Annapurna Circuit Trek -13 days

How Annapurna circuit trek start ?

Annapurna Circuit Trek -13 days begins as soon as you land in Kathmandu and next day  we will drive to Dharapani via the Beshishar – Nadi bazzar – Jagat and finally to reach at Dharapani after a day drive in 8 -9 hours. following days  we will  trek throguh the most popular  villages of Chame, Pisang, and Mustang. Aftera day acclimatazation  in Manang, we will then trek to the mighty Thorong La Pass (alt.5416m) and descending to divine village of Muktinath. After exploring the temple, we will head to Jomsom and take a return flight to Pokhara. We will then either drive to Kathmandu or take a short flight back thus ending our remarkable journey to the circuit of Annapurna mountain range.

What to expect during the Annapurna circuit Trek ?

Annapurna Circuit Trek -13 days   is considered among the most beautiful long-distance treks in the world. Before the trek begins, you will get to spend a day in the capital of Nepal. You will capture the lifestyle of people, tour the colorful markets, and visit the legendary monuments of the valley.

After the trek starts, you will pass through terraced rice fields, oak and rhododendron forests, high passes, turquoise lakes, and snowy peaks. All along the route, you will behold the massive views of Annapurna range, Mt. Dhaulagiri,  Chulu weat, Chulu east and Pisang Peak, Mt.Manaslu range, and many more.

As you stay overnight in the authentic village settlements of Dharapani, Chame, Pisang, and Manang, you will get to know the real world through the eyes of the Nepalese mountain community. You will meet travelers from all over the world, talk to each other, and maybe get to know each other better.

As you move on further, you will literally climb up to the clouds and reach an altitude of 5416 meters as you cross the Thorung Pass along the Annapurna circuit. Through this journey, you will be able to test your mind and body and push them to exceed the limits and get out of your comfort zone.

You will then walk through the grassy meadows to reach Muktinath. The Muktinath village refers to a place of nirvana that hosts a temple and a number of monasteries, making it a holy place for Hindus and Buddhists. You will see an eternal flame, as well as the 108 water springs that pour holy water. You will then descend to Jomsom and fly to Pokhara where you will get to spend some time in the tranquil paradise.

In short, it is a complete experience of all that Nepal has to offer, from the jungle to the icy heights of the Himalayas passing through numerous local cultures.

Best Time to go annapurna Circuit Trek

The best times for trekking to the Annapurna Region are September, October, November, March, April, and May. During the autumn months of September, October, and November, the weather is clear providing incredible visibility of the endless mountain ranges. The forests are lush with warm temperatures, and the nights are especially beautiful.

Spring in March, April, and May is also the best time to visit the Annapurna Region. The end of winter brings changes to the region, a variety of colorful blooming trees in sub-alpine forests, tall green grasslands covered with wildflowers, moderate temperatures, and sunny weather. In this season you will see flocks of sheep and yaks grazing on the green plateau.

Elevation and distance During the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

The Annapurna Circuit: 250 kilometers through the Himalayas that takes you around two weeks to complete. The highest elevation we reach in this trek is at Thorong La pass which stays at 5416m above sea level.

Our trek begins with a drive to Dharapani from Kathmandu which lies 118 km away from the capital. We will then trek along a 25.8 km long path to reach Chame.

We will complete our Annapurna circuit trek  consist 8 days of total hiking days. On the whole, we will be covering around 15 km distance each day. However, the distance we cover per day varies depending on the overnight village, terrain, and altitude.

Maximum/Minimum walk per day

 Each day on our entire Annapurna circuit trek, we will walk for about 4 to 6 hours traversing through varied terrains and landscapes. The least we walk will be on day 9 when we trek from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi. This day requires us to hike for only 3 to 4 hours. The short walk is planned for the proper acclimatization of our body before reaching a height of more than 5000 m.

On day 10, we hike to climb the mighty Thorong La Pass and trek back to Muktinath which demands around 9 to 10 hours of hike. The journey onwards will be pretty easy with a gentle downhill hike.

Difficulty and Acclimatization during the Annapurna circuit trek

The Annapurna Circuit trek is a technically relatively easy hike in good conditions. The paths are often wide trails or dirt roads. The terrain is neither particularly exposed nor particularly difficult to walk. You don’t need technical or climbing skills to accomplish this trek. However, the Annapurna circuit should not be completely trivialized.

