Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

The Annapurna Sanctuary trek is a relatively easy trek compared to the Everest Base Camp trek. The reason behind this is that the trek to the Annapurna Base Camp is a shorter day trek, reaching a maximum altitude of 4,130 meters/13,550 feet, and spending a minimum number of days at high altitude. Also, the oxygen levels in the air in the Annapurna region are higher than the Everest Base Camp trek due to the green forests at lower altitudes. The Annapurna Sanctuary trek starts at an altitude of 827 meters/2,714 feet, which allows enough days for acclimatization. The Annapurna Sanctuary trek may be easier than the Everest Base Camp trek, but the fitness level required for both treks is not different. Hikers do not need technical expertise or rock climbing and mountaineering skills as the trek is basically a long trek at low altitudes in the green hills of the southern part of the Annapurna range. The trek is difficult only because it is a 9-day trek, which involves a lot of uphill and downhill walking (11 days including arrival and departure). However, if you are short on time, you can complete the trek in 7 days by taking a shorter route.

The weather in the Annapurna Sanctuary varies differently in different seasons. The snow-capped Himalayan region is never really hot, not even during summer season. The maximum temperature during the day reaches up to [25°C/77°F] while the night temperature falls as low as [-20°C/-4°F] or sometimes lower. Considering the whole trekking journey, the lower hiking regions are much warmer than the base camp. Spring season is relatively hot especially during the daytime when there is no cloud or snowfall.

The best time to trek Annapurna Sanctuary is during the pre-monsoon months from March to May. The post-monsoon months from late September to December are also favorable for trekking. It is also possible to trek, between February and early September, but the best time for this trek is as mentioned above.

Absolutely yes! Under normal circumstances, our booked trips are guaranteed to run. We are a tailor-made company. If you are in a last-minute stress, remember to find us to sort out your trip decisions. Please feel free to book your stress-free holidays with us. Unless there is a situation which is out of control such as a political riot, natural disaster, pandemic, epidemic or weather catastrophes, our trips are 100% guaranteed to run.

Rest assured that you will be in good hands with our experienced trek guides, who have multiple years of experience trekking in Nepal. All of our guides, known as, are locals with a deep understanding of the mountain, its people, culture, health, hygiene, and most importantly, your safety. They are fluent in English and will be able to communicate effectively with you throughout the trek. Our guides are passionate about their work and will ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trekking experience.

The guides have many years of guiding experience in trekking. Most have been exploring the Himalayas for years. Our guides are also trained in first aid and know how to handle any situation. All our guides speak fluent English and are happy to share their in-depth knowledge of the culture, geography, flora, festivals, lifestyle with you. It is enough to take visitors to special places or special cultures, who can engage people in what they are experiencing, explain it well and entertain them. They are well versed in how to make the journey comfortable and safe while appreciating the beauty of the Himalayas.

On the trek, you should pack light but at least enough for your journey. If you don’t pack wisely, it is certain that you won’t be able to enjoy your trek in the Himalayas. Since this is a lodge-to-lodge trek, you will be sleeping in small lodges or tea houses throughout the trek. Since it can be cold at high altitudes, especially during the colder months, you should be prepared with the right clothes and equipment. For detailed information on what to carry with you during the trek, please visit our detailed packing lists. Packing equipment lists

No, there is no age limit for the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, however, you must be in good physical health and have a positive attitude. We recommend that you visit your doctor before your visit and obtain the necessary permission and advice, as well as take medications when traveling at high altitudes. More information about Medications

Yes: We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers up emergency evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and you must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved. More information: Travel Insurance

After a long day of hiking, a good night’s restful sleep is very important for the next day’s hiking. With your comfort in mind, we make sure to book the best lodges with two beds in each room and western toilet facilities where available. Generally, the beds are clean and comfortable with electric blankets (where available) and an attached bathroom for most nights. The room temperature is usually maintained at 10-12°C / 50-54°F.

During the trek, electricity is available at all teahouses where you will spend the night. You can recharge your phone, laptop or iPad from micro-hydropower and solar panels for a nominal fee. Regarding W-iFi, there are no free hotspots along the trek route, so we do not encourage you to bring your laptop. Some teahouses offer paid Wi-Fi services by the hour, but do not expect high-speed connectivity on remote trails.

Trekkers will enjoy 3 delicious meals on each day of the trek. Typically, you will have breakfast and dinner at the lodge where you will spend the night. Lunch will be provided at tea shops or small restaurants along the trail. You are free to choose your meals from the menu wherever possible; they will provide you with the best food items – our leader will ensure that you are provided with the right food. Throughout the trek, you will be fed fresh and organic fruits, either brought from Kathmandu or sourced locally in local villages. The meals include a nutritionist-designed balanced diet containing complex carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The chefs are trained by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in hygienic food preparation and allergy safety. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and kosher diets can be arranged if required with prior notice.

