Annapurna Circuit

This circuit is considered one of the best treks in the world though road construction is threatening its reputation and its future as a classic trek. Yet no one disputes that the scenery is outstanding: 17 to 21 days long, this trek takes you through distinct regional scenery of rivers, flora, fauna and above all - mountains.

There are four regions that are passed through on the trek; Lamjung, Manang, Mustang and Myagdi. Lamjung and Myagdi of the lower elevations are both predominantly Hindu and with lush green subtropical valleys with villages and terraced farming. Manang and Mustang are of the higher elevations and are predominantly Tibetan Buddhist. The Manang people are Gurung (not Tibetan descent) and are very proud of their unique cultural heritage and merging of lower land Gurung and Tibetan cultural influences. People of Mustang identify themselves a lot closer with Tibet and the Mustang region has actually been part of Tibet in history. Mustang also is one of the last places in the world to view the ancient Bonpo Religion in action. Villages to note for Bonpo are Thini and Lupra near Jomsom, and Nargon near Kobang. The trek goes counter-clockwise from Besisahar to Nayapul and reaches its summit in Thorung La (pass) at the height of 5416m, or 17,769 feet. The route goes past the following mountains: Manaslu (an 8,000-plus meter peak), Langtang Himal, Annapurna II and IV, Annapurna III and Gangapurna, and, of course, Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri -- passing through the world's deepest gorge in between those two 8,000-plus meter peaks. Poon Hill, at the end of the trek, affords views of those two mountains, as well as South Annapurna and Macchupucchre, the "Fishtail Mountain." The trek also goes through Buddhist villages and Hindu holy sites, most notably the village of Muktinath, a holy site for both Buddhists and Hindus, and Braga, one of the oldest monasteries in the region. From Dharapani to Kagbeni you will be walking the Annapurna section of The Great Himalaya Trail, a long distance trekking route that connects Nepal from East to West. The eastern portion of the trek follows the Marsyangdi River upstream, to its source near the village of Manang. To get there several days of up-hill hiking are required. Then the route goes over the pass, a grueling day of hiking, and back down the other side, where it meets up with the Kali Gandaki River. At the end of the trek, several options are available: following the river further to the road proper to Beni and catching a bus to Pokhara, or adding on a trek to the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC Trek), aka the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. This is a "teahouse trek," meaning there are villages with lodges and restaurants to eat and stay in along the entire route. You are expected to eat breakfast and dinner in the same lodge where you are spending the night. Prices of rooms are seemingly inexpensive because of this (100-300Rs for a double) - lodge owners tend to make more money on the food and drinks they are selling you than on the room where you are sleep The main trekking season is October and November with crowds going crazy at this time. It is possible to do the circuit most of the year. The shoulder seasons of September and December are a good choice because the weather is almost as good and the circuit is much less busy. Spring is also great, with fewer people and warmer temperatures, but some guide books warn of higher chance of foggy views compared to the peak-season in October. Summer is also possible but with lots of leeches. Many sources will heavily encourage you not to trek during the monsoon season. For the most part these are overblown. While trekking in non-monsoon season is preferable if you have the flexibility for the majority of people who only have vacations during the summer trekking is still a very enjoyable and remarkable in the monsoon months. If you begin further up and in Bhulbule or Syange, and bus/plane out of Jomsom you will spend most of your time partially covered in the Himalayan rain shadow, and in regions with few leaches. While experienced trekkers may opt to do the trek without the support of a guide and a porter (it's done by the majority of backpackers), it should never be trekked alone. The path is quite easy to follow and every three hours (max.) you will arrive upon a small village with lodges and restaurants. As there are other trekkers around, you will often end up meeting people, and making friends and trekking partners along the way. Please note that many hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara will try to tell you that you NEED a guide and they're just the person to help. It is