PACKING LIST: Nepal
MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS BASED ON APRIL 2012 ABC TREK EXPERIENCE OF SUN, RAIN, SNOW & TEMP -15º / +25º Celsius:
JACKETS FOR WARMTH, WIND & RAIN
(ideal is a light-weight combination of outer jacket for rain and wind and inner jacket or fleece for warmth that can also be used separately)
BACKPACK (60-70 LITER) (WITH RAIN COVER)
SLEEPING BAG
(capacity around freezing temperatures, because close to base camp it can be very cold inside your room at night)
(eventually with additional sleeping bag liner for extra isolation for very cold days or that can be used separately for hot days)
WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS (WALKED IN, NOT BRAND NEW)
(most of the trek can be done with regular sport shoes, but if you need to pass cold snow sludge or water streams they will ruin your day…)
EARPLUGS
(do not underestimate their importance; to be able to sleep through the noise of your neighbours in the guesthouse with micro-thin plywood walls on the trek)
2 PAIRS OF LONG UNDERWEAR: 2 LONG PANTS AND 2 LONG-SLEEVE SHIRTS
(do not underestimate their importance; really needed for freezing nights as pyjamas and sometimes also during cold days as underclothes; lightweight, breathable polyester; good alternative is long running clothes)
SUNGLASSES
(real ones, with true UV protection)
CASH NEPALESE RUPEES
(on trek THERE ARE NO ATM’s or credit card vendors or money changers; a good estimate is 1500 rupees/day ($20) if you’re with a group and accommodation has been paid for, and 2500-3000 rupees/day ($30-$40) if you’re paying out of pocket for rooms as well.)
DAYPACK (20-40 LITER) (WITH RAIN COVER)
(essential when main backpack is carried by porter) (many good & cheap one (most copies) can be bought in Pokhara, Kathmandu)
(with essentials for the day: jackets (rain & warmth), two water bottles, sunscreen, sun hat, lip protection, pole(s), camera, gloves, woollen hat, long underwear, towel, basic first aid kit, wallet/passport, toilet paper, wet wipes, hand-cleaning alcohol, snacks, and any other personal effects.)
5 non-cotton shirts (lightweight, breathable polyester; fast drying is ideal)
2 pairs of trekking pants (lots of (side) pockets; can be turned into shorts; jeans are not ideal for weight and drying)
3-5 pairs trekking socks (running; polypropylene, not cotton)
3-5 pairs of regular underwear
1 microfiber towel (most guesthouses on the trek do not give towels; quick-dry)
Camera (battery can be charged in all guesthouses, but always handy to have extra camera battery and extra memory cards)
2 water bottles (aluminium or Nalgene style; alternatively a camelback, but avoid cheap ones that can burst inside your backpack…)
Sandals (flipflops for use after a day trekking and to go to the bathroom & washroom)
Torch / Headlamp (with spare batteries; to go to the common bathroom at night; for early morning treks Base Camp and Poon Hill)
First aid kit (essentials an ace bandage for any twists or sprains, immodium or some other sort of antidiarrheal, iodine wipes for any cuts/scratches, band aids, ibuprofen, moleskin for any blisters, and perhaps a high-altitude medication)
Large ziplock bags
Sunscreen/hat/lip protection
Gloves (warmth)
Woollen Hat (warmth; also for sleeping together with the earplugs!)
