2 Reviews
Annapurna Circuit Trek
$1,497
per person
14 Days
12 People
Daily Tour
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Overview
Annapurna circuit trek Nepal :
Picture yourself standing amidst the beautiful Himalayas surrounded by incredible views everywhere you look. This unforgettable experience is what Annapurna Circuit Trek brings you. So whether you're a seasoned trekker or a beginner, Annapurna circuit trek is perfect for anyone who wants to experience the adventure of a lifetime.
From deep gorges to high mountain peaks and lush & green landscapes, this trek will give you the chance to witness the diverse ecosystems and the beauty of Nepal. This is also an ideal journey for those who want to immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of different Nepalese communities.
Annapurna Circuit Trek: An Overview
The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a 14-day trek that circles around the magnificent Annapurna mountain range. Voted as one of the best trekking trails in the world, it offers the perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural exploration.
In this trek, you'll be walking by the edge of Kaligandaki Gorge, the deepest in the world, and enjoying a relaxing dip in Tatopani, one of the most popular natural hot water springs in Nepal. The sacred temple of Muktinath, with 108 water spouts is also a part of this journey. Along the way, you'll also get to witness the colorful landscape of the upper Mustang Region, which in itself is a popular destination amongst nature lovers. The Annapurna Hiking also offers you the opportunity to witness the lifestyle of the local Thakali people.
The trek will take you through the Marshyangdi River Valley, the Manang valley, also, known as the Himalayan Shangri-La, and ancient trade routes around the Annapurna Massif. The Thorong La Pass, which is the highest point of the trek at 5416 meters or (17,769 ft) will give you the perfect 360-degree view of the beautiful Himalayan Range.
Highlights of Annapurna Trek
- Crossing the widest trekking pass in the world, Thorong La
- Dip in the hot springs of Tatopani
- Poon Hill View Point (10,532 ft)
- The 18,000 feet deep Kali Gandaki Gorge
- The sacred Kagbeni village
- Witness stunning waterfalls, Yak pastures, and rare wildlife
- View of some of the highest peaks in the world including Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapuchhre
How difficult is the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
The Annapurna Circuit Trek trail is a mix of easy and steep paths, making it a moderately difficult trek. Crossing the Thorong La Pass, however, can be a dangerous task if you're not well prepared. So make sure you’ve got prior training and preparation, especially if you're a novice.
An article about Annapurna circuit trek was published in Newyork Times and our company Earthbound Expeditions was recommened as one of the reputed company to trek with to Annapurna circuit trek.
Explore more trekking packages.
Annapurna circuit trek can be customized to 12 days or 18 days including Nar Phu valley and khang la pass or Tilicho lake trek or even combine with Manasalu trek area. Please let us know if you are interested.
Cost Includes/ Excludes
Includes
- Accommodation Hotel in Kathmandu 3 star hotel and in trek simple lodges
- Full board meals as mentioned above in the trek
- One professional guide and necessary Number of porter/s for the trek with their meal
- All National Park and Conversation area fees, Trek Permits
- Kathmandu sightseeing, airport picks up and drope, all ground transport
- One night cultural show and dinner
- Jomsom to Pokhara Flight by Fixed wing aircraft
- Down jacket and sleeping bag for trek if necessary
- All Government Tax and Vat
Excludes
- International airfare and Insurance
- Any Drinks, food in Kathmandu, while not mentioned
- Personal Insurance & emergency rescue charges if necessary
- Extra porter & transport charges in the event of landslides
- Other personal expenses, airport tax, Kathmandu city entrance fees
- Personal, medical and evacuation insurance Laundry, cost raised by re-routing, cancellation, political disturbance etc
- Tips any other expenses, which are not mentioned above.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival at Kathmandu
Upon landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, our representatives will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel, where you'll be staying for the night.
Day 2: Kathmandu Exploration Day
After breakfast, we will take you for a tour of Kathmandu where you'll visit the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites inside the valley. These include: - Swayambhunath - the oldest Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu Valley, also known as Monkey Temple. - Pashupatinath- a holy pilgrimage site for Hindus where you'll meet Sadhus (Holy Men) covered with ashes and matted dreadlocks. At the Hindu Crematorium in Pashupatinath, you can watch the unique way in which Hindu dead bodies are cremated. - Boudhanath- the biggest Buddhist temple in the world; surrounded by monasteries. You can watch the Holy Monks performing chanting rituals, and pilgrims going around the temple performing their kora. - Patan Durbar Square- a Medieval Royal Palace area, known for its fine arts and metal and stone carvings that date as far back as the 14th century. It's also an ideal site to witness the beautiful Nepali Architecture. You'll spend another night in Kathmandu.
Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Besi Shahar (2723 ft)
Your day will begin with an early drive to Besi Sahar, a beautiful town in the mid-hills of Nepal that serves as the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit Trek. The drive will take around 6 hours by bus, and the view of the Trishuli river flowing along the foot of high green hills will keep you entertained throughout the ride. You'll be staying overnight at Besi Sahar.
Day 4: Drive from Besisahar to Chame (8759 ft)
On this day, you'll be driving north to Chame village, the headquarters of Manang District. The drive alongside the Marshayangdi river will take around 5-6 hrs by local jeep. You'll be staying overnight in Chame at the lap of Annapurna II.
Day 5: Trek from Chame to Pisang (10,498 ft)
Your trek officially starts at Chame. You'll be walking uphill along the forests to the beautiful town of Pisang. You'll be crossing the villages of Talekhu, Bhratang, and Dhikur Pokhari during the 6hr hike. Later in the day, you can explore a local Buddhist monastery in Upper Pisang. You'll be staying at a tea house for the night, facing Pisang Peak (6091m).
