10-12 days trek on Annapurna

Hi everyone,
I would love to hike the Annapurna Circuit or the base camp but I'll have only 17 days in Nepal and I understood from my findings that these treks demand more days.
Could you suggest me any itinerary for 10-12 days on the Annapurna?
Do you think such a trek is doable independently (two girls) or is it definetely recommended to hire a guide (and a porter)?
Thanks a lot in advance! ;-)

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...

Not to mention the iconic trail from Ghorepani to Phedi via Ghandruk, Landruk, et al. The Real tail end of AC (before roads).

i trekked it before the roads in 1983, i started walking from Lakeside towards Sarangkot and the trail went from Pokhara to Kande, Birethanti, Ulleri to Ghorepani.
There was an easier and slightly shorter alternative from Tatopani to Beni, Kusma and then reaching the Butwal Polhara road where there were busses. I did that on my way back.

In 1984 we walked AC - ABC - Landruk - Tolka - Dhampus - Suikhet - Tibetan camp - Sarangkot - Lakeside, and in 1986 the same, except that there were jeeps at Suikhet driving along the riverbed taking trekkers to Pokhara. A total of 21 trekkers, porters, guide and all gear in one Jeep... After that the road started to reach further and further west.

Back in 1928 we had to walk to Manang from the Indian Ocean. All 27 of us, only one donkey and no sneakers. No trails, we had to swim over the rivers, fight wolves at nighttime and mostly eat bark. Of course, it was colder back then…

Monty Python - Four Yorkshiremen

That must have been really tough, considering that the whole country was sealed off to foreigners, too!

Back in 1928 we had to walk to Manang from the Indian Ocean. All 27 of us, only one donkey and no sneakers. No trails, we had to swim over the rivers, fight wolves at nighttime and mostly eat bark. Of course, it was colder back then…

Monty Python - Four Yorkshiremen

But you try and tell that to the old trekkers and they won't believe you!

Hi Sigabi. 10-12 days is tight on the AC, and it does cut off the subtropical parts of the trail. However it is still doable with safe acclimatization and some buffer days for travel interruption. I still found the shortened trek I did as one of my most wonderful travel experiences and plan to return and spend more time in the mountains of Nepal. Below is our itinerary for 12 days of travel and trekking within the 16 days we were in Nepal. Nothing was pre-booked and we traveled without a guide or porter, but with the NATT book, map, common sense and respect for the people and the environment. If you can spend an extra day walking to Jomson from Muktinath then that would expose you to a different style of life to that on the Manang side of the pass. Enjoy you time in Nepal!

1 Drive Kathmandu drive to Besi Sahar (820m) Via Dumre
2 Drive Besi Sahar To Chame (2670m)
3 Trek Chame to Upper Pisang (3310m) 16km, 780m
4 Trek Upper Pisang to Ngawal (3680m) 12km, 480m
5 Trek Ngawal to Manang (3540m) -140m
6 Trek Manang to Leddar (4200m) 9km, 660m
7 Trek Leddar to Thorung Phedi 8km/Base Camp (4450m) 250m
8 Rest day/Acclimitization at Thorung Phedi 4450m
9 Trek Thorung Phedi to Muktinath (3800m) Over the Thorung La Pass (5416m) 13km, 1000m up, 1620m down
10 Bus Muktinath to Jomsom, then bus to Tatopani
11 Drive Tatopani to Pokhara (850m) 6hrs, then flight Kathmandu (1350m)
12 KTM Return gear and recovery massage at Seeing Hands

Belated thanks for all precious info :-)

You could get out to Phedi (translates as Lower) by Dhampus from Pokhara, and go Pothana/Tolka/Ghandruk/Meshar/ Bayeli/Khopra ridge/Chitre or Paudwer/overnight in Tatopani(translates as 'cold beer in hot spring'), then public transport back toPokhara in the morning. This will give some stunning vistas, walk through high meadow and large tracts of Rhodedendron forest too. Important!y, it gives great preparatory gains in altitude & gets you accustomed to trekking a main (red) Ghangruk loop trail before you cut off onto a minor (blue) trail at Tadapani to stay high and go on. I did this in the reverse order as an alternative end to the AC last Dec, what a gem! So glad I didn't go to Ghorepani again.

Don't go to Ghorepani/Poon Hill, IMHO it's crowded and not what you want as a 1st time experience.

Nepa Maps NA504, can be found anywhere, has major/minor trails.

Watch your weights. Killer day would probably be Landruk - Ghandruk, the bridge between them is way down in the valley below. I usually take 1 hiking pole but you might like 2, none is not advisable.

Don't walk straight up or down the centre of ascents/descents, instead look for where you can utilise the whole width of the trail/staircase with a zig zag to lessen the incline and save your knees.

@igreilly thanks a lot!
Do you mean that the route you above suggested is OK in terms of recommended daily ascend (500 m/day)?
I actually never used hiking poles, might be an interesting idea to try :-)
Thx

The map shows the altitudes of each village, you can do the math on the hoof. Up to Khopra Ridge there should always be somewhere to stay that accommodates the altitude gain guidelines.

Don't start at Tatopani, the daily ascents aren't favourable and as a newbie you may find this minor trail ascent difficult to follow. Starting at the other end will give experience of a main trail and how the painted trail marks pan out before you leave the main trail at Tadapani to follow a blue trail to Isharu/Bayeli etc

Maybe even start a little further out of Pokhara at Kande and go through the Australian Camp (still a red, main trail on the Ghandruk loop), a day shorter? Remember to leave the Ghandruk loop at Tadapani.

You could get a pair of hiking poles very cheaply in Pokhara, probably Chinese knock-offs but ok for a short trip. Test before buying, put some weight on a stretched out pole to test the locking mechanism.

Get early starts. Ask questions. Take directions from children with a pinch of salt.

Thx. I dont mind ascending steeply as I am well trained. My only concern is not too high altitude ascent/day.
I would very much like to avoid the crowds and be in nature with sceninc views.
Do you still recommend the trail you mentioned?
Thx a lot.

Ghandruk loop is a main trail, it is popular. The blue trails (Tadapani- Khopra are quieter, the yellow trails (Khopra- Tatopani) even quieter.

Maybe start at Nayapul for blue trail Mohare Danda/Khopra, then drop out at Tatopani?

As i already adviced, the best way is to go through the Banskharka/Nangi/Mohare Danda trail to Khopra. After Mohare Danda, you have 2 choices, the more direct way through Swanta or by the ridge top Poon Hill Ghorepani Dobato Bayeli.

Generally speaking, W is right. If that short section of lesser, yellow path from Banskharka at the beginning is easy to follow, then it soon becomes a blue trail and will still be less popular. Poon Hill (is there a burger van up there yet?) and Ghorepani may be disapointing if you don't like crowds.

I think that the views of Dhaulagiri are better from Khopra Ridge.

I don't mind walking bits of the main (red) trail around Ghandruk, just to see the views of Machhepuchhre etc from there.

From Khopra Ridge you can even see the tourist observation tower on Poon Hill, below you in the distance.

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