Our Annapurna Circuit trek package includes 2 Nights of Deluxe accommodations in Kathmandu and one night at a comfortable and luxurious hotel in Pokhara at the end of the trek. As we know, the best accommodation is a crucial part of your trip planning, our hand-selected best hotel accommodations are clean, in a good location, and give you value for your money. Our selected luxury 5-star hotels provide a wide array of excellent services and modern amenities. Our handpicked hotels offer a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, privacy when preferred, and attentive service. You can treat yourself to a relaxing spa day at our 5-star hotel in Kathmandu after your trek. Or rest and relax in a tranquil and peaceful garden resort. We have two different package options available as outlined below. Book your perfect dream holiday trek package with a local Sherpa expert and get exceptional service.

• Our 3 Star Hotel Package starts from $1725 USD Per Person only
• Our 5 Star Hotel Package starts from $1970 USD Per Person only

Kathmandu 3 Star Hotel Package Options:

1. Sampada Garden Hotel- Located in a peaceful area in Lazimpat, Katmandu. 15-20 minute walk from Thamel.
2. Mandala Boutique Hotel - This Hotel is located at Chhetrapati, just a 3-5 minute walk from Thamel

Pokhara 3 Star Hotel Package Options:

1. Hotel City inn, Hotel Splendid View & Spa Or Hotel The Kantipur

All hotels are situated in the lakeside area in Pokhara with clean and comfy rooms and most importantly helpful and friendly staff

if you select our 5-star package options then we accommodate you following 5-star Premier Hotels.

Kathmandu 5 Star Hotel Package Options:

1. Marriott Kathmandu - Located at Naxal, Kathmandu. Combine the modern design with local creativity
2. Yak and Yeti Hotel- Centrally located Luxury 5 star hotel in Kathmandu

Pokhara 5 Star Hotel Package Options:

1. Fishtail Lodge: this unique Lodge is situated in a unique location on a peninsula across Fewa Lake, using boats to transport guests to the property.
2. Temple Tree Resort & Spa: Nestling close by Fewa Lake in the Pokhara Valley, Temple Tree is framed by the foothills and majestic peaks of the Annapurna Mountain Range.

LOCAL MOUNTAIN LODGE

During this trek, We provide you best available mountain lodge with a cozy room with a shared bathroom for 11 Nights. Rooms are twin beds with two beds per room and do not have a bathroom attached except in a few places. The beds have mattresses and pillows and some blankets to borrow. The ‘living room’ area used for eating and relaxing is heated in the evenings. Lodges are always friendly places where you can meet many other trekkers. Many will have books to read and some have phones. Almost all have hot showers available, which are mostly gas heated.

Usually, breakfast will be at 8 am and you will need to pack your bags ready for the porters to leave early. Lunch will be taken en route in one of the many teahouses, and dinner is generally at 7 pm.

What Kind of Food I can expect during Trek?

Morning Breakfast between 7:00-8:00 AM

1. Tea or Coffee, Hot chocolate, lemon tea, hot milk, or green tea
2. Eggs items- Fried Eggs, Boiled Eggs, scramble eggs, Omelet,
3. Bread items- Toast, Pancakes, Chapati & Tibetan Bread
4. Porridge with Honey

Afternoon Lunch between 12:30 – 1:00 PM

• Nepal Dal Bhat, Curry with Rice, Pasta or Noodles item,
• Fried rice, fried Potatoes, Mo.Mo

Evening Dinner between 6:00-8:30 PM

1. Garlic Soup local Stew, vegetable Soup, mixed Soup, Potato Shop
2. Dal Bhat Tarkari – a soup of lentils with rice and a vegetable curry
3. Fried potatoes with veg, MO. MO, fried Noodles, Pasta, mash potatoes with Cheese, etc

Note: Unlike most companies, the Mountain Sherpa Trekking guide will not control the food menu during your trek in Nepal which means you can select any food from the lodge menu as per your taste. Mountain Sherpa trekking provides enough meals on their trek as part of the trip price.

Drinking-Water during Annapurna Circuit Trek

For many of us, the perfect choice may be to go for mineral water. After all, it’s sealed and safe to drink, plus it provides an income for the local traders – right? Regrettably, things are never quite that simple. Mineral water produces a vast number of knock-on problems for mountain societies.