Day 6: Trek to Manang (11614.173 ft)
On this day, you'll be trekking uphill along Upper Pisang toward Manang village. During this hike of 5 hours, you'll be passing through Ngawal and Ghyaru villages. The Manang Village, due to its close proximity to Tibet, has a prevalent Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Day 7: Acclimatization at Manang (11614.173 ft)
This day is for acclimatizing. It's okay if you decide to rest all day, but exploring the local area or taking a short hike around the village will help you acclimatize better and make the rest of the journey easier. Overnight stay in Manang.
Day 8: Trek to Yak Kharka (13,287 ft)
After breakfast, you'll be ascending towards Yak Kharka, which literally means the Yak pasture land. You'll also see several yaks along the trail. The juniper trees and the settlement at Gunsang village will entertain you throughout your 6-hour hike. Overnight in a tea house at Yak Kharka.
Day 9: Trek to Thorong Phedi (14,600 ft)
Your day starts early after breakfast towards Thorong Phedi, where you'll be staying for the night. Thorong Phedi is the base of the famous Thorong-la Pass.
Day 10: Trek to Muktinath (12,467 ft) crossing the Thorang La Pass (17,769 ft)
You'll be hiking for around 12 hours this day, first upwards towards the Thorong La Pass, the highest point of the trek, and down to Muktinath. Since the weather can be unpredictable at Thorong La Pass, you want to reach there before the first portion of the day. So, you'll start very early in the morning and hike for around 4-5 hours to reach there. The panoramic view of snow-capped peaks like Annapurna South (7219m), Annapurna I (8091m), Annapurna II (7937m), Annapurna IV (7525m), Annapurna III (7555m), Machhapuchhre (6997m), Gangapurna (7454m), Nilgiri (7061m), Dhaulagiri (8167m) and many other neighboring mountains, will make it worth the effort. From there, the trail descends steeply to Muktinath, a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. Overnight stay at Muktinath.
Day 11: Trek to Jomsom (9,186 ft)
You’ll visit the Muktinath temple in the morning where you'll see pilgrims taking showers under each of the 108 water taps, and dipping under the cold water kundas in front of the temple. After exploring the temple and the surrounding area, you'll trek downhill for around 5 hours to the exceptionally beautiful town of Jomsom. Overnight at Jomsom.
Day 12: Flight from Jomsom to Pokhara
From Jomsom, you'll catch the earliest possible flight to Pokhara. You'll fly above the Annapurna massif and conservation area. Once at Pokhara, you can tour the city, and visit caves and waterfalls. You can also try some of the adventure sports the place offers, such as boating, and zip-lining, or you can simply cycle around the lakeside. Overnight in Pokhara.
Day 13: Drive/Fly back to Kathmandu
You can return back to Kathmandu either by bus or via flight. The flight takes around half an hour but may get delayed in case of unexpected rainfall, which is pretty common in Pokhara. If you choose to return by bus, it'll take approximately 6 hours to reach Kathmandu. Once you reach Kathmandu, you'll have enough time to explore the city and go souvenir shopping. In the evening, our team will host you a special dinner with a Nepalese cultural show. You'll stay overnight at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 14: Departure from Kathmandu
After breakfast, our representative will drive you to the airport.
Tour's Location
Annapurna Circuit Trek Map
Below is the Annapurna Circuit Trek Route Map that will come handy during the trek:
Annapurna circuit Trek Altitude Map
Annapurna Circuit Trek Guide
Ready to embark on your adventure? Here are a few things you should know before you pack your bags and hit the Annapurna Circuit Trek trail!
Best time to trek Annapurna Circuit
While it's possible to trek the Annapurna Circuit all year round, the best time is during the autumn season. The clear and dry weather during the months of September to November makes for an ideal trekking condition. While the days are usually warm, the temperature during the nights can be freezing. Since these months fall during the Dashain and Tihar festivals, you'll get the chance to experience the vibrant Nepali culture throughout your journey.
The next best season for the trek is during spring, from February to May. The weather is mild, and the blooming flowers and green vegetation will make your journey even more enjoyable. The colorful landscape under the rocky white mountains is a sight to behold.
Trekking during the winter can get very challenging, most of the trail is blocked by thick snow, and the temperature can go as low as -10 °C. The steep trail during the monsoon also makes it difficult to trek around the circuit.
Annapurna Circuit Trek Packing List
During your trek, make sure you pack as lightly as possible. While you can carry your personal and essential items in your backpack, your porter will carry the rest of your luggage during your hike. You can also choose not to hire a porter if you can carry your luggage. Try and keep the weight of your luggage below 10kgs, which is also the weight limit for your Jomsom to Pokhara flight. You can leave your unnecessary luggage at the hotel in Kathmandu free of cost.
Clothes:
- Fleece & Down Jackets
- Full sleeve t-shirts
- Thermals
- Trekking boots with ankle support
- Adequate number of innerwear
- Warm & Waterproof trekking trousers
- Warm socks, caps/beanies & gloves
- Sunglasses & Sunscreen
- Sanitizers, Wet Wipes & Toilet Papers
- Flip-flops/Sandals
- Personal Toiletries
Equipment:
- Duffel bag
- Backpack
- Raincoat & waterproof bag covers
- Water bottles & water purification tablets
- Hydration bladder
- Compass, power bank & extra batteries
- Winter Sleeping bags
- Flashlight & Headlamp
- Crampons and gaiters
- Basic First Aid Kit
- Altitude Medicine
- Snacks, chocolates & energy bars
Annapurna Trek Permits and Requirements
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP):
The permit costs approximately US $20 per person. For SAARC nationals, the cost is around NPR 200 per person.
Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card:
The Blue TIMS card for trekking in groups costs around US $10 per person whereas an individual trekker should purchase a Green TIMS card for around US $20 per person.
The cost of obtaining these permits is included in the package. However, if you choose to obtain these permits on your own, you can obtain them from the office of the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu or Pokhara. With these cards, you can spend as much time as you want in the conservation area, but you cannot re-enter the area. You'll need a copy of your passport and 2 passport-size photographs for each card application.