The many meters of altitude in combination with the thin air are a drain on your strength. From around 3,500 meters you will become very slow and the higher you climb, the more strenuous it becomes. Therefore, we have reserved a day of rest at Manang on day 7 of the trek.

From the days onward, we will hike for only 4 to 5 hours on average to give our body time to adapt to higher heights. It will prepare us for the highest altitude gain we will attain on the following trekking days.

Can a beginner join Annapurna Circuit  Trek?

Yes, even if you are new to trekking at a higher altitude, you can engage in this trek. The trail around Annapurna has been systematically developed by roads. Therefore, the route is walkable without any need for technical skills. Still, you will be hiking through the dense wilderness as the days progress.

You will need to climb some high cliffs and hike through the dry mountainous terrain. Thus, you must have strong physical and mental fitness, to withstand the difficulties of trekking. If you can endure long hours of walking each day, and have good health and physical fitness with strong motivation, you can easily complete this trek.

Preparation and training for Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Like in many other treks in the high-altitude region of Nepal, you need some preparation and training beforehand for joining the Annapurna circuit trek. Train your body to be able to withstand pressure and frequently moving terrain.

You can join some gym or fitness center and start altitude training. You can also do some walking and treadmills with a light backpack to train you for the long hour walks and increase your endurance.

Plus, go up and down again and again on the stairs with a packed backpack. This will help you when traversing the uphill and downhill trek along the circuit route.

Alternate Routes for Annapurna Circuit Trek

For Annapurna Circuit Trek  there are possibly numerous alternate routes . So you can combine multiple treks to different destinations at the same time. For example, you can easily combine the Annapurna circuit trek with the Poonhill and Ghorepani hikes. Or, you can also trek around Annapurna with a brief stop at Annapurna base camp.

And what about Mardi Himal Trek with a hike to the circuit of Annapurna? Or, if you have a few days extra, you can go for the Lake Tilicho trek after trekking in the circuit. You can continue your trek to Tilicho from Manang.

You can also extend your trip to the hidden village of Mustang by staying a few more days in Jomsom and trekking to Kagbeni and Marpha.

Altitude Sickness During the Annapurna circuit Trek

Altitude sickness during the Annapurna Circuit Trek is a significant concern for trekkers, as the route reaches high elevations, particularly around Thorong La Pass at 5,416m (17,769 ft).The altitude sickness usually occurs when you reach an altitude of more than 3000 m above sea level. In our Annapurna circuit trek, you will be at 3300 m altitude when you reach the village of Pisang. From there onwards, you will continuously gain altitude and reach the highest elevation of more than 5000 m at Thorong la Pass.

Due to the thin air and less oxygen, you may feel nauseated and have mild headaches. You may also have difficulty breathing and lose your appetite. In such a case, descend to a lower height according to the consultation of our guide.

Also, drink plenty of water and walk gradually utilizing the acclimatization day to your benefit.

Transportation, Meals and Drink during the Annapurna Circuit Trek

Our extensive Annapurna circuit package will provide you with all airport pickup and drop-off services from and to the International Airport of Kathmandu. We will drive you to Dharapani via private jeep and make arrangements for the return flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. From Pokhara, we will drive you to Kathmandu on a tourist bus or at an additional cost of USD 100 per person, we can also fly you to Kathmandu.

Regarding food, we will provide complimentary breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will provided during the entire trek period at the tea house or lodge along the trail. You will be treated to a variety of ethnic Nepalese, Tibetan, continental and western dishes. We will also provide tea or coffee with each meal.

Communication, Gadgets charging and Internet/wifi

All along the route to the Annapurna circuit, you can easily charge your gadgets at the lodge you rest for the night. Almost all the villages are well equipped with 24-hour electricity. The remote villages have access to solar energy.

These lodges also provide WIFI services of good speed. But at higher altitudes, you may not have WIFI access, in such case, you can use the data packages of NCELL or NTC network. You can buy these SIMS in Kathmandu, and Pokhara, and purchase the data option by dialing *17123# for NCELL and *1415*7# for NTC.

Both these networks have good reach in all the villages of Nepal so you will have no problem with communication.

Permits for Annapurna circuit Trek.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit and a Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) Permit are needed for the Annapurna circuit trek. We will obtain these permits in Kathmandu or Pokhara. The ACAP costs NPR 3000 for each traveler while the TIMS costs NPR 2000 for each person.