Annapurna Mountain Range
Annapurna Mountain Range
Annapurna Mountain Range
5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
One of Nepal's famed mountain ranges, the Annapurna consists of several peaks of varying heights. Of these, Annapurna I and Annapurna II are the tallest at almost 8000 meters providing a spectacular panoramic view for anyone visiting the Himalayas.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Annapurna Mountain Range
The area
Attractions
2 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
545 reviews
Excellent
495
Very good
38
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
5
ramesh N
Sapa, Vietnam114 contributions
Sep 2020 • Friends
I visited here during my holidays it's most likely and most visited things from pokhara to annapurna hills views was amazing and beautiful
But quite risky for patient and week people
You should be try one time in your life
But quite risky for patient and week people
You should be try one time in your life
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr R M Thapa Syangja
Putalibazar, Nepal435 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
The colours are amazing. The night sky is full of stars. Morning and evening colours are undescribably adorable. Mid morning and afternoon azure sky is something to behold. What more can I say?
Written April 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taranath Bohara
Kathmandu, Nepal134 contributions
Mar 2018
Annapurna is the Himalayan range in the central Himalayan region of Nepal. It created the trans-Himalayan valley, gorgeous views, valleys, rivers and shelters for Nepalese. The five peaks, Annapurna 1, 2, 3, 4, and the south peak with its beautiful white bodies itself a peace and cool for anyone like me. Some of the place like, Pokhara or hiking place Manang and Mustang offer to view its charming nature.
Written August 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew H
Davidson, NC129 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
The classic 4-day trek on the Poon Hill circuit is worth the sweat equity. Payback is the spectacular, front-row views of the Annapurna massif (with views of three 8,000ers) as well as glimpses of life among the local people and the dense rhododendron forests. It's a great, sometimes difficult introduction to Nepal teahouse trekking for those without much time. Here are a few notes from our trek in late November 2013:
>> Not easy. Despite lasting only three-and-a-half to five days, this is not an easy trek. Though not technical, the 6,500-foot vertical ascent to Ghorepani is a never-ending climb on a series of rocky, uneven stone steps. And it's just as steep going back down. This is not a trek for kids or anyone with knee problems. I previously hiked both the Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp treks, and save crossing the Thorung La pass at 5400m, there is nothing as steep or physically demanding on those treks as these bloody steps. We are both mid-40s and fairly fit, but ended each day wiped out.
>> What to bring: This is like following the yellow brick road. No need for guide or camping gear. Make it more enjoyable by bringing the absolute minimum: a sleeping bag (not essential as bedding is provided in teahouses), warm clothes for night, light toiletries, sunscreen, hat, aspirin, toothbrush, walking sticks (all but essential), water bottle to refill, and not much else. Cheap gear can be purchased in Kathmandu and Pokhara, especially knock-off backpacks, down jackets and sleeping bags, so don't even bother bringing it from home. Good, comfortable walking shoes are essential with grippy soles as the steps can be quite slippery. Don't forget a flashlight for finding the toilet late at night and for hiking up Poon Hill in the morning. Hiring a porter is a personal call. You can organize trekking permits in Pokhara the day before leaving; $40 per person for individual trekkers.
>> Teahouses: There's an abundance of teahouses along the route, so no need to worry about finding a place to sleep or eat. Prices are fairly cheap, with a bed costing between 200rps and 600rps per night. Basic fare and cold/hot drinks are also reasonable. Most have hot water and even Wifi at Ghorepani and Ghandrunk. Budget about 1000-1500rps per person per day for lodging, two square meals, refilling water bottles, and a light mid-day snack.
>> Transport: Expect to pay about 2000rps for a taxi from Pokhara to Nayapul. Local buses are a fraction of cost, but take twice as long. We coincided with the strikes during Nepal's November election, and got hit up for 3000rps. Haggle hard. There's a new jeep track punched in up to Kimche; we caught a jeep from there all the way back to Pokhara for 1000rps each.
>> Route: There is no mystery on figuring out where to go, but it's worth picking up a decent topo map before leaving to have an idea of the terrain you're covering. Upon arriving at Nayapul, just follow the herd of trekkers. There is a checkpoint at Birethanti for trekker's permits, with already great views of Machapuchare towering in the distance. Most people stop the first day at Tikhedhungga, a pleasant village along a raging waterfall, but we made the call to hump up the 1600-vertical-foot staircase to Ulleri the first night. This never-ending climb is rather nasty, taking us nearly two hours of steady going, but better to knock it out the first day; otherwise day 2 is brutal. Upon reaching Ulleri, walk another 100 meters or so (distance, not vertical!) to reach better guesthouses further up the trail. The first few are rather gritty, but we arrived so late and exhausted, we stayed at first place we found. Better to push on another five minutes. The reward is stellar view of Annapurna South (not seen from Tikhedhungga). Day 2 is another slog up to Ghorepani through a lovely rhododendron forest. We arrived quite early and B-lined to "Sunny Hotel," near the school on the right side of the ridgeline, easily the best lodge in Ghorepani: great food, fast service, a boisterous dining hall, and stunning views from the rooms of the entire massif. Many seem to wait to climb to Poon Hill for sunrise, but the sunset is equally spectacular. We skipped the Poon Hill-bound crowds the next morning, and went directly to the chorten at Deurali Pass, along the day's route, with similarly breath-taking views of Annapurna massif and Dhaulagiri. We enjoyed a warm cup of chai and had the view to ourselves. After a steep morning of climbing, the route is agreeable along a ridge with great views all day. Many stop at Tadapani for the night, a rather grotty collection of huts with fine views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare. We were short on time (only 16 days in-country), so we humped it down to Ghandruk, another long three-hour hump through a deep, lonely forest that makes for a long day. Ghandruk is a pleasant village with great views up into the valley that leads into the Annapurna Sanctuary (where more steps await if you're a masochist). We stayed at Annapurna Hotel; good, fast service, great views, decent food. From here, you can loop around the other side of the valley, adding another day or two to the trip, or push into the Santuary. We didn't have the luxury of time, so we started early for what we thought would be another long slog back to Nayapul. We were surprised to find a rough jeep track cut in all the way to Kimche, just 1.5hrs after an easy jaunt out of Ghandruk, and we made the call to end our trek right there. The jeep ride back down to Pokhara (1000rps per person) was a thrill unto itself, and we were not envious of the trekkers plodding along the dusty track down to Nayapul, who seemed to be looking on with envy as we sped toward the creature comforts awaiting in Pokhara. By early afternoon, we were back at Lakeside, enjoying a hot shower and sipping a cold Gurkha beer, happily reflecting on our short, but exciting adventure.
>> Overall: Great intro to Nepali-style teahouse trekking for those short on time. The loop takes in some fabulous views, interesting topography, and provides a glimpse of every-day life for the people living in the shadows of the Himalaya. Start early each day, to enjoy the sunrises, and arrive at destination in time for sunset. During busy season, there can literally be traffic jams of trekkers on narrower sections of the trail. Typically, everyone spreads out soon enough, but this is hardly a wilderness experience. The highlights are the spectacular vistas, lush forests, and contact with locals; downsides are the crowds, and those nasty steps. Enjoy!
>> Not easy. Despite lasting only three-and-a-half to five days, this is not an easy trek. Though not technical, the 6,500-foot vertical ascent to Ghorepani is a never-ending climb on a series of rocky, uneven stone steps. And it's just as steep going back down. This is not a trek for kids or anyone with knee problems. I previously hiked both the Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp treks, and save crossing the Thorung La pass at 5400m, there is nothing as steep or physically demanding on those treks as these bloody steps. We are both mid-40s and fairly fit, but ended each day wiped out.
>> What to bring: This is like following the yellow brick road. No need for guide or camping gear. Make it more enjoyable by bringing the absolute minimum: a sleeping bag (not essential as bedding is provided in teahouses), warm clothes for night, light toiletries, sunscreen, hat, aspirin, toothbrush, walking sticks (all but essential), water bottle to refill, and not much else. Cheap gear can be purchased in Kathmandu and Pokhara, especially knock-off backpacks, down jackets and sleeping bags, so don't even bother bringing it from home. Good, comfortable walking shoes are essential with grippy soles as the steps can be quite slippery. Don't forget a flashlight for finding the toilet late at night and for hiking up Poon Hill in the morning. Hiring a porter is a personal call. You can organize trekking permits in Pokhara the day before leaving; $40 per person for individual trekkers.
>> Teahouses: There's an abundance of teahouses along the route, so no need to worry about finding a place to sleep or eat. Prices are fairly cheap, with a bed costing between 200rps and 600rps per night. Basic fare and cold/hot drinks are also reasonable. Most have hot water and even Wifi at Ghorepani and Ghandrunk. Budget about 1000-1500rps per person per day for lodging, two square meals, refilling water bottles, and a light mid-day snack.