Travel Insurance for Annapurna Circuit Trek
Get travel insurance that covers all the activities and excursions that you plan to take on during the trip. All the medical expenses including treatment costs, ambulance & hospital charges, doctors' fees, and other costs for treatment of injuries, health issues, or accidents that could happen during the journey should be covered by the policy. Besides these, make sure your policy also covers the loss of theft and cancellation, as well as emergency evacuations and helicopter rescues.
Do not forget to bring a copy of your insurance policy throughout your trip and provide us with your insurance details so that we can access the information if required.
Road and Transportation details while Trekking Annapurna
The beginning of your journey is going to be on buses and local jeeps. While the roads are smooth for the most part, you'll encounter will be few potholes, ditches, and gravelly paths. As you start trekking, you will be walking along some rocky mountain roads, steep trails, forest paths, and narrow walkways.
From Jomsom, you'll be flying down to Pokhara. Toward the end of your trip, you have the option to fly back or take a bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
Health and Fitness Guide
Annapurna Circuit Trek involves a lot of walking, so you should be in sound health. Patients with heart, lung, blood diseases and other pre-existing medical conditions should consult their doctors before the trek, and inform up before confirming their bookings. If you do not have any trekking experience, it's essential that you train at least a month prior to the trek.
Start your training with light jogging on uneven surfaces for around 20-30 minutes a day for 4-5 days a week. Try not to strain your ankles, knees, and hips while walking. Avoid training on treadmills as they aren't ideal for strengthening your ankles. After a week, you should start going on short hikes. During these hikes, you should try out different books, backpacks, socks, and other gear to identify which ones are the most comfortable for you. After a week, we recommend you carry your actual backpack during these hikes. Keep increasing the duration of your training after each week by 15-20 minutes. If possible, you should train by hiking at higher altitudes. This will help you cope with altitude sickness that could occur during the Annapurna Trek.
Include cardio and strength training while preparing for the trek. Indulge in light to moderate weight lifting and resistance training to grow your muscles. However, you should avoid extreme weight lifting. Invest well in your physical preparation for an enjoyable trip.
Facilities on the Annapurna Trail
The Anna Purna Circuit is a lodge-to-lodge trek, so, basic facilities will be available throughout your journey.
Electricity and Charging Options During Annapurna Hike
Electricity is available at almost every tea house and lodges along the trail, however, as you go higher, you will need to pay an additional charge to get the charging facility. Hence, we recommend that you carry your own power banks and portable solar chargers to avoid the excess cost.
Wifi availability while trekking Annapurna
Most of the tea houses have Wifi services, but you should pay an additional charge to use them. Please note that the connection may not be reliable, especially at higher altitudes. You can always subscribe to data plans from your NTC sim card, which offers comparatively stable internet. But it's not consistent throughout the trail.
Network Connection at the Annapurna region
For communication, you can purchase an NTC sim card for around $3 at the airport, or from phone shops. You'll need to provide a copy of your passport for it.
The sim card offers 3G services in most places around the Annapurna Circuit Trek trail. The network is stable in the lower altitudes, and it tends to fluctuate as you move on your way up. At higher altitudes, the network can be unreliable.
Tea Houses and Rooms on the Anna purna circuit
The tea houses in the Annapurna Circuit Trek only provide basic room services; each room pretty much contains two beds with pillows, mattresses, and blankets. Only communal areas have heating facilities. The tea houses run on a B&B plan, and you'll be sharing your breakfast table with fellow trekkers and visitors.
Toilets and Bathrooms
Your rooms in Kathmandu and Pokhara will have attached bathrooms & toilets. During the trek, the toilets and bathrooms are shared in most of the tea houses.
Hot/Cold Water Availability while traveling to Annapurna
You'll need to pay an additional charge to get a hot shower facility in the tea houses. As you climb higher, the prices will hike. Some places will only provide hot water buckets for showering.
Clothing and Gear Shops
In case you forget to carry some of the required clothes or gear, you can always buy them from shops in Kathmandu before your flight.
Clinics and Medical Facilities
You'll find small clinics only at Manang and Jomsom, and they can only check for minor sicknesses. In case of an emergency, your guide will conduct a preliminary examination, and based on the seriousness of your condition, helicopter evacuation will be arranged.
The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a must-try adventure for any trekking enthusiast or nature lover. This trek offers an unforgettable experience that showcases the breathtaking diversity of Nepal's geography, taking you from the lush lowlands to the towering peaks of the Himalayas. From stunning vistas to welcoming communities, this trek will truly leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
Reviews
mcron
"Unbelievable experience"
We did the Annapurna Circuit trek through Earthbound and had a fabulous time. Everything was perfectly organized yet flexible enough to mold to our schedule. The trek itself was outstanding, but our wonderful guides and porters enriched the experience tenfold. Rajan, the owner of Earthbound, was extremely patient in responding to our (probably excessive) emails beforehand and extremely accommodating once we arrived. On my second to last night, I left my camera in a hotel room. After making several calls to track down the camera, Rajan had it sent overnight to Kathmandu so I was able to get it back home. I was extremely grateful for this extra aid.
Rakxya, USA
An amazing experience at Nepal, This was my first trip to Nepal. Rajan-ji & his team took care of us right from the time of arrival at Kathmandu airport and until we were safely dropped back ...... they organized everything so well, patiently & professionally attending to our needs, requirements & wishes during the Annapurna circuit trek, as also for the associated tours, stay & entertainment surrounding the same. Surely looking forward to the next time
Sapna M, USA
Another wonderful expedition with Earthbound Expeditions, Rajan Ji and his team at Earthbound Expeditions excel in providing a well-planned, safe, and fun hiking experience. This was my second trek with Rakan and Earthbound Expeditions as they also arranged an EBC trek a few years back and we were so pleased that we went with Rajan again, We were a large group of adults and kids who did the Annapurna Circuit last month. He was readily available from the planning phase and connected with us over Zoom and Whatsapp, weeks before we started the hike. Throughout the 9-day hike, the food, accommodations, and arrangements were great and the whole team including the porters, guides and support staff were friendly, helpful and fun to be with. I would highly recommend them!