Toiletries & Soap (plus simple plastic bag is very handy to hang to a nail in the bathroom)
Toilet Paper & Wet Wipes
Padlock (if room-provided one is not good enough and during logistics)
Spare Hiking Boot Laces
Sewing Kit
Superglue
Map of the Trek
Optional items:
Trekking pole(s) (not absolutely necessary, but one pole is handy for steep declines and snow & ice treks; your own choice to use two poles)
Multitool (Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman tool)
Adaptors (Nepal two prong, 220 volt plug; or just an international, universal adaptor)
Personal snacks (candy bars & cookies can also be bought in Pokhara, Kathmandu or at every guesthouse)
Water filter / Iodine pills (not really needed when buying your mineral (only part trek available) or boiled water (all trek available))
Cell phone (for calling and SMS texting home and eventually guesthouses for reservations; ideal, but not a must, with Nepalese SIM card)
MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS BASED ON APRIL 2012 ABC TREK EXPERIENCE OF SUN, RAIN, SNOW & TEMP -15º / +25º Celsius:
JACKETS FOR WARMTH, WIND & RAIN
(ideal is a light-weight combination of outer jacket for rain and wind and inner jacket or fleece for warmth that can also be used separately)
BACKPACK (60-70 LITER) (WITH RAIN COVER)
SLEEPING BAG
(capacity around freezing temperatures, because close to base camp it can be very cold inside your room at night)
(eventually with additional sleeping bag liner for extra isolation for very cold days or that can be used separately for hot days)
WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS (WALKED IN, NOT BRAND NEW)
(most of the trek can be done with regular sport shoes, but if you need to pass cold snow sludge or water streams they will ruin your day…)
EARPLUGS
(do not underestimate their importance; to be able to sleep through the noise of your neighbours in the guesthouse with micro-thin plywood walls on the trek)
2 PAIRS OF LONG UNDERWEAR: 2 LONG PANTS AND 2 LONG-SLEEVE SHIRTS
(do not underestimate their importance; really needed for freezing nights as pyjamas and sometimes also during cold days as underclothes; lightweight, breathable polyester; good alternative is long running clothes)
SUNGLASSES
(real ones, with true UV protection)
CASH NEPALESE RUPEES
(on trek THERE ARE NO ATM’s or credit card vendors or money changers; a good estimate is 1500 rupees/day ($20) if you’re with a group and accommodation has been paid for, and 2500-3000 rupees/day ($30-$40) if you’re paying out of pocket for rooms as well.)
DAYPACK (20-40 LITER) (WITH RAIN COVER)
(essential when main backpack is carried by porter) (many good & cheap one (most copies) can be bought in Pokhara, Kathmandu)
(with essentials for the day: jackets (rain & warmth), two water bottles, sunscreen, sun hat, lip protection, pole(s), camera, gloves, woollen hat, long underwear, towel, basic first aid kit, wallet/passport, toilet paper, wet wipes, hand-cleaning alcohol, snacks, and any other personal effects.)
5 non-cotton shirts (lightweight, breathable polyester; fast drying is ideal)
2 pairs of trekking pants (lots of (side) pockets; can be turned into shorts; jeans are not ideal for weight and drying)
3-5 pairs trekking socks (running; polypropylene, not cotton)
3-5 pairs of regular underwear
1 microfiber towel (most guesthouses on the trek do not give towels; quick-dry)
Camera (battery can be charged in all guesthouses, but always handy to have extra camera battery and extra memory cards)
2 water bottles (aluminium or Nalgene style; alternatively a camelback, but avoid cheap ones that can burst inside your backpack…)
Sandals (flipflops for use after a day trekking and to go to the bathroom & washroom)
Torch / Headlamp (with spare batteries; to go to the common bathroom at night; for early morning treks Base Camp and Poon Hill)
First aid kit (essentials an ace bandage for any twists or sprains, immodium or some other sort of antidiarrheal, iodine wipes for any cuts/scratches, band aids, ibuprofen, moleskin for any blisters, and perhaps a high-altitude medication)
Large ziplock bags
Sunscreen/hat/lip protection
Gloves (warmth)
Woollen Hat (warmth; also for sleeping together with the earplugs!)
Toiletries & Soap (plus simple plastic bag is very handy to hang to a nail in the bathroom)
Toilet Paper & Wet Wipes
Padlock (if room-provided one is not good enough and during logistics)
Spare Hiking Boot Laces
Sewing Kit
Superglue
Map of the Trek
Optional items:
Trekking pole(s) (not absolutely necessary, but one pole is handy for steep declines and snow & ice treks; your own choice to use two poles)
Multitool (Swiss Army Knife, Leatherman tool)
Adaptors (Nepal two prong, 220 volt plug; or just an international, universal adaptor)
Personal snacks (candy bars & cookies can also be bought in Pokhara, Kathmandu or at every guesthouse)
Water filter / Iodine pills (not really needed when buying your mineral (only part trek available) or boiled water (all trek available))
Cell phone (for calling and SMS texting home and eventually guesthouses for reservations; ideal, but not a must, with Nepalese SIM card)
