A guided Annapurna Circuit trek costs USD 1,190 to 1,690 per person in 2026, and group size sets almost all of that spread. A solo trekker pays the top price, and a group of eight to twelve pays the bottom. Going it alone isn't the bargain it was, because Nepal's April 2023 rule means you still need a licensed guide. Pay that guide, the permits and the teahouses yourself and a 14-day trek comes to roughly USD 700 to 1,000.
The gap between the two has shrunk since the guide rule arrived. What's left is mostly about who pays the guide's daily wage (one person on a private trip, split four or eight ways in a group) and how much of the logistics someone else handles.
How much does group size change the package price?
Our Circuit packages use four price tiers, and the per-person rate drops as more people share one guide and porter.
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Solo, private guide | USD 1,690 |
| 2 to 3 people | USD 1,390 |
| 4 to 7 people | USD 1,290 |
| 8 to 12 people | USD 1,190 |
Every tier includes both permits, a TAAN-certified guide, a porter, teahouse rooms, all trail meals and the drive from Kathmandu through Besisahar to Chame, which skips two dusty days of road walking. The trek itself is identical at every price. A solo trekker simply pays the guide's whole daily wage alone.
What do the permits cost?
You need two. The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) costs NPR 3,000, about USD 23, and the TIMS card costs NPR 2,000, about USD 15. That's USD 38 in total. Bring two passport photos. On our packages we collect both in Kathmandu or Pokhara, so you never queue at a permit counter, and checkpoints at Chame, Manang and Muktinath stamp them along the way.
What does independent trekking cost now?
A guideless Circuit is no longer legal for foreigners inside the Annapurna Conservation Area. "Independent" now means hiring a guide directly and paying each cost as it comes. A licensed guide charges USD 25 to 35 a day, and a porter, if you want one, USD 18 to 22. Teahouse food and a bed run USD 25 to 35 a day, rising above Manang. Transport adds USD 100 to 160 in total, for the jeep from Besisahar to Chame and the bus or flight back from Jomsom to Pokhara.
Over 14 days that's roughly USD 700 to 1,000 before tips. Cheaper than a package, yes. But you negotiate the jeep, you find beds in Manang during October, and you vet the guide.
Does the season you travel in change the cost?
It does. Our own departures run from USD 990 for July monsoon dates to USD 1,390 for the first week of October, with November and March at USD 1,290. Teahouse prices follow the crowds too. In October and November, rooms cost 15 to 25 percent more than in the shoulder months, and Manang lodges with attached bathrooms fill days ahead. December to February is cold and quiet. June to August is wet. Both are cheaper on the trail, but with fewer trekkers around you can't split a jeep or a porter, which eats into the saving.
How does adding the Tilicho Lake extension change the total?
Our 16-day version adds Tilicho Lake at 4,919 metres for roughly USD 100 to 150 more. That pays for two extra teahouse nights plus two more guide and porter days. Independent trekkers should budget USD 60 to 100 for the same two days. Because Tilicho comes before Thorong La, the extra height helps you acclimatise, which makes it one of the best-value additions on the route. Our Annapurna Circuit itinerary guide shows where it fits.
What should you budget for tips, insurance, and extras?
Tips first. Guides and porters plan their income around them. Budget USD 100 to 200 per trekker for the whole trek, pooled and handed over on the last evening. Next, insurance with helicopter evacuation cover, which typically costs USD 100 to 250. Don't skip it. A helicopter from Manang or Thorong Phedi costs USD 3,000 to 5,000 if you're paying yourself. Then the small stuff. Hot showers cost USD 2 to 5, wifi USD 2 to 4 a day and a battery charge USD 2 to 3, and every one gets dearer above Manang, where supplies arrive by mule or jeep.
What's the honest total for a first-time trekker?
Take a group of four to seven on the standard 14-day trip. The package is USD 1,290. Add USD 100 to 200 in tips, USD 100 to 250 for insurance and USD 100 to 150 for showers, wifi, snacks and souvenirs, and the realistic total lands around USD 1,600 to 1,890 per person. International flights and the Nepal visa (USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30) come on top. The 12-day and 16-day versions shift that by a couple of teahouse nights and not much else.
For the day-by-day route across all three lengths, see our Annapurna Circuit itinerary guide, or check dates on the Annapurna Circuit Trek page.
How does this compare to the cost of other major Nepal treks?
| Trek | Guided package from | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Circuit | USD 1,190 | 12-16 days |
| Annapurna Base Camp | USD 890 | 11-13 days |
| Everest Base Camp | USD 1,350 | 14 days |
| Poon Hill | USD 390 | 5 days |
The Circuit sits in the middle. It costs more than Annapurna Base Camp and lands close to Everest Base Camp once you count the days, since both need 12 or more days of guide, porter and teahouse costs. Two things push its daily cost a little above ABC's, the jeep at each end and, for a solo trekker, a longer stretch of private guiding.
What are the most common cost-related questions?
Can you negotiate the guided package price?
The tiers are fixed. The reliable way to pay less is to join an existing small group on a set date, which drops you into a cheaper tier without changing your plans.
Does the price change if you extend to Tilicho Lake after booking?
Yes. Confirm it when you book, because the guide and porter days are arranged in advance. Expect the same USD 100 to 150 whichever base length you started with.
Is there a cheaper way to arrange permits than through a package?
Not really. ACAP and TIMS are fixed government fees whoever applies, so doing it yourself only saves an agency's small handling charge.
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Founder & Lead Guide, Annapurna Trekking
AJ founded Annapurna Trekking in 2016 and has personally guided treks across Nepal ever since. More about our team →