While it does provide an income to local people it also generates an extraordinary, heart-breaking amount of waste and spoiling. Most places simply do not have the resources to do anything with the empty plastic bottles – and they burn them, releasing toxic gases into the air, or leave them in piles just out of sight of travelers, where they take more than 450 years to decompose.

Take, for example, Annapurna Circuit Trek. The recommended amount of water intake on a high-altitude trek like this is 3-4 litters a day. The trek is 11 days long. That’s more than approximately 33 litters and 33 plastic bottles, which won’t decompose until the year 2466 – per person.

For a full MST group of 12 people, just one trip will result in more than 396-400 mineral water bottles. And the salt in the wound is that plastic doesn’t decompose at high altitudes, so those 360 or more bottles will be up there forever. But what can you do? You have to drink, so how can you get around the problem?

The Alternatives: The great news is that there are really various options that will help you out of the bottled water trap. Here are just four of the best. All you have to do is pick which one is right for you.

Striped- Steripen is the most trusted model on the market. This technique uses exactly the same process as most mineral water undergoes before it is bottled. It’s UV filtering, exactly the same treatment as the majority of bottled water undergoes to be purified, but on the go. The technology has been around for much longer than you think, but it’s only recently been competitively priced enough to be on the market. SteriPen is an American company; other UV filters are also available.

Boiled water– This isn’t always an option if you’re out and about, but boiled water is an excellent option for safe drinking water on trek. Boiling the water kills any nastiness lurking there. It is the safest and most convenient option. Most lodges serve it, and it is great to ward off the cold. Prices range anywhere between NPR 50 and 120 per liter.

Purification tablets– Water refining tablets or chemicals like chlorine dioxide are frequently used. They are easy to carry and cheap to buy. However, they are not as effective as UV filters or boiled water and need a few hours to act. Besides these, LifeStraw and iodine-based treatments are also available but have their drawbacks. Read more about Water Safety in Nepal and Diarrhoea here.

KATHMANDU-BESISAHAR (190 KM): 5-6 HOURS DRIVE

It takes about 5-6 hours to reach Besi Sahar from Kathmandu. Besisahar is about 190-kilometer far from Nepal's capital city. With Mountain Sherpa trekking trips, you will travel in a small private vehicle. So, we provide you private vehicle with an experienced driver for a comfortable and safe journey. The advantage of taking a private vehicle is that you can ask your driver to stop whenever you like and smaller vehicles tend to be able to move through the traffic a little faster than larger buses. We also provide professional and experienced drivers, so you can fully and comfortably enjoy your Nepal Trek.

Jeep from Besisahar to Syange:

We drive to Syange by jeep from Besisahar. It takes about 1:30-2:00 hours to drive from Besisahar to the Syange off-road. We then start our first-day trek to Chamje.

Jomsom-Pokhara flight:

We start our Annapurna circuit trek with a scenic drive from Nepal's capital city Kathmandu and we end our trek at Muktinath and take the short jeep ride back to Jomsom, From Jomsom, we take a flight back to Pokhara again. Therefore, a flight from JOMSOM-POKHARA is included in our package.

Jomsom is also called Dzong-Sampa in Nepali, which means new fort. This small but stunning town is situated at an elevation of about 2700 m in Mustang District‚ Nepal. It covers both the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. Along the banks of the Kali Gandaki river‚ we can find the black rocks or stone which is called shaligram in the Hindu culture and taken as the form of God Vishnu. This type of stone is only found in the Kali Gandaki River but people are unfamiliar with it so‚ it is holy to the Hindus. The towering peaks of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri form a backdrop. As the district headquarters‚ it is primarily an administrative and commercial center with government officials and merchants rubbing shoulders with the local residents of the region‚ known as Thakalis. A company of the Nepalese Army is stationed here. Nearby is Jomsom Airport from where there are regular flights.

Pokhara-Kathmandu Flight:

Our Annapurna Circuit trek includes a scenic flight from Pokhara-Kathmandu. Kathmandu may not seem far from Pokhara (the cities are only 126 miles / 204 km apart), but the Nepali landscape and road quality make for a very long drive. That's why we recommend our clients opt to fly instead of a long drive.

