If you can get away from the world of WIFI and find peace, Annapurna trekking is the right way to go. From the Annapurna Circuit to the Annapurna Base Camp, this is one of the most fulfilling trekking experiences for anyone.
Out of all the trekking experiences in Nepal, the Annapurna trek tends to come close to the Everest Base Camp Trek. But before jumping into the Annapurna trekking journey, it is important to know everything about the trek. Stay with us as we help you to understand the Annapurna circuit better.
Overview of Nepal Trekking Annapurna Circuit
The Annapurna circuit trek is one of the toughest treks in Nepal. You will need to separate more than 15 days to complete this trek. Annapurna circuit trek is located in north central Nepal and you have to complete 230 km during the trek.
Annapurna trek is termed to be moderate with the highest elevation to be 5,416m. The trekking journey begins from Besisahar which goes through to Thorong La Pass and later to the Lower Mustang Jomsom Trek.
From lush green forests to pine trees and alpine mountains, there is much more to learn and things need to know about the Nepal Trekking Annapurna Circuit. Along the way, trekkers will find good food, a tea house to stay and welcoming people.
Highlights of Nepal Annapurna Circuit Trekking
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Thorong La Pass is the ultimate highlight of the trek.
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Annapurna trek will cover a total of 140 miles during the trek.
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A total of 10-15 days is needed during the trek.
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Chance to view some of the most beautiful mountains, lakes, and glaciers.
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Wonderful Manang
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Deep gorges, and stunning waterfalls.
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Jomsom the Headquarter of Mustang District
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Natural hot spring water pool at Tatopani
Why is Nepal Annapurna Trekking Dangerous?
In the case of everything you need to know before trekking Annapurna, the best part is to know why Nepal Annapurna circuit trekking is dangerous. At times Annapurna trekking is more dangerous than Everest Base Camp trek.
Annapurna circuit can be dangerous at times. With rugged trails and loose stones on the way, it could be tough for many to complete the overall circuit trek. Similarly, Annapurna Mountain present in this circuit also provides a new variety of challenges for everyone. You need to have some experience in trekking if you wish to complete the Annapurna circuit trek without much issues and hassle.
With the rugged trails, uneven weather, and massive altitude sickness, a lot of the trekkers have lost their lives. Still, more than 15,900 trekkers go to the Annapurna circuit trek every year. Fair to say the excitement provided by this trek is beyond description.
How Difficult is the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
This is one of the major questions that has been asked over and over again. With so many deaths you might think, Annapurna is the toughest but that isn’t true. The difficulty of the Annapurna circuit trek majorly depends upon the mental and physical fitness of the trekker. With the right trekking agency and pre-idea about trekking, things can get much easier for you.
In like manner you will also need a quality guide who knows his way around the trek. Any trekking that goes beyond 10 days needs major fitness so that will be key to completing the trek.
Is Nepal Annapurna Circuit Trek Better for Beginners?
The answer to this question is yes and no. You can perform the Annapurna circuit trek if you have no previous experience. But with the high altitude, we suggest you not to do so. Having an experienced guide or a friend who has done a high-altitude trek can be majorly helpful. With the remote location and frequent weather changes, trekking solo isn’t advised at all.
Best Season to Perform Annapurna Circuit Trek
There is no specific time to trek the Annapurna circuit. However, some people are interested in performing trekking all around the year. Talking about it, the best season to do the Annapurna circuit trek is during October and November.
As autumn falls into place, you have an opportunity to embrace beautiful mountains with the help of clear weather. But with the best weather and Autumn, you will also find too much crowd along the trail.
Other than the Autumn and Spring seasons, you will find it hot to trek during summer. Along with that the chances of rain also intensify during summer trekking days. Lastly, winter is the right time to do any high-altitude trek.
With the weather changes, you will also experience the temperature going into negative which is very tough for everyone. From extra luggage to extra clothes the overall journey gets very hard.
Food and Accommodation During the Annapurna Circuit Trek
More than the trek it is the food and accommodation that tends to interest the tourists. When we talk about the Annapurna trek it is more of the basic facilities we will be talking about.
From guesthouses to teahouses, we will be staying in the shared rooms. To get the major idea of the local community we try and accept the localized way. But we assure you that all of the facilities will be met.
Along with the accommodation, the food is top-notch. We will be serving the local Nepalese cuisine to all our guests. Dal, Bhaat, Thukpa. Momos, Flatbread, and green vegetables along with the western dishes will also be served according to the needs of the tourists.
Permits Required for Nepal Annapurna Circuit Trek
If you want to trek in Nepal, you must have some of the trekking permits. In the case of the Annapurna circuit trek, you will need to have 2 of them. The first one is Trekkers Information Management System. It will cost you $20.
Your passport and 2 photographs will be required to get this permit. Meanwhile, the second is the Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit. It will cost the trekker $25. This permit is required by the Annapurna region (ACAP). You can get the permit at the Nepal Tourism Board, Kathmandu.
Do We Need Guide/ Porter for Annapurna Circuit Trek?
This could be a debatable query whether you require a guide/porter for your Annapurna circuit trek or not. The answer to this question is a yes. In the recent changes of rules, you will need to have a guide. Your trekking agency will provide a qualified trekking guide who can explain the details. Meanwhile, you will also need a porter who will carry your backpack and help you go easy.
Even if you have trekking experience in the past, we suggest you have a guide. As the location and the mountain region can be hard to predict, it is crucial to have a supporting hand. A good porter will always allow you to have deep knowledge of a particular place. Likewise, the porter would have traveled to the particular place multiple times which helps you understand more about the geography.
How Cold Does It Get on Annapurna Circuit?
Annapurna trek is at a higher altitude, so the weather always changes. The best time is during October and November for the trek. During winter the daytime temperature is 5-10 degrees Celsius while it reaches –20 degrees during the night.
Focusing on the warmer months you will have the weather of 15-23 degrees Celsius. This temperature goes to 10 degrees Celsius when you cross the 4000m mark. Since reaching Thorong La Pass (5,416m) you will experience extreme cold so having extra dress is the key.
Final Thoughts
Trekking in Nepal can be easy and tough at the same time. All of this depends mainly on your mental and physical strength. Talking about Annapurna trekking it can be demanding at times.
Reaching the elevation of 35000 feet to complete a 140-mile trek can be tough. We suggest every reader choose the right trekking agency which has a proven track record of Nepal Annapurna Circuit trekking. More than things to manage it is important to enjoy the overall trek so we suggest the trekkers do that.