Nepal Trekking Gear List

Twenty-plus seasons of watching duffel bags arrive at our Kathmandu office taught us one thing. Most trekkers pack too much of the wrong gear and too little of the right gear. Our lead guide, Dorche Sherpa, still finds jeans, cotton hoodies, and three pairs of shoes in bags bound for Everest Base Camp. He also finds no sun hat, no spare batteries, and a sleeping bag rated for a European summer.

The complete Nepal trekking gear list comes first, categorized by category. Everything after it explains the choices. Weight limits, what changes in Bhutan, how to layer, what to add by season and by route, and what we provide. Pack for the coldest night and the longest day of your own route, not for the Himalayas in general.

Sort every item into three groups as you pack. Worn on the trail, carried in your daypack, and carried by your porter or pony in a duffel. Two items deserve the most thought and the most money. Your boots and your sleeping bag decide how you feel at the end of every day.

Download this PDF checklist: Packing List

The Complete Nepal Trekking Gear List

Every item below earns its place on a two-week lodge trek in Nepal or a camping trek in Nepal or Bhutan. Items marked optional depend on the season and the route. Items marked “provided” come with a Peregrine trek. Tick each item in the Nepal trekking gear list as you pack, and stop when the duffel reaches 12 kg.

Documents, Permits, and Money

Paperwork weighs nothing and causes the most delays when it is missing. Our office cannot lodge a permit application without your passport copies and photos, and a lodge in Namche cannot break a large foreign note. Sort this part of your Nepal trekking gear list first.

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date, plus 2 photocopies, stored separately from the original.
• Four passport-size photos for Nepal permits and the Bhutan visa file. Our office needs them before the trek starts.
• Travel insurance certificate that covers trekking to your maximum altitude and helicopter evacuation, printed and saved on your phone. Nepal restricted-area permits now require proof of rescue cover.
• Flight tickets and the e-ticket for your domestic flight.
• Cash in a mix of notes. Lodges and villages take Nepali rupees only. ATMs are available in Namche Bazaar and Jomsom, but they often run out of cash. Bhutan uses ngultrum, and Indian rupees are widely accepted.
• One credit card, kept in a separate pocket from your cash.
• A copy of your prescriptions and any letters for medication you carry.

Head and Face

• Wide-brimmed sun hat or a cap with a neck flap. High-altitude sun burns through the clouds.
• Warm beanie that covers your ears.
• Buff or lightweight neck gaiter. It doubles as a dust mask on the Jomsom road and as a face warmer on pass mornings.
• Category 3 or 4 sunglasses with side protection. Snow glare on the Cho La or Thorong La can cause snow blindness in an hour.
• Headlamp with a spare set of batteries or a rechargeable model plus a power bank. Pre-dawn starts to Kala Patthar and Thorong La happen in full darkness.
• Sunscreen rated SPF 50 and a lip balm with SPF. Reapply at every rest.

Upper Body

• Two wicking base-layer tops, one short-sleeved and one long-sleeved. Merino wool resists odor over multiple days.
• One mid-weight thermal top for evenings and for pass days.
• One fleece jacket, 100-200 weight.
• One hooded down jacket rated for around -10°C for lodge treks. Peregrine provides a down jacket on request; it is returned after the trek.
• One waterproof breathable shell jacket with a hood that fits over your beanie.
• One lightweight long-sleeve sun shirt for hot lower valleys. Optional in autumn, useful in spring and monsoon.

Hands

• One pair of lightweight liner gloves for walking in cool air.
• One pair of insulated, windproof gloves or mittens for passes and pre-dawn starts.
• Hand warmers for the morning at Kala Patthar or Thorong La. Optional, but light and cheap.

Lower Body

• Two pairs of trekking trousers, one lightweight and one mid-weight. Convertible trousers save weight but rarely fit well.
• One pair of thermal bottoms. Two for Bhutan camping treks and any winter trek.
• One pair of waterproof over-trousers with full or three-quarter side zips so you can pull them on over boots.
• One pair of hiking shorts for the lower Annapurna and Langtang valleys. Long trousers are better around villages and monasteries.
• Four to five pairs of underwear in quick-drying fabric.

