Annapurna Circuit Trek Fly out from Jomsom -12 days

Free Airport Transfer

Discovery World Trekking provides free airport-to-hotel transfer during arrival and hotel-to-airport transfer during departure. Hence, please send us your flight details as soon as you book your trip. We provide this service, so you do not need to worry about navigating a foreign country that speaks a different language. Moreover, we want you to know that we are always near your if you need help. When you arrive at the airport, you will find our company representative holding a pamphlet with your name on it. After greeting you, our representative will present you with a garland and then take you to your hotel.

Getting to the trek region

You will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) by three pm, at least one day before the trek departure day for last-minute preparations. If, in case, you missed the online trip briefing, it will also provide us time to conduct an in-person trip briefing. During the trek briefing, we will provide you with vital information about your trek and go through your luggage to ensure that you have not missed packing any essential items. On the trek departure day, we will board a local bus to Bhulbhule. The bus will follow along the Prithivi Highway to Dumre and then turn northwards, reaching Besishar and then Bhulbhule (845m), your trek start point. 

Accommodation

You will spend ten nights in the trek region at the best available lodges/teahouses. Out of these ten nights, you will spend seven nights in rooms with an attached bathroom at Jagat, Dharapani, Chame, Pisang, Manag (2N), and Muktinath. You will stay in standard rooms in Bhulbhule, Yak Kharka, and Thorang Phedi. All rooms are twin sharing basis. In Pokhara, you will stay in Silver Oaks Inn in a room with an attached bathroom. 

You will require at least a one-day hotel stay at Kathmandu before beginning the trek and one more after trek completion. However, this package does not include these stays. You are free to choose your own hotel based on your preferences.

Meals

Annapurna circuit 12 days trek takes you to high elevations in the vicinity of the highest mountains on earth, and to complete this mammoth trek, you will need enough nutrient-rich food. We will arrange plenty of nutritious food throughout your hike, but you will not have all the options that large cities provide.

This trek package includes 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 9 dinners in the trek regions. Here are some options.

Breakfast - Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, Fruits and Vegetables, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Hot drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Lunch - Dhal, Bhat, & Tarkari, Tibetan Bread,  Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts, (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Dinner - Dhal, Bhat & Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Potatoes items, Vegetable and salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni, Tenduk Spaghetti, Noodles Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Raman, Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Steaks, etc

Your food choices include traditional local, Asian, and Western cuisine, but as you go up, your food choices start to get limited.

During the trek, we highly recommend you take plenty of liquids - ginger tea, green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, garlic soup(must), and fresh vegetables at high altitudes. 

Though non-veg items are available in the trek regions, we don’t recommend them for hygiene concerns. We also encourage you to avoid alcoholic drinks, dairy items, caffeinated drinks, and hot chocolates.

Best season for the trek

Since you cannot escape the influence of the weather, you need to pay attention to the weather as you plan this trek. The trek gets easier in certain seasons, but you can complete the Annapurna circuit 12 days trek throughout the year.

If you love easy treks, we suggest you choose the spring (March-May) and autumn (Sept-Nov) seasons. During these seasons, the skies are clear, there is no rain, the paths are in perfect condition, and you can get clear views of the picturesque terrain.

The winters are cold with snowfalls in the trek region, while the monsoon season, which coincides with summer, brings in a lot of rain. So treks during these seasons become challenging. However, some trekkers enjoy overcoming challenges and decide to trek the Annapurna Circuit during these months. Discovery World Trekking organizes safe and secure Annapurna circuit treks throughout the year.

Here is a summary of the trek conditions you will face in high trek elevations during different seasons.

March-May (Spring)

The weather is mild, the rainfall low, and the trek conditions are perfect. The average daily temperature at high elevations ranges from 0 to 8 °C. Lower trek regions are warmer, making your trek quite comfortable.

Trekking season dawns after March. By April, the trek routes are adorned with red, pink, and white rhododendron flowers, making your trek experience life-lasting.

From mid-March and lasting till mid-May, the temperatures start to increase. Yet, the temperatures remain cool, and the skies are clear, allowing you to enjoy the clearest views of the mountains.

