Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the popular trekking choices in Nepal for many people. The grade of the trek ranges from moderate to hard offering you the chance to trek through the lush green valley, wonderful villages and opportunity to explore diversified culture. During the trek you will enter and exit Nepal’s beautiful and serene places that include Tilicho Lake, Manang, Thorong La Pass, Muktinath, Jomsom and many other places. As it’s a comparatively longer trek in the remote areas of Nepal, people often wonder about the cost one needs to bear for this trek. No worries, we are here to help you with the idea about the cost and cost related factors required for this trek.
Cost for transportation
Beginning with the transportation, the cost depends up the means that you choose to travel through. You can either take flight or go by land via bus or private vehicles. If you take flight, the price may differ during peak season but you can pre book the flight to get the best deal. So, the 2 way flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara may cost you around USD 215. And from Pokhara you need to take local bus to reach starting point of the trek around USD 3.
And if you wish to travel by land (which is more popular way) sand have a group of people then you can book the private vehicle. It may cost you around USD 27 to 40 (one way) from Kathmandu to Syange or you can even travel by local bus which is very cheap. It takes you around USD 9 to 13 (one way).
On the completion of the trek, you can return via flight from Jomsom to Pokhara and then to Kathmandu which might be even more convenient. Flight cost for Jomsom to Pokhara is USD 125 and Pokhara to Kathmandu is USD 120.
Cost for accommodation
As Annapurna region is a popular trekking destination, you can find plenty of tea houses and lodges and they are quite cheap. You can find basic facilities in the teahouses like comfortable beds and clean blankets, and sometimes with attached bathrooms. They also have cozy dining hall with fire, so you can gather and share stories in the evening. Electricity and Wi-Fi are available for free in some tea houses at lower altitude but they may charge you some extra money about USD 5 in higher altitude. The average price of rooms in Annapurna region ranges from USD 10 to 12.
Cost for food and beverages
The number of visitors in the Annapurna region is increasing every year and with that the quality of food is improving. The tea houses serve you local as well as continental dishes like spaghetti, pizza, pasta, sandwich and many more. The most value price dish is Dal Bhat as it is local, freshly made, nutritious, quite filling and a new experience for you in Nepal. You may have to spend USD 5 - 8 per meal. And as you may notice the price of meal increases as you go further up the altitude.
As for the drink, you can fill the tap water for free (use purification tablet) or you can buy a bottle of drinking water for around USD 1 to 5. For tea and hot water, you will be charged from USD 1 to 5.
Cost for guide and porter
Guides and porters are there to support you during the trek. Some people prefer to travel alone but it’s always better to have a helping hand around you to make your journey easy and memorable. Also the guides have experience and broad knowledge about the region. So, they will entertain you with interesting stories throughout the journey. The cost of the guide for Annapurna Circuit Trek is about USD 30 to 35 per day.
Having a porter keeps you free from the burden of carrying the heavy baggage and you can fully enjoy the trek without any worry of baggage. A porter can carry up to 20 kg weight baggage. A porter costs USD 18 - 20 per day. Having a guide and porters with you ensures a safe and relaxing trekking experience.
Cost for permits
To complete Annapurna Circuit trek, you require two permits - TIMS and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit.
For SAARC nationals: USD 6
And for Other nationals: USD 20
For SAARC nationals: USD 10
For other Nationals: USD 30
You can issue the permits from Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu.
Cost for Gears and Equipments
Proper gears and equipment are essential during the trek. Equipments and gears cost depends on the items you already own and how much you are willing to purchase or rent. You can easily find the equipment to buy or rent in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Various equipments that are essential for Annapurna Circuit Trek are:
So, on average the equipment can cost you somewhere around USD 500, but it goes up depending on how much and what brand you want to buy. There is actually no upper limit.
Total Cost
The total cost for Annapurna Circuit trek can range from USD 1200 to 1600 per person for 10 to 14 days. The cost includes the domestic transportation, trek permits, accommodation, and meals. Yet, this cost does not include insurance, visa, and personal equipments.
The price also depends upon the itinerary you plan and type of adventure you want and willingness to spend on factors like meals and accommodation. Also if you want to reduce the cost then you may choose off season for the best deals on accommodation and transportation, rent the gears and travel by land then by air. If you have any queries or need travel arrangements for the Annapurna Circuit Trek then you can always contact Advance Adventure.
