A guided Annapurna Circuit package costs between USD 1,190 and USD 1,690 per person in 2026, with the exact figure set almost entirely by group size: solo trekkers pay the top of that range, groups of eight to twelve pay the bottom. Independent trekkers, who still need a licensed guide under Nepal's April 2023 regulation, typically spend USD 700 to 1,000 across a 12 to 16-day trek once permits, guide wages, and tea-house costs are added up separately rather than bundled.
The gap between guided and independent trekking has narrowed since the guide mandate took effect, because "independent" no longer means solo. What still separates the two is how the guide's daily wage gets divided (split across a group in a package, paid in full by one person going alone) and how much comfort and logistics support is included in the price.
How much does group size change the package price?
Annapurna Trekking's Circuit packages run on a four-tier structure, with the per-person rate dropping as more people share the same guide and porter costs.
| 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, tea-house accommodation, all meals on the trail, and the Kathmandu-Besisahar-Chame transfers that skip the least scenic two days of walking. Solo trekkers pay a premium not because the trek is different, but because one person is covering a guide's full daily wage alone instead of splitting it four or eight ways.
What do the permits actually cost?
Two permits are mandatory for the entire Circuit: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) at NPR 3,000 (about USD 23), and the TIMS card, which is tiered rather than flat. Agency-booked trekkers pay NPR 1,000 for TIMS; independent applicants pay NPR 2,000 at the Nepal Tourism Board office. Combined, budget USD 30 to 38 depending on how you book, and bring two passport photos for the applications. We arrange both as part of every guided package, with no separate permit-office visit required.
What does independent trekking actually cost now?
Since the 2023 rule requiring a licensed guide in the Annapurna Conservation Area, a genuinely solo, guideless Circuit trek is no longer legal to book. "Independent" now means hiring your own guide directly rather than booking a package, and the daily numbers look like this:
- Guide: USD 25 to 35 per day
- Porter (optional): USD 18 to 22 per day
- Tea-house food and lodging: USD 25 to 35 per day, rising above Manang
- Transport (Besisahar-Chame jeep, Jomsom-Pokhara flight): USD 100 to 160 total
Across a 14-day trek, that adds up to roughly USD 700 to 1,000, before tips. It's genuinely cheaper than a package, but it puts jeep negotiation, room availability in peak season, and guide vetting entirely on you.
Does the season you travel in change the cost?
Package prices stay fixed year-round, but independent daily costs shift with demand. October and November, the Circuit's peak season, see tea-house prices climb 15 to 25% above the quieter shoulder months, and Manang lodges can charge a premium for rooms with attached bathrooms simply because every bed is booked days in advance. December through February and June through August, the coldest and wettest windows respectively, bring lower tea-house rates but also fewer trekkers to split jeep and porter costs with, which can offset some of the savings for solo or small-group travellers.
How does adding the Tilicho Lake extension change the total?
The 16-day itinerary with Tilicho Lake (4,919m) adds roughly USD 100 to 150 to a guided package price, covering two extra tea-house nights and the additional guide and porter days, and independent trekkers should budget a similar USD 60 to 100 increase in daily costs for the same two days. Given that this extension happens before Thorong La and genuinely improves acclimatisation rather than working against it, it's one of the better value additions on the whole route. See our Annapurna Circuit itinerary guide for exactly where this extension fits into the schedule.
What should you budget for tips, insurance, and extras?
Tipping in Nepal's trekking industry is customary rather than optional in practice: guides and porters rely on it as a meaningful part of their income. Budget USD 100 to 200 per trekker for the full trek, typically pooled and paid at the end. Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover is mandatory and typically runs USD 100 to 250 depending on your provider and trip length, a cost that's easy to overlook when budgeting but non-negotiable given a rescue at altitude can cost USD 3,000 to 5,000 without it. On top of that, hot showers (USD 2-5), wifi (USD 2-4 a day), and battery charging (USD 2-3) are billed separately at each tea house and get more expensive the higher you climb, since everything above Manang has to be carried or trucked in.
What's the honest total for a first-time trekker?
For a group of four to seven booking a standard 14-day guided package: USD 1,290 for the package, USD 100-200 in tips, USD 100-250 for insurance, and USD 100-150 in personal extras (showers, wifi, snacks, souvenirs) brings the realistic total to roughly USD 1,600-1,890 per person, not counting international flights or Nepal's visa-on-arrival fee. That figure holds whether you take the 12-day, 14-day, or 16-day Tilicho Lake version of the route, since the extension mainly adds two more tea-house nights rather than a separate cost category.
For the full day-by-day route across all three itinerary lengths, see our Annapurna Circuit itinerary guide, or check current departure 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 | 7-12 days |
| Everest Base Camp | USD 1,350 | 12-14 days |
| Poon Hill | USD 390 | 4-5 days |
The Circuit sits in the middle of Nepal's major trek pricing, more expensive than the shorter Annapurna Base Camp route but broadly comparable to Everest Base Camp once duration is accounted for, since both involve 12 or more days of guide, porter, and tea-house costs. What pushes the Circuit's per-day cost slightly above ABC's is the additional jeep transport on both ends and, for solo trekkers, a higher private-guide premium given the longer trip length.
What are the most common cost-related questions?
Can you negotiate the guided package price?
Group size tiers are fixed rather than negotiable, but joining an existing small group (rather than booking a fully private departure) is the most reliable way to move into a lower price tier without changing your travel dates.
Does the price change if you extend to Tilicho Lake after booking?
Yes, and it's best confirmed at booking rather than added on the trail, since guide and porter arrangements for the extension are made in advance. Expect the USD 100-150 addition noted above regardless of which base itinerary length you started from.
Is there a cheaper way to arrange permits than through a package?
Not meaningfully. ACAP and TIMS fees are fixed government rates regardless of who applies for them, so the only real saving from arranging permits yourself is the agency service fee, typically a small fraction of the total trek cost.
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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 →
