How should you prepare for the Pokhara Annapurna Circuit Trek?
The below exercise will help you get ready for the Annapurna Circuit trek physically and mentally:
- Aerobic exercises: Aerobic exercise will help you improve your stamina and endurance, which are essential for the Annapurna Circuit trek. You can do activities like biking, running, swimming, and jogging. These activities will improve your VO2 max, which is the maximum volume of oxygen that your body uses. Thanks to this, your body will quickly adjust to high altitudes during trekking.
- Strength training: You need strength to walk up and downhill during the trek. Therefore, your legs and overall body strength should be good. You can visit the gym 2 to 4 times weekly for strength training.
- Regular walking: On average, during the Annapurna Circuit trek, you will hike 5 to 7 hours a day. If you are not used to walking for long hours, start walking immediately. Start with half an hour of walking and gradually increase your time.
- Breathing and yoga: Finally, practice long breathing and yoga. Long breathing will help you calm down when you get overstressed due to excitement. Likewise, yoga will help you stretch and manage muscle cramps after a long day of walk.
Annapurna Circuit trek guide and porter
Trekking with a local guide enhances your experience and makes the journey memorable and safe. By joining Outfitter Himalaya, you will get a professional mountain guide for the Annapurna Circuit trek who will make sure you enjoy the trip and also motivate you to keep walking.
Our guides are trained to lead trekkers. They are certified in remote survival, first aid, rock climbing, and other essential skills. Likewise, our guides are experts and know the Annapurna Circuit trail deeply. Likewise, porters take away the load of your trekking gear and essentials from you. They carry duffel bags of trekkers during the trek. It helps them make money and sustain their family, and trekkers get to walk freely.
The trekking porter is not included in our cost, However it is available in add on and we recomend you to hire a porter in between of 2 trekkers. So, please keep your duffel bag weight under 10-11 kg as a porter carry about 20-22 Kg.
The Season to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek from Pokhara
Nepal sees four seasons- spring, summer/monsoon, autumn, and winter. Unlike the Terai region (plains), the mid-hills and Himalayan foothills experience all four seasons to the fullest. Spring and autumn have the best weather and climate conditions in Annapurna Circuit trail, so they are the perfect seasons for Annapurna Circuit trekking. Summer/monsoon and winter have unstable weather and poor trail conditions.
Spring (March, April, May, and till mid-June)
Spring is the season of flowers. Rhododendrons and many other wildflowers bloom all over the trail. The scenery is exceptional. You will be enchanted by the red and pink colors of rhododendrons covering hills. Mountain views are crystal clear, and the climate is mild.
Autumn (September, October, November and till mid-December)
Autumn is another best time of the year to trek the Annapurna Circuit. After the unstable monsoon weather, the weather begins to stabilize with the arrival of autumn. The daylight hours increase and the sky remains mostly clear. Autumn season in Nepal is also the festive season in Nepal. Festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, etc, are celebrated during this season. It makes your time in Nepal much more immersive and divine.
Annapurna Circuit trek from Pokhara in summer/monsoon (June, July, August)
The summer/monsoon period has a hot and humid climate. If rain is not falling, the temperature rises significantly. However, if rain falls, the trail gets muddy and slippery. The risk of landslides increases, and insects are more active on the trail during monsoon. The sky gets cloudy, obstructing the mountain views. On the good side, the vegetation and rivers/streams are thriving in this season.
Annapurna Circuit trek from Pokhara in winter (December, January, February)
Winter is another off-season for trekking in the Himalayas because of snowfall and the freezing climate. However, if you love tranquil trails, winter landscapes, and snow, you will love the Annapurna Circuit trek in winter.
Annapurna Circuit Trek from Pokhara trekking permits
Annapurna Circuit trek requires an Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit and a TIMS Card. Foreigners are not allowed to do this trek without these two permits. ACAP permit costs Npr 3000 per person, and TIMS Card costs Nps 2000 per person. There is a special discount available for travelers from SAARC countries.
Meals during the Annapurna Circuit trekking from Pokhara
A total of 31 meals (10 breakfast, 11 lunches and 10 dinners) are including in our 11-Day Annapurna Circuit Trek from Pokhara. You can choose the food you like from the menu, which is almost the same everywhere. Food like dal bhat, Thukpa, fried rice, curry, Tibetan bread, Thenduk, momo, Chowmein, pizza, pasta, pancakes, eggs, etc, are common.
