We had written about the EBC trek packing list in an older blog, so when we started to write about the Annapurna Circuit trek packing list, the initial thought was that it should be more or less the same. So why dedicate another blog to it?
Well, there are two reasons:
- At altitudes like these, similar isn’t enough. One needs to know the exact things to carry
- Secondly, if someone is searching for a packing list for Annapurna Circuit Trek, why would they read about the EBC packing list?
So, with this in mind, we started talking to our trekking team and collating the details of all the items that would be required. Also, this time we have taken a different approach altogether. We have created a dedicated category-wise list of the things that need to be packed.
So, without much ado, here we go.
Clothing and Gear for the Annapurna Circuit Trek
The major items that should pack (along with their approx. quantities) are given below:
- At least 10 quick drying t-shirts
- 2-3 cotton t-shirts for sleeping in
- 1 long-sleeved t-shirt to wear over the short ones
- A fleece sweater
- 10-12 underpants (4/5 sports bras for the women- please take sports bras for better comfort)
- A rainproof wind jacket/raincoat,
- A wind-cheater/poncho
- Thermal Pants and Shirts/t-shirts (2 should be enough)
- Trek Pants – 3-4
- Cap
- Woollen gloves
- Fleece Buff
- 3-4 pair of woollen socks
- Trekking Shoes
- Flip flops or slip-ons for when you are not trekking
- Knee Brace (Please keep if you have even a bit of knee trouble usually)
- Sunglasses – Polaroid with Category 3 and above
- Woollen beanie or a Monkey Cap
- Night wear (2 Pairs)
- Casual wear – during travel, site seeing (2 Pairs)
Try to wear a minimum of two-three layers of clothing in general and a minimum of four layers at higher altitudes to keep yourself warm. Also, make sure that your internal layers are of clothes that can dry easily. At night, even when you feel you are in a warm cozy environment in the lodge/hotel, make sure you wear adequate thermal clothes. As we mentioned, you can take off your trekking shoes here and let your feet relax in a slip-on or sandal. A lot of people wear thermal pants under their trekking pants instead of wearing woollen trek pants. This gives an extra layer of warmth that can help relax your muscles.
Given that a lot of walking is involved, we usually prefer that our trekkers carry merino wool socks. Not only are they breathable, but they also are fairly smooth and thus avoid any wear to your foot due to friction.
One last tip we would like to give as we close this section is that there are dedicated laundry services for mountaineers in larger villages. Hence, if you wish to, you can skip carrying one t-shirt daily. However, we would also like to note here that these services can be extremely expensive and given how one has to move from one village to another every day, it can be impractical too.
The Things in your Toilet Bag
A very obvious list, but we thought a “gentle reminder” would help. So here we go:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Facewash
- Wet-wipes
- Pain relief balm
- Medicine for AMS (we at TrekNomads carry a first-aid box containing the medicine anyway)*
- Paracetamol
- Electrol/ORS packs
- Sunscreen with SPF 50+
- Lip balm with SPF 30+
- Band-aid (Esp, for blisters)
- Quick Dry Towels
- ONLY Biodegradable Pads (for the ladies)
We would like to place additional emphasis on lip balm again because, at such high altitudes, it is common for the lips to get chapped, and sometimes they bleed and hurt too.
*Check with your physician before carrying any medicines
The Essential Travel Electronics
None of us can live without a phone, and all of us would love to capture breathtaking views. With this in mind, let us have a look at our list of essential travel electronics to pack for the Annapurna Circuit Trek:
- Power bank
- Phone
- Camera + respective lenses + extra battery
- An e-reader or booklight
- Headlight
- Chargers and cables
- Electronics organiser bag
While you can charge your electronics in almost every hotel or tea house, keeping a power bank handy is good. If you are a Kindle person, keep that, or keep a book light along for the long camping nights. Alternatively, you can also download your favourite series and watch them. Keep these entertaining pieces handy because you’ll not have much to do in the hotels or tea houses.
Especially for the “Clickographers”
We initially thought of making this a subtopic in the electronics section only, but then we know how much some of you love taking pics. Hence, here we are with a detailed list of the camera-related accessories you should keep. While you can take any camera and lenses you want, if you are considering buying some now, especially for the trek, go for a Fujifilm Lens 100-400mm for its exceptional photo quality. We also suggest that you bring a polarizing filter to darken the air in the photo, remove glare from surfaces and limit the reflections.
If you are thinking of keeping a tripod alone, you can avoid it unless you are sure to do some star photography. In addition to this, the following are the accessories to keep:
- Fujifilm XT-2 Silver
- Fujifilm Lens 10-24mm, F4
- Fujifilm Lens 23mm, F1.4
- Four camera batteries and a battery charger
- 2 SD cards (128 GB each)
Your Daily Trek Bag For Annapurna Circuit trek
There are a couple of things that we suggest you should keep along with you at all times. These include:
- Energy Bars
- 2l of water (carry in camel pouch)
- Water purification tablets
- Raincoat/Poncho
- Jacket
While we could have mentioned bottled water, we are firm believers in sustainability travel. Hence, we would advise reducing the usage of disposable plastic bottles and using water purification tablets instead. All these things mentioned above are available easily in Kathmandu, so you will not have to pack them and bring them from your hometown.
Also, make sure that you purchase enough of them in Kathmandu itself because they may not be available while on the trek, and even if they are, they’d be way too expensive.
PS: Make sure you get a good backpack along too. An average capacity of roughly 20+ litres helps.
The Sleeping Essentials
Last but not least, how do you prepare for a good night’s sleep? While decent hotels and tea houses are on the way, the infrastructure may not be perfectly suited for your individual needs. While we at TrekNomads make sure that you stay at the best of accommodations, you can always carry your own sleeping bag for extra comfort, cleanliness, and additional warmth. The sleeping bags hold enough warmth inside and keep you insulated from any other cold due to the falling temperature.
Should you NOT take a Porter: The final words
There are dedicated porters for hire that we at TrekNomads arrange for. However, if you suddenly feel adventurous and want to go without a porter, make sure your backpack is light. Ideally, not more than 1/5th of your body weight. So, if someone weighs roughly 60kg, ensure that your backpack isn’t more than 12kgs. Hence, pack only the essentials and no random stuff at all.
Also, even if you take a porter along, remember that the porter is also a human and not a beast of burden. As a responsible tourist, ensure you don’t load them more than 15kgs.
PS: For the money that needs to be taken along, your daily spend can be around Rs 1,000-1,500. While the TrekNomads team will arrange for all your boarding and lodging well in advance, keep the money because “what if you like something and want to buy it” or “what if you forgot something.”
Having said all that, hope it helped you get some clarity, and you will pack smartly.
See you on the Annapurna Circuit Trek soon!
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