Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty

How challenging is the Annapurna Circuit? This is a very common question among the first time trekkers who are intrested in trekking in the Annapurna region.

The Annapurna Region is one of the ideal destinations for trekking and mountaineering purposes, located in western Nepal. It has a huge number of visitors every year, making it a busy region of the country.

Among the several beautiful trekking trails in the region, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is most popular globally. It encompasses three districts: Lamjung, Manang, and Mustang.

The trek typically begins in Lamjung, passes through Manang, and concludes in Mustang. If you are considering trekking, it is important to understand the difficulty of the Annapurna Circuit before planning your adventure.

During this trek, you will explore the Annapurna Massif area. You will encounter many beautiful waterfalls, rivers, lakes, villages, and peaks that are sure to capture your attention, encouraging frequent photo stops along the way.

Besides, you’ll also get the chance to encounter the wildlife, such as the snow leopard, blue sheep, grey langur, etc., as the entire trail is part of the Annapurna Conservation Area, and learn about the culture and traditions of the locals: Gurung and Manange with Tibetan Buddhist influence along the route. But since it’s the journey at high altitudes, you’ll have a high chance of facing difficulties during the trek.

In this blog, we discuss about its difficulty level and the aspects that make this trek demanding, such as duration, the highest elevation, trail conditions, and weather, in detail. These are the general factors regarding the trekking destination that you’re heading to, and you must be clear about them.

Annapurna Circuit Trek Difficulty

The Annapurna Circuit Trek is considered moderate to challenging in difficulty. You will experience both ease and difficulty during the trek. Some parts of the trail are easy to hike, whereas some are risky.

The trek generally takes 9-12 days (starting from Kathmandu and ending in Pokhara) to complete for those who are experienced. For first-timers or beginners, it may take a bit more time to finish.

It doesn’t matter whether the trip is easy or hard. You should always be fully prepared both physically and mentally. Nevertheless, the trek is already challenging, although it’s moderate, so I reckon you should be very focused on your preparation.

Aspects That Determine The Annapurna Circuit Difficulty

Several aspects determine the difficulty of the Annapurna Circuit Trek that you should know in order to make your journey successful. Yes, it is true, we cannot stop all the obstacles that are ahead along the trail waiting for us. However, at least we can prepare ourselves and stay alert by learning about them before we begin our journey.

Often, we get so excited about the beauty we will soon experience that we overlook potential challenges along the journey. In this section, I have outlined the factors that affect the difficulty of the Annapurna Round Trek.

After learning about these aspects, you will be alert about what makes this adventure really challenging, and it can help you prepare for the trek accordingly. These affecting factors are listed below:

Duration

As we discussed already, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is generally a 9-12 day-long trip. However, it varies depending on how experienced you are and from where you start your journey.

Most trekkers begin from Jagat in Lamjung. And if you start your trip from this place, it will take you 9 days to complete.

But the thing is, walking 6 to 7 hours daily for 9 days with a heavy backpack on your shoulders will definitely make you exhausted if you’re a beginner or trekking for the first time. That is where you may feel this adventure challenging. You may even extend this trek upto 22 days which may contribute in the difficulty even more

Altitudes

The highest and main point of the trek is Thorong La (Pass), which is located at 5,416 m (17,769.03 ft) above sea level. It is also labelled as the highest trekking pass in the world.

Even for experienced hikers, it can be challenging sometimes. You know, the more you gain height, the harder it’ll be to breathe. This is because at high elevations, the oxygen level and air pressure are low.

In such circumstances, the risk of altitude sickness is high, especially if you are from sea level and a first-timer. Most trekkers have also lost their lives during this trek. If you’re unaware of altitude sickness so far, just don’t worry, you’ll be made clear about it with its symptoms and preventive methods in the section below.

Route

Regarding the trekking route, at some points, there are tough areas where you will ascend steep sections and pass through a landslide danger zone. You’ll face the steep section most probably on your fourth day on the way to Ngawal from Upper Pisang.

In between these villages, there’s a village called Ghyaru, where most trekkers stop for lunch. To reach there, you will need to ascend the steep hill for around two hours, depending on your pace.

And you’ll come to pass the landslide area on the second-to-last day, while hiking from Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi. Even though the area isn’t that long to cross through, while walking, stones might fall straight to your head from above sometimes and injure you.

It just takes roughly half an hour to pass the landslide danger zone. However, an unfortunate scenario may occur at any time without alarming us. Thus, you’ll need to exercise caution while crossing this part to reach Thorong Phedi.

In Manang, there’s also a stunning lake, Tilicho, which is considered the world’s highest lake at 4,919 m (16,138 ft). In fact, the lake isn’t exactly part of this trek. However, most trekkers also prefer to visit the lake during this adventure.

You can also visit Tilicho and witness its beauty. If you visit this lake, it’ll take you an extra day, and the way to the lake is the most dangerous section throughout the trek. You’ll need to hike through the landslide zone here as well for approximately three hours at an average pace.

Weather

When it comes to trekking, the weather always plays a crucial role. The lower section of the Annapurna Round Trek faces rainfall, whereas the upper section is the rain-shadow area.

The upper section of this adventure begins from 3,000 m (9,842.52 ft), and here, you won’t experience heavy rainfall but freezing temperatures in the morning and at night. Snowfall is very common here when it’s raining in the lower section, and the average temperature at night normally falls to –10 °C.

