Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek

Add-Ons

Upgrade Your Accommodation in Kathmandu

We offer the option to upgrade your stay in Kathmandu because comfort matters after the Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek. You arrive tired and heavily exhausted. We can book you into a 4 or 5-star hotel with luxury rooms and reliable hot water. We choose properties with quiet rooms and blackout curtains so you can sleep deeply. Compared to the trekking days on the Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek, you get a proper bed with thick mattresses. Not a thin mattress on a wooden frame. Not shared bathrooms down the hall and you shower without waiting for solar-heated water to kick in.

We pick hotels near Thamel but not inside its busiest lanes. You stay close to gear shops, cafes, and pharmacies. You walk to dinner at nearby eateries with tasty specialties or just enjoy the delicacies at your hotel or resort. Breakfast is usually complimentary at luxury accommodations, which include eggs, toast, sandwiches, fresh fruit, etc,., with tea, juice, coffee, and other drinks. You drink coffee that isn’t instant, unlike in the highlands. You sit outside if the weather holds, enjoying the scenes of the hills.

You do not have to waste time hunting for taxis. We arrange airport pickup and drop-off and also transfers to your upgraded accommodation. You move from trek to hotel to flight without stress.

Kathmandu Sightseeing Before Starting the Trek

We can also include Kathmandu sightseeing before the Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek. You have to arrive early for this, so that we can use that day to go around the town. We will show you the cultural side of Kathmandu, visiting many historic sites within the valley. Kathmandu holds seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in total, and we will visit three key ones.

The first thing in the morning, we walk through Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple. It sits on a hill west of the city and you have to climb 365 steps. You see the white dome, the golden spire, and the all-seeing eyes of Buddha. Monks chant hymns and prayers in the wee hours and you can go around the monastery, spinning the prayer wheels.

Following that, we drive to Pashupatinath Temple, a sacred Hindu cremation site on the Bagmati River. Priests burn bodies in open-air pyres, following the ancient ritual of Vedic traditions. We observe from a distance and respect the sanctity. Leaving the shores of Bagmati, we explore the Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world. Pilgrims circle clockwise and so do we, spinning the prayer wheels.

We eat dal bhat near Thamel, drink some sweet tea, juices, or local drinks. We review your gear list and check our permits, before moving on to our next destination.

Private Helicopter flight from Jomsom to Pokhara

We offer an upgrade to a private helicopter flight between Jomsom and Pokhara as an add-on. You use this option to save time or avoid risky weather delays on the Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek. The flight from Jomsom to Pokhara takes about twenty minutes. You depart from Jomsom Airport’s domestic terminal and you land at Pokhara International Airport, which sits at 824 meters above sea level.

A private charter costs USD ______ for the entire helicopter. It carries up to five people. This means your cost drops if you share with others. Shared seats range from USD ______ to _____ per person. We book daily flights through licensed operators.

You fly over terraced hills, deep valleys, and Himalayan peaks. You see the Annapurna Himalaya Range and the Dhaulagiri Himalaya Range during clear weather. It is very important to keep your seatbelt fastened the whole time. For those who want to know, you can not change seats mid-flight. We expect you to follow all pilot instructions without exception. We recommend this for trekkers with tight schedules or those returning after a long expedition.

You skip the crowded airport queues and avoid overnight waits due to flight cancellations. You start your trek on your terms. We confirm your slot 48 hours before departure, while you must provide your weight and passport details for flight planning. We will send a coordinator to assist at the helipad. You receive a safety briefing before boarding and we recommend you carry one soft-sided bag up to 10 kg. We track the weather closely to secure a safe window. This way, you gain control over your itinerary, while we make it seamless.

Pokhara Sightseeing Before Your Return to Kathmandu

We can even extend your Pokhara morning to include more ground and deeper views. After breakfast, you walk to Fewa Lake’s eastern shore and rent a paddle boat from the public ghat. You can row for about an hour or two, exploring the foothills of the nearby hills. After that, we will visit Tal Barahi mandir, a two-story shrine that sits on a small island. Devotees light butter lamps inside and you can circle the temple clockwise before returning.

If you eat lunch at an esteemed eatery in Lakeside, you should try the Thakali lunch set while you’re there. The menu lists traditional Nepalese dishes, made from local organic ingredients. Or you can even go for different asian cuisines such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese; Western and European restaurants are available too.

At around 1 PM, you drive 15 minutes north to the International Mountain Museum. You pass the entrance after getting the ticket; the entrance fee is 700 NPR for foreigners. The building spans three floors and you can see historical climbing gear used on Everest. You can read timelines of Himalayan expeditions; q full section covers the Annapurna massif. You can also watch a 20-minute documentary on Nepali high-altitude porters.

By 3:30 PM, you visit Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave. It lies 500 meters south of Davis Falls. You descend 150 steps into limestone rock. A narrow path leads through dim chambers where one room holds a natural Shiva lingam. Locals worship here daily. You follow the single exit route to the surface and return to the hotel by 5 PM. We remind you to check flight times for the next day before going to bed. This is one of the best ways to end the Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek.

