Trek the Annapurna Sanctuary Route & Go on Safari

The Annapurna Sanctuary Route is the ideal trek for those who are keen to experience the Himalayas but aren’t quite ready for the longer, higher-altitude treks such as Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit. Ideally, you should have some experience of trekking but the trip is designed with plenty of time factored in to rest and enjoy the incredible views. Although the trek is graded as moderate, don't underestimate the effort it takes to complete: there are a lot of stone staircases on this undulating route as well as some longer days and steep steady climbs, so you may want to think twice if you suffer from bad knees.

This is one of the best routes in Nepal for acclimatisation as the ascent rate is well-paced. Still, it is important to note that trekking at altitudes above 3000m/10,000ft is more demanding on the body than walking at low elevations. Your guide will set the pace and as with all altitude treks, the theme is ‘slowly slowly’ to help your body adjust. A good level of fitness and stamina will make the going more enjoyable, so consider factoring in some training beforehand – we advise doing at least a couple of weekends of back-to-back days walking.

The days spent in Chitwan will be leisurely with short activities and walks, plus plenty of time to relax in peaceful surroundings.

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

How much you spend per day will vary according to your choice of meal, but generally people spend between $15-$25 per person per day on meals and hot drinks. Below is an approximate breakdown of some items:

• Dal baht: $4 to $7
• Chow mein: $2 to $4
• Eggs: $2 to $4
• Toast: $1.50 to $3
• Tea/hot chocolate: $1.00 to $3.00
• Chocolate bars: $2 to $4

Teahouses will provide cold water free of charge; however, it will need to be treated to enable you to drink it. Please read the drinking water FAQ for our advice. Other extra costs to be considered are:

• Shower: $2-$4
• WiFi: $2-5
• Electricity: $2-5

It is customary in Nepal to tip guides and porters. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. You can give any tips to your lead guide at the end of your trip. This will then be shared amongst the whole team. For full transparency, the lead guide will distribute the tips to the guides and porters in your presence. It is customary for the guides to receive a higher share than the porters as they are more highly qualified. A good rule of thumb is around $115pp as a tip, although the amount you give is entirely your choice. 

If you would like to give an additional tip to a member of the team who has supported you personally, please do so directly and discretely.

The preferred currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). Whilst ATMs are available in the main cities, please do not rely on them as they are often out of order and most have a maximum withdrawal limit equivalent to about £300.

It's best to bring the bulk of your money with you in cash and exchange it at a bank or at one of the many money changers in Nepal – your guide will help you with this. Most major currencies are accepted, including GBP (Sterling), Euros and US Dollars, however Scottish or Irish currency cannot be changed. Keep your exchange receipts in case you want to change any unused Rupees back into hard currency when you leave Nepal (it is illegal to export Nepalese Rupees, as it is a closed currency).

You will need to carry a fairly large amount of cash while trekking for the meals. We advise that you keep this in a waterproof bag and in your day bag along with your passport.

You can leave any luggage not needed on the trek at your hotel in Kathmandu.

This trip includes one porter for every two trekkers. They will carry up to 20-25kg of kit so your overnight bags and spare clothes will be transported for you (maximum 12kg per person). You will only need to carry a daypack with essentials in (extra layer, snacks, water, suncream, camera etc).

We work with some of the best leaders in the industry, every one of which is government licensed and very experienced. In order to ensure this high standard of performance, the host provides them with top-notch in-house training that covers advanced wilderness first aid, hyperbaric chambers, oxygen system, mountain rescue, incident management and Leave No Trace (LNT) principles to help keep the Himalayas pristine.

When you trek in the mountains there is always the risk of getting altitude sickness, regardless of how old, young or fit you are. We would expect most trekkers to feel some mild symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, sleeplessness, heavy breathing) when over 3000m. Our guides are trained to identify the symptoms and if more serious ones are noted there is a strict procedure regarding extra care or even a rapid descent if needed. As this trip spends very little time at high altitude, it is not one where altitude sickness is a regular occurrence.

Although we schedule departure dates outside of the main monsoon season, weather conditions in any mountain region can be unpredictable and sometimes your host will need to revert to 'Plan B'.

No two trekking seasons are the same, but occasional landslides or heavy snowfall and avalanches have been known to lead to trail closures on this route – particularly in the areas around Machapuchare Base Camp and Annapurna Base Camp. If the trail is closed or deemed unsafe your host will organise an alternative trek of similar difficulty and duration – usually to Mardi Base Camp.

We've sourced some great optional activities for you to do in and around Kathmandu should you wish to explore the area further. Please discuss these directly with your host, who will be able to book them for you.

Cook Like a Local: This short cooking workshop (approximately 3 hours) teaches you how to cook popular Nepali dishes like momos and dal bhat. You'll meet your teacher and accompany them shopping, then head to the kitchen and learn to cook alongside them. Price: pay what you think the workshop is worth!

Shop Local: A 2-3 hour guided exploration of the markets of Kathmandu. Learn about the vendors that line the narrow and crowded alleyways and witness everything you could ever imagine being sold, haggled, or bargained for. It’s a great chance to learn about the melting pot of cultures that exist in Kathmandu. Price: $9-$50 per person, depending on group size.

Master of the Arts: Patan Durbar Square is popular for its handicrafts, and this trip will explore the local factories where they are produced. You’ll visit 2-3 factories and learn about the traditional processes they use and see artwork being produced. Price: $14-$59 per person, depending on group size.

Introduction to Shamanism: Shamanism, which is believed to heal many diseases, is not practiced widely these days. However, this trip enables you to meet a practicing Guru and learn all about this age-old tradition. You’ll visit a small house for an introduction, followed by lunch and then a drumming session where you’ll learn the importance of rhythm to healing. Price: $90-$150 per person, depending on group size.

Although most teahouses have the option to buy bottled water, we advise against it to reduce the use of plastic in the mountains (this ends up being burnt or dumped in landfill out of sight). You will instead be provided with cold water that needs treating. There are a wide range of products available these days which are more effective than traditional purification tablets – some trekkers like to use UV handheld devices such as a Steripen but other options are available – just be sure to check the performance in freezing conditions.

We recommend checking out the country specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

For current advice about travelling in Nepal, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages.

Owing to the nature of this trip, it is essential that your personal travel insurance policy provides cover to the maximum altitude visited on this trip (4130m) as well as for emergency medical evacuation by helicopter.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.