annapurna circuit

[lisa536]

Can someone please help me. I am flying in from Japan on March 20 to Kathmandu. I am wondering if it is possible to do the annapurna circuit in less than sixteen days. I fly out of Kathmandu on april 5th. Is this enough time or do you recommend I try to do the jomsom or the annapurna skyline - or a mixture of both. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Petrus]

You have enough time for normal speed trek if you fly out of Jomsom and need no sick/extra acclimatization days.

It is possible for a fit person to hike the whole thing in about 12-14 days if nothing goes wrong.

[a1jbg]

I to was confined to an 18 day maximum away from home, and completed the Circuit a few years ago in 12 days, so it is well within your timescale if you are able/prepared to trek long days at a decent pace.

[yakshaver]

These days you can complete the circuit in 16 days or less, wether you fly out of Jomsom or not. That is because at some stage after Tatopani you can hop on a 4wd to Beni. Even before Tatopani you can, if you so wish, hop on someone's motor bike and do part of the trek after Jomsom.

If you wish to just do the Besi Sahar to Jomsom part, this should take about 12 days. It is still a marvellous trek.

[lisa536]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. My next question is can you get your trekking permits in Pokhara or at the head of the trail? I dont really want to stop in Kathmandu on the way through so wonder if that is possible. Also - how essential is having a guide? Thank you everybody for all your comments. Lisa

[Oli]

If I had only 16 days I'd head for the Annapurna Sanctuary rather than the circuit. Better to go at a more sedate pace to see that wonderful panorama rather than rush around to meet a tight deadline. Or if you do want to do the circuit you could save a day by getting all the permits in Kathmandu then take the bus direct to Besisahar.

You certainly can get your ACAP national park permit in Pokhara, unlike the Everest trail they cost a large premium if you arrive at the check in without one. I'm not so sure about getting the TIMS permit in Pokhara, certainly the agencies can issue it but I don't know about independent official outlets.

And no, you definitely do not need a guide and/or porter for Annapurna trekking. The pros & cons to help you decide if you want one or not are discussed at length in other threads on this forum.

[lisa536]

I didnt realise that more than one permit is needed for the circuit. I was thinking of just doing the sanctuary trek but the person that I am travelling with is pretty keen to do some fairly heavy trekking so I figure the annapura circuit would be the best. I hiked that skyline trek a number of years ago which i realise is a walk in the park compared to these - but I guess we could do the sactuary trek combined with the jomsom trek? I guess the other question is - is there any possible way to organise permits before you get to the country in order to save that time. I was thinking of just flying straight to Pokhara and then bus to Besisahar.

[Landfall38]

It is pretty easy/quick/comfortable to hire a car from Kathmandu straight to Besisahar (we've done it 2x this way) and not that much longer than from Pokhara -- assuming you leave KTM very early in am before traffic jams

Last year we left KTM at 6am, had lunch in Besi and were on the trail just after noon.

[yakshaver]

I didnt realise that more than one permit is needed for the circuit. I was thinking of just doing the sanctuary trek but the person that I am travelling with is pretty keen to do some fairly heavy trekking so I figure the annapura circuit would be the best. I hiked that skyline trek a number of years ago which i realise is a walk in the park compared to these - but I guess we could do the sactuary trek combined with the jomsom trek? I guess the other question is - is there any possible way to organise permits before you get to the country in order to save that time. I was thinking of just flying straight to Pokhara and then bus to Besisahar.


For trekking in the Annapurna region you need both ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) and TIMS, which is sort of money grabbing exercise desguised as trekker registration. I suggest you get both in Kathmandu. If you do the circuit, it is best to start at Besi Sahar, and that is not close to Pokhara. Better do everything in Thamel before you leave Kathmandu.

Your guide, or your hotel staff in Thamel should be able to help in getting these documents. For ACAP you need a photo and 2000 Rupees (at least this was the price two years ago). For TIMS somewhere between 100 rupees if you get it directly from TIMS offices, and maybe 2-300 if you get it through an agency.

