Annapurna Sanctuary Trek - 13 days

Best Time To Travel

Spring (March to May) and autumn (mid-September to November) are considered the best seasons to trek to Annapurna Sanctuary. The weather stays dry and clear during these times, making it ideal for trekking and enjoying unobstructed views of mountains. The days are warm, and the nights chilly. On the downside, however, these are peak seasons, and the trails get crowded and busy.

During spring, the rhododendron forests covering the trail burst into colorful pink, white and red blooms. Walking through the hills covered with rhododendron blooms against the backdrop of the snowy Himalayas will seem like a walk-through paradise.

Autumn is the most popular season for Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. With the end of the wet monsoon season, which clears the skies of dust and impurities, you can enjoy crystal clear views during this season. Timing your trek around late September or October will allow you to experience the most important festivals of the Nepalese Dashain and Tihar. These festivals celebrated by Hindus last for several days. Expect good food, merry-making, dance, and music at all the villages along the trail. 

You can also opt for a monsoon or winter trek if you want to avoid the crowds. You can enjoy some off-season discounts at teahouses which remain mostly empty during these times. But you should be ready to face some discomforts (rain, snow, and extreme cold) if you take to the trail at these times.

Getting to Annapurna Sanctuary

First, you need to travel to Pokhara, which can be done by taking a flight or driving overland. Many private airline companies operate daily flights on the Kathmandu- Pokhara route. Taking a flight may be expensive, but it saves you time and is more comfortable. In less than 30 minutes, you reach your destination.

If you are traveling on a budget, you can opt to travel by tourist coach or a local bus. The journey takes around 6 to 7 hours. The tourist bus to Pokhara departs daily from Sorahkhutte and Thamel at 7 AM. If you want to travel like locals, you need to go to Naya Bus Park in Gongabu and get yourself a bus ticket to Pokhara. There are also micro vans or Hiace vans that leave for Pokhara at intervals of 1 to 2 hours daily. Private vehicles are also available on hire. The vehicle comes with a driver, and rental charges depend on the size and type of the vehicle.

As per our itinerary, you travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara and vice versa by flight. Due to the mountainous terrain, aircrafts used for domestic flights in Nepal tend to be small and light.  You will be flying in a 70 to 47 seater ATR, 30 seater Jetstream, or 18 seaters Beechcraft. The 25 minutes flight lets you enjoy incredible views of Himalayan peaks.

Upon reaching Pokhara, you board a private vehicle and drive to the trailhead of your trek, Hile. You drive on a pitched highway up to Nayapul and later take an off-road to Hile. The drive lasts for a little over two hours. From Hile, you start your trek and walk all the way to Annapurna Sanctuary.  On the last day of your trek, you will be picked up from Matque and driven to Pokhara.

Entry Permits & Requirements

The permits you need for Annapurna Sanctuary Trek are – 1) Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Entry Permit, and 2) TIMS (Tourist Information Management System) card.

Both Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Entry Permit and TIMS Card can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board’s Office in Kathmandu or Tourist Information Centre in Pokhara.

To get these permits, you need to provide the following documents and information:

• Copy of your passport
• 2 Passport-sized photos
• Dates when your trek starts and ends
• Itinerary/route
• Entry and exit points
• Emergency Contact Information (local and home country’s)
• Travel Insurance Details

Permit Fees: Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Entry Permit: NRS 3000 per person for foreigners, NRS 1000 for citizens of SAARC countries, and NRS 100 for Nepalese.

TIMS Card: NRS 1000 if you are trekking with a guide. NRS 2000 for free individual trekker (FIT). For SAARC country nationals, NRS 300 is trekking with a guide and NRS 600 for a solo trekker.

You won’t have to worry about queuing up to get the permits as the company, or our guides will arrange all the permits for you.

Altitude Sickness & Acclimatization

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek takes you to the foot of the tenth highest in the world, Annapurna I (8,091m). The highest point of your trek is Annapurna Base Camp, at 4,130 meters above sea level. Here the air is thin, which will make breathing a bit difficult.

To let your body get used to the thin air, you need to walk slowly, steadily and keep your body hydrated. If you try to hasten and walk fast to reach your destination in less time, chances are you may suffer from AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness.