Feet

Footwear decides whether you enjoy the trek or endure it. Trails in Nepal and Bhutan are rocky, stepped, and steep, with long descents that punish soft soles and loose heels. Every item in this section of the Nepal trekking gear list protects one part of your body that cannot rest until the day ends.

• Waterproof trekking boots with ankle support, broken in over at least 50 km of walking before you fly. New boots cause more evacuations than altitude does on short treks.
• Three pairs of merino or synthetic trekking socks and two pairs of liner socks. Rotate daily and dry the used pair inside your sleeping bag.
• Lightweight camp shoes or sandals for lodges and camp. Feet need to breathe after eight hours in boots.
• Gaiters for winter treks, spring pass crossings, and the Bhutan monsoon shoulder. Optional otherwise.
• Microspikes for Thorong La, Cho La, Larke La, and Renjo La between December and March. Optional in October and April, when our guides will tell you whether to carry them.
• Blister kit: hydrocolloid plasters, zinc tape, and a small pair of scissors.

Sleeping

Good sleep is the cheapest altitude medicine you can pack. Lodge rooms above Dingboche and camp nights in Bhutan drop well below freezing. A bag rated for the wrong season keeps you awake and slows your acclimatization.

• Sleeping bag rated to -10°C comfort for autumn and spring lodge treks, -15°C to -20°C for winter treks, and for Bhutan camping above 4,000 m. Peregrine provides a sleeping bag on request, and it is returned after the trek. Bring a liner if you use a rental bag.
• Silk or fleece liner. It adds warmth, keeps the bag clean, and works well on its own in warm lodges.
• An inflatable pillow or a pillowcase you can stuff with a fleece.
• Lodge walls are thin, and dogs bark at night in every village.

Bags and Packing

You carry a daypack, and your porter or pony carries a duffel. Nothing else travels with you on the trail. Choose both bags for weather and rough handling rather than for looks, and pack the duffel so that your evening layers sit on top.

• One 80 to 90 liter duffel bag with a lockable zip. Peregrine provides a duffel for the trek, so bring your own only if you prefer it. Porters and ponies carry duffels, not suitcases.
• One 30 to 35 liter daypack with a hip belt, a rain cover, and space for water, layers, camera, and snacks.
• Two or three dry bags or heavy zip-lock bags to separate clean clothes, dirty clothes, and electronics inside the duffel.
• Two small padlocks for the duffel and for your bag, left in the Kathmandu or Paro hotel.
• A compact folding bag for souvenirs on the way home.

Trekking Poles and Technical Extras

• Adjustable trekking poles. They save knees on the 2,000 m descents from Thorong La and from Gokyo, and they steady you on suspension bridges in the wind.
• Water-resistant map of your region. Digital maps drain batteries and lose satellites in deep gorges.
• Small repair kit: duct tape wrapped around a pole, a needle and thread, a spare buckle, and cable ties.
• Lightweight umbrella for monsoon treks in Nepal and for Bhutan’s wetter months. It keeps rain off your face and your camera in a way a hood cannot.

Water and Hydration

Dry mountain air and hard breathing remove fluid faster than you feel thirsty. Aim for three to four liters a day above 3,000 m. Bottled water sold on the trail creates plastic waste that the villages cannot process, so carry treatment and refill instead.

• Two one-liter wide-mouth bottles, or one bottle plus a two-liter hydration bladder. Bladder tubes freeze on some mornings, so keep a bottle for those days.
• Water treatment: purification tablets, a UV pen, or a filter bottle. Boiled water is sold in every lodge, and Bhutan crews boil water each morning, but treatment means you can refill at any tap or stream.
• Electrolyte sachets. Altitude and dry air pull more fluid than you notice, and plain water alone does not replace salts.
• A metal bottle doubles as a hot-water bottle in your sleeping bag on the coldest nights. Fill it at dinner and wrap it in a sock.