Nicole Melancon
Trekking the amazing Annapurna circuit with Earthbound Expeditions
My father and I (68 and 38 respectively) just returned from a TRIP OF A LIFETIME trekking the Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal, with Earthbound Expeditions. Back in April, we read an article in the NYT regarding this trek and the reporter mentioned two trekking companies. My dad sent emails to both organizations and was amazed to receive a thorough response with customized itinerary and pricing within the next day. That was our first excellent experience with Earthbound that continued on up to, during and at the end of our trip. Having trekked throughout the world, I must say that Earthbound Expeditions, the owner Rajan, our AMAZING guide Hari and porter Chhirring, are some of the most service-oriented, professional, caring and wonderful people we've ever worked with. Rajan answered my numerous emails in a timely manner and met with us personally at the beginning and end of our trek, for a wonderful NEpali dinner and culture show. In Nepal, anything can go and there are many unexpected events that can change your trip such as outrageous traffic jams, illnesses, altitude sickness, homesickness etc. Rajan and his guide were UNBELIEVABLE in their ability to go with the flow and change our itineary and WORK MAGIC on the trip. I could not believe it! We would never receive this kind of customer service and individualized attention in the US! Our guide, Hari was unbelievable. He and our porter bent over backward to ensure we were happy, had lots of laughs, comfortable, and even helped me make my daily calls home to my family! They became instant friends who I plan to keep in touch with. I would highly recommend EARTHBOUND to anyone interested in trekking in Nepal, especially ones who want a unique experience and not to be with the herds (those huge, annoying trekking companies with 15-20 people per group...no thanks). I felt like being with the people from earthbound was almost more important even than the trek....I learned so much about the culture and life of Nepal and its people. It was an amazing experience and one I hope to someday do again. THANKS EARTHBOUND for your wonderful trip!!!!!
sushma s, USA
Incredible experience, This was my first Himalayan Adventure. I did the Annapurna circuit with more than 30 other team members through earthbound expeditions. They have an awesome team and managed the entire trek with every need met and ensuring that our safety being the highest priority. Kids were also part of the trip with youngest being a 12 year old. Rajan's team took care care of the kids very well, especially since this was the first high altitude trek and kids not used to Nepali diet and environment. No hiccups throughout our trip. Porters, guides, tea house accommodation were phenomenal. They made my adventure a memorable one and I am already looking forward to another adventure with them. Rajanji you are the best !!
flyfish_NM
Trip of a lifetime!
The Trip: We completed the Annapurna Circuit trip through Earthbound Expeditions. We first heard about Earthbound through a New York Times article, which peaked our curiosity. We contacted Rajan who was very responsive, who allowed us to customize our trip. The two of us were the only one on the trip, which was great, compared to many of the larger groups that we saw. We had a phenomenal time and I would recommend Earthbound wholeheartedly! They do a great job in arranging everything, so there were no communication/arrangement problems. Earthbound staff (guide/porters): Our guide and porter were great! They were knowledgeable and very friendly and we felt completely at home with them. Our porter was especially awesome, though he didn't speak English, he was just a stand up, genuine fellow. Overall, we had a great time and wouldn't change anything about our trip, I was hesitant at first to go through an organized agency, but I quickly changed my mind.
nikkerpie
Wonderful Nepal Trek Tour
Earthbound Expeditions was the best decision we made and our trip could not have been smoother because of them. My husband and I spent 1 month in Nepal. Prior to our trip, Rajan (the owner of Earthbound) personally answered every question we had and helped us customize a trip to exactly what we wanted to experience. We chose Earthbound Expeditions based on the wonderful reviews, but we were still amazed at how personalized the service was. Rajan was completely flexible in tailoring a trip for us. We're seasoned travelers and had never used a tour company before so we were a bit afraid it would limit us (the serendipity of travel is often the best part). On the contrary, Rajan deftly reacted to every change we made along the trip. We don't even know how he would do it, but magically there would be taxis/bus tickets/plane tickets waiting for us or people to help us every step of the way. Place your trust in Rajan and you can't go wrong. He is also incredibly loyal to his country, knowledgeable, kind, and helps build schools in local villages. We started our trip by trekking the Annapurna Circuit. Much to our surprise (and happiness) were weren't placed in a group of 10+, it was just my husband and myself. Our guide Sudip and our porter Gokel went above and beyond to make the experience outstanding. Sudip spoke excellent English and would willingly answer the thousands of questions we asked about Nepali culture. He was knowledgeable and helpful, but more important he was friendly, kind and so easy to be around. There is a risk in choosing to spend most of your vacation alongside perfect strangers, but we couldn't have asked for a better experience than with Sudip and Gokel. Gokel also spoke English and was helpful far beyond his porter duties...including being the best of us at spotting monkeys on the hillside and even cooking us a delicious lunch himself when the tea house was crowded. Sudip and Gokel always made sure we were taken care, both on the trail and at the tea houses. I had some issues w/ altitude sickness going over the pass; Sudip was completely reassuring and when I was at my worst and scared, he somehow released the pressure in my head through massage to help me make it over. Gokel also went the extra mile as well by even taking my Day Pack. It was on that day that I couldn't have imagined not having them alongside. I've backpacked all of my life, but being at that high of an elevation is unlike anything I've ever experienced...having an experienced guide and porter to pace us, monitor, and reassure us when we were sick made all of the difference in our confidence. Even for little things like colds and food poisoning, they always had either medication or traditional remedies (like garlic soup) to help us. We planned to end our trek in Jonsom, but when our flight was canceled due to weather we decided to change plans and finish trekking the circuit on our own. Within minutes, Sudip stopped a local bus passing by, plopped us in a seat and asked a guide he knew on the bus to help us if needed. Sudip even dropped our extra bag in Pokhara (our destination) and arranged for a taxi to be waiting for us 5 days later to take us there. Mid-trip, we even called him to confirm and mostly because by then we missed our friends Sudip and Gokel! All of the lodging selected by Earthbound Expeditions was great. On the trail, they always procurred the rooms with the BEST views for us. Whether we were coming off of the trail or on our way to Chitwan, they were always a step ahead of us arranging transportation and lodging. The value of hiring Earthbound Expeditions for our Nepal trip far outweighed the actual costs involved. The charges are very, very reasonable and the service absolutely exceeded our expectations!
mems77
Do this.
