After climbing stone steps for three hours through a tangled rhododendron forest on our way to Ghorepani, we arrived in a three-house village with a small snack stand.
The cheese salesman looked like the Nepalese version of a midwestern farmer, complete with battered ball cap and an Ohio State Buckeyes T-shirt. Just then a Frenchman with flowers in his long, curly hair arrived in the village, causing nearby porters to snicker and point.
Other treks have their memorable moments, of course. You can never imagine what Annapurna has in store, no matter how much research and planning you do yes, even reading this. When I came across a goat eating marijuana plants outside of a Buddhist temple in Upper Pisang and a monk laughed and mimicked smoking a joint, that was a surprise.
Unlike most treks, the circuit follows an ancient trade route that still functions as a trade route. Exhibit A: Muktinath, where we arrived after descending 5, feet in one afternoon! Pilgrims from distant villages in Nepal and India were gathered in a temple complex where water shoots from springs and a natural gas flame burns on top of water in one of the temples. Hindus believe that Muktinath is the only place on earth where the five elements earth, wind, fire, water, and sky exist in their distinct forms.
No one seemed to mind the Western trekkers firing away with digital cameras. A donation got us included in the daily prayers. But things will change, as they have elsewhere. Locals want more development, naturally, and roads are slowly creeping up both the Marsyangdi and Kali Gandaki Valleys. Already, a network of dirt roads connect Beni with Muktinath 65 miles away. On the eastern Marsyangdi side of the range, frequent landslides make road-building difficult, but engineers are still trying.
Book a Kathmandu hotel in advance and confirm that it offers a free shuttle from the airport. Monsoon season in Nepal is June through September. The spring, between mid-March and mid-April, is when the rhododendron forests bloom, but the weather is still wet this time of year and the leeches are a nuisance at lower elevations. It can be found at every bookstore in Kathmandu.
Use Trails Illustrated map Annapurna natgeomaps. Not including airfare or rental car, but including the cost of visa to enter Nepal and trekker permit:. Note: Check what each tour operator offers, as the price varies depending on what the package includes. Cheapest is not always best. Before you go, learn the best ways to beat altitude sickness and stay healthy overall at high elevation.
Here are the most important tips to keep in mind. Give yourself time to acclimate to the elevation. Gradual height gain spread out over a number of days is key. Here are five tips for staying in teahouses:. Guides and porters are not expensive. Be sure to factor in tips. Nepal features dense jungle, as well as high elevation.
The Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization both recommend the following vaccines for Nepal: typhoid, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, and influenza. There is another trek you can take through the Annapurna Range.
A spare roll of loo paper - toilet paper can sometimes be a mythical unicorn on the Annapurna circuit, so you'll be grateful you packed this! The Annapurna trek covers everything from tropical to alpine climatic zones. The range of climatic zones you pass through is awesome and sure makes for some epic views. Expect a lot of carbs - our group was even treated to a Yak Burger over 3,m altitude in Manang!
You'll be surprised by the amount of bakeries, stocking everything from strudel to doughnuts. We recommend stopping at each of these as they're amazing! While the hike may break your leg muscles, it certainly shouldn't break your bank balance. As we've mentioned, we hiked the Annapurna Circuit on a group tour , which meant that everything except our daily meals and tipping was covered in the overall fee and had been paid before we arrived.
We'd also recommend stocking up on a heap of hiking snacks trail mix, chocolate bars, granola bars, etc to keep in your daypack for long walking days. Plus we can assure you of one thing: there is nothing quite like a celebratory mars bar at the summit of your hike! One thing you do need to note is that you won't encounter an ATM until you finish in Jomsom.
So stock up on Nepalese Rupees before you start the hike. To keep that amount of money safe, stash it in your daypack, and always keep it on you. Throughout Nepal generally, tipping isn't compulsory particularly when it comes to restaurants and drivers , but it is kind of expected when it comes to guides and porters.
Many of the locals involved in the hiking industry here actually rely upon the tips they receive from leading groups or carrying your gear. If you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll already know that we never, ever, leave for our travels without travel insurance here's why!
Whether it's a sprained ankle, severe altitude sickness, or a natural disaster let's not forget the Nepal earthquake , the unexpected can, and does, happen and it's always better to be prepared. Our personal choice is World Nomads , with added coverage for high-altitude trekking.
For many people, long treks are all about mountains and self-accomplishment, and that's totally ok. But the Annapurna Circuit is upheld as a significant cultural and sacred trail by the Nepalese, so it's important that you as a visitor also a behave accordingly, b show respect for various sites along the way dressing appropriately, not littering, etc , and c take the time to chat with the locals and trying to understanding their way of life and beliefs up here.
After all, one of the best parts of travel is the total immersion in another culture, right? Due to their altitude and remoteness, many of the villages on the trail don't have adequate waste disposal methods. Instead, they either have to burn the rubbish off not ideal , or carry it off the mountain themselves also not ideal.
In peak season, thousands of hikers traverse the paths of the Annapurna Circuit. When you stop to think about the impact that many people are likely to have on the surrounding environment and the disposable products in the form of plastic bottles, food wrappers, sunscreen bottles, etc that they're undoubtedly bringing with them, you quickly realise that a lot of waste is either being burnt, or left, behind on the mountains.
Be a responsible traveller on the Annapurna Circuit : only use a reusable water bottle , pack a tote bag or two and carry all your trash out of the national park with you. Once you've reached your teahouse for the evening and got settled in, you'll find yourself with plenty of time to chill out, socialise, eat Mim's fave! Evenings were some of our favourite times on the trek, as without all our devices and a wifi connection at hand, we had plenty of time to play cards hint: always travel with a pack of playing cards!