>> Transport: Expect to pay about 2000rps for a taxi from Pokhara to Nayapul. Local buses are a fraction of cost, but take twice as long. We coincided with the strikes during Nepal's November election, and got hit up for 3000rps. Haggle hard. There's a new jeep track punched in up to Kimche; we caught a jeep from there all the way back to Pokhara for 1000rps each.
>> Route: There is no mystery on figuring out where to go, but it's worth picking up a decent topo map before leaving to have an idea of the terrain you're covering. Upon arriving at Nayapul, just follow the herd of trekkers. There is a checkpoint at Birethanti for trekker's permits, with already great views of Machapuchare towering in the distance. Most people stop the first day at Tikhedhungga, a pleasant village along a raging waterfall, but we made the call to hump up the 1600-vertical-foot staircase to Ulleri the first night. This never-ending climb is rather nasty, taking us nearly two hours of steady going, but better to knock it out the first day; otherwise day 2 is brutal. Upon reaching Ulleri, walk another 100 meters or so (distance, not vertical!) to reach better guesthouses further up the trail. The first few are rather gritty, but we arrived so late and exhausted, we stayed at first place we found. Better to push on another five minutes. The reward is stellar view of Annapurna South (not seen from Tikhedhungga). Day 2 is another slog up to Ghorepani through a lovely rhododendron forest. We arrived quite early and B-lined to "Sunny Hotel," near the school on the right side of the ridgeline, easily the best lodge in Ghorepani: great food, fast service, a boisterous dining hall, and stunning views from the rooms of the entire massif. Many seem to wait to climb to Poon Hill for sunrise, but the sunset is equally spectacular. We skipped the Poon Hill-bound crowds the next morning, and went directly to the chorten at Deurali Pass, along the day's route, with similarly breath-taking views of Annapurna massif and Dhaulagiri. We enjoyed a warm cup of chai and had the view to ourselves. After a steep morning of climbing, the route is agreeable along a ridge with great views all day. Many stop at Tadapani for the night, a rather grotty collection of huts with fine views of Annapurna South and Machapuchare. We were short on time (only 16 days in-country), so we humped it down to Ghandruk, another long three-hour hump through a deep, lonely forest that makes for a long day. Ghandruk is a pleasant village with great views up into the valley that leads into the Annapurna Sanctuary (where more steps await if you're a masochist). We stayed at Annapurna Hotel; good, fast service, great views, decent food. From here, you can loop around the other side of the valley, adding another day or two to the trip, or push into the Santuary. We didn't have the luxury of time, so we started early for what we thought would be another long slog back to Nayapul. We were surprised to find a rough jeep track cut in all the way to Kimche, just 1.5hrs after an easy jaunt out of Ghandruk, and we made the call to end our trek right there. The jeep ride back down to Pokhara (1000rps per person) was a thrill unto itself, and we were not envious of the trekkers plodding along the dusty track down to Nayapul, who seemed to be looking on with envy as we sped toward the creature comforts awaiting in Pokhara. By early afternoon, we were back at Lakeside, enjoying a hot shower and sipping a cold Gurkha beer, happily reflecting on our short, but exciting adventure.
>> Overall: Great intro to Nepali-style teahouse trekking for those short on time. The loop takes in some fabulous views, interesting topography, and provides a glimpse of every-day life for the people living in the shadows of the Himalaya. Start early each day, to enjoy the sunrises, and arrive at destination in time for sunset. During busy season, there can literally be traffic jams of trekkers on narrower sections of the trail. Typically, everyone spreads out soon enough, but this is hardly a wilderness experience. The highlights are the spectacular vistas, lush forests, and contact with locals; downsides are the crowds, and those nasty steps. Enjoy!
Written November 28, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Connie7787
Waihi Beach, New Zealand6 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
This trek is stunning, and despite how busy it gets with the crazy amount of people that go there it is definitely worth it. If you are doing this trek don't cut yourself short on time. Go there to go trekking and really appreciate the scenery and where you are in this world as it is incredible. There will be a bit of info in this review as my partner and I found it quite difficult to find reviews and blogs that were actually helpful in what you should do and bring for trekking this circuit in Nepal, so be patient and try and read it all.
Firstly you need to figure out how much money to take with you as there are no ATM on the whole trek. On average estimate that you will spend $25 US/ 2500 Rupees per person a day. Give yourself leeway on how many days you calculate in case you get sick or injured, an extra 2/3 days should be sufficient. Bring currency from home with you to Kathmandu and change it over there into Nepalese Rupees as a lot of the ATM can be unreliable and also the transaction fee is charged both ends, $5 in Kathmandu and around $15-20 on your end and thats for a maximum withdrawal of $350 US. Also get your trekking permits in Kathmandu, its far easier then in Besi Sahar as everything is in once place, you need 4 passports photos each for this (with 2 aside for your Visa on arrival in Nepal so 6 in total) and travel insurance details.
Depending on your fitness level and age you don't need to have a guide or porter, you can do this trek simply with a good map and others for good company. Yes you might not learn some interesting things about the area and you have to figure out yourself which mountain is which and find somewhere to sleep each night (plenty of guides around to ask), but we learnt with those who took a guide did plenty of road walking and missed some tracks that are quite amazing. Make sure that you start from Besi Sahar and avoid catching any transport to Chame or the other towns to shorten your time on the track. Firstly it helps with acclimatising to altitude later on and the roads are really uncomfortable when in a vehicle, secondly you miss some stunning rainforest/mountain scenery. Take transport once over the pass if you chose to. You can also avoid plenty of walking on the road if you follow the red and white markers that are painted everywhere and the track on your map is the same colour to show the trekking trail and not road trail!!! I would recommend going in November as well. You miss the crazy busy season so its more peaceful and you can do some good bargaining on your accommodation at night. Most of the time we were able to secure free accommodation and sometimes free hot shower and wifi, as long as we ate our dinner and breakfast with them. The higher you get the less likely that will happen but you can still get a good price as it is the off season. Definitely take the extra days and hike to Tilicho lake. It is stunning but will also test you as to whether you are ready to hike the pass. Do take a rest day in Menang. It is just nice having a sleep in and resting your legs with no load on your back.
Make sure you take warm clothing with you, that is essential, and I don't care what people say about how you can do the trek without a sleeping bag to lighten the load, if we didn't have ours we would have had some of the worst night sleeps ever!! you definitely need one, our sleeping bag was a life saver!! down jacket is a must, thermals, track pants and hoody for the evening, warm socks for sleeping in and a change of shoes like trainers so you can take your boots off. It can get to -20C at night you need to make sure you are warm. Those people we saw who didn't have sleeping bags or warm clothing just looked miserable (this was the month of November)
As for what you need for trekking in, the most important thing out of everything DO NOT BUY COTTON CLOTHING!!!!! its uncomfortable, doesn't dry quickly and smells, buy polyester quick dry clothing, otherwise you don't need much. 3x t-shirts ( 2 for hiking 1 for sleeping) 4x hiking socks (2x lightweight for warm climate, 2x thick for in the mountain) we took ankle sports socks to wear underneath our hiking socks so we could wear our hiking socks days on end, ladies a sports bra! a fleece, windproof and waterproof jacket, hiking pants, beanie, scarf, gloves, minimal knickers/boxers i.e 6 each, thermal base layer for when you do the pass, and this is optional but for us we love them: skins, aka 2XU aka sports compression tights. You get dirty and sweat so all you do is wash and rotate your clothing daily and just keep clean warm clothing for the evening, a sun hat and finally walking poles. Yes you might feel silly but these things are great!
Now as for what you should purchase in Kathmandu and what you should bring with you from home. Definitely buy hiking boots at home and break them in, 100% must. You are setting yourself up for some sore feet and miserable times if you buy them out there. Buy your backpack at home as well as you have more options and better quality so you buy the right one. Asides that everything else you can purchase in Kathmandu; t-shirts, socks, thermals, hiking pants, track pants, beanie, gloves, scarf etc. You can even get a good down jacket and sleeping bag in Kathmandu, just be prepared to do a bit more shopping around for those items. A place we can recommend where a lot of people go is Shona's Alpine (just along from famous Rum Doodle restaurant). They make their own down jacket and sleeping bags and have a fixed price so the quality is better. We noticed if any shop are making their own items like sleeping bags and down jackets in their store then they are usually better quality than the imitation stuff.
