Tradition & Culture in Annapurna Region
Annapurna region is resided by several ethnic groups but Gurungs, Thakalis, and Manangba are the most prominent ones. You will get to see their tradition, culture, and lifestyle. Monasteries, mani walls, prayer flags, chortens, temples can be seen everywhere. People living here are kind and big-hearted. They love to share their stories and interact with tourists so don't feel shy.
We will also visit Muktinath Temple in this trek which is sacred pilgrimage sites of Hindus. Every year thousands of devotees visit here to worship.
Accommodations
We will be staying in 5-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara. During the Annapurna Circuit Trek, we will stay in guesthouse. Guesthouse is basically a combination of hotel and lodge. The room will be small with little furniture, bed & blanket. All the accommodations are on a twin-sharing basis. On special request, single rooms can be arranged in the cities. However, single rooms might not be available all the time due to the limited service on higher elevations.
Meals & Drinking Water
In Annapurna Circuit Trek, we will enjoy authentic Nepalese food with few other cuisines like Tibetan, Indian. Meals will be served as per the menu of the teahouse. Beside that you can find bars, bread, cookies, butter tea, extra on the trail but, remember as the elevation get higher, the cost also gets high. In Kathmandu and Pokhara you will only get breakfast. There will also be welcome and farewell dinner for you.
Drinking water can be easily found everywhere. You can get hot water from the teahouse and fill in your bottle everytime it gets empty. So, do carry a reusable water bottle with yourself. We request you to not buy mineral water bottle on the way as it will help in preserving the region. Moreover, you can also carry water purifier tablets or SteriPen with yourself to purify the water.
Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty & Physical Fitness
As a matter of difficulty level, the trail can become pretty strenuous for a novice trekker as we need to trek around 6 to 7 hours each day. We are required to be in good shape to go on this trek. The most difficult part of this trek is crossing Thorong La Pass situated at 5,416 meters but, again, we will get the most splendid view of the entire trek from this pass. Anyone with a good physical fitness can go on this trek. Previous trekking or hiking experience are not required but, if you have one then that will be beneficial.
Other than that, if you have any kind of health related issues then do consult with your doctors before booking the trip. In case of any medical history, we highly recommend you to inform us so that any future event can be tackled without having any issue.
Best Season to go on Annapurna Circuit Trek
Autumn (last September to November) and Spring (mid-March to mid-May) are the best seasons to go on Annapurna Circuit Trek. The weather will be warm and clear with spectacular views. If you want to avoid the rush time and crowds then winter (December to February) will be an ideal time to go on this trek. However, the cold weather makes trekking in this time of the season difficult for many people.
If you are botanist the summer season will be perfect for you trek in this region to explore the rare flora. Where monsoon (late May to mid- September) makes everything unclear and slippery.
Annapurna Circuit Trek Permit
Annapurna Circuit Trek comes into the Annapurna Conservation Area which, requires the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) entry permit. Besides that, you also need to take special permission from the Government of Nepal, and also required to get TIMS card (TIMS cards is not needed if you have immigration permit).
Following is the list of permits for the Upper Mustang Trek:
ACAP permit fee for foreigners: 2,000 NPR (Around USD 20)
ACAP entry permit fee for SAARC nationals: 200 NPR (Around USD 2)
TIMS permit: 1,000 NPR (Approx. USD 10)
TIMS entry permit fee for SAARC nationals: 600 NPR (Around USD 6)
*If you are traveling with a trekking agency they will arrange these permits for you.
* These prices exclude 13% VAT (Value Added Tax) compliance.
Why go with Royal Himalayan Safari Tours on Annapurna Circuit Trek?
Royal Himalayan Safari Tours offer one of the most extensive Annapurna Circuit Trek in the market. We take our clients as a family member, and for us, this is not only a business but, also a way to connect and know people from different part of the world. Our specially designed Annapurna Circuit Trek itinerary give you all of the Annapurna Circuit Trek experience. We assure you that, with us, you will complete this trek without having any issues, and get back to your home with lifelong memories.