Annapurna Circuit Trek Packing List

Trekking in Annapurna Circuit is one of the most magically and jaw-dropping experiences in the Himalayas of Nepal. Annapurna Circuit takes you on a magnificent journey on the noble trails in the Annapurna Region. Being one of the longest trekking trails in Nepal and the world, a proper Annapurna Circuit Trek packing list is a significant concern before starting the trek.

The weather and temperature around the Annapurna Circuit never remain stable. Along with that, you will be trekking through diverse terrains of the Annapurna region. The Annapurna Circuit Trek takes you from the green hills of Besisahar to the barren, dry lands of Mustang.

Hence, it would help if you were prepared for any climate during your trek. Get your packing right, and you will breeze through the trek. Get it wrong, and you have a very tough trek than you can imagine.

However, planning what gear and equipment to take for a trek like this is tricky. We have come up with this article regarding the Annapurna Circuit Trek packing list, important packing tips, what to pack and what not to, and the hiking essentials you’ll need during the trek.

So, let’s get started.

ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT PACKING TIPS

Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you specify the item in the Annapurna Circuit Trek packing list:

Know about the trekking season in Nepal

The trekking season significantly impacts where and how you can trek and what you need to pack for the trek.

The best time for the Annapurna Circuit Trek is in Autumn (October and early December) and Spring (late February to April).

But if you decide to trek in the winter or monsoon season, you have to hike in heavy snow or heavy rain, meaning you’ll need to bring sufficient weatherproof gear.

The weather never stays constant.

The Annapurna circuit trail takes you from tropical plains to alpine climatic zones. Some days, it will be hot, and you will be walking in shorts and t-shirts. While on other days, you’ll wear all your clothes as the -15c temperature and brutal winds freeze your water bottle solid.

Make sure you’re well prepared for both!

Only pack what you need.

If you are not a solo traveler, you’ll possibly have a guide and porter/s for your trek.

Since porters are also humans, please help them by packing only what you need (10kgs or so).

You can buy lots of hiking gear in Kathmandu.

If you are short of any gear or equipment, you can easily buy them in Kathmandu. You can either buy it or can rent it from Thamel.

Backpacks for Annapurna Circuit Trek

Supportive Daypack

This is the backpack that will be with you on the overall trek. Thus, it will be full of your essential, high-energy hiking snacks. Still, you need to also space for an extra jumper or your down jacket, hiking trousers, electronics, water, sunscreen, a hat, and any other personal items.

Hence, we recommend buying a supportive daypack with enough capacity for your essentials, comfortable support, and a waist strap.

Packing Satchel

Losing track of your gears is a usual thing while trekking. And it can be pretty frustrating to find the stuff you are looking for.

Thus, having a pouch helps you categorize all your stuff, like clothes, electronics, and spare warm gear, and keep them neatly separated for you.

A Big Rucksack

Are you a solo traveler? If yes, then this is for you.

A big rucksack is only convenient for solo trekkers in the Annapurna Circuit, trekking with any porters or guides.

Make sure your rucksack has excellent comfortable back support and a waist strap. As the trekking days will be long, steep, and exhausting, they must be as comfortable as possible.

Waterproof Dry Bag

Having wet gear during the trek is the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Thus, it would help if you had a waterproof dry bag to save all your stuff dry from the rain. Especially if you are trekking during the Monsoon, it is highly recommended.

Hence, you will require a good-sized waterproof dry bag with plenty of space for your gear and snacks to protect them from rain and dust.

Related Articles

• Annapurna Circuit Trek Weather and Temperature
• Annapurna Circuit Trek Highlights

 

Clothing for Annapurna Circuit Trek

When it comes to packing the clothing for the Annapurna Circuit Trek, try to pack lightweight, breathable fabrics that are quick-drying, moisture-absorbing, and can be cleaned easily by hand.