Now the stupid little things. Ladies if you don't mind having grubby hair then don't bother with shampoo and conditioner, it is just too cold to wash it and have wet hair. Obviously take soap, face wash, deodorant, tooth brush, tooth paste and moisturiser (your skin gets very dry) sun block definitely and if you can deep heat for your sore muscles. Drinking water bottles, your camera, phone and make sure you download the maps.me app and Nepal map before you leave, it shows all the hiking trails and gives you distance and terrain levels, lip balm, sunglasses, antibacterial hand gel and travel towel. Another essential is a basic first aid kit: band aids, strapping tape, immodium, painkillers, aspirin, electrolyte, antibacterial ointment and iodine (water purifiers). You will need toilet paper for the whole trek but this can be bought in every tea house or shop along the way. If you do run out of anything you can stock up along the way especially in Menang for most things asides deodorant.
I believe that is everything, just follow as much of the red and white hiking trail as possible and you will have an amazing time and maybe a lot of the time it could just be you on the track and no one else. Visit Kagbeni as well as you will get a taste of what a Tibetan style village and people are like. A great place called The Green Kitchen in Kagbeni is definitely worth going for a feed. The prices may be a little higher but it was hands down the best food we ate on the whole trek, especially the Ema Dashi dish yum yum! the lady will recommend dishes so just go with it. In Kathmandu hunt down Yak Horn restaurant in Thamel, its new, not very obvious but again some awesome food. Hope this review was helpful and not too much of an overload on info. Enjoy Nepal guys its awesome!
Firstly you need to figure out how much money to take with you as there are no ATM on the whole trek. On average estimate that you will spend $25 US/ 2500 Rupees per person a day. Give yourself leeway on how many days you calculate in case you get sick or injured, an extra 2/3 days should be sufficient. Bring currency from home with you to Kathmandu and change it over there into Nepalese Rupees as a lot of the ATM can be unreliable and also the transaction fee is charged both ends, $5 in Kathmandu and around $15-20 on your end and thats for a maximum withdrawal of $350 US. Also get your trekking permits in Kathmandu, its far easier then in Besi Sahar as everything is in once place, you need 4 passports photos each for this (with 2 aside for your Visa on arrival in Nepal so 6 in total) and travel insurance details.
Depending on your fitness level and age you don't need to have a guide or porter, you can do this trek simply with a good map and others for good company. Yes you might not learn some interesting things about the area and you have to figure out yourself which mountain is which and find somewhere to sleep each night (plenty of guides around to ask), but we learnt with those who took a guide did plenty of road walking and missed some tracks that are quite amazing. Make sure that you start from Besi Sahar and avoid catching any transport to Chame or the other towns to shorten your time on the track. Firstly it helps with acclimatising to altitude later on and the roads are really uncomfortable when in a vehicle, secondly you miss some stunning rainforest/mountain scenery. Take transport once over the pass if you chose to. You can also avoid plenty of walking on the road if you follow the red and white markers that are painted everywhere and the track on your map is the same colour to show the trekking trail and not road trail!!! I would recommend going in November as well. You miss the crazy busy season so its more peaceful and you can do some good bargaining on your accommodation at night. Most of the time we were able to secure free accommodation and sometimes free hot shower and wifi, as long as we ate our dinner and breakfast with them. The higher you get the less likely that will happen but you can still get a good price as it is the off season. Definitely take the extra days and hike to Tilicho lake. It is stunning but will also test you as to whether you are ready to hike the pass. Do take a rest day in Menang. It is just nice having a sleep in and resting your legs with no load on your back.
Make sure you take warm clothing with you, that is essential, and I don't care what people say about how you can do the trek without a sleeping bag to lighten the load, if we didn't have ours we would have had some of the worst night sleeps ever!! you definitely need one, our sleeping bag was a life saver!! down jacket is a must, thermals, track pants and hoody for the evening, warm socks for sleeping in and a change of shoes like trainers so you can take your boots off. It can get to -20C at night you need to make sure you are warm. Those people we saw who didn't have sleeping bags or warm clothing just looked miserable (this was the month of November)
As for what you need for trekking in, the most important thing out of everything DO NOT BUY COTTON CLOTHING!!!!! its uncomfortable, doesn't dry quickly and smells, buy polyester quick dry clothing, otherwise you don't need much. 3x t-shirts ( 2 for hiking 1 for sleeping) 4x hiking socks (2x lightweight for warm climate, 2x thick for in the mountain) we took ankle sports socks to wear underneath our hiking socks so we could wear our hiking socks days on end, ladies a sports bra! a fleece, windproof and waterproof jacket, hiking pants, beanie, scarf, gloves, minimal knickers/boxers i.e 6 each, thermal base layer for when you do the pass, and this is optional but for us we love them: skins, aka 2XU aka sports compression tights. You get dirty and sweat so all you do is wash and rotate your clothing daily and just keep clean warm clothing for the evening, a sun hat and finally walking poles. Yes you might feel silly but these things are great!
Now as for what you should purchase in Kathmandu and what you should bring with you from home. Definitely buy hiking boots at home and break them in, 100% must. You are setting yourself up for some sore feet and miserable times if you buy them out there. Buy your backpack at home as well as you have more options and better quality so you buy the right one. Asides that everything else you can purchase in Kathmandu; t-shirts, socks, thermals, hiking pants, track pants, beanie, gloves, scarf etc. You can even get a good down jacket and sleeping bag in Kathmandu, just be prepared to do a bit more shopping around for those items. A place we can recommend where a lot of people go is Shona's Alpine (just along from famous Rum Doodle restaurant). They make their own down jacket and sleeping bags and have a fixed price so the quality is better. We noticed if any shop are making their own items like sleeping bags and down jackets in their store then they are usually better quality than the imitation stuff.
Now the stupid little things. Ladies if you don't mind having grubby hair then don't bother with shampoo and conditioner, it is just too cold to wash it and have wet hair. Obviously take soap, face wash, deodorant, tooth brush, tooth paste and moisturiser (your skin gets very dry) sun block definitely and if you can deep heat for your sore muscles. Drinking water bottles, your camera, phone and make sure you download the maps.me app and Nepal map before you leave, it shows all the hiking trails and gives you distance and terrain levels, lip balm, sunglasses, antibacterial hand gel and travel towel. Another essential is a basic first aid kit: band aids, strapping tape, immodium, painkillers, aspirin, electrolyte, antibacterial ointment and iodine (water purifiers). You will need toilet paper for the whole trek but this can be bought in every tea house or shop along the way. If you do run out of anything you can stock up along the way especially in Menang for most things asides deodorant.
I believe that is everything, just follow as much of the red and white hiking trail as possible and you will have an amazing time and maybe a lot of the time it could just be you on the track and no one else. Visit Kagbeni as well as you will get a taste of what a Tibetan style village and people are like. A great place called The Green Kitchen in Kagbeni is definitely worth going for a feed. The prices may be a little higher but it was hands down the best food we ate on the whole trek, especially the Ema Dashi dish yum yum! the lady will recommend dishes so just go with it. In Kathmandu hunt down Yak Horn restaurant in Thamel, its new, not very obvious but again some awesome food. Hope this review was helpful and not too much of an overload on info. Enjoy Nepal guys its awesome!
Written December 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunny D
Kolkata (Calcutta), India265 contributions
Dec 2017 • Friends
The main reason for planning ABC trek in December was "clear visibility of mountains" in winter.
Kolkata, India - I started on 22nd December along with my friends and boarded Mithila Express train.
Reached Raxaul at 11 am IST. It's written on my debit card that it's not valid in Nepal and Bhutan so We visited the nearby ATM at Raxaul bazar for transaction just to make sure that We have enough cash for the trek.
Then It was 30 minutes of bumpy Tempo or Auto ride and reached Birgunj bus stand (20 Indian rupees per head).
The last bus for Pokhara leaves around 1 - 1:30 PM. Though one hour of rest would be enough. So We booked the tickets (luckily got 2nd last row).
Bus ticket - 470 NPR per head. Thye don't operate shared Sumo or Jeep for Pokhara.
It was expected to reach Pokhara around 8 pm but we reached at 11.30 PM due to poor condition of the roads between Narayanghat and Munglin.
There are many hotels @Lakeside Pokhara and even asking for rooms in different hotels at midnight is not a problem. It's safe.
Stayed at Hotel lakefront @4500 rs per day. The hotel was amazing and the surrounding view in the morning through the hotel room was breath taking.
We wanted to stay in Pokhara after the trek so we started preparing for TIMS, ACAP and trekking equipments.
Since I am a local guy, I had to manage all the things for my Indian friends. Went to Hallanchowk and asked for sleeping bag (-10 degree).
There are many shops who lends to equipments. I asked my hotel manager to arrange TIMS and ACAP as we didn't have much time (wanted to reach Ghandruk by evening and the tourism office opens at 10 am). TIMS and ACAP (650 /- rs per head).
