Insufficient preparation may make your trekking experience a disaster. It’s not just about trekking, isn’t it?
When you are ill prepared, you will find yourself in a pickle. It is wise to be extra prepared if you are planning to trek in the Himalayas.
You should be prepared before you begin your trek. Like most trekking, the Annapurna Base Camp trek also showers you with unprepared weather conditions. And it is not just the weather you should be concerning; accommodation plans, luggage, things that you might need, gears, and a lot more.
Well, get geared up and prepared to tackle the challenges. Trekking in the Himalayas is one of the best experiences one could wish for.
Different seasons have different challenges due to the weather conditions.
Depending on your personal needs, the list of the things you should bring for the trek is as follows. The list is to give you a general idea of what you may need. Please feel free to personalize it according to your need. There are no rules to what you can bring and what not.
Clothing
Jackets
- Waterproof shell jacket
- Synthetic insulated jacket
- Thick jacket
- Windshield jacket
Hiking pants
- Waterproof and windproof hiking pants.
- Synthetic insulated and lightweight hiking pants
- Convertible and roll-up hiking pants
Head and Hands
- Woolen hat and sun hat
- Polarized UV sunglasses
- A scarf
- Waterproof and windproof gloves
Clothing
- Hiking undergarments
- Merino Base Layers
- Thermal innerwear
- Long sleeve shirts
Footwear
- Hiking gaiters
- Thick and thin hiking socks
- Winter hiking boots
- A pair of hiking sandal
- Crampons
Additional Necessities
Toiletries and Personal Hygiene
- Moisturizer
- Wet wipes
- Antibacterial sanitizer
- Sunscreen and other creams
- Chapstick
- Feminine hygiene products
- Shampoo and conditioners
- Tissue or toilet paper
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Quick drying towel
Accessories
- Trekking Poles
- Headlamps
- Extra batteries
- Water bottle
- First aid kit
- Water purification tablets or water purification liquid
- Sleeping bag
- Extra plastic bags (to store your garbage and to keep your things dry)
- Fanny Pack
- A raincoat
Additional Recommended Items
- A camera, preferably DSLR and extra batteries
- Binoculars (optional)
- Maps of route and mountains
- Your personal documents
- Energy bar and chewing gums
What you don’t need to bring:
There are some things that you might think it is important but it’s just a burden to carry. Once you start trekking and climbing, even your own body weight might overweigh you so why to take that extra burden while enjoying the Himalayas. So, you have to be wise enough not to take those things that aren’t necessary for your trekking trip. Here is the list of things that you might not need. Again, this is an example of what could be on your list.
- Shaving cream and trimmers
- Heavy makeup set
- Jewelry
- Hair dryer
- Cooking accessories
Want to Know More about Annapurna Base Camp Trek?
Annapurna region offers a wide range of trekking routes and packages. It is also amongst the most popular treks in the Annapurna region. The journey will give you a perfect blend of the jaw-dropping scenery, amazing landscape with beautiful flora and fauna, and the socio-cultural lifestyle of the Annapurna region.
Trekking in Annapurna Base Camp is an experience worth exploring. It is amazing how getting close to the Himalayas will make you feel. The feeling of getting closer to the magnificent mountains in amazing.
The locals are friendly and extremely welcoming in the Annapurna region. You will definitely get a taste of the hospitality in the guest houses, tea houses and home stays throughout the journey.
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek offers a spectacular 360 degree pa4noramic view of mountains peaks, the Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), Annapurna III (7,555 m), Gangapurna (7,454 m), Singu Chuli (6,501 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), and Hiunchuli (6,441 m). If you take a detour from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani-Poon Hill will give you magnificent view of Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Baraha Shikhar (7,647 m), Nilgiri South (6,839 m), Tukuche (6,920 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), and other surrounding mountains.
Pokhara is one of the most desired tourist destinations of Nepal. It has adapted to the increasing tourist inflows, which is why Pokhara is extremely tourist friendly. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek starts and ends here at Pokhara. It is one of the most luxurious stops to relax after your trek. Pokhara is also well known for the seven lakes and often named as “City of Seven Lakes”. You should not miss the opportunity to scoop in some time to relax in Pokhara. You will not be disappointed.
Highlights of the trek
- Amazing 360-degree panoramic sunrise view of the Annapurna region, including Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), Annapurna III (7,555 m), Gangapurna (7,454 m), Singu Chuli (6,501 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), and Hiunchuli (6,441 m)
- A detour route from Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani-Poon Hill will give you magnificent view of Machhapuchhre (6,993 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), Annapurna South (7,219 m), Baraha Shikhar (7,647 m), Nilgiri South (6,839 m), Tukuche (6,920 m), and Dhaulagiri (8,167 m)
- Visiting unique lifestyle, culture, tradition, and hospitality of Gurung, Magar, and other ethnic groups of people.