AMS symptoms like dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, etc., are seen at elevations above 2000 meters. Taking Diamox and a good night’s rest may work for mild cases. Drinking plenty of fluids (water, tea, soup, etc.) and keeping your body hydrated will also help keep the sickness at bay.

One should take necessary precautions to ensure that the condition does not worsen. But if the symptoms worsen, one may have to return to a lower elevation and get medical help. In the worst-case scenario, an air evacuation will be arranged, where the patient will be flown to Kathmandu or Pokhara to receive medical aid. AMS, if untreated or ignored, can take your life.

Experts and veteran guides have designed this itinerary. Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is well-paced and allows your body to gradually get used to low oxygen levels in the mountain air.

The chart given below will give you a rough idea of the oxygen level in the atmosphere on the trail.

Drinking Water

It is important to keep your body hydrated on the trail as dehydration also causes AMS. One should drink at least 3-4 liters of fluid.

To tackle the menace of plastic waste in the Annapurna Region, the sale of bottled water has been banned since 2015.  Inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, you will find several safe drinking water stations.  We highly recommend you carry a reusable water bottle with you, one that can hold hot water. You can use one with a steri pen or an inbuilt filtration system like LifeStraw.

You can also use water purification tablets to treat the water. While the water in the mountains tends to be pure and without impurities, it’s better not to take chances and filter or treat the water before drinking.

Using chlorine or iodine tablets to treat the water may alter its taste. You can add flavored electrolyte powder (readily available at pharmacies in Kathmandu) to mask the bitter chemical taste. Adding electrolyte to your drinking water may also be beneficial as the minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc.) you lose while walking gets replenished.

Teahouses offer boiled and filter drinking water at an additional cost. Charges vary according to altitude (the higher you reach, the more expensive it will be) and quantity. You will be charged from USD 1 to 2 for a pot of hot and filtered drinking water.

Internet Connectivity

Internet connection (though erratic and irregular at some places) is available in the Annapurna Region. You can connect with your loved ones while trekking, post updates, and upload pictures on social media. Wi-fi is available at all teahouses. Teahouses charge extra for using their Wi-Fi hotspot.

You can also get a sim card (preferably Ncell) in Kathmandu and purchase internet data to use on your trek. But the mobile internet data only works up to Bamboo. Beyond Bamboo, you can use the Wi-Fi hotspot at the teahouses to access the internet.

Packing Checklist for Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

As opposed to popular belief, you don’t need any complicated gear and equipment for an Annapurna adventure. Here’s a basic checklist of the essential items that you should not forget to bring with you during your Annapurna Sanctuary Trek:

• A sturdy pair of trekking boots with good ankle support
• Rucksack or daypack (30 liters) with waterproof cover
• Trekking pants and waterproof trousers
• T-shirts or shirts
• Down jacket
• Wind/ waterproof light jacket
• Fleece jumper or jacket
• Inner Thermal (top and trouser)
• Socks and underwear
• Sunglasses, sun hat, woolen cap, or balaclava
• Inner and outer gloves
• Headlamp, power bank, and extra batteries
• Sun protection cream, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer
• Towel, flip-flop or rubber sandal, toiletries
• Water bottle and water purification tablets
• 4 season Sleeping bag
• Sleeping bag liner

These are only some of the essential items. Find a more detailed - Packing List For Trekking In Nepal.

Most of the trekking equipment is available on hire in Kathmandu. You can keep your baggage light by only packing the essential items and renting or buying the rest in Kathmandu. Shops in Thamel offer branded as well locally made gear and equipment.

You can leave your spare luggage in your hotel’s storage room. It is completely safe and free. But do make sure to lock your luggage before leaving it at the storage unit.    

Guide(s) & Staff Arrangements

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek takes you to the base of an 8,000-meter peak, Annapurna I (8,091m). Having an experienced local guide accompanying you will enrich your trip in so many ways. Trekking with a person who has in-depth knowledge of the mountain will also keep you safe and secure.

When you book a trek with us, we pair you up with one of our local guides. All our guides have experience of more than 10 years and have a vast knowledge of the area you are visiting. They have completed the trekking guide course and have the required government license to work as mountain guides. They can communicate in English and have received training on wilderness first aid and crisis management.

