Trek Around Himalayas and discover the hidden mountain valleys of Nepal.

Suggested backpack

Suggested backpack for trekking in Nepal
If you're planning a multi-day trek in Nepal, there are some essential items that you should consider bringing along. Keep in mind that some treks may have teahouses available throughout, while others require camping gear and equipment. The size of your backpack will depend largely on whether you have porters on your trip or not. If you have porters, a daypack with essentials such as water, snacks, a camera, and rain gear will suffice. However, if you're carrying all of your personal supplies and sleeping equipment, a larger backpack will be necessary. It's possible to purchase some items in Nepal, but it's not recommended to rely on buying critical pieces of outdoor equipment there. For more information, check out our guide on Buying and Renting Trekking Gear in Kathmandu

Sleeping

  • Tent (necessary for treks with camping)
  • Sleeping bag (–15° bag will suffice on most treks)*
  • Sleeping pad
  • Silk liner

*Many nights at lower elevations will be hot, but because there will likely be a few very cold nights at a high elevation a cold weather bag is unavoidable. At low elevations you can sleep with the silk liner only and using it later extends the life of your bag (oil from the skin is bad for expensive down).

Hiking

  • Backpack (size depends on whether or not you have porters)
  • Hiking boots* (break them in beforehand)
  • Camp shoes (your reward after a long day)
  • Wool socks (bring a few pairs of varying thicknesses)
  • Lightweight trekking pants
  • Trekking shorts
  • T-Shirts (lightweight wool is great)
  • Underwear

*You will be hiking through a wide range of terrain from mud in warm weather to snow in cold weather. The trail will be rocky throughout. The safest bet for Nepal trekking footwear is full backpacking boots, which provide good support and protection from the elements. If there is a high pass on your trek, you may be walking on snow and the conditions will be cold. A good compromise is to bring backpacking boots and trail shoes—you can use the trail shoes for camp and interchange the two depending on the conditions and how you feel.

Cold Weather

  • Long underwear/Wool thermals
  • Sweater
  • Fleece
  • Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Heavyweight pants for high elevations (also good for camp)
  • Heavy down jacket (can be rented in Kathmandu)
  • Winter hat
  • Winter gloves

Accessories

  • Water purification (pump, tablets, or SteriPen; bring from home)
  • Water bottles (at least 3 liters total capacity)
  • Baseball cap (the sun is strong at all elevations)
  • Hiking poles (lessen the impact on your joints)
  • Sunglasses (essential when you cross the snow line)
  • Headlamp with extra batteries
  • Reading materials (Kindle may be best)
  • Journal and pens
  • Camera with extra batteries
  • Daypack (for your rain jacket, snacks, camera, etc.)
  • Heavy-duty duffle bag (preferred by porters)
  • Gators (many people wear them but they are not mandatory)

Personal Supplies

  • Sunscreen
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, floss, etc.)
  • Biodegradable bar soap
  • Face/body wipes
  • Biodegradable washing liquid
  • Throat lozenges, lip balm
  • Medications (Ibuprofen, others if necessary)

Extras

  • Duct tape (fixes just about everything, at least temporarily. To avoid carrying an entire roll wrap the desired amount around a pencil)
  • First aid kit (with moleskin for blisters)
  • Extra passport photos and photocopies of your passport

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