Meanwhile I was busy at arranging other things and within 2 hours, -10 degree north face sleeping bag (100 rs NPR per day though there was another for 50rs per day but of poor quality), The Jeep for Kimche (6500 rs NPR) and the Porters were ready (1500 NPR per day).
Bought chocolates, dry fruits and bottles of juice. Everything was ready by 10 AM but we were waiting for a couple of friends who were coming via Biratnagar / Kakadvitta route. They reached Pokhara around 10.45 AM. Got their PP photos clicked (4 PP photos required, 2 each for TIMS and APAC) and we were ready.
Started at 1 PM. We all are lazy and unfit and we knew we will take double time to trek than mentioned / expected time.
Day 1) Pokhara - Nayapul - Birethanti (they check your permit here) -> Kimche (by Sumo, reached Kimche at 4 PM).
The view was wonderful. After crossing the bridge at Bire, It was green Modi river on the right side, the scenic villages all the way upto Kimche.
We walked for One and a half hour and reached Ghandruk. Night stay at Ghandruk. It was the biggest hotel (4 storeys).
room charge - 1000 rs for double bed.
Food - 550 per head for unlimited Dal Bhat Thali.
Day 2) We all are very lazy and it was winter. So tried our best to wake up at 6 and start the 2nd day by 7 am but somehow we started at 9 am after giving our best efforts. Walked steadily for sometime and Reached Kakrong around 12.30 pm and had our lunch here. Spent 2 hours here because the front view was horrible. We knew we will have to get down completely and climb up another hill and nobody was willing to move ahead haha.
We reached Chhomrong at 6.15 PM. It was very cold. Night stay @Chhomrong.
Day 3) Again, We could not start early and started at 9 AM. The view was wonderful and we were getting closer to the mountains. Fishtail mountain was on 3d mode it seems. Enjoyed the first half hour of the trek. It was down trail for one hour but but but It was horribly steep after that.
Reached lower Sinuwa at 1 PM, had lunch and passed by a beautiful village of Upper Sinuwa. Reached Bamboo around 4. The mountains and villages dissappeared and dark trees appeared and reached Dovan at 6.30 PM. Stayed here.
day 4) Started at 8 AM as it was supposed to be the longest walk. Reached Himalaya at 10, It was all jungle till Deurali. Had lunch here and then we reached MBC at 6 PM. The mountains were in light pink colour on the way. Couldn't stop clicking 100 plus photos. Stayd here.
day 5) Woke up at 9 am and started the trek at 11 am. It took 2 and a half hours to reach ABC. The wind was very strong on the way. It was even blowing away our gloves and half filled water bottles. The cold air was hitting the face strongly. We couldn't capture the pics properly as Gloves became a necessity. Reach ABC in the afternoon. It was very very cold. Moved ahead to see nearby glacier. This was the most beautiful view. The melted glacier from 6-7 mountains merging ad forming a bigger one. Stayed here for a night. Had to wake up around 2 am for washroom. When i went out, my body started shaking automatically. One more foreigner came out and he had the instrument for measuring temperature. It was minus 18.
Woke up again at 5 am for sunrise. We all went out. Though it was extreme cold outside but it was worth taking the pain, the mountains were that amazing on that morning. Golden mountains.. Wow.
Sleeping bag was not required anywhere during the drek as they provide thick raw cotton blanket.
day 6) ABC to Dovan - started at 8 am and reached Bamboo at 3.30 PM
day 7) Dovan to Jhinu danda - Started at 8 and reached Jhinu at 3 Pm. Took hot spring shower.
day 8) Jhinu danda to Pokhara - Started at 8 am and reached Siwai around 12.30. Siwai to Pokhara by Jeep. There are buses too but we decided to go by Jeep. 5000 rs/ they charged.
Lodging cost :-
Ghandruk - 1000 for double bed.
Chhomrong - 450 for triple bed.
Dovan - 300 for triple bed.
MBC-400 for triple bed.
ABC-400 for triple bed.
Bamboo - 400 for triple bed.
Jhinu - 500 for double bed.
Need not worry about rooms during season time also. If you don't get room, They will adjust you in big dining hall along with other 20-25 people.
There are sufficient number to lodges to accomodate you anytime.
Food Cost :-
- 550/- for dal bhat 2 sabji and pickle at Ghandruk.
400-500 rs/- everywhere and 600-700 at MBC and ABC.
double Umlet - 250-300 rs and 450-500 at higher alti.
cold drink - 180 to 200 rs- and 300 at higher altitude.
Noodles maggi type - 250-300.. 450-500 at higher alti.
Chowmein (veg) - same as dal bhat thali.
Pizza - 500-800rs.
Soup - 200-400. 350-500 at MBC and ABC.
Snickers or chocolates - 600-700 rs/- at MBC and ABC
Transporation :-
Pokhara lakeside to Kimche - 6500/-
Siwai to Pokhara - 5000/-
Raxaul to Pokhara - 470 per head.
Biratnagar . Kakadvitta to Pokhara - 1000 to 1300 per head.
sleeping bag :-
50/- per day for normal one.
100/- per day for Northface -5 or -10 degree.
Hotel Cost @Pokhara - starts from 700 - 800/-. You will get a decent double bed room with attached bathroom for 1000/- and a 3 star type for 4-5k.
Guide charge - 2k per day.
Porter charge - 1.5k per day.
Permit:-
APAC - 300/- per head.
TIMS - 350/- per head.
Agencies can get it for you. They charge 1k to 1.2k per head for both TIMS and APAC.
Route :-
1) Pokhara - kimche (jeep) - Ghandruk - Komrong - Chhomrong - Sinuwa - Bamboo - Dovan - Himalaya - Deurali - MBC - ABC.
2) Pokhara - Siwai (jeep) - Kyumi - New Bridge - Jhinu - Chhomrong - Sinuwa - Bamboo - Dovan - Himalaya - Deurali - MBC - ABC.
3) Pokhara - Kande (jeep) - Australian camp - Pothana - Lhandruk - New Bridge - Jhinu - Chhomrong - Sinuwa - Bamboo - Dovan - Himalaya - Deurali - MBC - ABC.
Note - Route 1 and Route 2 meet at Chhomrong. Route 2 is the shortest. It's the most comfortable too with climbing starts only at Jhinu.
Route 2 and Route 3 meet somewhere near New Bridge and also at Kyumi.
Route 2 - shortest
Route 1
Route 3 - longest.
I preferred route 1 for going up as we had fresh legs and route 2 for coming down just to make sure the route doesn't become monotonous.
December End Temperature -
Pleasant at Pokhara.
Cold at Ghandruk (-2 to -3), Chhomrong (-2 to -5) and Dovan (-2 to -7).
Extreme cold at MBC (-10 to -15) and ABC (-12 to -20)
Kolkata, India - I started on 22nd December along with my friends and boarded Mithila Express train.
Reached Raxaul at 11 am IST. It's written on my debit card that it's not valid in Nepal and Bhutan so We visited the nearby ATM at Raxaul bazar for transaction just to make sure that We have enough cash for the trek.
Then It was 30 minutes of bumpy Tempo or Auto ride and reached Birgunj bus stand (20 Indian rupees per head).
The last bus for Pokhara leaves around 1 - 1:30 PM. Though one hour of rest would be enough. So We booked the tickets (luckily got 2nd last row).
Bus ticket - 470 NPR per head. Thye don't operate shared Sumo or Jeep for Pokhara.
It was expected to reach Pokhara around 8 pm but we reached at 11.30 PM due to poor condition of the roads between Narayanghat and Munglin.
There are many hotels @Lakeside Pokhara and even asking for rooms in different hotels at midnight is not a problem. It's safe.
Stayed at Hotel lakefront @4500 rs per day. The hotel was amazing and the surrounding view in the morning through the hotel room was breath taking.
We wanted to stay in Pokhara after the trek so we started preparing for TIMS, ACAP and trekking equipments.
Since I am a local guy, I had to manage all the things for my Indian friends. Went to Hallanchowk and asked for sleeping bag (-10 degree).
There are many shops who lends to equipments. I asked my hotel manager to arrange TIMS and ACAP as we didn't have much time (wanted to reach Ghandruk by evening and the tourism office opens at 10 am). TIMS and ACAP (650 /- rs per head).
Meanwhile I was busy at arranging other things and within 2 hours, -10 degree north face sleeping bag (100 rs NPR per day though there was another for 50rs per day but of poor quality), The Jeep for Kimche (6500 rs NPR) and the Porters were ready (1500 NPR per day).