Layering is a key for clothing during your Annapurna Circuit trek. You will be starting your trek at 830 meters in Besisahar to the trek’s highest point at 5,416 meters in Thorong La Pass. Hence, laying the clothes depends on the altitude and the weather condition. You start with thermal wear on cooler days and add multiple layers such as tees, woolen jumpers, and fleeces on top that you can easily take off when the day gets warmer.

The clothing occupies the most significant amount of space in your backpack. So, one should make a careful judgment to not over-pack.

Inner layer

Carry at least five pairs of quick-drying and breathable underwear for your trek. Try experimenting with different underwear and bring them along on the trek.

And for ladies, carry two sports bras with good support, comfortable straps, and light, breathable fabric.

Thermal wear is the essential clothing for high-altitude trekking. They should be warm and comfortable with body heat-trapping technology.

Two thermal for the upper body and one for the lower body should provide enough warmth for the trek.

Upper layer

The synthetic clothes are perfect for the Annapurna Circuit trek than cotton clothes. They are light. Further, they wash off easily and dry quickly.

Long-sleeved shirts are a must for trekking, especially for sun protection. They’re so handy, convenient, and better by all means. Along with long-sleeved shirts, you should also pack a short-sleeved t-shirt for a hot and sunny day. They come in handy while you are traveling on the road.

As Annapurna Circuit is a high-altitude trek, fleece is essential. The fleeces should be full-zip and have heat-locking. Besides that, it should be breathable and compact for packing.

An insulating jacket is an essential item for a trek like this. It’s lightweight and probably the essential clothing item for providing warmth.

Lower body layer

Buying a great pair of hiking pants is 100% worth it to make Annapurna Circuit Trek a comfortable trek. The hiking trousers should be quick-drying, semi-waterproof, and convertible. We recommend you to buy full convertible trousers because you can convert them into shorts on warm days.

Also, for the cold weather, you need wool or fleece variation of trousers to keep you warm and cozy. Similarly, waterproof/windproof trousers are quite essentials since the weather at such a height is unpredictable. Hence, it’s always best to prepare for the unseen.

List of other clothing :

• Light thermal tops
• Fleece Windstopper jacket
• Polypropylene shirts (1 half and two long sleeves shirts)
• Down vest
• Waterproof breathable fabric shell jacket
• Waterproof Gore-Tex jacket
• Hiking shorts
• Hiking trousers
• lightweight thermal bottoms
• Fleece or wool trousers
• Non-cotton underwear briefs
• Waterproof shell pants, breathable fabric

 

Gloves

You need to have two gloves: inner globes and outer globes. These globes are like two sides of a coin; you can’t separate them. As the name itself is self-explanatory, the inner gloves go inside the outer globes. Inner gloves with Outer gloves work best together.

The inner gloves are thin, light, breathable, and hug every crevice of your hand. At the same time, the outer gloves are bulkier but more effective against the cold, too, similar to the layers of our clothing throughout the trek. They’re usually waterproof, extremely warm, and exceptionally durable.

Footwear

Having excellent footwear is as essential as having warm clothing. Since blisters are a significant concern during your trek on the Annapurna Circuit, you need a good pair of socks and a pair of decent hiking boots to avoid the Annapurna Circuit Trek difficulty.

Hiking Socks

Carry at least three pairs of regular hiking socks for a safe bet. It would help if you looked for a breathable sock, light and moisture-absorbing.

And for a hassle-free experience, I recommend you pack the ones you’ve used a couple of times.

Thermal Socks

Add a pair of thermal socks to the list as well. Your feet, too, deserve to be pleased with the sub-zero temperature.

Hiking boots

This is probably the maker-or-breaker of your trek. So, buying a quality pair of (broken in) hiking boots is the most important thing.

You will be wearing these boots for about 10 hours a day, so make sure they’re comfortable and have great support for your feet and ankles.

Also, be sure that these boots are waterproof because the last thing you want is a pair of boots that get soggy and wet on the first day and never dry properly.

