The trek around Annapurna is considered one of the most beautiful and popular hiking trails in the world. The picturesque trail winds along the banks of the Marsyandi River and takes us to one of the highest hiking passes, Torong La (5,416 m), thus closing the "Annapurna Ring".
Lake Tilicho is an extraordinary place and we included it in our trekking program around Annapurna, extending it. After all, if you go that far, you have to grab more, don't you agree? Besides, the radial walk to the lake at 5000 m altitude will give excellent acclimatization before the pass.
During the entire trek around Annapurna, we will be accompanied by majestic peaks - the three Annapurnas, Gangapurna, Manaslu (8,156m), Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and other smaller ones.
We categorize the trekking around Annapurna as difficult, because we have to take a pass over 5,000 meters high. At such an altitude we already feel oxygen starvation and mountain sickness is possible. But we will get a good acclimatization and hopefully the whole group will pass the obstacle without any problems.
We do not cancel or shift groups. If the manager approved the purchase of a ticket, you can surely buy it. The hike will not be canceled due to our fault.
Experienced Kuluar teamleaders will accompany the group on all route, will make the trip as safe and unforgettable as possible! They have been to Nepal many times and know the country in details.
We have a list of checked loggias and we try to book only the best ones. Where possible - with amenities in the room. In Lobuche we stay overnight at the Pyramid Hotel - with hot showers and unlimited tea. At this altitude - it really is a luxury!
In Pokhara and Kathmandu we stay in good hotels, understanding that you will want maximum comfort after the trek.
The teamleader or our Nepalese partner will meet you at the airport and take you directly to the hotel. The guide will tell you and show you where to change money, buy souvenirs and equipment, what and where to eat...
The program of the trek was modified several times, we tried to make it as rich and comfortable as possible. That's why we have all the transfers on custom-made shuttles
The manager who will advise you before the trip was on a trek in Nepal, herself and will tell you about the details from personal experience!
More than 12,000 participants have already gone to the mountains with the Kuluar and 97,8% were satisfied. We're sure you'll be happy, too!
As soon as you get your visa, you pick up your luggage and walk to the exit of the airport. At the exit, a guide from Kuluar Club or our Nepali assistant is waiting to take you by cab to your pre-booked hotel. It is at the hotel that the entire group will gather.
Today is the day of the first introduction to the peculiarities of Nepal, our guide will tell you how not to get lost, what where and at what prices it is better to buy, where to eat delicious food so as not to get an upset stomach.
Even though we won't be walking today, it's a busy day - we need to get to the start of the route. First, we take a chartered minibus to the village of Besisahar. The trip will take about 7 hours, with a mandatory stop for breakfast, as we leave at 5 am and the hotel is not sure what we can eat. Many people start from Besisahar on foot. But it is, frankly, very boring - a day and a half stomping along the wide road, where you can't see the mountains. Is this what we went to Nepal for? So, in Besisahar we transfer to jeeps and drive through the section to the village Chamje (or even further, if there is a chance). We stay in lodges, mountain shelters.
The first hiking day of the trek around Annapurna! Finally, we don't have to jostle around in buses and jeeps on those awful roads, but can stomp quietly on our own two, admiring the surroundings. The trail goes along the scenic Marsyandi River, occasionally hopping from one bank to the other. It won't be without steep climbs; this will be the first serious challenge on the trail. Closer to the evening we reach Dharapani village, where we will spend the night. It is interesting because from here starts trekking trail to Manaslu, but this time we are going in another direction.
Trekking time: 6 hours, distance: 16 km
Friends, today we will see for the first time the really big snowy Himalayan peaks! These peaks are Lamjung (6,983 m) and Manaslu (8,157 m). They are far away, but the grandiose size is also felt from this distance. That said, Lamdjung, one of the smallest peaks of the Annapurna massif. Be sure to have a cup of masala or ginger-honey tea with a view of the mountains and continue on our way. And it's almost constantly uphill today. Step by step, kilometer by kilometer, we will see the real Buddhist gate to the village Chame, walk along the mani wall and spin the mantra drums.
