Annapurna Circuit Trek

The Annapurna Circuit is the classic long trek in Nepal — a full loop around the Annapurna massif that crosses several climate and cultural zones in a single trip, from subtropical lowland villages to high, arid Tibetan-influenced settlements above the tree line.

The trek's high point is the Thorong La pass (5,416m), a demanding but non-technical crossing between Manang and Muktinath that is the main reason this route needs a longer acclimatisation schedule than the shorter Annapurna treks.

The descent into the Kali Gandaki — the deepest gorge in the world — and the pilgrimage town of Muktinath round out a route with more variety than almost any other trek in the region.

• Day 1–2: Drive Kathmandu to Besisahar, trek to Bahundanda

• Day 3–5: Bahundanda to Chame via Jagat and Dharapani

• Day 6: Chame to Pisang

• Day 7: Pisang to Manang (3,540m)

• Day 8: Acclimatisation day in Manang

• Day 9: Manang to Yak Kharka

• Day 10: Yak Kharka to Thorong Phedi (4,540m)

• Day 11: Cross Thorong La (5,416m) to Muktinath

• Day 12: Muktinath to Marpha

• Day 13: Marpha to Tatopani, hot springs

• Day 14: Tatopani to Ghorepani

• Day 15: Poon Hill sunrise, trek to Nayapul, drive to Pokhara

• Day 16: Buffer day / departure

• Tea house accommodation throughout the trek

• All meals during the trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Licensed English-speaking trekking guide and porters (1 porter per 2 trekkers)

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and TIMS card

• Ground transport Kathmandu–Besisahar and Pokhara–Kathmandu

• International flights to and from Kathmandu

• Nepal entry visa fee

• Travel, medical and high-altitude emergency evacuation insurance (mandatory)

• Personal trekking gear and equipment

• Alcoholic, bottled and canned drinks

• Tips for guides and porters

• Personal expenses — hot showers, battery charging, wifi and laundry not provided free at the tea house

• Single room supplement, where a private room is available

Plans change, and mountains change them for you. Here is exactly what happens to your money when they do.

1. How much you get back

Cancellation charges are worked out from the day we receive your written notice to Day 1 of the itinerary — your arrival day in Kathmandu, not your flight date from the UAE.

• 60 days or more before Day 1 — 100% of the land package refunded

• 45–59 days — 75% refunded

• 30–44 days — 50% refunded

• 15–29 days — 25% refunded

• 14 days or fewer — no refund

Percentages apply to the land package — everything we run for you inside Nepal. Your deposit and the third-party costs listed in section 2 sit outside this and are deducted first. Not turning up is treated the same as cancelling on the day.

Peak-season departures (1 March to 31 May, 15 September to 30 November) and private or charter trips are held under tighter supplier terms. Where a different schedule applies, we show it to you on the booking page before you pay anything.

2. What we can’t refund

Some of your money leaves the UAE the moment your place is confirmed, and it does not come back to us. Once these are issued, purchased or committed, they are deducted in full from any refund, however early you cancel:

• Nepal domestic flights, including Kathmandu or Ramechhap to Lukla, and Pokhara sectors

• National park and conservation area permits — Sagarmatha, ACAP, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu, restricted-area permits and TIMS registration, all issued in your name and non-transferable

• Nepal visa fees

• Travel insurance premiums, once your policy is issued

• Peak-season lodge and teahouse pre-payments on the Everest and Annapurna trails

• International airfare, where we booked it for you — this follows the airline’s own fare rules

• Equipment bought or hired specifically for you

If a supplier does return money to us after you cancel, we pass every dirham of it on to you, less the bank charges we incur receiving it.

3. Deposit and balance

A deposit of 25% of the trip price, minimum AED 1,500 per person, holds your place. It is non-refundable, but it can move with you to another departure — see section 4.

The balance is due 45 days before Day 1. Book inside 45 days and the full amount is payable at the time of booking. If the balance is not paid by the due date, we treat the booking as cancelled by you and the deposit is forfeited.

We take payment in dirhams by card or bank transfer to the company account named on your invoice. Never hand cash to a guide, porter or agent in Nepal, and never pay a third party on our behalf. Payments made that way sit outside this contract and we cannot refund them.

4. Moving your booking

We would rather move you than lose you.

• 60 days or more before departure — one move to another Jebel Expeditions departure within 12 months, free. Your deposit travels with you; any price difference is payable.

