10-12 days trek on Annapurna

The Annapurna Base Camp trek should be doable in this timeframe.

Some people do trek Annapurna Circuit in ca. 12 days, taking jeeps for most parts of the circuit on both sides but that means missing the best parts of the trek, leaves no buffer days for unforeseen circumstances and can be outright dangerous if you get altitude sickness. I took 24 days to do the AC and was really glad to do it in such time.

An alternative to consider is just to hike a part of the Annapurna circuit on one side of the pass without crossing it. For example you can go by road or fly to Jomsom, do a very nice trek in the Jomsom-Kagbeni-Muktinath area and then head down the Kali Gandaki valley as long as you have time. Most trekkers overlook this part of the trek, as there is a road there but you can skip the road and use NATT trails. Get a copy of NATT trail guidebook by Andrees de Ruiter and Prem Rai, it's really very helpful for planning and during the trek.

I agree that a 12 day trek on (only part of) the Annapurna Circuit means you have no buffer days for illness and/or weather, so I to would not recommend it.

Poon Hill to ABC to Siwai or Phedi is a good 12day trek.

There is also Mohare Dande & Kopra.

Regarding question of guide and porter: have you carried a backpack for multiple days in the mountains before? Uphill? If not, a porter and guide or porter-guide would make it much easier. The AC and Poon Hill/ABC treks don't REALLY need a guide - - the trails are very clear, and lodges easy to deal with - - but a good guide can make it easier and nicer. It's really whether you need/want help witb carrying your pack for 10-12 days.

Under the circumstances you describe I would actually do something not so usual and discard both AC (too little time to do it properly) and ABC (too crowded and not much of a cultural experience). Take Landfall's advice and go for Ghorepani - Kopra Ridge (Kopra Dhanda). Something different, splendid views. 7-8 days Pokhara-Pokhra, minimum of 9 days KTM-KTM. Mohare Danda is longer, about 10 days, and stays lower in the local villages. For these bit more off the beaten path treks I would take at least a porter-guide familiar with the route.

Also look at Langtang - Gosainkunda, possibly with Helambu as well. This will give you a very varied trek, great views and a strong sense of being in the mountains.

ABC possible from 7 days, very touristy
Mardi Himal BC possible from 5 days
Mohare Danda possible from 5 days, with the addition of Khopra possible from 8 days

And indeed Langtang possible from 5 days, but 2 full days in Kianjin recommended so 7 days. 9 days if you add a detour to Gosainkund.

Hi Sigabi,

I did the AC in 9 days from Kathmandu to Pokhara (walking from Besisahar to Muktinath) but I did miss some nice side treks. This timeframe is really aggressive in the first days (therefore porter is highly recommended if not mandatory) and it also doesn't give you any buffer in case of altitude sickness. You can find the full details here: http://pia.cantstaystill.net/annapurna-circuit-kathmandu-pokhara-9-days/

Regarding whether it is doable or not, it depends on your level of fitness, how good you are with a map and following the marked paths and for how long you can carry your own backpack. I am a female solo traveler and I did the trek with a porter-guide without any incident.

Happy travels!
Pia
cantstaystill.net

Regarding whether it is doable or not, it depends on your level of fitness, how good you are with a map and following the marked paths and for how long you can carry your own backpack.

... and how well you acclimatize to altitude.

Very long days at beginning; essentially double days (doing 2x distance) for first 3 trekking days. Certainly not for everyone (definitely not for me!). Been 4x over Thorung La and prefer to take time to enjoy.

To be a little picky: 9 days for the Circuit? Walking Besisahar-to-Muktinath is only half the Annapurna Circuit

Well if you're already acclimatized it is possible to trek the entire Annapurna Cicuit from Bhulbhule to Nayapul in 12 days. But if you're not acclimatized, you need to add some days, at least 2 days.

By cutting AC short and taking a jeep from Muktinath you'd skip the best parts of the trek in my opinion - Kagbeni, Marpha and Tukuche, the best villages (or even little towns) on the trek, interesting circular day hike through Mustang villages around Muktinath, amazing views of both Annapurna and Dhaulagiri from near Kalopani, plenty of interesting side paths allowing you to skip the road and - as a final surprise - nice traditional village of Dana, already in subtropical zone, 2 hrs before Tatopani. I actually enjoyed those places much more than crossing Thorung La...