Bought chocolates, dry fruits and bottles of juice. Everything was ready by 10 AM but we were waiting for a couple of friends who were coming via Biratnagar / Kakadvitta route. They reached Pokhara around 10.45 AM. Got their PP photos clicked (4 PP photos required, 2 each for TIMS and APAC) and we were ready.
Started at 1 PM. We all are lazy and unfit and we knew we will take double time to trek than mentioned / expected time.
Day 1) Pokhara - Nayapul - Birethanti (they check your permit here) -> Kimche (by Sumo, reached Kimche at 4 PM).
The view was wonderful. After crossing the bridge at Bire, It was green Modi river on the right side, the scenic villages all the way upto Kimche.
We walked for One and a half hour and reached Ghandruk. Night stay at Ghandruk. It was the biggest hotel (4 storeys).
room charge - 1000 rs for double bed.
Food - 550 per head for unlimited Dal Bhat Thali.
Day 2) We all are very lazy and it was winter. So tried our best to wake up at 6 and start the 2nd day by 7 am but somehow we started at 9 am after giving our best efforts. Walked steadily for sometime and Reached Kakrong around 12.30 pm and had our lunch here. Spent 2 hours here because the front view was horrible. We knew we will have to get down completely and climb up another hill and nobody was willing to move ahead haha.
We reached Chhomrong at 6.15 PM. It was very cold. Night stay @Chhomrong.
Day 3) Again, We could not start early and started at 9 AM. The view was wonderful and we were getting closer to the mountains. Fishtail mountain was on 3d mode it seems. Enjoyed the first half hour of the trek. It was down trail for one hour but but but It was horribly steep after that.
Reached lower Sinuwa at 1 PM, had lunch and passed by a beautiful village of Upper Sinuwa. Reached Bamboo around 4. The mountains and villages dissappeared and dark trees appeared and reached Dovan at 6.30 PM. Stayed here.
day 4) Started at 8 AM as it was supposed to be the longest walk. Reached Himalaya at 10, It was all jungle till Deurali. Had lunch here and then we reached MBC at 6 PM. The mountains were in light pink colour on the way. Couldn't stop clicking 100 plus photos. Stayd here.
day 5) Woke up at 9 am and started the trek at 11 am. It took 2 and a half hours to reach ABC. The wind was very strong on the way. It was even blowing away our gloves and half filled water bottles. The cold air was hitting the face strongly. We couldn't capture the pics properly as Gloves became a necessity. Reach ABC in the afternoon. It was very very cold. Moved ahead to see nearby glacier. This was the most beautiful view. The melted glacier from 6-7 mountains merging ad forming a bigger one. Stayed here for a night. Had to wake up around 2 am for washroom. When i went out, my body started shaking automatically. One more foreigner came out and he had the instrument for measuring temperature. It was minus 18.
Woke up again at 5 am for sunrise. We all went out. Though it was extreme cold outside but it was worth taking the pain, the mountains were that amazing on that morning. Golden mountains.. Wow.
Sleeping bag was not required anywhere during the drek as they provide thick raw cotton blanket.
day 6) ABC to Dovan - started at 8 am and reached Bamboo at 3.30 PM
day 7) Dovan to Jhinu danda - Started at 8 and reached Jhinu at 3 Pm. Took hot spring shower.
day 8) Jhinu danda to Pokhara - Started at 8 am and reached Siwai around 12.30. Siwai to Pokhara by Jeep. There are buses too but we decided to go by Jeep. 5000 rs/ they charged.
Lodging cost :-
Ghandruk - 1000 for double bed.
Chhomrong - 450 for triple bed.
Dovan - 300 for triple bed.
MBC-400 for triple bed.
ABC-400 for triple bed.
Bamboo - 400 for triple bed.
Jhinu - 500 for double bed.
Need not worry about rooms during season time also. If you don't get room, They will adjust you in big dining hall along with other 20-25 people.
There are sufficient number to lodges to accomodate you anytime.
Food Cost :-
- 550/- for dal bhat 2 sabji and pickle at Ghandruk.
400-500 rs/- everywhere and 600-700 at MBC and ABC.
double Umlet - 250-300 rs and 450-500 at higher alti.
cold drink - 180 to 200 rs- and 300 at higher altitude.
Noodles maggi type - 250-300.. 450-500 at higher alti.
Chowmein (veg) - same as dal bhat thali.
Pizza - 500-800rs.
Soup - 200-400. 350-500 at MBC and ABC.
Snickers or chocolates - 600-700 rs/- at MBC and ABC
Transporation :-
Pokhara lakeside to Kimche - 6500/-
Siwai to Pokhara - 5000/-
Raxaul to Pokhara - 470 per head.
Biratnagar . Kakadvitta to Pokhara - 1000 to 1300 per head.
sleeping bag :-
50/- per day for normal one.
100/- per day for Northface -5 or -10 degree.
Hotel Cost @Pokhara - starts from 700 - 800/-. You will get a decent double bed room with attached bathroom for 1000/- and a 3 star type for 4-5k.
Guide charge - 2k per day.
Porter charge - 1.5k per day.
Permit:-
APAC - 300/- per head.
TIMS - 350/- per head.
Agencies can get it for you. They charge 1k to 1.2k per head for both TIMS and APAC.
Route :-
1) Pokhara - kimche (jeep) - Ghandruk - Komrong - Chhomrong - Sinuwa - Bamboo - Dovan - Himalaya - Deurali - MBC - ABC.
2) Pokhara - Siwai (jeep) - Kyumi - New Bridge - Jhinu - Chhomrong - Sinuwa - Bamboo - Dovan - Himalaya - Deurali - MBC - ABC.
3) Pokhara - Kande (jeep) - Australian camp - Pothana - Lhandruk - New Bridge - Jhinu - Chhomrong - Sinuwa - Bamboo - Dovan - Himalaya - Deurali - MBC - ABC.
Note - Route 1 and Route 2 meet at Chhomrong. Route 2 is the shortest. It's the most comfortable too with climbing starts only at Jhinu.
Route 2 and Route 3 meet somewhere near New Bridge and also at Kyumi.
Route 2 - shortest
Route 1
Route 3 - longest.
I preferred route 1 for going up as we had fresh legs and route 2 for coming down just to make sure the route doesn't become monotonous.
December End Temperature -
Pleasant at Pokhara.
Cold at Ghandruk (-2 to -3), Chhomrong (-2 to -5) and Dovan (-2 to -7).
Extreme cold at MBC (-10 to -15) and ABC (-12 to -20)
Written February 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lyn j
northern California14 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
This is a trip report from the perspective of a first-timer in Nepal who did the Annapurna Circuit in first three weeks of October, 2013. My two main messages:
1) *Don't believe the stories* of dust-choked, traffic-filled, masses of people on the AC. The trek, which goes from less than 3000 feet to almost 18,000, and back to 3000, is extraordinary, taking you through endlessly changing microclimates, plants, birds, people, rocks, and villages. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
2) *It's totally doable* in your middle-age, and without massive physical training, if you hire a porter. I'm in my late 40s and my friend is in her early 60s. We are in good shape, but we didn't do any super-hard training before we went, beyond 3 mile hill walks 4-5 times a week and a few weekends of 8 hour hikes. And we live at sea-level. Yes, walking at altitude is hard, and crossing the pass is really hard. But if you're considering doing it, DO IT! It's amazing.
+Timing+: We went in the first three weeks of October last year, which was the very end of the monsoon season. We did get some rain in the beginning, but it wasn't a problem because the weather was so hot. The rain cooled things down a bit. The only problem with rain was that our clothes didn't dry until we got up to about 10,000 feet :-). Perhaps because of the timing, the lodges were nearly empty all the way until Manang. It was hard to believe that a week or two later all the villages would be full. There were many days, especially prior to Manang, that we would see only 1 or 2 other groups of hikers at most during the day. We got snow going over the pass, which was absolutely magical.
+Route+: We started in Besisihar and ended in Tatopani. Technically the full trek ended in Marpha because we took a bus from Marpha to Tatopani. DO NOT skip the lower part of the trek on the east side, even though it seems many people do. You simply won't appreciate the incredible diversity of plants, rocks, birds, and people if you haven't walked through it. Also, it may be that, ironically, the lower areas on the east side are less traveled now because so many people have chosen to skip them because of the bad reports of the road. This route took us 17 days.
+Guide+: Since we had no idea what the trip would take out of us physically, we first decided to hire just a porter/guide, and then added an actual porter because there were two of us and we had too much stuff for one person. We thought that perhaps they would split up the gear, but the original porter/guide ended up being just a guide, and our porter ended up carrying both of our stuff. They were quite clear that they did not want to carry more than 15 kg, but no doubt our porter ended up carrying more than that even though we tried to pack as lightly as possible.
