Trekking in the Annapurna

The Annapurna is a mountain range in the Nepalese Himalayas that is easily accessible from Pokhara, the second city of Nepal. It has everything you can expect from the Himalayas: towering peaks, green forests, terraced fields, tiny villages and friendly people. 

A network of wellkept trails connects several villages and makes it possible to organise all kind of treks in this area. From light 3-day family hikes to tough 3-week treks to some of the highest mountains in the world.

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General information on Annapurna Trekking

The main seasons for trekking in the Annapurna region are October - November and February to May- June, depending on weather conditions. As trekking in the Annapurna normally starts at lower altitudes (about 800-900m) it is also perfectly possible to do light treks in December - January.

The main starting point for trekking in the Annapurna is Pokhara. This pleasant town near the Fewa Lake can be reached by car from Kathmandu or by a 30 minute domestic flight. You can start trekking from the outskirts of the city itself, but most trekkers take a small transfer to one of the main entry points. Pokhara has a pleasant climate and is a nice place to spent a couple of days relaxing after the trek. 

As in the Everest Region, you will find lodges or teahouses in most of the villages, These simple guesthouses are the main type of accommodation in the area. They offer small twinbedded rooms and meals for a fixed rate. On lower altitudes there are some more luxury lodges with rooms with ensuite facilities. 

Trekking permits are required for all treks in the Annapurna. Our local team takes care of all necessary permits.Every trekker needs a permit for trekking, but our local team will arrange this for you upon arrival in Kathmandu.

On all our Annapurna treks a dedicated Englishspeaking guide will accompany you. He will take care of the whole organisation, so you can just focus on the hiking and enjoy your holiday. Your main luggage will carried by local porters.

Trekkings in the Annapurna

There are numerous trekking possibilities in the region, for every fitness level. Every trekking can be adapted to your wishes adding extra restdays and sidewalks. Even when on the trail already our guides are flexible in adapting the itinerary.

We just mention a few of the most popular treks.

Annapurna Circuit

Untill a couple of years ago the Annapurna Circuit was one of the 'classic treks in the world'. In almost 3 weeks you could walk around the whole Annapurna Range, crossing the Thorung La pass (+5400m). Roadbuilding changed the trekking route a lot and nowadays long stretches of the trek can be done by jeep or minivan. The jeeptracks are also very popular for mountainbikers looking for an ultimate bike adventure. Still the Annapurna Circuit remains popular and offers you some of the finest mountain scenery in Nepal. 

The 'road' goes all the way up from Besisahar to Manang, but good guides know how to avoid it as much as possible. There are sidetrips possible to unspoilt spots like Tilicho Lake or to the remote village communities of Nar and Phu.

Once you have crossed the Thorung La, a lot of trekkers take a flight back from Jomsom to Pokhara, or they continue their way down via Ghorepani or even Annapurna Base Camp.

Annapurna Base Camp

Imagine yourself surrounded by majestic peaks of 7000 and 8000 meters high. The trek to Annapurna Base Camp is a classic adventure trek bringing you to the heart of the Annapurna range. There are several options on the way up or down to avoid trekking along the same route. It will take at least 10 days to get to Annapurna Base Camp and back in the shortest version, unless you only want to walk up and return by helicopter.

Mardi Himal Base Camp

A good alternative for Annapurna Base Camp with less people and great views on the iconic Fish Tail Mountain. The whole Mardi Himal trek takes about 7 days, reaching an altitude of 4500m, but you can easily extend the trek with some hiking days in the foothills or even up to Annapurna Base Camp.

The Foothills of the Annapurna

Several rewarding trekking routes cross the Foothills of the Annapurna. On these treks the highest altitudes reached are around 3000- 3500m, so in general they are not as hard as an Annapurna Circuit or Annapurna Base Camp Trek.

The most popular option is the Ghorepani - Poon Hill Trek which takes about 6-7 days. As this trekking route can get very crowded in high season, we would recommend other similar treks in the region. A good alternative is Mohare Danda, similar in scenery but with less people on the trail.

There are many villages in the foothills and almost everywhere you will find decent lodges or small guesthouses. Some of our senior guides originate from the area and they can take you along smaller trails to their 'home village' where you can experience the 'real Nepal'. 

Even if you have only 3 or 4 trekking days available we can offer you a nice trekking experience that gives you a good impression of the mountains and the village life.

Luxury Trekking in the Annapurna

If you want to go 'trekking in style'  we can offer you trekkings in the lower part of the Annapurna with the Ker and Downey Lodges. These intimate boutique lodges provide you with the comfort of a small hotel. There are 6 lodges in 6 different villages and it is perfectly possible to built a light trekking itinerary from 3 to 7 days. Each lodge is carefully built in the typical Nepali-style and offers nice ensuite rooms, elaborate meals and outstanding mountainviews.  

As we work completely tailormade. feel free to contact us for a detailed itinerary for your Annapurna Trek according to your wishes.

Prices depend on the hotelselection, travelperiod, number of persons, exchange rates,... Please ask for a quotation through our quotation form.