Annapurna Circuit Group Join Trek - 12-14 Days

Overview

The Annapurna Circuit Group Join Trek is a 12-day guided trek from Kathmandu that crosses Thorong La Pass (5,416 m / 17,769 ft), where solo travellers, couples and friends join a fixed-date small group led by a licensed Nepal Himalayas Trekking guide. You share the guide, porter and transport costs with other trekkers, so you pay less per person than on a private trek while still getting full ground support, permits and teahouse stays arranged for you.

The group drives from Kathmandu to Chame, walks the high Manang valley, acclimatises in Manang (3,519 m), crosses Thorong La to the pilgrimage town of Muktinath, then descends to Jomsom and Pokhara. Departures run in spring and autumn, and anyone aged 15 or over with good general fitness can join.

Trip facts

How the group join trek works

A group join trek lets you book a single seat on a departure that already has a fixed start date. You don't need to find trekking partners yourself: we match you with other travellers on the same date, and the group shares one licensed guide, porters and the jeep to Chame.

1. Pick a fixed departure date from the calendar on this page.
2. Book your seat with a deposit. Solo bookings are welcome.
3. Meet your group at the pre-trek briefing in Kathmandu, where your guide checks gear and collects passport details for permits.
4. Trek together at a shared pace, with the guide setting rest and acclimatisation stops for the whole group.
5. Finish in Pokhara and return to Kathmandu, or stay on in Pokhara.

Who this trek suits

• Solo travellers who want company and a guide without paying private-trek rates.
• Couples and pairs who enjoy meeting other trekkers in the evenings at teahouses.
• First-time high-altitude trekkers who want an experienced guide watching for altitude sickness.
• Budget-minded trekkers who want permits, transport and lodging handled in one price.

Group join vs private trek

Annapurna Circuit group join trek cost

The group join trek costs from USD [confirm] per person, depending on whether you want meals, a porter and private jeep transport included. Joining a group is usually the cheapest guided way to do the Annapurna Circuit, because guide, porter and transport costs are split across the group.

Your budget beyond the package usually covers travel insurance with helicopter rescue to 6,000 m, Nepal visa, tips for guide and porter, hot showers, Wi-Fi and device charging on the trail, and snacks or drinks. A room-sharing single supplement may apply if no same-gender roommate joins the date [confirm].

12-day Annapurna Circuit group itinerary

The group drives past the road-built lower Marsyangdi valley and starts walking at Chame, so every trekking day is spent in the high, scenic upper circuit. A full rest and acclimatisation day in Manang comes before the climb to Thorong La.

On Thorong La day the group leaves before dawn, usually around 4–5 am, to cross before afternoon winds pick up. Walking times are typical group times and vary with weather and pace.

Departure dates and best season

Group departures run in the two clear-weather seasons, when Thorong La is most reliably open. Bookings are open for 2026, 2027 and 2028 [confirm].

Departure frequency: [confirm, e.g. weekly or daily fixed departures]. A date is guaranteed to run once [confirm number] trekkers have booked.

Permits and 2026 trekking rules

The Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is required for every trekker on the circuit, and it is included in this trip. The ACAP fee is NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals (Majestic Trails Nepal).

Online sources disagree on whether the TIMS card and a licensed guide are mandatory on the Annapurna Circuit in 2026. Because our group always travels with a licensed guide through a registered agency, you meet the strictest version of the rules either way, and we arrange any registration the checkposts ask for. Bring two passport-size photos and a passport copy for permit processing.

How difficult is the Annapurna Circuit group trek?

The trek is moderate to strenuous: no ropes or climbing skills are needed, but you walk 5–7 hours on most days and spend four nights above 3,500 m. The hardest day is the Thorong La crossing, about 8–10 hours with roughly 1,000 m of ascent and 1,600 m of descent.

• Fitness: you should be able to hike 5–6 hours with a daypack on consecutive days. Start cardio and hill walking 6–8 weeks before departure.
• Altitude: the itinerary climbs gradually and includes a rest day in Manang. Your guide checks the group daily for headache, nausea and breathlessness, and anyone with worsening symptoms descends.
• Cold: before-dawn temperatures at Thorong Phedi can fall well below freezing even in the main seasons, so a down jacket and a warm sleeping bag are essential.

Why join the Annapurna Circuit group with Nepal Himalayas Trekking

• Kathmandu-based local operator, so your money goes to Nepali guides, porters, and teahouse families.
• Small groups of up to 2 to 12 trekkers, so the guide can watch each person at altitude.
• Smarter route that skips the dusty road section and adds the high trail through Ngawal.
• Clear pricing with options for meals, porter, and private jeep.
• Solo-friendly departures with room-sharing matched by gender where possible.