How does our trip start?

We will meet you at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport with a sign showing your name. You skip taxi queues because our rep will be there with a driver. You drive west through Kathmandu’s ring road past Swayambhunath stupa. The road narrows after Dhading Besi. You cross the Marsyangdi River gorge on a steel bridge near Besisahar. We check you into a local hotel before 5 PM. You receive your ACAP and TIMS permits stamped that evening. We will brief you on the dal bhat on Day 2, the 7-hour drive to Dharapani. You sleep in a clean room with hot water knowing tomorrow’s drive begins after breakfast.

Difficulty

The Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek demands steady effort but no technical skills. You gain 1000 meters of elevation on Day 4 from Dharapani to Chame. Your legs burn on the Pisang ascent where trails zigzag 600 meters uphill. Thorong La Pass requires 5 hours of continuous walking above 5000 meters. You feel the 1566-meter drop to Muktinath strain your knees. Daily distances range from 12 to 18 kilometers on rocky paths. Rest days in Manang prevent altitude sickness, which affects 25 percent of trekkers above 3500 meters, according to Himalayan Rescue Association data. We schedule acclimatization stops every 90 minutes. You walk 5-7 hours daily carrying 4 to 6 kilograms. Strong hikers complete it, but we adjust the pace to your breathing rhythm.

Best seasons

We run the Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek mainly from October through November and from March through April. You walk when skies stay clear and trails dry. October brings 200 trekkers daily on this route per Nepal Tourism Board data. Daytime temperatures range from 15-20°C below 3000 meters, while the nights drop to -5°C above 4000 meters. Monsoon blocks transform in June through September with landslides and leeches.

Winter (December-February) sees snow closing Thorong La Pass. We check the Himalayan Weather Forecast weekly before your trip. You summit Thorong La when winds stay below 30 km/h and we generally avoid December due to -15°C nights at Thorong Phedi. Spring offers blooming rhododendrons from Pisang to Chame and other parts of the trail. October provides 300-kilometer visibility peaks from Annapurna South to Machhapuchhre. We cancel trips if snow depth exceeds 50 cm on the pass.

Can a beginner join this trip?

We can help train beginners for the Annapurna Semi Circuit. You walk 5-7 hours daily carrying 4 to 6 kg packs. We require you to complete three 15 km hikes before departure. We enforce mandatory rest days at Manang (3540m) for altitude adjustment. Our guides spot early AMS symptoms using pulse oximeters. Beginners walk slower but reach Thorong La with our step-by-step pacing. You need basic fitness but not technical skills. We provide trekking poles and oxygen monitors for first-timers. Himalayan Rescue Association reports 85 percent of beginners succeed with proper preparation. We reject applicants with uncontrolled hypertension or recent surgeries.

Altitude Sickness

We monitor your oxygen levels daily above 3000 meters. You might feel headaches or nausea at Manang (3540m) on Day 6, but it will not be that serious at that elevation. Our guides carry portable oxygen cylinders throughout the trek. You are recommended to drink 3 liters of water daily starting on Day 3. We cancel summit attempts if your saturation drops below 85 percent. Acclimatization days in Manang prevent 90 percent of severe cases according to Himalayan Rescue Association data. We expect you to recognize symptoms early because altitude sickness can be very inconvenient. You descend immediately if vomiting occurs or other symptoms show up. We never skip rest days on the Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek itinerary, even if you feel strong.

Accommodation Food and Drink

You sleep in family-run stone teahouses with unheated rooms. Manang lodges serve buckwheat pancakes and yak cheese for breakfast. We purify all drinking water using tablets or filters at each stop. Teahouses charge around 300 NPR for hot showers above 3000 meters. We pre-pay meals so you carry less cash. You drink ginger tea, milk tea, lemon tea, or other flavors at the Thorong Phedi lodges to warm up. The tea houses source vegetables from local farms, and all the ingredients are grown organically; there are no chemical fertilizers. Nepal Tourism Board confirms 95 percent of lodges now have charging stations.

Transportation

Transportation moves you through Nepal’s changing landscapes. You ride in sturdy buses on the Prithvi Highway from Kathmandu to Besisahar. The 8-hour drive covers 145 kilometers through terraced hills and river gorges. You cross the Marsyangdi River on steel bridges near and ride a 4WD jeep from Muktinath and Pokhara, for the 195-kilometer journey over rough Kali Gandaki trails.

Roads wash out in the monsoon, so we time our drives for dry season windows. You fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu on Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines flights, which we pre-book if you upgrade the transport. We track flight delays hourly and hold Kathmandu hotel rooms past noon. Our jeeps carry spare tires and oxygen cans for high passes. You never wait roadside because our drivers know every landslide spot on the Besisahar route.

