Annapurna Circuit and Mustang Trekking

Yes, this route is safe for tourists. This area has not been affected by the earthquake in 2015. Also, there is no burst of epidemics or viral diseases, or covid -19 in this region. The government and other respective bodies are continuously are trying to facilitate accessible communication, comfortable and safe internal travel, proper healthcare facility, and services of accommodation for tourists.

Some of the days, our trail passes through steep uphill and downhill with high pass -Thorong la ( 5416m.) that can be demanding for acute mountain sickness, so it is beneficial for all travelers to exercise daily from a month before their trip. This helps the body get accustomed to the physical work required during the journey.

Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease should inform us before booking the trek and are advised to seek medical advice or consent from their doctors before the trek.

The best season to trek this route is during autumn (September to November) as the weather is stable, dry, and clear. Also, the atmosphere is merry during these seasons, as autumn is the major festive season of the country. Another favorable season for trekking is during spring (March to May) as the trails become more vibrant and pleasing with the blooming of different wildflowers and Rhododendrons. The days are clear and perfect for trekking .

Exceptionally, Manang and Upper Mustang area is beyond Himalayas, so this is rain shadow area. Even during Monsoon ( June-August) we can expect good weather here. It is the best opportunity to explore local lives during the monsoon.

While booking a trek with us, we do require you to have travel insurance that must cover medical and emergency helicopter rescue with evacuation expenses at 5500m. altitude for tour members. You should provide the insurance documents before you depart for the trek.

If you do not or cannot find an appropriate insurance policy, we will assist you with one. It will help you in potential altitude sickness and unforeseen events due to sudden weather changes.

Yes, we do pay for the insurance policy of our team members. Nepal Alternative Treks fund the expenses for insurance of all of its members along with their meals, salary, lodging, transportation, and other necessary equipment.

As you ascend, the atmospheric pressure decreases. Hence, the amount of oxygen available also decreases. When your body is unable to acclimatize adequately to a rapid decrease in oxygen volume, altitude sickness occurs. Its symptoms are nausea, vomiting, headache, lack of appetite, exhaustion, muscle aches, rapid pulse even at rest (+/- 120 beats per minute), and insomnia.

To avoid AMS, our itineraries include acclimatization days in between. You should walk at a slow and steady pace, eat enough carbohydrates, and drink plenty of water. You could eat chocolates and toffee while walking and avoid alcohol and smoking.

Our guides are well-trained to handle emergencies like AMS and other sicknesses. They know how to use an oxygen meter to monitor blood oxygen saturation levels at high altitudes. They can facilitate you with other medical kits (First Aid) and health check-up as per necessity.

If you happen to have symptoms of AMS or the feeling of being sick, you have to report it to your guide immediately. You must not ascend any further, take rest, and take medicines like acetazolamide or Diamox. If symptoms persist, you must descend to a lower altitude and visit a doctor immediately. If the condition seems to worsen, we shall coordinate with your insurance company for helicopter evacuation.

You will be able to change money in Manang and Jomsom but the rate will be low. So, we recommend changing money at Thamel. Credit cards and foreign currency are not accepted along the route. You are better to take enough cash from Kathmandu.

Usually, we arrange one porter for two trekkers, and one porter carries weights up to 20 kilograms. Hence, each trekker’s luggage should weigh only up to 10 kilograms. However, if your essentials weigh more than that, we can provide you a personal porter with some additional costs.

Our package includes three meals per day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner and lunch include the authentic Nepali Daal-Bhat (rice and lentils) along with seasonal vegetables, spinach, and pickle. If you do not like it, you can choose any item from the wide range of menu offered by the lodges.

Tea houses and lodges serve Nepalese, Asian, and Continental food, and even pizzas. The food is prepared hygienically, but the taste of western food might not meet your expectations as there are minimal resources available. We usually suggest eating vegetarian food to avoid falling ill.

Bottled plastic water is readily available along route at USD 1 per liter. However, we recommend you carry your own water bottles. You can fill them up with filtered water wherever possible and purify them using chlorine or iodine. We shall provide water, purification drops, and tablets. You can fill up safe drinking water stationed by Annapurna Conservation Area.

An average day of trekking involves around 4 to 6 hours of hiking, including breaks for meals as needed. The average distance covered depends on the terrain and altitude, but ranges from 10 to 15 kilometers on average.

Along the way, you will have many chances for photography and other personal interests such as bird watching and discovering local areas of interest like natural springs, hot water ponds, and even exploring flora and fauna.

You need to submit the following documents that should be sent via email :

• A copy of passport,
• Passport-sized photos,
• Flight details,
• Copy of travel insurance (it has to cover Heli rescue and medical evacuation) and other documents required to claim it.

Upon Arrival :

• We need an original passport with Nepal visa to obtain Upper Mustang special permit .

In this route, the accommodation options are teahouses and lodges only. Nepal Alternative Treks generally manages your accommodation in the best available teahouses or lodges that provide single or double rooms, mostly dormitory-style. The bed has a mattress, pillow, and blanket. Very few teahouses offer a room with a heater, and the blanket provided by the teahouse alone will not be enough to withstand the cold. So, it would be better to carry a warm sleeping bag. You can buy or hire one at the rental shops in Kathmandu.

Lodges and teahouses in this route have excellent infrastructure and are likely to have western-style toilets, and sometimes even attached toilets. Finding toilet paper is costly in these areas, so we advise you to carry plenty of your own.

If you need to use the toilet while driving, we will try to find the nearest lodge, if possible; otherwise, you will have to manage it somewhere in the forests. Please respect the environment by placing the used toilet paper in a plastic bag so that you can dispose of it later.

Usually, Nepal Alternative Treks arranges accommodation with proper shower facilities. Please understand that it becomes difficult to arrange running showers and hot water facilities as the altitude increases. So, in remote mountainous regions, showers cost some extra money.

Yes, there are plenty of shops around Thamel  that sell as well as rent all the necessary gear for the tour. These shops have great varieties of goods ranging based on their brand as well as price. We will help you with buying or hiring all the necessary equipment.

You can easily find different types of alcoholic beverages of international as well as Nepalese brands in this trekking route. In villages, however, you can either find local (home-made) drinks like Chyang, Raksi,  and Tongba or other packaged drinks of Nepalese brands and Chinese brands in Lomanthang. However, we do not suggest you consume alcoholic beverages often during the trek as it causes difficulties in trek the next day.

Nowadays, all kinds of facilities, including recharging batteries and electronics, are available in this route and also have electricity and recharging facilities available for a minimal service charge.

Also, note that the Nepalese plugs are of Type D, and the voltage is about 220-240 V. So, make sure that your devices are chargeable. Otherwise, you shall require adapters and voltage stabilizers.

There are mobile networks, internet data, and Wi-Fi available in some parts of this region, and you can connect to your friends and family back home.

For mobile network and internet data, you will require a Nepalese SIM-Card. If you wish to buy a Nepalese SIM-Card, we will assist you in getting it. You can buy a SIM-Card from local distributors easily with some fees. We recommend Namaste SIM to have better network coverage and 4G data uses.

Guides and porters will always walk together with you, but, sometimes in case if there is no communication available to reserve lodge in advance, your porter may have to go ahead to book a room in an excellent lodge for the night. Our guides /porters will not leave you behind otherwise.

If by any chance such a circumstance occurs, you have to contact us immediately. We will then connect to our guides/porters and get back to you.

The temperature could range around and above 25 degrees Celsius in summers and decrease below -15 degrees Celsius in winters. During autumn and spring, temperature ranges around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for trekking purposes.

It is not mandatory to tip the trek guide/porter. It ultimately depends on your choice. As your guide/porter play a big role in the success of your trip, from guiding and carrying your necessities to being mindful of your safety, your tips reflect gratitude towards them. Hence, tipping is a recommended culture for guides/porters in Nepal as a gesture of thankfulness.