If you’re looking into Annapurna Circuit treks the best piece of advice that we can give you is to plan your trip properly before leaving the UK. Many people make silly mistakes like waiting until they reach Kathmandu to book their Annapurna Circuit treks or packing so much stuff that walking becomes a struggle. Here are some tips that will help to make your trip easier and therefore more enjoyable:

Tip One – Go Now!

We don’t mean literally now, as in this instant, but rather that you should go soon. Annapurna Circuit treks take in some of the most naturally beautiful landscapes in the world, but in some places work has started, chipping away at the cliff in order to build roads through the valley. As a result the Annapurna Circuit is going to change in the next three years and although it will, of course, still be a magical place to visit, it is even more special now in its unspoilt form.

Tip Two – Book Your Trip in the UK

Whatever you do, don’t wait until you reach Kathmandu in order to book your Annapurna Circuit treks. Some backpackers may tell you that it’s much cheaper to wait until you get to Kathmandu to book your trek, and while in some instances that may be true, treks purchased in Kathmandu don’t offer the financial protection that UK-based holiday companies provide. In the event that they go wrong, you may find that the English-speaking tour guide you’ve paid for just doesn’t speak as much of your native tongue as you would have hoped.

Tip Three – Don’t Camp Out

Camping is a great budget option, but on Annapurna circuit treks it really isn’t necessary. There are teahouses all over the route and the price of accommodation is often extremely cheap. For less than the cost of a hot meal in the UK, you can buy yourself a night’s accommodation and a home-cooked meal. Staying in a teahouse is often the best way to get a feel for local culture and experience the traditional Nepalese way of life.

Tip Four – Buy some gear in Kathmandu

It goes without saying that people on Annapurna circuit treks need the best walking kit that they can get their hands on. However, best does not necessarily mean most expensive. It can be tempting to spend loads of money buying high-tech walking gear, but it really isn’t necessary. There are walking shops all around Kathmandu selling everything that you need at a fraction of the cost you’d pay in the UK. From sleeping bags to iodine tablets and trekking poles, there’s everything that you could possibly need for your trip in Nepal, and what’s better is that it doesn’t count towards your baggage allowance. The one thing that we don’t recommend purchasing in Kathmandu is your hiking boots, as these need to be broken in before you start your trek. Make sure though, that if you’re going to buy gear in Kathmandu rather than take it with you, that you have a couple of free days in the city before you head off on trek. You’ll also need to have ample dollars or Nepalese rupees to cover your purchases as not all shops take credit cards and ATMs don’t always work.

Tip Five – Go in the Spring

There’s no hard and fast right or wrong time of the year to take your Annapurna circuit treks (except in the rainy season during the summer months) but to avoid the crowds you’re better off travelling in the spring. Late April to early May is less busy then the peak season of October/November and as such the routes are relatively quiet. Some guidebooks cite that the weather isn’t as good during this period. However, while you’ll find some clouds around the highest peaks, there are generally crystal clear views between first light and11am, when a lot of your walking takes place.

Author Bio: Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who have run classic Annapurna Circuit treks for over 20 years. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Annapurna Circuit treks