Annapurna Circuit Short Trek - 10 Days

We will pick you up from the airport and drop you at your hotel by private vehicle on your arrival and vice-versa on your departure for free. Our representative will be at the Tribhuvan International Airport holding a pamphlet with your name. They will either present you with a Khada or Marigold garland as a welcome gesture and then take you to your hotel. You must submit your flight details to take advantage of this free service. We provide this service so you do not feel alone in a new country.

Trek start

You will arrive in Kathmandu at least one day earlier (before 3 pm) than the trek departure date. On the trek departure day, your trip guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the bus station to catch a bus to Besisahar. Local transport (from Kathmandu - Besisahar, Besisahar - Chame, Muktinath (via Jomsom) - Tatopani) is included in the package. You can book a private jeep for an extra cost.

Accommodation

The 10-day Annapurna Circuit Trek includes lodge-to-lodge stays in the trekking regions and one night in Pokhara at the best available hotel. We select the best available accommodations at all places.

You will stay five nights in twin sharing rooms with a private attached bathroom at Besisahar, Chame, Pisang, Muktinath, and Tatopani. Similarly, you will spend three nights in twin-sharing standard rooms at Manang, Ledar, and Thorong High Camp. You will stay one night at a hotel in Pokhara in a room with an attached bathroom, TV, 24-hour hot water, power, and laundry facility. Solo travelers will stay in a single private room with an attached bathroom wherever available and single private standard rooms in other places.

Two nights in Kathmandu before and after the trek may be required but is not included in the package. Kathmandu hosts a wide range of hotels to suit your tastes and budget.

Meals

This trek takes you to high elevations near the world’s highest peaks, so you need enough carbohydrates, protein, and other nutrients. We will provide you with nutritious food, but you might not have all the choices you enjoy in big cities.

We will provide 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 8 dinners in the trek region. All meals are on a full-board basis. Menu item options include traditional, Asian, and Western cuisines. However, as we go up menu list will get shorter. 

We highly recommend you take fresh vegetables and liquids such as green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup (must) at high altitudes. Further, we advise you to try popular Nepali foods, such as dal (lentil), bhat (rice), tarkari (curry), momo (dumplings), and Chow mein (noodles). 

Though plenty of non-veg items are available in trekking regions, we do not recommend them because the meat in such places may not be hygienic. We also encourage avoiding dairy items along with alcoholic drinks, caffeinated items, and hot chocolates. 

All personal bills - alcoholic drinks, hot (tea, coffee, etc.), and cold drinks - in tea houses/lodges or cafes except standard meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner with seasonal fruits) are excluded from the package. Similarly, this package does not include lunch and dinner in Pokhara.

Luggage

We assign one porter for every two trekkers, and the maximum combined load we allow a porter to carry is 18 kg. So, that calculates to a 9 kg luggage weight limit per trekker. We also expect you to carry a small backpack for your valuables. Please bring with you only the essentials. You can leave your excess luggage at your hotel or our office store. We provide free luggage storing service for our trekkers during their trek period.

Typical day

Each day you will be trekking, climbing, enjoying the scenery, taking photos, and exploring the local villages. During the expedition/trek, our expert Sherpa guide will share information and historical facts about the places you will be trekking. The porters will carry most of your luggage. However, you may also need to carry a small backpack for your valuables.

The day starts with an early morning hot cup of tea/coffee. After breakfast, you will set off on the day's walk from 7 am to 8 am, depending on the duration and nature of the walk. After trekking for three to four hours, you will have lunch around midday on the route to the next destination. You will rest for an hour and continue the trek.

The afternoon walk is generally shorter - about two to three hours. Once you reach the overnight lodge/tea house/tent, you can snack on the extra dietary food and explore the place, where you will spend the night. 