Pair of Sandals/Flip-Flops

Pack a pair of sandals, as they will be helpful in the tea houses and hotels during your Annapurna Circuit trek.

You may think that sandals are not that useful, but let me tell you that they come conveniently while using the bathrooms, showering, resting on a hot day, etc.

List of other footwear:

• Thin, lightweight inner socks
• Heavy poly or wool socks
• Hiking boots with spare laces
• Trainers or running shoes
• Cotton socks Gaiters

 

Sleeping Accessories for Annapurna Circuit Trek

During the entire trek, you will be staying in the teahouses of wood and stones that provide a cozy and warm relief at the end of a long and exhausting day.

All teahouse provides blankets, but that may not be enough during the colder days. Hence, Sleeping bags are an essential item on your packing list for the Annapurna trek. So, get a sleeping bag that holds up to -10 degrees C.

Whether you buy your sleeping bag or rent it, always bring a sleeping liner. They add an extra layer of warmness to your sleeping bag.

List of sleeping accessories

• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Bag Liner

 

Headwear

Headwears are another essential part of your Annapurna Circuit Trek packing list. It will help keep your head warm and defend yourself from snow, rain, and excessive sunlight.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses help absorb stress from the eyes. Also, it assists in protecting your eyes from harsh sunlight at higher altitudes. It also helps to protect your eyes from any possible gust of wind.

Hat or fleece hat

The hat comes quite handy if you are trekking on a sunny day, especially at lower altitudes. It will protect your skin from sunburn by providing shade. And for higher altitudes, carry a fleece hat to keep your head warm and safe from the snow.

Bandana or scarf

Some parts of the Annapurna Circuit Trail are pretty dusty. Thus, Bandana/ Scarf helps cover your mouth and nose in such trails.

List of Head wears:

• A warm hat (wool or synthetic)
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Bandana or headscarf
• Prescription sunglasses
• Headlamp with extra batteries and bulbs

 

First aid

You will be hiking through different physical conditions. In some cases, you might suffer from altitude sickness at higher altitudes. You might catch a common cold due to the temperature difference. In addition, there might be muscle sprains or other injuries. So, you need to have proper first aid kits.

It would help if you also considered packing Diamox to avoid the risk of high altitude sickness. Paracetamol and Imodium can be helpful in case of sudden fever and unpleasant diarrhea.

List of Medications:

• Paracetamol
• Diamox/ Altitude Sickness tablet
• Imodium
• Chlorine Dioxide Tablets/ Water Purification Tablets
• Insect Repellent
• Antiseptic Wipes
• Small Bandages and plasters
• Antiseptic Cream

Furthermore, here is the list of items that you need daily during your Annapurna Circuit trek:

Toiletries

• Medium-sized towel
• Toothbrush/paste
• Multi-purpose soap
• Deodorants
• Nail clippers

 

Personal Hygiene

• Wet wipes
• Tissue /toilet roll
• Anti-bacterial handwash

 

Extras

• Book
• Guide book
• Journal and pen
• Swimsuit
• Binoculars
• Voltage converter
• Plug adapter
• Lightweight pillowcase

 

Important documents and items

• Valid passport
• Separate photocopies of passport
• Two extra passport size photos
• Airline tickets
• Proof of insurance
• Extra cash for buying stuff during the trek
• Credit cards
• Traveler’s checks
• Annapurna Circuit Trekking permits.
• TIMS Card

 

Related Articles

• A Complete Guide to Annapurna Circuit Trek
• Annapurna Circuit Trek FAQs
• How to Prepare for Annapurna Circuit Trek?

 

Conclusion

Annapurna Circuit is one of the best treks in Nepal, and it offers you beautiful mountain views, varied landscapes, and rich cultural diversity. We hope this Annapurna Circuit Trek packing list will help you if you plan to do the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Besides, all these items are entirely based on our opinion and experience. And you are welcome to save this blog for future reference.

Moreover, contact us for any further questions or queries regarding this trek or other treks in Nepal.