Absolutely magnificent. Did the Annapurna trek and couldn't be happier with the way this was organised. Big thanks to director Rajan for the set up of this tour. The scenery was amazing. Breath taking in fact. The meals and lodging were great for what was on offer. Never went hungry or without a comfortable bed and was always felt very welcome. In fact being vegan the earthbound staff would always make sure my meals were suited to my requirements. I often have trouble getting that type of service at home. Brilliant! The best memory I will take away from this trip is of the staff. Our guide Gopal is without a doubt the most peaceful, caring, respecting man I have ever met. His knowledge and passion for these wonderful mountains were a joy to witness and I will think of him whenever I think of my amazing trip to this wonderful country. I hope to see you again Gopal. Oh, and a big shout out to Debendra, who was always there when the legs got tired and the going got tough. This company comes highly recommended and rightly so. Cheers.
Tony L
Annapurna Circuit- Amazing journey
I'd better get the review written before Christmas comes along. We engaged Earthbound to put together a custom Annapurna circuit trip for 3 50+ old blokes. They were excellent, first class !! Rajan is an amazing man, he remembers everyone is always on top of all the organisation. The guide and 2 porters we were allocated (Hari, Arjun and Madang) were also fantastic. If I have go back, Earthbound will be my first choice. Tony Lewis
mrbanj0
Trip and hike of a lifetime!
Earthbound expeditions is truly unbelievable! We hiked with them in March 2012 on the Annapurna circuit! Nama, our guide, and Podum our porter were awesome! They were very friendly and extremely helpful when it counted. Altitude sickness is a real worry and Nama was fantastic about knowing what to do. For example, sticking to ginger tea before you move on to taking any kinds of medicine. Both of them had all kinds of good tricks to make our lives eascer on the trail. Those solo travelers dont know what they are missing. Nama even spotted some rare monkeys once that all the solo hikers missed. They also knew the best places to stay in each town. In Kathmandu, the office operations were also great. I feel bad for not writing earlier as this was seriously the best trip of my life. My wife and I have been to over 30 countries each and this vacation still holds the top spot in my book.
JULIA C
Nepal once is never enough..Love it !
My friends and I recently had a fantastic trip to Nepal. The Earthbound team was recommended by a friend of mine who finished trekking in Oct. Thanks to Mr. Rajan for not just organizing such a wonderful trip but more importantly trying to accommodate as much we need. The spectacular Annapurna trekking was a great lifetime experience; the beautiful sunrise at Poonhill was unforgettable and the Chitwan National Park is a must you have to go too. We were lucky to have a good guide - the team of Lekh Tamang really looked after us well. Thanks to our superman team. You guys are brilliant. We are looking forward to visit Nepal again.
Maria R
Wonderful Annapurna , Wow
My sister and I just got back from our first visit to Nepal in early November, and were absolutely impressed by the service we received from everybody in the Earthbound team, beginning with Mr Rajan Simkhada, We wanted to visit both Nepal and India, and he set out to work with us to customized our trip, putting together an itinerary for us, and then modifying it a few times until we were happy to have all the places in our wish list included to our satisfaction. Nepal is such an amazing country, from incredible natural beauty to the beauty and kindness of it’s people, I brought back with me such wonderful memories!. We did the Annapurna Circuit trek adventure, truly a spectacular trek to be remembered for a lifetime, unforgettable scenery, what an incredible experience, the outstanding and incomparable beauty of the landscape, only made a better experience by the Earthbound team of our guide Lekh Tamang, and Arzun our porter, and the great care they took of us. These guys went above and beyond, making sure we were safe and comfortable, during and after those grueling hours of trekking. I did not physically prepare well for this, and I was unlucky enough to come down with a cold on our second day of trekking, the concern and attention they paid to my wellbeing, touched my soul. Their attitude, kindness and compassion is the kind of stuff you just can’t put a price on, a person either has it or not, and these guys have it aplenty, pair this with Lekh’s extensive knowledge of the area, and you have an excellent team. The India part of our trip was just as successful, Mr Rajan Simkhada was true to his word and delivered for us a flawless and most enjoyable and unforgettable vacation. I would definitely go back to Nepal with Earthbound, because I agree with the tourism slogan, for Nepal, once is not enough!,
hanlie_lize
Wonderful Nepal Trek
Earthbound Expeditions organized an unforgettable experience for us. We enjoyed a professional and friendly service, from the time we started to organize our trip, until we were on our way back home. We had fantastic porters and a guide (Arjun) that were extremely helpful, friendly and informative, and were instrumental to making our trip the best holiday we have ever been on. Thank you Earthbound Expeditions, for a holiday that changed our lives. We hope to return very soon.
Karen K
Amazing tour in Nepal!