We serve dinner around 6.30 pm.  Before heading to bed, you can spend quality time in friendly conversations. Your expedition leader/guide will brief you about the next day’s plan. After this briefing, you can enjoy onboard games like Monopoly, and cards, or watch mountaineering documentaries. Most of our guests also prefer to learn common Nepali words. If reading provides you pleasure, you can pack one or two books.

Electricity and water

Throughout the lodges you will be staying during the Annapurna Circuit trek, electricity for the camera and mobile battery recharge is available for an extra cost. Similarly, you can buy packed mineral water from local lodges and en-route shops or fill your water bottle with boiled water. We also provide water purification pills if you need them. You should not drink water from the rivers, taps, and wells, in the trek regions because they may not be drinkable.

Communication

While on the Annapurna Circuit Trek, you can use internet service at the lodges for an extra service charge. But once we reach high altitudes, we will communicate using phones. The Discovery World Trekking Office remains in contact with all trek teams at least once a day via the team guide. If you want, you can buy a local SIM in Kathmandu, but depending on the network the signals may not be strong enough. 

Tipping

Nepali culture accepts and honors tipping, and it is a way to show gratitude. Tipping is at the trekkers' discretion and should be based on service quality, trek cost, and trek length. We encourage you to tip at the end of the trek and as a group.

Trek End

On the last day of your trek, you will leave Tatopani on local transport and head to Pokhara. On the way, you will leave Beni Bazaar town. Your trek ends in Pokhara. Later we will organize a farewell dinner in Kathmandu.

Feedback

At the end of the trek, Discovery World Trekking hosts a farewell dinner in Kathmandu, and after dinner, we will also present you with a trek completion certificate (hard copy). It is also a perfect time to share your experience and provide us feedback.

Useful Info

The itinerary listed above may need modification for unforeseen events beyond our control. However, we do our best to stick to the itinerary. If such a modification is unavoidable, your trek leader will decide on the alternative route after consulting all trek members. Moreover, we advise you to add two extra days for the trek so that you will not miss your international flight back home in case of delays during the trek.

Trip extension

After trip completion, if you have extra days, you can go on a sightseeing tour in Kathmandu or nearby areas. You can also go on a jungle safari in Chitwan, paragliding, rafting, canyoning, or other treks.

Departure

On your departure to your home country, we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport in a private vehicle. We hope you enjoyed your Annapurna Circuit Trek and will be back in Nepal for more exciting treks.

The weather is the most important factor when deciding to go on an Annapurna Circuit Trek Tour. Though Annapurna Circuit Trek is possible throughout the year, the trek is easier in some seasons. Trekking during spring and autumn when the skies are crystal clear makes trekking easier while allowing you to enjoy great landscape views. 

During winter, trekking gets a bit challenging due to heavy snowfall and cold temperatures, but it also excites many adventurous trekkers. Similarly, during Monsoon, the trails may get slippery, and the clouds might cover the views. Discovery World Trekking conducts Annapurna Circuit Treks throughout the year. The temperature in the mountains changes according to the altitude and seasons. Here is an overview of the weather in the high elevations of Annapurna Circuit Treks.

March-May (spring): During spring, mountain lovers and travel enthusiasts come to Annapurna Circuit trek in large numbers. In this season, the temperatures are mild, the rainfall is low, and the trekking conditions are perfect. The mean daily temperatures in the high elevations are between 5 to 0°C. Lower regions along the trek are warmer, making it pleasant for everyone to trek during this season.

The trekking season begins after March. By April, the trek route throughout the Himalayas will be aligned with red, pink, and white rhododendron flowers up to 3,000 meters. The temperature starts rising from mid-March up to mid-May. The weather is cool the skies are bright, and you can enjoy the clearest views of the mountains.

June to August (summer): The summer in Nepal lasts from June to August. The temperatures are high, but the Monsoon season coincides with summer making the trek paths wet and slippery. Monsoon generally begins at the end of June and continues till the second week of August.