First Aid and Medications

A personal kit on this Nepal trekking gear list handles blisters, small cuts, headaches, and stomach upsets. Anything more serious goes to your guide, who is trained in first aid and carries the group kit.

Your guide carries a group first-aid kit and a pulse oximeter, and our Everest and Annapurna treks carry emergency oxygen. You still need a small personal kit for the things you will use every day. Discuss altitude medication with your doctor before you travel, and tell your guide what you carry.

• Blister plasters, zinc tape, and antiseptic wipes.
• Painkillers you already use at home.
• Anti-diarrheal tablets and oral rehydration salts.
• Throat lozenges. The “Khumbu cough” is caused by dry, cold air and affects most trekkers above 4,000 m.
• Any altitude medication your doctor has prescribed, with the written instructions.
• Personal prescriptions in their original packaging, with a few days’ extra supply in case of flight delays.
• Insect repellent for the lower valleys and for Bhutan below 2,500 m, where leeches appear in the wet months.
• Hand sanitizer. Most stomach illnesses on treks come from hand-to-mouth eating, not from lodge food.

Sleeping tablets and strong sedatives are a poor idea at altitude. They slow breathing during the hours when your body is already working hard to adapt. Ask your doctor for alternatives if you sleep badly.

Toiletries and Hygiene

• Quick-dry towel, medium size.
• Toothbrush, small toothpaste, and biodegradable soap in a leak-proof bottle.
• Wet wipes for days without showers. Pack them out, because lodges burn plastic waste.
• Toilet paper. Lodges and camps rarely supply it. One roll per five days is a fair estimate.
• Wind and altitude dry skin within days.
• Nail clippers, a small mirror, and a comb.
• Menstrual products for the full trek, plus sealable bags to pack out waste. A menstrual cup reduces waste but takes practice before the trek.
• Small laundry soap and a length of cord for drying socks in your room or tent.

Electronics and Power

Power is the scarcest resource on a Himalayan trek. Lodge charging depends on solar panels and a queue of other trekkers, and Bhutan camps have no power at all. Plan your electronics around one power bank and a habit of switching devices off at night.

• Power bank of at least 20,000 mAh. Lodges charge a fee for phone use, and often only in the dining room. Bhutan camping treks have no charges at all.
• Phone with offline maps and your itinerary saved.
• A camera with two spare batteries. Cold drains batteries fast, so keep spares in an inside pocket.
• Universal adapter. Nepal and Bhutan use round two-pin and three-pin sockets on 230 volts.
• Short charging cables and a two-port charger to share limited sockets.
• A Nepali SIM card bought at Kathmandu airport, or an eSIM. Everest Link WiFi cards work in most Khumbu lodges. Bhutan SIM cards are sold in Paro and Thimphu and work in most valleys, not on trek.

Snacks

• Energy bars, nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate for pass days and long climbs. Lodges sell snacks along the Everest and Annapurna routes, but the choice thins out above 4,000 m, and prices rise with altitude.
• A small bag of favorite tea bags or instant coffee. Hot water is easy to get.
• Bhutan: Bring every snack you want for the whole trek, because there is nothing to buy after the trailhead.

Extras Worth Their Weight

• Journal and pen.
• A paperback or e-reader with a full charge.
• Playing cards. Lodge evenings stretch long after an early dinner, and cards start conversations across tables.
• Binoculars, compact, for Himalayan tahr on the Everest trail and blue sheep in Mustang and Dolpo.
• A modest swimsuit for the hot springs at Jhinu Danda and Tatopani on the Annapurna routes.

Weight Limits: What Your Plane, Porter, and Pony Will Carry

Three limits shape the Nepal trekking gear list you just read. Domestic flights cap your checked and hand baggage. Porters carry two duffels between them, so each duffel has a working ceiling. Bhutan uses ponies and yaks, and your guide sets the limit for the route.

