annapurna Sanctuary, you should do the Annapurna Circuit trek in the summer/monsoon season.
Due to frequent rain and poor trail conditions, we recommend the Annapurna Circuit trek between June and August only to experienced trekkers.
The challenges of this season are slippery, muddy tracks, leeches, and landslide risks. Due to the cloudy sky, the visibility and views are not great. However, if you are into magical monsoon scenery, you will not be disappointed.
On the bright side, the Annapurna Circuit trek route is empty in the summer/monsoon period. You can have whole landscapes, encounters, and experiences to yourself.
Winter (December to February):
The temperature drops significantly in the Himalayas in winter. It is the coldest time of the year. The trail is covered with snow. The landscapes are quiet, cold, and dramatic.
Although weather challenges are high in the winter season, the popularity of winter mountain adventures is gradually increasing.
The Annapurna Circuit changes to a winter wonderland. The mountain views are excellent on clear days. Some days can be gloomy, but they also have their own charm.
You have to wear layered clothes properly during winter trekking and use special winter gear. The stillness of the winter season is unmatched. The journey will be demanding but heavenly.
Annapurna Circuit trek difficulty
The Annapurna Circuit trek is a strenuous trek with a high mountain pass crossing and many sharp ascents and descents. Every day you will experience long walking and constantly changing elevation and environment.
Unlike other Annapurna Circuit trek itineraries, this is quite long and arduous because it follows the complete circuit. Therefore, you will spend a long time in the mountains.
It means you have to adjust to simple service for a long time. Trekking infrastructure is not that bad on the Annapurna Circuit trek route. Still, trekkers have to adjust a lot.
- Trek distance: You will cover approximately 68 kilometers (42 miles) following our 11-day Annapurna Circuit trek itinerary
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Daily walking: 6 hours on average
- Daily elevation gain: 400 to 700 meters
- Max elevation: 5,416 meters (17,769 ft) - Thorong La Pass
Tackling challenges on the Annapurna Circuit trek
There are solutions and hacks to all the challenges you will come across during the Annapurna Circuit trek. You just have to be well-informed. Our guide will be there to assist you with all challenges, but being informed will be quite helpful.
- Knee problem: Your knees will be in pain. Ascending and descending both will bring pressure on your knees. The strategy here is to use trekking poles actively throughout the trek. Likewise, shorten your stride and consider neoprene knee sleeves.
- Pacing and ego problem: You are not to race anyone in the Himalayas. A successful trek depends on your pace and understanding your limits. You will be fighting yourself, not others. So, work with your mind and body and not against them.
- Cold management: The higher you ascend, the colder the climate gets. Daytime will be warmer, but temperatures drop at night and in the mornings. You can feel cold while trekking, too. So, wear clothes in layers and carry a sleeping bag. Use your tumbler for extra warmth at night. Fill it with hot water and keep it close to your body.
- Route safety: Follow your guide's instructions. He knows how the trails are, what the risky zones are, and how to navigate challenging sections. You have to maintain your balance and be patient.
- Mental challenges: You will push yourself mentally a lot, too, during the Annapurna Circuit trek. All the physical challenges will mentally challenge you. In addition, the weather, climate, limited facilities, etc, put more pressure. Understand and accept the challenges and limitations of the Himalayas.
- Altitude sickness: Rest and get medicine from your guide. Drink ginger-honey tea and garlic soup daily. If your symptoms do not get better, rest. If needed, descend. Do not ascend further with altitude sickness symptoms.
Altitude sickness preventive measures:
Many trekkers face altitude sickness during the Annapurna Circuit trek. It is common and at the same time also avoidable if you follow preventive measures and our acclimatization plan.
Above 2,500 meters, the pressure of oxygen drops. Your body begins to adapt to high elevation. However, if you ascend too quickly, you may suffer from altitude sickness.
If it is not treated on time, it can progress to a severe form of altitude sickness, and that can involve emergency helicopter evacuation and hospital assistance.
So, do not ignore signs of altitude sickness and address them on time. The symptoms of altitude sickness are loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, headache, etc.
Preventive measures of altitude sickness include drinking plenty of water, ascending slowly, maintaining your pace, avoiding alcohol before Thorong La Pass, eating carbohydrate-rich food, and getting ample sleep.
Annapurna Circuit trek accommodation
The Annapurna Circuit trek route has traditional teahouse accommodation. It provides simple yet comfortable rooms and clean bathrooms. Rooms are usually shared between 2 or 3 trekkers. Single rooms are limited and cost a few extra bucks.
At lower elevations, you may get attached bathrooms in some teahouses, but mostly they are common and built outside of the main buildings.
These days, western-style toilets are available in many lodges, but the old ones still have squat toilets. Dining rooms are a great place to not only have food but also warm up and socialize with other trekkers and locals.
Our Annapurna Circuit trek package includes twin-shared rooms.
You can upgrade to a premium teahouse in some villages such as Manang and Muktinath.
Tips:
The tips below will help you have the best accommodation experience during the Annapurna Circuit trek:
- Standard rooms are simple. They include a bed or two, a table, and a window- nothing special. However, the comfort in the premium teahouse is next level. If you do not mind a little extra expense, we highly recommend experiencing premium mountain lodges in 1-2 villages.
