The Annapurna Circuit usually takes 15 to 20 days and crosses Thorong La, a pass at 5,416 m. You need the ACAP conservation permit, and since April 2023 a licensed guide under Nepal Tourism Board rules. Agencies list total costs from about US$700 to US$2,500 per person for 2026, depending on how much is included.
Annapurna (Manang and Mustang) · Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit (ACAP), TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System)
Key facts
- Days
- Usually 15 to 20 days (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Highest point
- Thorong La pass, 5,416 m (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Best seasons
- October to November is the busiest season; April to May is the second most popular (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Winter
- December to March is the coldest period; Thorong La is often blocked by snow and may be closed for days (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Monsoon
- June to September: the southern part near Pokhara gets a lot of rain, while the northern parts lie in a rain shadow (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Roads
- A jeep road from Besisahar to Manang now runs along much of the old trail; side trails avoid parts of it (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- High pass
- Thorong La, 5,416 m (en.wikipedia.org, checked 2026-10-23)
- Difficulty
- Strenuous (our scale)
Permits
| Permit | Fee and conditions |
|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit (ACAP) | NPR 3,000 for foreigners and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, tax included. Single entry. Children under 10 need no permit. Double fee if bought at a check post. Online payment by card adds 2.9%. (epermit.ntnc.org.np, checked 2026-10-30) |
| TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System) | NPR 2,000 for foreign trekkers and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals under the Nepal Tourism Board guidelines in force from 1 April 2023. Not needed with a restricted area permit or a mountaineering expedition permit. (kathmandupost.com, checked 2026-10-23) Whether TIMS is still collected on every route is unclear: the Everest region's municipality says TIMS is not needed there, and some agencies say it is no longer issued separately. Your agency arranges it if it applies. |
Guide rule
Official rule National parks and conservation areas outside the Everest region (Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu and the other trails the rule lists)
Under Nepal Tourism Board guidelines in force since 1 April 2023, foreign trekkers may not enter national parks or conservation areas without a guide or porter for the whole trek, arranged through a registered trekking company. The guidelines list 44 trails and set a fine of NPR 12,000 for a trekker found without a guide or TIMS card. The board cited Section 7 of the Tourism Act 1996. (kathmandupost.com, checked 2026-10-23)(thehimalayantimes.com, checked 2026-10-23)
What it costs
Ranges published by agencies and guides, per person, in US dollars. They are not quotes. Check what each price includes.
- Total per person
- Budget without a guide US$700 to US$1,000; standard guided US$1,200 to US$1,800; full service US$2,000 to US$2,500 (shikharadventure.com, checked 2026-10-23)
- Guide and porter
- Guide US$25 to US$35 a day; porter about US$20 to US$25 a day (shikharadventure.com, checked 2026-10-23)
- Lodges and food
- Rooms about US$5 to US$12 a night on average; food US$20 to US$30 a day (shikharadventure.com, checked 2026-10-23)
- Transport
- Kathmandu to Besisahar by bus about US$10 to US$20; private jeep US$150 to US$200; Jomsom to Pokhara flight US$120 to US$150 (shikharadventure.com, checked 2026-10-23)
Annapurna Circuit: cost and permit calculator
Per person, from the fees and day rates on this site. Permit fees are official where the issuer publishes them; guide, porter and flight prices are what agencies publish. Change any number.
Sources: permit fees on permits and rules; day rates, flights and package prices in each trek guide's cost section.
Altitude: the real difficulty
No technical climbing is needed on this trek. What makes it hard is the thin air. Go up slowly, keep the rest days in the itinerary, drink water, and tell your guide about headaches, nausea or breathlessness at rest. If symptoms get worse, the treatment is to go down. A good agency will plan acclimatisation days and never push you higher when you are unwell.
Crossing Thorong La
The pass day is the longest and hardest of the trek. Agencies usually cross from the Manang side early in the morning. In winter the pass can be closed by snow for days at a time, so leave spare days in your plan if you trek between December and March.
How to book this trek safely
- Find the agency in our directory of TAAN General Members and open its TAAN profile link to confirm the name and registration number match what the agency sent you.
- Ask for the agency's Department of Tourism trekking licence number as well. TAAN membership and the government licence are two different records.
- Get the itinerary, the price and what it includes (permits, flights or transport, guide, porter, lodges, meals) in writing before paying anything.
- Buy travel insurance that covers trekking up to at least 5,416 m and helicopter rescue. Read the altitude limit and the evacuation clause yourself.
- Pay the deposit to the company's own account or by card, not to a personal account or wallet, and keep the receipt.
Travel insurance for Annapurna Circuit
Check three things in the policy wording before you buy:
- Trekking is covered up to at least 5,416 m, the highest point of Annapurna Circuit.
- Helicopter rescue or evacuation from the mountains is covered, and what you must do first (most insurers want a call to their emergency line before a helicopter is sent).
- Any conditions about using a licensed guide or staying on official trails.
We do not link to any insurer yet. When we do, we will show each policy's altitude limit and rescue terms next to the link.
Questions
- How many days is the Annapurna Circuit?
- Usually 15 to 20 days. Roads now let you shorten the start and the end by jeep.
- How much does it cost?
- Agencies list about US$1,200 to US$1,800 per person for a standard guided trek in 2026, and US$2,000 to US$2,500 for full service. Budget estimates start lower but assume no guide, which the current rules do not allow.
- Do I need a guide on the Annapurna Circuit?
- Yes. Since 1 April 2023, Nepal Tourism Board guidelines require foreign trekkers in conservation areas such as Annapurna to have a guide or porter arranged through a registered trekking company.
- Which permit do I need?
- The ACAP entry permit: NPR 3,000 for foreigners, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and double if bought at a check post.
Get quotes for Annapurna Circuit
Tell us your dates and group once. Only agencies we have checked against TAAN's member directory will see it, and only to send you a quote. Free, and no account.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Annapurna Circuit. Checked 2026-10-23.
- Wikipedia: Thorong La. Checked 2026-10-23.
- Shikhar Adventure (agency): Annapurna Circuit trek cost, updated 2026-02-03. Checked 2026-10-23.
Permit and rule sources are listed on the permits and rules page. Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.