to do annapurna or not?

There is no upper/lower trails. Annapurna Sanctuary trek takes about 8 days, Annapurna Cirquit 18 days.

1) No, there are a lot of them. There is always a place somewhere.
2) Open areas (need no trekking permit & agency at the moment, see below) are Annapurna, Langtang & Helambu and Khumbu (Everest). Annapurna & Khumbu are most loaded with trekkers, but even them are not all that bad compared to some US parks for example. They also have the best facilities for independent trekkers.
3) Just clothes (also warm ones) and a fairly good sleeping bag.
4) Some do, you can recharge batteries at least every other day or so. Still better to take extra ones.
5) This is a large question. If you can carry your own pack you can get by without a porter. For a first timer a guide is nice to have. Guide costs about 15 USD and porter 7-10 USD/day and for that price they are supposed to pay their own food.
6) On these open areas there are no limitations. In about a month a new TRC (Trekking Registration Certificate) system will be in effect, which means that all trekkers must at least register using a trekking agency. We still do no know for sure if this also means that trekking without a guide becomes impossible.

Hi

I did the Circuit in 15 days (with 1 day rest)

1) There are teahouses everywhere so you will always find a place to stay. The people quickest at getting to the teahouses get the best rooms/beds. (It can get quite competitive up there)

2) Yes there are lots of people, but it's not like they are all in 1 place at any one time, except at the teahouses. Trekkers are ususally pretty spread out, so it doesn't detract from the enjoyment or the stunning views. I've done Everest Base Camp, and trekked in Northern India, and the Patagonian and Peruvian Andes. The Annapurna trek - in my opinion - is still one of the most stunning treks ever!!

3) No supplies needed. You are always provided with a blanket (even if it can be quite smelly). I took a 3 season sleeping bag with me and I used it underneath the blanket they provided at the teahouse.

4) I can't remember any plugs, but I didn't need them. I believe a few of the bigger villages have electricity and plugs in the larger hostels.

5) No guide/porter needed. The trail is practically paved it's so well-trodden!!

6) Yes, you need a permit.

I have few questions, please:

1. Is the bottled water available in the tea houses. I don't want to carry a water filter, which is extra weight.

2. How about lunch. Is it also available in the tea houses OR we need to pack ahead. Are the tea houses located at only a day's trek apart, OR also, inbetween.

3. If doing solo with a trail map, are the trails well marked with signs.

4. Should I do it in September or wait until October 1st?

5. I will be carrying my own sleeping bag. Do I need to carry a camping mattress, too?

6. Also, how often one gets to shower on this Annapurna Circuit Trek?

7. How difficult/easy it is to hookup with other trekkers on this Annapurna Circuit Trek?

8. Annapurna Circuit Trek seems to be one of the spectacular and more popular treks in the whole world. I am looking for daily trek elevation gain, elevation drop and the distance chart. I could not find it anywhere. Elevation gain/drop gives an estimate of the effort involved in the trek. Where can I find this?

Thanks in advance.

In reply to Post #3

1) Yes. But it is not environmentally friendly to keep on buying bottled water. Where do you think they put the plastic bottles after you have finished with them?? Best thing is to use one bottle and use local water, then either use iodine, or chlorine tablets. Or the best option is to get the teahouse to boil up a couple of litres of water and buy a 2L water bladder (available in outdoor stores).

2) food is available the whole way

3) As mentioned before, this trail is practically paved its so well trodden. No map is neccessary (but is informative if you are interested in your surroundings)

4) September is the very beginning of the trekking season and is ALOT quieter than October

5) Camping mattress is not neccessary as there is always a bed available.

6) Not often. I can't remember many shower facilities (maybe 1 or 2). Most teahouses will give you a few hot buckets (some charge for this)

7) Very easy.

8) Buy the Trekking in the Nepal Himalayas by the Lonely Planet. The entire trek is described in terms of elevation gains/drops, walking hours per day, villages......basically everything you need to know.

Also,

1) ACAP have water filtration stations along the way where you can refill your water bottle as well. Don't buy bottled water as #4 says it's a huge environmental problem now. Boiled water is easy to buy on route. If you do take a filter, use a piece of cotton cloth to pre filter if using the tap water. Mine was bunged solid with rust from the water tanks after a few days.

3) Only time you might have a problem is if there is a fresh heavy snowfall before heading over Thorung La. Unlikely in October, but if it happens be careful.

6) Showers? If you don't mind cold showers then most days, unless you're staying at very basic teahouses. The bucket of warm water is better.

7) Yes, very easy, also advisable before heading over the pass.

