What to Pack for Trekking in Nepal: The Ultimate Packing List

Packing for a Nepal trek is a delicate balance — bring too much and you (or your porter) suffer; bring too little and you freeze at 4,500 m. After 7 Nepal treks, I have refined my packing list to the essentials. This is the honest, no-fluff packing list I now use for any trek from Poon Hill to Manaslu Circuit.

The Golden Rules of Nepal Trekking Packing

• Less is more. Your packed bag should weigh 10–12 kg max (your porter carries 15–20 kg total for two trekkers).
• Layers, not bulk. Multiple thin layers are warmer and lighter than one thick jacket.
• Bring your own sleeping bag. Tea house blankets are not enough at altitude.
• Do not bring camping gear. Unless you are doing a camping trek, tea houses provide everything.
• Buy or rent big items in Kathmandu. Sleeping bags, down jackets, trekking poles can all be rented for $1–$2/day.

Complete Nepal Trekking Packing List

Clothing (Wear + Pack)

• 1 × trekking trousers (lightweight, quick-dry)
• 1 × trekking trousers or shorts (for lower elevations)
• 1 × thermal base layer top (merino wool)
• 1 × thermal base layer bottoms (merino wool)
• 2 × trekking shirts (quick-dry, long sleeve for sun protection)
• 1 × mid-layer fleece or synthetic pullover
• 1 × down jacket (essential — rent in Kathmandu if you don't own one)
• 1 × waterproof shell jacket (Gore-Tex or equivalent)
• 1 × waterproof shell trousers (for rain and wind)
• 4 × pairs trekking underwear (synthetic, quick-dry)
• 3 × pairs trekking socks (merino wool — Smartwool or Darn Tough)
• 1 × pair light socks for tea house evenings
• 1 × beanie / wool hat
• 1 × sun hat or cap
• 1 × buff or neck gaiter (sun, dust, cold protection)
• 1 × light gloves + 1 × warm gloves (or layered system)

Footwear

• 1 × pair trekking boots (broken in — do not bring new boots!)
• 1 × pair camp shoes (Crocs, sandals or trainers for tea house evenings)

Gear

• 1 × backpack (40–55L for porter-carried gear)
• 1 × daypack (20–30L for water, camera, layers, snacks)
• 1 × 4-season sleeping bag (rated to −15 °C for high-altitude treks, −10 °C for lower treks)
• 1 × sleeping bag liner (silk or cotton — adds warmth and keeps bag clean)
• 2 × trekking poles (adjustable — essential for descents)
• 1 × headlamp + spare batteries (Petzl or Black Diamond)
• 1 × water bottle (1L Nalgene) + 1 × hydration bladder (2–3L)
• 1 × water filter or purification tablets (Aquatabs, MSR, LifeStraw)
• 1 × stuff sacks / dry bags (for organisation and waterproofing)
• 1 × small padlock (for locker in tea houses)

First Aid Kit

• Diamox (acetazolamide) — 20 tablets for altitude sickness
• Ibuprofen and paracetamol
• Imodium (loperamide) — for diarrhoea
• Rehydration salts (ORS)
• Antihistamines (for allergies and motion sickness)
• Antiseptic cream and bandages
• Blister plasters (Compeed)
• Tape (zinc oxide or duct tape)
• Insect repellent (DEET 30%+)
• Sunscreen SPF 50+
• Lip balm with SPF
• Water purification tablets (Aquatabs)
• Any personal prescription medications + copies of prescriptions

Toiletries

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
• Biodegradable soap (Dr. Bronner's)
• Shampoo (small bottle, biodegradable)
• Deodorant
• Quick-dry travel towel
• Toilet paper (1 roll — buy more on the trail) + ziplock for used paper
• Hand sanitizer (large bottle)
• Menstrual products (consider a menstrual cup for long treks)
• Razor and shaving cream
• Nail clippers

