Prepare for Nepal trekking: Essential kit list

We recommend acquiring as many items as possible before leaving your country. However, you can also purchase and rent items such as jackets, fleece, sleeping bags, and canes in Kathmandu.

The following are all essential.

Clothing

  • Boots: You will need a good pair of waterproof hiking boots with sturdy soles. You will walk on rough and rocky trails, so you will need a durable boot to avoid twisting your ankles. It may also be needing to walk through the snow (Possibly). You should purchase them before departure and ensure they fit well. You do not want to get blisters from the boots you wear for the first time on your trip.
  • Camp shoes – sneakers and/sandals/crocs
  • Gaiters- for hiking in winter to the mountain base camp or high-elevation trekking. Only in case, but not generally required.
  • Hiking socks – pairs of thin, lightweight inner and pairs of thick hiking wool socks depending on the duration of your trip
  • Quick-drying pants for hiking – always recommended to have two pairs
  • Long johns / Sleep pants
  • T-shirts
  • Long-sleeve shirt
  • Light wind jacket
  • Fleece: you may want to have a lightweight fleece for walks and a thick fleece for the nights
  • Feather jacket: You don’t need a down jacket for hiking, but we recommend having one for added comfort after sunset to sunrise.
  • Waterproof jacket – Gore-Tex or Wind-Rain equivalent jacket
  • Waterproof pants
  • Baseball caps/sun
  • Wool hat / Touk
  • Gloves – Lightweight gloves will be ok. Heavyweight or mitten gloves with a waterproof shell outer (not needed unless you get cold hands)
  • Rain Coat (big enough to cover your bag pack)

Equipment

  • Trekking poles (highly recommended) – these are not just accessories but reliable companions on the trail. We provide them if you need to buy them.
  • Water bottles (For remote trekking such as to the Dolpo region, it is recommended 2 Nalgene as it has to take boiled water)
  • Sunglasses x 2 (it is always sensible to have a spare pair)
  • Headlamp (e.g. Pletzl Zoom) with spare bulbs and batteries
  • A good sleeping bag rated -20 degrees (some people use 2: one to -10, which is suitable for warm weather)
  • Sleeping pad (In tented camp trekking, we provide hard and soft mattresses to each client, but some people also bring their Thermarest on top for comfort). Most of the tea house/Lodge does not require a sleeping pad.
  • Earplug (who knows? Some people in the group can be snoring)
  • Trekking Bags/Duffel bag/Kitbag (the company can provide this) – the porter will carry all your equipment on the trek (If you want to have our agency bag, please reserve; you do not have to pay)
  • Large but light plastic bags – for keeping items dry inside Trekking Bags/Duffel bag/Kitbag
  • Bag of the day / Personal bag: you need to take a spare shirt, light and thick fleece, a waterproof jacket and pants, etc., while you walk

Documentation

  • Passport
  • Passport size photos
  • Insurance details
  • Cash in convertible foreign currencies or credit cards is accepted for purchases of clothing and equipment, depending on your needs. If you are buying or renting (and leaving a deposit), you can allow $500 per person.

Note: A scanned copy of the passport and a recent photograph of each group member must be sent during the trip booking process.

Personal medications

  • Sunscreen
  • Diamox – for altitude sickness
  • Antibiotics
  • Water purifying tablets (iodine)
  • Own a first-aid kit for blisters and basics – we have a general medical box on the trek.

Toiletries

  • A medium-sized quick-drying towel
  • Toothbrush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
  • Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
  • Deodorant
  • Nail clippers
  • Face and body moisturizer
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Small mirror

 

The following items are also recommended.

  • Vest
  • Scarf for the head
  • Neck warmer
  • Reading materials, cards, pens, notebooks, etc. (lots of books are available in KTM)
  • Clock with altimeter functions.
  • Camera, spare batteries and memory cards
  • Binoculars
  • Mobile phone, lead charge and Power Bank – you can buy a high-powered solar power service on Amazon, which can recharge your phone up to 10 times, mainly if you use your phone as your primary camera.
  • Power Bars / Snacks (of your preference or your favourite items not available outside your country)
  • Fanny pack for easy access during the excursion
  • Duct tape

Note: If you have an unlocked cell phone, you can get coverage in most of Nepal (although not everywhere in the mountains) and can purchase a SIM card. Wireless coverage is available in cities and along all major trekking trails, making smartphones a useful tool for communication. We, the Happy Feet Mountainers, provide a satellite phone with sufficient recharge for emergency use. You may use it for individual requirements at a per-minute charge of $4.