What to bring for Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Below is an equipment list for the trek to Annapurna Base Camp. The equipment list is a guideline and has been made after many years of experience of trekking in Nepal.

When you have the right equipment you don’t really need to bring a whole lot. So keeping the weight down to about 12-15 kgs on the trek wont be that difficult.

• Large backpack or bag to transport your luggage on your flight to Kathmandu.
• Day-pack (about 30-40 liters). Must be comfortable to wear.
• Hiking boots with good ankle support and a solid sole (eg. Vibram).
• Trekking poles (optional). Telescope is the most practical.
• Warm sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of minus 6-8 ° C.
• Fleece inner bag. Increases the comfort temperature of your sleeping bag.
• Walking shoes or running shoes.
• Thin sleeping bag liner (we recommend silk)
• Wind and waterproof jacket. Goretex or similar.
• Down jacket.
• Warm fleece jacket.
• Trekking Pants.
• Shorts
• Light clothes for Kathmandu.
• Trekking jerseys / shirts
• Sandals
• Thermal underwear. Two sets. Wool and polypro
• T-Shirts
• Underwear
• Liner sock
• Trekking socks. Wool with a mix of synthetic
• Warm hat
• Sun hat or cap.
• Thin gloves.
• Thick warm mittens or ski gloves.
• Turtleneck or light scarf.
• Good sunglasses that fit closely to the eyes, so that no light enters from the side.
• Water bottle (Approximately 1 liters)
• Headlamp
• Sunscreen with high protection.
• Lip balm with sun protection.
• Alcogel for hand disinfection
• Toiletries
• Small towel
• Pocket knife
• Personal first aid kit with painkillers, band aids, disinfectant, etc.
• Camera and battery charger, spare battery. Large memory card
• Paperback book.
• Diary / notebook
• Passport, money and travel documents.
• 5 passport photoes (for visa, trekking permits, TIM card)
• 40 US$ cash for 30-day visa upon arrival

Packing for the trek

For your journey to Kathmandu pack your belongings in a large backpack or soft bag that can withstand being thrown around in airports. It is also possible to travel with a suitcase. Keep weight to a minimum and make room for any purchases. The dress code in Nepal is very casual, even in the good hotels so you do not bring your "nice" clothes. On arrival in Kathmandu you will received a large bag to transport your luggage on the trek. This bag is more convenient for the porters to carry. Keep the weight down to 12-15 kgs on the trek. One porter will be carrying two people’s luggage. Your backpack, bag or suitcase you have used on your journey to Kathmandu, you can store at the hotel in Kathmandu. It is convenient to leave some clean clothes behind in Kathmandu for when you return after the trek.

Consider the following when you pack:

• In Kathmandu, it is typically 28-30 degrees during the day, and a little chilly in the evening.
• In the mountains the temperature varies a lot during the day. At high altitudes it is cold in the morning when you start walking, but it could easily be 20 ° C at noon. When the sun sets the temperature drops dramatically and it may get down to minus 5 ° C at night. Clothes for hot weather is just as important as for cold weather.
• We highly recommend dressing in layer-by-layer. Woollen or other thermal underwear, with a T-shirt (not cotton) or shirt on top. A fleece or woolen sweater as the warm layer and then a windproof shell jacket on the outside.
• On arrival in Kathmandu you will get a large equipment bag in good quality. It is convenient to pack your belongings in plastic bags, to keep your stuff waterproof and it will be easier to maintain order in your bag.
• If you are unsure about the clothes and equipment you need to bring, you can always contact us and enquire about clothing and gear.

Hiking boots:
It is important that you have good footwear for the trek to Annapurna Base Camp. Hiking boots with a solid and profiled sole is a must. If you need to buy new boots, make sure you purchase them in a outdoor equipment store where you can get good advice from the staff. Make sure to break in your boots, before setting off on your journey, to avoid blisters. We recommend wearing two pairs of socks: A pair of thin socks liners and a pair of thick woolen trekking socks. With this combination you can avoid many blisters.

Sleeping bag:
Although you will be staying in teahouses along the way, it is important to have a good warm sleeping bag, as the bedrooms are not heated. To get the best trekking experience, it is important that you sleep, and that you don’t freeze at night. If you add a fleece liner to your sleeping bag you will stay warmer. It's an easy and cheaper solution, rather than investing in a new sleeping bag, that may also be too hot at lower altitude.