Earthbound Expeditions was an excellent choice for our trip to Nepal this past October. We had done a lot of research regarding which tour company to use and wanted to make sure it was Nepalese owned and operated to support the local community. After reading impressive reviews of this company, we booked online with them for our tour which was 12 days. We were very happy with our choice! Rajan, the president, answered our many questions over the period of weeks leading up to the trip. He met us at our hotel in Kathmandu the first day of our trip and also the last day to ensure we enjoyed our time there. Our tour consisted of the following: - arrival day - one day in Kathmandu to see the many temples the city has to offer - a travel day to Pokhara - a 4 day trek of the Annapurna Circuit, including Poon Hill - a day in Pokhara to see the sights - 2 1/2 day safari in Bardiya National Park - one last day in Kathmandu The trekking part of the trip was absolutely amazing! The trail is tough as there endless stairs to climb up from Nayapul to get to Poon Hill/Ghorepani area and then it is back down the endless stairs. All those stairs were worth the trip though. The guides and porters made sure we were well taken care of, both on the trail and once we got to the guesthouses. We chose Bardiya over Chitwan as we had read that the chances of seeing a tiger were much greater and there too many tourists in Chitwan. We were glad we chose Bardiya. The guides were incredible and the lodge that Earthbound Expeditions uses was great! The wildlife viewing was spectacular as we were lucky enough to see a wild tiger not once, but twice! We saw many birds, monkeys, and 3 rhinos. We didn't see any wild elephants in the area but they were definitely there as a guy on a domestic elephant was chased by one while we were out on our safari. Overall, Earthbound ensured we had an excellent trip and we wouldn't hesitate to use them again in the future. A few suggested improvements for the company include: - ensuring guides can speak very good English. Some guides were better than others as was expected but we ended up talking to another Earthbound guide for the majority of the trekking - ensuring the guides are well aware of the itinerary of the individual groups. Because we were going into Bardiya, not Chitwan, we had one less day in the Annapurna region which he did not realize until we brought it to his attention. It did cause a bit of a hiccup in our plans but we managed to work around it. Thanks Earthbound for a wonderful experience!
kkp42
Fantastic experience
Just returned from trekking the Annapurna Circuit. Earthbound Expeditions provided us with full information before we led the UK, replying within hours (and sometimes within minutes!) to our emails and queries. Earthbound Expeditions took very good care of us while we were in Nepal, including being invited to Rajan's home to celebrate Divali with his family. Being invited to share in such a occasion was very special. We can not speak highly enough of our guide Lekh, who was excellent. He was highly knowledgable and did everything possible to ensure our trek was a wonderful experience. His customer service was first class. When problems did occur, such as one of our group experiencing altitude sickness, he found solutions to enable us to continue our trek. Similarly, when we unable to fly out of Jomson due to high winds stopping flights, Lekh arranged a jeep to take us to Pokhara so we could stay on schedule for the trip (I would not recommend the jeep, unless you have to meet an international flight as we did, as the road is so rough it can be hardly called a road and the 139km journey by road took 9 hours). Lekh's excellent guiding, calm problem solving and quiet reassurance was very much appreciated by all of us. The food was excellent and the tea houses and hotels were basic and cold at night as you would expect, but very welcoming. As we wanted a walk while we were at Jomson, Lekh even found a ‘side trip’ for us the afternoon, to a neighboring village. The porters, Shiva and Balpu, worked equally hard on our behalf going to of their way to help us, and when they reached the hotel before us in the afternoon, we came back and offered to help with our small packs. Their attentiveness at all times helped make the trek a memorable experience. Needless to say the scenery was glorious and our thanks go to Earthbound Expeditions team for a highly enjoyable (and challenging!) trek. i would recommend Earthbound Expeditions to anyone considering trekking in Nepal.
Facundo B
Great trekking and tour experience
After contacting several agencies, my wife and I selcted Earthbound Expeditions for our trip in Nepal and Bhutan based on a number of factors. First, Rajan (owner) responded to our questions with specific responses that actually answered our questions. None of the other four agencies we contacted did that. Second, Earthbound Expeditions is locally owned and operated, and it made a difference to us to know that local people would benefit from our visit. And third, Rajan was kind to tailor the trip to our needs while suggeting some tweaks that would (and did) result in a great experience. We did the Annapurna circuit. We had a great guide in Lekh and a great porter in Naram. Both of them were extremely kind, and they were also very smart with logistics - to the point where we usually got to the best lodges, ate great food and did not waste any time looking for lodging and/or transportation during the peak season. We had to reroute our trip due to the big October snowstorm, and we were glad to have Lekh and Naram with us to descend safely and with minimal disruptions. During the storm aftermath, Rajan also took good care of us remotely by rerouting our itinerary (including some domestic flights) and letting our family know we were fine. Rajan also arranged for us a few days in Bhutan, where we were under the care of a partner company that also treated us extremely well. All in all, these were probably the best vacations we ever had and we thank Rajan and his team at Earthbound Expeditions for a wonderful work. We would not hesitate to go straight to them again.
JimJonesDenver
Outstanding Trek on Annapurna, and beyond
Earthbound Expeditions (Kedar) was very helpful in organizing a trek of the entire Annapurna Circuit. The scenery was breathtaking, and the villages warm and friendly, with many side trips to the local monasteries. Despite encountering record snow in the Annapurna Conservation Area, the trip was quite simply outstanding. It should be on your bucket list! The guide, Dil Man, was well trained and equipped for the snow, and helped safely guide everyone across the pass when the weather permitted. I used them to tour the UNESCO Sites around Kathmandu, luckily before the quake, and again to visit Chitwan. I can't say enough good things about Earthbound and its staff. They made my trip to Nepal wonderful.
alexis72015
AMAZING!!
Everything from Rajan being super flexible in my customized itinerary (Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake, Thorong Pass, Poon Hill, and ABC), to my very knowledgeable and upbeat guide, Dil Man, to the porter, Krishna's endless energy and megawatt smiles, I had such a positive and memorable experience. I highly recommend Earthbound Expeditions.
