Annapurna Circuit Trek-17 days Tilicho Lake Annapurna Circuit Trekking 2023/2024

Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the best classic trekking trail in the world.You will trek through beautiful villages and valley enjoying waterfalls, jungles and mountains.The Annapurna Circuit Trek starts with a bus drive to Besishahar from Kathmandu. We trek up through lush green forests and spectacular scenery. While on the trek you will meet different ethnic groups as you pass through different traditional villages and diverse geographical and cultural variation.

Annapurna Circuit Trek is a tea house trek where you will stay in basic tea houses along trail.The highest point of the trek is Thorong la Pass at 5416 m that is surrounded by some of most magnificent views. Annapurna Circuit Trek with Tilicho Lake is one of the best long-distance treks in the world.This is really an incredible trek in Nepal.The trek has a beautiful contrast of green, terraced farmland of the Marshyangdi valley and the semi-arid environs of Lower Mustang.The two areas are separated by the Thorong La pass (5416 m)to a sacred site of Muktinath. Muktinath temple is a pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is in Annapurna Conservation Area Nepal.The trek is famous for stunning scenery.The full length of trek is around 230 km but the distance can vary depending on start/end points and whether any transportation is used. With the road now running all the way to Manang, it is technically possible to skip up to five days of the circuit and start the trek from one of the many villages along the route. If you are desperately short on time, this is something to keep in mind. 

Annapurna Circuit Trek Package
We offer budget, standard and full fledged package to Annapurna Circuit Trek.In the package price, guide, permit, accommodation and meals are all inclusive. We make sure a good value for money and a great option for trek beginners and solo trekkers.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty
The paths are mostly in good condition. No technical skills are required so the act of walking is pretty straightforward. The physical effort required, it clearly helps to be as fit as possible. Saying that, you don’t have to be an athlete, far from it. People of all ages and levels of fitness complete the Annapurna Circuit Trek. The key point to remember is to hike at your own pace.Over the course of the trek, you ascend in altitude from 700 m to 5106 m. Much of the route, particularly in the early days, involves plenty of up and down – descending to cross the river, ascending again, then repeating the process further along the trail.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Permit
For the Annapurna Circuit trek you need two permits. TIMS card, the Trekkers information management card and the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) permit are necessary, costs around USD 50. We will take care of your trek permit on your behalf once you book Annapurna Circuit Trek with us-The Mission Eco Trek & Expedition Pvt. Ltd. For this, we need your scanned passport copy and two passport size photos.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Accommodation
Along the Annapurna Circuit trek, accommodation is in guesthouses often called tea houses along the way.Rooms generally are more basic.Rooms have two single beds with pillows and blankets are always provided but a sleeping bag is a must (don’t expect the blankets to be particularly fresh or clean).Things like hot showers and WIFI are getting more common, but you need to pay an extra cost. 

Toilets
There are most often shared toilet facilities rather than en-suite bathrooms on the Annapurna Circuit trek. These can be inside the main building or in an outhouse. It can be a western style toilet or a squat. Things tend to become more basic in places at higher altitude. You’ll need to have your own toilet paper, and soap isn’t always provided so make sure you have hand sanitizer too. Generally speaking, used toilet paper goes in a bin (read battered old metal can or such like) next to the toilet. You flush the squat toilet by scooping water out of the nearby bucket with whatever receptacle is provided.

Dining Room
There’s always a dining room where meals are served, and it’s a good place to get to know your fellow trekkers. The higher you go, there will usually be a fire in the dining room around dinner time, although this is by no means guaranteed.

Hot Shower
Showers are available over the first few days, but chances for a hot shower limited the higher you go. Gas needs to be transported by mules and it’s more important for cooking and heating. It’s sometimes possible to get one for a fee, but you might be standing in a cold room under a spray with very little pressure. Best to be prepared to keep yourself clean with wet wipes and look forward to a hot shower when you reach Dharapani.

Food on Annapurna Circuit Trek
The food is often quite good.Food and drink on the Annapurna Circuit is similar to what you find on Nepal’s other treks, although options are usually more varieties than other treks like the Langtang, Manaslu Circuit.The options become even more limited throughout the trek as altitude increases, while prices go up as the cost of fuel and transporting goods gets higher.You have to eat dinner and breakfast at the tea houses you stay. Lunch will generally be at a different place somewhere along the trail unless it’s a short day and you arrive at your destination earlier.Try to order the same as the people you’re trekking with. Your food will usually arrive more quickly and less fuel will be needed to cook it.Think carefully before ordering meat. Refrigeration, storage and kitchen standards mean that eating veggie is the safest option.