Flying is by far the fastest and most comfortable way of traveling between Kathmandu and Pokhara and is highly suggested if you're short on time and looking for a comfortable journey. There are several flights that leave each day from the domestic terminal of Tribhuvan Airport and take only around 25 minutes. It's a very scenic flight, particularly if you sit on the left-hand side of the plane, so you can see the Himalayas. When flying, you're likely to arrive feeling enthusiastic and with plenty of time for activities the same day, which can't really be said if you make the trip overland.

Naturally Pokhara. The charming city has numerous beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Fishtail Mountain flanked by the Majestic Himalayas. Pokhara is an amazing place for natural beauty at an altitude of 827 meters from sea level and 200 km west of Kathmandu. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Altitude Sickness:

If you trek to a high altitude without letting your body adjust to the new elevation, you may experience altitude sickness. Symptoms include headache and nausea. If you return to a lower elevation, your symptoms will likely go away without needing treatment. In severe cases, altitude sickness can be life-threatening.

When we hike above 8,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level our bodies need to acclimatize to the decreasing amount of oxygen available. You may have symptoms if you travel to a high altitude without giving your body time to adjust to less oxygen. Even if you’re physically fit, you can still experience altitude sickness.

Mountain Sherpa Annapurna sanctuary trek itinerary is carefully designed to avoid altitude sickness. Over the years we have come up with the best itinerary to aid in the acclimatization process. Our trek itinerary is fully flexible & can modify on the spot if required.

Remember the trek to the Himalayas is not a race. Even those in the best shape will suffer from altitude sickness when they race to the top of the mountain too quickly. Go slowly, it will give your body time to adjust to the mountain. However, during the acclimatization process, you may experience some of the following symptoms.

• Tiredness
• Minor Headache
• Troubled sleep
• Loss of appetite/nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Palpitation
• Swelling of the hands and face

Each Person acclimatizes at different rates. Our best suggestion is to take your time and drink plenty of water. These symptoms may not indicate the onset of A.M.S. and if you experience them it does not necessarily mean that you should not continue. All our Sherpa guides have extensive first aid training and we request you to talk with the Sherpa guide at all times should you believe you have any symptoms in order that we can efficiently monitor your symptoms. The only cure for Acute Mountain Sickness is to descend.

You must remember that this is your holiday and you do not want to stress out about the possibility of getting sick from the mountains. Do everything slowly. Drink lots of water. And to enjoy the Himalayas views. If anything does happen and you, unfortunately, get sick, let your guide know right away –Please note that your guide has ultimate responsibility and may ask you to descend if symptoms persist.

Travel insurance:

Travel insurance is necessary for any trip but is mainly important when undertaking activities such as high-altitude trekking in remote regions where medical facilities or assistance may not be close at hand. You’ll enjoy your adventure better with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have the right insurance cover in place should a mishap occur. This can be anything from medical emergencies, trip cancellation, trip interruption, delays, lost or stolen luggage to a full helicopter rescue of a mountain.

Obtaining travel insurance before you leave home is strongly recommended. This way, if something happens, and this is rare, you will not be out of pocket a tremendous amount of money. Mountain Sherpa trekking will provide a letter and your invoice to submit to your insurance, in this case, to help expedite your processing.

Packing List Annapurna Circuit Trek

The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your kit bag while trekking should be no more than 15 KG/33Lbs. Please note that this gear list is only a guide. Those are basic to bring the listed items, but you can decide from your desired brands using your expertise. Plus, you can shop the trekking gear and clothing at a good price at stores in Thamel, Kathmandu.

YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

Upper Body - Head / Ears / Eyes

1. Sun hat
2. Headlamp with Fresh Batteries
3. Wool or synthetic hat that covers the ears
4. Sunglasses with UV protection
5. Neck gaiter or bandana (for sun protection)
6. Face Masks
7. Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose, etc.

