Useful Info

Annapurna Circuit Trek -  Key Highlights:

• District headquarter of Manang ( Chame 2710m.)
• World's most popular Biggest High Pass (Thorong La Pass (5416 m)
• Manang Valley and (Ice Lake 4600m.)
• Muktinath Temple and Lower Murtang valley
• World deepest Gorge, Kali Gandaki Gorge 800m Between two eight thousand Mountain Dhaulagiri (8167) and Annapurna 1. (8099m.)
• Over 2 Dozen Mountain Vistas
• Oldest Monastery & Thakali/Gurung/Tibetan culture
• Green Lush Forests, Rivers, Waterfalls & Lakes

Annapurna Circuit Entrance Permit 

Annapurna Area Conservation Project ACAP Permit RS 3000 per person if you are from SAARC country then RS 1000
TIMS – US$ 20 per person if you are from a SAARC country then US$ 10

Is Annapurna Circuit your ideal trek?

Trekking in the Annapurna region is all about attitude. By its very nature adventure travel involves that you be prepared for the unexpected. In far-flung and developing countries do not expect the standards you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable and itineraries may be altered. To enjoy your trip and get the most out of your adventure you must be flexible, positive, and eager to take on all the challenges that arise from your Annapurna Circuit odyssey. If you’re a greenhorn in the wilderness world then this trek would be ideal for you.

To truly enjoy this trip, you should be pretty habituated to walking 4-6 hours each day for several days on the go while some days will be relatively longer. We encourage you to walk at a pace that suits you without any rush whatsoever. This is a key aspect of enjoying such trips in the planet’s most popular region. You ought to be physically fit and an active walker to get the best of this classic mountainous journey.

General information important to this trip:

Difficulty levels

TREKKING AT HIGH ALTITUDES (over 3500m)

This trip includes strenuous trekking at altitudes of over 3500m. For us, altitude is a very serious issue, a result that has kept our records clean making us one of the best adventure operators in Nepal for over 30 years of operating treks in the region. Our trekking guests must be in excellent health and have high fitness levels to attempt this trip, as well as be committed to training to ensure you are suitably physically prepared for the tough challenges that go above 4500m.

Altitude sickness is a risk for anyone, including on the Annapurna, Langtang, and Everest Base Camp treks. Please make sure you familiarize yourself with signs and symptoms before you depart and monitor your health during your trek, without letting it worry you.

We advise all our guests to undergo a thorough medical with their physician before they embark on this trip.

Participating in a group trip

When you travel with a group you will find much camaraderie and all the fun and also there’s bound to be some of the frustrations of traveling in a group. Your group mates will probably come from all corners of the world and you will come across a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travelers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure you’re on time without keeping the rest of the group waiting. Experience has taught us often that the very best trips we operate are those where the chemistry within the group works well - this requires a ‘give a little take a little’ attitude effort on your part. For privacy reasons, we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travelers booked on your trip before departure.

TRAVELERS who prefer going SOLO:

Our group trips are generally planned for shared accommodation and don't involve single supplements. Single travelers share with people of the same gender in accommodations ranging from twin to multi-share. Some of our itineraries have accommodation booked on a mixed-gender share basis [for couples or trekkers known to each other before the trip]. On a selection of our trips, you have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure that you have your accommodation (where available). Please note that this only applies to accommodation during the trek - pre-trip and post-trip accommodation will be booked on a single-room basis at your hotel in Kathmandu. We also have arrangements for guests who wish to trek completely solo out of the group.

Travel Insurance

When booking with Himalaya View Treks, it’s a condition upon joining any of our trips that all clients be insured for comprehensive expenses that might incur due to medical issues or accidents (this includes air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs). Please note that we don't arrange or sell insurance because such a system is prohibited in our country.

Our Cost versus the Experience

At Himalaya View Treks, we always go the mile to ensure our trekking guests get the best experiences of the trip with maximum comfort and safety on a ratio that goes beyond the cost that we charge for the trip. We provide a ‘no frills’ price with breakdowns to make sure our clients are getting the best for a cost that goes beyond all expectations

Tipping [an expectation on such risky arduous trips]

Tipping is very much part of the culture in Nepal and although entirely at your discretion, it is usually expected. Often people would like to tip in recognition of good service but are unsure how much would be appropriate in a foreign country - for this reason, we have listed guideline amounts below (these are intended as a guideline only and you may see fit to give more or less depending on the service that you have received).

For the tipping of your trek staff and your tour leader, we suggest passing an envelope for each staff member around the group so that everyone can put in what they feel comfortable with anonymously.

Normally 25% to 35% your guide and porters expect Tips that you paid for your trip in the company.

Acute Mountain Sickness [AMS]

When we ascend above 2500 meters our bodies have to acclimatize to the decreasing amount of oxygen available. So, to allow our bodies to adjust we have designed our treks in ways that help you ascend slowly, allowing acclimatization to occur when you go above the tree lines where the air is thinner. However, during the acclimatization process, you may experience some of the following symptoms.