Domestic flights set the first limit. On Kathmandu-to-Lukla and Pokhara-to-Jomsom flights, the airlines allow about 10 kg of checked baggage per person. Hand baggage is limited to about 5 kg. Excess baggage is usually accepted for a fee, but not always when the aircraft is full or when the weather has created a backlog.

Porters set the second limit. Our porters carry the duffels of two trekkers, so we ask each trekker to keep the duffel to a maximum of 12 kg. In Bhutan, ponies and yaks carry the loads, and your guide will tell you the limit for your route. A 12 kg packed duffel, a 5-7 kg daypack, and clothes on your body make for a realistic total.

Your boots are the exception worth carrying on your body. Wear them on the flight, and they cost you nothing in allowance. If you are planning the Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek, the lodges soften the sleeping side, but the boots still matter every single hour.

Nepal Versus Bhutan: What Changes in Your Pack

The core Nepal trekking gear list is the same for both countries. The differences are in shelter and support. Nepal’s main routes run lodge to lodge with heated dining rooms, charging sockets, and small shops. Bhutan’s treks are camping treks with a full crew, no shops, and no power. Bhutan also asks for smarter clothing at dzongs.

Nepal lodge treks. Lodges on the Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang trails supply a bed, a foam mattress, and usually a blanket. Dining rooms have a stove, and most lodges sell snacks, bottled water, and phone charging. You still need a sleeping bag above roughly 3,500 m, because blankets are thin and rooms are unheated. A pillowcase or a small inflatable pillow improves sleep at the lodge more than most people expect.

Nepal camping treks. Upper Dolpo, the Dhaulagiri Circuit, and Kanchenjunga still run as camping treks. Our crew carries tents, mattresses, dining tents, and kitchen gear. You bring the same personal kit as a lodge trek, with a warmer sleeping bag and one extra insulation layer. Tents lose heat fast after sunset.

Bhutan treks. The Druk Path, Jomolhari Base Camp, Bumdra, and Laya routes are camping treks. The trekking crew provides tents, thick mattresses, a dining tent, a toilet tent, and hot water each morning. Bring a sleeping bag rated to at least -10°C and a liner. Add a headlamp with spare batteries and a power bank sized for the full trek. Bhutan’s mountains sit further south and catch more moisture, so a reliable rain shell matters even in October.

Bhutanese dress etiquette. You will visit dzongs and monasteries before and after your trek. Long trousers, a collared or full-sleeve shirt, and shoes that slip off easily are required at these sites. Pack one set of tidy town clothes in a dry bag and keep it out of the trekking rotation.

Bhutan resupply. There are no trailside shops. Blister plasters, sunscreen, lip balm, batteries, and snacks must all travel with you from Paro or Thimphu, where choice is limited. Buy these at home.

The Layering System for Himalayan Treks

Four layers, worn or carried, anchor every Nepal trekking gear list. Together, they handle every condition from a humid valley to a windy pass above 5,000 m. A wicking base layer moves sweat off your skin. A fleece mid-layer traps warmth. An insulated jacket holds heat when you stop. A waterproof shell blocks wind and rain.

The mistake most trekkers make is buying one heavy jacket instead of three light layers. A single heavy jacket is too warm on the climb to Namche Bazaar and not warm enough at Gorak Shep before dawn. Three layers give you six combinations.

Cotton belongs in your town bag, not on the trail. It holds sweat, dries slowly, and chills you at any rest stop above the treeline. Merino wool and synthetic fabrics dry in hours and keep working when damp.

Packing by Season

The season changes your insulation, rain protection, and footwear, but not the core Nepal trekking gear list. Autumn and spring need the full layering system and a -10°C bag. Winter adds warmer everything, plus microspikes. Monsoon adds serious rain gear, leech protection, and quick-dry fabrics, and it opens the rain-shadow valleys of Mustang and Dolpo.

Bhutan follows the same pattern one step further. October and November are the driest trekking months. March and April bring rhododendron and afternoon showers. Bhutan’s monsoon is heavier than Nepal’s, and most treks close from June to early September.

