Nepal Packing List

Overview

Nepal packs several climates into one country, from the steamy lowland jungle of Chitwan to the freezing heights of the Everest trail, so the right kit depends on your itinerary and season. The golden rule is to dress in layers: a base layer, a warm mid-layer and a windproof, waterproof outer shell will handle almost anything the mountains throw at you.

The good news is that Kathmandu's Thamel and Pokhara's Lakeside are full of shops selling and renting trekking gear, much of it inexpensive, so you do not need to bring everything from home, and you can fill gaps cheaply on arrival. This guide gives a full checklist, documents, clothing by season, trekking essentials, health and first-aid, electronics and toiletries, followed by season notes and what to buy locally. Check it against our best time to visit and altitude sickness guides when you plan.

Documents & Money

• Passport valid for at least six months, with a blank page for the visa
• Passport photos (several) for the visa, permits and SIM registration
• US dollars in cash for the visa on arrival, plus a backup, see the visa guide and money guide
• Two bank cards from different networks, and some rupees once you arrive
• Travel insurance documents that explicitly cover high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation
• Trekking permits (TIMS, national-park or restricted-area permits) where required
• Photocopies or digital copies of your passport, visa, insurance and permits, stored separately

Clothing (the Layering System)

Build your clothing around layers you can add and remove as the temperature swings between warm days and freezing mornings:

• Base layers: moisture-wicking tops and bottoms (merino or synthetic, not cotton) for warmth and quick drying
• Mid layers: a fleece or light insulated jacket, plus trekking shirts and trousers
• Insulation: a warm down or synthetic jacket for cold evenings and altitude (can be rented in Kathmandu)
• Outer shell: a waterproof, windproof jacket and, for treks, waterproof over-trousers
• Trekking trousers (quick-dry, ideally convertible), shorts for lower altitudes, and a few quick-dry T-shirts
• Warm hat, sun hat, buff/neck gaiter, and gloves (liner gloves plus warmer gloves for high treks)
• Underwear and quick-dry trekking socks (several pairs), plus warm socks for the cold
• Modest clothing for temples and rural areas, covering shoulders and knees

Trekking Gear

For any multi-day trek, add the following, much of which you can buy or rent cheaply in Thamel or Lakeside if you would rather not fly with it:

• Broken-in trekking boots with ankle support, plus lightweight camp shoes or sandals for the evenings
• Daypack (with a rain cover) for what you carry, and a duffel/kit bag if a porter carries the rest
• Sleeping bag rated for the altitude and season (widely rented in Kathmandu)
• Trekking poles to save your knees on the long descents
• Headlamp with spare batteries, for early starts and unlit lodges
• Sunglasses with good UV protection (glacier-rated for high, snowy routes)
• Water bottles or a bladder, plus a way to treat water (filter, purification tablets or a UV pen) to avoid buying plastic bottles
• Power bank (large capacity) for charging on the trail, where power is limited and paid
• Quick-dry towel, dry bags to keep gear dry, and a few zip-lock bags
• Blister care and any personal trekking comforts (snacks, electrolyte sachets)

Health & First Aid

Bring a small personal kit; pharmacies in the cities are well stocked, but you want the essentials on you, especially on treks. Discuss altitude and any prescription medicines with a doctor before you travel (see the altitude sickness guide).

• Any personal prescription medication (in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription)
• Diamox for altitude, if your doctor advises it, for high treks
• Painkillers (paracetamol/ibuprofen), rehydration salts, and anti-diarrhoea and anti-nausea medication
• High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm (UV is intense at altitude), and insect repellent for the lowlands
• Water purification (tablets, filter or UV), hand sanitiser and wet wipes
• Blister plasters, basic first-aid kit, plasters, antiseptic and any allergy medicine
• A small supply of toilet paper (not always provided) and, ideally, a reusable option

Electronics & Toiletries

• Universal travel adapter — Nepal runs on 230V and uses round-pin plug types (C, D and M); a universal adapter covers all sockets
• Power bank (essential on treks, where charging is limited and paid) and charging cables
• Phone (for a local SIM, see the SIM and internet guide), camera and spare memory/batteries
• Headphones and a small torch if your headlamp is packed away
• Quick-dry towel, toothbrush and travel toiletries, biodegradable soap for treks, and a small first wash kit
• Sunglasses case, a padlock for lodge rooms and bags, and a few dry bags to keep electronics dry in the monsoon

What to Add by Season

Tune your packing to the season (see the best time to visit guide):

• Autumn & spring (peak trekking): the standard layering system above works well, warm days, cold mornings and cold nights at altitude, so bring good insulation for the heights.
• Winter: add extra warm layers, a heavier down jacket, thermal base layers, warm gloves and hat, and a warmer sleeping bag; days can be sunny but nights are freezing, and high passes may need traction (microspikes).
• Monsoon: prioritise waterproofs, a good rain jacket, pack cover and dry bags, quick-dry everything, and be ready for leeches in the forests (long socks, repellent, salt). If you head to the dry rain-shadow regions like Mustang, pack for sun, wind and dust too.

Packing Tips

• Pack light. If a porter carries your kit bag there is usually a weight limit (often around 10–15 kg between two trekkers), so take only what you need and leave spare luggage at your Kathmandu hotel.
• Buy or rent in Nepal. Thamel and Lakeside sell and hire down jackets, sleeping bags, poles and more cheaply, no need to fly with heavy gear you will use once.
• Break in your boots at home before you come; new boots on a long trek mean blisters.
• Bring a water-treatment method rather than buying single-use plastic bottles, better for you, cheaper and kinder to the mountains.
• Dress modestly for temples and rural areas, and carry a scarf or layer to cover shoulders and knees.
• Split essentials (documents, cash, cards, medication) across bags so a single loss is not a disaster, and keep copies separately.
• Carry a power bank and headlamp even for short treks, power is limited and paid, and lodges are often unlit.