Dal Bhat
Dal Bhat is a combination of dal (lentils), veg curry, pickle, rice and vegetables, this staple of the Nepali diet is a great option. It comes with a guaranteed refill of rice and curry, and usually some extra dal too. The vegetable component varies depending on what or if there’s anything growing in the garden (and it pretty much disappears the last few days before the Larke Pass). Dal Bhat is what all guides and porters eat so it’s constantly being prepared, unlike more western style dishes which always have to be made to order. And as the whole cooking process requires less energy, this means that it’s better for the environment too.

Breakfast
Breakfast include porridge, pancakes, omelettes, boiled eggs, and various breads (Tibetan bread, buckwheat bread, chapatis, and so on).

Main dishes for Lunch and Dinner
Standard dishes on menus are soups, pasta dishes, various fried rice dishes, momos, a kind of dumpling, pizzas, and of course, Dal Bhat. Some dishes have meat options but this is something to be wary of. Lots of dishes have egg and some tuna from a can. 

Drinks
Hot drinks are on the menu at every guesthouse, with an often huge range of options stretching from regular black tea and coffee to masala tea, lemon ginger honey tea, and hot chocolate. 

Annapurna Circuit Trek Cost
Manaslu Trek package costs ranges from USD 990 to USD 1600 and includes all transfers, accommodation, meals, permits, and even the hotel stay before and after the trek.

Internet, Wifi, Sim cards and staying Charged 
If you’re looking to stay connected while trekking the Annapurna Circuit, the options are fairly limited.

Wifi: Wifi is available in the tea houses along the trail. There is however normally a charge for using the internet,WiFi and with slow speeds, you may end up wishing you hadn’t bothered. If there’s nothing urgent, our advice would be to wait until you get back from the mountains.Costs anywhere from $4 to $6 to use WiFi at the guesthouses. 

Sim Cards
4G sim cards and packages can be bought at the airport, or from numerous vendors in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. They’re great in the city but as soon as you leave the coverage is patchy. We recommend Nepal Telecom and Ncell for 3G/4G coverage. It’s safe to say that in the mountains, neither are really any good. 

Electricity-There are electricity available along the trail to charge your power banks, cameras, and phones. The key is to get a fat power bank. Pay to charge that then charge everything from your power bank.Your power bank lets you charge your phone and camera batteries. Most of the places you stay let you charge your gear for an extra cost.

Best time to trek Annapurna Circuit
The best time to go trekking in Annapurna Circuit is Spring, Autumn and Winter. 

Autumn-Trekking
September, October and November are the most popular months for trekking in Annapurna Circuit. Autumn brings clear blue skies and mild temperatures before the cold sets in in December. Autumn is also a festive season with the celebration of Dashain and Tihar. Nepal’s biggest festivals.The weather is generally dry and clear, with warm sunny days and excellent visibility. Regardless of the seasons, the weather conditions at Thorung La can change rapidly and there is always a chance of unstable weather, cold and snow storms. It is important to check the weather forecast before crossing Thorung La. A freak storm in October 2014 killed several trekkers as they got stuck in bad weather and snow.

Spring-Trekking
The spring season from March to May is considered to be the next best option. The weather is generally clear although a little colder, particularly at higher 
altitudes. Mornings are sunny and flowers are in bloom. There is however a higher chance of rain, or even snow, and melting ice increases the chances of landslides or avalanches.

Summer-Trekking
June, July and August are the monsoon months.The Marsyangdi valley up to Manang sees lots of rainfalls. The trails will be muddy with lots of leeches, but the landscapes will be lush and green. The Kali Gandaki valley is in the rain shadow and sees much less rain.  The monsoon is responsible for warm and wet weather, with cloud and mist making visibility extremely poor. You can hardly see a mountain. Leeches are a big problem at this time of year, as is the risk of landslides. As the Manaslu Region was one of the worst affected by the 2015 earthquake, there are many landslide areas – these can be more dangerous in wet weather.