Drinking water
During the trek, trekkers drink boiled drinking water provided by the tea houses at a low cost. Plastic water bottles are sold along the trail, but the cost is absurd and is not good for the environment. You carry a reusable water bottle and fill it with boiled water. It will cost you USD 1 or less to fill your bottle.
Drinking water from taps and streams is not recommended. Trekkers can use water purification tablets to double purify the water.
Accommodation in Pokhara
The Accommodation in Pokhara is not included in our package cost, however if you want to book a hotel, we can book a room in hotel in Pokhara as per your budget. All modern amenities, including a private washroom, will be available.
Accommodation on the Annapurna Circuit trek route from Pokhara
During the AC trek from Pokhara, simple tea houses will be your accommodation. The Annapurna Circuit trek route has mostly budget-friendly, basic tea houses. Some villages also offer premium lodges. The rooms in tea houses are small and simple. Trekkers get separate beds with pillows and blankets. Carry a sleeping bag. It will provide you with more comfort and warmth on chilly nights.
Likewise, washrooms are shared in most of the tea houses. On a good note, Western-style toilets are readily available along the trail. We recommend trekkers pack all toilet essentials like soap, wipes, and hand sanitizers. Services like charging, WiFi, and hot showers cost extra money, so trekkers are advised to carry adequate money for personal expenses.
Travel insurance for the Annapurna Circuit trek
Travel insurance is important for joining the Pokhara - Annapurna Circuit trek with us. Foreigners must submit their travel insurance documents to our office before starting the trek. It must cover emergency helicopter evacuation and medical bills. Note that the Annapurna Circuit trek happens in the remote Himalayas. There are risks of injuries, accidents, natural disasters, and other unseen events beyond our control.
These things are rare, so you do not have to worry and it is better to be safe and prepared than sorry while trekking in the Himalayas. Therefore, travel insurance is required.
Annapurna Circuit trek from Pokhara difficulty
The Annapurna Circuit trekking from Pokhara is physically and mentally challenging but not technically difficult. If you are in good shape, you will have an incredible time hiking it. This trek is definitely not for first-time trekkers, but if you possess the physical and mental strength, you may consider joining it. The terrain is offbeat and includes many steep ascents and descents.
Likewise, you will cross landslide-prone areas and navigate narrow, rocky tracks. The journey demands patience and adjustment to limited services. Depending on your pace, you will walk 6 to 7 hours a day. Crossing the Thorong La Pass is the toughest part of this trek, requiring almost 9 hours of walking.
Altitude sickness during Annapurna Circuit Trek from Pokhara and tips to avoid it
Over 80% of the Annapurna Circuit trail remains above 3,000 meters above sea level. Therefore, altitude sickness remains a huge concern on this trek. You will start the trek at 1,860 meters (6,200 ft) and go above 2,500 meters on the second day of the trek.
The elevation increases every day, making acclimatization important to avoid altitude sickness. We have one acclimatization day in our Annapurna Circuit trek from Pokhara itinerary.
It will help you adjust to the thin air before the big push on the Thorong La Pass. Trekkers are recommended to maintain their pace while trekking and keep themselves hydrated. Likewise, inform your guide if you see signs like nausea, headaches, difficulty breathing, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, and loss of appetite. These are the early symptoms of altitude sickness. Taking medicine on time and resting will help you recover.
Annapurna Circuit trek from Pokhara Packing List
You will need the following things for the Annapurna Circuit trekking:
- Comfortable, light-weight underwear
- Trekking t-shirts and pants
- Base and thermal layers
- Windproof/waterproof jacket and pants
- Fleece jacket
- Down jacket
- Gloves, socks, scarf, beanie, sun hat, etc.
- Trekking boots and a casual pair of shoes/slippers
- Duffel bag and daypack
- Trekking pole, map, reusable water bottle, sunglasses
- Sleeping bag and liner
- Toiletries, first aid, snacks (SPF, lip balm, wet tissues, toilet paper, deodorant, moisturizer, crack bandage, insect repellent, muscle cramp spray, nuts, bars)
- Camera, adapter, charger, power bank, foldable knife, snacks, map
- Journal/pen and traveler games (optional)
- Cash, documents
Our local guide's advice: The most challenging part of the trek is not the Thorong La Pass itself, but managing energy and acclimatization during the days leading up to the pass, and our guides encourage trekkers to walk slowly, stay hydrated, and make active use of the acclimatization day in Manang rather than simply resting in the village.
