Th Annapurna Base Camp trek is one of the most famous trekking routes in the world because it has some of the most beautiful views. In front of the beautiful Himalayas, it is an event that will change your life. The ABC trek takes you into a world of perfect natural beauty, with towering peaks and a rich culture. However, it also brings some difficulties that you need to be ready for.

Packing is the most important thing you can do to get ready for this adventure in the beautiful Annapurna area. Not only does the right way to pack make you more comfortable, but it also makes sure you are safe and makes your hiking experience more enjoyable. It’s important to bring all the gear you need for the walk, but it’s also important to make sure you don’t bring too much, which can make the trip harder.

We’ve put together a list of things you should do when packing your gear so that you don’t get stuck or stressed out by all the choices. No matter how much you know about trekking, this blog can help you. Feel free to make small changes to the list and make it your own based on your needs and the time of year you want to go hiking.

Learn about your ABC journey.

On the Annapurna Base Camp trek, the weather changes as you go from Pokhara, which is lower on the trail, to the highest point of the trek, which is at the Annapurna Base Camp. This trek goes up and down a lot, with lots of highs and lows. The normal route for this trek takes about 9–11 days, or 1 and a half weeks, and goes through remote villages. It has an average elevation change of 3,230 meters (10,595 feet), and covers a distance of 110 kilometers (68 miles). Get ready, because the trip will have sections of stone stairs that seem to go on forever. The ABC trip is hard because it goes through rough terrain with lots of steep climbs and descents.

Annapurna base camp in the early morning

You need to have a full packing list with clothes, shoes, health supplies, and other things to help you deal with all of these problems in places that aren’t known to you. As the trip isn’t always planned out, your gear needs to be flexible, long-lasting, and light. Being flexible and long-lasting are also benefits. But it can be hard and confusing to make a list while keeping all of this in mind. So, use the list of things below to make sure you don’t pack too much. These things can help you stay alive during your trekking trip and make your trip easier and more comfy.

Essentials for Trekking in Annapurna Base Camp

Packs for back and day

One of the most important things to bring on the ABC trip is a large, comfortable backpack that is well-organized and light. This is where all of your gear and other necessities will go. Make sure your backpack is well packed, and watch movies online for more help. Ace the Himalaya will give you a free 80-liter backpack bag to store all of your extra stuff for the day, and a porter will carry it for you.

Getting across the bridge during the ABC trip

Also, bring a daypack, especially one that’s 30 to 50 liters, to hold all the things you might need during the day, like cash, documents, a water bottle, snacks, a camera, and so on. Please remember to bring a rain cover with you on the hike. It will come in handy if it starts to rain suddenly.

Gear for sleeping

Even though the beds at the teahouses will be comfortable and warm, you should still bring your own sleeping bags to make sure you stay clean during the walk. When shopping for a sleeping bag, think about how comfortable it is and what temperature range it covers. For the cold Annapurna region, you should get a four-season sleeping bag.

Make sure to bring a sleeping bag cover with you in case it snows. This will add an extra layer of warmth and cleanliness. On the way up to Chhomrong, you can buy things to use for sleeping. As an alternative, renting the sleeping bag for an extra fee may be easier and more cost-effective, especially if you don’t go on many treks.

Down jacket that is puffy

In the higher parts of the Annapurna Base Camp hike, like the Annapurna Sanctuary, where the temperatures drop below freezing, a puffy down jacket is the best way to stay warm. A thick down jacket keeps you warm in very cold weather. This jacket acts as an insulator and keeps your body heat inside, so it doesn’t escape. This helps you stay warm on the walk, which is very cold. If you need a jacket, buy one from a reputable brand like Montbell or Mountain Hardwear.

For people who don’t go on treks very often, though, agencies offer the choice to rent these jackets for an extra fee.

Important Clothes: How to Layer Like a Pro

From Pokhara to the Annapurna Base Camp, which is 3,230 meters above sea level, the ABC is a long trip where the temperature changes a lot. The trekkers have to deal with uncertain weather. At any point along the trail, it could suddenly rain or snow. Because of this, it is important to easily adjust to the weather so that you can enjoy the trip. Layering is the best way to deal with changing weather because it makes it easy to add or remove layers.

Shirts and Hats

Hat or sun hat

Each day on the ABC trip, you will walk in the hot sun for about 5 to 7 hours on average. Because of this, wearing a sun hat or cap lets you enjoy the warmth of the sun while protecting you from it’s dangerous rays. It also keeps you from getting sunburned or heat stroke, and it protects your eyes from the glare so you can enjoy the beautiful view of the area. At Ace the Himalaya, we give each trekker a free baseball cap at the meeting before the trip.

Hat made of knitting

It gets very cold in the Annapurna region, especially in the mornings and nights and when it snows. For those times, a wool hat or a beanie is very helpful because it’s cold outside.

A scarf or a neck gaiter

Because it covers less skin, a scarf or neck gaiter keeps you from getting sunburns and keeps you warm.