Electronics

• Phone (with offline maps downloaded — see our best trekking apps guide)
• Power bank (20,000 mAh minimum — Anker or RavPower)
• Solar panel (optional — useful for long treks above 4,000 m)
• Headphones
• Camera + spare batteries + memory cards
• Universal plug adapter (Nepal uses Type C, D and M)
• Kindle or e-reader (optional)
• Plug extension lead (some tea houses have only one socket)

Documents

• Passport (with valid Nepal visa — at least 6 months validity)
• Passport photos (6 — for permits)
• Travel insurance documents (with 24-hour emergency number)
• Cash (USD and NPR — see below for amounts)
• Credit card (Visa/Mastercard — accepted in larger tea houses)
• Trekking permits (TIMS, ACAP, restricted-area if applicable)
• Vaccination certificate (yellow fever if arriving from endemic country)
• Printed itinerary and emergency contact numbers

How Much Cash to Bring

Trek Length	NPR Cash (Tea Houses)	USD Cash (Emergency)	Total per Trekker
Poon Hill (4 days)	10,000 NPR	$50	~$130
Annapurna Base Camp (7 days)	20,000 NPR	$100	~$250
Annapurna Circuit (14 days)	35,000 NPR	$150	~$450
Everest Base Camp (14 days)	45,000 NPR	$200	~$550
Manaslu Circuit (15 days)	40,000 NPR	$200	~$500
Kanchenjunga BC (22 days)	55,000 NPR	$250	~$700
Upper Dolpo (24 days)	70,000 NPR	$300	~$900

What NOT to Bring

• Cotton clothing — cotton kills at altitude because it stays wet. Stick to synthetic or merino wool.
• Jeans — heavy, slow-drying, useless for trekking.
• Hiking boots you haven't broken in — blisters will end your trek. Break them in for at least 50 km before you arrive.
• Tent, stove, cooking gear — unless you are on a camping trek. Tea houses provide everything.
• Books — heavy. Bring a Kindle instead, or swap books at tea houses.
• Hair dryer, straightener, large toiletries — tea houses do not have the power for these.
• More than 2 changes of trekking clothes — you will smell the same regardless.

What to Buy or Rent in Kathmandu

Kathmandu's Thamel district has dozens of trekking shops selling and renting gear. You can rent:

• 4-season sleeping bag: $1.50/day ($20 deposit)
• Down jacket: $1/day ($20 deposit)
• Trekking poles: $0.50/day
• Trekking boots: $2/day (but quality varies — better to bring your own)
• Backpack: $1.50/day
• Rain gear: $0.50/day

Buy in Kathmandu (cheaper than buying at home):

• Merino wool base layers
• Trekking trousers and shirts
• Wool hats and gloves
• Headlamp
• Water bottles
• First aid items (Diamox, antibiotics — much cheaper than at home)
• Trekking snacks (chocolate, nuts, energy bars)

Do NOT buy in Kathmandu:

• Trekking boots (buy at home and break in)
• Sleeping bag (rent — buying a quality bag is more expensive than renting for 2 weeks)
• High-end technical gear (climbing harness, crampons — quality control is unreliable)

Packing Tips for Specific Treks

• Poon Hill / Helambu / Mardi Himal (lower altitude): 3-season sleeping bag, light down jacket, no heavy thermals.
• Annapurna Circuit / EBC / Manaslu (high altitude): 4-season sleeping bag, expedition down jacket, full thermal layering, microspikes for passes.
• Upper Dolpo / Kanchenjunga / Dhaulagiri (extreme altitude): Mountaineering-grade gear, 4-season tent if camping, full expedition kit. See our best sleeping bags for high altitude guide.

Packing for a Nepal trek is an art, not a science. The list above is a starting point — adjust based on your trek, the season, and your personal tolerance for cold. The biggest mistake first-timers make is over-packing. Trust me: by day 5, you will wish you had brought less. For more on specific gear, see our layering guide for cold mountain weather and our best trekking boots for Nepal guide.