[lisa536]

I have recently been told that it is 'illegal' to trek with a private guide. I have been contacted on this forum by a couple of guides and am wondering if anyone can help. I trekked a number of years ago - be it only a very short one - with a guide that we hooked up with from Pokhara. He was great - we had no problems - we got all the right permits. Is it fair or accurate for a trekking company to mail me and tell me that it is illegal to find a private guide? Please help. Thank you Lisa

[Oli]

I rather think that they are exaggerating the situation. The latest rules (IANAL but thats "rules" not "laws") require that you register for a TIMS permit. One reason for this is to help trace trekkers that go missing, but it also serves to restrict "unlicenced" guides & porters. Apparently there are two classes of TIMS permit, "independent" trekkers can get theirs free via NTB. If you intend to hire either a guide or porter you might need to get your TIMS permit via a (TAAN) "authorised" source. The expectation will be that this will be a "legal" (TAAN affiliated) agency, in practice I would expect that any professional & licensed guide will have the contacts and agency affiliations to be able to arrange the necessary permit. The only problem might be if you wish to hire just a porter for maybe a few days somewhere along the trail, I'm not sure how the realities deal with that eventuality.

If you wish to use email to make arrangements with/for a guide/porter then I suggest making a shortlist and then meet and discuss with a couple in Kathmandu before you commit. Please do not let yourself be hassled into agreeing to trekking with any agencies/guides who suggest that you will be doing anything "illegal" by trekking with anyone else. Don't fall for it in Thamel or here on teh internets.

[Escher]

Diplomatic as always Oli, a very comendable trait, but it is my opinion that it is extremely dishonest for guides to keep telling people that it is illegal to trek without their services. It is nothing short of lies and needs to be outed as such.

I will never employ a guide who will try and get my business by lying to me. How can they be trusted with anything else? How will they treat other staff employed by them? What about payment and money?

If the very first contact with someone I might employ involves being lied to then there is no way anything else will happen.

I feel it is important to communicate this fact as widely as possible so ALL business goes to honest people and none to the dishonest. They may be desperate for business but if you behave like that it is hardly surprising.

It is not illegal to trek independently in Khumbu, Annapurna and Langtang (unless climbing a peak or passing through a restricted area), any guide telling you otherwise should be given short shrift and be told where to go.

[marcy]

I just returned a few days ago from Nepal. It is *NOT* illegal to trek with a private guide. You may still hire your own private guide and/or private porter and trek.

Probably where the misinformation comes from is the unclarity of the TIMS registration card (which, as a previous poster said, is just a trekking agency money grubbing grab). The registration card has two boxes that can be checks: one for fully agency organized trek, one for private carrying own stuff with no staff. No box for a third option of having privately arranged your own porter or guide.

I trekked with a private guide and porter I hired in KTM (Yes, I know 2 staff for one person is overkill but they are friends of mine and I enjoy financially helping them out, as well as having one person to walk with me and one to run ahead (b/c I am slow) and book my favorite lodge.) They came with me to the trekking agency office when I got my TIMS registration done so they agency was well aware I had privately arrange guide and porter. Since my trek wasnt farranged through an agency, they simply checked the box that says on your own carrying your own stuff with no staff. [Which is not really an accurate description at all] Similarly, at both the TIMS checkpoints (in the Khumbu there were only two checkpoints - one in Jorsale and one at the entrance to Namche. ) my guide interfaced with me and the checkpoint guard so the guard was also well aware when checking my certificate that I had a private guide with me. No questions and no problems at all.

[minialan]

I am planning on doing just ABC on my own without guides etc and have read that a permit is no longer needed. Is this true ? If i do ned one then where in Thamel do i get the necessary documents ?

[Escher]

I have read that a permit is no longer needed. Is this true ? If i do ned one then where in Thamel do i get the necessary documents ?

The office were you get the documents has recently moved see here (http://www.trekinfo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23116).

You need to pay the ACAP fee which is 2000nrps if you pay before the trek (4000 if you have to pay it on the trek) and get a TIMS certificate (free unless you get an agency to get you one). No other permit required.