June to August (Summer)

Nepal experiences summer from June to August, but the monsoon also becomes active during summer, bringing a lot of rain to the trek regions, making the trek trails wet and slippery.

Monsoon often begins around the end of June and continues till the second week of August. Daytime temperatures range from 10 to 23°C, while the nights are a little cooler at 5 to 10°C. 

Most mornings are clear, but clouds start building in the afternoon and disappear at night. Despite trek difficulties, the blooming plants during this season provide a green cover to the valleys, providing lush overall views.

September to November (Autumn)

Autumn (September, October, and November), like spring, attracts travelers from around the world to this region. Mild wind, moderate temperatures, and low precipitation make autumn a perfect trek season.

The sun shines brightly, the days are warm, the skies are clear, and you can get superb views of the mountains. The nights are also cool, and the starry skies provide you time to gaze into the heavens. 

Monsoon retreats in early September and results in warm to mild days. Daytime temperatures can reach 20°C in high altitudes, but the nights are colder at around 5°C. The monsoon greens now look golden, providing a stunning contrast to the bright blue skies. The grains start to ripen in the lower valleys, and the Dashain and Tihar festivals add a festive mood to the whole trek region.

December to February (Winter)

Annapurna circuit treks during winter are mildly popular. The higher regions of the Annapurna circuit trek regions get very cold, with the daytime temperature reaching as low as -10 °C. However, some trekkers prefer to see the trek regions during the winter, braving the snow and cold temperature.

The coldest time in the trek regions starts in December and lasts through early February. After late February, the weather warms up with the sunshine. Though winters are cold, the skies are very clear, and snow-capped mountains look incredible. It is also the season when the trails are least crowded, allowing you to enjoy the mountain peace. Winter is not the right season for trek beginners, but experienced trekkers will find no problems. 

A typical trekking day

Each trekking day will bring a new experience, including hiking, enjoying the scenery, taking pictures, exploring villages, and tasting local food. As you explore new places, our expert guide will provide you with information about these places. We assign porters to carry your luggage, but you will need a small backpack to keep your essentials safe.

Your day begins with an early morning hot cup of tea/coffee. The trek starts around 7 to 8 am, depending on the trail length and the nature of the trek.

You will have lunch around midday, often en route to that day’s destination. After lunch, we will rest for about an hour and then continue the trek.

Most afternoon treks will be shorter, lasting only a few hours. Once you reach the destination for the day, you can snack on your extra dietary food, and then explore the new place. 

We serve dinner around 6 to 7 pm. After dinner, your trek leader will brief you about the next day. After this briefing, and before going to bed, you can entertain yourself by engaging in activities like playing cards, monopoly, or chess, reading books, watching documentaries, or learning light and fun Nepali words. 

Acclimatization

This Annapurna Circuit 12 days package includes a rest day in Manang (3,540m) for acclimatization to avoid altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness. There are several ways to minimize getting altitude sickness. However, if you ignore its symptoms, it can be life-threatening.

We have designed the itinerary to minimize the chances of getting altitude sickness. You will start at 845m at Bhulbhule and gradually elevate, reaching Manag (3,540m) after five days. We believe this time is enough for your body to cope with high altitude.

Our trekking guides have completed extensive first aid training and are ever ready to respond if altitude sickness or other ailments strike. Your trek guide will use oximeters to monitor your oxygen level so that altitude sickness is detected earlier. 

With Discovery World Trekking, your health is in reliable hands. Our trek leaders will suggest ways to avoid altitude sickness. Walking at your own pace and drinking plenty of water during the trek reduces the chances of altitude sickness. 

If someone in your group shows signs of altitude sickness, your group leader has the authority to decide whether to proceed with the trek or descend immediately.

Insurance policy

Annapurna Circuit 12 days is a challenging trek, which reaches 5,416m at Thorong La Pass, which is even higher than Everest Base camp. As this is a challenging trek, it comes with several risks, such as altitude sickness, landslides, and sudden weather changes.

Hence, adequate travel insurance is compulsory. Your insurance, in addition to treatment costs, must cover helicopter rescue and evacuation at the highest trek altitude (5,500m).

If you need, we can suggest insurance companies based on our previous clients’ experiences, but we do not sell insurance policies. 