Trekking time: 6-7 hours, distance: 15 km
We continue to rapidly gain altitude. So much so that today we will see the Gates of Paradise - it is a huge granite amphitheater, smoothed by the Annapurna glacier. In the spring it is covered with snow and looks like a level plateau for skiing, and in the fall the snow melts and exposes the stone. The scale of these "gates" is truly impressive. We will spend the night in Upper Pisang, settle into rooms, rest, and go for a walk to the monastery. We'll find time to go to puja and watch the monks in traditional red and orange robes recite mantras, playing rosary beads and musical instruments. We may stay here until sunset, after which we return to our lodge for dinner.
Trekking time: 6 hours, distance: 16 km
Personal opinion - today is the most beautiful day on the whole trek around Annapurna. For the first hour we will walk on a nice pleasant trail, admiring the huge peaks of the Annapurna massif, which will open to us in all their beauty. Annapurna II (7,937 m) stands out in particular, on the slopes of which, if you wish, you can distinguish a wolf's face. We pass a big mani and a suspension bridge and start a long ascent. Perhaps, the most difficult and unpleasant part of the route. But at the top we will enjoy a great vantage point and a stall with cool drinks, apples and apple cheese. We have reached the maximum altitude for the day, and then the trail goes downhill smoothly, without big drops in altitude and elevations. We will have lunch in the village of Ngawal, and in the evening we will reach Manang, the largest village in the area. Here we stay for two nights.
Trekking time: 7-8 hours, distance: 20 km
A legal day of rest on the track. For better acclimatization we spend it actively - half a day walking over the Gangnapurna Lake, which is fed by the glacial waters flowing down from the mountain of the same name. Very beautiful and unusual scenery. We spend the second half of the day exploring life in Manang. It is a very small town that, like most mountain villages in Nepal, still lives somewhere in the Middle Ages. There are delicious pastries, tongba (Tibetan beer) and even a couple of movie theaters that show movies about the mountains. It's advisable to wash up and rest up for the key part of the trek around Annapurna.
A truly extraordinary day. The trail to Tilicho base camp winds along the loose mountain slopes and leads us into the heart of the Himalayas. This is where the feeling of a real expedition and the unreality of everything that is happening appears. The ethereal scenery and the huge wall of the Tilicho Mountain (7 134 m) bring your brain into a constant state of ecstasy and your camera shutter clicks without getting tired. There are only a few lodges in the base camp, and there are many tourists. You may have to squeeze in a little.
Trekking time: 6-7 hours, distance: 16 km
Radial means that we go to the lake light, without all the things, and return to the same place for the night. Lake Tilicho impresses by everything. First of all, of course, we are interested in beautiful landscapes with the reflection of snowy peaks in the calm waters of the lake. A very large lake, about 4 km long and about 1 km wide, which is located at an altitude of 4,949 meters. Just imagine such a huge body of water at such a height - it is a unique and unrepeatable phenomenon. Often in the waters of the lake float small icebergs.
We are going back to Tilicho base camp for the night. This trip to the lake will give us not only unrepeatable views and wonderful impressions, but will give us needed acclimatization for getting over the key point of the trek around Annapurna - Torong-La Pass. Today we will overcome the 5000 m altitude for the first time.
Trekking time: 6 hours
At altitudes above 4,000 meters, you can clearly feel the harsh climate of the highlands - not much can survive here. And only yaks walk and chew dry thorns. It's amazing how they can eat so much food. We are not going to eat thorns but have our breakfast and go to Yak Kharka village. It is a remarkable peculiarity of trekking in Nepal - the higher altitude you climb, the poorer and worse the menu, the simpler the lodges, the higher the prices. After all, all cargo and food is carried here by porters or yaks. There are no cars here, and that's fine.
The trekking around Annapurna continues. Today is not an easy day, we need to gain about 800 m. The first part of the day is easy - a gentle trail leads us smoothly to the small village of Torong Phedi. There are only a few lodges here and we stop for rest and lunch. Gain your strength, because one of the most difficult parts of the trek around Annapurna is ahead - the ascent to the upper camp of Torong La Pass. The elevation difference is not so big - 500 m, but what a difference! The path zigzags sharply with small endless zigzags, the height affects and it becomes harder to walk with every step. Most likely, the group will be stretched - the quickest ones will take a lodge, and the rest will slowly shift legs and go up slowly.