actually illegal if they do it without a Trekking agent who covers the legal needs for organizing a trek. Please be very wary, as stories of trekkers being scammed are all too frequent on the trail. If you do decide to go with a guide through a hotel, please ensure that the deal involves a Trekking Agent to avoid legal trouble later on. If choosing to make the trek independently you need to organize a few administrational things as well: While still in Kathmandu or Pokhara, don't forget to get your entrance permit for the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) as well as a so-called TIMS Card (Tourism Information Management System), both of which are required and available in either city. They will cost you 2,000 NPR for the Permit from the National Trust for Nature Conservation and 1,660 NPR for the individual TIMS Cards from the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN). Make sure you bring everything they require (e.g. 4 passport photos, name and mobile number of an emergency contact in Nepal, policy number and hotline of your insurance, etc.), or it might take you the most part of a day to get everything sorted out. In Kathmandu you can get both documents at the office of the Tourism Information Board, 20-30 minutes walk southeast of Thamel. Tourism Information Board Office, Kathmandu, Exhibition Road, Kathmandu Bagmati Zone, 00977, Nepal (One block south east of Ratna Park), [1]. edit Officials do check your permit at several places along the way, and the checkpoints are virtually impossible to avoid. You'll have to pay double, or 4,000 NPR, if you're caught without the permit. Be aware that with the individual TIMS card (obtainable at the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu and Pokhara), you are not allowed to take yourself staff like a guide or porter, you sign this! No one except you can obtain an individual TIMS and anyone who offers you individual TIMS cards is doing so illegally; your TIMS might be fake. Do it ourself only! Also grab an Around Annapurna Trekking Profile which is a great free pocket guide that lists elevations and hiking times between every major stop. Spend some time and money to ensure that you have adequate clothing for low temperatures and rain. Temperatures vary from oppressive heat in the lowlands, to freezing cold, even snowstorms, closer to the pass. For the cold, a pair of hiking pants, thermals, gloves, beanie, worn-in hiking shoes (it can be done in runners but it is dangerous), a warm inner jacket and a windproof outer jacket are essential. A neck warmer is also great to keep out the cold. A hiking stick/staff or two, or trekking poles, are also great to have for hills and icy sections. The coldest periods tend to be when the sun goes down and you're at the lodge, rather than on the trail. Don't worry about waterproof gear (apart from shoes) unless you've got it, or you're doing a difficult side trek, or are planning to hike when the weather is bad. Keep in mind that Pokhara and Kathmandu offer everything you could possibly need for the hike (apart from decent shoes) with surprisingly good quality for cheap pirated prices. Be prepared to become a walking North Face billboard! Bring a sleeping bag rated for winter temperatures. Linens are not provided by the lodges and nights can get very cold. Warm blankets are provided so it is possible to use a basic two-season sleeping bag. Everyday supplies, such as toilet paper, soap, chocolate bars, and even hiking supplies like headlamps and fleece jackets can be purchased along the way, though prices rise dramatically as you go higher in elevation. Try to stock up lower down and buy local. Fruit, Coconut biscuits and Bon Bon biscuits are made in Nepal; they're a fraction of the price and taste great! Maps are easy to get -- and very inexpensive -- in either Kathmandu or Pokhara. While the path is easy to follow, be aware that these maps should not be used for critical navigation as they are not very accurate. However they are useful for pointing out the various mountains. Bring along a sufficient amount of money for the entire trek, though you can use cash, traveler's checks, or exchange US dollars in Jomsom or Chame. There are no ATMs on the trek after Beshisahar (except for an unreliable ATM in Jomsom). For food and accommodation only, a day in the lower villages of the trek can cost as little as 700 NRs. A day in the higher points of the trail can cost 1200 NRs. You can do the trek for about $13 USD a day if you go independently. Budget for 1000 NR per day if you are a very modest-spending trekker, though those on a budget can get by with less and people who want to live it up a little should allow for more. Please note that despite the efforts of ACAP there are