Trek the Annapurna Sanctuary Route

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 GBP300.

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 Northern 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 (see 'Not Included' above). 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.

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.

Your host in Nepal can arrange a variety of extra experiences in Kathmandu, should you want to explore further. Please discuss these directly with your host, who will be able to book them for you.

Kathmandu Heritage Tour: Visit four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple). Duration: full day (approx. 08:00–15:00).

Spice Markets & Durbar Square: Explore Asan Market and Thamel, visiting spice and tea markets and learning about the cultural, culinary and medicinal uses of Nepali spices from local vendors. Finish at Kathmandu Durbar Square, home to historic temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Duration: approx. three hours (flexible timing).

Master the Arts: Head to Bhaktapur Durbar Square for a pottery workshop. Learn to spin the wheel and shape clay into simple items such as cups, bowls or vases, and observe traditional drying and firing techniques used by local potters. Duration: half day (approx. 08:00–12:30).

Nepali Cooking Class: Learn to prepare four traditional Nepali dishes with hands-on guidance, then enjoy one of your creations. This experience supports SASANE and their work addressing human trafficking, child marriage and violence against women. Duration: half day (morning or afternoon).

Yes! Lakeside Pokhara, with its laidback vibe, is a popular spot to relax after a trek. Although the tour starts and ends in Kathmandu, your host can arrange extra nights for you in Pokhara after your trek. They will simply shift your included bus transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu and your final night's hotel reservation in Kathmandu to a later date for you, so you'll only need to pay for the additional accommodation in Pokhara.

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.

Whilst there are no domestic flights included in this itinerary, should you choose to add one to your booking as an additional service you should be aware of the following:

Nepal's mountainous terrain and weather make for challenging flying conditions and sadly more incidents (including fatalities) occur here than in other countries. Since 2013 the EU has banned all Nepalese domestic airlines from flying within EU airspace in order to raise awareness of the poor safety record (although no Nepalese airlines were operating routes within the EU prior to the ban). You should be aware that flying in Nepal is an identified risk: please consider this carefully before booking. Additional information can be found on the Aviation Safety Network entry for Nepal as well as the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for Nepal

Domestic airlines in Nepal are generally not accredited by any internationally recognised safety audit systems and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal does not operate to the same standards as those of Western nations.

What does Much Better Adventures do about this?

Much Better Adventures collaborates with other UK travel companies that arrange for independent air-safety auditors to visit Nepal annually to assess the local airlines. Much Better Adventures then only uses the carriers that were approved as part of the most recent audit. If any concerns are subsequently raised about an approved airline between audits, we put them on hold until the auditors are satisfied that safety standards are being met.

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.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip, depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Nepal’s cuisine is shaped by its mountainous geography, agricultural traditions, and strong cultural ties to India and Tibet. Meals are typically hearty and practical, centred around rice, lentils, seasonal vegetables, and preserved foods, with meat used more sparingly in many regions.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, there is a wide range of hotels and restaurants serving high-quality food. However, in the remote trekking regions, limited infrastructure (including a lack of refrigeration) means teahouses tend to offer a similar, simple menu throughout. It is generally advisable to avoid meat in more remote teahouses, as freshness cannot be guaranteed—your guide will advise accordingly. A vegetarian or vegan diet is often the most suitable, whilst a lactose-free diet is also not too restrictive. Gluten-free diets, however, can be accommodated but are more limited and repetitive.

Meals in trekking regions are built around dal bhat (rice, lentil soup, and vegetables), along with variations of potatoes, noodles, soups, breads, rice, pasta, and even pizza—sometimes with egg, vegetables, cheese, or tinned tuna. Desserts may include apple pie, chocolate pudding (often with custard), or cake. Breakfast typically consists of toast, eggs, pancakes, Tibetan bread, porridge, or muesli.

Fresh fruit is rarely available, and fresh vegetables become scarcer at higher altitudes. While carbohydrates are plentiful, meals can lack variety and certain nutrients, so bringing snacks such as nuts or dried fruit is recommended.

Some dietary requirements and allergies may not be well understood in remote areas. Your guide will help communicate your needs, but flexibility and preparation are essential when trekking in these regions.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian Vegetarian diets can be well catered for on this trip, provided your host is informed in advance. There are plenty of options available both in cities and along trekking routes. Common dishes include dal bhat, vegetable momos (dumplings), vegetable noodle soup, and fried rice or noodles with vegetables and/or egg. Potatoes, Tibetan bread, pasta, and pizza are also widely available.

Vegan Vegan diets can be well catered for on this trip, provided your host is informed in advance. Porridge is a common breakfast and can be made with water on request, though it is often prepared with milk powder by default. Dal bhat is the main staple, though some versions may include ghee - so do check. Momos may contain egg in the dough. While carbohydrates are easy to find, sources of vegan protein are limited, so bringing snacks is recommended.

Kosher Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are not available in remote teahouses, so a Kosher diet cannot be accommodated on this trip. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal Certified Halal meat is not available in remote teahouses, although it can be found in Kathmandu and other major cities. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below) Gluten-free diets are difficult to accommodate in trekking regions of Nepal. Please inform your host in advance, but be aware that options are limited and often repetitive. Many staple foods—such as Tibetan bread, noodles, pasta, pancakes, and muesli—contain gluten, making breakfast particularly restrictive. You may often rely on eggs as an alternative. Additionally, powdered soups, seasonings, and soy sauce frequently contain gluten, and cross-contamination is a significant risk in teahouse kitchens. Naturally gluten-free options do exist, including dal bhat, potatoes, eggs, plain rice, and simple soups. However, flexibility and preparation are essential, and your guide will assist in communicating your needs.

Lactose Free Lactose-free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Many dishes are naturally lactose-free, but you will need to specify at each meal that you require food without milk, milk powder, ghee, butter, or cheese. Porridge and muesli can be prepared with water on request. As sources of healthy fats may be limited, bringing supplementary snacks is recommended. Flexibility remains important in remote areas, and your guide will help communicate your requirements.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that provision for certain mild and severe or life threatening food allergies on this trip may be unreliable. Please get in touch with our Customer Experience team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip.

This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

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Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

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

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 as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

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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. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

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

The main trekking season in Nepal is from September to May (before or after the monsoon). The trekking season can be split into three seasons:

Winter (Dec-Feb): Despite being seen as ‘off-season’ this is often the best time to trek in Nepal. The nights can be very cold (down to at least -10ºC/14F) at Annapurna Base Camp but the trails are quieter and the mountain views are often at their best due to the crisp dry air and clear sunny skies.

Pre-Monsoon/Spring (Mar-May): Spring (particularly April and May) is the mildest time to trek in Nepal and magnificent rhododendron forests bloom along the Annapurna Sanctuary route at this time of year. It will be hot in the lowlands (30ºC/86F) but more comfortable as you gain elevation. Rain is not uncommon and snow cover is likely at Base Camp. Night-time temperatures should remain above freezing for the most part but can still drop below zero at Base Camp.

Post-Monsoon/Autumn (Sep-Nov): The rains can sometimes persist into September but in general this time of year is characterised by sunny, relatively mild days and clear skies. It can get cold and windy at higher altitudes and nights can be cold (typically -5ºC/23F) at the high points.

Of course, mountain weather is notoriously hard to predict and snow and extremes of temperature can be expected on any trip so come prepared.