After settling in and having some rest, we will definitely go for a walk in the neighborhood. In particular, we will go out on a small hill, which offers views of the harsh rocky ridges. It will not take much time, and the rest of the evening we will spend in the dining room: first ordering dinner, then dinner, then socializing and playing games - who will have strength and desire. At night at this altitude the temperature can drop to -10, and the loggias won't save you from that. It seems that it is even colder in the middle than outside. So in the sleeping bag we get dressed and necessarily covered with additional blanket. We try to sleep, tomorrow is an early start and a hard day.
Trekking time: 5-6 hours, distance: 9 km
The key and the hardest day of trekking around Annapurna. Rise at 4 a.m., leave at 5. Before leaving, a light semblance of breakfast - tea with cookies. It will be about -10 outside, which is cold, especially taking into account the lack of oxygen. Hands and feet will be cold most of all. Let's get warmer, switch on our flashlights and set off for the storming of the pass. We have to gain 550 m of vertical. The path is nice and flat, it looks a little bit like climbing Elbrus from the south. Gradually we get into a rhythm and get warm. In about two hours it had finally dawned and the sun gently emerged from behind the rocky peaks. We take out our cameras and try to keep this unbelievable sight.
There is a small tea house on the pass. You should by no means drink coffee, but you can have a cup of hot tea and a piece of chocolate. You should definitely pass the pass before noon, because after that the weather starts to deteriorate, wind rises and it may even snow heavily.
If you thought the ascent was hard, don't hurry up with conclusions. We have 1,800m to drop on rocky trails. Now that's really hard. We sit and drink ginger and lemon tea with honey at the nearby lodges - it's a great tonic.
By about noon we are on our way down to Muktinath. Yes, yes, around one o'clock. And you thought it had been an eternity.
We have lunch and buy souvenirs. Those wishing to go down from the pass can see the local temple. We take a jeep and drive to Jomson. Here is the airport, from which tomorrow we fly to Pokhara.
That's it, the hiking part of the trek around Annapurna is complete. Today we take a small plane to Pokhara, one of the largest cities in Nepal. We check into a hotel and spend the rest of the day sightseeing. There is a lot to do here. If you have enough time, we will see the Davis waterfall and the Shiva cave, go up to the Peace Stupa, go down to the Feva lake and take a boat back to Lakeside, the tourist area of the city, where we live. We can also visit the unique museum of the mountains.
A long transfer to Kathmandu and hotel accommodation. In the evening walks, shopping - we have to buy souvenirs to take home. Farewell dinner at which we share our impressions and exchange contacts, if some of us have not yet done so.
The first half of the day will be spent seeing the main sights of Kathmandu - the temple complex of Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Bodnath stupa.
Tickets are available on evening flights.
Additionally after the trek you have the opportunity to go to Chitwan National Park to ride through the jungle on elephants, on narrow boats on the river with crocodiles, to see the dancing of the local natives and much more. Allow +3 days for this at the end of the program. Our guide will help you with your tour arrangements. See more about Chitwan in the video:
The manager will advise you on equipment, help you choose the best flight, share information on hotels and excursions. You make payments and purchases yourself. If you want the manager to buy a ticket for you, then this is possible, but for extra money, because this is a big responsibility. More in the article: additional services and service fee
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the guide has the right to make changes to the route.
Visa to Nepal is issued directly at the border, the cost of visa for 30 days of stay - $50. Detailed instructions on how to apply here >>. To get a visa you need only a valid passport, valid for more than 6 months from the date of return flight.
To participate in the trekking you must be free of diseases incompatible with active tourism: the list here.
After the trek to Base Camp Annapurna, we recommend the following routes:
You should buy tickets in advance, as soon as we confirm your participation in the track. The most convenient way to buy tickets is to fly with AirArabia and FlyDubai. Notice that the luggage is not included in the price and you need to order 20 kg extra at the time of purchase, or buy a package with 1 piece of luggage. On boarding you will need a credit card, with which the tickets were paid for - do not forget it! Tickets cost $500-$700 round trip.
