Tent Peak Annapurna Trekking

Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November) are the two windows for Tent Peak. In spring, stable weather follows the pre-monsoon calm, rhododendron blooms below 3,500 m, and the NMA peak permit is in its high-season rate (NPR 25,000). The summit tends to clear by mid-morning before afternoon cloud builds; an early start from High Camp catches this window reliably.

Autumn is the drier season, with post-monsoon clarity and the best visibility of the year from the 5,663 m summit. Cold nights at High Camp arrive earlier than in spring, so a four-season sleeping bag and a good down jacket matter more. Winter (December to February) brings heavy snow and summit winds that push the technical sections beyond the PD grade for most trekkers. The monsoon (June to September) closes the sanctuary to most parties because of avalanche risk on the upper slopes.

Three permits are required for Tent Peak Annapurna: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP, NPR 3,000 per person for non-SAARC nationals), the Trekkers' Information Management System card (TIMS, NPR 2,000 for non-SAARC), and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) Group B trekking-peak permit for Tent Peak (Tharpu Chuli). The NMA permit currently costs NPR 25,000 per person in the spring season (March to May); rates for other seasons may differ and should be confirmed with Swotah before departure.

Group B is the NMA's lower-technical category, covering trekking peaks up to approximately 6,500 m that can be attempted without a full expedition team. The permit requires booking through a registered Nepalese trekking company and a qualified climbing guide. Swotah holds NMA registration, arranges all three permits once you provide a passport copy and two photos, and confirms current fees before your trip. The permits are checked at ACAP checkpoints at Birethanti and at the NMA checkpoint below Chhomrong.

The Annapurna Base Camp route has well-established teahouse lodges from Nayapul to Annapurna Base Camp. Lower stops like Ghandruk and Chhomrong have comfortable rooms with hot showers; higher lodges at Dovan, Deurali and MBC are simpler, with shared bathrooms and limited heating. ABC itself sits at 4,130 m, where nights are cold and the lodges fill fast in peak season.

Above ABC the accommodation type shifts. Tent Peak Base Camp (4,450 m) uses a tented camp with mess tent, and High Camp (5,200 m) is a tented bivouac with basic sleeping arrangements. Swotah supplies the tents, sleeping mats and group equipment for the climbing section; bring a four-season sleeping bag rated to at least -15 C for High Camp. Kathmandu hotel rooms are standard, clean and centrally located in Thamel.

Three meals a day are included throughout the trek. In the lower villages the lodge menu runs to dal bhat (lentil soup, rice and vegetables, with a free refill), pasta, momos and Tibetan bread. The choice narrows above Deurali, where most lodges serve only a few dishes. Dal bhat is the recommended fuel for long days because the carbohydrate-and-protein combination carries you through 6-hour stages.

For water, drink 3 to 4 litres a day above 3,500 m to support acclimatisation. Treat tap or stream water with purification tablets, a filter or a UV pen before drinking; boiled water is available at most lodges for a small fee. At High Camp, Swotah's kitchen staff boil all drinking water. Carry a 1-litre insulated bottle for the cold summit day, because water freezes quickly above 5,000 m overnight.

The trip begins with a 200 km drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820 m) by private vehicle, taking 6 to 7 hours on the Prithvi Highway. From Pokhara it is a short drive to Nayapul (1,070 m), the road head where the walking begins. The return follows the same corridor: from Shivay a private vehicle picks up the group for the drive back to Pokhara, then the next morning a private car or tourist bus covers the return to Kathmandu.

Swotah uses private cars and jeeps for all road legs, which is more comfortable than the public bus on the Prithvi Highway and handles the steep approach roads around Nayapul better. There are no domestic flights on this itinerary. All road legs are included in the trip cost.

Summit day starts at 3:00 to 4:00 AM from High Camp (5,200 m), before the sun softens the snow. The first section crosses steep snow and ice on a 40 to 45 degree slope with fixed ropes pre-set by the climbing guide; you clip into the rope with a jumar or clove hitch and front-point with crampons. At 5,663 m the summit is a narrow ridge, and on a clear day the panorama takes in Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), Machhapuchhre (6,993 m) and the full Annapurna Sanctuary amphitheatre.

Allow 4 to 6 hours for the ascent and 2 to 3 hours to descend to High Camp, then continue down to ABC (4,130 m) on the same day. The descent is the most dangerous section: fatigue, softening snow and afternoon cloud require controlled movement on the fixed ropes all the way back to Base Camp. Your guide makes the call on turnaround time if weather closes in; this is not negotiable.

A licensed climbing guide is required for the NMA Group B permit and for practical safety on the technical sections. Swotah's guides hold Ministry of Tourism licences and NMA climbing certification, have completed high-altitude first-aid training through KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project), and have summited Tent Peak multiple times. The ratio is one climbing guide per group of up to 4 clients on the technical sections.

One porter carries 20 to 25 kg and is provided for every 3 trekkers. Swotah caps porter loads at 25 kg, provides a free duffel bag, and covers porter insurance. You carry a daypack of 8 to 12 kg with water, snacks, a warm layer and summit gear; the duffel travels with the porter to Base Camp and is waiting when you descend. The minimum group size is 2; maximum is 14.

Mobile coverage in the Modi Khola valley is moderate on the NTC (Nepal Telecom) network from Nayapul to about Dovan; above Dovan it becomes patchy, and at High Camp and the summit there is essentially no signal. Swotah provides a tourist SIM with a local number at no extra cost; top up the data in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you leave.

Charging is available at teahouse lodges in the lower valley for NPR 100 to 200 per device per hour; above Deurali it is limited or absent. Bring a power bank of at least 20,000 mAh, because cold temperatures above 5,000 m drain batteries faster than normal overnight. A small solar panel is useful but not essential. Treat the two nights above 5,000 m as fully off-grid.

The Annapurna Sanctuary is a conservation area inside ACAP, and pack-in-pack-out rules apply above the last teahouse. Carry a reusable bottle and treat your own water rather than buying plastic. Respect the fire-ban zones above the treeline; stick to the marked trail to avoid erosion on the fragile moraine below Tent Peak.

Tipping is customary in Nepal's trekking industry. The standard range is 10 to 15% of the trip cost, split among the guide, climbing guide, porters and driver at the end of the trip. Tips go directly to the seasonal workforce; Swotah staff do not receive a share of the trip fee. Booking through a registered NMA-licensed operator also means permit compliance, staff insurance and fair load limits are handled correctly.