A chief guide or trek leader will lead the trek. For every 4 trekkers, there will be an assistant guide assisting them personally. One porter will carry the luggage of 2 clients. Make sure that your luggage does not exceed 15 kg, as the porter can only carry a weight of 30 kg.

We believe in the ethical treatment of our staff. All our Guides and Porters are provided with weather-appropriate gear and clothing to battle the harsh weather in the mountains. Before the start of a trek, we ensure that our mountain guides are fully insured. They are given fair wages and treated with respect.

We seriously follow the guidelines set by IPPG (International Porter Protection Group) and offer assistance to porters to develop other skills. A portion of the booking fee goes to fund the education of our field staffs’ kids.

Travel Insurance

For Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, you need a good travel insurance policy that offers you coverage for all activities and altitudes included in your itinerary. The highest altitude you reach is 4130 meters, and your travel insurance should offer you suitable coverage up to this elevation.

Though we take your safety as our number one priority, we cannot rule out mishaps and emergencies that may occur at this altitude. There is less oxygen in the environment, and trekkers usually suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness, which could prove to be fatal if not treated on time.

Walking in a treacherous mountain environment also exposes you to physical injuries. Therefore, make sure that your insurance covers the cost of all injuries and emergencies that you can face during this trekking adventure.

 Your insurance policy should especially cover the cost of helicopter evacuation and hospitalization in case of an accident or medical emergency, as these happen to be quite expensive. Check for vaccination requirements as some travel insurance policies makes it mandatory to immunize yourself before you leave your country. 

Before you decide on a policy, be mindful and don’t forget to read the fine print. It would be advantageous for you to choose a company that offers insurance cover on domestic and international flight cancellations and lost or stolen baggage.

Trip Safety

We ensure the safety of our clients by following all safety protocols during the trip. This itinerary has been designed by travel experts and veteran guides who have trekked on this route innumerable times.

Our guides always carry a first-aid kit and pulse oximeter (to measure the oxygen level in your blood) with them. The guides assigned to you have more than 10 years of experience and know what steps to take during an emergency. They are well-trained in wilderness first aid and crisis management.

If a client shows symptoms of AMS and needs to descend to a lower elevation, an assistant guide will escort him/her and follow the safety protocol. He will closely monitor the client’s condition and take the required steps for the client's well-being.

If he/she feels alright after a night’s rest, the guide will escort the client back to join the group. But if the condition worsens, the client will be escorted down to a lower elevation or airlifted to Pokhara or Kathmandu for expert medical aid.

A typical day on the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

A typical day on the trail begins with a wake-up call at around 6 AM by your guide. Freshen up and get ready. Pack your belongings and head to the dining area for breakfast by 7 AM. Check your luggage for the final time and fill your water bottle before you hit the trail by 8 AM, along with your guide.

To avoid walking in the heat and enjoy clear mountains' views, you make an early start. En route, there will be short breaks to enjoy the views and take photographs. You stop for lunch at a local teahouse around noon or mid-day. After a quick rest of about an hour or 40 minutes, you get back on the trail and continue till you reach your overnight stop.

Upon reaching the stop for the night, you head to your teahouse, check in, and have some rest. Tea with some light refreshments (cookies or biscuits) will be served at 5 PM. As the rooms are not insulated, you can warm yourself by the heater or stove in the communal area.

Exchange stories or play cards with other trekkers till dinner is served (around 7 PM). After dinner, your guide will brief you about the next day’s trek – the route you will take, difficulty, where you will stop for lunch, etc. Afterward, retire for the night and have a well-deserved rest.

On average, you may have to walk 5 to 6 hours daily. The toughest will be the ascent to Annapurna Base Camp and the long descent to Bamboo (7- 8 hours) the next day. On Day 7, you will have to wake up earlier than usual to catch the sunrise.

Responsible Travel

Travel responsibly and try to limit any negative impact on the environment. Limit the use of plastic and be mindful about throwing waste in the mountains. When you trek with us, you will be supporting local communities (from the guides and porters to teahouse owners). We as a company support sustainable tourism and patronize local businesses. We partner with service providers who work towards saving the environment.  As an active member of KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project), we make sure that our trips are environment-friendly.