Inner Clothing:

A base layer keeps you warm and is in close contact with your skin. You should pack base layers made of technical fabrics like merino wool and synthetics that can breathe, wick away moisture, fight odors, and keep you warm. In the harsh conditions of the trek, materials that dry quickly are an extra benefit. Bring both short- and long-sleeved shirts so that you can choose what to wear based on the temperature of the section.

Shell that keeps out water and wind

Add an extra layer that is waterproof and windproof on top of your base layer to help keep you warm in bad weather on the journey. It is recommended that you bring a hard-shell jacket for hiking because it will protect you from snow, strong winds, and heavy rain.

Jacket made of fleece

It is highly recommended that you bring a fleece jacket or a sweater because they are made to keep the air inside. Because it has an insulation layer, the fleece jacket helps to keep you warm even when the base layers are on.

Legs and feet

Pants for hiking

Thermal or technical fabric pants should be on your packing list at all times so that they can be worn with your torso clothing. After that, bring a good pair of hiking pants. Stretchy pants make the long hours of walking more comfortable, and material that is breathable and dries quickly makes sure that the trip is easy.

During the warmer parts of the trip, hiking pants might not be the most comfortable thing to wear and could even lead to heat stroke. To avoid that, bring climbing shorts with you to make sure the air flows properly.

There is Mt. Machhapuchhare in the background of the Annapurna Base Camp trail.

One good piece of advice is to bring convertible pants instead of separate pants and shorts. This is easier, takes less time, and takes up less room.

Wear shell pants that are the same length as your body. These pants will protect you from bugs, snow, wind, rain, and any kind of scratches from the trail’s thick undergrowth.

Weather that was rainy during the Annapurna Base Camp trek

Give your body a break from hiking clothes while you’re at teahouses. Bring pants or shorts that are easy on the body so you can relax. What you wear under your clothes is the best choice for you. Bring extra underwear and enough clothes to last you the whole trek, since you might not be able to wash them or buy new ones. Remember these things:

• Bring an extra bag to put your used underwear in until you can do washing.
• For long walks, women should wear sports bras.
• Bring sleeping clothes and pajamas that are warm and comfy.
• Shoes and boots
• Choose underwear that dries quickly and advanced fabrics.

Boots for hiking

Every day on the ABC trek, you will have to walk for long hours on difficult terrain with steep ups and downs and a huge number of stairs. It is important to buy trekking boots that are comfy, last a long time, and have good grip.

Bring shoes that are well worn, or if you buy new ones, make sure to break them in well before the trip to avoid getting sores, blisters, and hot spots. Make sure your boots are strong, waterproof, and give your ankles enough support.

Extra Socks

Liner socks aren’t required, but they make you more comfortable by wicking away sweat, and the technical fabric helps keep your feet from getting blisters. For extra warmth, wear it under your hiking socks.

Socks for hiking

When you wear your boots, make sure you wear good quality hiking socks that give you extra support and padding for those long, hard walks you take every day. Plus, they keep your feet from getting burns and pain.

Socks made of wool

Some parts of the ABC trip are so high that it can get below freezing, especially in the winter. Thus, hiking socks might not be enough to keep your feet warm in that case. So, bring a good pair of wool socks to keep your feet from getting cold and swollen.

Everyday Shoes

Don’t wear hiking boots all the time. Bring shoes that are lighter and more comfortable for when you’re in the teahouses or visiting the villages along the ABC trial.

Cleats for ice

And even though hiking shoes have a good grip, micro spikes or ice cleats are better for walking on the snowy paths of the Annapurna Base Camp trek, especially in the winter.

The Gaiter

We should add gaiters to our list of things to bring because they protect your boots from dust, dirt, snow, water, and thick undergrowth as you walk through the woods. They also cover the bottom of your legs.

Safety for the hands

Because your hands and other uncovered parts of your body are more likely to get cold, it is very important that you protect them. If you don’t protect your hands, you could get frost nips or bites, or your hands and fingers could swell up from the cold.

Put these things on your list of things to bring on your trip to make sure you are fully protected.

Gloves for lines

Wearing lining gloves is helpful because they help wick away sweat, keep your hands warmer, let air flow through, and dry quickly. Choose gloves made of technical fabric that are light so that you can wear them as a base layer when it gets cold.

Gloves with shells

Putting on shell gloves over insulation gloves can help keep your hands warmer and safer, especially on windy and wet days. Choose the ones that are waterproof to keep you dry even when it snows.

Health, cleanliness, and food

Kit for First Aid

Make sure you have the basic medicines and emergency supplies you need for basic illnesses and small injuries with you at all times. Add basic first aid supplies and any prescription drugs to your first aid kit. Check off the items on the list below:

• Drug for pain
• A wide-range drug
• Cough medicine
• Pain relievers
• Bismuth subsalicylate can help with diarrhea or stomach pain.
• Acetazolamide pills of 125 mg or 250 mg for altitude sickness (talk to your doctor).
• Sticky pads, bandages, tape, and blister plasters
• Antibiotic cream or gel
• Stretch wraps
• prescription drugs, if any
• Protecting the sun

When you walk closer to the sun on the ABC trip, the sun’s rays will get stronger because you are going up in elevation. It puts you at risk for burns and UV damage. Because of this, sunscreen should be an important thing that you make sure you bring with you. If you want to protect yourself from both UVA and UVB rays, choose a broad-spectrum high SPF sunscreen.