–10 °C is no joke. You may get sick in no time, due to a cold, if you don’t act carefully by putting on a proper layer of clothes to keep yourself warm. That’s why the weather is also among the aspects that affect the Annapurna Circuit Trek difficulty.

Now, you might be curious, thinking when you can go on this adventure. The best time to trek the Annapurna Circuit is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

During spring and autumn, the weather usually remains stable. These two seasons allow you to enjoy the breathtaking views of the peaks in the Annapurna Range, such as Annapurna I (8,091 m/26,545 ft), Annapurna II (7,937 m/26,040 ft), Gangapurna (7,455 m/24,459 ft), Pisang Peak (6,091 m/19,984 ft), etc., to the fullest.

You may also go on this trek during the off-seasons: winter (December to January) and monsoon (June to August). Some trekkers used to do so. If you want to do the trek during the off-season, then I suggest you do it only in December.

After this month, the snow starts to fall, and you’ll have a very small chance of enjoying the views. Additionally, the freezing temperature will take you to the limit.

During the monsoon, it’s not recommended. Although the upper section is the rain-shadow area, as I stated earlier, remember you’ll go through the lower section.

There, the rainfall is common. You’ll face landslides and floods, and surely become the victim of a leech bite while hiking. Furthermore, most hotels and tea houses also stay closed during the off-season, making your adventure challenging.

However, the weather is not guaranteed. Even during spring and autumn, it can bring you trouble at any time.

So, it’ll be so much better if you stay tuned to the weather forecast while you’re planning this trek and even during the journey daily. Just keep monitoring the forecast until you come close to the end of the trek.

Itinerary of The Annapurna Circuit Trek

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,324 m/4,344 ft) and transfer to the hotel

Day 2: Drive from Kathmandu to Jagat (1,300 m/4,265 ft)

Day 3: Hike from Jagat to Dharapani (1,860 m/6,100 ft)

Day 4: Hike from Dharapani to Chame (2,650 m/8,690 ft)

Day 5: Hike from Chame to Upper Pisang (3,310 m/10,860 ft)

Day 6: Hike from Upper Pisang to Ngawal (3650 m/11,975 ft)

Day 7:  Hike from Ngawal to Manang (3,519 m/11,545 ft)

Day 8: Acclimatisation Day

Day 9: Hike from Manang to Yak Kharka (4020 m/13,189 ft)

Day 10: Hike from Yak Kharka to Thorong High Camp (4,880 m/16,010 ft)

Day 11: Hike from Thorong High Camp to Muktinath (3,762 m/12,343 ft) via Thorong La (5,416 m/17,769 ft)

Day 12: Drive from Muktinath to Pokhara (822 m/2696.85 ft)

Day 13: Return to Kathmandu

Note: This is just our standard itinerary for the Annapurna Circuit Trek. You don’t need to follow exactly the same. We can modify it according to your preferences by adding some days and activities.

Altitude Sickness During The Annapurna Round Trek

You already know the highest elevation that you’ll make it up to during the Annapurna Circuit Trek, which is Thorong La at 5,416 m (17,769.03 ft), and altitude sickness is a condition that usually occurs once you reach above 2,500 m (8,202.1 ft) when your body doesn’t adjust to decreased air pressure. Now, you can imagine how common it is during this trip.

Altitude sickness is also called Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), and you should be able to recognise its symptoms while hiking at high elevations, which are listed below:

• Headache (the most common and early sign)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Tiredness or weakness
• Loss of hunger
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia or frequent waking)
• Shortness of breath with exertion
• Swelling of hands, feet, or face (in some cases)

If you find any of these symptoms developing in your body, you shouldn’t ignore them and take immediate action. Otherwise, the consequence can also be death.

In such a condition, what you can do is descend up to 500 m (1,640.42 ft) at least. Spend a night, and if you feel fine the following morning, you may continue your journey again.

If you still feel sick, then you'd better spend another night there, and the next day, if you feel okay and are confident to ascend, then you may do it. But if you still find yourself sick and weak, you must retreat from your adventure and return home. It’s better to fall back and give yourself another chance sooner rather than die on the spot.

Altitude Sickness Prevention Tips During The Annapurna Circuit Trek

Check out the best altitude sickness prevention tips for hikers during the Annapurna Circuit Trek below:

• Ascend gradually. Don’t hurry to reach the destination of your overnight stay.
• Consider taking frequent breaks for at least 7 to 8 minutes while hiking. Doing so allows your body time to adjust to a reduced oxygen environment.
• If you don’t have a habit of doing regular workouts at home or at the gym, start doing exercises, such as stretching, squatting, running, swimming, and cycling, for at least an hour daily, a month before your trekking date.
• Don’t compromise with food. Whether you like it or not, consume as much food that contains carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice, and pasta. These foods are heavy and provide you with high energy for a long time.
• Once you reach 3,000 m, spend an extra day at the same place to acclimatise your body.
• In case you feel low in confidence due to the height of the Annapurna Circuit Trek, you may consult with your doctor and take a medication known as acetazolamide (Diamox) under their prescription.
• You can also eat a piece of garlic every morning before you start your hike, or add garlic soup with timur (Sichuan pepper) powder in your daily meal during the trek, as these are considered to support acclimatisation.