Guided Annapurna treks in small groups with licensed local guides, from the 5-day Poon Hill to the Annapurna Circuit over Thorong La.
Annapurna treks, side by side
Annapurna trekking is walking from village to village around the Annapurna mountains in central Nepal, with a bed and a hot meal at a teahouse every night. You don't need climbing skills. You do need time, so most people pick a route by asking two questions: how many days have I got, and how high do I want to go?
Our guided treks run from 5-day Poon Hill at USD 390 to the 14-day Annapurna Circuit over Thorong La at USD 1,190. March to May and October to November are the best months.
Each line below is one itinerary, drawn day by day and to the same scale. A longer line means more days, and a taller one means more height. The dotted line marks 3,000 m, where altitude starts to matter.
| Trek | Altitude by day | Days | Highest | Difficulty | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poon Hill TrekA good first trek. You watch the sunrise from the top and you're back in Pokhara on day 4. | Poon Hill 3,210 m | Days5 | Highest3,210 m | DifficultyEasy | FromUSD 390 |
| Mardi Himal TrekA narrow ridge with Machhapuchhre right in front of you, and fewer people than Base Camp. | Mardi Base Camp 4,500 m | Days7 | Highest4,500 m | DifficultyModerate | FromUSD 690 |
| Annapurna Base Camp TrekYou walk into a ring of giant peaks, and there's no high pass to cross on the way. | Annapurna Base Camp 4,130 m | Days11–13 | Highest4,130 m | DifficultyModerate | FromUSD 890 |
| Short Annapurna Circuit TrekThe pass, for people with ten days. A jeep takes you to Chame, so you skip the lower valley. | Thorong La 5,416 m | Days10 | Highest5,416 m | DifficultyChallenging | FromUSD 990 |
| Annapurna Circuit TrekThe classic. Over the pass, down the Kali Gandaki valley, then back up for sunrise on Poon Hill. | Thorong La 5,416 m | Days14 | Highest5,416 m | DifficultyChallenging | FromUSD 1,190 |
| Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho LakeTwo more days and a detour to Tilicho Lake at 4,919 m before you cross the pass. | Thorong La 5,416 m | Days16 | Highest5,416 m | DifficultyStrenuous | FromUSD 1,390 |
| Annapurna Circuit Trek for SeniorsThe same pass with more rest: two rest days in Manang, one at Muktinath and a spare day at the end. | Thorong La 5,416 m | Days17 | Highest5,416 m | DifficultyChallenging | FromUSD 1,790 |
Prices are per person, from. Base Camp is drawn from its 11-day itinerary. Day counts include arrival and departure days where the itinerary lists them.
See all our treksThe Classic High-Pass Route
Two weeks around the Annapurna massif
A jeep takes you to Chame, then you walk up through Pisang to Manang and rest for a day before the climb to Thorong La. On the far side you drop into the dry Kali Gandaki valley, go down to Tatopani, and climb back up through Ghorepani to Poon Hill.
From
Before you book
Spring or autumn, for almost everyone. Rhododendrons flower in March and April, and October brings the clearest views of the year, so those are the weeks to book early. Winter is quiet and Poon Hill still works, but snow can shut Thorong La. From June to August it rains most days in the lower valleys. Our month-by-month Annapurna Circuit guide has the detail.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poon Hill | Possible | Possible | Best | Best | Good | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Possible | Best | Best | Possible |
| Mardi Himal | Avoid | Possible | Best | Best | Good | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Possible | Best | Best | Possible |
| Annapurna Base Camp | Avoid | Possible | Best | Best | Good | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Possible | Best | Best | Possible |
| Annapurna Circuit | Avoid | Avoid | Good | Best | Best | Possible | Avoid | Avoid | Good | Best | Best | Possible |
NPR 3,000ACAP permit, plus NPR 2,000 for TIMS
Foreign trekkers need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), and most agencies also issue a TIMS card. The permits your route needs are included in our trek prices. Nepal has required foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide since 2023. Our ACAP and TIMS guide covers the paperwork, and the guide rule explainer covers who it applies to.
USD 25-45a day for a bed and meals
That's roughly what teahouses cost if you pay your own way, and the bill goes up as you climb. A guide, transport and permits come on top. For the full sums, see the Annapurna Circuit cost guide, the Annapurna Base Camp cost guide and our guide to Annapurna teahouses.