• 30 to 59 days — a move costs AED 500 per person, plus anything already committed under section 2.

• Under 30 days — this counts as a cancellation and section 1 applies.

You can also pass your place to someone else up to 21 days before departure, as long as they meet the fitness and experience requirements for the grade and permits can be issued in time. That costs AED 500 per person plus the real cost of reissuing flights and permits.

One free move per booking.

5. If we cancel

Not enough people

Fixed departures need a minimum group size, shown on each trip page. We confirm or cancel no later than 45 days before Day 1. If we cancel, you choose: everything you have paid us back in full, including the deposit, or a move to another departure.

Anything else within our control

You get a full refund of everything paid to us. We will also cover documented costs you took on because of the booking — independently booked flights, visa fees — up to AED 2,000 per person, against receipts.

Events beyond anyone’s control

Earthquake, avalanche, extreme weather, airspace or border closure, suspension of Lukla flights, strikes and bandhs, unrest, epidemic, or permits withdrawn by the Nepal authorities. We charge you no cancellation fee of our own in these situations. We refund everything we recover from suppliers, and issue a credit note for the rest, valid 18 months and transferable to a close family member.

6. Delays and changes on the trail

Himalayan itineraries move with the weather. Your expedition leader may change routing, lodges, acclimatisation days or the objective itself where safety or conditions require it.

Lukla flights are the usual culprit. When they are grounded, we hold you in Kathmandu at the standard you booked. If the group chooses to fly by helicopter and conditions allow, we will arrange it — but helicopter transfers are not part of the trip price. The cost is shared between those flying and is payable before boarding, or claimed from your insurer if your policy covers delay transfers.

Extra nights, meals and transport caused by disruption outside our control are yours to pay, and are usually covered by travel insurance. Where a change is within our control and materially reduces what you get, we refund the difference.

7. Leaving early

If you leave the expedition before it ends — altitude, injury, a call from home, or simply choosing to stop — there is no refund for unused nights, meals, transport, guiding or permits. Those are already paid for.

Evacuation, hospital treatment and repatriation are your responsibility and are claimed from your insurer. We coordinate the evacuation and give your insurer every document they ask for. If we advance money for you in an emergency, it is repayable within 14 days of your return.

We may also end your trip if you are not fit to continue safely, if you misrepresented your health or experience, or if your conduct puts the group or our staff at risk. No refund is due in those cases.

8. Insurance is not optional

You cannot travel with us in Nepal without travel insurance. Your policy must cover:

• trekking to the highest point on your itinerary — at least 6,000 m for Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar

• helicopter search, rescue, evacuation and repatriation

• medical treatment abroad

• trip cancellation and curtailment

Send us your policy number, insurer and 24-hour emergency line at least 30 days before departure. Without it we cannot let you travel, and that counts as a cancellation under section 1.

Most of what this policy cannot return to you, a good insurance policy can. Read the cancellation clauses before you book, not after.

9. How refunds are paid

• In dirhams, to the original payment method and the original payer only. We cannot pay a refund into someone else’s account.

• Processed within 21 business days of us confirming the amount in writing. Card refunds can take another 7 to 14 working days to show on your statement.

• Bank charges, card fees and currency conversion losses come out of the refunded amount.

• Where the refund depends on money coming back from an airline or a Nepal supplier, the clock starts when we receive it. We will update you in writing every 14 days until it is settled.

Cancelling for a medical emergency, a bereavement in your immediate family, or a visa refusal outside your control? Tell us before Day 1 and send documentation within 14 days. We will chase supplier waivers on your behalf and turn what we retain into an 18-month credit note rather than keeping it.

10. If something goes wrong

Write to us first. We acknowledge cancellation notices within one business day, confirm the refund calculation within five, and answer complaints substantively within ten.

If we have not resolved it, you can take the matter to the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai at consumerrights.ae, through the Dubai Consumer app, or on 600 545 555, under Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection.

This policy forms part of our booking terms and conditions, is governed by the laws of the UAE as applied in Dubai, and the Dubai courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Nothing here removes a right you hold under UAE consumer protection law.

Cancelling or changing a booking

Send written notice to bookings@jebelexpeditions.com. Cancellations take effect from the moment we acknowledge them in writing, in Gulf Standard Time.

Complaints: complaints@jebelexpeditions.com

Jebel Expeditions Tourism L.L.C. S.O.C.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Licensed Outbound Tour Operator · DET Trade Licence No. 1638394