I don't know if it's ok to post this, but I will try: I cannot recommend our guide and the trekking agency highly enough. They were extraordinary. Prem Rai is the owner of the agency, and he is the author of the NATT guides (http://www.nepal-dia.de/int__England/AE_Book/ae_book.html) along with Belgian Andrees de Ruiter. Prem's website is http://trekwithpremrai.blogspot.com and he can also be found on Facebook. He is passionate about preserving the experience of the AC despite the roads, which is why he and others are developing the NATT Trails, which in the case of the AC take you up the Marsyangdi river valley but use alternate local trails to avoid the roads. Prem and his wife and children live in Pokhara and he is very serious about training his people. Our guide was Mahesh Kulung and our porter was Bhim Khulung. Both were experienced, kind, patient, and knowledgeable. It was a true pleasure getting to know them, and having them along meant that we did not have to worry about anything beyond the intensity of the walking itself. Even better, we got to know them and learned about their life in their farming villages. Mahesh has his own lodge in Landruk.
+Road situation+: On the east side of the pass, the roads were very lightly traveled. While we had expected to *only* take the NATT trails (indeed, that is why we hired through Prem's agency, because we wanted to be sure that he had guides who knew all the NATT), there were a few times when we took the road instead because a) the rain made the NATT trail too slippery; 2) we were tired and the road was shorter. We soon discovered that taking the road was absolutely fine. The only time we regretted not taking the NATT was from Muktinath to Kagbeni, which for some reason had something like ten jeeps pass by during the day while we were walking.
+What I would do differently+: Having done the trip, there are two things I would do differently. The first is that I would give myself more time. You can go as quickly or slowly as you like each day, which meant that although we walked slowly, we were traveling the route the whole time with groups of people much younger and faster than us. They just got to the end of their day earlier than we did! However, what I wish was that we could have gone even more slowly. I would do the same route, but give myself plenty of time in case I wanted to walk even more slowly, or just hang out on the side of the river for awhile. This would also have helped us deal with our altitude sickness, which was quite unpleasant for a few days.
Second, I would really consider sleeping at High Camp rather than Thorong Phedi. Neither is a particularly pleasant place to sleep - you turn over in bed and you're out of breath - and the main lodge at Thorong Phedi is dirty and noisy, though the food is not bad. But the steep climb of nearly 1000 ft from Thorong Phedi to High Camp is just a killer. It would be so great to start the day and not have to do that. And it would make the trip down from Thorong La to Muktinath much easier.
I hope this might be useful for anyone who is considering doing this trek and doesn't have a lot of experience. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and I feel grateful and lucky to have spent time in that part of the world.
1) *Don't believe the stories* of dust-choked, traffic-filled, masses of people on the AC. The trek, which goes from less than 3000 feet to almost 18,000, and back to 3000, is extraordinary, taking you through endlessly changing microclimates, plants, birds, people, rocks, and villages. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
2) *It's totally doable* in your middle-age, and without massive physical training, if you hire a porter. I'm in my late 40s and my friend is in her early 60s. We are in good shape, but we didn't do any super-hard training before we went, beyond 3 mile hill walks 4-5 times a week and a few weekends of 8 hour hikes. And we live at sea-level. Yes, walking at altitude is hard, and crossing the pass is really hard. But if you're considering doing it, DO IT! It's amazing.
+Timing+: We went in the first three weeks of October last year, which was the very end of the monsoon season. We did get some rain in the beginning, but it wasn't a problem because the weather was so hot. The rain cooled things down a bit. The only problem with rain was that our clothes didn't dry until we got up to about 10,000 feet :-). Perhaps because of the timing, the lodges were nearly empty all the way until Manang. It was hard to believe that a week or two later all the villages would be full. There were many days, especially prior to Manang, that we would see only 1 or 2 other groups of hikers at most during the day. We got snow going over the pass, which was absolutely magical.
+Route+: We started in Besisihar and ended in Tatopani. Technically the full trek ended in Marpha because we took a bus from Marpha to Tatopani. DO NOT skip the lower part of the trek on the east side, even though it seems many people do. You simply won't appreciate the incredible diversity of plants, rocks, birds, and people if you haven't walked through it. Also, it may be that, ironically, the lower areas on the east side are less traveled now because so many people have chosen to skip them because of the bad reports of the road. This route took us 17 days.
+Guide+: Since we had no idea what the trip would take out of us physically, we first decided to hire just a porter/guide, and then added an actual porter because there were two of us and we had too much stuff for one person. We thought that perhaps they would split up the gear, but the original porter/guide ended up being just a guide, and our porter ended up carrying both of our stuff. They were quite clear that they did not want to carry more than 15 kg, but no doubt our porter ended up carrying more than that even though we tried to pack as lightly as possible.
I don't know if it's ok to post this, but I will try: I cannot recommend our guide and the trekking agency highly enough. They were extraordinary. Prem Rai is the owner of the agency, and he is the author of the NATT guides (http://www.nepal-dia.de/int__England/AE_Book/ae_book.html) along with Belgian Andrees de Ruiter. Prem's website is http://trekwithpremrai.blogspot.com and he can also be found on Facebook. He is passionate about preserving the experience of the AC despite the roads, which is why he and others are developing the NATT Trails, which in the case of the AC take you up the Marsyangdi river valley but use alternate local trails to avoid the roads. Prem and his wife and children live in Pokhara and he is very serious about training his people. Our guide was Mahesh Kulung and our porter was Bhim Khulung. Both were experienced, kind, patient, and knowledgeable. It was a true pleasure getting to know them, and having them along meant that we did not have to worry about anything beyond the intensity of the walking itself. Even better, we got to know them and learned about their life in their farming villages. Mahesh has his own lodge in Landruk.
+Road situation+: On the east side of the pass, the roads were very lightly traveled. While we had expected to *only* take the NATT trails (indeed, that is why we hired through Prem's agency, because we wanted to be sure that he had guides who knew all the NATT), there were a few times when we took the road instead because a) the rain made the NATT trail too slippery; 2) we were tired and the road was shorter. We soon discovered that taking the road was absolutely fine. The only time we regretted not taking the NATT was from Muktinath to Kagbeni, which for some reason had something like ten jeeps pass by during the day while we were walking.
+What I would do differently+: Having done the trip, there are two things I would do differently. The first is that I would give myself more time. You can go as quickly or slowly as you like each day, which meant that although we walked slowly, we were traveling the route the whole time with groups of people much younger and faster than us. They just got to the end of their day earlier than we did! However, what I wish was that we could have gone even more slowly. I would do the same route, but give myself plenty of time in case I wanted to walk even more slowly, or just hang out on the side of the river for awhile. This would also have helped us deal with our altitude sickness, which was quite unpleasant for a few days.
Second, I would really consider sleeping at High Camp rather than Thorong Phedi. Neither is a particularly pleasant place to sleep - you turn over in bed and you're out of breath - and the main lodge at Thorong Phedi is dirty and noisy, though the food is not bad. But the steep climb of nearly 1000 ft from Thorong Phedi to High Camp is just a killer. It would be so great to start the day and not have to do that. And it would make the trip down from Thorong La to Muktinath much easier.
I hope this might be useful for anyone who is considering doing this trek and doesn't have a lot of experience. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and I feel grateful and lucky to have spent time in that part of the world.
Written February 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Team Nepalorama
Nepal13 contributions
Nov 2012 • Solo
Having trekked to Ghorapani and Poon Hill on a group trek, I decided to trek the complete Annapurna Circuit including Tilicho Lake and I hired a guide I had met previously to accompany me (being a single female traveler with very poor navigation skills!).
The trek itself was absolutely amazing. The scenery was stunning and the trek was physically challenging, although you can choose how fast to do the trek and therefore how hard to push yourself. We walked from Ngadi to Tatopani via Tilicho (which adds 3 days) in a total of 12 days. Others chose to walk shorter distances daily and spent more time completing the trek. The hardest days by far were the hike up to Tilicho Lake and the Thorong La Pass, with the latter primarily being due to experiencing the severest weather conditions in over 10 years according to local guides!
Virtually the whole trek is like a picture postcard, but better than that, the feeling of walking through the heart of the enormous mountains was really moving and an experience I will never forget. I loved Manang and would highly recommend the day trek up to the Monastery to visit the 100 Rupee Monk (96 year old Buddhist monk who gives you a blessing). The view of the Gangapurna mountain, glacier and lake is breath taking and of course great for acclimatization. I would also recommend the Altitude Sickness lecture held at 3pm daily in Manang. Facilitated by volunteer doctors, it's a really informative session and useful knowledge to have before ascending to 5,416m!
