Annapurna Circuit trek cost 2026: the complete breakdown

Quick answer: what does it actually cost?

Budget for $700 to $1,100 if you’re trekking with a licensed guide, staying in teahouses, and eating dal bhat. Most trekkers on a 14-16 day circuit spend somewhere in that range. Add a guide with porter service, better accommodation, and the Jomsom flight out, and the number climbs to $1,100-$1,800. Private packages with a dedicated guide and premium lodges run $2,500 to $4,000 or more.

The full cost breakdown is below. Every line item has a real number.

Permits: ACAP and TIMS

Two permits are required before you set foot on the circuit.

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): NPR 3,000, which is approximately $23 for non-SAARC nationals. SAARC nationals pay NPR 1,000.

TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System): NPR 2,000, approximately $15. SAARC rate: NPR 1,000.

Combined, that is NPR 5,000 or roughly $38 for most international trekkers.

Both are cash only. Pick them up at the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu (Bhrikutimandap) or Pokhara (Damside). Do not try to get them on the trail.

Guide and porter costs: mandatory since April 2023

This catches many international trekkers off guard.

Since April 2023, all foreign trekkers in Nepal’s conservation areas must hire a licensed guide through a registered trekking agency. Solo independent trekking is no longer permitted. Checkpoints along the circuit actively enforce this. If you arrive without a guide, you will be turned back.

Day rates in 2026:

• Licensed trekking guide: $25-$40 per day. This covers the guide’s own food, accommodation, and insurance.
• Porter: $15-$25 per day. Standard carry limit is 20-25kg.
• Porter-guide (a single person doing both): $20-$30 per day.

For a 14-day circuit, a guide alone adds $350-$560 to your cost before tips.

Two trekkers hiking together often share one porter between them, splitting the $15-$25 daily rate. On a 14-day circuit, that comes to $105-$175 per person for porterage.

Factor in tips. The standard recommendation is $165 per trekker across the full trip, split between guide and porter based on your own assessment of the service.

Accommodation on the circuit

Teahouse costs follow altitude. The higher you go, the more you pay.

• Below 2,500m: $3-$8 per night
• 2,500-3,500m: $5-$10 per night
• Above 3,500m: $8-$17 per night

One thing to understand about teahouse pricing: in most places along the circuit, the room rate is either free or very cheap when you eat your meals at the same teahouse. The “eat where you sleep” expectation is near-universal. Teahouse owners make their margin on food, not beds.

Accommodation over a 14-16 day trek typically runs $70-$200 total depending on altitude profile and whether you take any nights in proper lodges at lower elevations.

Food costs: the dal bhat strategy

Dal bhat is your budget lever on the Annapurna Circuit.

A set meal of dal bhat (lentil soup, rice, vegetables, sometimes meat) costs $4-$6 at lower elevations and $7-$12 above 3,500m. The key detail: refills are included. Eat as much as you need to fuel the day’s walk. No other meal on the menu offers the same calories per dollar.

The rest of the menu, for reference:

• Noodles or chow mein: $2-$4 low altitude, $4-$8 high
• Eggs (breakfast): $2-$4 low, $3-$6 high
• Toast or porridge: $1.50-$3 low, $2-$5 high
• Tea: $1-$2 low, $1.50-$3 high
• Bottled water: $1-$2 low, $2-$4 high

On water: buy a filter or purification tablets before you start. Paying $2-$4 per bottle above 3,500m adds up over two weeks.

Prices at high altitude are significantly higher than at lower villages. A trekker eating two meals of dal bhat per day at mid-range elevations spends roughly $12-$16 on food. At high camps, budget $20-$25 per day.

Transport: getting there and the Jomsom flight

Getting to the trailhead:

• Kathmandu to Besisahar by bus or microbus: $4-$15
• Kathmandu to Bhulbhule direct: $10-$20
• Jeep from Besisahar to Chame (skips the road walk): $25-$40 per person
• Private vehicle Kathmandu to trailhead: $80-$160

The Jomsom flight: Most trekkers finish the circuit by flying from Jomsom to Pokhara rather than walking back down. The Jomsom-Pokhara domestic flight costs $120-$170 for foreigners. Book early. Seats fill fast in peak season (October-November).

From Pokhara back to Kathmandu, the tourist bus costs $10-$15.

Other on-trail costs: showers, Wi-Fi, charging

These are small per use, but they add up over two weeks.

• Hot shower: $2-$5 per use (charged separately at nearly every teahouse)
• Wi-Fi: $2-$5 per teahouse location
• Phone or device charging: $2-$5 per charge

Budget $5-$10 per day if you shower every day and stay connected. Call it $40-$100 total over the full circuit.

Total cost summary by budget tier

All figures cover a 14-16 day Annapurna Circuit trek, excluding international flights.

• Budget (agency guided, teahouse, local food): $700-$1,100 total | $30-$45 per day on-trail
• Standard guided package: $1,100-$1,800 total | $45-$80 per day on-trail
• Comfort / small group: $1,800-$2,500 total | $80-$120 per day on-trail
• Luxury / private: $2,500-$4,000+ total | $120+ per day on-trail

For a full overview of what Destiny Excursion’s Annapurna Circuit packages include at each tier, see our Annapurna Circuit trek page at /annapurna-circuit-trek/.

How much cash to carry: the ATM warning

The last reliable ATM on the circuit is in Chame. After Chame, there are no ATMs until you reach Jomsom or descend from the circuit entirely.

Trekkers consistently report needing $400-$600 in cash from Chame onward for a typical 14-day route. Withdraw before you leave Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Nepali rupees are the currency. USD is sometimes accepted but at unfavorable rates. Card payments are rare and often unavailable. Do not rely on any payment option other than cash.

FAQ

How much does the Annapurna Circuit trek cost in 2026?

Budget $700-$1,100 for a guided teahouse trek with local food. Standard agency packages with guide and porter run $1,100-$1,800. Comfort packages run $1,800-$2,500. These figures cover 14-16 days on the circuit, excluding your international flights and Nepal visa.

What is the cost per day on the Annapurna Circuit?

On-trail daily spend ranges from $30-$45 at the budget end to $80-$120 for standard guided packages. Food and accommodation alone, without a guide, typically run $15-$30 per day depending on altitude.

Is a guide mandatory for the Annapurna Circuit trek?

Yes. Since April 2023, all foreign trekkers in Nepal’s conservation areas must hire a licensed guide through a registered agency. Checkpoints along the route enforce this.

How much are the permits for the Annapurna Circuit?

Two permits are required: the ACAP at NPR 3,000 (approximately $23) and the TIMS card at NPR 2,000 (approximately $15). Combined cost for most international trekkers: approximately $38. Both are cash only.

Can I do the Annapurna Circuit on a budget?

Yes. The circuit is manageable on $30-$45 per day if you eat dal bhat at most meals, stay in standard teahouses, and share a guide or book through an agency offering group departures.

How much cash should I carry for the Annapurna Circuit?

Carry at least $400-$600 in cash after passing Chame, which has the last reliable ATM on the route.