To find the cheapest tickets you can use the form below:
To participate in the program, you need to take good insurance that is valid at altitudes up to 5,500 m, covers mountain hiking, and includes helicopter evacuation. Please do not neglect this point. It has saved some participants thousands of dollars. Our insurance recommendations can be found here: "Insurance for Kuluar Hikers".
On the trek around Annapurna there is a connection, but it is not good. The most popular Nepali operator Ncell has good coverage only during the first days and after the pass - in Mukhtinath. Therefore, it is advised to take a SIM card operator NTC, he has better coverage in the region, sometimes it is even possible to watch videos in YouTube :) To buy a SIM card, you'll need a passport and a photo 3x4 (can be made on the spot for an extra fee). Wi-Fi is available in every lodge, its cost 100-300 rupees. In larger towns there is free internet in cafes. Charging is available in almost all lodges, except the base camp Tilicho and Torong La, the cost of charging can be per hour or per device, the price of 100-800 rupees.
Type of outlets in Nepal
In Kathmandu we will stay at the Hotel Arts 4*. Standard accommodation in 2-bed rooms.
During the trek we live in lodges, which are tourist shelters with a public shower and toilet (sometimes in the room). Food we order in the same lodge where we live. Rooms are very simple, small, for 2-3 people, not heated. Of furniture there are often only beds. Beds are made with linens, but it is recommended to take your sleeping bag and sleep in it. Upon request, you can ask the hosts for a blanket. Electricity is available in almost all the loggias, but in the rooms there are rarely outlets.
There are gas showers along the whole route, but the higher you go, the worse it is. Good showers in Namche Bazaar, Pyramid and Lukla, where we try to stay in rooms with showers in the room. In the other localities, at an altitude of 4,000 m or higher, we do not recommend showers, as you can easily get sick.
On the 11th day of the trek we plan to spend the night in "The Pyramid" at an altitude of 5050m, where you can enjoy comfortable rooms, hot showers, free charging and unlimited tea/coffee and delicious food.
To better understand the living conditions, we highly recommend watching some examples of lodges from our tracks. Click on the name: a nice lodge in Namche Bazar with a shower in the room, a basic lodge in Dole - no shower and with ice in the sink, cool rooms at the Eco Resort in Gokyo, a standard lodge in Chukung, a mug of tea after a night in a room in Gorak Shep. Even if you sleep in other localities, the lodges will be about the same level.
Individual accommodations are possible for the entire program, it costs +$250. Be sure to notify the manager in advance.
The menu at all lodges is extremely varied (different types of eggs, pasta, soups, potatoes, pizza, rice). An interesting feature is that the same dishes in different lodges may be cooked differently and taste completely different! Food prices increase proportionally with altitude. On average, it will take $15-$25 per day to get a decent meal.
For an example, we recommend looking at some of the most expensive prices on the route in the village of Gokyo, and here is a folder with photos of menus and food from other lodges on the trek to Everest.
Let's face it, some people like Nepalese food a lot, but there are also those who "don't get it". Meat is usually scarce on the trek, so you can take some lard and a stick of sausage with you.
These people are porters who carry your things for money. One porter can carry no more than 24 kg. The cost of this service is about $ 20 per day, but you can take one porter for two - it will be twice cheaper! It is not customary to feel sorry for porters, no matter how much they might unload on themselves. Nor is it customary to invite them to your table. Porters have their own room in the lodges where they eat and sleep with their friends. The best thanks on your part would be a tip equal to the porter's daily wage. So prepare an extra $20-30 to tip the porter and the Nepali guide. For more details about the porter's work, see the article "Porter on the trek - to take or not to take".