I hired a private guide (Krishna) and agreed on a daily rate, he then covered his own expenses and I paid mine. It was much cheaper than joining a tour group or purchasing a package as a solo traveler. But primarily I wanted to have the freedom to walk at my own pace, eat when I wanted to eat and spend time enjoying things without being rushed to move on. My guide Krishna is fantastic and very knowledgeable and experienced on all treks in Nepal, including Annapurna, Everest, Langtang (his home area) and Mustang regions. He carried my main back pack, so I didn't need to hire a porter. He speaks good English, is a pleasure to spend time with and he looked after me very well, both on the trek and in the tea houses. I was nervous about traveling solo and guide books recommend female travelers should not trek with a male guide, but having already met Krishna, I felt completely comfortable and very safe with him. I would highly recommend Krishna to anyone looking to hire a private guide, these are his details:
Krishna Adhikari
Phone: +977 9849252021
Email: adhikari_kp2011@yahoo.com
The trek itself was absolutely amazing. The scenery was stunning and the trek was physically challenging, although you can choose how fast to do the trek and therefore how hard to push yourself. We walked from Ngadi to Tatopani via Tilicho (which adds 3 days) in a total of 12 days. Others chose to walk shorter distances daily and spent more time completing the trek. The hardest days by far were the hike up to Tilicho Lake and the Thorong La Pass, with the latter primarily being due to experiencing the severest weather conditions in over 10 years according to local guides!
Virtually the whole trek is like a picture postcard, but better than that, the feeling of walking through the heart of the enormous mountains was really moving and an experience I will never forget. I loved Manang and would highly recommend the day trek up to the Monastery to visit the 100 Rupee Monk (96 year old Buddhist monk who gives you a blessing). The view of the Gangapurna mountain, glacier and lake is breath taking and of course great for acclimatization. I would also recommend the Altitude Sickness lecture held at 3pm daily in Manang. Facilitated by volunteer doctors, it's a really informative session and useful knowledge to have before ascending to 5,416m!
I hired a private guide (Krishna) and agreed on a daily rate, he then covered his own expenses and I paid mine. It was much cheaper than joining a tour group or purchasing a package as a solo traveler. But primarily I wanted to have the freedom to walk at my own pace, eat when I wanted to eat and spend time enjoying things without being rushed to move on. My guide Krishna is fantastic and very knowledgeable and experienced on all treks in Nepal, including Annapurna, Everest, Langtang (his home area) and Mustang regions. He carried my main back pack, so I didn't need to hire a porter. He speaks good English, is a pleasure to spend time with and he looked after me very well, both on the trek and in the tea houses. I was nervous about traveling solo and guide books recommend female travelers should not trek with a male guide, but having already met Krishna, I felt completely comfortable and very safe with him. I would highly recommend Krishna to anyone looking to hire a private guide, these are his details:
Krishna Adhikari
Phone: +977 9849252021
Email: adhikari_kp2011@yahoo.com
Written December 9, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clear line Travel
Kathmandu, Nepal36 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Annapurna base camp one of the most popular trekking place among the trekkers from all over the world. It is situated on 4200 Meters elevation, surrounded by many mountains especially Mt Annapurna 1 (8091 M), as well Mt Fishtail, tent peak etc.
This route start from Pokhara city, which is another god gifted natural place, with in 12 days we can make this trekking easily.
This route start from Pokhara city, which is another god gifted natural place, with in 12 days we can make this trekking easily.
Written December 7, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ekw
Hong Kong, China60 contributions
Sep 2013 • Friends
I teamed up with two trekkers who were a good bit younger than me (I'm 53) to do a six day hike of Annapurna Base Camp in mid September 2013. I hadn't thought of doing it in six days before and all the literature suggested a longer period was needed, but I was short of time and decided to go for the challenge. The agency we used was Salvation Tours based just up from the main crossroads in Pokhara. It was a walk-in arrangement and we were charged US$36 per head per night (for five nights). This agency is not registered on the Government List but I noticed that when they helped us apply for our permits they put their names down as "Four Brothers", which is registered. As with most things in Nepal there is a way around everything.
Despite the appearance of regulation given by the permit system it is my observation that the whole tourist operation is run by clan affiliated syndicates who concentrate on one aspect of the supply chain. Thus we have the agents, who pass us onto freelance guides, who in turn will contract jeeps, accommodation and everything else as free agents. Our guide Juddha spoke good English and genuinely sought to please us. He indicated that he did have to go through a guide course which included knowledge of the mountain and first aid. Apparently his credentials would be checked during the permit check point process, but we never saw this as he disappeared with the permits at the check points and we never saw any officials ourselves. People worry about fly by night operators, but actually in case of emergency the process is the same whether you pay $100 or $1,000. As long as the guide has a cell phone (and there is usually good reception around the tea houses due to microwave-cell sites) he will call a private helicopter service who will then arrange medical evacuation usually to a private hospital in Kathmandu. You guessed it, this is run by several competing syndicates as well and there is keen competition for business. If you don't have proper medical coverage it will cost you around US$3,000 to be evacuated.
For our first day we were taken by jeep to a location about 2 hours hike from Ghorepani where we were to spend our first night. I should mention that we in fact needed to change jeeps outside town and it was obvious that this was another private syndicate operation. The jeep doubled as a taxi service for locals and we picked up and dropped off a number on the way. We were not warned in advance that our back packs would have to go on the roof and they were yanked up at the last minute passports, money and all. We didn't realize at the time that this posed three potential threats (1) that villagers also travelled on the roof with our bags (2) we could have lost the bags on any number of hairpin bends going up the mountain and (3) the bags were now exposed to the elements. In the event nothing untoward happened, but those high mountain hairpin bends are not for the faint of heart.
The first hiking day was not so long and gave me time to get used to the pace (well I slowed my two companions down a bit but we got there more or less within the time slot). Ghorepani is located at about 2800m elevation and the tea house we stayed in was adequate with basic amenities including hot communal shower. The second day we hiked for 10 hours to Chomrong (2340m) which was a pretty grueling up and down trek. The third day saw us get as far as Duerali (3100m) where we stayed the night. Most of the time the weather was good, but at Doban the skies opened. Luckily we were able to avoid the heavy rain except for a short spell on the second day. We completed the hike to Annapurna Base Camp the following day (4150m) and stayed there for the night. I won't go into what we saw along the route in terms of views and experience because this can only be appreciated by doing it - there were plenty of other hikers coming and going in both directions - not as many as you would get going up the Eiffel Tower, but it is getting there. On the lower elevations, watch out for leeches in rainy weather. They can get onto you just by brushing past leaves. You'll see donkeys and mules infested with them. Despite the popularity and increased numbers doing the trek there are still real dangers from landslides, avalanches and steep slopes. A Korean girl lost her life just a month prior to our visit after stepping back too far to take a photograph.
We got down in two days. Again I won't go into details as it is a very personal experience but it was hard going on the knees. We went down via the Jhinu Hot Springs route and were picked up just after Landruk. Our return experience in the jeep was rather more hairy than the journey up due to heavy rain and the vehicle not being equipped with windscreen wipers (forget the seatbealts). At one point the driver stopped on the single carriageway to Pokhara in pitch darkness with heavy rain pouring down and switched off the engine and lights whilst he went to the back of the vehicle for some purpose. Given the vehicle’s lack of roadworthiness I doubt if he even had rear lights.
Now I hear you saying you get what you pay for – but actually it is pot luck which vehicle you are allocated to – there are a number of jeeps waiting at the end of the trail and they just fill them up as hikers come off it. All agencies appear to use the same syndicate. I understand that there is also a bus service, but I am not sure how much safer the bus is on those hairpin bends I mentioned. There isn’t much leeway on the gravel roads and in wet weather skidding must be common.
Overall, doing the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is certainly an achievement and a wonderful personal experience – but the local government needs to crack down on the way the industry is run. There are massive profits being made judging from the number of tourists in the area, but there is little to no reinvestment and no consideration at all given to safety, especially when ferrying tourists/trekkers to starting points. This activity is very much at your own risk.
Despite the appearance of regulation given by the permit system it is my observation that the whole tourist operation is run by clan affiliated syndicates who concentrate on one aspect of the supply chain. Thus we have the agents, who pass us onto freelance guides, who in turn will contract jeeps, accommodation and everything else as free agents. Our guide Juddha spoke good English and genuinely sought to please us. He indicated that he did have to go through a guide course which included knowledge of the mountain and first aid. Apparently his credentials would be checked during the permit check point process, but we never saw this as he disappeared with the permits at the check points and we never saw any officials ourselves. People worry about fly by night operators, but actually in case of emergency the process is the same whether you pay $100 or $1,000. As long as the guide has a cell phone (and there is usually good reception around the tea houses due to microwave-cell sites) he will call a private helicopter service who will then arrange medical evacuation usually to a private hospital in Kathmandu. You guessed it, this is run by several competing syndicates as well and there is keen competition for business. If you don't have proper medical coverage it will cost you around US$3,000 to be evacuated.
