Annapurna Circuit Trek

We have an experienced team of guides on the mountain and great ground staff in Kathmandu to make sure you are well taken care of from the moment you arrive. You can always contact us 24/7 on our international helpline and all of our support team rotates through Nepal on a seasonal basis so you can be sure you are getting knowledgeable first hand advice.

All of our guides work for us full time and have on average 8+ year’s experience trekking in the Himalayas. We are one of the few companies in Nepal to get a Wilderness First Aid Certification for all of our trekking guides. Our guides have also attended a special course dealing with acclimatization issues on the mountain . (meet the team)

Annapurna Base Camp is located in Kaski District of Gandaki Province in Nepal. The Annapurna Base Camp is around 81 kilometers north of Pokhara. You can either take a bus from Pokhara to Kimchi and then start walking to Annapurna Base Camp, or hire a jeep and drive to Ghandruk and begin your Annapurna Base Camp expedition.

Yes! After the Covid-19 pandemic faded throughout Nepal, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is finally open to travelers. During Nepal’s lockdown, the trek was closed, leading to a decline in tourism. However, many tourists can now go to Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

The trek to Annapurna Base Camp is significantly safer than the Annapurna Mountains, which are quite risky. It is one of the most pleasant and enjoyable journeys that anyone can undertake in terms of altitudes, duration, adventure, and challenges.

Depending on the package, route, operator, and facility you choose, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek might cost anywhere from $400 to $700 per person. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is one of Nepal’s most affordable treks, offering amazing adventure and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

There’s no age limit for trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, as long as trekkers are physically fit and determined! We have had families with kids as young as 7 years do the Annapurna Base Camp Trek and our eldest trekkers have been in their late 70s as well. However, children under the age of seven and seniors over the age of 70 are not suggested to do Annapurna Base Camp Trek due to the high altitudes and prolonged journey duration.

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit)  and TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) cards are the mandatory permits required for trekking in the Annapurna Region. Both of these cards are available through the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or Pokhara. These permits can be obtained for less than 50 USD.

We accept all major currencies. You can pay the balance in cash or with a credit card. Please note we charge a 13% fee for credit card payments so it’s much better to pay your balance in cash.

Generally, most places in Nepal don’t take credit cards so they are of limited use. There are ATMs in Kathmandu and you can get a good exchange rate withdrawing rupees. The ATMS in Kathmandu generally charge a $5 USD service fee in addition to any charges that you might incur from your bank. These ATMs also often have a limit of 25,000 rupees per day (about $215 USD).

Our trekking packages are pretty much all inclusive from the time you arrive in Nepal. We generally suggest you plan on about $300 or $400 for extra expenses including tips. Extra expenses include items such as: Your Nepal Visa, sleeping bag or down jacket rental, showers, Wifi, snacks and charging electrical devices at tea houses along the way. We also suggest you plan on having extra funds available in cash or on a credit card in case your flight to Lukla is canceled and you decide to charter a helicopter.

We can arrange extra hotel nights for you in Kathmandu before or after the trek at additional cost. Please let us know before you arrive in Nepal so we can make the arrangements as required. (Read our blog post.)

Trekking in the Everest Region is challenging, but it is a challenge which most people can rise to with some training and determination. The trek consists of 5 to 8 hours of walking a day. In general, we start trekking around 8 am and reach the destination for the day around 4 pm.

We encourage everyone in the group to keep a slow pace at our pre-trek briefings. It’s about enjoying the mountains and not a race to the next tea house. The head guide will normally stay at the back of the group with the slowest trekkers.

In terms of physical conditioning before the trek, it’s best if you can do some cardio related workouts like running and distance walking. It’s ideal if you can take the time to go on a few weekend hikes around your area too. We have a training guide for Everest Base Camp on our website that may have just the information you’re looking for. https://www.mountainascendtreks.com/secure-yourself/
https://www.mountainascendtreks.com/travel-basics/
https://www.mountainascendtreks.com/be-a-pro-traveller/

Those with acute or chronic health conditions impacting their stamina, range of motion, coordination, or balance may have difficulty completing the trek. If you are in doubt about your own physical readiness, consult a physician well in advance of booking your trip

Once you have paid the deposit the next step is for you to send us a scan or photo of your passport along with arrival flight details. We can’t book your Lukla flight or get your trekking permit until we have the photo or scan of your passport so please send this to us as soon as possible .
What type of insurance should I have? Where can I obtain a policy?
Travel insurance is mandatory and obtaining it for the days you are trekking is your responsibility. Please email us your proof of insurance before arriving for the trek.