Hand

1. Fleece/Wool Gloves
2. Glove Liners
3. Heavier shell glove

Core Body

1. Base layer shirts
2. Moisture-wicking long-sleeve t-shirts (1)
3. Moisture-wicking short-sleeve t-shirt (optional)
4. Fleece jacket or warm windproof jacket with hood
5. Synthetic sports bras (for women)
6. Insulated Warm jacket
7. Underwear (4-5 pairs)
8. Sleeping bag (comfort rated –10ºC)*

Lower Body – Legs

1. Hiking Pants (Convertible, Quick-Dry, Lightweight) 1-2
2. Warm hiking pants with waterproof Windproof and breathable
3. Rain Pants (Lightweight, Waterproof, Breathable)- optional
4. Gaiters (needed Dec-Feb)
5. Long underwear

Feet

1. Hiking boots with ankle support recommend
2. Camp shoes or tennis shoes for lodge
3. Hiking Socks (Synthetic or Wool) 5-7 pairs recommended

Food & Snacks

• Snacks (combine protein & carbs for well-balanced energy)
• Thermos (optional for hot beverages)
• Re-hydration gels or powder

Toiletries

1. Sunscreen, Lip balm with sunscreen
2. Toilet Paper
3. Soap
4. Deodorant
5. Toothbrush/toothpaste
6. Razor (as needed)
7. Shampoo
8. Wet wipes
9. Hand sanitizer
10. Feminine hygiene products (as needed)
11. Face lotion
12. Hairbrush
13. Hair ties

Other necessary important items:

• Passport and extra passport size photos (2-4 copies)
• Visa (these are easy to attain when you land in Kathmandu—bring $30 (15 Days) or $50 (30 Days) USD for Visa Application
• Money ($200-300 cash is suggested—while there are occasional ATMs on the trail, they are almost always out of order)
• Travel insurance- most recommended
• Airline tickets (Please make a copy and leave one at our office in KTM just in case if you need to change the date of yours)
• Durable wallet/pouch for travel documents, money & passport
• Water bottles 1 Liter x 2 (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single-use plastic)
• Water purification Iodine tablets
• Toilet paper (you can buy this in the lodges
• Travel towel
• Small padlock (to lock your kit bag)
• Antibacterial handwash

Additional Supplies:

1. Portable solar charger/power bank
2. Book
3. Journal/pen
4. Playing cards

Basic First Aid Kit including antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhea treatment (Imodium), altitude (Diamox), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are also a good idea

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE OPTIONAL:

1. Trekking poles – if you don't have poles, We can provide you complimentary trekking.
2. Sleeping bag liner
3. Pillowcase, Scarf, or buff
4. Swimwear (for the hotel pool in Kathmandu)
5. Earplugs (particularly if you are not the one snoring)
6. Travel clothes
7. Camera
8. Pen-knife (remember to pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
9. Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
10. Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Note: 

The Nepalese are still traditional and conservative in the way they dress. Hence to avoid discomfiture on both sides we advise that you respect this and do not wear revealing clothing or sleeveless tops while visiting Nepal. Shorts are acceptable, but they should reach just above the knee and be modest and for women, it is better to wear trousers or a long skirt.

Additional info:

As you pack for Annapurna Circuit Trek, remember that your gear will be separated into two packs: your daypack that you will carry each day as you trek, and your duffle bag which will be carried between tea houses by porters. All extra baggage (non- trekking items) can be stored at the hotel before you start your trek. We provide you with a free duffel bag in Kathmandu. You can use it to pack your essential trekking equipment. We provide one-porter services for two people. Porters will carry up to 25 kg - 30 Kg or 55-66 pounds of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and down jackets. Therefore your duffel bag should not weigh more than 12 kg-15 kg or 26 pounds to 33 pounds.

INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS:

Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always recommend the smaller, the better. Around the 25l to 30l size is good for the upper mustang trek. You need to carry your own backpack (with a waterproof cover) where you can carry your daily needed items in your own backpack. For instance: Water bottle, Extra money for drinks, souvenirs & tips, sunhat, camera, important documents, toiletries, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, rain gear, music (iPhone), etc.

If you don’t have your own down jacket & sleeping bag, don’t worry. We will provide you with 4-season sleeping bags and a good down jacket with a hood for complementary use. Good quality sleeping bag and down jacket are most important for high altitude treks.