Annapurna Circuit Trek

It is a challenging trek, mainly because of Thorong La at 5,416 m, not because of technical difficulty. There is no climbing or rope work. What makes it hard is a run of long walking days, big daily climbs and descents, and one high pass crossed on a pre-dawn start. If you are fit enough to walk six to eight hours on consecutive days and you respect the acclimatisation pacing, it is within reach for a determined first-time high-altitude trekker on the right tier. The pass day is the hardest, around eight to nine hours with a climb to 5,416 m and a long descent after.

Altitude is the main risk on this trek, and we treat it that way. The climb from Manang at 3,540 m to Thorong La at 5,416 m is close to 1,900 m of sleeping-altitude gain over about two nights, faster than the general guidance of 300 to 500 m of sleeping gain per night above 3,000 m. That is exactly why a rest day in Manang is built into every tier, and why we will not sell a rushed jeep-only itinerary as a shortcut. Altitude sickness has no reliable link to age or fitness, so the same protections apply to all of us: gradual pacing, the Manang rest day, daily monitoring at altitude, and a clear rule that if symptoms are serious, we go down. Your guide is trained to spot the early signs.

Yes. Since April 2023, foreign trekkers in the Annapurna region must trek with a licensed guide or registered agency. A rule change in March 2026 removed the previous two-person minimum, so a solo traveller can now trek with a guide. We see the guide as part of the safety plan, especially on a high-pass route, and a licensed guide is included on every tier.

It depends on how much of the lower route we walk or drive. The Trail is 13 days door to door with 11 walking days, driving in to Chame. The Journey is 16 days door to door with 13 walking days, starting on foot at Chyamje. The Transformation is around 19 days with 17 to 18 walking days, walking the full line from Besisahar, with a second acclimatisation night and a Poon Hill finish. We show both numbers on purpose: door-to-door days so you can book flights, and walking days so you know what you are signing up for.

More than most operators admit. Roads now reach Chame on the Manang side and Muktinath on the far side, so the lower valleys can be driven. The Trail drives in to Chame and leaves by road from Jomsom. The Journey starts walking at Chyamje. The Transformation walks the full line from Besisahar. The high heart of the route, from Manang over Thorong La to Muktinath, is walked on every tier; there is no road over the pass. And walking the lower sections is not only about scenery: it helps you acclimatise gradually, which the jeep-heavy short versions skip.

You need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). It costs 3,000 Nepalese rupees for foreign trekkers, roughly 20 US dollars, and we arrange it on every tier. The TIMS card is not currently required or checked on the Annapurna trails. Nepal's permit rules have changed before, so we confirm the current position at the start of each season.

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the two main seasons. Autumn usually brings the clearest, most settled mountain weather and is the busiest. Spring brings rhododendron blooms lower down and longer days. Winter is possible, but snow can block the pass and the high nights are very cold. The monsoon, June to August, brings rain, cloud, landslide risk on the roads and leeches lower down, so we do not recommend it. The pass can hold snow in any shoulder season, which affects timing on the day.

Meals are included, and we say so clearly because some operators quote a low price and leave food out. The Trail includes breakfast and dinner, with lunch on your own. The Journey and The Transformation include all three meals. Trail food is simple teahouse cooking: dal bhat (lentils, rice and vegetables), noodles, soups, eggs, potatoes and pancakes. Menu prices rise as we climb, because everything is carried up, but on the full-board tiers that is already covered.

It can be, with the right tier and honest preparation. The pass at 5,416 m is genuinely high and altitude affects everyone, so a first-timer should choose a tier with more acclimatisation built in: The Journey, starting lower with a Manang rest day, or The Transformation, with its second acclimatisation night. Be comfortable walking several long days in a row before you come. On the trail, what matters most is not raw fitness but respecting the pacing, telling your guide how you feel, and being willing to slow down or go down if your body asks.

Yes. Tilicho Lake can be added as an extension, and we also run it as its own trek. The lake sits at about 4,919 m and the detour adds roughly one to two days from the Manang valley. It is a serious high-altitude addition, not a casual extra, so we plan it around your acclimatisation and suggest it on the longer tiers. Tell us when we plan your trip and we will build the days and pacing around it. Pricing for the add-on is given on request.