Trekking in the Annapurna Circuit

Packing List For Springtime Trekking On The Annapurna Circuit

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If you’re like us, you are probably thinking the same thing we were, “what the heck do I pack for the Annapurna Circuit?” It’s the freaking Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world, best be prepared! No worries, we have a complete packing list for springtime trekking on the Annapurna Circuit.

Buying Trekking Gear in Pokhara and Kathmandu

We’ll get to our gear list in a second but you should know that we bought majority of our items in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Why? Prior to and after our 35 days in Nepal, we backpacked all over Southeast Asia and it is hot, hot, hot there!

So, to avoid unnecessary weight and clothes, we opted to ONLY bring our hiking boots, packs and waterproof shells from home. Everything else we bought in Pokhara and Kathmandu.

SIDE NOTE: Please make sure your boots are WELL WORN in. The trek will murder your poor tootsies if you are hiking in brand new boots.

Buying & Renting Gear

You can rent or buy everything you need for the APC trek in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There is an abundance of fake as well as real gear shops for you to choose from.

For us, we went the fake route.

Being on a budget, we didn’t have the luxury of buying the good stuff. How was the fake stuff you ask? Totally fine.

The gear did what we needed it to do. The main difference between “fake” and “real” gear is the amount of time it will last you. If you need it for just one trek, we’d recommend saving the rupees and going the fake route.

Selling Gear

When you’re done with the trek, you can sell your gear back to the shops in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Fair warning, you won’t get anything near what you paid for them.

Packing List For The Annapurna Circuit, Nepal

Again, the below list is what we packed for our March trek in the Himalayas.

The key is to carry as little as possible. REMEMBER, you are hiking 6-8 hours every day, with your pack, so downsize like you’ve never downsized before.

You’re going to be stinky and a little gross. So just embrace it.

The below list covers both male and female… I think you’ll know which items go with who 🙂

Okay, so the gear list…Please note, this is per person.

Foot Ware
  • 2-3 pairs of smartwool hiking socks
  • 1 pair of hiking boots (waterproof and ankle high). Gortex recommended.
  • 1 pair of sandals (this is for at night to wear around the camp to let your boots and feet air out)
Base-Layer
  • 1 thermal base layer (top and bottom)
Mid-Layer
  • 1 micro fleece
  • 1 long sleeved, quick dry shirt
  • 2-3 pairs of quick dry shirts
Outer-Layer
  • 1 waterproof, insulated jacket
Additional Clothing
  • 1 UV buff
  • 1 pair of shorts (the first few days, it can get hot. Having a pair of shorts comes in handy)
  • 4-5 pairs of underwear
  • 1-2 sports bras
  • 1 swim suit or dry fast bra/panties/boxers (for the hot springs)
  • 1 stocking cap/ear warmers
  • 1 pair of gloves
  • 1 yak wool shawl (we picked this up in Pokhara and it was the best decision. Kept us so warm)
  • 1 neck warmer
Misc. Items
  • 1 pair of trekking Poles
  • Extra shoelaces for our boots
  • Trail Snacks
  • LOTS OF MONEY
    • ATMS do not exist on the trek. We budgeted $25 each per day but you would be able to do it for less
  • Duct tape
  • Swiss Army Knife
  • Thermos
  • Water Filter or Purification Tablets
  • Power Bank (outlets sometimes don’t work and there is a queue to use them)
  • Travel power adapter
  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Playing cards
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Sleep Mask
  • Sleep sheet
  • Head lamp
  • Detergent bar
  • Journal
Toiletries (all travel size)
  • Toothbrush / Toothpaste
  • Hair brush / Hair ties / Bobby pins
  • Body Soap / Conditioner / Shampoo
  • Razor
  • Feminine care products
  • Chapstick
  • Lotion
  • Deodorant
  • Toilet paper
 Medicines
  • Altitude sickness meds
  • Diarrhea / Upset tummy meds
  • Ciprofloxacin (antibiotic)
  • Tylenol
  • Vitamins
  • Tiger Balm or Icy Hot (for sore muscles)
First Aid Kit
  • Mole skin
  • Bandaids
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Neosporin
  • Anti-inflammatory and itch cream
Optional Items
  • Sleeping Bags.
    • We did not bring one. We went in low season where blankets were abundant. If you go in high season you run the risk of tea houses running out of blankets and nights were COLD. Scratch that. They were an arctic tundra.
  • Another pair of thermal layers.
    • We wore ours almost every day so another pair would have been nice to change in and out of.

Overall Trekking Pack Weight

The above list looks lengthy but there honestly isn’t one thing we would have left out. Our packs were not stuffed to the brim and we had plenty of room in them on the trek.

My (Lauren’s) pack weight was about 18lbs (8kgs) and Jesse’s was about 22lbs (9kgs).

I (Lauren) used my Deuter Lite Packs (60 liters + 10) and Jesse used his Deuter Lite Pack (65 liters + 10) and they worked marvelously!

WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT?

Trekking the Annapurna Circuit. Your Travel Guide To Hiking Nepal.

Where To Stop And Stay On The Annapurna Circuit. 


PIN IT FOR LATER

For more travel tips, guides and awesome travel shots, be sure to poke around our site, follow us on Instagram @wanderingstusPinterest and on Facebook. Oh, and if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section. We’re happy to answer. Or, just leave us a positive note!

Happy Travels,

– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stüs)


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