- Great hospitality at guest houses, tea houses, and homestays through the route.
- Perfect blend of scenery and amazing landscape with beautiful flora and fauna. A great way to explore the biodiversity.
- A tropical lush forest of rhododendron, bamboo, alpine, and other trees along the trekking route.
- Refreshing and relaxing packages at Pokhara.
Weather at Annapurna Base Camp
Weather at Annapurna Base Camp is really unpredictable. The weather becomes erratic after you reach a certain altitude, Annapurna Base Camp is no different. Even the best season’s trekking might get worse due to the drastic weather changing conditions up at the mountains. But don’t worry, it only sounds dramatic. It is, in fact, a common phenomenon and people are used to the weather condition.
Early spring offers a bit of colder mornings and nights. Trekking in Nepal in March is a lot fun, it is also one of the best seasons. The temperature gets to an average temperature of 15 degrees and remains above freezing point during the nights and mornings. By the end of spring, the average temperatures rise up to 20 degrees at lower altitudes and at night time it reaches around 5 degrees.
Summer sees a lot of rain in Nepal and when there is no rain, it is quite dry. During the monsoon, the temperature is reasonably warm but it tends to get cloudy too often and the trail gets muddy and slippery. The temperature remains a lot similar to spring without much difference in average temperature.
The autumn season offers the best climate to trek in Nepal. The lower altitudes will be warm with an average temperature of 15 degrees while the nights remain above freezing point. During autumn, the skies are clearer as all the dust settles down after the monsoon shower. The crystal-clear mountains seem to appear a lot appealing during autumn. This makes it the best season for trekking.
Winters, however, has a different story to tell. It is the coldest time of the year and no wonder it is the coldest in the mountains. But the view of the icy mountain is jaw-dropping. If you are a fan of the winter, then this is your paradise. You will be surrounded by snow. You will be hiking during the day, this way your body will definitely be heated and at night you will be at tea houses, sipping warm tea, and heating yourself.
During the day, the temperatures go from 9 to 12 degrees and evenings will witness a freezing temperature. The days are cloudy and could sometimes obscure the views of the mountains. The mornings and evening sunsets are magical though, such a promising treat for the eyes.
Best Season to Trek ABC
Trekking in Annapurna Base Camp goes on in all season throughout the year. Different seasons have different challenges and with the best leaders, guides, porters, and a great team, you can trek Annapurna Base Camp in any given season. This entirely depends on your preference. The Best Time to Trek in Nepal is definitely spring and autumn, based on the popularity and significant recommendations.
In Nepal, the seasons are divided into 6 seasons, namely Spring (Basanta Ritu), Summer (Grishma Ritu), Rainy or Monsoon (Barsha Ritu), Autumn (Sharad Ritu), Pre-winter (Hemanta Ritu), and Winter (Shishir Ritu). These are pretty common seasons. However, the best season to trek would be spring and autumn season. Spring in Nepal is from March to May and autumn is from September to November.
Autumn starts from September until November, is one of the best seasons to be here in Nepal. The trekking route is crowded. Everyone is driven to get the best experience of the trek. As the monsoon sweeps in the dust and pollution, gradually gets clear, so the skies are clearer. The days are warmer while the nights are colder as usual.
The second most popular and best trekking season in Nepal is the spring season. The forests are full of blossoming wild rhododendrons, bamboos, alpine, and many other trees. The days begin to get warmer but the nights and mornings are still colder. Compared to autumn, summer sees many colors, most flowers, and the vibe is amazing. Though the sky isn’t that clear during the day, the mornings and the evenings offer a lot appreciable view. The sunrise and sunset are spectacular at this season to get the best view of the Himalayan range.
Conclusion
Depending upon the seasons in which you are trekking, the things you have to carry with you will definitely change. It is best to make a list of things you need to take, then tally up later so that you fill in the gaps to what you might or might not need.
You could retaliate your list as per the suggestions and tips mentioned above. The weather changes drastically in the mountains, especially in the high altitudes. That’s why you will need to be extra careful and get prepared accordingly.
Sometimes, the things that you hesitate to carry could become one of the most important things up there over the things that may never come to any use. Nevertheless, hire a good porter who will definitely add to your support.
Do not forget to emphasize on layering. Carry clothing that you can work on layering. As the temperature increases, the layer could come off and vice versa. It is a lot easier this way.
Be Prepared, see you there.