We request you send your detailed insurance policy document within a week of booking the trek. In emergencies, we will use your insurance and other informational documents to arrange a quick rescue and transfer you to health facilities.

Group/private trek

We organize both private and group treks. If you have your group, you will get discounts based on your group size. However, you are not eligible for any discounts for groups we assemble. Moreover, we can handle any group size and add an assistant guide for a group of 12 or more.

Water during the trek

You can easily buy bottled water from en-route shops or at lodges/teahouses/hotels you will be staying. However, some trek regions may not allow plastic bottles. So, it is always a great idea to bring a water bottle and fill it with boiled water available at tea houses/lodges. We also advise you to use purification pills. If you do not have water purification pills, we can provide them for you.

However, you should not drink from the taps, wells, or rivers in trek regions because the water may not be potable.

Electricity and communication

Trek regions do have electricity. You can charge your electronic devices such as cell phones, cameras, power backups, and laptops at lodges/hotels/tea houses you are staying in. You might need to pay a small fee.

Similarly, you can use the Internet to communicate with your friends and families from the lodges/hotels. However, you might need to pay a service fee. You can buy a local sim in Kathmandu, but the signals may not be strong enough at high elevations. 

Discovery World Trekking office remains in contact with all its trek teams at least once a day through the lead guide using mobile. We want to ensure that all treks progress as planned. 

Extra personal expenses during the trek

This trek package covers most costs, but it does not cover all the costs. You might need at least two-night stays in Kathmandu, which is not covered by this package. Similarly, you need to pay for the meals during your stay in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Both these cities provide plenty of food choices, and we want you to feel free and choose your meal. In addition to these costs, you will need to spend money on insurance purchases, beverages (hot (tea/coffee), cold and alcoholic drinks, snacks, souvenirs, tips, etc. 

We estimate that you might require USD 10 to 20 as spending money for each trekking day. We advise you to bring cash (major currencies) and exchange them for Nepali Rupees in Kathmandu.

Money exchange

Nepali Rupee (NPR) is the local currency. (1 USD = ~ Rs 125 NPR).

Money exchange in Nepal is quite easy. You can exchange major currencies at the banks and legal money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel. Legal money exchange will display their ongoing rates publicly. 

You can also withdraw money in Nepali Rupees from various ATMs all over Kathmandu. Most of them are also open 24/7. However, your limit is Rs.35,000 for a Rs 500 fee. 

If you have Indian Rupees, please note that only INR notes of 100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal. 

We advise you to cash exchange to avoid lengthy processes and high commissions at banks and other financial institutions. Most banks charge four percent or more for currency exchange. Please note trek regions only honor Nepali Rupees. 

Passport and visa

All foreigners except Indians require a visa to enter Nepal. Most foreigners are eligible for an on-arrival visa. To apply for an on-arrival visa, you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months, a visa application fee, and a passport-size photo. The current visa fee for a 30-day stay is USD 50, and you can pay this amount in cash. Children under 10 get free visas.

 SAARC (Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) countries and Chinese citizens are eligible for free visas. 

Citizens from some countries (Nigeria, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, and Afghanistan) may not receive a visa on arrival. So if you hold a passport from these countries, you must contact your local Nepalese embassy.

Nepal government can change visa rules without prior notice, so for the latest information, we advise you to visit - https://www.immigration.gov.np/.

Luggage

We assign porters to carry your luggage, but your luggage weight limit is 9 kg. One porter will carry the luggage of two trekkers, but they will not carry more than 18 kg combined weight. We suggest you bring only the essential things to the trek. You can store your excess luggage at the Discovery World Trekking store. We will check your luggage at the trek briefing to ensure you have not missed packing the essentials. 
In addition, we expect trekkers to carry a small backpack for valuable items, essential documents, and often used items, like a water bottle.

Trek safety

Discovery World Trekking guarantees client safety, security, and satisfaction. We take several precautions to ensure your safety.

• We carry standard necessary gear, equipment, and first aid kits.
• Our trek guides are extensive wilderness first aid trained.
• If someone falls sick, guides have the authority to decide whether to continue the trek or descend immediately.
• In emergencies, we will arrange a helicopter for evacuation (covered by insurance).
• You will be trekking together as a group.