The Help

Among the many decisions to make when planning this adventure, Dee and I have had to decide whether to hire some help along the way. Help on the Annapurna Circuit comes in various forms.

Organised Tour: Dee and I are entirely way too independent to sign-up for a guided tour. We like to figure things out ourselves, deal with the unexpected, and learn from our mistakes. Having to work on someone else's schedule and follow their rules really doesn't work for us.

Photographer: Well, if this is not completely ridiculous... While we may not be professional photographers, we can operate our (pretty decent) cameras. We can laugh at our crap photos and take pride in the good ones.

Guide: For many of the same reasons as why would not signup for an organised tour, we are also not keen on the idea of hiring a guide. From what we have read, the trail is clearly marked and the maps easy to follow. While guides are able to provide cultural and ecological insight and helpful tips, only about 50% of trekkers utilise such a service. The major motivation for hiring a guide would be to help the local economy; however, Dee and I are working with tight budgets and this is a luxury we can definitely go without.

Porter(s): This is the real debate. While porters are indispensable when it comes to scaling high Himalayan peaks, they are not entirely necessary for trekking at lower elevations. There is a lot to consider when it comes to whether or not to hire a porter. Below is a short pro/con list.

The Good:
- less physically demanding
- puts money into the local economy
- encouraged by Nepali people
- cheap - about $10 a day

The Bad:
- less physically demanding
- seems a bit colonial, eh
- someone else calling the shots - schedule, accommodations, route, etc.
- not really that cheap - $10 x 20 days x 2 people

At the moment, we're definitely strongly leaning toward going without any help. Nevertheless, it's interesting to gauge others' opinions on the issue. To the right is a poll where you can cast your vote: Sherpas or sure pass (haha).