Annapurna Base Camp trek is a high altitude mountain trek. You will have to walk for around 5-6 hours each day for more than a week that too, carrying a heavy backpack. So, before you pack, you must consider about the packing list for Annapurna Base Camp trek to ease your journey.
Packing a wise backpack for a long mountain trek itself is challenging. While packing you should make sure that you are including all the needed items and gears. Also, you should understand that packing unnecessary items add extra weight in your luggage, and, it is a burden especially to while walking in the rugged terrains for longer days.
With proper packaging, you can overcome the various difficulties that might come along during the trek. Even the difficult trails are easily climbed when you do not have overburden on your back and shoulder.
Here is a list of some essential goods that you should include in your backpack list. The list is not mandatory. You can personalize it according to your needs.
Lists of Clothing to Pack for ABC Trek
Pack your clothes depending on the season you are trekking in. For cold, you will need warm gears. For monsoon, you will need a rain gear. Wear in layers so that you can take off the outer layer while you feel hot and sweaty.
For Spring and Autumn
Spring (March, April, May) and Autumn (September, October, November) are the time when Annapurna region experiences the warm weather with the bearable temperatures in the whole year. These months are the best time to trek to ABC. While trekking under the sun, you will sweat a lot. So, wear light-weight cotton clothes. Wearing full sleeved shirts and t-shirts will prevent you from getting suntans.
For your Spring/ Autumn trek to the Annapurna Base Camp, you won’t need extra warm and woolen clothes. But you need thermals for the night. This makes your backpack lighter too.
Here we have listed some of the clothing you shouldn’t miss for your ABC trek in November:
- Lightweight hiking shirt
- Full or half Pants/ Trousers
- Hiking underwear
- Thermals
- A pair of good quality trekking shoes
- Wind-cheater Jacket and trousers
- Lightweight down jacket
- A pair of hiking sandals
- Gloves
- Lightweight hiking socks
- Shorts
- Light underwears
- Comfortable Sports Bras (for girls)
- A Sun Hat
- Sunglasses
For more information on the weather and temperatures in the Spring trek to ABC, you can check: Annapurna Base Camp Trek in March, Annapurna Base Camp Trek in April, Annapurna Base Camp Trek in May.
For Monsoon/ Summer
Monsoon (June, July, August) time sees frequent rainfalls. Most of the evenings and nights are rainy. The atmosphere is more humid. The daytime has a mild temperature if it rains. But on sunny dasy it is quite hotter in June. However, nights and mornings at the base camp can get cold due to downpours.
Monsoon is the time when leeches and wild bugs are more active on the trail. Thus, you must pack proof gears. Do not forget carrying table salt, for leeches, and anti-bug lotions.
For monsoon trek to ABC, pack these clothing:
- Full sleeve trekking Shirt
- Windproof/ waterproof trekking trousers (long)
- Windstopper Jacket (waterproof)
- Anti-leech Socks
- Down Jacket for cold nights
- A Rain jacket
- A Rain Pant
- Waterproof trekking boots
Are you planning your Annapurna Base Camp Trek? Don't hesitate to contact us. Tell us your requirements, we can help you to make your trip memorable.
For Winter
Winter (December, January, February) at the Annapurna Base Camp is terribly cold. During mid-winter, the weather conditions at the base camp might get worse. You may encounter terrible snow storms and avalanche breakdowns.
The winter nights are chilling. The temperature at base camp might drop down below the freezing temperature. The cold is hard to bear if you wear inadequate clothing. Thus, you must wear warm clothes in layers to keep your body heat maintained.
Here we have listed some of the must pack clothing for Annapurna Base Camp trek in December.
- Warm Shirt and Trousers
- A woolen cap
- A woolen scarf
- Layered clothing
- Lightweight woolen jumper/ sweater
- Down jacket or down vest
- Fleece or wool trousers
- Heavyweight gloves or mittens
- Thermals
- Thermal underwears
Lists of Hygiene and Toiletries for Annapurna Base Camp Trek
A key to a successful trek is a well-maintained health and hygiene. The trek to the Annapurna Base Camp takes you into mountains and Himalayas. The atmosphere there differs from the environment that you dwell in.
Adapting with the fairly new surrounding is a challenge to most of the trekkers. While adapting, you must take good care of hygiene and health. You cannot ignore your day to day personal hygiene. Falling ill indicates a full stop to your trek.
So, carry all the essentials for your everyday use. Carry small packs of items that you will need during the trek.
We have listed some important toiletries and hygiene products for you here:
- Sunscreen
- Face and Body Moisturizer
- Lip guard
- Toothpaste and A Toothbrush
- Multipurpose Soap
- Shampoo
- Hand sanitizer
- A lightweight Towel
- Toilet Paper
- Deodorant
- First aid kit with medicines (for altitude sickness, Diarrhea, sprains, cold)
- Regular medicines
- Nail Clippers
- Sanitary pads (for girls)
Important Travel Documents to Pack for ABC Trek
For the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, you will require two permits: the ACAP permit and The TIMS Card. There are various checkpoints on the trek where you have to verify your trek permits. So, you should keep them handy throughout the trek.