We can provide a -20C sleeping bag for a $20 rental fee during the trek and down jackets are $15 USD. These will be available at the briefing the night before your flight to Lukla and you can just let the team know that you need one.

We will provide a duffel bag for you in Kathmandu. The duffel bag will be carried by the porters on the trek and will be your luggage item on the flight. Often the porters get ahead on the trail and your duffel will not be available until you reach the tea house in the evening so you will need to carry a day pack while hiking with the items you need during the day.

Generally, we recommend a day pack of about 40 L, or roughly the size of a school backpack to hold your extra layers as well as essentials for the day.

The main limitation on the weight is the luggage limit on the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla which is 10kg (22lbs) and another 5kg (11lbs) for a carry-on for a total of 15Kg or 33lbs.

Make sure to keep all of the items in your carry on during the flight. You don’t want to be without important documents or medication if your luggage is delayed for some reason. You should carry these in your day pack on the trek as well.

Yes, you can leave any luggage at the hotel during the trek.

We can arrange a private room in Kathmandu. In some of the villages on the trek, it may be possible to have a private room (no extra cost) and we will do our best to arrange that. However, during busy times of the year there is a limited amount of lodging available in some of the villages so it’s generally impossible to arrange private rooms. This is the case even if you’re willing to pay extra since the tea house owners will not give out a private room if it means someone else goes without a room.

We provide all the meals on the trek, but don’t provide water. The best option is to treat the local water either with chlorine/iodine tablets or to use a steri pen. The tea houses will give you good quality free water and you can also get along the trail but you will need to treat it. If you are using the tablets make sure they dissolve completely (about 30 mins). On most treks you can buy mineral water along the trail. A liter of mineral water at lower elevation tea houses costs around $1 USD but at higher elevations can cost up to $4 so the cost can add up.

We let trekkers choose a meal and hot drink from the menus at the tea houses. Typical meals include; omelets, toast, boiled eggs, noodle soup, fried rice, macaroni, momo, vegetarian curries, pizza or chow mein. The traditional Nepali Dal Bhat which consists of rice, lentils, and a vegetable is all you can eat and always a good choice. Meat on the mountain is not hygienic and we suggest trekkers stick with vegetarian options.

This is not a problem and in fact we recommend that everyone stick with a vegetarian diet on the trek as the local meat is not refrigerated properly. If you have special dietary requirements just let us know and we will make sure to assist with the proper menu.

They have electricity at the tea houses in the common areas. They do charge an extra fee of $1 to $4 an hour for charging.

A lot of the tea houses have the power strips with the American outlets. If not then either a C or D type outlet is good. You can check out all the details on the different outlets If you have time in Kathmandu you can buy at least the common adapters for just a couple of dollars.

Some of the lower elevation tea houses offer wi-fi for an extra charge of $3 to $10. Another option is to get a Nepalese SIM card in Kathmandu for both internet and calls. Even if you have a SIM card data use is mainly limited to lower elevation tea houses. You can also use your guide’s phone for international calls as long as you reimburse him for the charges which tend to be fairly reasonable.

Most of the tea houses have western style flush toilets and cold running water. In almost all cases the bathrooms are shared and not attached to the individual rooms. Some of the higher elevation tea houses have the Asian style toilets which consists of a ceramic basin on the ground

The best way to avoid problems with altitude is to ascend slowly and all of our Everest treks are designed to average about 300m or 1000ft a day in elevation gain which helps to minimize any elevation problems and is the rate recommended by high altitude doctors. For a complete list of symptoms please review our Welcome to Nepal Brochure. All of the guides are well experienced at recognizing symptoms related to AMD and each carries a pulse oximeter and will monitor your blood oxygen level on a regular basis.

