Nepal is one of the most famed hiking destinations in the world, and Nepal’s Annapurna region is the most accessible of them. If you’re looking for a short trek in Nepal or if you have questions about trekking in Nepal’s Annapurna region, I’ve got you covered. In this short guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned trekking on multiple of Nepal’s best treks for beginners.
Nepal teahouse trekking: What to expect
There are countless teahouse treks in Nepal – it’s just their thing. We did Poon Hill, ABC trek, and Mardi Himal in March 2025 and had a fabulous time. The accommodation for all treks in the Annapurna region is in teahouses. These are very basic, especially as you get higher in altitude, but they have everything you need as a hungry and tired trekker. There are private and dormitory-style rooms, and we didn’t need sleeping bags for our treks as they provided bedding. Sometimes we used three duvets to keep warm.
Most of the teahouses have solar-powered (free) or gas (paid) showers and even WiFi and electricity. You can buy snacks and sugary drinks (Monsoon Dew, anyone?), and you can have lunch in the restaurants and teahouses along the way. As you get higher in altitude, I’ve noticed less and less running water because it would freeze overnight. Any shower may be your last before you descend 🙂
Trekking in Nepal’s Annapurna Region: How to prepare
You’ll likely spend at least one day in Pokhara before your trek to get rid of your jet lag or relax after a long bus ride from Kathmandu. Pokhara is Nepal’s tourism capital and the largest city by area and second most populated after Kathmandu. The Lakeside area is popular among tourists and has everything you need to prepare for your trek.
The main street has an abundance of outdoor shops that sell (counterfeit) outdoor gear. I bought hiking sticks there for my hike, and the quality really surprised me. You could definitely arrive in Pokhara without a single item and go trekking the next day. So unless you want to climb Mount Everest and need the perfect setup, I say you could get almost anything in Pokhara.
Trekking permits in Nepal: How to get an Annapurna permit
Understanding Nepal trekking permits may seem complicated at first, but let me assure you that getting an Annapurna trekking permit is really easy. All you need to get one is:
- Passport
- Two passport-sized pictures
- 3000 rupees
If you don’t have pictures, there are some little booths where you can have your picture taken for a small fee.
You’ll need an ACAP permit for Annapurna trekking. The ACAP permit office is located within walking distance of Lakeside, and it was fun to see a more local part of town. The office is very small, and I imagine it can be crowded in the high season. But the ladies there have it all under control.
You start by filling out a form with all your information and tick your intended trek(s). There are sections to fill in your guide’s information, but we simply didn’t fill that out and didn’t have any problems. You then hand your passport and form over to the ladies. As a third step, you pay and wait again until your permit is ready.
There was a checkpoint at Nayapul before you enter the Conservation Area, so I think it would be difficult to be sneaky and try it without an Annapurna Conservation Area permit.
The Annapurna permit cost is the same no matter if you go trekking for two or twenty days. Also, you can only enter the area once, meaning you can’t tick all the hikes you want to do, complete one hike, go back to Pokhara for pizza and go hiking again after a few days. If you combine multiple treks, there’s some leeway if you re-enter right away or the same day.
You don’t need a TIMS card for the Annapurna region. If you need a restricted area permit, such as for Manaslu trek or Mustang valley, different rules apply.
Trekking in Nepal without a guide: Is it allowed?
This might be the most confusing and controversial question. In 2023, Nepal’s government announced that trekking without a guide is no longer allowed. I’m not in a position to claim that this rule is bogus and that no-one enforces it. But in my experience, it’s perfectly fine to trek in the Annapurna region without a guide. I appreciate that it creates work for the people of the region, but personally, I like the freedom of going at my own pace, choosing my own breaks and teahouse, and enjoy some quiet in the forest without talking. Being without a guide was not frowned upon and we were definitely not the only ones without one.
If safety is a concern, it definitely felt safe to hike in Nepal. Trekking without a guide on the easier treks that I did felt super safe. We often passed people along the way and the treks are so well maintained that it would be virtually impossible to get lost.
Annapurna trek packing list: My tried and tested gear
You don’t need any special equipment for the Poon Hill trek in Nepal. If you plan to go higher, such as to Annapurna Base Camp or Mardi Himal, you may want some warmer clothes and additional items. Your Annapurna trekking will be much smoother with this packing list:
- Hiking outfit (shorts, shirt, trail running shoes for grip, good hiking socks)
- Teahouse outfit (long pants, fleece and/or puffy jacket, hat, and gloves to keep warm)
- Hiking sticks to support your knees
- Crampons (yes, there will be snow)
- Sunglasses, suncream, hat
- Water filter, snacks
- Toiletries, medication
- Backpack rain protection (I use a big garbage bag as a liner)
- Headlamp for sunrise hikes
- Power bank
If you’re a cold sleeper, you could consider bringing a hot water bottle or a Nalgene.
Digital nomad essentials for life on the road
If you book via any of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Flights
I normally book my flights via Skyscanner or Kiwi. These search engines for flights show all the best connections and even include budget airlines for transfer hacks that can save you even more money.
Hotels
I normally use a good mixture of booking.com and Agoda to get the best deals. I like booking for its user-friendly interface. But for Asia, I’ve found that Agoda has a wider selection of hotels.
If you’re on a budget, Hostelworld will be your best bet because they focus on dormitory-style accommodation.
Tours
GetYourGuide is perfect for locally guided tours or if tickets are already booked. I saw the famous Last Supper painting by Leonardo Da Vinci with them in Milan and had a very smooth experience.
Klook is a great option to book bus tickets in South Korea. This can be such a hassle, especially if you want to book before you actually get to the country. Klook allows you to book a bus ticket online for pickup at the station. You can also reserve SIM card packages with them an arrange airport pickup, with is super convenient because it’s already paid for.
[…] items and decide if you want to use a guide and porter. I’ve written a helpful guide for trekking in Nepal’s Annapurna region that tells you all the […]