Permit

Permits keep you legal and fund conservation. You need two documents for this Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek. The ACAP permit costs 3000 NPR and covers the 7629 square kilometer Annapurna Conservation Area. The TIMS card costs 2000 NPR and tracks trekker numbers. We submit your passport scans to the Nepal Tourism Board office pre-departure. You receive PDF copies before your flight lands.

Without these, you pay double fines at the Manang checkpoint. Your permit shows your name, route, and dates printed clearly. Rangers check it almost daily above Chame village. The ACAP fee directly funds trail repairs and teahouse toilets. Last year it maintained 120 kilometers of Annapurna trails. We include permit costs in your package price so you do not have to worry about the hassle.

Trip preparation and fitness

We require you to walk 6 hours daily with a 4 to 6-kilogram pack before departure. You train on stair machines for 90 minutes three times weekly. You climb about 1000 steps carrying water bottles equaling your pack weight. We recommend trekkers measure their resting heart rate monthly pre-trek. You have to achieve 120 beats per minute after 30 squats. You have to complete a medical form listing past altitude sickness incidents. We verify your travel insurance covers helicopter evacuation above 5000 meters before starting the trek.

Alternative routes

We skip the Jomsom detour when monsoon floods the Kali Gandaki trail. You take the old salt traders’ path from Kagbeni to Tukuche, adding 18 kilometers but avoiding landslide zones. We reroute you through Ngawal village if snow blocks the Thorong La Pass. This adds one day but uses lower elevation trails at 3800 meters. You walk the Pisang Upper route for panoramic Annapurna views missing the main trail’s switchbacks. We offer the Tilicho Lake extension adding 14 kilometers round trip from Manang. You see Nepal’s deepest alpine lake at 4919 meters, but gain 700 meters of elevation. We confirm all alternatives with real-time weather data.

Cost & Budget

We set your budget at USD ____ per person for the full Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek excluding international flights. Daily spending runs $20 to $30 for beverages, snacks, Wi-Fi, hot showers, etc. Teahouses charge around $2 or 3 for bottled water above 3000 meters. Charging your phone costs $1 to $2 per session, and Wi-Fi adds $3 or $4 at lodges. You should carry around 20000 NPR cash from Besisahar onward. ATMs are not available after Besisahar, so cash out before we leave the town. We include all teahouse meals so you avoid costs. As per our experiences, trekkers spend $35 daily on average.

Gadgets Charging & Internet

You charge devices at teahouses using solar power systems. Lodges above 3000 meters limit charging to 2 hours daily. Manang and Thorong Phedi outlets cost $1 per 60 minutes. We recommend getting power banks holding 20000mAh for summit day. Wi-Fi works at lower elevations like Chame for 500 NPR for the entire stay. Above 4000 meters the internet vanishes. The NTC network covers 80% of the trail up to Manang. You can download offline maps before Dharapani if you want to.

Teahouses near Thorong La use solar batteries for charging. You can carry two fully charged power banks for high-altitude days since the limited charging time might not be enough. Nepal Telecom reports 70% trail coverage below 3500 meters, so getting a local SIM card with a data plan is worth the money.

Your Extra expenses

You carry extra cash for daily trail expenses beyond our Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek package. We include all teahouse meals but you pay separately for showers, Wi-Fi, and battery charging. Showers cost 300 to 500 NPR per session above 2500 meters. Wi-Fi access runs 200 NPR daily at lodges like Pisang and Manang. Charging your phone or camera takes 200 NPR per hour at higher elevations where solar power is limited. You buy bottled water at 200 NPR below Chame and 300 NPR near Thorong Phedi due to transport costs. We recommend carrying 20,000 NPR as buffer cash from Besisahar onward.

ATMs stop after Besisahar so withdraw enough in Kathmandu or Pokhara. You tip your guide and porter directly at journey’s end based on how much you feel like tipping. We advise 7 to 10 percent of the total trek cost as fair gratuity. Emergency evacuation insurance covers medical costs but you pay upfront for minor first aid supplies. You budget for local snacks like roasted corn or chocolate bars sold by village children along the trail. We track these costs so you know exactly what to expect.

Things to Remember Before Trekking The Annapurna Semi Circuit Trek

• Carry two water bottles and fill both at every teahouse stop and purify all drinking water with iodine tablets.
• Wear moisture-wicking base layers under down jackets at night and test your sleeping bag before departure.
• Walk slowly enough to speak full sentences above 3500 meters and count your steps per minute below 30 on steep ascents.
• Have your pulse checked by an oximeter twice daily before breakfast and before going to bed.
• Use lip balm with SPF 30+ from Day 03 onward and pack blister patches inside your sock pocket for instant access.
• Wear a buff over the mouth during windy sections above Thorong Phedi.
• Break in boots on rocky trails before arrival in Nepal and sleep with head elevated using rolled clothing in teahouses.
• Use trekking poles on downhill sections to save your knee joints.
• Eat small snacks every hour during long trekking days.
• Wear two pairs of socks to prevent blisters on rocky paths.