It may seem counterintuitive, but your skin is in more danger of sun damage on the mountains than while at the beach! The sun’s intensity increases dramatically as we rise in altitude, and fresh snow reflects exponentially more UV rays than does the sand. You will need to protect your skin with clothing and sunblock. A sunblock specifically for mountain conditions is recommended. If you wear prescription eyeglasses it’s recommended that you get your prescription fitted to sunglasses. It’s best to wear a hat and cover up while trekking.

We take all possible precautions to proactively ensure the safety and wellness of our trekkers, but rest assured that our guides are trained and experienced in dealing with emergencies. If necessary, your guide will utilize your travel insurance information to call a rescue helicopter, and you will be flown to Kathmandu for medical attention.

Having minor symptoms of altitude sickness such as a headache are quite common and you can continue trekking. However, if you develop additional symptoms it’s critical that you don’t continue trekking to a higher elevation. We can often arrange to have you walk down to a lower elevation and wait several days for the symptoms to resolve before continuing with the next group. Note that additional charges apply for extra days on the trek.

If you are sick and need to rest for a day we can often place you in the next trekking group coming up the mountain. We would rather see trekkers take extra time on the trail then risk altitude sickness by pushing themselves too fast. Please talk to your guide about this and we will do our best to accommodate you.

All of our guides are certified by the Red Cross and also have an international WAFA certification. Wilderness Advanced First Aid is comprehensive medical training designed for remote professionals or wilderness leaders who venture into remote and challenging environments. Our guides are all equipped with pulse oximeters and in addition to keeping a close watch of your condition they will take daily readings of your blood oxygen saturation levels. In addition our guides carry a basic first aid kit and have a mobile phone. In an emergency situation the guide will coordinate rescue efforts with the office in Kathmandu where our team is available 24/7.

Temperatures vary quite a bit in the Everest Region depending on the season. Temperatures in Lukla at the start of the trek are actually quite warm from March to May and from September to November and trekkers often wear t-shirts and shorts. Everest Base Camp is cold year round and even during the warmer months you can expect lows at night below freezing. During the winter months it can reach -25C or colder at night and it’s important to have warm clothes and a good sleeping bag. Our packing list for Everest Base Camp should have you well prepared for even the coldest months

Comfortable, sturdy trekking shoes or boots are a must. Look for shoes with ankle support, and ideally your footwear will have Gore-Tex or similar lining, along with thick soles. This will ensure that your feet stay warm and dry, and that you are comfortable walking on rocky paths. It’s always best to break your boots in before you arrive and make sure they are comfortable. If you start to get a blister it’s best to stop immediately and cover it with duct tape or moleskin.

All of the water in Nepal needs to be treated before drinking. If you want to avoid treating the water you can buy bottled water on the trek or in Kathmandu. Whether trekking or in Kathmandu its best to avoid uncooked vegetables. To be on the safe side make sure all your meals are cooked and avoid meat on the mountain.

Our treks are all-inclusive and cover accommodation, food, park fees, permits, and many other costs, as a means of making your adventure as stress-free and convenient as possible.. Travelers generally bring a small amount of pocket money to cover bottled water, snacks, or tea beyond your included meals, souvenirs, tips, or donations to monasteries along the route (if you are inclined to give one). Trekkers find that around $15 to $20 USD a day is reasonable for these extras although if you’re on a tight budget you can get by with less.

We don’t have extra fees for solo travelers who join an existing group. However, if you are the only one who signs up for a departure date we do charge an extra $20 per/day as a porter fee. If an extra fee applies our team will let you know about the extra fee before you book or the extra charge will be added automatically when you book the trek online. If additional guests do sign up and join your trek this fee will be waived when you arrive in Nepal.

It’s sometimes the case that trekkers finish ahead of schedule or they end up stopping the trek early for health or personal reasons. If this is the case please understand that we do not offer any refunds for unused days on the trek. Please understand that our costs are the same as we have an obligation to pay our guides and porters for the time they have committed.

This is certainly possible if you have arranged a private trek with us. If you are doing a group trek please ask us in advance on how this might be arranged and we will do our best to find a good solution.

If you’re concerned about the number of people signing up for a group or have questions about the other trekkers in the group please ask us. We never share personal data but we can give you a general idea on nationalities, sex and approximate age ranges.

If you have extra days after the trek please ask our ground team in Kathmandu for assistance with arranging day tours around the city. We also organize short 3 day trips to Chitwan for safari.