Cheryl C
The Trip of A Lifetime
This is the company to choose! With plenty of heart and sincerity, Earthbound Expedition is definitely set to impress. I chose the Annapurna Circuit trek for the lack of time and did the trek in a total of 11 days, with the firstand last day dedicated for rest and sightseeing. Rajan the owner, was a lovely help. He responded to our emails and enquires with patience and was genuinely interested in assisting us instead of simply sending us a template response which many of the other companies we contacted did. The itinerary provided was comprehensive and easy to understand and covered our meals and when necessary, sleeping bags and down jackets, which will cost you a substantial amount should you choose to purchase. Being the first time I had ever trekked, taking this expedition on served to be a daunting task ahead for me as I did not know what to expect. Should you choose to do the Annapurna circuit, be prepared to climb a lot of steps! DO NOT skimp on purchasing the right shoes, and if you are trekking during the cold season - gloves and socks. These will serve you very well. Also, ensure that you have clothes that you can layer so that you need not carry too many bulky items. As we were trekking near the end of winter (February), which is the off peak season, we experienced a whole host of temperatures from 29 degrees celcsius all the way to -15 degrees celsius at Annapurna Base Camp. I had requested for Maule, upon reading the excellent reviews by our fellow reviewers below. Maule truly impressed. He has plenty of experience under his belt which greatly assured us, given that the trek does come with it's danger and risks with the unpredictable weather and relatively challenging terrain. I had bought gloves that were not effective in staving off the cold during our trek to ABC and the lovely Maule had actually switched gloves with me in order to prevent me from getting frostbite. Our porter Ong Chun was also a lovely help and boy it is a miracle how they can shoulder such weight and leap from one shaky rock to the other! He was a lovely humble and sincere man as well, just like Maule. I will definitely be requesting for them should I consider pursuing the Everest Base Camp in future. Nepal is a truly a beautiful country. It is a pity that this city of wonderful friendly people has had the series of misfortunes befall them, with the earthquake and political situation. When I arrived and went sightseeing on the first day, it was clear the lack of infrastructure and the recent earthquake had greatly shaken up the country, the economy and the tourism industry. If you are considering travelling to Nepal and trekking, you should go ahead and do it. The view, people and the experience is truly one you will remember for the rest of your life. Just ensure you do plenty of research, pack well, and go in with an open, flexible and accepting mindset as plans may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Discuss the best possible alternative with your guide should you require any changes and DO NOT give the children chocolate as it encourages a bad cycle of entitlement and destroys their self-esteem in the long run. Do not drink water from the tap, ice drinks or eat salads and fresh fruits. Only eat freshly prepared food to prevent the very prevalent stomach bugs from reaching you and you should be fine and experience the trip of a lifetime! Cheers and wishing all future trekkers the best of luck!
csiu2016
Annapruna Circuit Trek
It has been a very pleasant experience in Nepal. I found Earthbound Expeditions on Lonely Planet among a list of other trekking companies. I decided to join them due to their excellent reviews. Resham, trekking guide is so professional and friendly, he took a good care of us along the way. Shivaraj and Amrit are very friendly and without them, I wouldn't be able to make it to Throung-la pass. I would definitely recommend Earthbound Expeditions to my family and friends. I believe I will be back to Nepal some day.
Sanjay K
Amazing Annapurna circuit
I don't have words to thanks to the earthbound expedition team, recently I completed a trip of my life time yet and definitely more to come for sure !!. I highly recommend EB for their professionalism, expert knowledge, friendly staff services which I enjoyed thoroughly through my trip. I never felt that I am out of my friend circle as I was traveling solo, I always felt that I am traveling with someone very close!! I cannot thanks in words to Mr Rajan, Badri for all their support and timely response which helped me to plan my trip iternity quickly and they make sure to stay in touch untill I landed my home safely which is amazing???? I was having wonderful time with Badri, Naran and Amrut through out my journey ????????????. it's been 10 days now since I completed my trek but I still i fell I am in same mountains hangover OR I would say altitude hangover "ha ha". I will surely be coming to nepal very soon and joining EB with the same group for sure if I am lucky enough!! good bless u guys thanks for everything...
PhPl14
Amazing experience
did the Annapurna circuit trek with Earthbound Expeditions in November 2016. Narayan, my guide, was absolutely great, and if I go back to Nepal to do further trekking (which I hope to do soon!), I would definitely ask to have him as guide again! Rajan, the company owner, was very helpful in organizing everything. I had a very short schedule but he was able to create a great itinerary for me. As for the trek, everything went very well and it was an absolutely amazing experience! I would recommend using Earthbound Expedition to anyone wanting to travel to Nepal to do some trekking. I will definitely use them again!
Mike F
AC and ABC trek was great!
My friend and I did a 26-day tour which included treks of both the Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Base Camp mid-Oct thru mid-Nov. I wanted to hire a local guide from a local trekking company and selected Earthbound Expeditions, based in Thamel, Kathmandu. Rajan, the owner of Earthbound took care of everything for us. He provided a package that included guide and porter, airport pick-up, jeep shuttles around the trek, meals and teahouse lodging, and tour of Kathmandu. This was all done for a very reasonable price. Rajan made sure all the details were covered and was very flexible with making changes while we there. Our guide was Ramjee and our porter was Bharat. Both were great and took very good care of us down to the last detail. They always were looking out for our safety, and always made sure everything was OK with us. When we arrived at the final village each day, they would find a teahouse for us and would try to get nicer places with western toilets if available. They would also take our meal orders each day and then order from the kitchen directly. When we made some minor changes to our itinerary, Ramjee would get on the phone and make the necessary changes to jeep shuttle pickup schedule and location. They both were very knowledgeable about the route and where the trail forks and branches were which was important since this is difficult to find on the maps. Ramjee would normally pick the shortest route when deciding between the road and trail, until we told him that we prefer the trail even where it was longer. After that, we took all the trail bypasses around the road. Make sure you bring trekking poles and boots with good soles for all the stairs on ABC and rocky trails on AC. We didn't get sick along the trek and that might be due to both luck and also because we didn't eat much meat and sterilized all our water with a steripen. The pepto bismal tablets may have also helped. ABC trek was busier on the Chomrong to MBC section since we ran into more people going the opposite direction and it was peak season. It was a great adventure and I would definitely use Earthbound again. Mike
premilapindolia
Premila Pindolia """"An Amazing Annapurna circuit trek and trip with Earthbound Expeditions......