Here is a list of documents that you must carry with you at all times during the trek:
- Your Passport
- Visa
- Travel Insurance
- Air Tickets
- Voucher
- Passport Sized Photos
- Map and Guide Book ( it will help you to choose your route)
- Money (Nepali currency) and money bag (The trail is remote. There are no banks and ATMs on the trail. Carry enough cash before you leave Pokhara.)
- The two Permits
- ACAP
- TIMS Card
Basic Electronics to Pack for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Mobile Phone and Charger
- Camera, Memory Cards and Charger or Batteries
- Tripod Stands
- Headlamp and Extra Batteries
- Power Bank
- Plug Adapter
Backpack for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
While packing all your gear inside a backpack, you will require a good size. Something between 35- 55L is fine. While purchasing it, make sure all your gear fits in. Choose a backpack that is comfortable to carry and has comfortable back support.
You might also require a backpack cover. A rain cover is the best for monsoon trek. Trekking bags are easier to carry. Carrying best-rated trekking bag is wiser.
Footwears for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- A pair of good quality and comfortable Hiking Boots (water resistant)
- A pair of casual Sandals
- Trekking Socks (2 - 3 pairs)
Note:
a) Try your boots and socks at home before your trek. If you break them beforehand, you won’t get blisters or any other problems with them.
b) Wear boots with sturdy soles during monsoon. Also, make sure they are water-proof. They are comfortable while walking over wet and slippery trails.
Are you planning your Annapurna Base Camp Trek? Don't hesitate to contact us. Tell us your requirements, we can help you to make your trip memorable.
Sleeping Gear to Pack for the ABC Trek
The sleeping beds at the tea houses aren’t always clean. Sometimes they even smell bad. So, if you bring your own sleeping bag, with a liner and pillow case, you shouldn’t worry about bad beds.
During cold seasons, you might be cold even when you get enough blankets. So, if you pack a lightweight and compressible sleeping bag with a hood, you need not to worry about the chilling nights.
The sleeping bag is recommended any time of the year you are trekking to because not everywhere you may get extra blankets in cold nights.
Extra Gears to Pack for the ABC Trek
What you pack in your backpack isn’t mandatory. It’s you who is trekking. So, you might need some extra items for yourself. Here is a basic list of some extra gears that you might require for your Annapurna base camp trek:
- Trekking Poles
- Binoculars
- Alarm Clock
- Ear Plug
- Eye Mask
Some Tips on Wise Packaging for Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Avoid carrying unnecessary electronic gadgets like laptop, iPad, and speakers. Do not include unnecessary heavy clothing. Hire a porter if you will have difficulty in trekking while carrying the load.
- Include some energy bars or chocolates in your backpack. You can have them while you feel tired in the mid of the trek. Also, you can enjoy them at various stops at the meadows or checkpoints.
- While trekking in summer, you will get sweatier. You might get sores on your thighs while wearing hard fabric underwears. So, bring a soft and breathable fabric underwears and bras to prevent chafe.
- If you are a sports loving person, you can also carry travel games like, chess, backgammon, scrabble, etc. You can also carry some reading and writing materials like Novels by your favorite writers and travel books.
- Drinking plenty of water is absolutely required while trekking in the Himalayas. Carry your own refillable water bottle rather than buying the bottled water on the trek. The bottled water is expensive.
- Water treatment is absolutely necessary. Drinking untreated water means you are surely getting ill. So, do not forget to carry water purifiers.
- The sanitary products for girls are hardly available while on the trek. So, purchase tampons at Pokhara/ Kathmandu if you menstruate. Carry them with you if you need them on the trek.
- Rain Protection gear is essential during monsoon treks to ABC. Wet gear may ruin the trek. So, bring a rain cover for your backpack. You can also purchase plastic sheets to protect your gear from rain.
Do not carry
- Tent (teahouse trekking is best in ABC trek)
- Climbing gears, there is no technical climbing.
- Extra clothing and gear
- Unnecessary and heavy electronic gadgets like laptop
- Lots of outfit changes
You shouldn’t carry all your trekking gears from your home. You can buy everything you need at trekkers shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara. But, make sure you purchase quality gears that work for you.
If you think that buying all the gears is expensive, you can also rent the trekking gears by paying a certain amount on per day basis. You can hire trekking gears from Kathmandu for USD 1-USD 10 per day. This will also reduce the cost of buying all new gears. Moreover, trekkers find it more efficient while renting the trek gears than purchasing new ones.
Final Say,
We hope that you now have basic ideas on what to pack for your Annapurna Base camp trek. Along with this details on packing lists for Annapurna Base Camp do research on what the current weather is like in the region. This will give you a more clear vision on what do you need to pack for a comfortable trek.
For more information about ABC trek or any other treks in Nepal, contact us.
