A guide and porter are essential and most important for your trek. As you will be trekking to the highest altitude of 5416 meters, it’s very important to trek with a guide and let a porter carry your weight so that you can trek easily. But as it’s important, still, people are confused about where to hire the guide and porter, whether I should hire or not, whether I will need to pay extra for the guide and porter, and many more questions arise in their minds.
In this blog, we’ll answer all the key questions about guides and porters on the Annapurna Circuit, including why you need them, costs, rules, and what’s included in their services, and everything, so let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Why do you need to hire a guide for the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
First and foremost, the question that may strike your mind is, why do you need to hire a guide for the Annapurna circuit trek when you can do the solo trek? Well, a guide is not just about navigation, but it’s about safety, navigation, altitude sickness support, cultural insights, logistics and communications support, moral support, and many more. A guide is necessary for you throughout the trek. A guide is a person who will enhance your trekking experience. A guide is your best friend for the trek, who will help you in every condition.
What is the cost for hiring a guide for the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
The cost for hiring a guide for the Annapurna circuit trek depends on your requirements. If you want a well-experienced and licensed guide for the Annapurna Circuit, then you will need to pay 30 USD to 40 USD per day. If you want to hire a guide who speaks your native language, like German, French, Spanish, or any other language, and he is well-experienced and licensed, then you will need to pay up to 50 USD per day. If you are hiring a guide who is just a beginner, which is not suggested, but still, if you do it, you can get the guide for 20 to 25 USD as well.
Can I trek to the Annapurna circuit without a guide?
Yes, you can trek to the Annapurna circuit without a guide, but it is not suggested, as the Annapurna circuit takes you to an altitude of 5416 meters, which is one of the highest passes in Nepal, making it difficult for you to trek through this place. Also, without a guide, you will face safety issues, navigation issues, you will miss the cultural insights, and you stress a lot during the trek.
Will I need to pay for the Guide foods, accommodations, and Insurance?
No, you will need to pay for the guide’s food, accommodations, and insurance when you hire a guide for the Annapurna circuit trek. If you are hiring a guide from a reputed trekking agency like us, then the guide’s costs you pay per day already include the food, accommodations, and insurance. But if you are hiring a guide who is a freelancer, then you might need to pay extra, as they are not registered with the company, so every burden of their costs will be on you.
Why do you need to hire a porter for the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
A porter is very important for your trek as he not only carries your weight, but he also lets you experience the region without any stress. A porter will carry your 20 to 20 kg weight in duffel bags, which will include your entire weight. A porter will help you to acclimate properly, as he will carry your weight, you will have less strain on your back, and it will help you to conserve your energy. When you are hiring a porter, it will also help you to overcome your fatigue-related mistakes and injuries. It will also increase job creation in the market.
What is the cost for hiring a porter for the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
The cost of hiring a porter for the Annapurna circuit trek is 20 to 30 USD per day. The porter carries 20 to 25 Kg of your weight. If your weight exceeds the limit, you might need to pay extra. If you hire a local porter when reaching the starting point of the Annapurna circuit, you might find the porter more affordable.
Can I trek to the Annapurna Circuit without a porter?
Yes, you can trek to the Annapurna circuit without a porter, but it’s important for you to realize that without a porter, your trek will be very difficult. You will need to carry your weights, which might be of 10 to 15 kg, on your back, which increases the strain on your back. You might feel tired carrying the heavy bags and walking. You might not be able to acclimate properly, which might lead to Acute Mountain sickness and altitude sickness. If you want to keep your trekking budget affordable, then you can avoid the porter; otherwise, you must hire a porter for your trek.
Will I need to pay for the porter’s food, accommodations, and Insurance?
No, you will not need to pay for the porter’s food, accommodations, and insurance, as the cost you pay for them includes all fees if you hire from a trekking agency. But, just like the guide, if you hire a local porter or a freelancer, then you might need to pay for their costs as well.
Where can I hire a guide and Porter for the Annapurna Circuit Trek?
There are many ways in which you can hire a guide and porter for your trek. The places are:
With Registered Trekking Agencies
You can hire a guide and porter via registered trekking agencies like Adventure Vision Treks (us). If you hire a guide and porter from the registered trekking agencies, then you will not need to pay any extra fees for food, accommodations, or insurance. A company-registered guide is most trustworthy, and they will help you in every place and rescue you in need with the help of the company.
By Facebook groups
You can also hire a guide and porter from the Facebook groups. The freelancers, guides, and porters post regularly on the Facebook groups like Guide and Porter for the Annapurna circuit, Trekking in Nepal, and many more. You can contact them by messaging them or calling them. When you hire from Facebook, you need to check their license to avoid theft and scams.
By visiting the starting point in Jagat, Besisahar, or Chame
You can also hire a guide and porter by reaching the starting point of the trek, which is Jagat, Besisahar, or Chame. When you arrive there, you will see lots of freelance guides and porters asking the trekkers if they want to hire them. But Rembert has said that if you hire a local guide and porter and there are any kinds of emergency situations, you might not get help or rescue as they have no contact with the trekking agencies or any authorities.
Read Related Blogs
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Tags: act trek, annapurna circuit, annapurna region, nepal, Trekking in Nepal