At high elevations, the temperature during the days usually ranges from 10°C to 23°C and gets relatively colder at night ( 5°C to 10°C). Mornings are mainly clear, with clouds building up during the afternoon, but they disappear at night. Various plants bloom during this season, the valleys look green, and you can enjoy completely different views compared to other seasons.

September to November (autumn): The autumn season (September, October, November) is a popular season for the Annapurna Circuit treks. Moderate temperatures, mild wind, and low precipitation make autumn a perfect season for Annapurna trekking. The sun shines brightly, the skies are clear, the temperature for trekking is just right, and you can get a superb view of the mountains.

You can enjoy spectacular starry skies at night. The Monsoon will be over by early September. Daytime temperatures at high altitudes can reach 20°C. Nights are relatively colder at around 5°C. The greens that grew during the Monsoon fade to golden/amber providing a spectacular contrast against the crystal blue skies. You will see the terraced farms full of ripening grains. The environment is clean, and the lowlands are lush. The biggest festivals of Nepal - Dashain & Tihar - also fall during this season. This adds a sense of joy to all trekkers. 

December to February (winter):  Winter treks in the Annapurna circuit are also popular. The places along the Annapurna circuit trek can get cold, but it excites many trekkers. The temperature at high elevations of the Annapurna Circuit Trek can be as low as -10 °C. But the daytime is pleasant and relatively warm with enough sunlight. 

The coldest time is from late- December through early February. After late February, the climate gradually gets warmer. Despite being cold, the skies are usually clear, and the mountains are at their best. It snows at high altitudes, and the trails are the least busy. Though it might not be the best trekking season for beginners, experienced trekkers will have no problem.

Trek difficulty

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a challenging and alternative short trek to 14 Days Annapurna Circuit. The hike in the lower lands below 3,500m from Chame (2,710m) to Manang (3,540m) lasts 6 to 8 hrs per day, and in the high mountains, above 3500m, from Manang to High Camp (4,900m), you will be trekking for 3 to 4 hours per day because trek in high altitude is physically demanding. Past hiking experience would be an added advantage, but no technical experience is necessary.

Trekkers who can hike at a reasonable pace for 6-8 hours per day can complete this Annapurna Circuit Trek. It is a remote mountain journey, and the trek routes involve long climbs, steep descents, and steep forward trails through the rocky paths and the forests.  Exercising and jogging regularly for a couple of weeks before the trip is a good idea as it enhances stamina. To join the Annapurna Circuit Trek, trekkers should be in good health with fair physical fitness and have a positive attitude, self-confidence, and strong determination.

Trek safety

Although Annapurna Circuit Trek takes place at high altitudes, this trek is safe. Our itineraries are well created, keeping in mind the acclimatizing needs of the trekkers. Discovery World Trekking takes several precautions to ensure your safety so that you can enjoy your journey without any worries. Our guides have completed Intensive Wilderness First Aid training.  We check food & accommodation hygiene in the lodges/hotels we will be staying. Moreover, we also travel together for group safety. In emergencies, in coordination with your insurance company, we deploy a helicopter to bring you back to safety. 

DWT team

Our trained and experienced guides/Sherpas will accompany you during the Annapurna Circuit Trekking. For every two trekkers, we will assign a porter. Since our crew members are local people from remote high Himalayas, their physical endurance at high altitudes is phenomenal.

All our staff members are precious to us. We pay them well and cover their insurance, clothing, food, and lodging. They receive medical care when ill or injured. Discovery World Trekking believes that only a happy person can keep others happy. Hence, we try hard to keep our staff happy. 

Our crew has:

• Intensive Wilderness First Aid Training
• Government-authorized Trekking Guide Training Certificate
• Fluency in speaking English and one other major language
• Conservation and Biodiversity Training
• Rock climbing experience

Visa

All foreigners, except Indian nationals, need a valid visa to enter Nepal. You can get an on-arrival Visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport or Nepali borders touching India or Tibet. You can find more information about visas at www.immigration.gov.np

To apply for the visa, you need a passport that is at least valid for six months, one passport-size photo, and a visa fee. The current visa fee is USD 50 for 30 days stay, which you need to pay in cash. 