500 mmost to add per night above 3,000 m
You won't need ropes or climbing skills, but you will spend long days on your feet. Altitude is the real risk. Above 3,000 metres, sleep no more than 500 metres higher each night where the route allows it, and go down if symptoms get worse. Read how hard the Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Base Camp treks are, then our altitude sickness guide.
The Circuit is open after the September floods, with some walking where the road used to be. Beds are tight at the top of the Base Camp trail in peak weeks, so book early. Latest on each route
Choose Your Route
Set Dates
Dates marked Guaranteed will run. If none of them suit you, we can set up a private trek on your own dates.
Showing 7 of 32 departures
Don't see your dates? Ask for a private trek
These are three of our lead guides. Between them they have led more than 327 treks.
Message us before you book. Ask which month suits your fitness, whether a teenager will cope with the altitude, or what the food is really like.
Meet the Founder
Founder & Lead Guide
10+
Years guiding
1,000+
Trekkers led
AJ grew up in the Annapurna foothills and has spent more than 10 years guiding trekkers in Nepal, from first-timers to people crossing high passes. In 2016, AJ founded Annapurna Trekking in Kathmandu.
The rules for every trek are simple: keep the group small, take no shortcuts on safety, and leave enough time to enjoy where you are.
FAQ
These are the questions we hear most. If yours isn't here, send it over and we'll get back to you.
Ask Us AnythingAnnapurna trekking is walking from village to village around the Annapurna mountains in central Nepal, staying in teahouses along the way. The main routes are Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Annapurna Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit. They range from a few easy days to a high pass at 5,416 metres.
Poon Hill is the usual first choice. It takes 5 days, tops out at 3,210 metres, and we rate it easy. You still need to be fit enough for several hours of uphill walking a day.
Our routes run from 5 days for Poon Hill to 7 days for Mardi Himal, 11 to 13 days for Annapurna Base Camp and 14 days for the Annapurna Circuit. The longer Circuit versions take 16 to 17 days.
March to May and October to November are the best months. June to August is monsoon season. From December to February, lower routes still work, but snow can close Thorong La.
Yes. You need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, and most agencies also issue a TIMS card. Nepal has required foreign trekkers to walk with a licensed guide since 2023.
Altitude sickness (AMS) can affect anyone above 2,500 metres, however fit they are. Our Thorong La itineraries include rest days at Manang, and guides on our higher routes check your oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter. If your symptoms get worse, you go down.
You can book a private trek for your own group, on your own dates and at your own pace. We also publish set departure dates with a limited number of places. Tell us which you prefer when you get in touch.
Our prices include teahouse beds, meals on the trail, the permits your route needs, a licensed guide and porters. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, personal gear, tips and bottled drinks are extra. Each trek page has the full list.
Contact us on WhatsApp, by email or through the booking form. Your deposit runs from 10% to 100%, depending on how early you book, and the balance is due 15 days before departure. If you cancel, you get back 90% with more than 150 days of notice, 80% at 91 to 150 days, 70% at 31 to 90 days, 50% at 15 to 30 days and 25% at 8 to 14 days. There is no refund with less than 8 days of notice, and refunds exclude permits, flights and insurance.
Trail Guides & Planning
PlanningTwo of our treks fit in a week or less. This guide compares Poon Hill and Mardi Himal by real walking days, altitude and cost, and explains why Everest does not fit.
Not sure which trek suits you?
Tell us your dates and fitness, and we'll suggest a route
Beyond Annapurna
Everest · Manaslu · Langtang · Mustang
Nepal has eight of the world's 14 peaks above 8,000 metres. We also guide Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, the Three Passes, Manaslu, Langtang and Upper Mustang.
See All Our Treks
One tour, three countries
Three weeks from Kathmandu and Pokhara to Tiger's Nest in Bhutan, then on to the Potala Palace in Lhasa and a viewpoint over the north face of Everest.
See the 21-Day Tour
Planning a Trek?
Call or message us on WhatsApp to talk through your trek.
AJ (Ajay Kumar Shrestha)
Founder & Lead Guide
Bijay Gurung
TAAN-Licensed Guide
Rajan Rai
TAAN-Licensed Guide
Chhakmaya Gajurba
TAAN-Licensed Guide