As in other regions of Nepal, there are two seasons for trekking in the Himalayas, spring (mid-March to late May) and fall (mid-October to mid-December). If you go in early spring, you should be prepared for the fact that there is still a lot of snow on the pass and the approaches to the lakes, and the lakes themselves are hidden under the ice. Closer to the middle of April the first lakes will melt, the snow on the trail will remain only on the approach to the base camp. A big plus during this period is the blooming rhododendron forests, which against the background of snow-white mountains create incredible contrasting pictures. In the afternoon in spring the sky is often covered with clouds and at about 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon it may rain or snow. But by this time we usually arrive at the boat house. Also, spring is the active season for climbers of Everest and Lhotse, so the sections of the classic trail will be oooh-full of people and cargo animals. But there is an upside to this - April and May are the base camp full of life, with lots of tents and would-be climbers. Autumn is warmer, there are hardly any clouds, the snow is already melted everywhere; base camp is empty.
Most of the trek is at moderate altitudes. Temperatures will be around +20 degrees during the day and can drop to freezing at night. At the highest overnights the temperature can drop to -15 outside, and to 0...-2 in the rooms. Rains are not frequent. Characteristic weather for the mountain regions is clear mornings and cloudy evenings.
The currency of the country is the Nepalese rupee. The exchange rate is approximately 100 rupees to 1 dollar. You can exchange at the hotel reception or at the exchange office, with which we have long had an agreement for a more favorable rate. The teamleader will take you to the right place. It's noteworthy that Nepalis are very careless about paper money - so don't be surprised if you get a bundle of rupees punctured with a stapler - it's quite normal. All expenses en route are in rupees only. Exchange about $500 for them before the trek. Bank cards are only accepted at some points in Kathmandu, so be sure to take cash. Also, there are big restrictions on ATM cash withdrawals and fees are racked up.
You should buy souvenirs at the stalls in Thamel (the tourist district of Kathmandu), not at the sights. Always haggle with Nepalis; sometimes the price can be discounted several times over.
If you want to see the maximum variety of Himalayan landscapes, walk through jungles and forests, visit distinctive villages lost among the highest mountains of the planet - you are on the right track. Compared to the trek to Everest, this route is a little easier in terms of acclimatization, but wilder and there are significantly fewer tourists. In addition to the great variety of nature, you will also often encounter monasteries and other Nepalese shrines, where you can visit puja, imbued with the spirit of Buddhism. The main highlights of the route are Lake Tilicho and the Torong La Pass, the passage of which will require the maximum effort you are capable of.
Thanks to the fact that we sleep and eat in lodges, the backpacks on the route will be light. Besides there is always a possibility to hire a porter, which we highly recommend to all the participants. He will carry the main part of your luggage (up to 12 kg), and you will have small rucksack with warm jacket, water, documents and money. The trek around Annapurna is not easy, but can be done by anyone with an active lifestyle. The best preparation for the trek is running (about 5-7 km 2-3 times a week), squats and cardio exercises, which will not only increase your endurance, but also train your legs for the daily treks. The better your fitness, the easier you'll tolerate altitude, acclimatize, and enjoy the trek and the scenery around you more.
Everyone probably knows that Nepal is famous for extremely cheap travel gear. Well, it really is! You can buy a flicer for $5, a down jacket from $30, trekking poles from $10. But you have to understand that despite the tag - it's not branded equipment, but made somewhere in the local basements. There are stores with the original, but prices are the same as ours. In general, do not necessarily carry a whole pile of equipment from home, most you can buy cheap already on the spot. Tourist stores simply unreal number. Read more about equipment in a separate article =>>.
Total mandatory expenses not included will be about $400 + airfare to Nepal ($600-700). It is desirable to have about $200 to spare.
VERY IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend that you take a porter on this trek. The cost will be approximately 10 dollars for 12 kg per day. And that on the whole track about - $120 + tips ($ 30).
*Please, pay your attention: it's not the manager's task to choose a flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations, based on his experience and shares the flights of other participants, so you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase his own convenient airfare. If you want the manager to buy you a ticket, book a hotel or an additional excursion, read the terms and conditions on the page: additional services.
To reserve a place in a group, you need to pay a $300 deposit. This money is needed to make passes and hotel reservations. Methods of payment and conditions of return in case of cancellation or leaving the route here. The rest of the payment you are to give to teamleader at the first day of the program.
Friends! We kindly ask you to pick up dollar bills of 2003 and newer. Dollars from the 90's are not accepted in many countries and we sometimes have problems with local partners. Thank you for your understanding and new dollars to all:)