Sample Menu

✔ Breakfast
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate
Toast with jam or honey, toast omelet, pancake, Tibetan bread, porridge/ muesli
Eggs on your choices
American breakfast or Continental breakfast

✔ Day Lunch
Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
Momo (Nepali style dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken steak, yak steak
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

✔ Dinner in Night
Soups: vegetable soup, mushroom soup, chicken soup, chicken noodle soup, Rara noodle soup, French onion soup, pumpkin soup, potato soup

✔ Main Meals
Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
Momo (Nepali Dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken stake, yak stake
Dessert: apple pie, chocolate cake, carrot cake, apple fritter, canned fruit
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

Yes, cell phone networks are available on all trekking routes in the Annapurna Sanctuary. Most small villages and trekking routes have cell phone coverage via Ncell or NTC networks. However, in some areas, network coverage may be very poor or may not be available at all.

If you are planning to conquer the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Thorong La Pass without the problem of altitude sickness, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here are some tips from our experienced guides and trip planners to avoid altitude sickness during the Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Thorong La Pass trek.

• Slow ascend with proper rest and enough acclimatization
• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
• Eat enough and balanced food
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco during the entire trek
• Be head-strong and mentally prepared
• Train your body to cope with uphill hikes with enough cardio or gym workouts 4,5 weeks s before the start of the trek

Typically, the first symptoms begin to appear 12-24 hours after reaching high altitude. Different levels of altitude sickness have different symptoms. Mild, short-term symptoms of altitude sickness include dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, general lack of energy, and shortness of breath. Sometimes, these symptoms may be accompanied by headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

No. Generally, oxygen is not required during the trekking program, so it is possible to do sufficient environmental acclimatization. In addition, we provide Diamox from the beginning to prevent illness, which suppresses the symptoms of altitude sickness. However, in case of severe altitude sickness, we will immediately descend to a lower altitude, which is extremely rare in Annapurna region trekking.

Diamox is a medication that is usually taken as a preventative measure for altitude sickness, not to cure its symptoms. The risk of altitude sickness is lower on this trek compared to the Everest Base Camp trek. However, we will give you the medication from the start as a precaution. No need to worry as your trekking leaders are equipped with first aid kits and enough Diamox tablets. It is advisable to consult your doctor about any allergic reactions or side effects that the medication may cause you.

Caffeine can contribute to altitude sickness because it can cause altitude sickness, which can lead to dehydration. In contrast, caffeine is known to stimulate your brain, kidneys, and respiratory system, all of which are useful at high altitudes. People who have been drinking caffeinated beverages for a long time and suddenly stop drinking them while hiking may experience severe headaches.

AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions has a capable team of trekking guides teams who are highly skilled in dealing with any difficulties or emergencies that may arise during the trip. If you feel sick with altitude, the first thing you should do is inform your leader so that he or she knows what to do. With years of experience, he or she can sense the severity of the situation and respond accordingly, either by bringing you down to a lower altitude or by using a helicopter to rescue you. If for some reason a helicopter is unable to fly, we will use our local staff and contacts to coordinate alternative rescue and treatment procedures, which may mean using a horse or stretcher to transport the sick person down the mountain to the nearest health post or a safe helicopter landing site.

AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions offers a lifetime deposit policy that gives you the flexibility to transfer your deposit to anyone or any other trip. If you wish to cancel your booked trips, certain cancellation fees apply. Please see our Booking Terms and Conditions for detailed information.

Generally speaking, the cost of Annapurna Sanctuary ranges from $1600 to $3400 per person although there is no actual math for the precise cost. The journey to the Annapurna Sanctuary of depends on factors such as the reputation and brand name of the operator with whom you book your trip holidays. It also depends on the season that you plan to travel, the services or facilities you require, standard of accommodation and food options, and other aspects.

All bookings are made through AlpineTrav Treks & Expeditions Pvt. Ltd. based at Boudha 6, Kathmandu, Nepal. Travel Booking Terms To book your holiday you must send us a completed booking (enquiry) form or email us directly with details, for information. Learn more about our book. How to Book a Trip?

With regards to the accessibility, Annapurna Trek is certainly much easier while in terms of comfort, Everest Base Camp Trek is more comfortable because it is more commercialized and lodges and guesthouses on the Everest Base Camp have been built to accommodate tour groups to provide more comfort and other amenities. Based on our years of experience and with the views of our trek leaders as well as our trekking customers who have embarked on both these treks, a majority of them voted Annapurna Trek as the easier one. The starting point of Annapurna Trek lies at an altitude of 827m (2,714ft.) and takes a longer time to reach from Kathmandu while the starting point of Everest Base Camp lies at 2,860m (9,383ft.) and can be reached within a mere 25 minutes. It means that you will already be exposed to quite a higher altitude before you actually begin to trek to Everest Base Camp. The Annapurna Trek has more green vegetation and due to a comparably thicker oxygen level even in the higher elevation, chances of altitude sickness in this region is minimum. For more details, please read website and blogs or contact us.