Here are some of our all-time faves:. We never travel without our trusty, dogeared second-hand copies of a Lonely Planet guide. They're full of interesting facts and historical content and make for great bus reading. While some information can change rapidly in this online world, ours really haven't let us down yet.
Pick up your Nepal Lonely Planet travel guide now. We read Michael Palin's Himalaya while high up in the mountains of the Annapurna Circuit, and it really gave the book and the place!
Whether you're into tales of traversing mountains, captivating love stories, or insights into Nepal's rich cultural heritage or politics, these books about Nepal absolutely have you covered! Every day, our group dedicated at least minutes each day to pondering how good the summit chocolate would be at the top. Not sure what this mysterious, albeit delicious-sounding, treat could be?!
This is the ultimate celebration at the highest peak of your trail in this case, Thorong La Pass ; your favourite chocolate bar, carefully stashed in your bag for the whole trip, and gloriously savoured at the summit. It may seem like a small thing, but we kid you not: when mixed with the sheer elation and satisfaction of having completed the hardest part of your trek, that chocolate will taste like sheer heaven.
In the meantime, here are a few quick tips to keep in mind on your Annapurna Circuit trek:. Trek with a company that aligns with your values Seek out sustainably-minded companies that care for their employees and the environment. Treat them, the people who call them home, and their local culture with respect. Also, haggle fairly. We have a heap of essential reading before tackling the Annapurna Circuit:. Learn our top general responsible travel tips , discover how to trek responsibly while in Nepal , and all of our top sustainable and responsible travel tips for Nepal too.
Click here to get the best deals with World Nomads , our trusted travel insurance provider. Wondering what gear we use to get all of our photos around the world? Click here to view our detailed photography gear guide , as well as our top travel photography tips! Have you completed the Annapurna trek yourself? Planning to hike the Annapurna Circuit soon? Share your stories and tips for trekking the Annapurna Circuit with other readers in the comments below!
We were sponsored by the Intrepid Group on their Annapurna Explorer tour , but as always, all opinions are our own. If you're considering doing the Everest Base Camp trek which is equally incredible - Mark did it in , check out ' how to prepare for a trek to Everest Base Camp ' by the awesome Flashpacking Duo.
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That, and you're officially a legend. The Common Wanderer. Location Central Nepal Trek length Generally days Distance this varies depending on route and whether you take optional side treks, but generally between km - km Height of Annapurna 1 Main the highest mountain in the Annapurna Massif m Highest point of the trek Thorong La Pass - m 17,ft.
A local is always on-hand to share expert knowledge Your team of porters also carry your heavier luggage, so you just need to keep putting one step in front of the other with your daypack on your back. You can customize the trek and take the jeep drive directly to Syange or Chame and reduce the trek itinerary by a few days. There are some individual sections of the trek where you can take a jeep ride. These newly constructed roads are not in great condition but you can manage.
So, taking a jeep or any vehicle available will reduce the total trekking days. Moreover, you will also get to observe the beautiful scenarios of the hilly landscapes, terrace farms, charming villages, and magnificent mountain views, and others. Besides that, you can also take the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara.
This will reduce the total distance and itinerary of the trek as your trip comes to an end at Jomsom. Hiring a porter reduces the difficulty of the trek by a significant amount. It is incredibly hard to trek with heavy weight on your back.
The porter can carry the weight of your clothing and gear. So, if you are trekking in the high altitude region for the first time or are not comfortable trekking with a backpack, you should hire a porter. You can thus enjoy the trek and complete it with ease. Trekking in a group will keep your mind occupied through fun interactions. Trekking along with friends, guides, and porters, will not only reduce the fatigue of the trek but will also make it exciting and memorable.
The Annapurna Circuit trek is a long duration trek on the harsh terrain of the Annapurna region. Therefore, you will require a great pair of comfortable trekking shoes to trek in the region. A pair of comfortable hiking shoes with sturdy soles will give you the extra push you need for the trek.
It will also save you from any injuries, blisters, ankle pain, and others. The Annapurna circuit trek is a long duration trek through the most remote parts of Nepal.
The trails are harsh and require immense strength and stamina to complete. Thus, a good training routine before the trek will help you immensely. Moreover, the training should include cardiovascular activities like hiking, cycling, running, swimming, and others.
These aerobic exercises will increase your stamina and boost your endurance. These training routines will also help you with altitude sickness. The Annapurna Circuit Trek is challenging, and the distance plays a significant role in determining the difficulty poolevel of the trek. The Thorong La pass is the highest point of the trek. There are several uphill and downhill climbs, along with steep and narrow ridges.
The altitude, weather, duration, and temperature are some of the factors that make the trek challenging. Besides that, the distance is another major factor that determines the difficulty of the Annapurna circuit trek.
Longer distance means that the treks are longer and thus increase in the overall difficulty of the trek. For the Annapurna Circuit Trek , you will have to walk hours. Therefore the trekking distance and trekking duration are interdependent on each other.
Beginner trekkers might find it challenging to trek continuously for long distances. Hence, trekking distance is a significant factor in the difficulty of the trek.
Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the beautiful trekking destinations of the world. The diverse landscapes, lush forests and the majestic snow-capped mountains will make you fall in love with the place. The length of the trip is an important factor to consider before starting on any trekking adventure.
I hope this article answered the pertinent question of how long is the Annapurna circuit. You can customize the trek to either shorten or lengthen the trip. Overall, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is an ultimate trekking adventure in the pristine landscapes of the Annapurna region. Jan 31, Index Adventure The Annapurna circuit trek is one of the most loved treks in the world. Share It.
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