Annapurna Circuit

Hello,

My husband and I are planning a trip to Nepal to trek the Annapurna Circuit. We are looking for a reliable local Nepal trekking company. My wife and I are young, athletic and in good shape. However, it is our first long trek. My wife is a bit nervous doing such a long trek so I want to make sure that whatever company we use is a very good and reliable company. But we want to avoid using a US company because they charge and arm and leg to do nothing but hook us up with a local trekking company. Please let us know what trekking companies you have used and your experiences with them.

Thanks a bunch!

Annapurna Circuit

Try %26#39;Spirit of the Himalayas%26#39;. They%26#39;ve organised several trips for me, and are very competewnt, and Nepali owned !

Annapurna Circuit

I don%26#39;t think you even need one. Take a Lonely Planet or similar guide book to start things off- hop a bus to the trail and you are off.

With a guide or not, you%26#39;ll stay at the same tea houses along the way. In fact, a guide might be a hinderance to meeting people. Trekkers do clump up and you%26#39;ll have new best friends in no time! IMO, that%26#39;s the best part of a trek.

You can buy all the stuff you%26#39;ll need in Kat, then sell them when you are finished. I would recommend a goose down sleeping bag, however.

Of course, once you are in Kat, there%26#39;s a million tour things to choose from and make your choice or none at all!

or...............another option, hire a private guide. Skip the agency since they take all the real money and poorly pay the staff they send with you. Hire directly so that you know the money goes straight to the Nepali family!

I%26#39;d much prefer to get to know the locals and culture than interact that much with other trekkers, they culture ends up being the highlight of the trip with the scenry second in my book. A guide can help explain things, offer up options and will be most valuable in case of a problem/emergency!!

I have done the western 1/2 of the circuit and envy you being able to complete the round, I hope to do that in the future.

I can give you my guides email if you wnat to consider this option.

So envious of all you folks. I did a 10 day Henja/Ghandrung/Ghorapani/Birethanti/Pokhara trek in Jan 1973 and still have fabulous memories and a lot of super 8. If only the body permitted.....!

We were returned from a fantastic holiday in Nepal in March and we used a company called Himalayan Encounters. They were brilliant, professional, kind and caring.

I think you should take a guide. You are employing someone and that is important in a country where tourism is down 70%. They take care of you and their experience counts for alot!!

I am wanting to go there myself later this year and i think you have raised quite a valid point there well done.

On the circuit a few years ago, I was lambasted by a couple of Nepalese for carrying my own pack!

Part of the reason if a trek is for exercise. If you are fat, guaranteed you%26#39;ll lose weight on the circuit- and eat as much as you want! I suppose I could have carried lead weights and hired a guide to carry my stuff.

One useful use of a guide- if the trail is packed with trekkers, he%26#39;ll scoot ahead and get a good spot at a teahouse for you.

Make sure you turn all the prayer wheels up there, and turn them the right way, too!