Packing List for the Annapurna Circuit in Autumn

For the Annapurna Circuit in autumn, pack for two climates: warm, dusty valley days at 1,200 to 2,700 m, and cold mornings and nights above 4,000 m, with a warm sleeping bag, a down jacket, mittens, a hat and a headlamp for the pre-dawn Thorong La day as the essentials. The route in our 14-day plan runs from a drive to Dharapani (1,860 m) to Thorong La at 5,416 m, then down the Kali Gandaki to Tatopani (1,190 m) and up to Ghorepani (2,860 m), so one list has to work across more than 4,000 m of altitude. This guide builds the list around the route, with notes on what to rent.

It extends the general Nepal trek packing list; read that first, then use this for the route and season. The hub for gear is the gear and packing category.

How the route shapes the list

Our day plan gives the altitudes that matter.

The autumn season (October to November) means clear skies and dry trails, but cold nights above 4,000 m, as our October guide says, and the risk of an early storm. The 2014 Nepal snowstorm, which killed trekkers on this route, is the reminder.

Clothing

Build from the core list in our general guide and adjust for this route.

• Base layers: two tops and a bottom, merino or synthetic, not cotton.
• Mid layer: a fleece or light insulated jumper for evenings and the cold stages.
• Insulation: a down or synthetic jacket, which you will wear every evening from about Chame upward; see down jacket: rent or buy in Kathmandu.
• Shell: a waterproof, windproof jacket. Trousers for rain are less critical in autumn than in the monsoon but useful on a bad day.
• Trousers: two quick-dry pairs, or one pair and a zip-off pair, for the warm lower valleys.
• Hat, gloves and mittens: a warm hat, a sun hat, thin gloves and warm mittens for Thorong La.
• Buff or neck gaiter: for dust on the road sections and wind in the Kali Gandaki gorge.
• Socks: three pairs of walking socks and a warm pair for sleeping.
• Warm-weather extras: a light shirt and shorts or a swimsuit for Tatopani's hot springs, which our route page lists as a highlight.

Feet

Boots should be broken in, supportive and waterproof for a route that crosses a pass with snow patches; see boots versus trail runners. Bring camp shoes for evenings, and a blister kit with tape and plasters applied at the first hot spot. The descent from Thorong La to Muktinath is steep and long, and the last days include a long walk to Ghorepani (7 to 8 hours in our plan), so foot care matters at the end as much as the start.

Sleeping

A sleeping bag rated for your coldest night is the key item. Our packing list says to rate it for your highest night, and Thorong Phedi at 4,540 m is the coldest sleep on this route. Lodges provide blankets, but a bag is warmer and more hygienic above 3,500 m. Rent one in Kathmandu or Pokhara if you trek once, and compare the rating with the coldest night; see sleeping bag temperature ratings. A liner adds warmth and cleanliness.

Pass-day kit

The crossing from Thorong Phedi (4,540 m) to Muktinath (3,800 m) is an 8 to 10 hour day in our plan, with a pre-dawn start. Keep the day kit in your daypack, not the porter's duffel, because the porter will be ahead or behind.

1. A headlamp with fresh batteries, plus a spare.
2. Insulated jacket, shell, warm hat, mittens and a buff.
3. Water and snacks that will not freeze solid; carry some inside your jacket.
4. Sun protection: sunglasses with side protection, sunscreen and lip balm, because UV is strong at height.
5. Microspikes if your guide advises; see crampons and microspikes for high passes.
6. A small first aid kit and your own medication.

For conditions, read snow and high-pass conditions, and for the altitude, altitude sickness basics and the acclimatisation schedule. The NHS advises resting at the same height if symptoms appear and going down if they worsen; no piece of kit changes that.

Daypack, duffel and documents

Our packing list suggests a 25 to 35 litre daypack with a rain cover. If you use a porter, the duffel is usually supplied by the agency with a weight limit; see backpack size, daypack and duffel for porters. Carry your passport, permits (the ACAP entry permit is NPR 3,000 for foreigners as of October 2026), insurance details and photocopies in a waterproof bag. Bring enough rupees for the days between towns and confirm with your agency where you can change money or use machines.

Health and extras

• First aid and prescriptions: blister care, rehydration salts, pain relief and anything your doctor advises.
• Water purification: two one-litre bottles and a filter or tablets.
• Power bank and cables: cold drains batteries, so keep them in an inner pocket.
• Poles: useful for the long descents; see trekking poles: do you need them?.
• Ear plugs: for noisy lodges.

What to rent, buy and leave

Thamel and Lakeside have many shops that rent and sell trekking gear. Rent a down jacket, sleeping bag and poles if you trek once; buy boots, socks and base layers in advance because fit matters, and check zips and condition of rental gear. Leave cotton, heavy books, extra shoes and anything you will not use; a rotation of two sets is enough because washing is possible in sunny villages.

The guide rule and your kit

A licensed guide is part of the picture on this route: under the Nepal Tourism Board rule of April 2023, 2026 operator reports say ACAP checkpoints enforce a guide requirement in Annapurna (checked 19 October 2026); see the guide rule explained. A guide can also tell you whether the pass needs traction and which of your layers you will really use. For more on the route, read the Annapurna Circuit itinerary day by day and best time for the Annapurna Circuit.

Where this fits in the route

The kit above is tied to the Annapurna Circuit itinerary and the wider Annapurna region guide, where the route page lists the permits, highlights and day-by-day altitudes that this packing list is built on. If a stage changes, for example because a road replaces a walking day, adjust the list to the altitude you will actually sleep at, not to the day number.

A two-week countdown

A little planning before you leave Kathmandu saves a lot of trouble on the trail. Two weeks out, test the boots you will wear on a long day with a loaded pack and fix any hot spots. A week out, decide what to rent and what to buy: our packing list says to rent a down jacket, sleeping bag and poles if you trek once, and to buy boots, socks and base layers in advance because fit matters. The day before you leave, weigh the duffel, check that the headlamp and power bank are charged, photocopy your passport and permits, and leave the extras in hotel storage. On the morning of the drive to Dharapani, check that your daypack holds the things you will want during the long road day, such as water, snacks, a warm layer, sun protection and your documents. For a route that covers 14 days and more than 4,000 m of height, the quiet preparation is worth as much as any single piece of kit.

Packing with a partner

Partners can share group items: one first aid kit, one repair kit, one power bank, and a shared porter if the combined weight stays within the agency limit. See what to agree with trekking partners before you book and the Annapurna Circuit partner page.