Packing Lists by Trek

Route matters as much as season for a Nepal trekking gear list. Everest Base Camp needs your warmest nights and a pre-dawn Kala Patthar start. The Annapurna Circuit needs a pass gear for Thorong La and shorts for the Marsyangdi valley. Short treks and Bhutan’s Druk Path cut the sleeping bag rating. Bhutan’s Jomolhari and Laya routes need full camping warmth.

Altitudes shown are the figures our guides use. Some maps and signboards give slightly different numbers.

What Peregrine Provides on Your Trek

On every Peregrine trek in Nepal, you receive a duffel bag, a route map, and a group first-aid kit with a pulse oximeter. A sleeping bag and a down jacket are available on request. On Bhutan treks, the crew supplies tents, mattresses, dining and toilet tents, hot water, and all meals. You bring only your personal kit.

The sleeping bags and down jackets we lend are cleaned between treks and rated for our routes. Many trekkers still prefer their own bag, and that is a fair choice for hygiene and fit. A liner is compulsory with a borrowed bag.

We do not supply boots, poles, headlamps, or personal medication. Those items need to fit you or belong to you. If you arrive without poles, our office can point you to reliable rental shops in Thamel. For longer rest days between treks, the team at Hiking in Nepal publishes route-by-route notes that complement this list.

Buying and Renting Gear in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Paro

Kathmandu’s Thamel district sells and rents almost everything on this list, from sleeping bags and down jackets to poles and microspikes. Quality ranges from genuine brand stock to copies that last one trek. Pokhara’s Lakeside has a smaller version of the same market. Namche Bazaar sells basics. Bhutan has very little, so arrive fully equipped.

Rental is a sensible choice for the sleeping bag, down jacket, and poles on your Nepal trekking gear list if you do not trek often. Check zips, loft, and seams before you sign, and ask for a bag one rating warmer than you think you need. Advertised ratings on rental bags tend to be optimistic.

Buy at home, not in Kathmandu, for anything that touches your body for eight hours a day. Boots, socks, base layers, and your daypack should be tested on real hills before you fly. Sunglasses, headlamps, and power banks are also better bought at home, because the copies sold locally fail without warning.

If you land a day early to shop, give yourself a full afternoon in Thamel and take a list. A private car from the airport and around the valley makes this easier with heavy bags. Car Hire Kathmandu runs reliable airport and city transfers.

In Bhutan, a few shops in Thimphu and Paro sell fleece, hats, and basic rain gear. Do not count on them for boots, sleeping bags, or electronics.

Packing Mistakes Our Guides See Every Season

The same six mistakes appear in duffel bags every season. New boots, cotton clothing, one heavy jacket instead of layers, no headlamp, a summer sleeping bag, and no cash. Each one is easy to fix at home with this Nepal trekking gear list and hard to fix at 4,000 m.

From Our Guides. “People bring boots they bought the week before. By Namche, the heels are raw. Walk in them for a month first, including downhill,” says Dorche Sherpa, who has summited Everest seven times and leads our Khumbu treks.

From Our Guides. “Bring a headlamp, not a phone torch. On Kala Patthar, you need both hands for the poles, and the phone dies in the cold,” says Nima Sherpa. Nima has summited Everest twice and guides our Gokyo and Three Passes routes.

Other mistakes worth naming:

• Packing a suitcase. Porters carry duffels on a headstrap, and ponies carry them slung. A hard case cannot travel.
• Bringing a laptop. Nothing on trek needs it, and the weight comes out of your clothing allowance.
• Skipping the daypack rain cover. One wet afternoon soaks your spare layers, and lodge rooms do not dry them.
• Carrying one water bottle. You need two liters between refills on long stages.
• Forgetting the town outfit for Bhutan. Dzongs turn away visitors in shorts and sleeveless tops.

Our sister trekking team at Nepal Everest Trekking keeps a similar list for its Everest groups, and it matches this one item for item.