8) Also lots & lots of online descriptions of the trek try yeti zone for starters.

Enjoy it's a fantastic trek, and one of the easiest to do independantly.

dodgem and mrs jones: Thanks a bunch for your quick replies. The yeti zone web-site is very helpful.

I was counting on bottled water as I didn't want to get an upset stomach. Boiled water should be fine, I guess. It is comforting to know that food is available all the way, in which case I would just carry some energy bars and dried fruit for emergencies.

1. Looks like, day 10, Thorang Phedi to Muktinath via Thorong La (750m elevation gain/ 1500m elevation loss) seems to be the challenging of all the days. I have seen pictures (on yeti zone) of Thorang La in snow. What should one do in snow conditions (Sep/ Oct); just waitout or walk in snow carefully?

2. If I am taking thermals (top and bottom), should I be taking light weight or medium or heavy weight?

3. Apart from basic first-aid kit what special medications are required for this elevation.

4. Can I wear cotton tshirts or totally avoid cotton and just take Tech Wear only?

(more questions later)

Thanks again,

Wow, two different posters here. #3, it helps to start you own post so the orginal poster doesn't feel hijacked. Melocaro, you received a couple time frames to trek the Annapurna Circuit. You certainly can run around it in 14 or 15 days, but I wonder why you'd want to do that. The area is so beautiful and there are so many side trips that you can do, I'd recommend taking more time. I took 22 days and you could easily take more. It's a real special place so I suggest you take your time and enjoy the Nepali culture along the way unless you're into trail running. You certainly don't need a guide, guide/porter, or porter to show you the way. As others have pointed out, the trail is pretty obvious for the most part. However, a guide or guide/porter can explain the culture, vegetation, mountains, and introduce you to other Nepali's along the way, if you are into that. When I did this trek in 2004, our guide/porter would take us on some interesting side trails that just weren't used by the tourists. It was a wonderful opportunity to get off the main trail and see some areas that most trekkers just didn't see. If you decide you want a guide, please make clear what you expect from them before you hire them. #1 provided some reasonable costs for a guide and porter. You can purchase package deals that will include all your food and lodging costs (except certain expenses like alcohol, perhaps a limit on soft drinks, etc,) or you can pay for your guide on a per day basis. You pay for your own lodging and food (very inexpensive) and they pay for there's.

#3, I prefer to carry a light weight water filter and some chlorine or iodine tabs. It's just not that heavy and it's a lot more environmentally responsible. Buying plastic bottles just contributes to waste piles that others have pointed out. I certainly support # 5's suggestion to use the ACAP water filtration systems. It's a great program and I urge everyone to help support it. In 2004, however, it couldn't meet all your water needs. Boiling water takes a lot of energy. I prefer to conserve it, especially if the teahouse is using wood as a fuel. There's just been too much deforestation in Nepal over the last couple of decades. You can do your part by not asking for boiled water unless you're drinking it as tea on the spot. Water filtering is so easy. I carry an MSR Sweetwater microfilter that weighs 10 ounces ( 285 grams). Get a filter that is field cleanable so your filter will still work (after it's cleaned) if you run into the issues the # 5 described. I never ran into such issues.
# 3, some of your other questions from post 6:

1. It just depends on how much snow you're talking about. You may have to wait it out a day or two or walk carefully in the snow if it's not much and others are doing it. You just have to assess the situation as it comes up.
2. Take layers of clothing so you can add and subtract them as conditions change.
3. Some people use Diamox. See this link. Also, take something for headaches. A decongestant is also recommended if you get a head cold. A general purpose antibiotic is helpful if you get a sinus or other infection.
4. I take a cotton tshirt or two for lower elevations. At higher elevations or if the weather turns cold or wet, cotton will just chill you. Have something else for these conditions.

I walked the entire circuit and into the sanctuary in late march/early April this year - and except at a few of the higher altitude lodges (eg. in the Sanctuary and thorung phedi & high camp) and I had a warm-to-hot shower almost every day. Most lodges had solar showers and were not charging any extra for their guests.

Thanks for your replies.

I feel relieved to know that I don't have to worry about accomodations and that I don't have to bring cooking supplies. I was looking at my book where I got the information and I know why I was confused. My book separated the circuit into the Northern and Southern part, but I thought that they were two separate treks. So now I'm also wondering about the Sanctuary trek. Has anyone been there? Or does anyone kow of a great web site that describes it. What are the main differences between the two treks?

I'm in Nepal for 5 weeks and definately want to have some time to visit Katmandu and the neighbouring three towns as well.

Thanks again.