For our first day we were taken by jeep to a location about 2 hours hike from Ghorepani where we were to spend our first night. I should mention that we in fact needed to change jeeps outside town and it was obvious that this was another private syndicate operation. The jeep doubled as a taxi service for locals and we picked up and dropped off a number on the way. We were not warned in advance that our back packs would have to go on the roof and they were yanked up at the last minute passports, money and all. We didn't realize at the time that this posed three potential threats (1) that villagers also travelled on the roof with our bags (2) we could have lost the bags on any number of hairpin bends going up the mountain and (3) the bags were now exposed to the elements. In the event nothing untoward happened, but those high mountain hairpin bends are not for the faint of heart.
The first hiking day was not so long and gave me time to get used to the pace (well I slowed my two companions down a bit but we got there more or less within the time slot). Ghorepani is located at about 2800m elevation and the tea house we stayed in was adequate with basic amenities including hot communal shower. The second day we hiked for 10 hours to Chomrong (2340m) which was a pretty grueling up and down trek. The third day saw us get as far as Duerali (3100m) where we stayed the night. Most of the time the weather was good, but at Doban the skies opened. Luckily we were able to avoid the heavy rain except for a short spell on the second day. We completed the hike to Annapurna Base Camp the following day (4150m) and stayed there for the night. I won't go into what we saw along the route in terms of views and experience because this can only be appreciated by doing it - there were plenty of other hikers coming and going in both directions - not as many as you would get going up the Eiffel Tower, but it is getting there. On the lower elevations, watch out for leeches in rainy weather. They can get onto you just by brushing past leaves. You'll see donkeys and mules infested with them. Despite the popularity and increased numbers doing the trek there are still real dangers from landslides, avalanches and steep slopes. A Korean girl lost her life just a month prior to our visit after stepping back too far to take a photograph.
We got down in two days. Again I won't go into details as it is a very personal experience but it was hard going on the knees. We went down via the Jhinu Hot Springs route and were picked up just after Landruk. Our return experience in the jeep was rather more hairy than the journey up due to heavy rain and the vehicle not being equipped with windscreen wipers (forget the seatbealts). At one point the driver stopped on the single carriageway to Pokhara in pitch darkness with heavy rain pouring down and switched off the engine and lights whilst he went to the back of the vehicle for some purpose. Given the vehicle’s lack of roadworthiness I doubt if he even had rear lights.
Now I hear you saying you get what you pay for – but actually it is pot luck which vehicle you are allocated to – there are a number of jeeps waiting at the end of the trail and they just fill them up as hikers come off it. All agencies appear to use the same syndicate. I understand that there is also a bus service, but I am not sure how much safer the bus is on those hairpin bends I mentioned. There isn’t much leeway on the gravel roads and in wet weather skidding must be common.
Overall, doing the Annapurna Base Camp Trek is certainly an achievement and a wonderful personal experience – but the local government needs to crack down on the way the industry is run. There are massive profits being made judging from the number of tourists in the area, but there is little to no reinvestment and no consideration at all given to safety, especially when ferrying tourists/trekkers to starting points. This activity is very much at your own risk.
Written September 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Any one want to come annapurna on 2021.
Written December 28, 2020
I am reading too many reviews and have seen several youtube videos which indicate the ABC circuit is now basically an overcrowded, motorized, dusty jeep trail. i could not think of anything i want to do less. Solitude and majestic beauty is what i would be looking for; will i find it?
i trekked in this area many years ago and was looking to go back but now am not so sure.. any trek reports on the concerns raised here would be appreciated.
Written March 5, 2020
Hi, DrLongbal.
Yes, you are right the Annapurna circuit trails are dustier and motorized, therefore I am also not planing and not recommend these trails but I have seen every year many travellers are travelling in this route. but Annapurna base camp with Ghorepani trek is still virgin, I mean there are some crowed but the path is good.
Written March 23, 2020
Hi anyone want to go annapurna?
Written December 20, 2019
Hello yasithas, I hope you’re doing great today!! I probably would recommend mid April to early May if you went this time of year. May brings rather unpredictable weather, being on the fringes of monsoon season. Monsoon season brings major mudslides at times, causing the trail to either close or making for large detours. It can be quite dangerous then. My guide told me he took clients, one in late May and one in July on the Annapurna circuit and said he never wants to do it again. It was really scary. I think April is the best time in mid spring, with snow still making things look great on the mountains and the trail pretty dry. Either way, it’s a trek of a lifetime.
Written December 9, 2019
PlainT46
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Hi Everyone I'm planning To Go The Annapurna ABC Trek in October.
I would like ask some questions about ABC Trek ,
Is it possible to go alone the trek without any guides or porters ?
Also just we need to book before the trek the tea houses and lodges ?
And The Total Cost Of Full Trek From Pokhara To Return ?
Thanks !
Written September 23, 2019
No problem. I just want you to enjoy one of the most epic treks in the world to the basecamp of the most dangerous mountain in the world (more than one in three climbers don’t come back when trying to climb the peak of Annapurna 1). Enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!! I also highly recommend going to the Sarangkot lookout when in Pokhara. The views of the big boys are epic!!!
Written September 23, 2019
Hello!
Just a few simple questions..please help! We plan to do the annapurna circuit with a porter and guide.
1. Is one 10kg bag full of essentials enough?
2. What was the most valuable thing you took with you?
3. Is the trek possible in 13 days?
Thank you!
Written August 24, 2019
Glad the info helped nickchihaha. I really enjoyed using Nepal Eco Adventure immensely, with Chhatra as the owner. They take great care of you. My guide was a Sherpa named Deepen and my porter was a Taman named Razan. They both were incredibly attentive to any needs I had. Deepen speaks pretty good English. Razan is limited though. What do you expect, he’s Nepalese, not A Westerner or European. The little things everyone did is what sets them apart. Numerous other things I think are vital to mention.
1). I’m sure you’re aware to not bring cotton clothing with you because it’s pretty heavy and when you’re sweating you’ll get cold and in higher elevations that will be a problem. There’s an old saying among mountaineers “cotton means death”, meaning you’ll freeze to death because you’ll never get warm once it’s wet. That is of course unless you change clothes, but in extreme cold you cannot do so easily.
2). If you can afford it I highly recommend getting merino wool clothing. It’s expensive, but it absorbs odors incredibly well and ventilates very well, meaning it’s not likely to make you cold in cold temperatures. It dries very easily and you can go for up to a week without washing it. It’s the best clothing I’ve ever used for trekking or hiking.
3). Please make sure to layer your clothing according to the weather. I’m sure you know that though. When I was young I wasn’t all that knowledgeable about this and learned the hard way. I’m from a cold weather state and normally just use a heavy cotton shirt and jacket. That don’t work when exercising though, because of the above mentioned info in point number one.
4). A headlamp is vital because at night sometimes the power goes out. I will admit I was pretty surprised though, that the power would only go out for 15-20 minutes, then come back on. If a person wants to go out after dark, you may need it too. I didn’t bother going out after dark because I wanted to be well rested for the next day. You normally start trekking between 7:00 and 8:00 am and finish between 1:00 and 2:00pm because the weather can change very quickly after that. These mountains have their own storm systems and commonly after 2:00pm things can get challenging. You can do a lot if you so desire before dark accordingly.
5). It’s important to bring toilet paper because most tea houses have none.
6). I highly recommend avoiding consuming alcohol after the village of Pisang because the elevation changes how your body absorbs it. It may make things challenging for a couple of days afterward. It also dehydrates you, which can contribute to problems with AMS (acute mountain sickness).
I know, I’m rambling, but just want you to be well prepared and safe.
Written August 26, 2019
Racka P Bastaman
Karimun Island, Indonesia
Im going to ABC around November this year, its my first time, and I need the best itinerary for 8 days. Glad if someone would like to help me to solve the best itinerary. Thanks before.
Written July 9, 2019
Hi everyone...are you looking for annapurna??
Written May 28, 2019
Just wondering what a reasonable price is for this trek. Going in April.
Written March 7, 2019
For the mohare danda trek in Annapurna a region .. per person per day $50 lunch , dinner and breakfast , guide charge and porter charge and tea/ coffee and transportation are include...
Written March 22, 2019
Hi,
My girlfriend and I will be doing the Annapurna Circuit from Besisahar on Friday 8th March 2019. We won’t be getting a guide or porters but would love to hear from others planning on doing this trek around the same time.
Thanks
Martin
Written March 5, 2019
…
Showing results 1-10 of 45
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing