Annapurna Circuit Trek is a popular trek among the trekkers worldwide, with the longest route in the Annapurna region. It is a round Annapurna Trek because it circles the Annapurna Himalayan Range. To complete this amazing trek, you need to plan your budget wisely.

It takes you to the highest trekking point at Thorung La Pass, with an altitude of 5550 m above sea level. You also get to witness the World’s Largest Gorge, Kali Gandaki. It takes you to experience diverse landscapes, subtropical forests, waterfalls, and magnificent mountains.

You can view many of the highest snow-capped mountains along this trail, including Mount Annapurna (I-IV), Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, and Ganga Purna. You can enjoy the gorgeous waterfalls and lakes during this trek.

This 10 to 18 days trek takes you to Jomsom, Manang district, Muktinath and Poon Hill View Point. Muktinath temple is one of the famous pilgrimages of this region. You reach this temple after passing through a desert-like terrain in Upper Mustang. The famous part of this trek is a 360-degree sunrise view from Poon Hill.

The total cost of this trek is around $900 to $4000. This includes your accommodation, food and drinks, Nepal Visa, Transportation, guide and porter, permit, trekking equipment, and insurance costs.

You can directly book the package from a travel agency for your ease. You can directly pay your agency in bulk. But packages may exclude some factors, and you must arrange it yourself. It is better to know the cost details needed to enjoy this trek.

Accommodation Cost

Accommodation cost varies from city area to remote area. The stays are cheaper in lower altitudes, while it gets costlier in higher altitudes. But compared to remote areas, city area accommodation is a bit more expensive.

It costs $10 to $50 to stay in hotels in Kathmandu or Pokhara, according to the quality of hotels. A 3-star hotel takes $25 per night. In the city area, you can find good-quality lodges at a cheap price. But the range starts from $10.

As you trek to remote areas, you must stay in small tea houses with fewer facilities. There is no luxury in those tea houses, but it is very comfortable. A night stay in remote areas costs $6 to $12 per person.

Transportation Cost

You can choose any mode of transportation to reach another place. Traveling from Kathmandu to Jagat on a tourist bus costs $5 to $10. You must reach Lower Pisang in a Jeep from Jagat, which costs $10 to $15. Then your trekking starts until you reach Jomsom.

For returning from Jomsom to Pokhara, you can take a flight, a Jeep, or a Bus. The domestic flight to Pokhara costs $125. It takes $40 to travel in a Jeep and $10 to $18 to travel in a Bus.

After that, you can take a flight or bus to reach Kathmandu from Pokhara. The flight costs you $50, and bus travel costs you $10. Traveling on a local bus is best if you want to save money. But if you are uncomfortable traveling on a bus, you can choose any mode according to your preference.

Food Cost

The cost of food varies according to altitude. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is available—the veg-thali costs from $3 to $5. The non-veg thali costs from $5 to $7. This traditional food set of Nepal contains Dal, Bhat, and Tarkari.

In lower altitudes, foods are cheaper with many choices, while once you reach high altitudes, your choice is limited and quite pricey. But the authentic Dal-Bhat-Tarkari is available throughout the whole journey.

A full-day meal takes around $10 to $50 in the city area. While in higher altitudes, a meal costs you $5 to $10.

Permit Cost

To complete this trek, you must get an Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit and a TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) permit. Annapurna Conservation Area is a protected area by the Government of Nepal. So, to enter any part of the Annapurna Region, you need a legal permit.

Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit is available in the Nepal Tourism Board of Kathmandu and Pokhara. The cost of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project ( ACAP) Permit depends on your nationality.

If you are from a SAARC country, then it costs NRP 2000.
If you are from other foreign countries, then it costs NRP 200.

A TIMS card is mandatory for trekkers’ safety. It keeps records of trekkers to track their information during emergency cases.TIMS cards can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) of Kathmandu or the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN).

If you apply for this permit through a registered Trekking Agency, then it will cost less.
The cost for TIMS varies in the following conditions:

It costs USD 20 for individual trekkers.
If you apply through the registered Trekking Agency, it costs only USD 10.
If you are a SAARC country resident, then it costs USD 6.

Travel Insurance Cost

Travel Insurance is mandatory for trekking in Nepal. Trekking is quite dangerous when terrains are complicated and rough. That’s why you need insurance that covers all your costs during any emergency in the journey.

Your travel insurance must cover medical emergencies, evacuation, and elevations up to 6000 m. You can also check if it covers trip cancellation and luggage loss. You have to get travel insurance from a trustworthy travel insurance company. It is best to get from your country before your Nepal flight.

While booking a package, you need to provide your insurance details to the travel agencies in Nepal so that they can get you permits. Insurance generally costs $150 for 30 days. It may vary according to the policies of your country.

Equipment Cost

Trekking gear is mandatory for any trekking. You can either buy it or rent it to save your money. If you want to buy your trekking gear, it costs around $500 to $1000. Buying all the equipment for just one trek is not budget-friendly. So, it is best to rent it.

You can rent high-quality trekking gear from a reputable rental shop in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Equipment such as poles, crampons, weatherproof coats, tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags are available in rental shops. Renting these trekking gear costs USD 1 to USD 10 per day.

You better check the quality and condition of all those gears before renting. Renting can save your budget in high dimensions. So, you can save money by making wise decisions for your trek.

Guide and Porter Cost

A professional guide is mandatory for your trekking if you are a foreigner. Hiring a professional licensed guide costs around $20 to $30 per day. If your backpacks are heavy, we suggest hiring a porter as well. They can carry your backpacks of 20 to 25 kg.

Hiring a porter costs $18 to $20 per day. A guide helps you to navigate the routes and socialize with local people. They also help you to pre-book your homestays. Your journey will be very merrier if you take a guide with you.

Conclusion

Hence, Annapurna Circuit Trek gives you a round trip to the Annapurna Himalayan Range. This journey takes you to the longest pass, Thorong La Pass, and the deepest gorge, Kali Gandaki.

You can enjoy this trek on a budget of around $900 to $4000. You can follow this blog to make it cheaper as well. You can choose bus transportation and rental equipment to save your budget. Have fun on the Annapurna Circuit Trek!