Winter-Trekking
January and February are too cold with lots of snow on the trail. The Thorung La Pass will be closed due to heavy snowstorms and a risk of avalanches. By March/April the pass reopens again, but you can still expect snow at the higher altitudes.

Cost Includes

• Bus transfer- Kathmandu/Pokhara/Besishahar/Kathmandu
• Twin sharing tea house accommodation during trek.
• Besishahar to Chame by local jeep transfer sharing with other people.
• Trekking permit-ACAP and TIMS cards
• English Speaking guide and all his expenses like salary, meals, accommodation and transfer
• 3 times meals- breakfast, lunch and dinner during trekking
• For ABC/Poon Hill Trek - Transfer by bus or car to/from Pokhara to Trekking start/end point.
• Hotel in Pokhara before and after the trek.
• All the goverment taxes and company service charge.

Cost Not Include

• Airport pick up and departure transfer
• Hotel Accommodation in Kathmandu but we can book on your request.
• Private car transfer -Kathmandu to Besishahar
• Jeep transfer or flight cost- kathmandu/Pokhara/Kathmandu.
• Travel Insurance in case of emergency for Heli rescue and other medication
• Porter to carry luggage - but we arrange on your request 1 porter between 2 clients. 
• Any kind of drinks and desert like beer, water, tea/coffee, hot water, chocolate/rice pudding, pie and pancake.
• Expenses of personal nature like telephone, internet, wifi, hot shower, battery charging
• Tips for guide and porter
• All the cost not mention on above cost includes.

Annapurna Trek Packing List
We would suggest to take what you need and make your bag as light as possible.You can expect to need more warm clothes in the colder months. Also, crampons may be needed if there’s ice and snow on the pass. On the other hand, if you plan to trek with a porter then this will make choosing what to take a bit easier – just don’t overload your porter of course. Also, bear in mind that it’s very common to leave excess baggage at hotels and guesthouses in Kathmandu.Sleeping Bag (NPR 200 - 300 NPR per day) is available to rent in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Cold Weather:
Long-sleeved shirts or sweater
Scarf
Warm gloves
Warm hat
Warm layers

Conservative Dress:
Modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders (Long pants, long skirts, shirts that cover shoulders)
Shawl or scarf (for temple visits)

Documents:
Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
Passport (required) (With photocopies)
Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)

Essentials:
Binoculars (optional)
Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
Cash, credit and debit cards
Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
Ear plugs
First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, band-aids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, 
antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra 
prescription drugs you may be taking)
Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
Fleece top/sweater
Footwear
Hat
Locks for bags
Long pants/jeans
Money belt
Outlet adapter
Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
Reusable water bottle
Shirts/t-shirts
Sleepwear
Small travel towel
Sunglasses
Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
Watch and alarm clock
Waterproof backpack cover
Windproof rain jacket

Health and Safety:
Face masks (required)
Hand sanitizer (required)
Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
Rubber gloves

High Altitude Trekking
Down jacket (Recommended for winter season)
Hiking boots (Worn frequently prior to departure)
Pack liners to waterproof bags
Reusable water bottler - minimum 1 litre (Aluminium or Nalgene polypropylene are best)
Sandals (For wearing around camp in the evenings)
Sleeping bag and liner, 4 season
Spare boot laces
Thermal base layer
Waterproof gloves
Whistle
Windproof rain gear
Wool socks

Drinking Water-The Annapurna Circuit is physically demanding and drinking plenty of water is a must.Drinking lots of water helps you acclimatize. Please drink at least three liters of water while trekking each day.Use an effective sterilization method to make sure your water is safe to drink.Purification tablets and the Steripen is a perfect means sterilization the drinking water.Bottled water and hot water is available to buy throughout the trek, the cost ranges from USD 3 to USD 5 per liters.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Guide 
A guide is required on this trek and the guide manages all of the logistics, distances, directions, and tea houses. The directions are not always very clear like on the Everest Base Camp trek and having the guide manage all of the logistics is great.The Annapurna Circuit Trek does require a guide and also can be done independently as well.

Drugs and Smoke-Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is not acceptable for our travellers, also illegal in Nepal. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. We have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.