Had am amazing journey trekking Annapurna circuit with Earthbound Expeditions. Very well organized trip, food was excellent, tea house/Hotels on the trek were well above my expectations, big thanks to Sir Badri Gajurel - Earthbound Expeditions director based in UK, he is a star..... Many thanks to Arjun Adhikari (i love the way when he says his full name), Kaji, Amrit, serki and our multi-talented Guide/master Chef Mr Narayan excellent food throughout. All the guides and porters are very hardworking and very friendly. Mr Rajen - director based in Nepal, keep up with your excellent staff, I would highly recommend Earthbound for any treks. I look forward to trekking with again in future......see you soon.
Anant E
Amazing trip to Annapurna with excellent support
I had been looking forward to the trip since I signed up but was concerned that the food and support would be bad. Well there was nothing to worry about, the food, the guides, the tea houses, everyone made this the amazing trek I was expecting.
Sunil S
Badri and Team were phenominal
What can I say? Right from the time that we got picked up from the airport through to trekking the Annapurna Circuit and back to the Airport (18 Day trip), the service was way beyond our expectation. Badri and Team ensured that from the time we woke up to the time we went to bed, we received personal care and attention. Nothing was too much for the team. Even during minor illness, they constantly asked about our health, made sure that we ate well and drank plenty of water. And the food. This was amazing. We never felt hungry and neven missed home cooking. My wife and I cannot recommend this organisation enough. Use Earthbout Expeditions only.
Andrea_R111222
Annapurna Circuit Trek
My husband and I used Earthbound Expeditions to arrange a 14 day trek of the Annapurna Circuit, and we had an excellent experience with all aspects of Earthbound. Rajan, the owner, was easy to access by email and answered all of our questions prior to arrival. He was flexible with regards to arranging the itinerary (we didn't want to include sightseeing days in Kathmandu, as we preferred to do that on our own), but ensured the itinerary was both safe and manageable from a altitude perspective. Our guide and porter, Gokul and Ajaya, were both excellent. Ajaya, as our porter, was keen, extremely hardworking, and enthusiastic to learn as much as possible about the trek and environment (it was his first time on the Annapurna Circuit). Gokul, our guide, was absolutely exceptional. His experience and knowledge were apparent not only to us but also to others on the trail. Gokul was frequently approached by other guides and travelers to share his opinion, which he did readily. He worked hard every day to ensure we were happy, safe and enjoying every moment of our trek. He was able to share his knowledge around the trail, altitude, environment and culture of Nepal, which added immensely to our experience. Earthbound Expeditions, and particularly Gokul and Ajaya, made our trek a fantastic experience that we can happily recommend.
lee c
annapurana
My brother and I did the Annapurna circuit for 4 weeks and use the company Earthbound expeditions from the time we arrived to our departure we had no problems the whole trip went smooth.A Special thanks to our guide Bishal keeping a eye on us and he's guidance and knowledge made our trek much easier also our porter Kaja a big thank you he had a good sense of humour plus he's patience at giving me the confidence to cross suspension bridges was brilliant ,I would highly recommend Earthbound Expedition
BGAG
Fantastic Trek Experience - Annapurna Circuit
My son and I shared a once in a lifetime journey with Earthbound Expeditions and they delivered! Everything we did met or exceeded our expectations. The people of Earthbound Expeditions were extremely warm and service-oriented; the hotels and tea houses they work with were wonderful, our guide (Ray) and porter (Rama) were excellent and became friends. A concern for safety was evident from the moment of our orientation with Rajan (president) to our time of the trails with Ray. And Ray was so knowledgeable and willing to share about history, religions, culture and daily life of the people of Nepal. I can't recommend this company enough!
Roops
Annapurna Circuit Trek with Earthbound Expeditions
This was my first time in Nepal so wasn’t sure what to expect and was also the reason for booking my holiday with Earthbound Expeditions. Let me tell you, we weren’t disappointed. We planned to do the Annapurna Circuit trek and everything before during and after the trek was covered by Earthbound from airport transfers to accommodation, we barely had to lift a finger. At our hotel in Kathmandu before the trek commenced, we were briefed by the company’s founder Rajan of our trek which gave us some further detail outside our itinerary and allowed us to ask some more questions about the trek. This further put our mind at ease. During the trek our guide Raj and our porter Manraj did everything to accommodate our needs and like I said earlier as all stages of the trek we barely had to lift a finger. For example, up in the mountains where it got colder, we asked for extra covers for our bed and they got them straight away no questions asked. At each guest house, they sorted our meals and drinks, gave us the WiFi code when we needed it and provided us with information about the local area if we had time to explore. They even gave us very helpful advice on what we should and shouldn’t eat or drink to ensure we didn’t suffer any additional symptoms from the high altitude. Our trip went very smoothly due to the services provided by Earthbound Expeditions
Lisa M
Annapurna circuit
I had a very good experience with earthbound everything was well organized and went very smoothly I didn’t have to worry about a thing! We stayed in nice tea houses and my guide Devendra knew the trail very well and I felt well looked after on the trip. I would use this company again for my next trek. They were also very flexible with me changing a few things with the itinerary etc like staying in Pokhara longer.
kalentholm
Annapurna circuit
Couldn’t have asked for a better organization to trek with. Earthbound provided us with very helpful and supportive porters. A guide, with a very impressive knowledge of the region including Kathmandu UNESCO World Heritage sites. He was also very supportive, caring too everyone’s needs.... added bonus, highly entertaining. Thank you so much again Earthbound for supplying us with such an incredible team. I leave Nepal with such an incredible memory to cherish a lifetime.... priceless ????????
Helen
Annapurna Circuit Trek
The Annapurna Circuit Trek was an amazing and unforgettable experience. Our guide, Ray and our four Porters were caring, patient, hard-working and so helpful throughout the duration of the trip. Any questions or queries that we had, were always answered with a smile. It was much a spiritual journey as it was a physical and mental journey, for each of our group members. We are forever grateful to the staff at Earthbound Expeditions, for their commitment and dedication in creating such a beautiful experience for us. Thank you and Namaste