• Headache
• Tiredness
• Disturbed sleep patterns
• Loss of appetite/nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Palpitation
• Swelling of the hands and face

But if you feel such symptoms don’t let it worry because it’s normal. Individuals acclimatize at different rates. Some may experience symptoms, some may not. Your best strategy is to take your time and drink plenty of water. These symptoms may not indicate the onset of A.M.S.; if you experience them, it does not necessarily mean that you should not continue. All our group leaders have extensive first-aid training and we urge you to communicate with the group leader at all times should you believe you have any symptoms so that we can effectively monitor your symptoms as you go higher. The only cure for Acute Mountain Sickness is to descend. Please note, that your group leader has ultimate responsibility and may ask you to descend if symptoms persist. As a last resort, if matters grow from bad to worse, we always have a helicopter on standby for immediate evacuation.

A Typical Day on the Annapurna Circuit Journey

A typical day on the trail begins with a wake-up call at around 6 AM by your guide. Freshen up and get ready. Pack your belongings and head to the dining area for breakfast by 7 AM. Check your luggage for the final time and fill your water bottle before you hit the trail by 8 AM, along with your guide.

To avoid walking in the heat and enjoy clear mountain views, you make an early start. En route, there will be short breaks to enjoy the views and take photographs. You haul up for lunch at a local teahouse around noon or mid-day. After a quick rest of about an hour or 40 minutes, you get back on the trail and continue till you reach your overnight stop.

Upon reaching the stop for the night, you head to your teahouse, check-in, and have some rest. Tea with some light refreshments (cookies or biscuits) will be served at 5 p.m. As the rooms are not insulated, you can warm yourself with the heater or stove in the communal area.

Exchange stories or play cards with other trekkers and sherpas till dinner is served (around 7 PM). After dinner, your guide will brief you about the next day’s trek – the route you will take, the difficulties, where you will stop for lunch, etc. Afterward, retire for the night and have a well-deserved rest.

Equipment for Thorong La Pass Trek

This section is intended to provide information on clothing and equipment requirements for Nepal Trek. It is not intended to be a final and authoritative checklist. For those who would like a more detailed discussion of these issues, we ask you to contact us at singbir@yahoo.com or via WhatsApp at +9779841146306

The following is a list of clothing and accessories that we recommend that you take with you. This is not intended to be a comprehensive clothing and equipment list, rather it is intended to act as a reminder of those items that we feel are essential for your comfort and convenience. However, we recommend that you may have your own personal preferences for clothing which may be equally as suitable.

Footwear:

1. Walking boots with suitable ankle support that have been worn prior to the trek, and which are waterproof
2. Trainer or casual shoes, for trekking and/or traveling
3. Warm socks for colder areas
4. Gaiters, in case of rain or snow

Legwear

1. Loose, casual trousers for trekking
2. Thermal leggings for colder areas
3. Long skirts for women as an alternative to trousers
4. Waterproof trousers

Body

1. Selection of T-shirts, and long-sleeved shirts, preferably not cotton
2. Thermal shirt for colder areas
3. Warm shirt, possibly fleece, for colder areas
4. Fleece jacket or warm wool jumper
5. Windproof, waterproof outer shell garment for higher altitudes
6. Down jacket (optional for cold nights & mornings; can be hired in Kathmandu cheaply)

Head / Hands

1. Wool or fleece hat, or balaclava
2. Hat or cap for sun protection while trekking
3. Sunglasses or goggles
4. Warm gloves

Other Items

1. Strong rucksack or large hold all to be carried by porters
2. Day sack to be carried personally
3. Plastic bags or stuff sacks to store/separate trekking gear inside your main bag
4. One-liter water bottle
5. Personal first aid kit to include essential items
6. Sleeping bag, 4 season
7. Torch, ideally head torch
8. Camera and film! – For those not-to-be-forgotten shots of the Himalayas
9. Toilet items and towel
10. Large handkerchief/bandana for neck

Optional Items

1. Binoculars
2. Books (see Recommended Reading)
3. Altimeter
4. Compass
5. Playing cards/backgammon/chess set

Best Time of the Year

Trekking is possible at any time of the year depending on where you are going. The most popular seasons are spring (February-May) and autumn (September-December). Winter is very cold above 4000m. And high mountain passes may be snowbound, but it is good for trekking at lower altitudes. During the monsoon season (June-August), you can trek in the rain-shadow areas north of the Himalayan like the Mustang, upper Manang, and Dolpo. These places are out of reach of the rain clouds because of the high mountains and are unaffected by the monsoon.

Are You Already in Nepal?

If you are already in Kathmandu or Pokhara and seeking to Hire a guide/porter or tour/trekking packages, you can directly contact an expert via WhatsApp at +9779841146306. Or visit our office:- Himalaya View Treks Kaldhara Marg, Kathmandu 44600, in front of the Kathmandu Sport Climbing Center 1st-floor building.