Laundry- Laundry facilities are offered by some of tea house and hotel for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Money Matter-Everything is payable in the local currency, Nepalese Rupees (NPR).Take plenty of small denomination notes as change is not readily available on the trail, particularly at higher altitudes. Also beware that ATM have max withdrawal amounts, and your bank may have a max daily withdrawal limit, so you may not be able to withdraw the total amount that you need all in one day. The amount of money you need to take on the Manaslu Circuit Trek will depend on whether you’re on an inclusive tour or not. If you are on an inclusive tour then you’ll only need money for any snacks or drinks over and above what’s included in your package. If you are paying as you go, then you’ll need to have enough cash to cover all costs: accommodation, food, drink, etc.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory trekking in Annapurna Circuit because the high altitude can lead to many illnesses, weakness in trekkers, and misjudgments. There is also a risk on trails for falls, avalanches, or other mishaps. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
Nepal Visa-Tourist visas are available on arrival at Kathmandu-Tribhuvan International Airport and at all land border crossings that are open to foreign travellers. While this is available for most foreigners, citizens of some countries are required to get a visa prior to arrival, while those from SAARC countries can get their visa free of charge.There are three different visa options and prices: Multiple Entry 15 Days – 30 USD, 30 Days – 50 USD and 90 Days – 125 USD. In order to get a visa on arrival you’ll need four things:
One passport size photo
A passport valid for at least six months
At least one blank page in your passport
The visa fee in cash (US Dollars is best)

Laundry-Laundry facilities are offered by some of tea house and hotel for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Passports- As a general rule, your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Please ensure the passport details you provide are accurate. Any errors provided may result in extra fees for making corrections in bookings. We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leave copies at home with family or friends.

Altitude Sickness
Travelers to altitudes higher than 2,500 m are at risk of altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). This can be life-threatening and affect anyone, even people who are very physically fit. There is a higher risk for those who have had altitude sickness before, who exercise or drink alcohol before adjusting to the altitude, or who have health problems that affect breathing. If your tour travels to high altitude, see your doctor for advice specific to you and your situation before you depart. It is important to be aware of the normal altitude symptoms that you may encounter BUT NOT worry about:
1.Periods of sleeplessness
2.Occasional loss of appetite
3.Vivid, wild dreams at around 2500-3800m in altitude
4.Unexpected momentary shortness of breath, day and night
5.Periodic breathing that wakes you occasionally
6.Blocked nose
7.Dry cough
8.Mild headache
If you are feeling nauseous, dizzy, or experience other symptoms, please be sure to let your guide know immediately so that we can monitor your condition. Please be aware that should your guide deem it unsafe for you to continue trekking at any time, they will arrange for you to descend to a lower altitude.

Medical Facilities and Treatment
Medical facilities in Nepal are very limited, particularly outside Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, treatment at international-standard clinics is expensive and up-front payment for services is generally required. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment, including evacuation by helicopter.

Alcohol and Caffeine
Alcohol and trekking don't mix. We highly recommend that you limit your alcohol consumption in Kathmandu prior to your trip. Celebrate your achievements after your trek. Both alcohol and caffeine increase dehydration. Limit your intake of both when hiking at high altitudes.

Solo Travelers-Single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Minimum Age-You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a our tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
Own Departure-Small groups of four or more can pick their own desired departure dates.  So grab your family, your neighbors, or your best friends and call us.
Customized Private Trip-Family reunions, corporate groups, wedding parties, student groups, church groups, and any groups interested in a customized departure are welcome to contact us.
Trip Cancellation-If you cancel prior to departure, we need written notice and cancellation fees are:
91 or more days -$0
61 to 90 days -$500
31 to 60 days -50% of trip cost
0 to 30 days -100% of trip cost

Go to Nepal for FREE-For private groups with nine full-paying passengers, the 10th person goes free. Well, almost free.International airfare not included and there is a $400 cost which is needed to cover Pokhara flights, and trekking permit.

Payment and Cancellation Policy- Deposit of $500 due at time of reservation. Final balance prior to trip departure.
Guide and Porter Cost- For ABC trek, pay for guides range from $25 to $35 per day and porters take $20 to $30 per day.

Tipping-People have become used to receiving tips. However, there is no set amount as tipping is a westerner created culture. They will be happy to receive what you see fit to give. If you feel confused, trekkers have taken 15% of the total pay as the standard.

Electricity and Charging Battery-You can charge batteries en route. For this, you need to bring your charger. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay a certain amount for it.
WiFi and Internet-You will have enough Internet access in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you in your home country and at losing connection is very common at times.