Chinese and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) citizens get free visas. Citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan may not get an on-arrival visa. Hence if you are a citizen of these countries, contact your local Nepali embassy.

Trek booking 

Discovery world trekking is a Nepal government-authorized and bonded trek and tour operator. Additionally, we are members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Therefore, you can book your trek/expedition with Discovery World Trekking trip with 100 percent confidence. 

We require 10 percent of the trip booking amount as advance. Please send your documents like passport copy, passport-size photos, travel insurance policy, and arrival and departure flight details within a week of booking. You can pay 10% advance using bank transfer, western union, or through our website online payment, and the remaining amount when you arrive in Nepal. We accept cash, bank transfer, or credit cards. You will also receive the payment options in your email.

You can book this EBC trek here. 

Currency Exchange

Nepali Rupees (NPR/Rs) is the local currency. (1 USD = ~ Rs.130 NPR). You can exchange major foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel. Legal money exchanges display their rates publicly.

We recommend cash exchange to avoid hassles like a lengthy process and high commission bank rates of around four percent or more. You can withdraw cash (in Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel using your international credit or debit cards. Most of these ATMs are open around the clock. The maximum withdrawal amount is 35,000 Rupees for a 500 Rupees processing for foreign cards.

Extra personal expenses

You need to arrange for meals and accommodations in Kathmandu. All meals, transfers, and accommodations required for Annapurna circuit trekking are included except for the lunch and dinner in Pokhara.

Trekkers will have to bring personal spending money to cover the costs of accommodations in Kathmandu, visa fees, travel insurance policy purchase, beverages, snacks, souvenirs, tips to the trekking crew members, and other personal expenses. We recommend you bring cash (major currencies) and exchange them in Kathmandu.

Travel Insurance 

Insurance for Annapurna Circuit Trek is compulsory. There is a slight chance of altitude sickness and other unforeseen events, such as climate change. All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking before starting the trek. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation, including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes. We can recommend insurance companies based on our clients' experiences, but we do not sell insurance policies.

Trekking members are kindly requested to send their detailed insurance information once they book the trekking. In emergencies, we will use your insurance policy and the informational documents you sent us for a quick rescue operation or to cover your medical expenses. 

Last-minute booking

For those unable to book Annapurna Circuit Trek in advance Discovery World Trekking has a provision for last-minute booking. To take advantage of this service, you need to pay 100% of the trek cost 24 hours before the trip starts. 

We try to conduct last-minute booked treks/trips on your date. However, sometimes due to circumstances beyond our control - bad weather or unavailability of lodging, there is a small chance of trek delay. For more information, contact us at 977- 9851054143 / 9840055491 (Paul Gurung) or email us at [email protected].

Group & private trek

We organize groups as well as private treks. Group discounts are available based on your team size. The bigger your team is, the more discount you will get. However, if Discovery World Trekking assembles the group, you will not be eligible for discounts. We can handle any group size. Each group will have a guide, and, for every two trekkers, we will assign a porter. For groups of 12 or more, we will arrange an assistant guide.

Responsible travel

As an eco-tour company, we are aware of the environmental consequences of our actions and try our best to protect the environment. Our policy is to leave only the footprints behind in the trek regions. Please make sure you think about the environment and not litter carelessly. Discovery World Trekking works with the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) to organize eco-friendly trips that benefit travelers and communities.

Notes

10 Days Annapurna Circuit Trek includes fixed departure dates from Kathmandu and Pokhara, and we can tailor a trip to accommodate your requests and schedule. Please review your designated departure date for this trek, and if your designated departure date does not suit your schedule, contact us. We can re-arrange the trek at your convenience.

The itinerary we listed above might need modification for unforeseen events beyond our control. However, we do our best to stick to the itinerary. 

We look forward to guiding you in the Annapurna region on a trek considered the best long trek in the world.