What To Pack For Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Trekking Routes and What Annapurna Circuit Trek Offers

Trek mainly starts from Besisahar, Lamjung, and takes you through the tall hills covered with tall grass giving you a mesmerizing view. You can also encounter some high-flowing waterfalls no one can complain about.

After passing the chain of beautiful hills now, your turn is to pass through the barren plains of Manang, located at the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Then you'll head towards multipath after having a well-deserved moment at the Thorung La Pass (5,416 m).

The journey takes you to two base camps and offers spectacular views of several Himalayan peaks. So while all of this may be charming, there are many things to consider for a successful journey. The change in climate within a few days will demand several materials to consider to make your trail easier.

What To Pack For Annapurna Circuit Trek?

 Some essential items to pack for the Annapurna Circuit Trek are listed below:

Clothing for the Winter Season

1. Hiking boots and socks: Ensure you have comfortable hiking boots and socks to protect your feet during the trek.

2. Warm clothes: The temperature can drop significantly during the trek; therefore, you should pack warm clothes like jackets, gloves, and hats. While selecting a jacket, you may go for a warm-down jacket to protect against snow, sleet, and hail. Woolen gloves and hats are highly recommended.

3. A woolen scarf: Ensure you have a warm woolen scarf to warm your neck area.

4. Nontrekking shoes: Give your feet a proper break at the end of each day with a comfy pair of shoes. A pair of comfy sneakers with half shocks is also a good idea.

5. Thermal pants and under wares: You need warm thermal wear like long johns and base layers to cope with decreasing temperature.

Clothing for the Summer Season

1. Hiking boots and socks: Hiking boots are a must for any season, so make sure you have comfortable hiking boots and socks to protect your feet during the trek.

2. Trekking pants: Pack lightweight, quick-drying pants that are comfortable to hike in.

3. Nontrekking shoes: You should pack a pair of comfy sneakers to give your feet a proper rest for the next day, 

4. T-shirts: During the peak, daylight weather may get much warmer, so to cope with the warmth, you should always carry a comfy and lightweight T-shirt. As a result, it is advised to pack lightweight, quick-drying clothing during the heat of the day, such as shorts and T-shirts.

5. Trekking Shocks: Couple a pair of comfy shocks is a must while trekking during the summer season.

6. Slippers: A pair of comfy slippers may help your feet to get proper rest and make them feel comfy.

Sleeping Gears

1. Sleeping bag: Depending on the time of year you trek, lower altitudes don't get too cold, but you'll need at least a sleeping bag when you get to higher camps. There are plenty of places in Kathmandu and Pokhara to hire or buy good-quality sleeping bags – your guide can help you with this before the trek.

2. Sleep sheet (cotton, silk, or thermal): A sleep sheet will add an extra layer of warmth and provides a more hygienic and better sleeping experience.

Gears And Equipment

1. Trekking poles: Trekking poles act as another set of limbs to give you more stability. Poles help you maintain your balance when crossing rivers, snowfields, and ice patches, trekking along narrow ridgelines. So trekking poles is a helpful thing for trekking.

2. Extra batteries: Your mobile or camera batteries may die at any moment. For this, you may require an extra power bank.

3. Sunglasses with UV protection: Make sure to have UV-protected glasses. You should always wear sunglass to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

4. Water bottles (at least 2 liters total capacity): You may need help accessing good water facilities, so carry a water bottle that can hold your capacity.

5. Water purification tablets or filters: These can help remove any undesirable chemicals or solids from water.  

6. First aid kit (including altitude sickness medication): With the increase in altitude level, minor or significant injuries may occur, so you must bring a basic first aid kit which will always be handy to heal minor injuries or illnesses

7. Duct tape and safety pins (for gear repair): Duct tape has become multipurpose and is used for general sealing, patching holes, packing boxes, and repairs. So ensure you have duct tape and some safety pins like:- nail cutters, scissors, and so on. 

8. Camera and spare batteries: You may require a high-resolution camera to capture every moment during a trek, as it may be one of your life's best experiences. However, it is not a primary requirement.

9. Tripod stands: This may help capture landscape and slow-motion videos. Although this is not an essential requirement, we must consider our bag weight.

Toiletries

When it comes to the toiletries on your Annapurna Circuit packing list, try to take only the amount of each item you need. Some are:-

• Toothbrush and toothpaste-Biodegradable soap and shampoo
• Hand sanitizer
• Sunscreen 
• Lip balm with SPF
• Hand cream
• Face wash
• Ear plugs
• Wet wipes
• Insect repellent for mosquitoes and other insects.

Note: Access to the water supply is challenging in Annapurna Circuit Trek, so carry a water-free hand sanitizer to clean your hand. You will only sometimes be able to shower along the trek. As a result, wet wipes can be a great alternative.

Miscellaneous

Cash (Nepalese rupees) and credit card:

A valid Nepali debit or credit card and a Nepalese rupee are necessary for a foreigner. Different banks are providing the service of foreign exchange. You can check out any bank for this service.

Passport and necessary permits/visas:

For Annapurna Circuit Trek, we need two permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permits (ACAP) and Trekkers' Information Management System Permit (TIMS). And we should remember to pack these items in our trekking bag. ACAP permits are available in the Tourism Board of Nepal and Pokhara, paying Rs 3000 Nepali currency (during regular working days). However, to avoid extra supplementary days to obtain permits, your travel agency can assist behalf of you.

Likewise, TIMS is another must-to-have permit for Annapurna Base Camp Trek. This permit applies to all Nepal trekking regions, but each region needs different TIMS Permits. TIMS Permits are used only once until you are in the trekking region. TIMS permits help to keep a record of the trekkers and helps in quick rescue operation during any emergency. 

TIMS permits are available from the Trekking Agencies Association Of Nepal (TAAN) office in Kathmandu. They are also available in Pokhara from the TAAN office Pokhara or through trekking agencies.TIMS permits cost 20 USD for individual trekkers; if applied through the agencies, they cost 10 USD.       

Map and Guidebook of the Area

If you're trekking without a guide, then a good map and the guidebook of the trekking path is a must to avoid any dilemma while choosing routes.

Factors To Consider While Packing A Bag For Annapurna Circuit Trek

1. Weather: The Annapurna Circuit Trek has diverse weather conditions, so you should pack clothes that will keep you warm and dry in case of rain or snow. 

2. Altitude: The trek's highest point is Thorong La Pass, over 5,000 meters above sea level. As a result, you should pack clothes that will keep you warm in high altitudes.

3. Duration: The Annapurna Circuit Trek takes 15 to 20 days, so pack enough clothes and supplies to last the entire trek.

4. Weight: Remember that you will carry your backpack for the entire trek, so pack only essential items and avoid overpacking.

5. Health: The trek is physically demanding, so you should pack items that will help you stay healthy, such as a first aid kit, water purification tablets, and medication for altitude sickness.

6. Culture: Nepal is a conservative country with a diverse culture, so understanding culture may help you through your trek.

Conclusion

In conclusion, packaging efficiently and prioritizing necessities to prepare for the Annapurna Circuit Trek is crucial. You should bring hiking footwear, layers of warm clothing, rain gear, a sleeping bag, a headlamp with extra batteries, water bottles with purification tablets, trekking poles, sunscreen, sunglasses, a first aid box, and your toiletries and medicines. Remember that this doesn’t include the necessary items, so you should add things according to your needs. Remember to pack lightly and only bring what you need to minimize the weight you'll carry during the trek.