Annapurna Circuit: mobile signal, Wi-Fi and charging on the trail

Mobile coverage on the Annapurna Circuit is better than most people expect on the lower and middle sections, but it is weak at high camps and on Thorong La. Charging is usually paid and Wi-Fi is slow and sometimes absent.

Where you will have signal

Besisahar and the villages up to Chame usually have good coverage, and Manang often has a usable signal. Coverage fades above Yak Kharka and is patchy near Thorong Phedi and the pass. Muktinath and Jomsom have coverage again on the far side. Weather and cloud can interrupt it even where towers exist.

SIM cards and data

Nepali SIM cards are sold in Kathmandu and Pokhara and need a passport photo and ID. A local data pack is cheaper than roaming and works in most lower valleys. Buy one before you leave the city, since shops on the trail rarely sell them.

Wi-Fi in lodges

Many lodges offer Wi-Fi sold as a voucher or per day. Speeds are slow and fall further when many guests connect, so do not plan to work from the trail. Download maps, tickets and music before you start walking.

Charging

Lodges charge for phone and camera charging, and prices rise with altitude. A power bank of 20,000 mAh covers most trips, and a small solar panel helps on sunny stretches. Keep batteries warm in your sleeping bag overnight, because cold drains them quickly.

A simple power plan

Count your needs before you leave. A phone uses roughly one charge a day, a camera battery lasts two days, and a head torch needs spare batteries. A 20,000 mAh power bank gives about four phone charges, which covers a full circuit if you pay for a top up in Manang. Pack the charging cable in a waterproof bag.

Offline tools worth setting up

Download the trail map, your permits and your insurance details before you leave Besisahar. Save your guide and operator numbers on paper. A paper copy of the route is not old-fashioned; it is what you will use when the battery is flat on Thorong La.

Staying safe

Share your route with family and agree check-in times. If you cannot get signal, tell your guide or lodge owner, who can contact others. Save your insurance emergency number offline. See the acclimatisation profile for safety guidance.