Trek the Annapurna Sanctuary Route & Go on Safari

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

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 £300.

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.

We've sourced some great optional activities for you to do in and around Kathmandu should you wish to explore the area further. Please discuss these directly with your host, who will be able to book them for you.

Cook Like a Local: This short cooking workshop (approximately 3 hours) teaches you how to cook popular Nepali dishes like momos and dal bhat. You'll meet your teacher and accompany them shopping, then head to the kitchen and learn to cook alongside them. Price: pay what you think the workshop is worth!

Shop Local: A 2-3 hour guided exploration of the markets of Kathmandu. Learn about the vendors that line the narrow and crowded alleyways and witness everything you could ever imagine being sold, haggled, or bargained for. It’s a great chance to learn about the melting pot of cultures that exist in Kathmandu. Price: $9-$50 per person, depending on group size.

Master of the Arts: Patan Durbar Square is popular for its handicrafts, and this trip will explore the local factories where they are produced. You’ll visit 2-3 factories and learn about the traditional processes they use and see artwork being produced. Price: $14-$59 per person, depending on group size.

Introduction to Shamanism: Shamanism, which is believed to heal many diseases, is not practiced widely these days. However, this trip enables you to meet a practicing Guru and learn all about this age-old tradition. You’ll visit a small house for an introduction, followed by lunch and then a drumming session where you’ll learn the importance of rhythm to healing. Price: $90-$150 per person, depending on group size.

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.

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.

This trip visits locations at or above 2500m, where some people may experience symptoms of Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

Previous experience at altitude doesn’t guarantee the same response again – your body can react differently on each trip. However, having been at altitude before is still valuable: it gives you a better understanding of how your body might respond, what symptoms to look out for, and how to manage your pace and energy levels.

Your guide is trained to manage the risk of altitude sickness by controlling the rate of ascent, monitoring group wellbeing, and responding appropriately if anyone feels unwell.

Before booking, we recommend considering your personal health, particularly if you have any pre-existing conditions, and consulting a medical professional if you’re unsure. Arriving early to allow your body to acclimatise can also make a big difference.

Your travel insurance must cover the maximum altitude reached on this trip and include emergency evacuation.

This trip takes place in environments where wild animals are present in their natural environment, where protections and controls on their movement may be limited or non-existent. Some species may be dangerous, venomous, or unpredictable. Sightings are a privilege – but safety is key. Always follow your guide’s instructions and any posted signage.

We recommend considering your comfort around wildlife and discussing any concerns with your host before travel, particularly if you have allergies, phobias, or related health conditions.

This trip includes locations where temperatures can range from extremely hot to extremely cold during different parts of the itinerary. In some areas, you may face high daytime temperatures, strong sun, and humidity with limited shade. Elsewhere – especially at higher elevations – temperatures may drop below freezing, particularly at night.

These extremes can affect your physical performance and increase the risk of heat-related issues such as dehydration or heat stroke, or cold-related risks like frostbite and hypothermia. Your guide will manage the pace, monitor group wellbeing, and adjust the plan when needed to keep everyone safe.

We recommend considering how you personally respond to heat and cold, and speaking with a healthcare professional if you have any conditions that could be affected. Packing the right gear for both climates is essential, and arriving early may help your body acclimatise more comfortably – especially if you're coming from a more moderate climate.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

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.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

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.

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
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

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) and 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.

Chitwan sits amidst the sub-tropical lowlands of Nepal and you may encounter temperatures above 30°C and high humidity.