Difficulties of Annapurna Circuit Trek

19th August 2019

Annapurna Circuit Trek is the easiest of the longest mountain hikes in Nepal. However, the necessities of crossing high pass demands pre-fitness and strong determination. Annapurna Circuit Trek makes a loop of entire 55km long Annapurna massif through diverse landscapes, remote villages, paddy fields, sub-tropical forest, hills, waterfalls and lofty mountains. Starting from around 1,000m, you will walk through varied geography, terrain and climatic zone to Thorong La Pass at 5,416m. Many trekkers come with the aim of conquering the Annapurna massif spending several weeks risking their lives. Many trekkers succeed whereas few find the trek tedious and challenging. So how difficult is Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Here’s quick overview on what makes the Annapurna Circuit Trek difficult:

Below are the list of factors that makes Annapurna Circuit quite a challenging trek:

Length of the Trek:

The total length of Annapurna Circuit route may vary anywhere between 160km – 230 km, depending on the starting point and ending point of the trek. On average more than 15 days is required to complete the Annapurna Circuit Trek. It can sound long and tedious for novice to complete. It is therefore very important to get well prepared both physically and mentally for numbers of days one must walk to complete a circular trail of Annapurna.

Increasing Altitude:

The most underestimated part of Annapurna Circuit Trek is undeniably its altitude. Starting from 1000m, you will increasingly gain the altitude and reach max 5,416m at Thorong La Pass. Talking about the altitude, you will gain 600 – 1,000m altitude per day and the level of oxygen decreases gradually. Make sure to schedule some acclimatization days in between the trekking days. The increasing altitude and depleting oxygen level can invite the threat of Acute Mountain Sickness which cannot be ignored. In order to stay away from altitude sickness, it is very important walk on a gradual pace, use as many days as possible to conquer Thorong La Pass, have at least 2 – 3 acclimatization days to adjust the elevation and drink plenty of water.

Training and Experience

Despite being one of the most accessible treks in Nepal, Annapurna Round trek demands some physical and mental preparation prior the trek. Annapurna’s terrain is rigorous and the trail is full of ups and down and some trail are knee crunching steep. So to it is wise to prepare our body and mind to undertake the challenge. Trekking to Annapurna circuit is easily achievable by the individuals who are physically fit. It is good to start training as early as possible before the schedule of the trek. Hit the gym and engage in cardio-vascular exercise to build-up the strength, fitness and stamina. Swimming, running, cycling, brisk walking and weight resistant exercise are some good training for your body. If possible, carry a light back-pack and hike for 3 – 4 hours a day. No prior experience is required for Annapurna Circuit Trek. However, if you have, it would be a great asset.

Diet and Food Poisoning

These are some cases where the trekkers are transferred back to Kathmandu due to food poisoning or lack to diet. It is very important to know what should be eaten and what should be avoided during the trek.

Things to Eat during the trek:

✔ Daal Bhaat Tarkari (staple Nepali Food)
✔ Fruit and Green Salad
✔ Plenty of Water
✔ Soup
✔ Energy Drinks and Chocolate Bars
✔ Bread with Egg

Things to Avoid During The trek

✘ Oily Food
✘ Meat
✘ Reserved Foods
✘ Alcohol
✘ Cigarettes

The best thing to eat during the trek is locally produced organic food. These foods are healthy enough to keep your body ill-free.

Unpredictable Weather

Even a good weather analyzer cannot predict the weather of mountains. You may start with a fog in the morning, have to face heat of sun during the day and end-up with rain in the evening. Usually, the nights are cooler than the daytime in the Annapurna region. So we suggest you to pack four season gear for the trek. The months of spring (March – June) and autumn (September – November) are known for the stable weather with clearer views.

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