- The walls in the teahouse are quite thin. So, you can hear noise, especially during the peak seasons when the trekkers keep coming and going. Earplugs will be very helpful.
- Fill your water bottle with hot water and use it as a hot water bag during the night for extra warmth and comfort.
- Buy or rent a high-quality sleeping bag as the rooms can get very cold at night, and a blanket provided by the teahouse might not be enough.
- Carry 1-2 pairs of sleeping clothes such as t-shirts, pants, hoodie/sweater, socks, beanies, and gloves. It is great to keep you fresh and light.
Hygiene during the trek:
- Wash your hands before and after every meal and after using toilets.
- Carry hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and toilet paper in your backpack.
- Drink only boiled water throughout the trek.
- Taking a shower after Manang village is not wise because of the high altitude sickness risk. Instead, keep yourself refreshed using wet wipes.
- Keep a balance between using dry shampoo and oiling your hair.
- Pack a separate pair of slippers for teahouses. It will give you a break from exhausting trekking boots.
- Pack all essential toiletries such as biodegradable soap, shampoo, face towel, moisturizer, nail clippers, feminine hygiene products (if needed), toothbrush/toothpaste, etc.
Food and drinking water during the Annapurna Circuit trek
In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you get breakfast in the package. For lunch and dinner, you have to purchase on your own. During the trek, we provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner per day. All three meals will be given as per the menu of the teahouses.
Almost all the tea houses have the same menu. You will regularly eat dal bhat. It is the freshest and most delicious option. You can also get unlimited refills of rice, dal, and veggies in most teahouses.
Some other common dishes on the menu include fried rice, chapati, thukpa, thenduk, Tibetan bread, stew, porridge, soups, pasta, momo, chowmein, curries, pancakes, oats, eggs, etc.
As the elevation increases, your appetite may decrease. It is a normal physiological response of your mind and body at high elevations. Still, you have to eat all three meals to keep going.
Food tips:
- Eat even if you are not hungry.
- Choose carbohydrate-rich meals. Your body needs enough carbs to provide energy at high altitude.
- Digestion slows down at high altitude. So, eat an early dinner. It will not disrupt your sleep.
- Have garlic soups every evening and ginger-honey tea every morning. Both these drinks will help you acclimate and keep your immunity strong.
- Carry snacks to munch on while hiking. You can pack energy bars, nuts, dark chocolate, instant noodles, electrolytes, crackers, dried fruits, mints, hard candies, etc.
Communication
Communication during the Annapurna Circuit trek is not that good. Once you enter deep into the valleys and forests, there is no network. WiFi is available in many villages, but the network is not reliable.
You have to prepare your mind not to use the internet during the trek. Inform your loved ones about the trek schedule, so they do not worry if they cannot reach out to you.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for the Annapurna Circuit trek. It must cover emergency helicopter evacuation and hospital bills. Double-check your travel insurance eligibility for high-altitude adventures in Nepal.
Luggage weight limit
During the Annapurna Circuit trek, you can put up to 20 kg in a duffel bag and 3-5 kg in your backpack. Duffel bags are carried by our porters, and you will carry the backpack by yourself.
You can leave any unwanted luggage at our office during the trek duration or at your hotel's locker room. It will be a free service. Your luggage will be safe.
The duffel bag weight limit is strict. You can upgrade the weight limit by paying extra.
Tips for the guide and porter
Tipping the guide and porter is a crucial part of the trek in Nepal. It is time to appreciate your guide and porter for their service and hard work. You can tip them as per your wish and satisfaction level.
We do our best to pay the maximum salary we can. Still, the base wage is often minimum. They are in work mode 24/7 and carry a huge responsibility.
Along with your safety, the guide and porter also enhance the overall trek experience with their knowledge, stories, and funny behavior.
So, tipping them is the right thing to do. You can tip 20% to 25% of the package cost. Usually, the guide keeps a bigger part of the tip (around 60%).
Alternatively, you can tip USD 10 to USD 12 per day to the porter and USD 15 to USD 20 per day to the guide.
Nepal tourist visa
To do the Annapurna Circuit trek, all foreigners (except Indians) have to obtain a Nepal tourist visa.
You can obtain the visa either from the Nepalese Embassy/Consulate Office in your country or upon arriving at Kathmandu Airport (on-arrival travel visa).
Note that the on-arrival travel is not valid for travelers from some countries. So, kindly check the official site of the Nepal government for up-to-date information.
On-arrival travel visa:
The on-arrival travel visa is available at all international airports and border entry points in Nepal.
You can pre-apply for the on-arrival visa (15 days before you arrive in Nepal) that expedites the visa process at the airport.
Or, you can complete the visa form and pay the fee upon arriving at the airport.
Nepal tourist visa fees
- 15 days: USD 30
- 30 days: USD 50
- 90 days: USD 25
Our Annapurna Circuit trek package does not cover travel visa fees.
Documents required for a tourist visa:
- Valid passport (minimum 6 months' validity)
- Completed visa form
- Visa fee (cash/card)
- Passport-size photo (rarely required now—often taken digitally)