still some wild swings in pricing that will surprise. For some reason, the region between Tal and Chame is more expensive than from Chame to Manang which is more difficult to access! As the prices seem to be fairly set throughout each village though, do not concern yourself with hunting around a village looking for a cheaper place and try not to stop at the first lodge you see so that trekkers are spread through the village. Quite often the nicest lodges are on the way out of town. Before you go, check on the status of the road being built on the eastern portion of the trek from Besisahar to Chame. In the winter of 2009, construction of the road interfered with trekking, with some parts being dangerous to navigate. Locals tend to talk up the road and downplay its negative aspects. Be advised: road walks in Nepal are very unpleasant, and unhealthy, due to the large amounts of powdery dust that tend to be kicked up from passing jeeps and buses. Be prepared for all manner of bathrooms. Sometimes you'll get a modern flush toilet with private access, other times you'll have to venture out in the cold to use a smelly squat toilet. Even so, all lodges have running water. However, it may not always be HOT water. Typically, a solar shower will give you a luke warm 'power shower' if it's been a sunny day, otherwise the thing to ask is if the water pipes run through the fire in the dining room or kitchen, as once the fire is going you'll be steaming with the best of them! Pokhara provides a great spot for meeting other trekkers who have finished the trek. Always feel free to start up a conversation in a bar or restaurant to source the latest information on what's happening on the trek. [edit] Get around Though not required, porters and/or guides can be easily hired in Pokhara or Kathmandu at many travel agencies. As a classic "tea-house trek," which goes from village to village and does not require trekkers to bring along food or camping equipment, porters and guides are far from necessary, though many trekkers still like to use them. If you do hire a porter or a guide, Nepali tourism officials ask that you make sure you pay a fair wage, limit the weight you require them to carry, and ensure they are properly clothed. Pay attention to their health when you get up in elevation, since some porters may not tell you if they feel ill. Altitude sickness is potentially fatal if ignored. Depending on where you end your trek, buses and taxis are available to take you to Pokhara, a great place on a lake to spend a few days unwinding and relaxing. Kathmandu is about a six hour bus ride from Pokhara, easily arranged once you're ready to leave the lakeside town. You can try and walk the lower stages at a faster pace maybe combining two of them into one so that more time can be spent on acclimatization on the higher stages. For example a couple of extra days can be spent at Manang and utilized by climbing to one of the many peaks around it and coming back down so as to increase the production of red blood cells. You can also see the origin of the Marsyandi river in Manang. Taking the high trail from Pisang via Ghyaru and Ngawal, and sleeping in either of those villages also helps acclimatization. As those villages are already higher in elevation than Manang, the extra acclimatization day in Manang can be skipped. The best part about this trek is the varied scenery it has to offer. You start from tropical forest in Besisahar, see terminal moraine near Manang and then move past the snow line across the Thorung La and then to the barren landscape of lower Mustang and Muktinath. Itinerary There are guesthouses in all the villages scattered along the trail so set whatever pace you like and enjoy the views. The hike between Besisahar and Bhulbhule is pleasant enough. It is the jungly bit of the hike and provides a nice contrast to the various ecosystems you will be hiking through in the coming days. Therefore I would recommend against taking a bus to Bhulbhule. It will likely take you the same amount of time either way as the road is a potholed mess and the buses are slow, uncomfortable and run infrequently. Besisahar (820 m) to Khudi: 7 km, 2.00 hrs (note: It can typically be a long journey to get to Besisahar from Kathmandu. If you can arrive at a reasonable time it's worth considering walking directly on to Khudi and stopping there for the night. It'll be more basic but cheaper than the much larger Besisahar, and it will give you a good start the next morning. The first day, usually Besisahar to Bahundanda, can be brutally hot, and ends with a long climb. Knocking a couple of hours off of this and enabling you to spend more time out of the heat of the day isn't a bad thing.) Khudi (790 m) to Bhulbhule: 2 km, 1.00 hrs