The Annapurna Circuit is known as the “apple pie trek” for a good reason. Unless you have unusually restrictive dietary considerations, food on the trail is readily available and you really do not need to pack or carry food. Every inn offers an international mix of food options, plus vegan and gluten free (rice). Every village has shops to purchase trail snacks (fruit, candy bars, potato chips, crackers, granola bars etc).

You can readily purchase bottles of water at any village shop. You can also refill your own water bottle with pre-filtered water for about 40-100 NPR ($0.40 to $1.00 USD in Spring 2018) at ACAP-provided stations along the course or at any inn. Most places you stay or eat at will allow you to fill up a water bottle at their well or tap for free, but make sure you purify it using your own water purifier. We used the American Red Cross SteriPEN UV Water Purifier every single day on the trail. It saved us quite a bit of money every day.

We do recommend that you consider bringing your own beverage packs, such as instant coffee, tea bags and electrolyte drink mixes. You will save a lot of money by just ordering hot water and adding your own mix rather than buying coffee, tea, etc. Almost every hot drink you get on the trail is instant anyway, so might as well bring your own mix and save a few bucks every day.

Prices on the Annapurna Circuit are regulated by the Tourism Management Sub-Committee of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and every inn has a published menu of services and food prices that is marked as “approved” by ACAP. Depending on competition and your skill at bargaining, you may haggle a better deal than what is published. But, in my opinion, the prices are fair and reasonable in an area where tourism is the number one commodity.