Protecting your face is very important, but protecting your lips is just as important, since the sun can burn and chap your lips. So, to protect your lips from damage, take lip balm with SPF.

It’s better to choose a brand you know and trust than to try out new brands while you’re on the trip.

Cream that keeps mosquitoes away

On the remote trails of the ABC area, you never know what kind of bugs you might see. Insect or mosquito repellent cream can help you stay healthy on the hike by keeping you from getting some nasty diseases.

Hygiene for yourself

You won’t be able to use your usual comforts, like a hot shower, while you’re on the ABC trip. Because of this, you should bring some goods with you to stay clean during the trek.

• Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and other toiletries (preferably compostable ones)
• Paper Towels
• Normal and germ-killing wet wipes
• Use hand sanitizer
• Towel that dries quickly
• Hygiene for Women

Some of the ABC walk route goes through remote parts of Nepal, so you might not always be able to buy toiletries. For that reason, make sure you bring enough sanitary items to last the whole trip. It is strongly suggested that you choose products that are good for the earth, such as a menstrual cup or reusable pads.

Food for snacking

While you are on the walk, you will get to try delicious Nepalese food. But it’s a good idea to bring healthy snacks like energy bars or nuts with you so your taste buds don’t get tired and so you have the energy you need between long walks. To keep your electrolytes in balance and avoid altitude sickness, you need to eat snacks that are high in calories and hydrating salts.

Other Things You Have to Have

Besides your usual clothes and gear, you should also make sure to bring the following items for a smooth and enjoyable trip. Make sure you don’t forget any of these things; the list was made with the fact that the trip can go in any direction in mind.

• ID card
• Airline Tickets (Please leave a copy at our office in Kathmandu in case the flight date changes.)
• Reusable bottle of water
• A tank for water
• Extra shots the size of a passport
• Tablets or small filters that clean water
• A pillowcase
• Dry bags that won’t get wet for bringing cash and important papers
• Bag covers and rain covers
• More Than the Basics

Sticks for hiking

Trekking poles are not required, but they can be very helpful on the Annapurna Base Camp hike. They support you and, most importantly, absorb shock, which helps you on the steep descents of the stone stairs that are part of the ABC walk.

On the ABC trek, a trekking pole helps you find your balance so you can stay on your feet and lessens the effect on your knees as you walk.

Hats and sunglasses

As you walk in the Annapurna area in the hot sun, it is very important that you protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. In order to protect your eyes from UV rays, dust, debris, and the glare of snow, don’t forget to bring a good pair of shades. Polarized lenses are best.

Sunglasses are an important piece of gear for trekkers because they block UV light and cut down on glare.

There’s always the option to skip the trendy shades and go for the more useful changeable glasses.

A headlamp

It’s helpful to bring a headlamp with extra batteries and a red-light mode for the trip, since you might start early or end late some days. The headlamp can be very useful on parts of the ABC trip like the hike to Poon Hill.

It lets you walk through the dense forest without using your hands, and the red-light mode makes it even easier to see without putting too much pressure on your eyes.

Items

There are some things that you don’t have to have in your backpack, but having them can make your hiking experience better and easier. Here are some of them, and you can choose your favorite:

• Devices for navigation
• Camera and cell phone
• Devices for communication
• Extra batteries or a power bank
• Sun chargers
• Several tools
• Heater for hot water
• Keep a journal or notebook to write down everything that happens.
• Playing cards
• E-reader or book
• Seeing aids
• Women’s pee bottle or pee tube
• Make a noise
• Bonus Tips and Smart Ways to Pack

When you pack, you should treat the mountains with care and choose eco-friendly packing as part of the “Leave No Trace” policy.

Bring reusable water bottles and items that break down naturally, and stay away from single-use plastic. 

When you’re shopping for gifts, try to choose items that are good for the environment.

Use compression bags and packing cubes to keep your things organized and pack smart and light. Save room and make your hike more pleasant.

Spread the weight out evenly in your bag. You can always watch videos on YouTube to get more help!

Choose clothes and gear that can be used for more than one thing, like pants that can be worn as shorts or long pants. 

Don’t forget to bring extras in case something goes wrong on the hike.

Bring solar chargers and other small electronics if you want to be able to charge your phones and other electronics while you journey.

Take care not to use your phone too much, and enjoy the beauty of nature to the fullest!

If you don’t want to get lost on the road, make sure you test your gear before you go on the hike.

You should rent bulky items like sleeping bags and puffy down jackets if you don’t go on hikes very often. This is a more suitable and useful option.

Since the trek will take you through remote towns, it’s best not to wear clothes that are too tight or uncomfortable, like yoga pants that are made of elastic. Even though it might feel good, make sure you put something else over it so you don’t offend the locals.