Annapurna Circuit Trek Packing List: Complete Gear Checklist

Packing Principles

Because the Circuit is a teahouse trek, you sleep in lodges and eat cooked meals, so there is no tent, stove or food to carry. But you must pack for everything from subtropical heat to a sub-zero, gusty pass. The rules that matter:

• Layer, don't bulk. Temperatures swing from warm Marsyangdi valley to well below freezing on the Thorong La. Several thin layers beat one thick one.
• Plan for wind. The Kali Gandaki and the pass are fiercely windy, a proper windproof shell is a safety item, not a comfort one.
• Keep it light. If a porter carries your duffel, aim for under 10–12 kg; your daypack holds water, layers and valuables.

Clothing (the layering system)

Footwear & Gear

• Broken-in trekking boots with ankle support, the single most important item.
• Camp shoes/sandals for evenings in the lodge.
• Trekking poles, strongly recommended for the long 1,600 m descent off the pass.
• Daypack (25–35 L) with a rain cover.
• Duffel/kit bag if using a porter.
• Sleeping bag rated to about −10 to −15 °C (the high camps are far colder than lower ABC-style treks).
• Headlamp + spare batteries, essential for the pre-dawn pass start.
• Water bottles/bladder (2–3 L) + purification (filter, tablets or SteriPen).
• Power bank, charging costs money and is scarce and pricey high up.

Documents, Toiletries & Medical Kit

Documents

• Passport + photocopies, ACAP & TIMS permits (see permits guide), passport photos, travel insurance with helicopter-evacuation cover to at least 5,500 m, cash in Nepali rupees for the whole trek.

Toiletries

• High-SPF sunscreen and SPF lip balm (UV is fierce at altitude), quick-dry towel, biodegradable soap, hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toilet paper, personal hygiene items.

Medical kit

• Blister plasters, painkillers, rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoea and broad-spectrum antibiotics (consult your doctor), throat lozenges, any personal medication.
• Acetazolamide (Diamox) for the Thorong La if your doctor advises it, see the altitude sickness guide.

What to Rent in Pokhara (and Seasonal Tweaks)

You do not need to buy everything. Pokhara's trekking shops rent the bulky, expensive items cheaply, typically NPR 100–200/day each:

• Down jacket and a warm sleeping bag, the two best things to rent if you don't own them.
• Trekking poles and duffel bags are also widely available.

Pokhara is also the place to buy last-minute socks, sunscreen, snacks and (genuine or otherwise) gear at lower prices than home.

Seasonal adjustments

• Winter (Dec–Feb): add a warmer sleeping bag, extra thermals, gaiters and microspikes, the pass is often snowbound.
• Spring/monsoon edges (Apr–May): add strong insect repellent and full rain gear for the wet lower valley.
• Autumn (Oct–Nov): the standard list above is ideal; pass nights are bitterly cold, so don't skimp on the down jacket and sleeping bag.