Leave No Trace: Pack Choices That Protect the Trails

Every item on your Nepal trekking gear list must come back out with you, because the villages you walk through have no waste collection. Choose reusable bottles over plastic, pack out batteries and wipes, and carry a small bag for your own rubbish. Modest clothing at religious sites costs nothing and earns respect from the communities that host you.

• Refill instead of buying bottled water. Treated tap water and boiled lodge water cover the whole route.
• Carry spent batteries home. Neither Nepal nor Bhutan has battery recycling, and burned batteries poison village soil.
• Use biodegradable soap, and wash at least 30 m from streams.
• Keep snack wrappers in a zip-lock bag and dispose of them in Kathmandu or Paro.
• Dress modestly in villages and at monasteries. Long trousers and covered shoulders for everyone.
• Ask before photographing people, and put the camera away when someone declines.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Nepal Trekking Gear List

These are the questions our office answers most often in the week before a trek. The short answers below cover weight limits, sleeping bags, rentals, differences in Bhutan, microspikes, and what to do if you forget an item. Ask your guide on the first evening about anything specific to your route.

How much does my duffel bag weigh on a Peregrine trek?

Aim for 12 kg in the duffel and 5-7 kg in your daypack. Porters carry two duffels, and the Lukla and Jomsom flights limit checked baggage to about 10 kg plus 5 kg hand baggage per person. Leave your town clothes and any extra luggage in our Kathmandu partner hotel storage.

Do I need a sleeping bag if I stay in lodges?

Yes, above roughly 3,500 m. Lodge blankets are thin, rooms are unheated, and nights drop below freezing from October onward. A -10°C comfort-rated bag covers autumn and spring on the main routes. Peregrine lends bags on request, and a liner is required with any borrowed bag.

Can I rent trekking gear in Kathmandu?

Yes. Thamel rents sleeping bags, down jackets, poles, gaiters, and microspikes, and Pokhara offers a smaller selection. Rental works well for insulation and poles. Boots, socks, base layers, sunglasses, and headlamps are better bought at home and tested before your trip.

Is the gear list different for Bhutan?

The clothing list is identical. Bhutan treks camp every night, so bring a warmer sleeping bag and a larger power bank. Carry every snack and toiletry you will need, plus long trousers and a collared shirt for dzong visits. The trekking crew supplies all camping equipment.

Do I need microspikes for Thorong La or Cho La?

From December to March, yes. In October, November, and April, carry them if your guide advises it after checking recent snow reports. They weigh little and turn an icy descent into a normal walk. Our guides carry a rope for the steepest sections when conditions demand it.

What should I wear on the flight to Lukla?

Wear your trekking boots, trousers, and a fleece, and carry your shell jacket and daypack as hand baggage. Boots are the heaviest item you own and do not count against your checked allowance when worn. The flight is short, and the morning in Lukla is cold.

How many pairs of socks and underwear should I pack?

Three pairs of trekking socks, two pairs of liners, and four to five sets of underwear cover a two-week trek. Wash a pair every evening, wring it hard, and dry it inside your sleeping bag or by the dining-room stove. Merino resists odor for several days between washes.

Are trekking poles worth carrying?

Yes, for almost everyone. Poles reduce knee load on the long descents from Thorong La, Gokyo, and the Annapurna sanctuary. They also add balance on icy mornings and swaying bridges. Choose adjustable poles that collapse small enough to strap to your daypack for the flight.

Where do I leave luggage I do not need on the trek?

Our Kathmandu partner hotels store one bag per trekker free of charge until you return. In Paro, your hotel holds your bag during the trek. Pack town clothes, electronics you will not use, and gifts in that bag, and lock it.

What if I forget something?

Tell your guide on the first evening. Between Lukla and Namche, and between Besisahar and Manang, small shops sell socks, hats, gloves, batteries, and snacks. Above those points, choice disappears. In Bhutan, the answer is the same but with fewer options, so run through this list one more time in Paro.

Ready to pack? Send your trek dates and route to sales@peregrinetreks.com or message us on WhatsApp at +977 985 105 2413. We will send a route-specific version of this Nepal trekking gear list with your booking confirmation.