Annapurna Region Trek

It depends mainly on your available time, fitness and what you want to see.

Choose Annapurna Base Camp if reaching a famous Himalayan base camp and trekking into the Annapurna Sanctuary are your priorities.

Choose the Annapurna Circuit if you have more time and want changing landscapes, mountain villages and the challenge of crossing Thorong La at 5,416 m.

Choose Mardi Himal for a shorter trek with ridge walking and close views toward Machhapuchhre.

Choose Ghorepani Poon Hill if you want a shorter, lower-altitude trek with mountain panoramas and village scenery.

They are completely different routes.

Annapurna Base Camp follows a valley into the Annapurna Sanctuary and reaches approximately 4,130 m. The focus is close mountain scenery and reaching the base of the Annapurna massif.

The Annapurna Circuit travels around a much larger part of the massif and crosses Thorong La Pass at 5,416 m. It normally requires more time and involves greater altitude exposure.

Ghorepani Poon Hill is one of the most approachable options because its highest point is approximately 3,210 m and it avoids the extreme altitude reached on the Annapurna Circuit.

Travelers with good general fitness who want a longer first Himalayan trek can also consider Annapurna Base Camp.

Mardi Himal involves higher altitude, while the Annapurna Circuit and Thorong La require considerably more preparation and acclimatization.

Most of the major trekking routes within the Annapurna Conservation Area require an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP).

Some routes also fall under Nepal's TIMS and licensed-guide requirements, depending on the itinerary. Amigo Treks confirms the permits applicable to your specific route before departure and arranges the required trekking documents as part of the trip where included.

Our current Annapurna-region packages range from approximately 6 to 19 days.

A short Poon Hill itinerary can fit into less than a week, while Annapurna Base Camp and Mardi Himal generally require more trekking days. A complete Annapurna Circuit needs considerably more time, particularly when adequate acclimatization is included.

Do not choose a high-altitude itinerary only because it is shorter. The daily altitude gain and time available for acclimatization are more important than the total number of days.

Pokhara is the main gateway for many Annapurna treks, but the actual trailhead depends on the route.

Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill and Mardi Himal are normally approached from the Pokhara side. The Annapurna Circuit begins farther east, with road transport used to reach the trekking starting point before continuing toward Manang and Thorong La.

We arrange the necessary transportation according to the itinerary.

It depends on the trek.

Poon Hill reaches around 3,210 m, while Annapurna Base Camp reaches approximately 4,130 m. Mardi Himal routes can exceed 4,000 m, and the Annapurna Circuit crosses Thorong La at 5,416 m.

The higher the route, the more important gradual altitude gain and acclimatization become. Fitness does not prevent altitude sickness, so high-altitude itineraries should allow enough time for the body to adjust.

March to May and September to November are the main trekking periods for most Annapurna routes.

Spring brings warmer conditions and flowering rhododendrons at many lower elevations. Autumn is popular for generally clearer mountain visibility after the monsoon.

Winter trekking is possible on some lower routes, but high passes such as Thorong La can be affected by snow and severe cold. Summer conditions vary considerably because parts of the region receive heavy monsoon rainfall while areas north of the main Himalayan range are much drier.